Blog 28: Interpreter of Maladies

Choose ONE of the three blog post questions to answer in one-two paragraphs. Be as detailed as possible to demonstrate your knowledge from reading the Interpreter of Maladies.

1. On page sixteen of Lahiri's short story, Mr. Kapasi makes observations of the Das's children: "Mr. Kapasi noted that this boy was slightly paler than the other children" (16). What is "foreshadowing"? Why does the author focus on this moment and how does it foreshadow what may occur in the story? What did you first suspect when you read this line?

This is foreshadowing how Mrs. Das had an affair which led to the birth of Bobby. The author focuses on this moment because it makes the reader wonder why Bobby is paler. It foreshadows Mrs. Das's confession about her affair. I first suspected that he was a sick child, which wort of foreshadowed the story of Mr. Kapasi's child.

2. As with many of Lahiri's writing, the theme of "displacement" runs throughout this short story selection. Displacement is the feeling of loyalty to not one, but two different cultures, so there is no allegiance to one culture. Cite two examples of this "displacment" from the story. Why does Lahiri include this theme in her work?

3. Explain the significance of the story's title. How is the title linked to Mr. Kapasi? Cite a quotation from the text that supports your explanation. Why does Mrs. Das take an interest in Mr. Kapasi? How does Mr. Kapasi react to the information she shares about herself?

[5 Points, EC. 4 Points for attempting to answer all three questions, posted by end of class 5.06.10]

Blog 27: TBCC, The End

Our reading of The Body of Christopher Creed is done! For each class period, there is a writing prompt; you may only complete the questions for your class period. Be sure your response is at least TWO paragraphs in length. Pull a quotation from the book where applicable. If you finish early, try writing on one of the other questions for review.

Period 3: What happened down in the Lenape Indian burial ground's cave? How do geologists at Stockton College explain the events? Why is it clear that Torey is still profoundly bothered by what he saw down there? In your opinion, is Dr. Fahdi have Torey's best interests in mind? Cite a quotation from the text to support your conclusions.

In the burial ground's cave,Torey found a body. He thought it was Creed's body, but he later found out it was Bob Haines's. The body was standing up, facing the cave wall with a gun in his hand. Once Torey saw the body, it began to blow away like dead leaves peeling in the wind. It was called "Immaculate Decomposition."

"Immaculate DEcomposition is what happens oxygen strikes a body that has been... well, that has been, um, dead. For some time. The, um. The cave you entered was air sealed," (Plum- Gucci 305). It is clear that Torey is still upset because he can only smell and taste things that are burnt. Also, he can no longer attend his high school or hang out with his usual friends. I think the doctor did have his best intentions in mind because he is a doctor. Doctors do good.

Blog 26: Dishonesty Breeds Dishonesty/ Ch. 17

Choose ONE of the writing prompt below to react in a one to two paragraph response. Be prepared to share your answer with classmates and the class.

4. Do you sympathize with Mrs. Creed at this point in the book? Explain your reasoning. What characters are aiding her in the search for her son? Who possesses the power in the situation and why? Include a quotation with your opinions.

I do sympathize with Mrs. Creed for a multitude of reasons. She is a mother who has lost her child. Even though it is easy to point a finger at Mrs. Creed for being so harsh and strict. However, I believe she just loved him. She said, "well,it's not my fault that other children saw my son as an easy mark." She tried too hard to watch over him though. Suffocation will not make a child happy. Sadly, Mrs. Creed did not realize this and she thought Chris was completely happy.

Blog 25: Chapter 6: Torey's Lyrics

In chapter six, Torey shares some of the lyrics from his band on pages 66-68. Choose two of these lyrics and explain what their significance is for Torey's life. Then, finish the song that Torey started--use any details about Torey's characterization or life in South Jersey to help you. Attempt to develop ten-fifteen lines for the song, and be sure to include a title. The song can be serious, silly, a rap, etc., as long as the lyrics are school appropriate and demonstrate aspects of Torey's characterization.

Be prepared to share the band's new jam!!

It's called the blues.

Even around here it's called the blues.

