Thursday, October 31, 2013
Search Bubbles
Before this video clip I already knew that the search engines that I used monitored what I searched to make it easier for me to find what I was looking for. What I didn't know was how much variation there would be when two separate users would find when they searched for the same subject. In order to remove the filtering and improve my web searches I will use "Duck Duck Go" that Dr. Preston recommended in the classroom a few weeks ago.
Tools that change the way we think
The internet and modern technology have greatly modified the proses in which we as a society gather and distribute information. Only a few decades ago all of our information was either in a form of literature or in oral traditions. With the internet we all thought we would be able to access all information quicker and more efficiently. In most cases this was seen to be true, however with modern algorithms acting as "gate keepers" the search engines that we use filter out information that the system believes we are not looking for. With many in our society relying upon the internet as our source for information we are blinding ourselves to vast amounts of information that exists outside of the WWW. For instance life stories from those around us such as our family members, friends, and even coworkers are likely to not exist on the internet. I myself am a member of the Drumand clan, a Scottish clan, which I never would have known even existed if neither my father or my grandfather told me that I was a member of the clan. Don't misunderstand my intent of this post, the internet is a great tool, but if we don't search in places other than the internet for our information we will become closed minded, never seeking out a better solution. If we don't carry on any of our oral heritage it will be forgotten.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Literary Analysis 3
George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles by Basil Miller
Topics
1 In his young life George was a thief and a vagabond ( a drifter with no home leading an irresponsible and disreputable life). his father had been a collector of a specific tax n his homeland of Prussia which is where he stole much of his money. For years he ran rampant caring little for the damage he caused. In his early twenties something in his life changed, through the witness of a group of Christians he turned his life to god and stopped his steeling. For the first time in his life he felt content and he slowly learned to trust others. Slowly but surely he found himself in England working fr the church, and later feeding the poor and ministering to them.
2 The author wanted to tell other Christians of George Muller's ministry
3 I found the book in my church library and I decided to read it.
4 The book did seem to be realistic because i know many people who had dark experiences as children and young adults, but changed their lives and turned to god instead.
People
1 The author based the book upon historical events and combined them with the text from Muller's journals to characterize the people in his life form his perspective.
2 August H. Franky acted as an inspiration on Muller's ministry by providing for the needs of over 200 orphans. I would Characterize August as a kind and benevolent person in a novel because of the help he gave to the orphans.
3 I wrote about August because he served as an inspiration for Muller's adult life.
more on main character
1 The greed of his early years is characterized by the description of his theft and misappropriation of the tax money his father possessed. When he decides to change his life around it is said that he stopped his spending and his theft and left it for a different life style.
2 when describing Muller the author talks more about Muller's actions.
3 Muller is defiantly a dynamic character in this story, he changes from being a thief in his younger years to being a minister in his adult life.
4 I feel that i met George Muller simply because of how much of his life story was told in the text and the large amounts of his quotes were included in the text.
Style
1 In this book the author wrote the story similar to a history book using quotes from Miller himself to show his thoughts and ideas at the time.
2 The author focused more on the action and the events on his life to show what troubles that he faced and how he had overcome them. The effect was showing a more historical context of the life of Muller and his connection with his god.
4 The author seemed to want to inspire the audience to do great things with their lives.
5 The author used quotes from miller's journals and writings to show his thoughts and feelings. This allowed me to take a more serious approach to the reading seeing that the author had truly studied the life of George Muller
Enduring Memory
Topics
1 In his young life George was a thief and a vagabond ( a drifter with no home leading an irresponsible and disreputable life). his father had been a collector of a specific tax n his homeland of Prussia which is where he stole much of his money. For years he ran rampant caring little for the damage he caused. In his early twenties something in his life changed, through the witness of a group of Christians he turned his life to god and stopped his steeling. For the first time in his life he felt content and he slowly learned to trust others. Slowly but surely he found himself in England working fr the church, and later feeding the poor and ministering to them.
2 The author wanted to tell other Christians of George Muller's ministry
3 I found the book in my church library and I decided to read it.
4 The book did seem to be realistic because i know many people who had dark experiences as children and young adults, but changed their lives and turned to god instead.
People
1 The author based the book upon historical events and combined them with the text from Muller's journals to characterize the people in his life form his perspective.
2 August H. Franky acted as an inspiration on Muller's ministry by providing for the needs of over 200 orphans. I would Characterize August as a kind and benevolent person in a novel because of the help he gave to the orphans.
3 I wrote about August because he served as an inspiration for Muller's adult life.
more on main character
1 The greed of his early years is characterized by the description of his theft and misappropriation of the tax money his father possessed. When he decides to change his life around it is said that he stopped his spending and his theft and left it for a different life style.
