Six Word Memior

*I know that this wasn't one of my six-word memiors from the summer assighnment. My project was saved on a different computer and it wasn't in my sent e-mails. Instead, I made a new one and analyzed it. I think it still describes me as a student.

Tone Words:

1. pathetic
2. stressful
3. overwhelmed

Mood Words:

1. amused
2. sympathetic
3. gloomy

Subject:  stress

Theme: The simplist of duties for which one is resposible often become overwhelming and seem to consume our lives and overtake our thoughts.

My Bucket List: An Independent Reading List

Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini:

I first heard about this book through Mrs. Barnett in English. She mentioned that it was a really good read. I looked up the book description on Amazon and knew imediatly that it was a book that I would enjoy. It combines an interesting story with the history of Afganistan over the last thirty years. I enjoy reading novels that have historical accuacy in them. I get to learn along with enjoying an interesting story.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath:

In this american classic Sylvia Plath tells the story of a woman that has a dramatic breakdown. I haven't read many classics for anyting other than school assignments. It is for that reason that I havn't liked many of the them. But once I read this book description I felt like I could really get into a novel that has a little bit of horror in it.

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger:

This book was written in 1951 and was included on Time's 2003 list of the 100 best Enlish language novels written since 1923. After starting out as an adult book it was popular with teens. It portreys themes that reach out to teenagers including teenage confusion, angst, and rebellion. I think it would be interesting to read about teen rebellion in the 50s.

Looking for Alaska by John Green:

This book has a theme that is reoccuring in todays society. It follows the story of a girl that commits suicide and the morning of her friends. This is a modern classic that I feel that could help to enrich my modern cultural knowledge that pertains to teen difficulties.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen:

This is a book that I have already read but I enjoied it so much that I could read it over and over agian. It is set in the early years of the depression, an era that has always facinated me. It also has an intense love story. I'm a sucker for a good love story.

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

This is another book that Mrs. Barnett told us about in class. Mark Haddon tells the story through the point of view of a fifteen year old autistic boy. He writes about how he tries to find the killer of his neighbor's dog. I have already started reading. It's not a challenging read but the narrator does tend to rail off. I guess time will tell when I get further in.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:

This novel is set during the second World War in Germany. I know alot of the books I have picked have historical context. I just really love hisorical fiction. I like to have an idea of what people went through considering I have family that lived through these tough times.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris:

I havn't heard anything about this one but I read the back cover and it follow how the decisions of one generation effects the lives of the next two.  It is a modern classic that can just add to an impressive reading list.

Silas Marner by George Eliot:

A ninteenth century classic about betrayal, gold and love. I wanted to read a good classic because I need to read something a little bit more in depth than a Sarah Dessen novel. Not that they are bad. Plus Mrs. Barnett recomended it, so it has to be a good read.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden:

I picked this book because I feel like it could broaden by hoizon as far as knowing about other cultures and their costoms. It follows the life of a girl who is inducted into Geisha training at the age of nine. It gives and intimate look into sacred practices in the lives of Japanese girls during the early 1900s.

Film Review of "Rebel Without a Cause"

     The 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause,” was filmed in a time of the transition of ideas about young people. Like many movies, it was based on the 1944 book by Robert Lindner. Stewart Stern (screenplay), Irving Shulman (adaptation) and, Nicholas Ray (director/story) bring this influential book to life to reveal the changing times. The main roll of Jim Start, played by James Dean, opens doors to a new perception of the way young men should behave. Because this movie was released in 1955, I had a hard time appriciating it. Quality of film making and acting has improved and I though it was unnecesarilly dramatic.

     Shortly after moving to Los Angeles with his parents, 17-year-old Jim Stark (James Dean) is brought into the police station for public drunkenness. When his mother, father and grandmother arrive at the police station to retrieve him, conflicts in Jim's family situation are introduced. His weak-willed father (Jim Backus) often tries to defend Jim, but Jim's self absorbed, overbearing mother always wins the arguments because his father has little backbone. Jim feels betrayed both by this fighting and his father's weakness, causing feelings of confusion about what is to be a man. This shows up later in the film when he repeatedly asks his father, "What do you do when you have to be a man?"

