Closed prompt 12/11/2011

The conflict between North and South Korea has reached a new low. Now even religious life is considered warfare. Christmas lights are psychological warfare for the Koreans.

South Korea would not have allowed Christians to light a tree if the North had not torpedoed them. The article says “In 2004, the two Koreas reached a deal to halt official-level cross-border propaganda and the South stopped its annual Christmas illumination ceremony.” It then goes on to say that the north had allegedly torpedoed the south. After this incident the south allowed its people to light Christmas trees again. Thus the south would have not have lighten its lights had they not been attacked. The south used this act as a way to get back at the north.

Next, the south lights its Christmas trees to convert Northerners. This is bad for the North because religion is banned. The article uses details such as South Koreans will light three Christmas trees strategically placed in the east west and in the middle. And the author says  “Last year's tree, which was illuminated by thousands of small light bulbs, could be seen from as far as the North's major city of Kaesong”. This shows that Christmas is warfare because of the trees magnitude. South Korea has gone to great extent to have Christmas trees.

Next,    the author clearly thinks Christmas is propaganda. They write “Christmas as propaganda”. This is bolded and separated from the rest of the text. This is clearly supposed to draw attention to it. It is clearly supposed to show the Authors support of North Korea.

The meaning of this article is that Christmas is propaganda. The effect is that it makes you support North Korea because it demonstrates a specific incident of warfare.

                 In conclusion Christmas trees on the 38^th parallel of Korea are psychological warfare.

Response to course materials

I Enjoy Ceremony a lot more than I thought I would.  It is interesting to me to learn about other cultures. I enjoy learning about different cultures religion. I have been very impressed with Ms. Holmes’ knowledge of Native American culture and religion. We have been looking at the meanings of colors in Native American culture. It is interesting how the meaning of colors vary so widely from the western culture. We have learned that yellow is a very good and happy color to Laguna Pueblos.

In Ceremony There is a lot of racism. There is racism from the whites to the Lagunas and vice versa. It is just as racist to be anti-white as it is to be anti-Native American. The book has really made me see some differences and similarities in booth Whites and native Americans.  

open prompt 12/4/2011

1978. Choose an implausible or strikingly unrealistic incident or character in a work of fiction or drama of recognized literary merit. Write an essay that explains how the incident or character is related to the more realistic of plausible elements in the rest of the work. Avoid plot summary.

                In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein there is booth an implausible event and an implausible character.  The character of Frankenstein’s monster is the most implausible character. Mary Shelly uses Frankenstein‘s monster to show that humans ultimately destroy the world.

               First the monster relates to the other characters by being a symbol of evil.  In a moment of Distraught Dr. Frankenstein tries to create new human life but ends up creating a great foe.  Later the monster kills Dr. Frankenstein’s brother. This shows that even when the intention is good the things humans crate are destructive. In the end of the novel the Monster asks Frankenstein to make him a wife. Frankenstein refuses and the monster kills Frankenstein’s friend.   The way that this relates to the other characters is that Mary Shelly argues that humans are all created from evil and they all create evil.

                Next the monster relates to other characters by because he is the antagonist. He prevents his creator from of having a clear conscious. This is yet another symbol of everything Humans create is destructive. Frankenstein cannot shake the feeling that he has done something wrong. He is to blame for his brother’s death and the other deaths from the monster. Mary Shelly uses this quilt to create a sense of guilt in the reader.

                Mary Shelly uses the relationship between Frankenstein and his monster to prove that humans are to blame for all destruction. She shows that we as a race should feel guilty and that everything we do will eventually come back to bite us in the butt.

Closed prompt November 20 2011

Another Barrier to Maternity Leave for Those Most in Need: Knowing About It, By

Nanette Fondas . published on November 18 2011. found November 20 2011. published by Ms. Magazine. http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/11/18/another-barrier-to-maternity-leave-for-those-most-in-need-knowing-about-it/ 

Language-“On Wednesday a new poll was released that shows that people who are most likely to need paid family leave are least likely to be aware of programs that provide it.” This shows anger. It also explains the main problem addressed in the article. 2. “Two other states, New Jersey and Washington, offer paid family leave and someday the U.S. may join the rest of the developed world with a national program.” This is saying that there is a problem with the US’ paid family leave system. The rest of the world has the ability to have paid family leave and so why don’t we? This statement really drives home the point that we need to mobilize to support moms. 3. “Friend to friend, doctors to mothers, agency to clients: whether we shout from the rooftop or send texts to our sisters, we all need to make those Americans entitled to paid leave aware that they have it–and we need to support family-friendly programs like paid family leave for all Americans.” Finally she gets to her point. Occupy wall street needs to include maternity leave awareness because the poorest people are less likely to know about maternity leave options.

