When we switched from the google group to blogger I thought it was just going to be another boring website, but I was wrong. Blogger is definately better than the google group, everyone has there own personal page where the can display themselves to their classmates. Instead of just one or two boring white and plain everyone has there own with all of their writings that you can easily read whenever you want. Also, you have the oppurtunity to comment on your classmates writings on their page.
This English class is so different than any other class I've been in during high school. In other classes it's the same boring homework every night. All the textbook work, reading stories, and copying vocab. This class isn't like that at all, it's just so much better and makes it more fun for students. The homework is different and so is the classwork. It's not just reading stories and answering questions on them, it's still writing but in a different more exciting way. It is so much more open to anything you want to say or how you feel about something we did in class.
I really enjoy doing this blogger. It was a fun six weeks writing these blogs on the weekends. I really like the layout of the website, I like how if I'm stuck on an assignment I can surf through my classmates posts and gather some ideas. It is a helpful site from that perspective. I hope that we can continue to do these blogs in the fourth quarter. It's a different form of reading and writing that is enjoyable and I don't think that I'm the only one with this opinion either.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Final Gatsby Post
"That was always my experience—a poor boy in a rich town; a poor boy in a rich boy's school; a poor boy in a rich man's club at Princeton…I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works."
–F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters
This quote stuck out to me more than others because it seemed so familiar. I believe that this quote directly relates to The Great Gatsby, in particular, the character of Nick Carraway. Nick was an average kid from Minnesota who moves to New York and is surrounded by all of these rich and fancy people with there big houses and what not. I don't know when this quote was written, whether it be before or after The Great Gatsby was written, but I think these were definately Fitzgerald's intentions when creating the character of Nick.
Fitzgerald says "...I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works." When he refers to his works I think this is a direct reference to when he created Nick in The Great Gatsby. Nick was an average person when he moved to New York and he lived in the rich part of town in the West Egg. He says he was a poor man in the rich school of Princeton and in the book it says Nick attended Yale, seemingly him being Nick as the poor boy in Princeton.
This quote I think relates to the most interesting character in the book, other than Gatsby, Nick Carraway. There isn't a doubt in my mind that this quote doesn't relate to Nick. All the pieces fit in, the poor boy in the rich neighborhood, the poor boy in the rich school, and the reference to that quote being colored in his life's works. This quote is Nick Carraway, the young boy from Minnesota.
I also chose to do another piece of wordle art because i enjoyed doing it last weekend. I also think it brings out the text and is a good and creative tool to use in writing. It makes it enjoyable and spices up the blog page, for something to really jump out at the readers.
–F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters
This quote stuck out to me more than others because it seemed so familiar. I believe that this quote directly relates to The Great Gatsby, in particular, the character of Nick Carraway. Nick was an average kid from Minnesota who moves to New York and is surrounded by all of these rich and fancy people with there big houses and what not. I don't know when this quote was written, whether it be before or after The Great Gatsby was written, but I think these were definately Fitzgerald's intentions when creating the character of Nick.
Fitzgerald says "...I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works." When he refers to his works I think this is a direct reference to when he created Nick in The Great Gatsby. Nick was an average person when he moved to New York and he lived in the rich part of town in the West Egg. He says he was a poor man in the rich school of Princeton and in the book it says Nick attended Yale, seemingly him being Nick as the poor boy in Princeton.This quote I think relates to the most interesting character in the book, other than Gatsby, Nick Carraway. There isn't a doubt in my mind that this quote doesn't relate to Nick. All the pieces fit in, the poor boy in the rich neighborhood, the poor boy in the rich school, and the reference to that quote being colored in his life's works. This quote is Nick Carraway, the young boy from Minnesota.
I also chose to do another piece of wordle art because i enjoyed doing it last weekend. I also think it brings out the text and is a good and creative tool to use in writing. It makes it enjoyable and spices up the blog page, for something to really jump out at the readers.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Gatsby Journal Chapter 1
In chapter one, Fitzgerald firsts introduces Nick Carraway who is the books narrator. He first tells a little about himself, his life in Minnesota, why he came to New York, and what he was taught by his father. He came to New York to work in bond business. His father told him to reserve judgement on people and keep private thoughts about people to himself. Nick however, contradicts himself and immediately comments on Gatsby, saying how he is based on everything he scorns. Nick rents a house in Long Island in the part called the West Egg. We learned that Long Island is split into two parts, the East and West Egg. The West Egg is said to be made for the "new rich" and the East Egg is home to the "old rich." Nick's appartment is next door to Gatsby's "gothic mansion." Nick goes to visit his cousin Daisy who lives in the East Egg of Long Island with her husband Tom Buchanan. Tom is ignorant, arrogant, and racist person, not to mention he is very full of himself. When Nick gets the the house he meets Jordan Baker, Daisy's friend. Nick also finds out from Jordan that Tom is cheating on Daisy and has had manny affairs with a woman named Myrtle Wilson. As Nick is leaving Tom as Daisy tell him he should take Jordan on a date. When Nick gets home he sees Gatsby for the first time standing out on his lawn.