      When Jim starts at his new high school he becomes involved in a dispute with a local bully named Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). While Jim tries to deal with Buzz, he becomes friends with a shy boy, John, who is nicknamed Plato (Sal Mineo), who was also at the police station the night of the opening scene for shooting and killing puppies. Jim shows Plato kindness while others ridicule him. Because of his lack of parental figures, Plato comes to view Jim as a father-figure. Though it might not have been realized in 1955, it was clear to myself and my classmates that Plato is gay and has a crush on Jim.

      Jim meets Judy (Natalie Wood), whom he also recognizes from the police station the previous night, where she was brought in for being out alone after dark. Unfortunately Judy is Buzz‘s girlfriend. Judy like Jim and Plato has a troubled home life. She struggles with her distant, sexist father who refuses to show affection towards his daughter. The level of appropriate intimacy shown in 1955 is clear in the scene in which Judy comes home and her parents are preparing to go to sleep in separate beds.

      On a field trip with his science class to the Griffith Observatory, Jim and Buzz get into a Fight in which Buzz and his group of friends label him a “chicken” and challenge him to a “Chickie Run,” a race in which two people speed towards a cliff to see who will jump out of their car first. Jim reluctantly agrees not realizing what this game initialed. The race turns in to a spectacle for many of the students bud ends in tragedy for Buzz when a strap on the sleeve of his leather jacket becomes looped over a handle on the car door, preventing him from jumping out before the car goes over the cliff.

      Jim runs home and tries to tell his parents what happened, but quickly becomes frustrated by their failure to understand him and storms out of the house. After trying to get advise from his parents about what he should do, they fight and Jim goes to the police to find the sergeant, Ray Fremick (Edward Platt), who took his statement the previous night to tell him about the accident. But Jim is seen leaving the station by three of Buzz's friends. Mistakenly thinking that Jim told the police about the "Chickie Run", they decide to hunt Jim down to "silence him."

      Jim meets up with Judy and they go to an abandoned mansion to hide out. Plato finds them there. Their similar difficult home situration lead them to roll play a  "fantasy family" that they wish they had, with Jim as father, Judy as mother and Plato as child. Buzz’s friends soon discover them and terrorize Plato who finally brandishes his mother's hand gun that he took from the house, shooting them and a police officer.

     Plato runs and hides in the observatory, which is soon surrounded by the police. Jim and Judy follow him inside, and Jim convinces Plato to lend him the gun, from which he removes the round of bullets, and come outside to turn himself in. When Plato steps out of the observatory, he becomes agitated again at the sight of the police and attempts to run, exposing his gun. He is fatally shot by the police. Jim, devastated by this loss, is comforted by his father who promises to be stronger for his son.

     To my knowledge this melodramatic film has no central theme or lesson. It touches on many problems faced by normal families and teens of the era without focusing on a particular one. It’s name fits. Just like Jim this movie challenges the norm.

Our Right Pusue the Ridiculous: An Analysis of “The right to bear clubs”

           Everyday we turn on our televisions and are bombarded with commercials that advertise the greatest new invention that will make our lives exponentially easier.  In his column, “The right to bear clubs,” Dave Barry regales his readers of a new invention that will revolutionize the way we play golf. Following in the same pattern of his other columns, Barry utilizes hyperbole and satire in order to make the column enjoyable for his readers and keep them engaged. He appeals to pathos by sharing his personal golfing experiences and referring to influential names in history. Barry’s satirical fortitude acknowledges that while some causes are incredibly outrageous and useless to pursue, we as Americans have the precious right to proceed if we so choose.

            Barry appeals to pathos in order to build his credibility and gain the seriousness of the topic he is discussing. He can relate to the need for the “Ballistic Driver” because he “[loves] to [drive] the golf cart, saying the word ‘bogey’, and [stand] around the course, but hates to actually “[swing] the club at the stupid ball.” He relates himself to the topic by understanding the rationale for the production of this outrageous object. He understands the average American’s need to participate in the fight for a cause because he can relate to them. Barry suggests that we, just as the soldiers of the “Revolutionary War” and “the Minutepersons” of “Lexington,” must continue to revolutionize the country to fight for our rights and keep their legacy alive. By providing two historically significant battles Barry gives credible justification for American pride. Barry drive’s his main purpose for writing this column by presenting a case for the support of pretentious causes, as a right that we as Americans must protect. Pathos gives Barry credibility not only for himself but also for his main point.