Details-1.“ Specifically, California registered voters were surveyed to assess their awareness of the state’s groundbreaking Paid Family Leave Act, passed nearly 10 years ago.” Explains a specific program in a specific place. 2. “Fewer than 43 percent had “seen, read or heard” of the law allowing them to take paid leave to care for a new child or seriously ill family member.” This Explains how a very specific but very few number of women know about the PFLA. 3. “Two-thirds of college graduate mothers took paid maternity leave but only 18 percent of mothers with no high school diploma could do so.”  This shows specific numbers to prove that moms with degrees take maternity leave while moms without cannot.

Diction- 1. “People who were less educated and had lower household incomes were least likely to be aware of the program, though having a union member in the family helped boost awareness.” Awareness is a very strong word. She could have said knowledge. Awareness really drives home the problem.  2. “The headlines heralded that a “majority” of U.S. moms now get paid maternity leave because 50.8 percent of working women receive some paid time off following the birth of a child.” Heralded is a very strong word.  She could have said announced or reported. Heralded shows her dismay in the media.

Meaning: We should mobilize to help new moms learn about maternity leave, because the women who need it most do not know about it.

Effect: Hopefully to mobilize and bring awareness about this problem.

Response to course material November 20

We have recently started Leslie Silko's Ceremony. It is ok but I am just not really into historical fiction. On Friday We also viewed presentations about important Eras. It was a good review of things that we have learned in the past.  Also recently we learned about how to a multiple choice. I am greatful that we have finally started to learn about this. My anxious self was worried it would be a long time before we actually learned about multiple choice(hahaha).
Happy Thanksgiving!
Go Lions!
Go Blue!

open blog post Novemeber 13 2011

2006, Form B. In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

Often in Greek Mythology the author or authors will have a reoccurring theme to make a point.  In Homers “The Odyssey” Odysseus takes a very long Journey.  The Journey symbolizes hope,.  It also symbolizes Penelope’s commitment to Odysseus.

                Odysseus’ journey symbolizes hope. Odysseus always dreams about coming home to his family.  This symbolizes hope because he always keeps the hope of coming home alive.  Also the Journey is about hope because Penelope and Telemachus also hope that Odysseus will come home. They keep hope that he is alive.  Odysseus’ ten year journey symbolizes hope. Odysseus men, Odysseus and Penelope and Telemachus keep hope that Odysseus will return to Ithaca.

                And Odysseus’ journey represents Penelope’s commitment.  Penelope has many suitors and could easily have betrayed Odysseus. However she remains loyal to him. She weaves a tapestry telling them when she is done she will marry one of them, and then at night she unweaves it so that she will never finish it.    Odysseus journey symbolizes this because the longer he was away the harder it was for her to remain loyal but she always does. 

                 The message of “The Odyssey” by Homer  is that you should never give up hope, He says this by showing Odysseus never giving up hope, and that you should remain loyal to those you love, by having Penelope remain loyal  to Odysseus.                                     

open prompt 10/30/2011

2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work.

Shakespeare often employs foils to prove a point.  In Much Ado About Nothing Don Pedro and Don Jon are foils. Don Pedro is good while Don Jon is evil.  Shakespeare uses Don Pedro to set an example of how you should live your life and what happens to Don Jon proves that.

First Don Pedro and Don Jon are foils. Don Pedro is a father and the ruler of the city.  He is generally well liked by the townspeople. While Don Jon is a "bastard." He has three followers. He is mean and is always trying to get back at people.  Don Pedro and Don Jon are booth manipulating, however Don Pedro uses his powers of manipulation for the good of others while Don Jon  manipulates people to further his own cause.

Next Don Pedro is used as an example. In the end Don Jon is exiled. This is Shakespeare's way of saying that you should not act similarly to Don Jon because you may face being exiled as well. Shakespeare argues that you should be giving and loving. You should be willing to do anything for the people you care about.  Particulary  if you are upper class.

Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing is used as an example as how people should live their lifes and Don Jon is used as an example of how you should not live your life.

response to class materials October 23

We have almost finished our closed reading of Albee's play The American dream. We looked at why Albee uses the pronoun "they" as frequently as he does. We compared what it means to be in artificial light verse what it means to be in natural light. I think many upper middle class people create artificial light, so they can appear to be more upper class, just as Mommy did. Many teenagers also create an artificial light because they want to be accepted.
I am really glad that we are almost finish with this play. It made feel uncomfortable and I really did not enjoy it to much. I am looking forward to beginning Death of a salesmen.

closed prompt 3 10/23/2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/opinion/sunday/will-dropouts-save-america.html?pagewanted=1&ref=opinion
Date published:10/22/2011 Date found: 10/23/2011 Published By: New York Times Auhor: Michael Ellsberg Title: Will dropouts save America?