2 when describing Muller the author talks more about Muller's actions.
3 Muller is defiantly a dynamic character in this story, he changes from being a thief in his younger years to being a minister in his adult life.
4 I feel that i met George Muller simply because of how much of his life story was told in the text and the large amounts of his quotes were included in the text.
Style
1 In this book the author wrote the story similar to a history book using quotes from Miller himself to show his thoughts and ideas at the time.
2 The author focused more on the action and the events on his life to show what troubles that he faced and how he had overcome them. The effect was showing a more historical context of the life of Muller and his connection with his god.
4 The author seemed to want to inspire the audience to do great things with their lives.
5 The author used quotes from miller's journals and writings to show his thoughts and feelings. This allowed me to take a more serious approach to the reading seeing that the author had truly studied the life of George Muller
Enduring Memory
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Vocab #8
cursory: done or made quickly
this sentence was cursory
impetus: a force that causes something to begin movement
The report card was impetus to Joe and got him to do his homework
pinnacle: the highest point of greatest success or achievement
The pinnacle of being a writer is when you are finally published
contumely: harsh language arising from haughtiness
his contumely offended all whom were within the room.
bereavement: the state of sadness due to the loss of a friend or loved one.
His bereavement cast a dark gloom into those around him.
cache: a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been illegally obtained.
The police found a cache of narcotics buried in the suspect's backyard.
consummation: the consummating of a marriage; the ultimate end
calamity: an event that causes great harm and suffering.
In the calamity most of the earth was destroyed leaving only half of the population alive.
avarice: a strong desire to make or to have money.
fortify: to strengthen by building military defenses.
To protect our lives we fortify our country with powerful weapons.
erratic: acting in ways that are not expected or usual
The child erratically burst into tears in the middle of class.
ubiquitous: seeming to be seen everywhere
The men in black were ubiquitous, watching every street, waiting around every corner.
fortitude: mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, and pain.
The soldier showed his great fortitude when he stormed the beaches of Normandy in WW2.
nonchalant: relaxed in a calm way that shows that you do not care, or are not worried about anything.
As the test was given, Kevin nonchalantly lay down his head and began to sleep.
affect: a conscious aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes
The lack of affect in a story is found to be very boring.
effect: a change that results when something is done or when an event occurs.
The calamity effected the minds of all whom survived
misappropriate: to take something wrongly for your own use
Gen stole the company's money to spend on her jewelry
pragmatic: dealing with problems that exist in a specific situation in a responsible and logical way.
metacognition: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking process
In Preston's class we were taught to use metacognition to enhance our learning experience
devoutly : to be deeply religious. serious and sincere
I am devoted to increasing my writing abilities so that I may write better stories.
this sentence was cursory
impetus: a force that causes something to begin movement
The report card was impetus to Joe and got him to do his homework
pinnacle: the highest point of greatest success or achievement
The pinnacle of being a writer is when you are finally published
contumely: harsh language arising from haughtiness
his contumely offended all whom were within the room.
bereavement: the state of sadness due to the loss of a friend or loved one.
His bereavement cast a dark gloom into those around him.
cache: a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been illegally obtained.
The police found a cache of narcotics buried in the suspect's backyard.
consummation: the consummating of a marriage; the ultimate end
calamity: an event that causes great harm and suffering.
In the calamity most of the earth was destroyed leaving only half of the population alive.
avarice: a strong desire to make or to have money.
fortify: to strengthen by building military defenses.
To protect our lives we fortify our country with powerful weapons.
erratic: acting in ways that are not expected or usual
The child erratically burst into tears in the middle of class.
ubiquitous: seeming to be seen everywhere
The men in black were ubiquitous, watching every street, waiting around every corner.
fortitude: mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, and pain.
The soldier showed his great fortitude when he stormed the beaches of Normandy in WW2.
nonchalant: relaxed in a calm way that shows that you do not care, or are not worried about anything.
As the test was given, Kevin nonchalantly lay down his head and began to sleep.
affect: a conscious aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes
The lack of affect in a story is found to be very boring.
effect: a change that results when something is done or when an event occurs.
The calamity effected the minds of all whom survived
misappropriate: to take something wrongly for your own use
Gen stole the company's money to spend on her jewelry
pragmatic: dealing with problems that exist in a specific situation in a responsible and logical way.
metacognition: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking process
In Preston's class we were taught to use metacognition to enhance our learning experience
devoutly : to be deeply religious. serious and sincere
I am devoted to increasing my writing abilities so that I may write better stories.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Roger Ebert: The Essential Man
All of this work was done with my partner Dylan Horton.