            Barry’s use of hyperbole exaggerates the flagrancy of the Ballistic Driver and addresses its dangers. Barry predicts that “street gangs” could convert the clubs to “Fully Automatic mode” and terrorize “rival golf courses” in their “low-riding golf carts” and drive “hundreds of balls per minute in vicious ‘drive-by’ tee-offs.” Barry compares the issues between street gangs to that of politics between rivaling businesses and a fully automatic gun to a golf club. He expresses that our American citizenship reserves our rights to pursue an outlandish spectacle. Barry also creates the scenario that one morning we could “turn on the TV news [and] see Saddam Hussein wearing lime-green pants, standing next to a golf club the size of the Washington Monument” as he is about “to hit a massive chemical and/or biological Golf Ball Of Doom” onto the “fairway of middle America.” By mentioning that Saddam Hussein could be in the country and ready to blow it up with a golf ball, Barry creates an unrealistic scenario. Through the inflation of the implications of this powerful new golf club Barry expresses his view that the implications some political rights are exaggerated to an unbelievable extent.  By drastically amplifying the dangers of the Ballistic Driver, Barry expresses some political causes and reforms are unnecessary.

            Barry uses his classic satire to add sarcasm and make his serious boring topics more enjoyable for his readers and give them a good laugh. Barry asks his readers to agree with him that this “breakthrough” in new “technology” is a “great idea.” He rhetorically asks his audience to compliment the Ballistic Driver with boastful praise. Sarcasm and views on the importance that some Americans feel about causes are expressed through this rhetorical question. Barry explains that the Ballistic Driver could result in “‘drive-by’ tee offs.” His play on words compares the driving of a golf ball to a drive-by shooting. Barry achieves satire by using a humorous pun to tie in society. Sarcasm is a signature Barry has claimed to engage his audience and add flare to his writing.

            Barry recognizes that our rights as Americans are very precious and we will fight to the ends of the Earth to protect them. He writes about problems we face in America in order to relate to his readers. He asserts his views in the typical Dave Barry fashion through the use of humor and sarcasm. “The right to bear clubs” is an example of asserting our freedoms as Americans through speech.

Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw! Questions

1. John McMurtry's essay begins with a personal anecdote about the results of playing sports especially football-since childhood. When he can no longer ignore his physical condittion he seeks treatment and is hospitilized. How does th anecdote lend credubility to his argument?
Answer: By opening with his own personal experiences, McMurty not only introduces his topic but confirms that he has authority to speak on the subject. This personal anecdote gains McMurtry credibility by making himself a part of the evidence that supports his argument. This story shows that, through his experiences, he knows the cause and effect of football related injuries.

2. Paragraphs 5-7 compare and contrast football and war. Is this comparison convincing? How does this comparison appeal to logos?
Answer: This comparison is convincing because McMurty gives many examples in different areas such as slang, history, principles, and practices in which they are similar. He supports this part of his argument well by prestenting integrated slang and metaphores. This comparision appeals to logos in that McMurty gives many very specific examples. Thus creating concreat evidence for his claim.

3. In paragraph 9 the tone shifts. How is the shift achieved? Explain how the shift mirrors a transition in McMurtry's argument.
Answer: McMurty shifts the tone by explaining how, as he made his way through organized footaball, "the game had been ruined" by the enforcement of rules and the overal goal. It was no longer about playing "in a spirit of reckless abandon and laughter" but a battle to see who could harm the other more. This mirrors in the transition of his argument in that at this point he starts to refute the game of football rather than praise it.

4. Who is McMurty's audience? Is it necessary for th ereader to understand or care about football in order to understand what McMurty is saying about society? Explain.
Answer: McMurty's does not have a particular audience. He is speaking to the general public. Though it would be helpful to know a bit about football in order understant the slang McMurty uses in the opening of his argument and the physical pain players endure it is not necessary to undersand his connection to society because he is talking about the brutality of the sport rather than specific rules.

Suggestions for Writing #1

In paragraph 12, Emerson makes the following assertion about education in his time: "Our modes of Education aim to expedite, to save labor; to do for masses what cannot be done for the masses, what must be done reverently, one by one: say rather, the whole world is needed for the tuition of each pupil." What does he mean? (You might have to look up the meaning of tuition in this context.) Do you think that public education today still resembles Emerson's description? Explain.

