I'm from snow-covered mitts and forts and wars,
and from home-made, chocolate-covered Rice Krispies.
I am from pictures take on family trips,
I'm from card games played into the night.
I'm from summers spent running through the halls
in my blue two-piece and towel,
racing toward the backyard pool.
I'm from sunsets at the playground,
from chalkboards and headbands.
I am from monthly piano recitals,
and from milkweed stalks snapped.
I'm from English and Korean words,
and from relatives far away,
and from solving crosswords with my grandma on Sundays.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
PIcture Poem
And that was when she knew.
Her feet took her on a path they well knew,
while her mind was full of other
puzzling,
mind-disturbing,
stay-up-at-night-thinking-about-it
things.
"Why me?
What did I do to deserve this?
It's not possible....
There's no way.
There's just
no way."
Before long she found herself at the majestic falls,
crystal blue water free-falling from the sky.
Acres of green pines dance in the wind and the tremendous rocks bow down.
As if to say
"Your Majesty."
And I sat there
among the falls' subjects
just wishing the hours away,
wishing to forget all the world around me.
Wishing to forget
me.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Theme Connection
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/26/community2/index.html
“Shaky economy forces America to rediscover community”
This article talks about how people are losing jobs because companies can’t afford to keep them, and so these people are turning toward their communities. It’s a vague connection to the theme “Wealth affects priorities”. Later on in the article, there is one paragraph that hits dead-on: “Whether people turn to God or Google, this economic crisis will shift people's values, said Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a commentator and political science professor at Princeton University. ‘Having less immediately forces us to decide what we value,’ she said. ‘Our priorities in times of crisis reveal our core beliefs.’" But, as these people’s values shifted for the better, Kino’s had shifted for the worse. These people are turning towards their ‘families’ when things are bad, but Kino had turned for ‘wealth’, even when situations got worse and worse.
“Shaky economy forces America to rediscover community”
This article talks about how people are losing jobs because companies can’t afford to keep them, and so these people are turning toward their communities. It’s a vague connection to the theme “Wealth affects priorities”. Later on in the article, there is one paragraph that hits dead-on: “Whether people turn to God or Google, this economic crisis will shift people's values, said Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a commentator and political science professor at Princeton University. ‘Having less immediately forces us to decide what we value,’ she said. ‘Our priorities in times of crisis reveal our core beliefs.’" But, as these people’s values shifted for the better, Kino’s had shifted for the worse. These people are turning towards their ‘families’ when things are bad, but Kino had turned for ‘wealth’, even when situations got worse and worse.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reflection on The Pearl
What I think I can take away from the story of “The Pearl”
The Pearl is mainly about Kino and his family, and a story of their lives. As a reader, we get to see the thoughts of many different characters, and as a reader, we can come to conclusions about things. Things like “You shouldn’t let want for materialistic things ruin everything else in your life.” I think that’s one major idea that I’ll take away from this book. Time and time again, Kino puts the pearl and wealth and future hopes before the ones he loves. Such as on pages 38 and 39, the first time when Juana asks Kino to throw away the pearl, Kino says no. He says “This is our one chance. Our son must go to school. He must break out of the pot that holds us in.” Juana complains by crying out “It will destroy us all. Even our son,” but Kino, of course, ignores it. In this example, Kino is only thinking about Coyotito in the future, and his materialistic hopes for his first-born son. I don’t blame him for caring about his son’s future, but I think he should think more about the “now” than the “later”. At the time, Coyotito wasn’t yet completely cured of the scorpion sting, and Kino wasn’t thinking of using the pearl’s wealth to help him. I couldn’t understand how he could care so much about money like that. Of course, he’s living really poorly right now, but no matter how much money you have, family should come first. I think we see that we shouldn’t want materialistic things enough to ruin everything else in life. Because eventually, Coyotito is killed. All because of the pearl. They didn’t even get the money from the pearl. They didn’t even get a chance to send Coyotito to school.
