To blog or not to blog?????? That is the question!!!!

When we were first assigned blogs, I was a little hesitant about doing them since I have never done them before. In my English class in high school, all we ever did was right in a journal. Now since doing them, I like them so much more. Its a good way to express yourself and see what other people are thinking. Also, getting fast feedback from the teacher and other students in the class. I tried developing some of my ideas on my blog, but for some reason, I have to see my ideas written out on paper. I am a very visual person. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed writing a blog and staying connected with everyone. I would much rather blog then write in a journal any day.

Something Serious

Well, when I think of something serious, I think of Harry Potter's Sirius Black. This weekend I will be going to see the new movie and it is going to be legendary. Since this is the second to last film, I am hoping that it is going to be really good and follow the book closely. A couple of the last films have left out a lot of my favorite parts. I am going with some friends that I have seen the last two movies with. Originally when I thought of Harry Potter, I thought that it was something really stupid. I made a friend of mine read Twilight, so she made me read Harry Potter. As soon as I started reading, I couldn't stop. I read the whole series in one week and have been hooked ever since. This last summer, I went to Florida and to Universal Studios. While there, we went to the Wizzarding World of Harry Potter. It was one of the best experiences of my life. We went to Olivander's where I got a wand. Next, we went in to Honey Dukes where I got jelly beans and a chocolate frog. The best part was Hogwarts Castle and the ride inside. It was a 3D ride and brought you through scenes of the books. I hope one day to go back and visit the magical world once again.

The Outline

The outline really helped me to organize my thoughts and different sources that I had. It also helped me with the structure of my paper and set up everything that I need to do. This came in real handy and I wish that I would have had this on some of my other papers that I have written. It has a spot for the sources, quotes and ideas and that makes keeping things organized much easier.

Thesis Statement

I have two ideas and I really like both of them.

One is based of the idea of the jungle being a playground and if you don't know the rules, you will lose the game. The other is based of giving second chances like Zaroff gave Rainsford while hiding in the jungle.

Thesis Statement 1: By relating Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" to a cultural aspect of life, one can see that being allowed to have a second chance changes a person's knowing prospective of life entirely by seeing their mistakes and knowing that they have the chance to fix them.

Thesis Statement 2: Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous" relates to real life situations of the battle of the fittest, where you have to know the rules, even in a jungle, or end up losing.

A New Discovery

Learning that there was a secret message behind the story The White Heron is really going to change how I read stories. A person really has to disect a story to get the messages and what the author wants you to get out of it. One thing that I am going to have trouble doing, is change my way of reading things. There are probably a lot of things that I have missed, do to not reading through things carefully. I honestly thought that the piece was about a girl and a boy and her not telling him where the damn bird was. Boy was I wrong.
Reading on my own wasn't that hard but having the class and someone to guide me where my thoughts were going helped a lot. At times, I wasn't sure if I was going in the right direction. I think that your idea on getting together in a group would really help, since there would be many ideas floating around.

Symbolism

The Yellow Wallpaper.
*The women in the wall - I think that the women in the wall is her. She is trapped and can't get out. At certain times she disappears and seems to hide things, just like she does from John.
*The child - She acts very childish and the child symbolizes her innocence.
* The yellow wallpaper - the story sees it at being old, torn, damaged and something that needs to be fixed. I think that it symbolizes her life. She needs to be renewed just like the wallpaper.
*The husband - The husband treats her like a child. He controls her life and even puts her in a room that should belong to a baby or child. By him treating her like that, he is reenforcing her behavior.
*The nailed down bed - signified how she felt stuck where she was and couldn't get out.

The White Heron
*The color white - symbolizes the girl's innocence. She is very naive and scared. She lives a very simple life and when the boy comes, she doesn't know how to interact. As soon as she learns that he is nice, she is his best friend.
*The cow - the cow is constantly running away and having someone go and get it. I think that the cow is an escape for the girl.
*The Heron - The heron, to the girl, represents freedom. She grew up working in a factory and never truly having anything to herself. This is her one chance to have something that means a lot to her, to herself.

Women in the early 1900s

Women were treated unfairly in the early 1900s. Women still worked primarily in the home (Shi, Tindall). The prevailing assumption was that women by nature were most suited to marriage, maternal duties, and househould managment(Shi, Tindall). During the early 1900s, industrial growth boomed and women were finally welcomed into the work force. (Kessler-Harris) Many women started to work in cloth factories. They were offered a place to live, steady pay, and a access to a library so that they may be educated. (Shi, Tindall) Overtime, the living and working conditions started to deteriorate and wages decreased from year to year. Young girls were especially used in the sewing room because if something went wrong with the machinery, they were small enough to get in there. (Kessler-Harris) Men were given the cushy jobs, while women worked long, tetious days in the factory.

Kessler-Harris, Alice. Where are the Organized Women Workers?. New York: Feminist Studies Inc. 1975. 93-110 Print.