Thesis: Ellsberg argues that only students who want to be a doctor,lawyer, or other professionals should go to college. He even argues that students should drop out, or not even go to college, to create start up companies.

Language: "I typed these words on a computer designed by apple co-founded by the college drop out Steve Jobs."  This is proving that people who drop out of college can be successful.
Language: "America has a shortage of job creators."  This states that going yo college does not mean that you will create jobs.
Language:"Simply put, from kindergarten through undergraduate and grad school, you learn very few skills or attitudes that would ever help you start a business."  This is worded very sharply and strongly. Again he points out that traditional education will not make you successful or even able to create jobs.
Language:" Assuming that college was responsible for their success gives higher education more credit than it deserves."  This is so strong.  First Ellsberg is saying that Students who are likely to succeed are also likely to go to college. Therefor saying that college was key to their success is a misnomer. Ellsberg clearly does not believe in college. He clearly thinks that the power of college so to speak is a myth. 


diction: "and nurtured by the degreeless Sean Parker."Here Ellsberg is still talking about other successful people with out a degree. I think the word degreeless is very strong. Instead of saying a man with out a degree he choose degreless. It drives home the point better. 
diction:"one thing is clear: our current educational system is acting as the brakes. "
diction:  "But, beyond regulated fields like these, the focus on higher education as the only path to stable employment is profoundly misguided, exacerbated by parents who see the classic professions as the best route to job security." Profoundly is a very strong word. He could have left it out or else he could have said a poorly misguided. 


details: "The National Bureau of Economic Research found that nearly all net job creation in America comes from start-up businesses, not small businesses per se." Research has found that start up businesses are job creators specifically.  
details: "Skills like sales, networking, creativity and comfort with failure." These are specific skills. They are details that make up a good business person. 
details: "You don't need a degree (and certainly not an M.B.A.)" The details of a good business person do include a college degree. And they certainly do not include degrees of higher degrees.  

Open Prompt 3 10/16/2011

1973. An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Personally I do not particularly care for cliff hangers. I much prefer when the work actually concludes. The ending of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is appropriate because it makes the reader understand what true love is. 

The ending of Romeo and Juliet is appropriate. Shakespeare does a beautiful job of concluding Romeo and Juliet. The ending does not leave you with questions. Romeo and Juliet die, the families discover that their feud was pointless. Case closed. There is nothing more. Shakespeare does not need to write Romeo and Juliet the sequel.  If he had ended with Juliet raising the knife to stab herself or with Romeo walking into the mausoleum to his death that ending would have been inappropriate because you do not know the ending. 

Next the ending of Romeo and Juliet proves that they were in what Shakespeare calls true love. For Shakespeare True love means that you will do anything to be with that person. Even when your families hate each other, as they do in Romeo and Juliet. In the cases of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet killed herself after realizing that Romeo has killed himself for her. This is the ultimate act of love because they would rather be dead than live without one another.

Finally for Shakespeare true love is a willingness to do anything for another person.  Romeo and Juliet are good examples of what you should do or be willing to do when you truly love someone.  He seems to be arguing that you should go to the ends of the universe and back for the person you love. He also argues that you should do this despite your situation. In Romeo and Juliet’s case their situation was that their families hated each other. Most people would have found it hard to love each other in such a difficult situation. Romeo and Juliet loved each other despite that.  Shakespeare’s definition of true love is that you would do anything despite outside factors for that person and Romeo and Juliet made the ultimate sacrifice for each other.

 In conclusion Shakespeare uses Romeo and Juliet to prove what his definition of true love is.

closed prompt 2 Oct 9

• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/opinion/sunday/loss-and-hope.html?_r=1&hpw
• published 9/11/2011 published by NY times
• date cited 10/09/11
• "Loss and Hope" 
• Author : Unknown

