Homework 3.27.08 (cont.)

CR 147-154: The theme of this story is that one woman is trying to find her place in society. She struggles since she is caught in between her Chinese heritage and American upbringing. It is from the point of view of the woman herself as she struggles to feel a sense of belonging in the world.

Homework 3.27.08

CR 274-276: The main theme of the story is that the way in which you treat others is how you can expect to be treated. In the story, Becky's sons are ostracized by the community and excluded. Neither the whites or blacks accept them and people are punished if they are associated with the boys. Thus, the boys go on a rampage and leave the town. Becky is left by herself and no one even knows if she is living or deceased. The story's setting plays a huge role in providing the reader with details. It is set in a small town a long time ago when horse and buggy and train were used for transportation. It is described as an autumn day when the chimney falls in on the house. It is easy to visualize the eye-shaped patch of land Becky's house sits on, as a sliver between the road and the tracks. The theme is developed by following the character's in the beginning stages, when Becky had the first child, through the end of the story when the boys are grown and leave. 

Homework 3.25.08

CR 91-93: The story is describing how each culture is different and each ethnicity responds differently on a date. 

CR 147-154: The story is about a family secret of suicide. It those times, suicide was not discussed or openly shared since it was too shameful for the family. The girl was the gem of the family and the only daughter. It describes the road to her hanging. 

CR 94-103: The narrator feels as though he in and invisible man and goes on a personal journey to discover himself. 

CR 274-276: The story centralizes on race. A white woman had two black sons, and it was a big problem in society then. It is discovered by a travelling man from church that the woman's house had burned down and she was buried inside the rubble. When the returns from the house to inform town, no one rushes to help her. It seems as though her house was set on fire and now she's dead since she was white and had two black sons. 

CR 420: The poem describes the hate and malice that lives amongst us in America, yet we continue to foster it in every generation.

CR 421: The poem is intended to inspire a group, most likely the minority, to fight back-even if fighting results in their death. Although many may die fighting, it will not be in vain since they will be dying for a good cause.

Classwork 3.20.08

I. Freewrite
A. war- blood, troops, dust, forest, jungle, loud noises, ammo, camo
gunner- fighter, easily seen, flying
attack- chaos, screaming, running, tanks, explosions, firing of weapons

B. WWII- Holocaust, Hitler, Churchill, Hawaii, Japan, Grandpa Ed, Grandpa Luis, Jim

II. Ball Turret Gunner
Having bacjground information helps to provide a better undestanding when reading the poem, since you can graters appreciate the cramped quarters, freezing temperatures, and exposure to the sky around you. Also, having the background information makes it easy to understand the last line and how one could be washed out with a hose, since it is sphere shaped. Also having background information on Jarrell provides the reader with slightly more information about his life, and why he wrote this poem. If I had had this information to begin with, I would have had mroe to write about and deeper analysis to provide.

Homework 3.20.08

Strategies:

- historicism: using historical documentation to help explain a literary text

- history used to be considered set in stone/unchanging [19th century]

- must use evidence to support any claim made-this is where history is used in looking up documents, texts, and other important pieces of evidence

- new historicism reflects on the history used at the time, and also an evaluation after in was initially written

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner:

- a man describes his extreme sleep deprivation while fighting a war

- he is suffering: cold, exhausted, far away

- he comes under fire and is killed and washed away

The Holocaust Party

- Joel is so moved by the story that he can no longer remain at the party

- Amy's father is also deeply affected and has to stand outside; he is probably remembering how he spent the war

- Mrs. Isabel is deeply affected by the war, and never recovered emotionally

- through history we know what happened during the Holocaust, and can use that prior knowledge to help us when reading this story

Homework 3.18.08

The Soldier: I think the narrator is saying that there will always be at least one spot in the world that is England since he is off fighting war, and even if the war is lost and the territory that is considered England becomes a different country, to him it will always be England. He could also be saying this because one field will always be England to him, since that is his homeland. 

Anthem for Doomed Youth: This poem is set when a war is going on and soldiers are dying so rapidly that each one cannot be given a proper farewell. I think the title relates to the fact that the youth are having to see so much loss and warfare that they aren't having a normal childhood.

Dulce et Decorum Est: This poem's title translates something to the affect of "it is sweet and beautiful". The title relates to the war and the exhaustion felt by the soldiers. Yet, one soldier dies and struggles just as the last line says "to die for our country".

Glory of Women: The poem seems to be from a mother's or wife's viewpoint. It is describing how men return from war and the stories they share of the things they've seen. The title refers to the woman's biggest accomplishment in the war, which used to be sending things to their loved men off fighting. 

They: This poem is describing the differences families (most likely women) should expect to see when their young men return from war. Many of the soldiers return with wounds, and although mostly physical, there are many mental wounds too. 

Strategies: The reading discusses culture and how that shapes our lives. If you grow up in a culture where men are off fighting wars and come home changed and hardened, then you will likely never see the softer side of people. Culture describes the environment that surrounds us daily, and how that molds us into the people we are. 

Homework 3.4.08

Topic proposal :

1. my blackberry cell phone

2. communication via phone calls, text messages, emails, instant messaging

3. lifeline (in a crisis situation), calendar, alarm, games, note pad, Internet

4. full keyboard, can fit in hand, light weight, garnet colored

5. sleek, doesn't specifically identify with only one gender, compact, multi-functional

6. intended for young, busy, involved, working individuals; students exhibit all the previously mentioned characteristics

This paper will argue that the cell phone was developed to be used as a means of quicker, more direct communication but now acts as an exterior appendage to many people who view it as a vital part of their daily lives.