Activity 14: Surveying the Text
Activity 22: Thinking Critically 1. I am more likely to believe what someone says about themselves rather than what someone says about them. However, in the case of this article, we have to base our knowledge entirely on what Chris Jones says. He can embellish or change what Ebert said while we have no clue if what he says is true. 2. Emotional pain is different than physical pain because physical pain WILL eventually go away. There is no telling how long emotional pain will last and therefore I think it is worse. Physical pain has an estimated time of departure, emotional pain may stay forever. 3. I find it amazing that Ebert is still battling cancer but has such a positive outlook on life. If he has already beaten cancer, his attitude wouldn't be as impressive. If I met the guy in real life I would have no clue that he had such a terrible fight with cancer (besides his obvious physical defects). 4. Ebert seems to be at peace with what may lie ahead while Hamlet is terrified. Dreams are a source of uncertainty for Hamlet but a sense of security for Ebert. 5. Ebert has made peace. He believes he has lived a good life and whatever happens after life does not matter to him. Hamlet cannot stand the idea of not existing and therefore is terrified of death. Ebert and Hamlet have opposite views on the subject. 6. When Ebert is writing/critiquing he can feel as if his voice is still being heard. When he wants to call his wife to his room he has to use a robotic voice. If he writes something on the Internet, he can picture millions of people still able to hear HIS voice and point of view. 7. The pre-cancer Ebert lived his life through microphones, speaking in front of hundreds of people. The post-cancer Ebert lives his life through his computer, potentially speaking to millions of people. 8. Ebert does not have time to prattle with every person he sees on the street. He has lost his ability to speak and who knows how much longer he will live. This has given his life meaning and has made him want to express himself and his thoughts in a permanent place. The internet and what he writes on it is so precious to him.
Activity 14: Surveying the Text
Q1: What do you
know about Roger Ebert? If you don't know anything about him, try doing
a quick internet search and see what comes up.
My answer:
Roger is a movie critic who lost his jaw to a tragic battle with cancer.
He had a long career as a journalist and a screenwriter, during his
career he worked as a critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1976 until
he died in 2013. He was also the first to win the Pulitzer Prize for
Criticism
Q2: What kind of writing- what Genre- do you think this text is?
My answer: This text is defiantly a type of journalistic writing.
Q3:Do you notice anything interesting about the way this text looks?
My answer: It
seems to be written in the point of view of Roger Ebert, but it states
facts from multiple parties at once. In parts of the text the story is
written in third person stating known facts and making theories about
what Roger might have thought at the time. The other part of the text
follows Roger in his daily routines, showing the reader what his life
seemed too look like from his perspective.
Activity 15: Making Predictions and Asking Questions
Q1: What topics related to the issue of how society values life do you think Ebert might have talked about in this interview?
MA: In his
interview I predict that he would have talked about dealing with the
hardships that come with loosing that ability to talk. With the lose of
his ability to speak he would face hardships that would be hard for most
people to imagine. I predict that he will talk about the importance of
perseverance.
Q2:Do you think Ebert's claim about the value of life will agree with Hamlet or not?
MA: I believe
that Roger will agree with Hamlet. Both He and Hamlet faced great
challenges in their lives, if they simply gave into the temptation to
quit i doubt either of them would be recognized. With the first two
chapters being about how Roger has learned to cope with his disability I
think that they will both have the same conclusion on the value of
life.
Activity16: Understanding Key Vocabulary
ritual: always done in a particular situation and in the same way each time
Survival: the state or fact of continuing to live or exist especially in spite of difficult conditions
radiates: to go out in a direct line from a central point or area
savoring: the act of enjoying something interesting or enjoyable
cinematic: of or relating to movies
feverishly: involving intense amounts of feeling or activity
rudimentary: basic or simple
mandible: a part of the jaw
tracheotomy:the surgical formation of an opening into the trachea through the neck especially to allow the passage of air
tracheotomy:the surgical formation of an opening into the trachea through the neck especially to allow the passage of air
monologue: a speech expressing the thoughts of a single person
argument: an attempt to persuade someone of something
facsimile: an exact duplicate or copy
nuanced: a very small difference in color, tone, meaning
sentimental: based on, showing, or resulting from feelings or emotions rather than reason or thought
mystics: those possessing magical properties
intervention: to become involved in something in order to have an influence on what happens
The words: savoring, feverishly, and sentimental are all associated with pleasure.
I anticipate to
find more words involving sensation and emotion because this text is an
interview on Roger Ebert's personal life and difficulties.
salivary glands: glands that release the fluid saliva into the mouth
radiation treatments: the use of radiation to treat for cancerous cells in the body
carotid artery: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head
breathing tube: a tube placed in the body to allow breathing to resume as normal
G-tube: a tube used to feed a patient who cannot obtain nutrition thought the use of their mouth.