Also, I think we can see that “money is the root of all evil” idea coming up in the story. As Kino thinks about all the money he’ll have, he starts to get this new almost evil way of thinking. He’s suspicious of everyone, and he’s not even wrong to be, because these people are thinking evil thoughts too. Like with the doctor, Kino is constantly hearing the Song of Evil, and he’s very suspicious of what the doctor is doing. But Kino is suspicious because the doctor is thinking thoughts on how to get Kino’s pearl, how to steal it, etc. Money brings out the evil in humans. We also see this when Juana tries to throw the pearl away. Kino gets this savage-like rage because he wants this money from the pearl, and his wife is throwing the pearl away. He actually kicks and hits his wife! I couldn’t believe that Kino was doing that, just because of the pearl. The money’s bringing evil out of him.
I think that these two ideas and “lessons”, I guess, are things I will learn and take away from The Pearl. Through reading this book, I realized that if ever I were put in a situation like Kino’s, I shouldn’t put too much importance on the money. Because what is money when you have no one to spend it on?
The Pearl is mainly about Kino and his family, and a story of their lives. As a reader, we get to see the thoughts of many different characters, and as a reader, we can come to conclusions about things. Things like “You shouldn’t let want for materialistic things ruin everything else in your life.” I think that’s one major idea that I’ll take away from this book. Time and time again, Kino puts the pearl and wealth and future hopes before the ones he loves. Such as on pages 38 and 39, the first time when Juana asks Kino to throw away the pearl, Kino says no. He says “This is our one chance. Our son must go to school. He must break out of the pot that holds us in.” Juana complains by crying out “It will destroy us all. Even our son,” but Kino, of course, ignores it. In this example, Kino is only thinking about Coyotito in the future, and his materialistic hopes for his first-born son. I don’t blame him for caring about his son’s future, but I think he should think more about the “now” than the “later”. At the time, Coyotito wasn’t yet completely cured of the scorpion sting, and Kino wasn’t thinking of using the pearl’s wealth to help him. I couldn’t understand how he could care so much about money like that. Of course, he’s living really poorly right now, but no matter how much money you have, family should come first. I think we see that we shouldn’t want materialistic things enough to ruin everything else in life. Because eventually, Coyotito is killed. All because of the pearl. They didn’t even get the money from the pearl. They didn’t even get a chance to send Coyotito to school.
Also, I think we can see that “money is the root of all evil” idea coming up in the story. As Kino thinks about all the money he’ll have, he starts to get this new almost evil way of thinking. He’s suspicious of everyone, and he’s not even wrong to be, because these people are thinking evil thoughts too. Like with the doctor, Kino is constantly hearing the Song of Evil, and he’s very suspicious of what the doctor is doing. But Kino is suspicious because the doctor is thinking thoughts on how to get Kino’s pearl, how to steal it, etc. Money brings out the evil in humans. We also see this when Juana tries to throw the pearl away. Kino gets this savage-like rage because he wants this money from the pearl, and his wife is throwing the pearl away. He actually kicks and hits his wife! I couldn’t believe that Kino was doing that, just because of the pearl. The money’s bringing evil out of him.
I think that these two ideas and “lessons”, I guess, are things I will learn and take away from The Pearl. Through reading this book, I realized that if ever I were put in a situation like Kino’s, I shouldn’t put too much importance on the money. Because what is money when you have no one to spend it on?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Guess the Tone
Dolls. Children love them, adore them, almost to the point of worship. They're extremely cute. But.. sometimes freaky. Well-made dolls seem almost life-like, making it seem like they're staring at you, questioning you, smiling at you. But maybe that's what makes them so lovable. It's like they've become your best friend. But what if you've done them wrong... wouldn't guilt and fear grip you every time you saw it "glaring" at you? Dolls are fun to play with, when no one is there with you. But they make you childish and immature, don't they?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Guess the Mood
I ran around the building, never stopping to look back, only looking for the next place to run to. I had to keep moving. Keep hiding. My heartbeat quickened, and I was running out of breath. But no. No, I can't stop. I reached the corner, and I stopped. Quietly, I listened for his footsteps. The sound of the gun shot that killed my brother reverberated in my head. No. No, he won't get me. I looked this way and that, all the while holding my breath. Then I heard it. The soft tap-tap of his footsteps. Where to run to? Frantically I looked around for my next destination. Then I took off.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Boys & Girls by Good Charlotte
Educated
With money
He's well dressed
Not funny
And not much to say in
Most conversations
But he'll put the bill in
All situations
Cause he pays for everything
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
Paper
Or plastic
Don't matter
She'll have it
Vacations
And shopping sprees
These are a few
Of her favorite things
She'll get what she wants
If she's willing to please
His type of girl
Always comes with a fee
Hey, now, there's nothing for free
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
And these girls like these boys like these boys like these girls
The girls with the bodies like boys with Ferraris
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Let's go!