     In his essay, Emerson describes the education system of his time. In most of the essay he criticizes teachers, schools and education in general. In paragraph 12 Emerson describes the purpose of the eductional system to get students through school with the same level of eduction for all.
     He notes that the "modes of Eduction aim to expidite." Meaning, that its purpose is to speed it up or to be done promptly. He believes that educators teach the same lessons to every pupil no matter the pace that needs to be met to ensure that every student understands. After looking up the word "tuition" on dictionary.com, I found that it meant the teaching or instruction of pupils. Emerson believes that the educator should instruct each student according to a pace at which they can learn by.
     I believe that the school system in our time is somewhat different. There are classes that are focused on moving at paces that are not of the average student. Wheather it be a faster or slower pace, our school system has the classes to meet these requirments.

got milk?

The ad that I chose to analyze for this assignment is one of the many posters that the "got milk?" campaign created to encourage people to drink more milk. Most kids cringe at the thought of drinking milk. Milk got its reputation with kids as the healthy drink that our parents make us drink. This ad appeals to the three rhetorical devices (ethos, logos, and pathos) by showing a beautiful model drinking milk to the point were she has a milk mustache. This creates the idea that if you drink milk you can look like this to.


The first rhetorical device that this ad appeals to is ethos. In the "got milk?" ads ethos is used as the persuasive appeal. The "got milk?" campaign is a prestigeous campaign that is known for useing celebrities as its spokes people such as Beyonce, Hidi Klum, and Taylor Swift. This portreys the idea that if you drink milk you can be famous and sucessful like these people. The ad appeals to ethos well by the beautiful model presented. She stands in an attracive pose with clothing that axcentuates her curves that gives creditability that if you drink milk you can look like this. The "got milk?" campaign is trying to get kids to drink more milk by showing them that it has proven effective for the woman on the poster.

Another one of the rhetorical appeals that the creater of this ad is trying to execute is logos. The obvious example of logos is shown on the left side of the ad. "Your bones grow until the age of 35 and the calcium in milk helps," is stated. This statement can help effect the reader by putting forth the logic that drinking milk helps people grow up with strong and healthy bones. Stating that it also helps keep your bones strong after 35 shows the reader that milk is always effective.

Pathos is the emotional appeal. Whatever emotion the creator of the ad is trying to appeal to the result is remains the same. He wants you to buy his product. The example of pathos in this ad is quite obviously the super, mega foxy, awesome, hot model covering 2/3rds of the ad. The emotion I beleive that the campaign is trying to to envoke is attraction. Males in particular are targeted in this ad. "If a super hot girl is drinking milk I should also," is the idea that the "got milk?" creaters want to put in their minds.

By using the three rhetorical devices, the ad appeals to males and females of all ages. Credibility, statistics, and emotions are used in this ad to help sell the idea that people should drink more milk while also drawing our attention to it in a positvie way.

I Love You Squared :)

Play is something that Pink believes that is a vital part in increasing our right brain abilities. My friend Hannah and I didn't quite get to go to the playground and watch children play since school is not in session. Instead we got in touch with our inner child by playing silly games with her nephew Asher and playing the cartoon game

 Asher took some of the pictures

 Kate was looking into the sun :p

 Pretty picture Asher took of Hannah

 Pretty picture Asher took of me

 "Hannah Wizbeths, make silly faces"

 We took the tent outside 

 Playing in the tent

 Playing the rock band app.

Asher texted Jonathan :p

 Playing tag with Asher

Cartoon Before:                                                                    Cartoon After:

.                                