Significance: There's sadness everywhere, even in the most seemingly perfect settings.

It's called the blues.

Even around here it's called the blues.

When you have nothing to lose

and everyone is confused

it's called the blues

Creed is dead

shot right in the head

we thought he was crazy

maybe he's in the shed.

Creed ran away

can't find him today

he had no privacy

Now, we all have to pay.

It's called the blues.

Even around here it's called the blues.

When there's nothing to lose.

You just slip on your shoes

It's called the blues.

Blog 24: Ch 1 of TBCC Reading

What do you think of Torey as a character? Does he remind you of Holden Caulfield? Why/ why not? Speak to the reliability of both narrators and make a comparison of the two.

Torey seems like a very troubled character, who only wants to go back and live his normal life. He reminds me of Holden Caulfield only because he lives in a boarding school. Also, he has an annoying dorm-mate. Ackley is nosy and obnoxious just like Leo. Both of them are not in a positive state of mind. I do not know enough about Torey, to decide whether or not he is a reliable storyteller. However, Holden was difficult to believe, though I did not have a feeling he had any reason to lie.

Blog 23: Issues in Our American Society

After reading two of the articles, write a one-paragraph response to each. Consider the following questions for each editorial [your commentary need not be in this order]:

-How does the author of the news article support a specific position on the issue? Provide an example of this slanted perspective.

-What is your personal opinion on the subject under debate? Why do you support/ refute the article's points? [ex. Cigarettes- Why would you take the job/ not take the job?; Locked away- How old do you think an individual needs to be to tell right from wrong?; Global warming- What does your diet mostly consist of?; Distraction- Who do you know that texts while driving?]

-What statistics/ collected data/ pictures/ etc. does the author choose to make his/ her point(s) in the editorial? How are they effective?

In the article "Should I Take A Job Promoting Cigarettes?" the author cannot decide whether or not to take the job. Proof is that the author wrote to the paper asking what he should do. I would never take that job in am million years, unless I had a plan to thwart the company's mission and destroy all of their tobacco. The author provides the facts that "Cigarette smoking causes more than 400,000 deaths in the US each year."

In the article "Driven to Distraction" it discusses the dangers of texting while driving. I am strongly against texting while driving. The article states that texting accidents total up to about 2,600 deaths a year. That is truly disgusting and disturbing. So many deaths over such a selfish and stupid reason is really unnecessary.

Blog 22: The Birds and the Bees

There are a lot of "what if" questions that can be drawn from this chapter. With a partner or by yourself, consider the following questions, and write your own opinions about them. CHOOSE AT LEAST FIVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER. As a class, we will then review these questions and discuss the answers.

-Would Ms. Angelou have experimented with sex on her own if she hadn't been raped as a child?

Yes. She did not experiment with sex because she believed she was a lesbian, not because she was abused in the past.

-What is the likelihood of Ms. Angelou becoming pregnant if Momma or Vivian had discussed the subject with her earlier?

If they discussed the issue earlier with her, she would have known to use protection and not have sex with random people.

-What if Ms. Angelou had never been sexually abused? Could her pregnancy have happened anyway? Why or why not?

Yes. Pregnancies happen. One's past of sexual abuse has nothing to do with that.

-Ms. Angelou hid her pregnancy until after she graduated, so that she would have an opportunity to advance in life. Would Ms. Angelou's future have looked different if she was living in Stamps? What could she expect from life then?

If she had lived in Stamps, she probably would have been greatly judged, and she would have kept her baby and lived at home and not worked to take care of herself.

-What would happen to him if the setting was Stamps and our main character was white?

She would probably be considered white trash,and would have been close to the ranks of the black citizens.

Challenge: Can you develop one or two "what if" questions based on your reading of the story? Give it a try! [2 ex. credit points]

-What if Marguerite was impregnated by Mr. Freeman when he raped her?

-What if she did not want to keep the baby?

Blog 21: Making Connections

For the past two days, your class has viewed the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings film and responded to teacher-constructed questions during your viewing; all participating students received credit for these worksheets.