Eh, eh!
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
And these girls like these boys like these boys like these girls
The girls with the bodies like boys with Ferraris
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
With money
He's well dressed
Not funny
And not much to say in
Most conversations
But he'll put the bill in
All situations
Cause he pays for everything
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
Paper
Or plastic
Don't matter
She'll have it
Vacations
And shopping sprees
These are a few
Of her favorite things
She'll get what she wants
If she's willing to please
His type of girl
Always comes with a fee
Hey, now, there's nothing for free
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
And these girls like these boys like these boys like these girls
The girls with the bodies like boys with Ferraris
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Let's go!
Eh, eh!
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
Boys will laugh at girls when they're not funny
And these girls like these boys like these boys like these girls
The girls with the bodies like boys with Ferraris
Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
All of these boys, yeah and all of these girls
Losing their souls in a material world
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Lottery
If I won $259 million in the lottery....
Man, that's a lot of money! Oh my word, I'd never believe it if I ACTUALLY got 259 million dollars. I... would never really think of giving that money away. Some of it would go in my bank, so I can save it up, get interest or whatever. I could use it for college tuition money or for my first car (man I would have the awesomest car if I had 259 million dollars!) Get a big, awesome apartment so my family can live comfortably. Get the best designer clothes and accessories. I would NEVER give that money to someone else... maybe I'd donate some to organization that help kids and people in need, but never all of it. I know it's so selfish, but I LIKE IT. :D
Man, that's a lot of money! Oh my word, I'd never believe it if I ACTUALLY got 259 million dollars. I... would never really think of giving that money away. Some of it would go in my bank, so I can save it up, get interest or whatever. I could use it for college tuition money or for my first car (man I would have the awesomest car if I had 259 million dollars!) Get a big, awesome apartment so my family can live comfortably. Get the best designer clothes and accessories. I would NEVER give that money to someone else... maybe I'd donate some to organization that help kids and people in need, but never all of it. I know it's so selfish, but I LIKE IT. :D
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Person Who Left An Impression...
I met a person who left a big impression on me. I met her at camp one summer. She was extremely nice and always shared her lunch with me. Well, we always shared our lunches. I hurt my ankle one afternoon and she sat out with me when I couldn't play the group game so I wouldn't be lonely. Her voice was as low as mine, and we were as close as if we were siblings, so the kids at the camp teased us that we were brothers. She was a rock for me to lean on, and I was her great escape (She was the serious, playful one, and I was the hyper, playful one.) But the camp had to end, and we had to be apart... and we didn't stay in contact. But she left the biggest impression on me out of all the people I have met in my whole life.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Clue 5
Mini 1. What is the theme of "About Effie"?
I think the theme of "About Effie" is that you should never give up hope. She always hoped and hoped and never lost faith that "he" would come and take her away. I believe that the author wanted to tell us that if we don't give up hope, we will get what we hoped for. In real life though, sometimes no matter how much you want something, God just didn't put that in His plan. And so sometimes we don't get it even if we don't give up hoping. But this author wanted us to see the side of life where when you hope hard enough, and be patient, you'll get it.
Mini 2. Find a verse from the Bible that relates to the theme of "About Effie" and include it in your written responses.
1 Timothy 5:5
"The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help."
Forget the widow part, but the last, highlighted part is the best connection to the theme in "About Effie".
1. Effie is waiting for someone throughout the whole story. And finally he comes at the end. She never once mentions his name, only talks about him and leaves hints in her words. She is waiting for "him". I think she's waiting for Jesus to come and save her. To take her away.
