Thursday, December 4, 2008
reponse
I also think that the book may be a little outdated in portraying teen culture. There may be many other more contemparay books that can better portray the problems of adolescence. Books that portray problems of poor teenagers may also be a good alternate. However, this is not to say that Catcher in the Rye is a bad example of adolescence.
reponse to third thing
If Salinger prefers to be alone and private, we should just respect that and leave him alone. He has no responsibility to be public and open to all. I think that Maynard is just trying to make money and gain fame by auctioning loving letters from Salinger. Salinger wrote those letters for her only, therefore, they shouldn't become public.
Response to Giving Voice to Generations and Interview
I also think that the book doesn't really incite violence like some readers have expressed and shouldn't be censored. This book is really about a teenager just trying to cope with the adult world. Many teenage issues and values are depicted in the book, and it's interesting to read and analyze a book about problems we teenagers face.
From the interview with Salinger, it also seems like Salinger is in many ways just to Holden. Just like Holden, he is very independant and skeptical. This shows that perhaps Holden was mirrored after Salinger's own experience as an adolescent. However, unlike Holden, Salinger seems more quiet and reserved while Holden was more talkative.
From the interview with Salinger, it also seems like Salinger is in many ways just to Holden. Just like Holden, he is very independant and skeptical. This shows that perhaps Holden was mirrored after Salinger's own experience as an adolescent. However, unlike Holden, Salinger seems more quiet and reserved while Holden was more talkative.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Crucible response in Lesson 3 Vocab
In The Crucible, Arthur Miller depicts a torpid town called
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Reponses to Indian Education
1. What is the significance of the narrator's glasses in the first-grade scenario?
The narrator's "horn-rimmed, ugly" glasses probably symbolizes the narrator's first experience at discrimination. In this case, because he wore ugly glassless, he was labeled as a nerd, and was therefore bullied.
2. What can you assume from the narrator's first-grade school? Who were his fellow classmates?
The school was probably very poor, and not very strict, which may have caused such bullying. His fellow classmates were Native American also.
3. What does the narrator mean when he tells us that his teacher said "indian" without capitaliztion (paragraph 15)? What is the significance of the narrator's response?
Because capitalization is used only for important terms, by writing indian without the capitalization, the narrator is trying to show that his teacher is prejudiced against Native Americans, and think they aren't significant enough to be said with a capitalization.
4. What does the narrator mean by the line "I'm still waiting" in paragraph 21?
The line prior to that statement was, "waited for the punishment to end" and even before that, the narrator explained that he was being punished partly because he was Native American. Therefore, "I'm still waiting" would mean that the narrator is still being discriminated upon for being Native American.
5. What effect does kissing the white girl have on the narrator in seventh grade? Why does he say after that "no one spoke to me for another five hundred years"?
By kissing the white girl, the narrator is leaving his traditions and culture behind him, and is slowly embracing the American culture. Because he kissed a white girl and left his tradition, and because he still looks like a Native American, and still has a Native American name, he longer fits in with all the other Indians, and still cannot assimilate with white people. Therefore, because he no longer fits in with anybody, nobody speaks to him anymore.
6. The narrator Switches to a new school for junior high. What is different about the new school?
The new school seems to have more white people.
7. How do you interpret the line "there is more than one way to starve" (paragraph 55)?
This line shows that many people are pitying themselves, and have decided to starve themselves through binging or just not eating. However, the narrator also shows that there are some people who can barely afford to eat, and therefore, pity themselves and starve. Thus, there are "more than one way to starve."
8. What stereotypes do the teachers in the story have of Native Americans?
They think that all Indians start drinking at an early age.
9. Why does the narrator tell us of the teacher who assumed he was drunk in the eighth grade was Chicano? How did you respond to the narrator's assertion in paragraph 59?
By mentioning the teacher was Chicano, the narrator shows that even other minorities discriminate against Native Americans. Usually with minorities, one would expect one minority to understand and sympathize with the other, but the narrator proves otherwise. The narrator's assertion in paragraph 59 is emphasizing the difference between two races; that although sharing dark skin doesn't necessarily make two men brothers, sharing different skin means for sure that they won't get along.
10. What do you think the postscript means?
This postscript shows that although each they have all graduated and supposedly moved on with their lives. Because of the discrimination against them, they will forever stay in the reservation because thats the only place where Native Americans are not discriminated against, and where Native Americans can feel they belong. Therefore, since everybody still stays in the reservation, and goes to the "Powow Tavern" every weekend, there won't be a need to have a reunion.
