This year has felt like a long track and I am finally seeing the finish line. It has been a transformative year in many ways. I have accomplished things in english I never thought I would do. If I was to tell past me that I am able to write a decent essay in only 35-45 minutes I would call my self crazy. Writing these silly blog posts may have felt like just homework at times, but the have had a beneficial reflective impact on me, allowing myself to think about who I am and what I've done. Mr. Thomas has been a sneaky, relatable, anecdotal, interestingly different, AP Lang teacher and I probably will not forget him.
If my grades are anything that reflect how well my essays are written the I am painfully average on all of them. However, if they are put to the side and their literacy was judged by just my opinion then they would have a clear definition of which was the easiest to write, and which one the hardest. The synthesis in my opinion is the easiest of the three types of essays that we covered in class. I have no idea why because it is one of the essays that I stress the most out for, but I always seem to be able to tie it all together with some whimsical interpretations that come out of nowhere. The Argumentative essay would have to be the most difficult of the three. The part I had the most trouble with is preparing the data, but after that part is done then the rest seems to flow logically and easily. The most important thing that I have taken out of from writing all three of these types of essays is how important it is to be prepared.
I enjoy books and I enjoy reading them even more. Well, to be precise, I enjoy reading books that I choose to read. Whenever I am forced to read a book I always enjoy it less then I would if I choose it randomly off a shelf, or a friend recommended it out. The book that I have liked the least this year that we were forced to read would have to be In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. It was just a creepy boring book, that I hope to never read again. Although I am glad I read it because it is part of american culture and, I have noticed it is referenced quite a bit after I read it. The book I have enjoyed the most would have to be The Things The Carried by Tim O'Brien. It Is probably the most modern of the books that we have read in class and might be the reason why I liked it the most. It has given me a different point of view of the Vietnam War, and a new appreciation for war novels.
I would like to thank you Mr. Thomas for the engaging year of AP Lang that you have given to your class. Even though I was in your class for the first 3 days, the first time I walked in I did not exact to have the kind of year I have had in you class (in a good way).
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Things I "Hump"
I like the way Tim O'Brien uses the word hump instead of carry, because it implies multiple things not just items or feeling we hold. It implies that these things you hump are worth carrying because they mean something to you and you hold it close, like the pebble Cross holds in his mouth. It also implies things that you just have to bare with, like how Cross had to bare with the memory of Dobbins. Both have a significant meaning to the holder, but carry themselves different baggage.
Physically
The things i carry a lot of things physically, that are not just tangible but are linked to intangible things i bare too. I carry a stripe scar on my right are from wandering around my families ranch in 11 Mile Corner near the horse pins at night, looking for 5 bucks I remember leaving on the ground. I got a decent scratch from some loose fencing around the pin, that happened to leave a scar. This scar will always be linked to being at that ranch for my families anniversary "get-together". I don't know what i would do if i didn't have it, but i do know that i would miss it in some weird way. I try to carry at least some part of my gypsie garb from the 4 years, when i worked at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Whether its my aventurine stone necklace, Celtic knot band, silk pouch carrying a deck of tarot cards, or even the same belt that i used to hold all my various bags and pouches. If i didn't have theses things i would feel like a huge chuck of my life just vanished with pieces if who I am as a person. (I could go on about the many broken bone, scars, and small items that I may not carry on me, but always must keep where ever move. Although I think this is just about as much as somebody would want to read about my personal inventory check of my life.)
Goals
I really don't care how i get there occupationally, whether its through becoming a international lawyer, teacher, anthropologist, or UN diplomat, my goal is to travel around the world. I want to go from a small Gaelic town in the middle of nowhere in Scotland, to Okinawa Japan. Because of this, one thing that i always try to be is open minded to other people and cultures. I try to experience new things because what might seem alien to one person means home to another. This value is something i carry to try and achieve my goal.
