Over this course...

This year I learned the following terms and I applied them as I read some pretty great stuff:

Allusion-

Fahrenheit 451 essay

Category 1: How Montag changes throughout the book?
 
    From the start of the book to the end of it, our protagonist, Montag, went through life changing experiences. In the start of the book we are introduced to Montag, a fireman who burns things down. Montag rather enjoyed his job of burning books until he meets his neighbor, Clarissa. Clarissa found burning dumb and enjoyed nature. This evoked thoughts of what is really important and Montag was drawn to how different Clarissa was.
    Montag's life starts to change even more when he is sent to burn a women's house, only to steal one of her books. In secrecy, Montag begins to collect books, realizing the value they provide. The guilt of the lady's death nags at Montag so he decides to meet up with another guy who changes his life. Professor Faber and Montag discuss matters of books and real problems such as how society really is! This is proven when Montag tries to recite a bible verse only to be interrupted from a prosaic commercial in the subway. We can infer that Montag has found "the light" because others in this society are oblivious to the ignorant repetition of the commercial.
    We know that Montag changes by the end of the book because of the things he was able to do. Most people cant live with themselves after they commit a murder unless you feel it just to do so. This can be said about Montag as he was able to murder his boss, Beatty, and remained focused enough to make an escape. From this evidence we have observed how Montag is considered a dynamic character.

cake wednesday!?

So yesterday was Wednesday but what we did in class was different from that of our usual cake Wednesdays. Everyone in the class went in front of the class to have an ignite talk! Some were better than others but we all got up in front of the class and said what was on our minds. I truly believe that I did well on my minute long ignite talk and I'm prepared for more further down the line!

Prufrock response

  We read the love song of Alfred J. Prufrock in Dr. Preston's English class. After examining its flow I realized that this is a free verse poem. Something that catches your attention right away is the first  stanza that is in another language. The last line of this lengthy poem is similar to that of The Great Gatsby because both pieces of writing end with the theme.

wild wednesday 3/14

 Today, of coarse, is Wednesday and like all other Wednesdays we are given the opportunity to research information about college and careers. I mentioned in the last wild Wednesday post about horticulture but I aspire to be a real estate agent, kinda like my mother! During this time I hit up my mother about what websites might I want to look into and she referred me to this website. After her words of wisdom and guidance we discussed that if I was inclined to it I could become a real estate agent as early as 18 years old. Id still be a senior in high school with a license!! I couldn't express enough how grateful I am that I have her by my side.

the great gatsby essay prompt

prompt 3 - How does Fitzgerald’s characterization create a tone around the theme of happiness?  What is Fitzgerald’s attitude toward happiness?  Does it depend on love, on external markers such as wealth, on repairing or atoning for the past, or on something that is unattainable?

    Fitzgerald's characterization creates a tone around the theme of happiness through the actions, decisions, and word play used by  the characters. The main characters often play a facade to mask their true feelings and prove that they aren't true. This is shown when Gatsby tells Tom about the affair. He seems almost suave and carefree but we can infer that he was offended when Daisy left with Tom because Gatsby stood outside Toms house keeping an eye on Daisy.
    Another event that occurs can also prove happiness was that involving Mr. Wilson. Out of desperation, Mr. Wilson guns down Gatsby as he assumed Gatsby killed Myrtle Wilson and killed himself as a result. Again, we can infer that Mr. Wilson's love for Myrtle caused him to take drastic measures to avenge his loved one.

Wild Wednesday... ON A FRIDAY?!?!

As I was unable to post on Wednesday or Thursday, I figured, better late than never! So on Wednesday Mr. Preston gave me the opportunity to dive more into adulthood, I research some info about college! In my readings I obviously found out that Allen Hancock is among the cheapest and closest college in my general vicinity. Also I learned that if I cared to pursue any type of horticultural career, the best college around for that major would be Cal Poly. (to be continued)

friend, foe, family, and respect.

At times, family can actually be more of a foe than a friend and a friend more family than a foe. I say this after a small ordeal with my father. After he questioned, "Why are you more respectful to your friends than you are me?!", his blank expression acquired from my response ended the discussion. "My friends treat me with much respect that sometimes I feel praised by them! I don't feel praise from you but rather I have to praise you!".

The Great Gatsby understanding so far

   The Great Gatsby introduces characters which are questionable in there motives and actions. We are guided through the setting by our narrator, Nick Carraway, only to discover how normal Nick is among the residents of West Egg on Long Island. We meet Tom and Daisy, two characters as questionable as they are destructive, as they play a main role in showing Nick what Long Island is about. Gatsby also does a really good job of doing this as he has many connections and plug.
   Going back to Toms destructiveness, we get a clear example of this behavior when he breaks Myrtles' nose with an open hand. Daisy is destructive in a more passive way. By this I mean that she will drink at the start of the day and continue to drink through out the day not realizing the effects of her selfish decisions.

oh John Steinbeck!