The narrator's "horn-rimmed, ugly" glasses probably symbolizes the narrator's first experience at discrimination. In this case, because he wore ugly glassless, he was labeled as a nerd, and was therefore bullied.
2. What can you assume from the narrator's first-grade school? Who were his fellow classmates?
The school was probably very poor, and not very strict, which may have caused such bullying. His fellow classmates were Native American also.
3. What does the narrator mean when he tells us that his teacher said "indian" without capitaliztion (paragraph 15)? What is the significance of the narrator's response?
Because capitalization is used only for important terms, by writing indian without the capitalization, the narrator is trying to show that his teacher is prejudiced against Native Americans, and think they aren't significant enough to be said with a capitalization.
4. What does the narrator mean by the line "I'm still waiting" in paragraph 21?
The line prior to that statement was, "waited for the punishment to end" and even before that, the narrator explained that he was being punished partly because he was Native American. Therefore, "I'm still waiting" would mean that the narrator is still being discriminated upon for being Native American.
5. What effect does kissing the white girl have on the narrator in seventh grade? Why does he say after that "no one spoke to me for another five hundred years"?
By kissing the white girl, the narrator is leaving his traditions and culture behind him, and is slowly embracing the American culture. Because he kissed a white girl and left his tradition, and because he still looks like a Native American, and still has a Native American name, he longer fits in with all the other Indians, and still cannot assimilate with white people. Therefore, because he no longer fits in with anybody, nobody speaks to him anymore.
6. The narrator Switches to a new school for junior high. What is different about the new school?
The new school seems to have more white people.
7. How do you interpret the line "there is more than one way to starve" (paragraph 55)?
This line shows that many people are pitying themselves, and have decided to starve themselves through binging or just not eating. However, the narrator also shows that there are some people who can barely afford to eat, and therefore, pity themselves and starve. Thus, there are "more than one way to starve."
8. What stereotypes do the teachers in the story have of Native Americans?
They think that all Indians start drinking at an early age.
9. Why does the narrator tell us of the teacher who assumed he was drunk in the eighth grade was Chicano? How did you respond to the narrator's assertion in paragraph 59?
By mentioning the teacher was Chicano, the narrator shows that even other minorities discriminate against Native Americans. Usually with minorities, one would expect one minority to understand and sympathize with the other, but the narrator proves otherwise. The narrator's assertion in paragraph 59 is emphasizing the difference between two races; that although sharing dark skin doesn't necessarily make two men brothers, sharing different skin means for sure that they won't get along.
10. What do you think the postscript means?
This postscript shows that although each they have all graduated and supposedly moved on with their lives. Because of the discrimination against them, they will forever stay in the reservation because thats the only place where Native Americans are not discriminated against, and where Native Americans can feel they belong. Therefore, since everybody still stays in the reservation, and goes to the "Powow Tavern" every weekend, there won't be a need to have a reunion.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Heriloom
What is an heirloom and how does Reema Keswani’s presentation connect to the topic of family heirlooms and heritage?
A heirloom is an object passed down from your family that holds some significance or memory in your family. It may represent an idea that your family holds strong belief in or something that represents the culture of your family. Reema Keswani's presentation showed that the rich families in India passed down their jewelry from generation to generation.
List 10 or more ideas for family heirlooms in your family which reflect heritage (ask family members for ideas)
- English dictionary
- photographs
- last name
- clothes
- calligraphy
- paintings
- watches
- jewelery
- necklaces
- money
After reading “The Inheritance of Tools,” post your thoughts on how effectively the author conveys the importance of the hammer as a family heirloom in his life which is reflective and significant in his personal view of his heritage.
The author of "The Inheritance of Tools" explains the entire history surrounding the hammer, and how it played a role to his father, to himself, and even to his children. Because of this, this object has become much more important and meaningful, it is a memento of his father and of his love for the author which is shown by teaching him how to handle tools.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
1. Equiano describes many of the horrors involve with the slave trade. Choose one passage from the narrative that had the biggest impact on you. Be prepared to discuss your choice.
"Happily perhaps, for myself, I was soon reduced so low here that it was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. " I think this passage had the biggest impact because it clearly shows how the slave traders treat the slaves as livestock. The idea of keeping someone just barely alive, just so they could survive and be sold for money is really cruel.