IV pole: holds the IV
Activity 17: Reading for Understanding
Through the
text Roger seems to be more optimistic then pessimistic because he
always points out the settle benefits of his condition such as the
device that saved him. He also seems to keep an eye on the positive
aspects of life in his quote "When I am writing my problems become invisible and I am the same person I always was. All is well. I am as I should be.".
Roger's
argument of death is that he believes that there is no afterlife. He
believes that the true value to life is to bring joy to the world. He
believes that the best we can do is to try to make ourselves and
everyone else around us a little bit happier. He never truly states his
value of death directly.
Activity 18: Mapping the Organizational Structure
Through the
text Roger seems to be more optimistic then pessimistic because he
always points out the settle benefits of his condition such as the
device that saved him. He also seems to keep an eye on the positive
aspects of life in his quote "When I am writing my problems become invisible and I am the same person I always was. All is well. I am as I should be.".
Roger's
argument of death is that he believes that there is no afterlife. He
believes that the true value to life is to bring joy to the world. He
believes that the best we can do is to try to make ourselves and
everyone else around us a little bit happi
er. He never truly states his
value of death directly.
Acitivity 19: Annotating and Questioning the Text
Roger Ebert was
definitely an optimist and it can be proven with his own words. He
avoided talking about the discomforts that life brought and focused on
the brighter side of life. Even as he loses his ability to speak he
claims "never yet a dream where I can't talk" which shows the audience
that even though he has lost his ability to speak he never lost his
perspective of life.
Activity 20: Analyzing Stylistic Choices
Q1: What
details in the first two paragraphs convey a sense of the ordinary,
behind-the-scenes routines of a film critic? What words of phrases
suggest the longevity of Ebert's movie critiquing career?
A1: Chris Jones
does a good job explaining what it is like to be a film critic. He
pretty much explains what Roger does, or used to do, daily as a critic.
He mentions how Ebert is the most renowned movie critic in the world, to
be that famous as a movie critic, you must have been doing it for a
long period of time.
Hamlet would likely find the quote " We
must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what
our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try." to be
the most interesting because it matches perfectly with the beginning of
the To be or not to be soliloquy. Hamlet asks if it is " nobler in the
mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take
arms against a sea of troubles,..."
Q2: How does Chris Jones distinguish Ebert from his fellow reviewers? Why is this contrast important?
A2: Chris
explains that most of the movie reviewers that work with Ebert will come
into the room looking like they were going camping. With blankets, food
and a laptop, they would stake out the theater for hours writing
reviews on their computers. Ebert, however, only carried in a pen and a
notepad to jot down any notes he needed to write down about the movie.
This contrast seems to get the point across that Ebert is old school and
uses his memory as a sole source of knowledge.
Q3: How does
Jones's description of Ebert's reaction to Broken Embraces help to
understand Ebert's character? What words or phrases reveal Ebert's
attitude toward the experience of watching this film?
A3: Ebert
apparently loves the film and radiates in joy while watching it. Even
though, when looking at a picture of the man he may look like a monster,
he is a man with feelings and who is generally happy. Ebert "takes
excited notes", this is one of the only ways to tell if he likes a movie
or not, this shows how much he loved the film.
Q4: What are the connotations of kid joy?
A4: "Kid joy"
suggests pure happiness. It seems as if the way he is feeling is
careless, a kid running around in the sprinklers or having its first
crush. One that is odd to find in an adult. Pure, innate happiness.
Q5: Why does Jones use the word "savoring" to describe Ebert's quiet pause after the film ends?
A5: It seems
as if Ebert is overcome with happiness after witnessing such a good
picture. He sits quietly staring at the screen and thinking back on how
good it must have been. He is a simple man.
Q6: What does
Jones mean when he says that the moment Ebert said his last words before
losing his ability to cancer "wasn't cinematic"?
A6: This moment
was not cinematic because he can't even remember it. In a movie,
someone's last words are portrayed as dramatic and epic. Ebert vaguely
can remember his last day with his voice, but at the time he was more
worried about surviving than what his last words may be.
Q7: What
details are important in Jones's descriptions of Ebert's second-floor
library? What do the objects in this room suggest about Ebert's life?
A7: The library
is basically where Ebert spends all of his time at home. His ability to
get medicine and all of his favorite things are there; a record player,
books, a leather recliner movie posters. This is where he wants his
limited number of days to be spent, with his favorite things at home
with his wife.
Q8: Why does Jones say reading Ebert's post-cancer online journal is like "watching an Aztec pyramid being built"?
A8: He says
this because the simile shows how hard and long Ebert's journey to beat
cancer has been. It is a monumental task that did not seem possible but
in the end was accomplished.
Q9: What words and phrases suggest the post-cancer, post-voice surge of productivity Ebert experienced in his writing?