Thesis (depending on the question the thesis would be something along the lines of this) - In the article "Loss and Hope" the author argues that America was changed by 9/11 in a negative way. The author says that the xenophobia that came from the attacks makes it impossible to move forward and for Americans to be kind and compassionate.
effect: This paper questions whether the war in Iraq and the war against Terrorism  is really effective. It makes the reader question if these two wars are wroth the effort or if they are just a big waste of time.
meaning: the xenophobia that has occurred has hurt America. 9/11 did change America but because of the xenophobia and not the actual act. 
proof
Diction: "Pompeian"- Thick ash, It reminds us of a tragedy a very long time ago.  "enlarged"- proof that 9/11 changed American mindsets. "Absorbed" Again more proof that the author feels 9/11 changed the American mindset. "Xenophobia" The author began to talk about how fear is bad and debilitating. The Author could have said a "rise in fear" or "we began to fear the outside." The word xenophobia makes it stronger and really bringing attention to the fact that we feared the outside.  "Our civic life is tainted"- Tainted is not a positive word. our civic life was changed or harmed it was made darker.
Language: "Border between one realm and another" the way this is phrased makes it seem as though the impasse that America was at  was scary and almost unreal.  "Shock, grief and fear"- These feelings are strong feelings that many Americans felt during the period immediately after 9/11. It begins to show that the gripping fear is the thing that affected us more than the attack its self. "We have been drawn into a misdirected war that has exacted enormous costs in lives and money." Here the author argues that America is in a huge war.They argue that it is because of fear that we are in said war. They also argue that the war is meaningless. "As much hope as grief, as much love as anger." Americans felt conflicted with 9/11 and the author argues that the leader of America choose anger over love and hope. "We have done a better job of living with our fears sadly than nurturing the expansive spirit of community that arose in those early days." The author finally comes out and says that instead of compassion we chose anger and fear. "On 9/11 resides in the surge of compassion and hope that accompanied the shock and mourning of that September day" This means that the community that we should have nurtured would have been much better for America than the war and the fear. 
Imagery: "Pompeian ash" There are a few things here. One thing is that you can see the ash billowing and covering everything, and this going on for a long time. You can also feel the ash covering everything. You can feel it in your lungs and you can feel it on your skin. The Pompey explosion was a tragic accident, our accident was allowing the fear to take over. "stood at a junction." This makes me picture a train station. You are standing in the middle. On one side of you is a train going east and on the other side is a train headed west. For the author one direction was community and the other direction was fear and anger.  

response to class materials October 9

We began learning about DIDLS. This stands for diction, imagery, details,language and syntax. These are literary           devices. I find that the hardest one is syntax. I think that it is probably because in past English classes we have not really talked about syntax.  We also talked about how to write a good thesis.  Because of Debate I feel that writing a good thesis is not to much of a problem. However I tend to be wordy with introductions and it was helpful to talk about how to write a good but short introduction.
In AP English we recently did our first read of Edward Albee's " American Dream". I feel as if the entire play was about the inability to get "satisfaction". so to speak. I did not really  care for this play and I defiantly would not pay to see it(Unless of  course one of my very good friends was in it). The play made me feel uncomfortable. In my opinion Albee uses the young man who is described as " the American Dream" to show that the American Dream is actually unobtainable because perfection is unobtainable.
I have enjoyed being in AP Lit. I like to read and I enjoy my classmates.

open prompt 0ct 2 2011

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

In the 1950s many African Americans choose to assimilate into white culture. However some African Americans choose to embrace their African heritage. In Lorraine Hansberry's play "A raisin in the Sun" she explores how that choice affected the dynamics of an African American  family. For many African Americans their choose to either embrace the white society around them or embrace their Family heritage affected their family's life style and affected their own life.

In Lorraine Hansberry's " A raisin in the Sun" the Young family lives in a small New York apartment. Because they were black they often faced racial segregation. They lived in an all black neighborhood, which was the worst part of town. For many of the characters it was hard to get a good education and a good education was almost not needed and certainly the white community around them did not want them to have a good education. Many African Americans, in the 1950s, were beginning to assimilate into white culture.

However for one character Bennetha Young, she wanted to get enough education to become a doctor. She disregarded the standards for African Americans at that time. She wore her hair in a more traditional way, she dressed in a more traditional way and she dreamed of going to Nigeria. This caused stress in her family because the rest of her family wanted her to assimilate into white culture. They did not understand her need to understand her own heritage. Her surroundings affected her in a way that maid her more independent. She did not agree with her family and she did not agree with the whites in her community. She did not want to be the perfect daughter for her mother. And she did not want to be the perfect African American for the whites in her community.

Lorraine Hansberry  took an almost sarcastic tone with assimilation into white culture. The characters that wanted to assimilate were less educated and almost stupider then the characters that did not want to assimilate. She was trying to show that African Americans should not assimilate. African Americans  should however be proud to be black.