Now it is your turn to develop questions and make connections between the film and book! With a partner or individually, post five questions you realized you had about Marguerite's story from viewing the film--a question can be formed from something you were wondering about. After you have developed your questions, find the answers in the book! Challenge: Cite quotations to support your answers. Include page number.

Ex. 1. Q: Why does Uncle Willie walk with a limp and what's with his stutter?
A: He was in a childhood accident, which caused both.

2. Q: Why were Bailey and Maya so sad when they finally met their father?
A: They thought he was dead all those years.

3. Q:Were the boys looking for Uncle Willie in the KKK?
A:Yes Ma'am, even though they weren't dressed in white hoods.

4. Q:Why were the children upset that their parents sent them gifts?
A:The parents abandoned them.

5. Q:When did Maya's parents get divorced?
A:Maya was three years of age.

Blog 20: Segregation Presented in Chapter 8

There was such a huge dividing line between the African-American community of Stamps, AK, and the Caucasian community that even the Depression affected them differently. The Caucasian people were richer, and spent their money very freely. The African-American people were already desperately poor, and barely had the resources to keep themselves alive, let alone buy luxury items. So, when the Depression hit, the Caucasian community was affected first, then slowly, it drizzled down to the African-American community.

Answer the five questions from the handout distributed in class.

Then, share in this post whether you would have preferred to be an African-American or Caucasian during the Depression in Stamp, AK, as described in the book.

1. The white people spent all their money freely becuase they were wealthier. The African-Americans had little to no money to spend to take care of themselves. Once the Depression hit, the Caucasions were affected first.

2. It affected the white people first, but eventually it changed the African-Americans' way of life.

3. It altered the view of life because it made everyone in the same situation.

4. The African-Americans were worse off from before the Depression and once it hit, things got even worse.

5. The white people would recover faster because they were the ones the government was focusing on.

I personally would have rather been an African American because then I could at least have had dignity. The white people were mean, selfish, and extremely ignorant. Self pride is ten times more important that wealth.

Blog 19: Angelou's Life, Times, & Message

During our class today, many facts were shared about Maya Angelou: her life, time period, and overall message of her works. Additionally, a definition of racism was shared as well as past and present instances of racism in United States society.

For each category, share one fact you learned from the informative groups' presentations today:

1: Time Period: African-American Experience in U.S., 1930s & 1940s

Segregation included separate bathrooms,water fountains, restaurants, and bus seats.

2: Maya Angelou: Biography

Her real name is Margaret Johnson. She was raped at age eight. She was the first African American cable car conductor. Shehad a son, Guy, when she was 16.

3: Racism: What is it? How has it occurred in the U.S.?

Racism is when you harshly judge other people based on their race, culture, religion, or other beliefs. It occurred during the Holocaust era.

4: Maya Angelou: Works & Publications

She wrore "A Letter to my Daughter" to the daughter she never had in 2008.

5: Racism: Where does it still exist in the U.S.?

It exists everywhere today.

One fact should be shared for each category. Five facts should be in complete sentences. Feel free to share more than one fact that caught your attention. If you were absent today, Tues., 2.03.10, research this information on your own to complete this blog posting.

[Posted by 2.03.10, 5 POINTS]

Blog 18: Female Roles in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Now that our reading of the tragic drama, Macbeth, is complete, we are able to take a more critical eye to aspects of theme, characterization, and plot. Perhaps one of the most glaring observations about the play is the limited influence of female roles. In fact, the two main female characters, Lady Macbeth ad Lady Macduff, are only referenced in terms of their husbands. This detail is very telling of the time period in which Shakespeare wrote and the time period the story takes place.

Visit the following website and read up on Shakespeare's treatment of Gender Roles in Macbeth:

"Gender and Sexuality in Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Reversal in Gender Roles" (Thacker)

Do you agree/ disagree with some of the article's analysis? Choose a quotation from Thacker's writing and argue for or against it.

I agree with the section about power. "In her opinion, an audience watching the play would be shocked at how fiery and forthcoming Lady Macbeth was in her behaviour." Shakespeare did not write to bore his audience. He wanted to shock the viewers/ readers by switching the gender roles. He made the women conniving and evil and the men the more innocent pawns.