Fire and Ice Inspired

Some say childhood will end with age
Some with maturity
From what I've seen of teenagers
I hold those who favor maturity
But if I had to grow up twice
I think I would know enough of maturity
To say that growing in age
Is not enough
And would not sufice

Harlem Inspired

What  happens to time

Does it slip through our fingers
like water running through a fauset
Or pass us by
like trees passing as we drive in a car 
And then fade into the distance
Does it sit in our minds
like memories of an old love
Or dissapear in the past
like old friends we loose touch with
Maybe it just continues to suprise us with its fast or slow passing
like a young child with its random shananagans

Or is it just limitless

Character Analysis of Creon

Elizabeth Mace
Mrs. Harmon
Pre-AP English 10
4, May 2011

     In his play “Antigone,” Shopocles had many different characters with contradicting views on society, religion, and values. In his play, set in ancient Greek society, Antigone’s two brothers are both killed. One dies protecting Thebes but one dies invading it. Creon, the ruler of the city, declares that Antigone’s brother, Polynices, will not have any of the proper burial rituals performed on his body and that no one can even go near him. Both of these characters are strong willed and very set in their ways. Antigone is determined to bury her brother. She believes to not bury him would dishonor the gods. Creon will not revoke his decree. Creon is too set in his ways to see reason until his whole life is falling apart.
     Creon would “rob his son of” a happy marriage to Antigone even if it “injures” him. Creon would kill the woman his son loves if it meant he could stand by his ruling. Creon is determined to stop the wedding. There is no woman that Haemon has “such harmony as he has with her.” Antigone is the perfect woman for him. To Creon, Antigone is a bad woman and would damage Haemon.
     To Creon “the gods set right” the “city’s affairs after shaking them in a storm.” Burying Polynices would mean burying a traitor with honor in his eyes. He deserved to rot and be eaten by the crows according to Creon. Creon “defies” and “dishonors” the gods by not giving Polynices a proper burial. Antigone and Tiresias try to tell him that there would be consequences if he tried to defy a greater power such a the gods. Creon is willing to challenge his religion and the religion of his city.
     Indirectly, the “difficult fate” of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice “falls” in Creon’s “hands.” When Creon refuses to accept Haemons plea to set Antigone free he kills himself at Antigone’s feet when finds that she has killed herself. When Eurydice finds out that her son is dead she kills herself. Creon has “no where to turn to, nothing to lean on,” because his family is gone. It is not until after his wife and son are dead that Creon listens to Tiresias.
     In the end Creon finally sees that Antigone and Tiresias were right. But, it was to late. Creon’s stubbornness and determination to not bury Polynices leads to the death of his wife, son, and almost daughter-in-law. Creon is too set in his ways to see reason until his whole life is falling apart.

Cell Phone Ban in School

    In this new age kids are exposed to more technology than we can tell you about. With the new technology comes new debates about their use in school. Cell phones are one of the most controversial topics when it comes to technology.The majority of any student body owns a cell phone.
    This article discusses the running debate of whether students should be allowed to have a cell phone in public schools. Whether it’s talking on the phone in between classes or texting in class many school officials believe that cell phones are a huge distraction to the educational process. As school leaders are striving to improve student performance and the overall student learning experience, schools across the country are enforcing strict policies regarding cell phones (Chen). Some schools have even baned cell phones completely.
    Most parents and kids feel that this ban is outrageous. Some have even taken out lawsuits against schools. They argue that cell phones provide their kids with a form of communication in case there is an emergency. Schools argue that cell phones are distracting, disruptive, and can give students the opportunity to cheat on test.    There are many convincing on both sides of the argument but as a kid I have to agree with the pro cell phone side. If the school bans cell phones, how are students supposed to get a hold of their parents if we don’t have a cell phone. I don’t think that the receptionist in the office wants to deal with a thousand kids in the office needing to use the phone at three in the afternoon.     There are still going to be the pro-ban people out there but I stick to my opinion.

Annotated Bibliography:

Chen, Grace. "Should Public Schools Ban Cell Phones." www.publicschoolreview.com. N.p., 30/10/08. Web. 13 Feb 2011.

Books vs. Movies

     When you ask anybody if they think they like the movie version of a book better a lot say no. I personally agree with these people. I am always very excited to see a movie of one of my favorite books. More times than not, I’m disappointed. TIME in partnership with CNN wrote an article discussing the subject asking readers their opinions.

“...readers of a novel have already made their own perfect movie version. They have visualized it, fleshed out the locations and set the pace as they either zipped through the book or scrupulously savored every word. Often they have even cast it.”