In conclusion Lorraine Hansberry believed that African Americans should not assimilate into American or white culture. She does this by having the most educated and most driven character be the one charecter  that refuses to assimilate.

response to course materials

I am sorry that this late. Hopefully no one looses credit because of my stupidity. 
So far in APE 2011 we have talked about DIDLS. For me I think that diction or language is the easiest thing to find. Perhaps because I have learned about these two literary devices for a very long time. I beive that syntax is the hardest thing to wrap my brain around. I am not exactly sure what is coverd under the large umbrella of syntax. I have noticed that when I watch TV or read books, I have begun noticing these litterary devices. I have also begun getting a much deeper meaning from pop culture.

essay practice 9/16/2011

 2009, Form B. Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

                 In the late 1800’s poverty was a big problem for many people. People who lived in poverty often faced cruelties such as work houses, living on the streets and constantly not having enough to eat. In Dickens  A Christmas Carol Dickens uses the varies characters such as Tiny  Tim his partner Jacob Marley and Scrooges   treatment of Bob Cratchit as implements to prove these cruelties.  Dickens uses Tiny Tim and other various characters to convince the upper classes of 19th century England that they should help the poor more.

                In Dickens A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim has a terrible medical problem. His father cannot afford to take care of him.  This is because Scrooge pays Cratchit a very minimum wage. Scrooge also treats Cratchit as if he does not matter.  Tiny Tim is used to show the upper class what happens when they do not treat the lower class with respect. The lower class suffers and they cannot fix their problems. When the ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge the Cratchits Christmas it really affects him.   The fact that the Cratchits live in such squalor proves that Dickens believed that those in poverty should be treated fairly. 

                When the Ghost of Christmas past visits Scrooge the audience finds out that Scrooge was abandoned by his family.  Here Dickens argues that we should treat the abandoned with respect re because you never know who they will turn out to be or how they will turn out to be. The ghost of Christmas future shows a scene in which people are celebrating. Scrooge deduces that the party is for him but fails until later to realize that the people are celebrating his death. The ghost of Christmas future really drives home the point, for the audience, that the ways in which we treat people really affect them.

                In Dickens A Christmas carol Scrooge learns about caring for others. Dickens uses Scrooge to show what will happen to people if they do not treat other people in a good way. He uses Tiny Tim to demonstrate what will happen if we neglect others. He uses the ghosts to show what happens to people who neglect. Dickens social problem was that the upper classes did not treat the poor the way he thought that the poor should be treated.

9/9/11 Closed reading practice

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/09/american-jobs-act-is-just-another-washington-gimmick/

the American jobs act is just another "Washington Gimmeck" By Liz Peek published by foxnews.com
The Auther clearly does not agree with Obama's purposed Job Act.  She doesn't know how it will be payed for and she questions if tahat is mporall. She uses language that is fairl simple and easy to follow.

Lnguage- "Washington Gimmeck" the word Gimmeck shows how the auther believes that the job bill is unimportant

Language- "

Fans of President Obama cheered his jobs speech to Congress not so much on the substance but on the style." This is another example of Ms.Peek making the speech unimportant. She also says that their was no real sustanance to his speech on Thursday.

 

language-

"One of the most egregious failings of this administration has been the president’s refusal to embrace any long-term corrections to our spiraling debt – even those put forward by his own hand-picked committee." Refusal is a really harsh word. She almost uses this word to punish him and to acuse Obama of not doing enough. Spiraling is also sort of a harsh word. It makes the reader want to do something about it and makes the reader feel that the government is not doing enough

language-  'feistiness "

Syntax-

"I don’t blame them. They wanted feistiness and they got it. On innovative or inspiring job creation measures, not so much. "This comes after a rather long sentance. The fact it is so short shows frustration in the government and how democrates do not really care about what their leaders are up to.

 

Syntax

"The breathtaking aspect of Mr. Obama’s speech, if there was one.." The style of "If there was one." Shows her annoyance with Obama. You can almost see her rolling her eyes and sort of being sarcastic about this. 

 

syntax-"

I have no confidence at all -- none -- that this government (or possibly any other) will make the hard choices about future budget cuts," The way that she seperates none realy instills her disbelief in the government. She says "I have no confidence" Then she says "None." It really strenthens her annoyance and disbelief.

 

deatail- "

he utterly failed to propose how the nation will pay for the $450 billion program. " He never mentions payment plans

 

detail-"

In his jobs speech, President Obama again resorted to the notion that we can inflate our budget deficit today, to generate economic growth, and push off the day of reckoning into the future." She believes that we have no money and that Obama believes we have an unlimited found of money.

 

details- "

Encouraging public-private partnerships to build shipping terminals or bridges is actually a good idea, and I have written on that topic. I also embrace the idea that drastically cutting government spending today, and throwing thousands more onto unemployment, will not help our struggling recovery"