When first reading chapter one I was very confused, I had to read it two or three times to fully understand it. I was particularly confused with the whole East and West Egg scenario. I found out that the West Egg was made for the "new rich" people who have recently made their fortune and the West Egg the "old rich" for people the who have had their money for generations and many years. I was a little bored to begin with but the energy picked up when Nick went to Daisy's and then came home and saw Gatsby for the first time.
When first reading chapter one I was very confused, I had to read it two or three times to fully understand it. I was particularly confused with the whole East and West Egg scenario. I found out that the West Egg was made for the "new rich" people who have recently made their fortune and the West Egg the "old rich" for people the who have had their money for generations and many years. I was a little bored to begin with but the energy picked up when Nick went to Daisy's and then came home and saw Gatsby for the first time.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Poetry Supermarket
http://us.mc577.mail.yahoo.com/mc/showMessage?fid=%2540B%2540Bulk&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&.rand=1620500505&da=0&midIndex=0&mid=1_1577_1648_ADvsjkQAAIxnSbU7%2BQY4DEY4wA8&f=1&m=
Ginsberg was born on June 3, 1926 and died on April 5, 1997. He was born into a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey. His father was also a poet and his mother was a member of the Communist party. When he was young he began to write to the New York Times about some political issues he saw going on in the world. He attended Columbia University. Ginsberg was also an early and firm believer in gay rights. Ginsberg was a homosexual and expressed this in his poems. His spouse was a man named Peter Orlovsky. He wrote mostly in the realism period of poetry. Because he wrote during this period it was a little easier reading and responding because we had just got done studying this period.
After reading "On Burroughs Work" I did not know what it was really about at first. After reading it over a few times and also reading some background information on Ginsberg it began to seem more clear. Ginsberg as a child saw and experienced the political problems that were associated with World War II. Later in his life he also experienced life during the Vietnam War. I think some of those influences led him to write this poem. He uses the word prisons a few times and also specifically names prisons. I think he does this to describe briefly what life was like during the wars. In the last lines Ginsberg says "But allegories are so much lettuce.
Don't hide the madness." I think when he says don't hide the madness it possibly refers to the government or people in general trying to hide or pretend that these terrible things did not happen.
http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Allen-Ginsberg/8929
When I read this I saw a similar theme to "On Burroughs Work." I noticed him talking about war again. I think that growing up during two major wars drastically impacted his life as in the two poems I chose both talked about it. He also uses repetition in this poem, which he does not use in "On Burroughs Work."
From the two poems I chose and read I think there are some distinct things that can emphasize Ginsberg as an American poet. The obvious thing I think is his references to war. Living during World War II and how the United States got involved, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, can be something that can greatly affect someone and their poetry. Also with the Vietnam War which was one of the deadliest wars in American history and Ginsberg writing about them show him being an American. That was the major thing I noticed when reading his works that showed Ginsberg as being an American.
Ginsberg was born on June 3, 1926 and died on April 5, 1997. He was born into a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey. His father was also a poet and his mother was a member of the Communist party. When he was young he began to write to the New York Times about some political issues he saw going on in the world. He attended Columbia University. Ginsberg was also an early and firm believer in gay rights. Ginsberg was a homosexual and expressed this in his poems. His spouse was a man named Peter Orlovsky. He wrote mostly in the realism period of poetry. Because he wrote during this period it was a little easier reading and responding because we had just got done studying this period.
After reading "On Burroughs Work" I did not know what it was really about at first. After reading it over a few times and also reading some background information on Ginsberg it began to seem more clear. Ginsberg as a child saw and experienced the political problems that were associated with World War II. Later in his life he also experienced life during the Vietnam War. I think some of those influences led him to write this poem. He uses the word prisons a few times and also specifically names prisons. I think he does this to describe briefly what life was like during the wars. In the last lines Ginsberg says "But allegories are so much lettuce.
Don't hide the madness." I think when he says don't hide the madness it possibly refers to the government or people in general trying to hide or pretend that these terrible things did not happen.
http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Allen-Ginsberg/8929
When I read this I saw a similar theme to "On Burroughs Work." I noticed him talking about war again. I think that growing up during two major wars drastically impacted his life as in the two poems I chose both talked about it. He also uses repetition in this poem, which he does not use in "On Burroughs Work."
From the two poems I chose and read I think there are some distinct things that can emphasize Ginsberg as an American poet. The obvious thing I think is his references to war. Living during World War II and how the United States got involved, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, can be something that can greatly affect someone and their poetry. Also with the Vietnam War which was one of the deadliest wars in American history and Ginsberg writing about them show him being an American. That was the major thing I noticed when reading his works that showed Ginsberg as being an American.