     This is right on the nose. All readers do this. They have their own expectations of a book and are most always disappointed. It is very hard for writers to transform every detail of a book to life. No matter how important we as readers think a chapter from our favorite book may be, a screen writer simply cannot include it all.
     There is also the other side of this argument: the people who like the movie better. In my experience the people who have seen the movie and then read the book seem to like the movie better.  Again I think it has to do with the picture people already have in their heads. If they have seen the movie they have all the sets and characters in mind and don’t necessarily follow the descriptions.   
     I don’t think we will ever declare a winner of this battle between literature and motion picture. There is no fact that states the book is better than its movie version or a movie version i better than the book it portrays. It is a matter of opinion. But, if you are asking me my vote is for the book.

My Perfect World

He finally popped the question. I was finally going to have the big family with a loving husband I always wanted. I raced through the streets full of celebrating couples to my mother and father’s home to deliver the news. It was New Years Eve, one of the most romantic nights, and everybody was happy. Of course my parents knew I would be coming. Gregory had already been by the house to ask for my fathers blessing days ago. They had been waiting in anticipation for me to show up at the house all day. They were thrilled. Gregory was handsome, charming, wealthy, and had a wonderful social status. He couldn’t be anymore perfect. I was going to be the envy of every woman in Fairview. The wedding was to take place in the summer. A perfect summer wedding to go with my perfect new life. I loved him and he loved me. We were going to have a big happy family and live happily ever after.

……………………………….............................

The months went by tirelessly. It seemed like the big day would never come. My mother, future mother-in-law, and I spent most of our time at planning sessions, cake tastings, and dress fittings. If it would have been up to me I would have had a small wedding with our families and that would have been it. But, I knew that wouldn’t be possible. He had a very high social status in the community and it would have been unheard of for us not to go through the big fancy wedding. It was tiring and I didn’t care for the planning but I never complained. It was all worth it. I would soon be married to the most eligible bachelor Fairview.

………………………………....................................

The day finally came. I was so nervous I couldn’t stand it. My closest girlfriends spent the whole day getting me ready. And when the time finally came they slipped me into my dress. The huge ball gown, covered in lace and tool, required all of my bridesmaids assistance to put on. As I walked through the church to where the ceremony was to take place when the world suddenly went dark and I was yanked from behind and led of the church. My kidnapper had defiantly caught me of guard. They had moved so fast I didn’t even see what they had thrown over my head. I was to disoriented too even scream. I didn’t even get the chance. I was thrown into a car and it sped away. The ride was not a comfortable one. The speed was too fast and the turns were to sharp. I was knocked unconscious within minutes. The last thought running through my mind was “I’m going to die.”

I woke as the kidnapper pulled what had caused the darkness off my head. A pillow case. This plain white cloth that had shut me out of the world. I looked into the face of the kidnapper. This man that had taken me from my perfect world and my eternal happiness. His dark eyes were so dark they looked black. He was a big man with broad shoulders, crowbars for arms, and softball mitt hands.

“Who are you? What do you want from me,“ I asked.
“My name is Jeff. That’s exactly it,” he said. “ I want you.”
    Jeff was not a cruel man. He was actually quite kind. It didn”t matter thought. Jeff never released me and I was his prisoner forever.

Compare and Contrast

    Folklore is the traditional lore or legends of a people. The stories are often false or greatly exaggerated. Different cultures have differences in their stories as well as similarities. The stories “Axe Murder Hollow,” from Pennsylvania, “Pink,” from Florida, and “The Maid of the Mist,” have some differences but also have their similarities.
    In a way all the stories I read are quite sad. They all have death in them. The murders in “Axe Murder Hollow” and “Pink” are much more similar than in “The Maid of the Mist.” In “Axe Murder Hollow” and “Pink” the murders are fueled  by a rage jealousy. A ghost axeman, who's wife had cheated him, chopped up a young couple because he was jealous of their relationship in “Axe Murder Hollow.” In “Pink” chokes his wife to death when he become jealous of the young garden hand he believes that is a little to friendly. The death in “The Maid of the Mist” is a bit different. The maid’s village water supply is poisoned by a giant serpent. The people get sick and begin to die.
    Only two of my stories are truly scary. “Axe Murder Hollow” and “Pink” both have murder in them by a jealous husband. The ghost man from “Axe Murder Hollow” haunts that dreadful road and searches for happy couples to kill. The husband in “Pink” kills his wife and gets away with it. He just creates a clever story about his wife leaving him and not coming back. The only scary character in “The Maid of the Mist” is the giant serpent. He poisons the water and waits for the people to die so he come back for them.
    The endings of the stories I read were happy and sad. The ending for “Axe Murder Hollow” was sad. The ghost kills the couple. The ending for “Pink” was sort of bitter sweet. Although the husband got away with murder he tragically died of a heart attack soon after he returned home from his extended “vacation.” The ending of “The Maid of the Mist” was also bitter sweet. The giant serpent was killed and never returned but Heno’s home was destroyed. He did make them new home in the end.
    All folklore has it's own style. Each culture will slight differences in their structure or style. They will also have their similarities such as happy endings and disturbing endings.