2. Number 1: "She just called him "him," and sometimes it was even "they," as if there wre a thousand of them or something."
-----She could be talking about the Holy Trinity when she says "they". God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Number 2: "Of course not. Don't be silly. Why, if I went to Timbuctoo he'd just as soon find me there. Or in Madagascar even. I don't have to wait around in any old Toronto."
-----God can find us anywhere, no matter where we are.
Number 3: "Besides, it's not just me he's after."
-----God wants all his children at by his side. He wants all of us back. Not just one of us. Although, he's plenty happy when one of us is back to Him.
I think Timothy Findley put these clues into the story because he wanted to show us what he thought about God and his thoughts on God's character.
3. Sure. Why not? I'm not sure if Timothy Findley on purposely put those clues in the story, or he might actually have thought of something else and wrote. He left the readers to guess and decide who "he" was. Some people decided to interpret his clues this way. They decided that the author wanted Effie to wait for Jesus, to wait for him to come and save her, to take her away?
I think the theme of "About Effie" is that you should never give up hope. She always hoped and hoped and never lost faith that "he" would come and take her away. I believe that the author wanted to tell us that if we don't give up hope, we will get what we hoped for. In real life though, sometimes no matter how much you want something, God just didn't put that in His plan. And so sometimes we don't get it even if we don't give up hoping. But this author wanted us to see the side of life where when you hope hard enough, and be patient, you'll get it.
Mini 2. Find a verse from the Bible that relates to the theme of "About Effie" and include it in your written responses.
1 Timothy 5:5
"The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help."
Forget the widow part, but the last, highlighted part is the best connection to the theme in "About Effie".
1. Effie is waiting for someone throughout the whole story. And finally he comes at the end. She never once mentions his name, only talks about him and leaves hints in her words. She is waiting for "him". I think she's waiting for Jesus to come and save her. To take her away.
2. Number 1: "She just called him "him," and sometimes it was even "they," as if there wre a thousand of them or something."
-----She could be talking about the Holy Trinity when she says "they". God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Number 2: "Of course not. Don't be silly. Why, if I went to Timbuctoo he'd just as soon find me there. Or in Madagascar even. I don't have to wait around in any old Toronto."
-----God can find us anywhere, no matter where we are.
Number 3: "Besides, it's not just me he's after."
-----God wants all his children at by his side. He wants all of us back. Not just one of us. Although, he's plenty happy when one of us is back to Him.
I think Timothy Findley put these clues into the story because he wanted to show us what he thought about God and his thoughts on God's character.
3. Sure. Why not? I'm not sure if Timothy Findley on purposely put those clues in the story, or he might actually have thought of something else and wrote. He left the readers to guess and decide who "he" was. Some people decided to interpret his clues this way. They decided that the author wanted Effie to wait for Jesus, to wait for him to come and save her, to take her away?
Clue 4
Mini 1. Who is a "character" in your life (a real-life person) you admire? Why do you admire this person? (be specific and name the traits you admire).
A person I admire is my mother. I admire her because she is such a hard-worker; she has to clean the house, make meals, wash dishes, and she also goes to work. She never gives up; she finishes everything she starts and does the best she can. I admire her because she's always organized, when somehow, I never am. She has all these traits that I wish I had, because a person with these traits will always succeed in whatever they do.
1. The setting of a story can reveal many clues about the theme of a short story. The theme is a thought or idea about humanity, and where a person lives or hangs out can tell you a lot about the person. And the people of the story will be a basis for the theme. Like, if someone lives in a sunny country or state, they probably like the open sky and the sun. That tells a lot about their personality. If someone lives in Alaska, they probably like the cold. Or the snow. Therefore, the setting can help us find out what the theme is in a story.
2. Theme is all about people and what we do, or what we think. We act upon our thoughts (well, most of us do) and so a character's actions can help lead to theme. Authors put direct and indirect characterization into stories, and their actions count as a part of their characterization. So the author can put hints about the theme in a character, or what they think or do.