Relationships
The relationship that I always carry is a person that you don't need to lie who you are to. Whether that be a parent, surrogate family, or good friend. Carrying this person make baring all the other heavier things in life a bit lighter. This is the person that knows the right questions to ask, at the right time, even when you don't even know it. The reason why I didn't name anyone is because they all sort of form the same person, just different facets. Just like how there are hundreds of different deities in the Hindu religion that are really just facets of one universal spirit. All these people are important to me and i carry them all with me individually in different ways, but they all make the same person who is there when needed most.
Personality
Objective, empathetic, and creative. I try to remain objective because form past experiences with other people I have learned that being irrational about things is not the way to go sometimes. This does not mean I don't care passionate about things. I care passionately for my small family, friends, and countless t.v. shows that I watch at one time. Although, I try to keep objective and practical in most situations even though it is not the easiest trait to carry. Even if I may not show sympathy, doesn't mean I don't have empathy. All this might make my personality seem cold hearten and distant, but I is the exact opposite. I believe that being both objective and empathetic allows a person to see things through another persons point of view better and not view the world narrow mindedly. That's where the creativity comes in. I don't mean creativity in an arts and craft kind of way, but rather an open minded way. I don't want to view the world as a hard core Texan that thinks any other person is a Yanky, or an extreme Liberal that thinks a devout catholic is just an unreasonable person that holds on to archaic values. If I could turn my three adjectives into one, it would be moderate. I try not to lean in to many ways, but stay in the middle and be centered.
Memory
If a memory could have weight, the older we get the heavier that load we hump gets. I'm only 16 yet sometimes it feels like my memories have the equal weight of 100 elephants. Some memories carry more weight than others and I carry them happily, whether they are good or bad. Like the three times that i broke my arm. The sound of my bone snapping for the third time and the words "Oh god, not this again", going through my head will be a memories I will carry on with me forever. The first time I had my birthday party at a Schliterbahn in Galveston and going down numerous rides, is a more happier memory that will stick with me as well. The life lessons that both my grandfather and father taught me I well always keep close and I hope to one day share them with my own family.
Even though I feel like I just typed a 5 page paper, I can help but feel that this is just barely scratching the surface of the things that i carry. I'm not about to write a whole novel about the things I carry, but thanks to Tim O'Brien I am going to give more thought to the things i carry and how they shape who I am.
Physically
The things i carry a lot of things physically, that are not just tangible but are linked to intangible things i bare too. I carry a stripe scar on my right are from wandering around my families ranch in 11 Mile Corner near the horse pins at night, looking for 5 bucks I remember leaving on the ground. I got a decent scratch from some loose fencing around the pin, that happened to leave a scar. This scar will always be linked to being at that ranch for my families anniversary "get-together". I don't know what i would do if i didn't have it, but i do know that i would miss it in some weird way. I try to carry at least some part of my gypsie garb from the 4 years, when i worked at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Whether its my aventurine stone necklace, Celtic knot band, silk pouch carrying a deck of tarot cards, or even the same belt that i used to hold all my various bags and pouches. If i didn't have theses things i would feel like a huge chuck of my life just vanished with pieces if who I am as a person. (I could go on about the many broken bone, scars, and small items that I may not carry on me, but always must keep where ever move. Although I think this is just about as much as somebody would want to read about my personal inventory check of my life.)
Goals
I really don't care how i get there occupationally, whether its through becoming a international lawyer, teacher, anthropologist, or UN diplomat, my goal is to travel around the world. I want to go from a small Gaelic town in the middle of nowhere in Scotland, to Okinawa Japan. Because of this, one thing that i always try to be is open minded to other people and cultures. I try to experience new things because what might seem alien to one person means home to another. This value is something i carry to try and achieve my goal.
Relationships
The relationship that I always carry is a person that you don't need to lie who you are to. Whether that be a parent, surrogate family, or good friend. Carrying this person make baring all the other heavier things in life a bit lighter. This is the person that knows the right questions to ask, at the right time, even when you don't even know it. The reason why I didn't name anyone is because they all sort of form the same person, just different facets. Just like how there are hundreds of different deities in the Hindu religion that are really just facets of one universal spirit. All these people are important to me and i carry them all with me individually in different ways, but they all make the same person who is there when needed most.