Blog 17: Act V Study Guide Questions

Answer the following Act V questions based on your reading from the past two days. You may work with a partner, but your responses should be original. Complete sentences and use of textual support is required [at least two quotations]. Posted: Fri., 1.15.10, beginning of class

Act V, scene ii

1. What does Angus say about the men that Macbeth commands?

Angus claims the soldiers only fight because they are ordered to, not because they love Macbeth. "Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love"

2. How is the "plant" metaphor started in Act I, sc. iv, by Duncan, continued in this scene?

Lennox says they must "drown the weeds."

Act V, scene iii

1. What are Macbeth's troops doing? Why does he remain so confident?

They are turning against him. He believes the witches' statements were literal and true.

2. How does Macbeth acknowledge that Scotland is suffering?

He asks the doctor for advice on what is going wrong in Scotland.

Act V, scene iv

1. Who is Siward? What is his opinion of the king?

Siward called Macbeth the "overconfident tyrant."

2. What tactical strategy does Malcom implement? What is its purpose and why is it significant to the play?

He tells nobody to fight. It explains that everyone is turning on Macbeth.

Act V, scene v

1. How does the sound of the woman's cry affect Macbeth?

"I have almost forgot the taste of fears." It reminds him that he is human and frightened.

2. Who dies in this scene? What are the main ideas of Macbeth's soliloquy after this event?

"The queen, my lord, is dead." He realizes the meaningless of life and his pursuit at royalty.

3. What does Macbeth now recognize about the prophecies? How does his realization relate to the play's central theme?

He believed they could never occur, but now they are. It brings Macbeth back down to earth and he begins to realize that nothing good can come without something bad.

Blog 16: Story Time Macbeth Style

Act III: Story Time

The witches, ghosts, and characters in Shakespeare's Macbeth are sinister and frightening. Suppose you are invited into an elementary classroom to share the play Macbeth with all of the kids.

How would you hold the "story time" without giving the children nightmares? Write an adaptation [another version] of the events in the play, which include the scarier aspects of the play: Macbeth, the witches, and the ghosts.

Post this story to your own blog, and then critique another classmate's version for appropriate content.

A Scottish man named Macbeth went walking with his friend, Banquo when three magical ladies that could tell the future came up and talked to them. The magical ladies told Macbeth that he would soon be greater than he was - the King of Scotland! They told Banquo his sons would be the kings after. Throughout the story, Macbeth does some bad and mean things in order to become king. He gets into fights with a lot of people because they know he is doing wrong things in order to become king. Macbeth sent people out to go hurt Banquo because he was scared of him. Then, Banquo's ghost came to scare Macbeth even more. Then, men were thinking of ways to make Macbeth not be king anymore.. with twizzlers.

Blog 15: New Year's Premonitions

Banquo cautions his war comrade Macbeth about the Three Weird Sisters' [Witches] premonitions: "The instruments of darkness tell us truths;/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/ In deepest consequence..." (Act I, scene iii, lines 123-125). Here Banquo clearly states his position on the Witches' statements. Explain in a few sentences what Banquo means with these lines for their futures.

In this post, also consider what you believe for your future in the year 2010. Premonitions are similar to New Year's Resolutions in that they have an element of self-fulfilling prophecy. One sort of resolution has to do only with oneself. You might decide to lose weight, to stop eating candy, to exercise more, or watch less TV. Other resolutions might involve family or friends. You could resolve to be more patient with your little brother or more helpful to mom. Some resolutions are about school and the outside world, such as getting to class on time or trying for better grades. Make one goal for each New Year's Resolution category: Personal Improvement, Family and Friends, and School and the Outside World.

Banquo is warning Macbeth not to trust the witches. They were saying all these good things that were going to happen to Banquo and Macbeth and their families. Because they were witches, they were not to be trusted. All good things come with bad things too.

My resolutions are to be healthier, be nicer, and focus better in my classes. The latter is ironic because I am typing this as Miss Kaser is going over the first part of this Do Now with Melissa. I should be following this probably. I will start my resolutions... tomorrow!