3. The place that has impacted me the most... would have to be... TCIS. It's like my second home; we spend half of almost every day there, I spend my weekends there with friends, and I've been here and attending that school for half my life. TCIS has been my school since 4th grade. If I hadn't attended this school, I would be like every other 14-year-old Korean girl living in Daejeon. But I'm not. Because I attend this school, I still have my English skills, and I can do things like sports and plays, I have a band class where I play bass clarinet, my hair is long, I can paint my nails, my ears are pierced, etc. This school is where all my friends are, and the place I know best in Korea. I know all the places outside of our campus, better than the places around my house. God also revealed Himself to me here. It was through this school that I realized exactly what it meant to be a Christian and to believe in God. God is everywhere in TCIS.
A person I admire is my mother. I admire her because she is such a hard-worker; she has to clean the house, make meals, wash dishes, and she also goes to work. She never gives up; she finishes everything she starts and does the best she can. I admire her because she's always organized, when somehow, I never am. She has all these traits that I wish I had, because a person with these traits will always succeed in whatever they do.
1. The setting of a story can reveal many clues about the theme of a short story. The theme is a thought or idea about humanity, and where a person lives or hangs out can tell you a lot about the person. And the people of the story will be a basis for the theme. Like, if someone lives in a sunny country or state, they probably like the open sky and the sun. That tells a lot about their personality. If someone lives in Alaska, they probably like the cold. Or the snow. Therefore, the setting can help us find out what the theme is in a story.
2. Theme is all about people and what we do, or what we think. We act upon our thoughts (well, most of us do) and so a character's actions can help lead to theme. Authors put direct and indirect characterization into stories, and their actions count as a part of their characterization. So the author can put hints about the theme in a character, or what they think or do.
3. The place that has impacted me the most... would have to be... TCIS. It's like my second home; we spend half of almost every day there, I spend my weekends there with friends, and I've been here and attending that school for half my life. TCIS has been my school since 4th grade. If I hadn't attended this school, I would be like every other 14-year-old Korean girl living in Daejeon. But I'm not. Because I attend this school, I still have my English skills, and I can do things like sports and plays, I have a band class where I play bass clarinet, my hair is long, I can paint my nails, my ears are pierced, etc. This school is where all my friends are, and the place I know best in Korea. I know all the places outside of our campus, better than the places around my house. God also revealed Himself to me here. It was through this school that I realized exactly what it meant to be a Christian and to believe in God. God is everywhere in TCIS.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Two Kinds Reader Response
Connections:
1. There were times when I also thought that there was no need to practice my instruments or try hard because I'd never be the best at it anyway.
2. I also played at monthly recitals for piano. OK, maybe not monthly, but I played frequently at recitals that my piano teacher arranged. She would tell all her students to prepare one piece and we got together one night at a room in the arts center and performed. I got to wear a pretty, velvet purple dress.
3. I thought the same things Jing-Mei said: "Why don't you like me the way I am? I'm NOT a genius!" My mother and my father are both good at studying, and are really smart, and so they have these high expectations for me. And I had been meeting them all the time. Until one math test. And I kept thinking "GOSH I'm not perfect, I'm not a robot made to solve math problems and do everything right. So WHAT if I make a few mistakes, at least I can fix it next time!"
4. There was a time when I wanted to quit piano. The teacher was so scary and piano just wasn't fun anymore. But my mom wouldn't let me quit. She MADE me keep playing. But she told me a story first. She told me how her mother let her quit so easily, and now she regretted it so much because she wishes she could play piano well still. So she made me continue. But she changed teachers, and with the new teacher, it was much better. Jing-Mei's mother made her go to the piano and practice.
5. Jing-Mei's rant about wishing she were never born is the classic tantrum line in stories that kids say when they're mad at their parents. I don't remember which book or movie, but I remember a child shouting this out when arguing with parents or someone they weren't getting along with.
6. At the end, Jing-Mei started playing piano again and was shocked to find it came easily. I was shocked when, after a whole month of not playing piano, I was actually able to play my songs easily. It amazed me that my fingers hadn't forgotten what my brain had.