Shi, David Emory. Tindall, George Brown. “America: A Narrative History.” Women’s Work. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2010. 350. Print.

Shi, David Emory. Tindall, George Brown. “America: A Narrative History.” The Lowell System. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2010. 332-335. Print.

An occurance at Owl Creek Bridge

This story piqued my interest. I was trying to put myself in the setting since the author was so descriptive about the surroundings. The things that the man went through, really made him look at his life. After his first near death expereince, he woke up to find a world that was so vivid. I have had an experience like that and I believe that is what connected me to this story. At the end when he see's his family, I thought that he had make it back against all odds. At least when he did die, he went down fighting.

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

When I started to read this passage, I didn't understand where it was going. It was describing this perfect place in real detail. I thought that the whole story was going to be like that. I am one for detail but sometimes it's just to much. About two thirds of the way through, it got really interesting and pulled me in. I wonder what the people who are doing this think. What make them do what they do and how it came to be. These people think that they are torturing for the common welfare of everyone. No one needs to be sacrificed at the expense of someone else. Everyone see's this going on and nobody does anything about it. The ones who are so affected by just leave and never come back. I wonder where they go and what becomes of them. It makes me mad in this book and in real life when people see things that are clearly wrong and do nothing. I have done this and after reading this passage, I want to make a point to step up when the time comes. Not be afraid and follow the paths of everyone else. I want to go upstream while everyone else is heading down.

Evaluation of the course so far

The course right now for English is pretty much what I expected it to be. It is a lot harder than high school and it is really testing me. I like the class discussions that we have and the debates. Today I really liked how we all got involved and backed up what we found instead of what we believed to see all parts of a topic. One thing that really messes me up, is that we have three essays at work right now. I am so used to working on one and then finishing it, then starting another essay. So this is definitely a change. I like blogging but hate the sentence level corrections. Hopefully this new way works better. I had a book very similar to the QAC in high school, so that has been very helpful for me. The library literacy quizzes were really tricky and I used each of the tries and did good on some and bad on the others. Well that is all I think I can think of at the moment and will add if I think of anything else. Thanks for listening.

RBAA

For my next paper I am thinking of writing about Alzheimer's. I work with patients that have the disease and would like to know more about it. When it was discovered, causes and if there are any treatments for it. Also in class we brought up another subject that I think would be interesting to write about. Since religion is such a big topic in our class, I thought I might talk about the science behind religion. I have had the science behind religion taught to me for years and want to expand on it. So many people are doubtful and I want to find the proof for myself. They have made valid points and its important to me to rectify in myself my beliefs.

Class today!!!!!!!!!

I loved class today. So many ideas came to me and I feel strongly about the Alzheimer's subject. Although I work with it firsthand, I don't know all of the effects of it or the background information on it. I had a few other ideas that really interested me, but since I have a personal stake in this idea, I thought I would go for it.  Some of the ideas from today were fun and others were serious. I am glad to know that other people have the same opinions than me and it is also good to know that other people have different opinions and have sound reasoning for why they feel that way. Today was great and I got a lot of great ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Presentations

I didn't realize that there are so many different ways that you can revise your work. Some of them are very obvious and others aren't. Some of them I do automatically and others I want to try on my next draft of my paper. These are rather refreshing ideas that will help our papers grow and develop until we get to the final product. The presentations were good and seeing some of the other presentations, I wish our group would have done something that involved interactions. It was very hard for our group to get together because we are involved in sports, had other classes or have jobs. Overall I think that everyonen did a really good job and nobody I saw fell asleep.

In class we went over commas, which seemed a little out of place. Then we had another peer review, which I always enjoy. The sheet we used this time was better for what we are doing, especially when breaking down the topic sentences and what goes into it. The class went by really fast and I read Fallon's proposal and it was on education in the Reservation about alcohol abuse. I have stayed with a friend of the reservation and my dad built a youth center out there. It was very cool that I got hers.

Proposal Essay

Thesis Statement: Why are so many people against electronic voting or are there good things that can come out of voting electronically?
Supporting Details:
1. Controversies derived from 2000 election, Bush vs Gore.
2. Pros and Cons, much faster results. Pros and Cons about jobs.
3. Electronic voitng results in unbiased results.
4. Disabled Americans using electronic voting.

Messing Up America

100 People Messing Up America really makes you look at America and that it isn't the perfect place everyone envisions it to be, well how Americans view it. Other countries actually see it for what it is. We are so critical and listen to people who don't have any clue about what is going on.
Celebrities have such a huge influence on many people's views, so many of us listen to everything they say, even if it is idiotic or goes against what we already believe.
There are other people who jump on the bandwagon of what is popular. Jesse Jackson did that with Martin Luther King's civil rights movement, but he didn't keep on preaching what the invisionary King had in mind, no he warped it into what he wanted. But since he said he associated himself with King, people listened.
There are a lot of things that are wrong with us and we need to realize and know what is right and wrong and not listen to all the crap out there.