A9: "Feverishly
banging the keys of his MacBook Pro", "more than five-hundred thousand
words", "life's work", and "massive monument of written debate".
Activity 21: The Mock Interview
Hamlet: How do you feel you've been treated by other people?
Roger Ebert: I
have tons of people who care for me and I have not had many experiences
where I have been treated badly due to my illness. Therefore I believe I
am treated well.
Hamlet: Are you afraid of death?
Roger Ebert:
I'm less afraid of death but more afraid of not doing what I love to do.
My injury has definitely inhibited my ability to do what I love but I
have found a way to work around it.
Hamlet: Are there any benefits to suffering?
Roger Ebert:
When you're suffering, you are forced to contemplate what you really
desire. The benefit of suffering is that when you are forced to think
what you desire, you are then willing to do anything to do what you
want.
Hamlet: How do you approach challenges?
Roger Ebert: I
approach challenges head on and I persevere through the rough patches.
Life is too great to give up on when things get tough.
Hamlet: What was the hardest part about facing your challenge?
Roger Ebert:
Roger Ebert: How do you feel you've been treated by other people?
Hamlet: I feel I
am looked down upon for no apparent reason. People in my life seem to
dislike me for reasons I am not sure of. The people I surround myself
with are backstabbing nincompoops. I have decided to not put up with it
any longer.
Roger Ebert: Are you afraid of death?
Hamlet: I am
not afraid of death, I am only afraid of not living. My life up to this
point has been lived for other people. I plan to change that and live
for nobody besides me.
Roger Ebert: Are there any benefits to suffering?
Hamlet: I
believe there are benefits to suffering. I have suffered my whole life
and it has led me to want to make a change. Having the experience of
suffering makes you stronger than if you lived your whole life in
happiness.
Roger Ebert: How do you approach challenges?
Hamlet: I
approach challenges head on. I am prepared to kill my uncle without much
hesitation. I believe I will continue to suffer until I make the
change, so this decision is easy.
Roger Ebert: What was the hardest part about facing your challenge?
Hamlet: The
hardest part was the realization that the change I am willing to make
will be one that leaves me in a spot I am not comfortable with. To
become a new person, that is the scariest thing I have ever faced.
Activity 22: Thinking Critically 1. I am more likely to believe what someone says about themselves rather than what someone says about them. However, in the case of this article, we have to base our knowledge entirely on what Chris Jones says. He can embellish or change what Ebert said while we have no clue if what he says is true. 2. Emotional pain is different than physical pain because physical pain WILL eventually go away. There is no telling how long emotional pain will last and therefore I think it is worse. Physical pain has an estimated time of departure, emotional pain may stay forever. 3. I find it amazing that Ebert is still battling cancer but has such a positive outlook on life. If he has already beaten cancer, his attitude wouldn't be as impressive. If I met the guy in real life I would have no clue that he had such a terrible fight with cancer (besides his obvious physical defects). 4. Ebert seems to be at peace with what may lie ahead while Hamlet is terrified. Dreams are a source of uncertainty for Hamlet but a sense of security for Ebert. 5. Ebert has made peace. He believes he has lived a good life and whatever happens after life does not matter to him. Hamlet cannot stand the idea of not existing and therefore is terrified of death. Ebert and Hamlet have opposite views on the subject. 6. When Ebert is writing/critiquing he can feel as if his voice is still being heard. When he wants to call his wife to his room he has to use a robotic voice. If he writes something on the Internet, he can picture millions of people still able to hear HIS voice and point of view. 7. The pre-cancer Ebert lived his life through microphones, speaking in front of hundreds of people. The post-cancer Ebert lives his life through his computer, potentially speaking to millions of people. 8. Ebert does not have time to prattle with every person he sees on the street. He has lost his ability to speak and who knows how much longer he will live. This has given his life meaning and has made him want to express himself and his thoughts in a permanent place. The internet and what he writes on it is so precious to him.
9. Ebert has
"found an even greater joy in books, art and films than he ever had
before". It seems as if his prognosis of death gave him a reason to
LIVE.
10. Jones's tone throughout the articles is one of admiration. He mentions at the beginning that Ebert is the most renowned movie critic or all time. He also at one point says that he cannot believe he got the opportunity to do a piece of work on such an icon.
11. Jones describes this one hospital visit so dramatically to appeal to his reader's emotions. He want you as a reader to like Ebert and sympathize with him. He uses phrases like "drown in his own blood" to emphasize the severity of the situation and help you realize it is a miracle that Ebert is still living.
12. The mention of the "open smile" is pretty intense. Ebert does not have the ability to control the way his face looks and it always seems like he is smiling. This gives anyone who looks at his deformed face a sense of security so most smile back. It it awful for Ebert because he can never show his emotions, it always looks like he is joyful.