Monday, March 2, 2009
American Realism
I chose to read about Mark Twain because he was the only one of the writers I have heard of before so I was interested in reading more about him. After reading his stories I found him to be quite different than the recent American Romanticism writers we read. He seemed to be less interested in nature and religion like the romantics were. He seemed to just tell stories about things more interesting and easier to read. Rather than some of the boring stories we read on American Romanticism. I would say that there was some progression from the romantics and the realists. Romantics focused on nature, religion, and God. Realists focus on real life problems and stay away from nature and religion, this from only reading Twain. But yes, I think progression did occur from these two periods.
I particularly enjoyed reading Twain's "The Story of the Little Good Boy" and "The Story of the Little Bad Boy". I enjoyed the irony in both of them. Their themes are quite similar. I think a good theme for these two stories can be summed up as to life your life with no goals, don't try to please everyone. Do things because you want to, not so you can get in a Sunday book. What is meant to be will be. I think Twain would have been a believer in the old saying, "everything happens for a reason" or "the universe always has a plan". What is meant to happen will happen even if you are the best or worst boy in the world. You can't map out your life by just being good, that doesnt mean something bad won't necessarily happen to you.
I had a hard time determining the difference between to whom and for whom these stories are written for. So therefore in my opinion, I think all of these stories by Twain are written to a common group. And that group is teenagers. I think he is writing to teenagers so they can understand some of the things that can happen in life. Also, there are all types of good and bad teenagers and I'm sure there are times when bad things happen to the good ones and good things happen to the bad ones. I think these stories are for adults, particularly parents and teachers. I think it is for parents and teachers because they need to not sugar coat everything and tell their kids that everything will always be fine when it won't be all the time. That is the idea of to and for whom these stories were written.
For me reading these stories was a nice break from the romantics. It was both suspenseful and easy to read. I got something out of it that I had forgotten about. And that basically is to live life to the fullest. Whether it be a jumping frog, a good boy who wants to be in a Sunday book and dies, or a bad boy who lives life without a care and a bit of luck. Just live your life.
"Thus perished the good little boy who did the best he could, but didn't come out according to thebooks. Every boy who ever did as he did prospered except him. His case is truly remarkable. It will probably never be accounted for." This is a quote I picked from "The Story of the Good Little Boy" I chose this quote because I think it reflects the theme I chose. Being that some great people no matter what they do will never be remembered for their actions. This means that even though the boy helped everyone and did the right thing all the time he will never be remembered for it because he died and never got a chance to be a part of the Sunday book. This reflects why I like Mark Twain, with the twists and twurls in his writing. He always keeps you guessing and hides secret meanings within his words that are just waiting to be found out.
I particularly enjoyed reading Twain's "The Story of the Little Good Boy" and "The Story of the Little Bad Boy". I enjoyed the irony in both of them. Their themes are quite similar. I think a good theme for these two stories can be summed up as to life your life with no goals, don't try to please everyone. Do things because you want to, not so you can get in a Sunday book. What is meant to be will be. I think Twain would have been a believer in the old saying, "everything happens for a reason" or "the universe always has a plan". What is meant to happen will happen even if you are the best or worst boy in the world. You can't map out your life by just being good, that doesnt mean something bad won't necessarily happen to you.
I had a hard time determining the difference between to whom and for whom these stories are written for. So therefore in my opinion, I think all of these stories by Twain are written to a common group. And that group is teenagers. I think he is writing to teenagers so they can understand some of the things that can happen in life. Also, there are all types of good and bad teenagers and I'm sure there are times when bad things happen to the good ones and good things happen to the bad ones. I think these stories are for adults, particularly parents and teachers. I think it is for parents and teachers because they need to not sugar coat everything and tell their kids that everything will always be fine when it won't be all the time. That is the idea of to and for whom these stories were written.
For me reading these stories was a nice break from the romantics. It was both suspenseful and easy to read. I got something out of it that I had forgotten about. And that basically is to live life to the fullest. Whether it be a jumping frog, a good boy who wants to be in a Sunday book and dies, or a bad boy who lives life without a care and a bit of luck. Just live your life.
"Thus perished the good little boy who did the best he could, but didn't come out according to thebooks. Every boy who ever did as he did prospered except him. His case is truly remarkable. It will probably never be accounted for." This is a quote I picked from "The Story of the Good Little Boy" I chose this quote because I think it reflects the theme I chose. Being that some great people no matter what they do will never be remembered for their actions. This means that even though the boy helped everyone and did the right thing all the time he will never be remembered for it because he died and never got a chance to be a part of the Sunday book. This reflects why I like Mark Twain, with the twists and twurls in his writing. He always keeps you guessing and hides secret meanings within his words that are just waiting to be found out.
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