Peer Reviewing

I have always enjoyed peer reviewing. Since my days of working on the school newspaper in a journalism class, writing and reviewing has always been something to look forward to. Reading others and having my own reviewed can always reveal a lot. Someone might think of something I hadn't and vice versa.
I enjoyed reading another classmates paper. Especially with the narrative, you can learn a lot about a person. Especially with a good narrative, you can actually picture all of the events and see their transformation.
The people in my group were honest with one another and that really helps. If its bad, its bad. If its good, its good. No point in trying to hide it. Just get it out there so the person can fix it. I'm glad I was in a group of expert writers.
Knowing that you helped someone with their story and eventually thier finished project should give a person joy. Once this paper is done, we will all have something to be proud of. We should all take pride in that.

Where am I going in life? Going nowhere?

Everything in life I have done so far has lead me up to do great things. Starting with getting involved, doing good in school, being valedictorian, and going to college. Although they aren't profound things like some people have done, I am proud of everything that I have achieved. I plan on doing more schooling to become a nurse anthesithist and having a family. To some people my doings are extraordinary and others leer on them with judgement. Honestly, as long as I am happy with the way my life is going, nothing else matters. But there is still part of me that wants to meet everyones' expectations and even surpass them. I plan on striving for more, but if I don't succeed, the world isn't going to end.
I hear the words, "you are going nowhere." To me, it was almost a driving force. All of us have done something and been through things to get to where we are now, I know I have. I may not be the boldest person in the world, but I can voice my opinion when I see fit. Don't get me started on my political views. I can go on for hours, just ask my friends. Some people may think that I am timid and shy, but once you get to know me, you will find out that is a lie.
I am going places, if I die and I'm not in the history books, that's okay. As long as I die with a smile on my face, I will be okay. I am going places, try and stop me.

Stereotypes

   The things said in class were a huge over exaggeration. Well most things anyway. TV, books, movies, magazines and many other sources develop stereotypes that we are constantly being bombarded by and our brains are infiltrated with this faulty information. Watch almost any show and you will see a man being stupid, cocky, a pig or watching some sport on television. It is the same thing for women, blonde, dumb bimbos, needy women looking for a man to complete her. Also, you see over-protectiveness on both sides.
   We really are too tough on one another. It is almost as if we look for the faults in a person before we actually get to know them. Just by looking at them we decide what kind of person they are. It is are responsibility to get to know a person before we categorize them to a stereotype.
   Beyonce's song If I Were a Boy hits the nail on the head. Makes you look from both points of view.

The end and a start

   I just finished reading The Notebook and  The University of Life. I know a lot about both books just because I have read all of The Notebook and have heard a lot about Hillary Clinton since her run for office. To me, The Notebook excerpt seemed like it was talking about the end of a life and everything that has gone into it. Noah says, "I am nothing special: of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."
   Hillary writes about how she got to a certain point in her life where she believes it directed her life to where she is now. Talks about the specific people who molded her and her path. She leaves us off thinking about what's to come.
    Both mention the future but in different ways. Hillary is optimistic and has a thrill about wondering what is to come. Noah just hopes the notebook works its magic and, if not, he will try again the next day both win or lose.
   I and most other college students are at the point where Hillary is at in the excerpt. Full of wonder and hope of what the future holds for us. Maybe when I get to the age eighty, I will have the insight and respect for the past and all who helped me.

The Three Stories

   After reading the three stories, I was thinking to myself. All three of these stories have a main character who you hear their thoughts, worries and ideas. At one point in time they are all thinking negatively about the situation at hand. In When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine, the girl thinks negatively about Mr. Pirzada and his family and home situation. In Learning to Read and Write, Frederick Douglas learns why people don't not want African Americans to read and the true meaning behind abolition. He resents white people and everything they took from him and his people. Finally, in Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris gets a brutal lesson in French from a teacher. He can't do or say anything right to appease his teacher. The three main characters are faced with negativity that nearly consumes them, but they are able to overcome and come out in the end as stronger people who have a better understanding of the world. Although, some of the lessons that they learn are not the easiest to understand at first, but make them stronger and more intuitive people in the end.

A little bit about me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My name is Rachel Schmidt and I am from Marion, South Dakota. I have two older brothers, Evan and Nathan. Evan is in college for computer technology and Nathan just graduated with a degree from STI in heavy equipment operations. My mom is a CNA and my dad owns his own construction company. We live on a farm just outside of Marion. I work in a nursing home as a CNA and have for the last four years. In my free time I like to hang out with friends, family, shopping, listening to music, long walks, read and watch movies. I love music and constantly listen to anything with a good beat. In high school, I was involved with track, volleyball, student government, quiz bowl and oral interp. I was a South Dakota Legislative Page. I participated in Girls State and South Dakota Teenage Republicans. I am game to do pretty much everything. That's a little bit about me.