13. Words like "ravished", "savor" and "longed for" suggest Ebert's passion for life.
10. Jones's tone throughout the articles is one of admiration. He mentions at the beginning that Ebert is the most renowned movie critic or all time. He also at one point says that he cannot believe he got the opportunity to do a piece of work on such an icon.
11. Jones describes this one hospital visit so dramatically to appeal to his reader's emotions. He want you as a reader to like Ebert and sympathize with him. He uses phrases like "drown in his own blood" to emphasize the severity of the situation and help you realize it is a miracle that Ebert is still living.
12. The mention of the "open smile" is pretty intense. Ebert does not have the ability to control the way his face looks and it always seems like he is smiling. This gives anyone who looks at his deformed face a sense of security so most smile back. It it awful for Ebert because he can never show his emotions, it always looks like he is joyful.
13. Words like "ravished", "savor" and "longed for" suggest Ebert's passion for life.
Activity 24: Process Quick Write
When I read a text that is full of information and quotes like this I try to take it in chunks. I find it hard to read the whole thing in one sitting. If I did try to read it in one setting I would find it difficult to differentiate between parts of the story. I would suggest taking the text part by part and jotting down notes intermittently to gain an understanding. When answering the questions, constantly refer back to the text to see if you actually know what you are talking about. I would also suggest reading it more than once. The first time you read it you should scan the article and take notes on it. After you are done with that, go back and read every single word carefully. If you do all of these things I can guarantee (I actually can't) that you will have a deep understanding of the text.
When I read a text that is full of information and quotes like this I try to take it in chunks. I find it hard to read the whole thing in one sitting. If I did try to read it in one setting I would find it difficult to differentiate between parts of the story. I would suggest taking the text part by part and jotting down notes intermittently to gain an understanding. When answering the questions, constantly refer back to the text to see if you actually know what you are talking about. I would also suggest reading it more than once. The first time you read it you should scan the article and take notes on it. After you are done with that, go back and read every single word carefully. If you do all of these things I can guarantee (I actually can't) that you will have a deep understanding of the text.
Monday, October 14, 2013
VALUE OF LEARNING
this week my group plans to study "Roger Ebert: The Essential Man" by Chris Jones and "What is a Life Worth" by Amanda Ripley. over the course of this week my group will read and analyze the text.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Literary analysis #2
The Way Things Ought To Be by Rush Limbaugh
Topics and events
1 The book begins with a small history lesson on how Rush reached his current position in radio broadcasting. He talks about the people who helped him air on the more popular stations and eventually helped him to be aired nationally. He also speaks on a multitude of subjects which are all political in nature, but that's all just on the surface. What he really is intent on promoting is independent thought. Yes of course he shows his side of the political subjects but throughout the chapters he restates the phrase think for yourself.
2 He decided to write he book to tell a little about himself and his political view points.
3 This book actually fell into my hands several years ago, however until recently I have had no motivation to read a nonfiction book. I 'rediscovered' the book as I was rummaging through my small selection of nonfiction books in my family library. I remembered that my father had read it while I was younger and had enjoyed the book. So naturally being his son I decided that I wanted to see what he had found to be so intriguing about the book.
4 I believe that this book is realistic. There are a few connections that I made from the book to my life, just as he struggled to become a national broadcaster (which is difficult) I myself am pursuing something few people ever achieve (and quite frankly I really hope I make it) such as my eagle rank in BSA.
People
1 In the book Rush describes multiple people, some of whom took part in helping him reach this point in his career, and of course several politicians whom stand on either side of the issue.
2 A.The first person in the book to really strike me with interest was Bruce Marr, this is the man who helped Rush reach such a prominent place in talk radio. Bruce was given his share of honest praise for acting as a catalyst in Rush's thought process. IN a fictional novel I would use Bruce as a nurturing and supporting character because of the effort he put into helping Rush get into ABC radio.
B. The second person in the book to strike me as interesting would have to be Bob Grant. Bob Grant was described to be the broadcasting veteran of twenty years. Though he is not mentioned through the book I find him interesting because he was the #1 listened to radio host at the time in New York city because of his use of combat radio, a form of radio in which there is an active disagreement between the host and the caller.
3 Both of the people described above were people whom I found interesting because of the way Rush described them. Bruce was an excellent help to Rush, and Bob was the #1 broadcaster in New York.
Style
2 Rush tended to focus more upon the actions of political groups than anything.
3 Rush uses some sarcasm combined with hints of tongue in cheek to create a more optimistic mood in spite of the large topics that are discussed creating an entertaining experience.