Those Are Some Big Kids. Wait.......

    In spirit of Halloween I looked up a few articles concerning the spooky holiday. In the article “Scariest Sight on Halloween? Grown-Ups” R. L. Stine notices that grown-ups are becoming more and more involved with Halloween. He has always viewed Halloween as a holiday when children can dress up in crazy costumes and go out in public to gather pounds of candy without the constant nagging of their parents. This is why when he goes to a haunted house to do research for a magazine article he was asked to write he is astonished to find that many of them do not admit children under eighteen. Later he went to a book store and sees Halloween books only for adults. Or, when he walks past a costume store and all the costumes are provocative adult costumes. In some ways I agree with Stine. I think that the level that adults take Halloween to is a bit ridiculous. But, I also have to think about it through the young adult in me.

“Of course, much has been written about how this generation of American adults doesn’t want to give up its inner child. I don’t have to spell out the evidence — it’s everywhere — that grownups want to be kids for as long as they can possibly get away with it. And who can blame us?
But ... no kids admitted to a Halloween haunted house? Talk about a hatchet blow to the head.”

    I can say that I only partly agree with this situation. The haunted house might be scary for very little kids but I’m fifteen years old. I think I am old enough to go into a haunted house that is scary. The scary aspects are a major part of the Halloween tradition. I wouldn’t want to miss out on it. I can also see this from the adult perspective. They don’t want to have to make there haunted houses any less scary for younger kids and loose some of their adult customers.

“Farther down Broadway, I saw a Halloween costume store. Yes, you guessed it — there were no princess costumes with sparkling tiaras, no duck costumes with fuzzy tails. I saw a lot of flimsy negligees as well as studded black leather outfits with handcuffs and whips. A popular item seemed to be fake, black, curly chest hair for men.
I returned to my apartment disheartened. Perhaps in a few years, I would write a 10-year-old character who described his Halloween like this:
‘Best Halloween ever! First, Mom and Dad let my sister and me help decorate the house for their party. Then, they said we could help them get into their costumes! Totally awesome!’”

    I can say that I absolutely agree with his sediment here. I know that adults don’t want to dress up in children’s costumes, but, there is a line that is crossed when adults think of Halloween as an excuse to dress in provocative outfits in public. Adults, you can dress up but there are children around. Please cover it up.

    “I walked away thinking, yes, more adults are celebrating Halloween. And, yes, the best-selling costume this year may end up being the BP oilman uniform. But, no matter. Kids live in their own special and private world. And Halloween is still the holiday that proves it.” After hear kids talk about their Halloween plans Stine realizes that while more adults participate in the Halloween festivities, kids still view it the same way they have for years. Kids still love dressing up and hitting people up for as much candy as they will allow.

    I still stick to my thoughts about the costumes and haunted houses but, Stine does have a point. No matter what the adults do, kids still have a great time on Halloween.

I Am Woman. Hear Me Rowr

    Sara Bareilles lit the music world on fire with her hit “Love Song,” a catchy toon about her refusal to write a sappy love song for just anyone. She has continued in this trend with her new angst-ridden song “King of Anything.” In this song she is telling this boy that she doesn’t really need him telling her what to do because she’s just fine running her own life. This idea has been a growing trend with women since the 50’s. Women have started bringing home the bacon for a while now and I say bring it on.

“You’ve got opinions, man. We’re all entitled to ‘em, but I never asked.”  People can tell us how hey think we should run our lives but most of the time we don’t ask. We can take their advise if we so choose but after all they’re just opinions. Sara thinks that he can voice his opinion about her life but she doesn’t  really take into consideration.  Lots of people think used to think that the woman’s place was at home. That’s not the case anymore. More women are in the work force now more than ever. Many have a higher status in companies and society than men.

