Monday, December 19, 2011

My Ántonia: Willa Cather

 Humankind’s relationship to the past; humankind’s relationship to environment; the immigrant experience in America; the traditional nature of late nineteenth-century American frontier values.

I did not really enjoy this book, because i thought it was hard to understand what was going on.

The main part of the story is Jim Burden’s memoir narrated in his first-person voice, from the perspective of an older man looking back on his childhood. The introduction to the novel is narrated by an unnamed individual, one of Jim’s childhood acquaintances. Like Jim, this narrator uses a friendly, first-person voice.

Setting: 1880s–1910s, In and around Black Hawk, Nebraska; also Lincoln, Nebraska.

I do recommend this book.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time: Mark Haddon

Christopher’s investigation of Wellington’s murder leads him to uncover a number of secrets about his parents, causing him to lose his trust in Father and to set out to London in search of Mother.

Personally, i didnt like this book, because i thought it was too weird.

The Struggle to Become Independent; Subjectivity; the Disorder of Life; Coping with Loss.

Christopher John Francis Boone speaks in the first person. We are to understand the book as his written account of the murder of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington. Structurally, the novel alternates between a chapter advancing the narrative, and a chapter in which Christopher discusses ideas or concepts worth noting.

Setting - 1998, In and around Swindon, England, with a trip to London, England.

I do not recommend this book.

10-line poem, using adverb clauses.

When I get home,
As I take off my shoes,
While I walk upstairs,
As Im digging through my bag,
I finally get to be alone.

After Im alone,
While listening to music,
While starting my homework,
As I talk to my friends,
My day starts to get better.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Effects of Setting

Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing. 

"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."

"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."

"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie.  The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together.  The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.


Chunk #1:  Comment the effect of the setting on the characters within the novel.
The characters live in the country, this effects them because if effect how they do many things. To them the country is peacful but because of all the wind it seems like its always busy, but not the kind of town busy with cars and alot of people. Because they live were there is less going on, it give them a chance to get close to their family.
 
Chunk #2 To discuss the effect a setting on you, including imagery (lots of adjectives) and a simile or a  metaphor as you describe the land.
My bedroom is my escape. The walls are covered in purple paint, but in some lights it looks pink. The floor is pink carpet, with many stains and each one has a memory. During the summer i can open my windows and my whole room smells like outside, the freshly cut grass, and the smell of rain on some days. My closet door that creeks at random time during the night. In the background, there is always music playing. I enjoy having this place to go when i feel the need to be alone. 

My front porch symbolizes an oasis to me, especially during the Christmas season when the soft Christmas lights help create an atmosphere of quietness and solitude.  Gently, in the background, the leaves rustle and whisper to each other their appreciation, too, of this seasonal seclusion, seeming to understand that the holiday should truly be about getting back to the real reason for the season. These tall trees stand as sentinels, much like the toy soldiers we have placed along the entrance to our driveway, guarding, protecting, providing a sense of security.  I truly appreciate having my oasis, an oasis from the busy hustle and bustle, an oasis from this materialistic season.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Argument: The Drinking Age

The drinking age should not be lowered to 18.

Evidence

Concrete Detail - If we lower the drinking age, we might be contributing to more fatal accidents.

Commentary 1
Lowering the drinking age increases car crashes among youth.

Commentary 2
Studies estimate that "400 serious injuries and 12 deaths each year among 15-19 year-olds could be prevented if the states raised their minimum legal drinking age".


Concrete Detail - Most 18 year-olds will not be mature enough to drink responsibly.

Commentary 1
At the age of 18 they are still trying to have fun, enjoy life, and explore adulthood. Teens might get carried away by the excitement.

Commentary 2
Trying to become an adult is a big responsibility, and putting alcohol in their hands will only make it more difficult.


Opposing Claims/They Say: Many believe if you have the rights to vote and join the military, then you should be able to drink alcohol.

My Rebuttal/I say: Nevertheless, i say they are wrong, because when joining the military you are risking your own life, but when drinking you are risking others as well as your own.

My Paragraph
The drinking age should not be lowered to 18. If we lower the drinking age, we might be contributing to more fatal accidents. Lowering the drinking age increases car crashes among youth. Studies estimate that "400 serious injuries and 12 deaths each year among 15-19 year-olds could be prevented if the states raised their minimum legal drinking age." Most 18 year-olds will not be mature enough to drink responsibly. At the age of 18 they are still trying to have fun, enjoy life, and explore adulthood. Teens might get carried away by the excitement. Trying to become an adult is a big responsibility, and putting alcohol in their hands will only make it more difficult. Many believe if you have the rights to vote and join the military, then you should be able to drink alcohol. Nevertheless, I say they are wrong, because when joining the military you are risking your own life, but when drinking you are risking others as well as your own. Thus, not lowering the drinking age would increase the chances of saving lives.

My Thinking: My paragraph is deductive thinking because facts and quotes that are presented.