4 I personally enjoyed his comedy that he used to brighten the mood of the book, it was enjoyable to read some of the comical sarcasm that he used to express his thoughts upon politics. It created a book that didn't seem to foretell the "end of humanity itself" but instead insisted there was hope as long as the American people thought for themselves.
5 His sources were that of the news, stories that had been publicized by CNN and CBS, etc.
Enduring memory
The one thing I expect to remember indefinitely is his use of sarcasm and comical elements to brighten the overall mood of the book. Life is difficult and sometimes the world can seem bleak, but sometimes you just need to stay optimistic and enjoy the humor.
Topics and events
1 The book begins with a small history lesson on how Rush reached his current position in radio broadcasting. He talks about the people who helped him air on the more popular stations and eventually helped him to be aired nationally. He also speaks on a multitude of subjects which are all political in nature, but that's all just on the surface. What he really is intent on promoting is independent thought. Yes of course he shows his side of the political subjects but throughout the chapters he restates the phrase think for yourself.
2 He decided to write he book to tell a little about himself and his political view points.
3 This book actually fell into my hands several years ago, however until recently I have had no motivation to read a nonfiction book. I 'rediscovered' the book as I was rummaging through my small selection of nonfiction books in my family library. I remembered that my father had read it while I was younger and had enjoyed the book. So naturally being his son I decided that I wanted to see what he had found to be so intriguing about the book.
4 I believe that this book is realistic. There are a few connections that I made from the book to my life, just as he struggled to become a national broadcaster (which is difficult) I myself am pursuing something few people ever achieve (and quite frankly I really hope I make it) such as my eagle rank in BSA.
People
1 In the book Rush describes multiple people, some of whom took part in helping him reach this point in his career, and of course several politicians whom stand on either side of the issue.
2 A.The first person in the book to really strike me with interest was Bruce Marr, this is the man who helped Rush reach such a prominent place in talk radio. Bruce was given his share of honest praise for acting as a catalyst in Rush's thought process. IN a fictional novel I would use Bruce as a nurturing and supporting character because of the effort he put into helping Rush get into ABC radio.
B. The second person in the book to strike me as interesting would have to be Bob Grant. Bob Grant was described to be the broadcasting veteran of twenty years. Though he is not mentioned through the book I find him interesting because he was the #1 listened to radio host at the time in New York city because of his use of combat radio, a form of radio in which there is an active disagreement between the host and the caller.
3 Both of the people described above were people whom I found interesting because of the way Rush described them. Bruce was an excellent help to Rush, and Bob was the #1 broadcaster in New York.
Style
2 Rush tended to focus more upon the actions of political groups than anything.
3 Rush uses some sarcasm combined with hints of tongue in cheek to create a more optimistic mood in spite of the large topics that are discussed creating an entertaining experience.
4 I personally enjoyed his comedy that he used to brighten the mood of the book, it was enjoyable to read some of the comical sarcasm that he used to express his thoughts upon politics. It created a book that didn't seem to foretell the "end of humanity itself" but instead insisted there was hope as long as the American people thought for themselves.
5 His sources were that of the news, stories that had been publicized by CNN and CBS, etc.
Enduring memory
The one thing I expect to remember indefinitely is his use of sarcasm and comical elements to brighten the overall mood of the book. Life is difficult and sometimes the world can seem bleak, but sometimes you just need to stay optimistic and enjoy the humor.
Melancholy grad
Hello fellow students, it has been a long and difficult year but well worth the effort. As you leave today's festivities you will begin the remainder of your long life. So what will you do with your life? Will you kick back and watch as opportunity passes you by? When the troubles that this life brings arrive at your doorstep what will you do? Will you simply allow yourself to be overtaken by the challenges and pains of life? I admit, that would be easy. The troubles of life never change and you know how to deal with them, it never gets any easier, but you know how to deal with them. Or will you choose to do the hard thing? Will you choose to face newer, greater challenges that push your limits for a chance, just a chance, to become something great? Will you stand against the vast ocean of troubles that we all face and fight back? Fighting is hard and we all want our lives to be easy and fun, but that's the catch. What hero that you have respected has lived an easy life? I'll tell you right now none of them have. We all respect those who triumph in the face of overwhelming challenges and pain. So why are we so afraid to do so? You don't need to be afraid. Take your chance and stand against the ocean of trouble. Become a hero by fighting against pain and fighting trough your trouble.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
A writer in training
As you may not know I am a young writer in training. Though I have been creating short stories since I was young few have been formally written, or typed, and I have decided that it is time to begin allow my works to be read. With this in mind I have created a blog linked to the Fiction page of this blog. On this blog you will find stories I have written and I have chosen to put on the blog to be read by the public. Post any comments on how I could improve the stories and increase my writing capabilities.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
To be or not to be
Translation:
Should I act, or should I not act?