Personality
Objective, empathetic, and creative. I try to remain objective because form past experiences with other people I have learned that being irrational about things is not the way to go sometimes. This does not mean I don't care passionate about things. I care passionately for my small family, friends, and countless t.v. shows that I watch at one time. Although, I try to keep objective and practical in most situations even though it is not the easiest trait to carry. Even if I may not show sympathy, doesn't mean I don't have empathy. All this might make my personality seem cold hearten and distant, but I is the exact opposite. I believe that being both objective and empathetic allows a person to see things through another persons point of view better and not view the world narrow mindedly. That's where the creativity comes in. I don't mean creativity in an arts and craft kind of way, but rather an open minded way. I don't want to view the world as a hard core Texan that thinks any other person is a Yanky, or an extreme Liberal that thinks a devout catholic is just an unreasonable person that holds on to archaic values. If I could turn my three adjectives into one, it would be moderate. I try not to lean in to many ways, but stay in the middle and be centered.
Memory
If a memory could have weight, the older we get the heavier that load we hump gets. I'm only 16 yet sometimes it feels like my memories have the equal weight of 100 elephants. Some memories carry more weight than others and I carry them happily, whether they are good or bad. Like the three times that i broke my arm. The sound of my bone snapping for the third time and the words "Oh god, not this again", going through my head will be a memories I will carry on with me forever. The first time I had my birthday party at a Schliterbahn in Galveston and going down numerous rides, is a more happier memory that will stick with me as well. The life lessons that both my grandfather and father taught me I well always keep close and I hope to one day share them with my own family.
Even though I feel like I just typed a 5 page paper, I can help but feel that this is just barely scratching the surface of the things that i carry. I'm not about to write a whole novel about the things I carry, but thanks to Tim O'Brien I am going to give more thought to the things i carry and how they shape who I am.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
The Original Haunted House
Edgar Allan Poe started the haunted house genera, with The Fall of the House of Usher. There are many characteristics that can be borrowed from this, to create the best haunted house story. One would be how the house seems to have a pervasive effect on the narrator from the very beginning on the story, making him feel uncomfortable and shaken. This makes the story feel edgy and tense from the start. Second is how sanity is wavering when the narrator spends the night in the house and sees the twin sister. This makes the reader begin to wonder if the character's point of view can be trusted, or if there is more. The third is how Poe does not give to much back story or details, and the ones he did give where swept under the rug. This lets the reader's imagination wander and create sometimes the worst case scenarios. Fourth is the storm that rages as the narrator stays the night in the house of Usher. Storms are both physically and mentally unsettling creating more tension within the spooky house. Finally the haunted house story must absolutely have a creepy butler that shows up at strange times. This just add enough mystery to him to make him an interesting but essential character.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Our Wicked World
America has this almost subconscious obsession with the dark mysteries that we don't understand. I've seen first had 100's of people pay 60 bucks to have their palms read, or stones caste by seniors(citizens) dressed up acting as gypsies. Parents are willing to, or even sometimes encouraging, their children to join them into taking a peek at the spooky. Granted there are the pius few who stay away from anything that isn't strictly written in the holy book. This fascination grows through one of the worlds oldest way of communication and teaching... Story telling. It can be the camp side fire stories at camp or J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling. This makes Americans more open toward unknown things. We are no longer the strict uptight sheep that first founded this nation. This fascination with the occult has allowed us to grow more as individuals in our society.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Anti-Heros: Ichabod Crane V.S. Malcolm Reynolds
Teacher V.S. Space Cowboy
Ichabod Crane is the first archetype of an anti-hero making him almost the great grandfather of Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Reynolds is in one title, is a clint eastwood space cowboy. Unlike Cane can have a very abrasive character toward people, if he is rubbed the wrong way he will not hesitate to put you down. He may not have the best manners (if any) and he may commit a federal crime every now and then. He is a man haunted by his past, and it has made him more morally ambiguous.
.jpg)
Ichabod Crane is a more sly and sleazy type of anti-hero than Captain Reynolds, but neither of them fit the good do-er role of a protagonist. Ichabod worms his way to get what he desires, whereas Mal just bluntly does what needs to be done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)