2. What do you think motivates the slave traders to behave so cruelly?
I think that they behave cruelly for their profit. If they behaved nice, and offered extra food and space, they sacrifice money, and even space for more profit. Behaving nice might also suggests weakness, which might encourage the slaves to revolt. Another reason about why they behave so cruelly might be that they no longer see the slaves as human. Because of being in the slave trade for so long, and treating humans as livestock everyday, the slave traders may have forgotten the worth of human lives.
3. Although terrified as a captive on the slave ship, Equiano's curiosity still surfaces. What marvels does he encounter, and how do they affect him?
The marvels were how the ship worked. Equiano had believed it was done by magick, and that the white people were spirits. I think Equiano's curiosity had helped him survive the misery. Because of his curiosity, Equiano may have been distracted from the horrors of the ship. Equiano's belief of the white men's use of magic may have also made Equiano acknowledge the vast difference between the whites and the blacks. Because of this, Equiano kind of treats the white men as a difference entity, always referring them as if they were "they" and referring to blacks as "we".
4. Equiano suggests that the cruelty he and his fellow captives experienced are "hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade" of slavery. What do you suppose he means by this.
Maybe it means to show that although the slave traders benefited greatly from the slave trade, there is always another perspective, and in this case, the slaves perspectives. It suggests that we cannot just focus on the benefits, and sometimes we must face the "hardships" and the bad side of everything.
5. Surviving in such harsh circumstances is difficult, and many African captives died aboard the ships. What have you learned about Equiano that may have helped him survive his ordeal?
I think that it was his curiosity that kept him alive. Because of his age, he is still very curious and enthusiastic and therefore, never gave up. Equiano spent his time thinking about the mysteries of the ship and the white people, instead of spending his time dreading and sulking. Therefore, he wasn't as badly affected as the others, which helped him survive.
6. As a free man, Equiano became an abolitionist and worked to end slavery. If he could travel in time and see American society today, what would he say? what would he take pride in? What would he want changed.
I think he would be very pleased with how America turned to become. He would take pride in the fact that black people have become so recognized, and that even a black guy is running for president. However, I think that as a African, he would be disappointed to find that most African Americans have become Americanized, and have lost the tradition and culture of Africa.
"Happily perhaps, for myself, I was soon reduced so low here that it was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. " I think this passage had the biggest impact because it clearly shows how the slave traders treat the slaves as livestock. The idea of keeping someone just barely alive, just so they could survive and be sold for money is really cruel.
2. What do you think motivates the slave traders to behave so cruelly?
I think that they behave cruelly for their profit. If they behaved nice, and offered extra food and space, they sacrifice money, and even space for more profit. Behaving nice might also suggests weakness, which might encourage the slaves to revolt. Another reason about why they behave so cruelly might be that they no longer see the slaves as human. Because of being in the slave trade for so long, and treating humans as livestock everyday, the slave traders may have forgotten the worth of human lives.
3. Although terrified as a captive on the slave ship, Equiano's curiosity still surfaces. What marvels does he encounter, and how do they affect him?
The marvels were how the ship worked. Equiano had believed it was done by magick, and that the white people were spirits. I think Equiano's curiosity had helped him survive the misery. Because of his curiosity, Equiano may have been distracted from the horrors of the ship. Equiano's belief of the white men's use of magic may have also made Equiano acknowledge the vast difference between the whites and the blacks. Because of this, Equiano kind of treats the white men as a difference entity, always referring them as if they were "they" and referring to blacks as "we".
4. Equiano suggests that the cruelty he and his fellow captives experienced are "hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade" of slavery. What do you suppose he means by this.
Maybe it means to show that although the slave traders benefited greatly from the slave trade, there is always another perspective, and in this case, the slaves perspectives. It suggests that we cannot just focus on the benefits, and sometimes we must face the "hardships" and the bad side of everything.
5. Surviving in such harsh circumstances is difficult, and many African captives died aboard the ships. What have you learned about Equiano that may have helped him survive his ordeal?
I think that it was his curiosity that kept him alive. Because of his age, he is still very curious and enthusiastic and therefore, never gave up. Equiano spent his time thinking about the mysteries of the ship and the white people, instead of spending his time dreading and sulking. Therefore, he wasn't as badly affected as the others, which helped him survive.
6. As a free man, Equiano became an abolitionist and worked to end slavery. If he could travel in time and see American society today, what would he say? what would he take pride in? What would he want changed.
I think he would be very pleased with how America turned to become. He would take pride in the fact that black people have become so recognized, and that even a black guy is running for president. However, I think that as a African, he would be disappointed to find that most African Americans have become Americanized, and have lost the tradition and culture of Africa.
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