Is it better to live through
the troubles of dire misfortune,
or to stand against an overwhelming force,
and by standing concur it: to die
to imagine no longer; to end the pain
and the suffering of life that we are all subjected to?
Many desire to live without this trouble.
To imagine, maybe to think; but that is the problem
to think is to not act, and what regrets may be left
by the soul whom neglected to act,
I must consider. To overcome great obstacles,
and earn the respect of those around me,
not all men choose to act;
some give into the will of their oppressor,
others are defeated by unjust law,
enforced by the insolent politicians,
and then finally end his own misery.
What is better to face,
a weary and miserable existence,
or a new set of challenges from which there is no return.
These decisions are ones that all people fear,
which provokes the deep thought upon my decision,
to either remain silent and ignorant of my troubles,
or to face them directly.
I choose to face them directly.
personally I choose to change myself, to make myself better. Recently I haven't been pushing as hard as I could to overcome the obstacles within my life. I will use all of my ability to finish the project that I have ben working on; it's going to be a huge pain, but if I want to reach my eagle rank then I have to push through.
Vocablary 7
cursory: done or made quickly
this sentence was cursory
impetus: a force that causes something to begin movement
The report card was impetus to Joe and got him to do his homework
pinnacle: the highest point of greatest success or achievement
The pinnacle of being a writer is when you are finally published
contumely: harsh language arising from haughtiness
his contumely offended all whom were within the room.
bereavement: the state of sadness due to the loss of a friend or loved one.
His bereavement cast a dark gloom into those around him.
cache: a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been illegally obtained.
The police found a cache of narcotics buried in the suspect's backyard.
consummation: the consummating of a marriage; the ultimate end
calamity: an event that causes great harm and suffering.
In the calamity most of the earth was destroyed leaving only half of the population alive.
avarice: a strong desire to make or to have money.
fortify: to strengthen by building military defenses.
To protect our lives we fortify our country with powerful weapons.
erratic: acting in ways that are not expected or usual
The child erratically burst into tears in the middle of class.
ubiquitous: seeming to be seen everywhere
The men in black were ubiquitous, watching every street, waiting around every corner.
fortitude: mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, and pain.
The soldier showed his great fortitude when he stormed the beaches of Normandy in WW2.
nonchalant: relaxed in a calm way that shows that you do not care, or are not worried about anything.
As the test was given, Kevin nonchalantly lay down his head and began to sleep.
affect: a conscious aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes
The lack of affect in a story is found to be very boring.
effect: a change that results when something is done or when an event occurs.
The calamity effected the minds of all whom survived
misappropriate: to take something wrongly for your own use
Gen stole the company's money to spend on her jewelry
pragmatic: dealing with problems that exist in a specific situation in a responsible and logical way.
metacognition: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking process
In Preston's class we were taught to use metacognition to enhance our learning experience
devoutly : to be deeply religious. serious and sincere
I am devoted to increasing my writing abilities so that I may write better stories.
this sentence was cursory
impetus: a force that causes something to begin movement
The report card was impetus to Joe and got him to do his homework
pinnacle: the highest point of greatest success or achievement
The pinnacle of being a writer is when you are finally published
contumely: harsh language arising from haughtiness
his contumely offended all whom were within the room.
bereavement: the state of sadness due to the loss of a friend or loved one.
His bereavement cast a dark gloom into those around him.
cache: a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been illegally obtained.
The police found a cache of narcotics buried in the suspect's backyard.
consummation: the consummating of a marriage; the ultimate end
calamity: an event that causes great harm and suffering.
In the calamity most of the earth was destroyed leaving only half of the population alive.
avarice: a strong desire to make or to have money.
fortify: to strengthen by building military defenses.
To protect our lives we fortify our country with powerful weapons.
erratic: acting in ways that are not expected or usual
The child erratically burst into tears in the middle of class.
ubiquitous: seeming to be seen everywhere
The men in black were ubiquitous, watching every street, waiting around every corner.
fortitude: mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, and pain.
The soldier showed his great fortitude when he stormed the beaches of Normandy in WW2.
nonchalant: relaxed in a calm way that shows that you do not care, or are not worried about anything.
As the test was given, Kevin nonchalantly lay down his head and began to sleep.
affect: a conscious aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes
The lack of affect in a story is found to be very boring.
effect: a change that results when something is done or when an event occurs.
The calamity effected the minds of all whom survived
misappropriate: to take something wrongly for your own use
Gen stole the company's money to spend on her jewelry
pragmatic: dealing with problems that exist in a specific situation in a responsible and logical way.
metacognition: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking process
In Preston's class we were taught to use metacognition to enhance our learning experience
devoutly : to be deeply religious. serious and sincere
I am devoted to increasing my writing abilities so that I may write better stories.
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