“But you expect me to

Jump up on board with you

Ride off into your delusional sunset”

Sara is putting life into perspective for the guy saying that life is hardly like the story books any more. She isn’t just going to go along with what he thinks is the perfect world. The classic “Night in Shinning in Armor” type is something we see in the movies. Not to say that their aren't wonderful men out there. But there always has to be a heartbreak before there is that someone that comes along to pick up the pieces and put you back together.

I love this song because it’s not the conventional love song. It has a bit of an edge. What was the norm back in the day is not now. Women have power and strength. “Who cares if you disagree? Your not me. Who made you king of anything? So you dare tell me who to be. Who died and made you king of anything?”

Elizabeth Mace
Mrs. Harmon
Pre-AP English 10
14, October 2010

    My eyes drift open. I can smell the premium roast coffee brewing in the kitchen. I know she’s awake trying to let me sleep in a bit because she knows I’ve had a hard week and because my dad will be here soon to take me home. I push off the multicolored quilt and rest my feet on the light brown shag carpet. It feels soft under my feet so I make an effort to drag my feet as I walk. I open the door and jump as another is forced closed by the air. I guess I’ll never get used to that. I walk into the kitchen and sigh because unlike all the other rooms in the house the kitchen floor has a linoleum floor. She gives me a smile as I walk in and open the cupboard to find my usual white mug with green polka dots. I drop in the Nestle milk hot chocolate mix with water and stick it in the microwave. I sit waiting, tapping my foot anxiously, for the loud “BEEP, BEEP, BEEP” signaling that I can sit and enjoy this delicious treat. Finally the microwave is finished and I take out my mug and breath in the rich coco smell. I walk over to the window by the front door and sit in the plush baby pink chair across from my grandmother. Using it as a hand warmer, I cradle my mug and take small sips so I can make it last. I look out the window and see the cars passing by on Harrison, hearing the faint SHOOOOWSH as they pass by. Why my grandmother chose a house on Harrison Street I’ll never know but it’s ok because she has lived here for so long I can’t imagine her living anywhere else. As usual we sit in our chairs and she tells me stories and memories of my late grandfather and other members of our crazy, eccentric family as I drink my hot chocolate and she drinks her coffee.

Through My Children, I'm Reaching the Goal

After we read Langston Hughes’ poem “I Too Sing America” in class I decided to read some more of his poetry. He writes a lot of poetry about racism, slavery, and troubles that blacks faced.  I found one of his poems entitled “The Negro Mother” and it really moved me. This poem describes the horrors of slavery from a black woman's point of view. She tells about how far blacks have come in the years since slavery and how she prayed for the day to come when her children could read and write and be members of society. Sometimes I don’t think we fully realize how hard things were. Langston really puts in to perspective how parents want their goals to be achieved through their children.

In the first stanza she is telling the story of her life as a slave. She describes it as “the story of the long dark way that I had to climb.” She worked in the field and was “beaten and mistreated for the work” she did. Her children were sold away. She was given no safety, no love, and no respect. Slaves were just property to the whites.

Then you see the hope come through in the second stanza.

“Three hundred years in the deepest South:

But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth.

God put a dream like a steel in my soul.

Now, though my children, I’m reaching the goal.”

When you read this you can tell that she has faith that God will watch over her children and that they will one day be a part of the white society.   
    “Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears,
    But I kept trudging on through the lonely years.”
She hopes that through all her struggles that her children and their children will benefit just as parents do today. I truely believe that parents want better for there children than what they had. You hear about so many success stories of people who have come from nothing and are now living a great life due to all of their hard work and most say that their drive was "to give their kids a better life than I had."

introductory paragraph for style analysis

     In the poem "I, Too, Sing America," by Langston Hughes the tones of indifference and confidence reflect the characters nonchalant attitude towards the fact that the family wants him to eat in the kitchen and him knowing that one day people won't care about his skin color. The nonchalant attitude is relflected in the line "They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes but I laugh and eat well." Even though the family is abhorrent towards him and they don't want him eating with them he expects that he will one day eat with them at their table. He knows that they will accept him for who he is and be proud to have him eat with them. This shown in the line "Besides, they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed--"