"It is interesting to watch the German efficiency, which, from the logic of the machine is efficient but which..." John Steinbeck. This quote caught me interest in that we both have similar views on the German efficiency was present during WW2 and that war can wither the human state of mind. John Steinbeck, smart man, wrote many well known novels such as Of Mice and Men and The Grape of Wrath. 

Ethos, pathos, and logos

Ethos pathos logos! Ethos meaning the characteristic of a speaker, pathos meaning the drive or passion for what the speaker is talking bout, and logos meaning logic or the general common sense of that subject the speaker talks about.

"I, Socrates!"

The last couple of days we tried a method of learning which I enjoyed greatly. Through discussions from a Socratic seminar the whole class was able to talk about something they felt was important and worth mentioning. I found this method of learning useful and effective because we were able to get the input of our peers that we associate with everyday. Others may find this strategy bad or not for them if they are shy or not willing to participate with everyone. Personally I hope we continue these Socratic seminars.

"MUSIC IS LITERATURE"

After having our first Socratic seminar in period 6 I now have a better sense and other people's perspective. Yeah I guess you can say I learn how to be more empathetic but that irrelevant. I'm here to inform you readers that music is indeed literature and after our discussion today you'll be a believer too! What a peer of mine brought up in our discussion was that music consist on lyric which is a form of writing. We are able to connect to music through the story told within the lyrics. The fact that a song can tell a story was also a discussion point that another one of my peers brought up. There are forms of music that lack lyrics, but yet, can communicate, or convey, a certain meaning that other songs wouldn't be able to do. So through the use of a Socratic seminar I was able to understand that music is literature. Comment your opinion about whether music is literature or not!

The last day of school in 2017

Aahhhhh! The last day of school, was but a day to remember! At school we had a half day which meant we didn't have to be trapped at school or as long as we normally do. Later on in my day I hung out with my friends at a ditch in orcutt that I've never been to. The homie Omar came through by hosting his birthday party in which I attended. At this party I saw friends and homies I haven't seen in the longest. Despite losing something valuable to me and the cops rolling up to shut the party down, I shared a magical moment with a girl from Oceano, a girl who's name didn't stick in my head. Ill probably never see her again but all well, that's the what happens at parties!

school of thought

Today, in my 6th period class, a sensation ran through my mind. A lust for water was occupied ever crevasse that composed my brain. Without thought I leaped up from where I was seated and begged Mr. Preston to allow me to get water. After begging and pleading he gave me the green card along with a question that will forever torment me! "Aren't you hot in that jacket?" inquired Mr. Preston. If he only knew how much I cherish the solice that a jacket provides! hahahah how do you think I made it through freshman year, with my head held high!? In all seriousness, this question triggered the thought of how everyone thinks differently!

essay prompt 4

 In Young Goodman Brown, Goodman was a dynamic character due to the vivid, life-changing experience he had down the road. It's hard to tell whether this experience of Goodman's was a real event or simply just a dream but there may be some ways we can find out. "...surrounded by four blazing pines, their tops aflame, their stems untouched, like candles at an evening meeting.". this piece of description allows our minds to wonder, if Young Goodman Brown went back to these tree, he can find out whether this experience was a dream or not. If the pines are burnt at the top, then it wasn't a dream whereas if the pines were fine then it most likely was a dream. [not done]

vocab #2

Faith: Complete trust in someone/something
Threshold: A piece of metal under the doorway
Tarry: Of, like, or covered in tar
Resolve: settle or find a solution
Discern: Perceive or recognized
Martyr: A person that is killed due to their beliefs
Mirth: Amusement expressed as laughter
Catechism: an oral teaching or lecture
Pious: Devoutly religious
Frenzy: A state of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior

Green is everywhere

Green. Its everywhere as far as the eye can see. Strings of green hanging from the green umbrellas that are hung up by a green stalk. Green paper we exchange for things we enjoy. That same green paper that rule our lives. A color that can associate with nature. A color that describes a soury taste. Green apples, green sour skittles, limes, green grapes, the occasional bad kiwi, lemon chips. The list goes on because green is everywhere. Kids walking around with green backpacks, pants, shirts, hell, even green underwear! In the distance, a beautiful view of ridged mountains, doused in the sea of green leaves. Leaves that stand only inches tall. The very being that stole Christmas is cloaked in green, the Grinch! So you see, the world is green. Even the text of this essay is green. Green is everywhere and everything is green.

Earth on turtle's back theme

The theme of Earth on turtles back is that you have to end something old in order to start something new. This is relevant to the story because the protagonist ended the old ways of life to start a new and different life in the hole she fell in.

"Richard Cory" theme/tone

What I  believe is the theme of  "Richard Cory" is that riches and wealth can't buy true happiness.