My personal perspective:
Well, this story was pretty funny to me. I know, funny isn't really the first adjective that comes to mind when thinking of "Two Kinds", but it was to me. It was, because these thoughts that kept running through Jing-Mei's mind, were identical to mine. She kept thinking "I'm not a genius, I can't do this, so I might as well not try," and my thoughts are "I'm not good at this, why am I doing it?" There are really sometimes when I think this. I'm not quite at giving up, but still, it was so funny to me how I could connect so well with a character's feelings. "Two Kinds" is a story about a girl and her mother. The mother wanted her daughter to become a prodigy, to become famous, but the girl gave up trying, thinking that she couldn't be anyone else but herself. And eventually, her mother gave up to. She started piano lessons, but then gave up on it. And years later, when she is back on the piano her parents had bought, she realizes she had a natural talent. It was just that she never cared enough to try. It was a good story; the rising action added to the conflict and it was sad reading the climax scene. I was shocked she could take the feelings in my head and carry them out to that extreme extent. But this story was a very interesting one that I won't forget.
1. There were times when I also thought that there was no need to practice my instruments or try hard because I'd never be the best at it anyway.
2. I also played at monthly recitals for piano. OK, maybe not monthly, but I played frequently at recitals that my piano teacher arranged. She would tell all her students to prepare one piece and we got together one night at a room in the arts center and performed. I got to wear a pretty, velvet purple dress.
3. I thought the same things Jing-Mei said: "Why don't you like me the way I am? I'm NOT a genius!" My mother and my father are both good at studying, and are really smart, and so they have these high expectations for me. And I had been meeting them all the time. Until one math test. And I kept thinking "GOSH I'm not perfect, I'm not a robot made to solve math problems and do everything right. So WHAT if I make a few mistakes, at least I can fix it next time!"
4. There was a time when I wanted to quit piano. The teacher was so scary and piano just wasn't fun anymore. But my mom wouldn't let me quit. She MADE me keep playing. But she told me a story first. She told me how her mother let her quit so easily, and now she regretted it so much because she wishes she could play piano well still. So she made me continue. But she changed teachers, and with the new teacher, it was much better. Jing-Mei's mother made her go to the piano and practice.
5. Jing-Mei's rant about wishing she were never born is the classic tantrum line in stories that kids say when they're mad at their parents. I don't remember which book or movie, but I remember a child shouting this out when arguing with parents or someone they weren't getting along with.
6. At the end, Jing-Mei started playing piano again and was shocked to find it came easily. I was shocked when, after a whole month of not playing piano, I was actually able to play my songs easily. It amazed me that my fingers hadn't forgotten what my brain had.
My personal perspective:
Well, this story was pretty funny to me. I know, funny isn't really the first adjective that comes to mind when thinking of "Two Kinds", but it was to me. It was, because these thoughts that kept running through Jing-Mei's mind, were identical to mine. She kept thinking "I'm not a genius, I can't do this, so I might as well not try," and my thoughts are "I'm not good at this, why am I doing it?" There are really sometimes when I think this. I'm not quite at giving up, but still, it was so funny to me how I could connect so well with a character's feelings. "Two Kinds" is a story about a girl and her mother. The mother wanted her daughter to become a prodigy, to become famous, but the girl gave up trying, thinking that she couldn't be anyone else but herself. And eventually, her mother gave up to. She started piano lessons, but then gave up on it. And years later, when she is back on the piano her parents had bought, she realizes she had a natural talent. It was just that she never cared enough to try. It was a good story; the rising action added to the conflict and it was sad reading the climax scene. I was shocked she could take the feelings in my head and carry them out to that extreme extent. But this story was a very interesting one that I won't forget.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Clue 3
Mini 1. What is a literary theme? Provide an explanation and then 3 one-statement examples of a literary theme that reveals truth about the universal human experience.
A literary theme is a point or idea about the human race that the author wants to portray and show the readers in the text. A theme can be a sort of a main idea, but the author doesn't say it straight out. You have to analyze the characters and what they say, what they think, where the story takes place, and other things. The theme isn't there for you to read like a moral is at the end of some fables. You have to figure it out yourself. A theme is universal; everyone should be able to connect in someway to the theme. These are some examples of themes: Love lasts forever, even beyond death. War is useless. Actions are stronger than words.
Mini 2. What is the theme of your life, as you see it right now?
The theme of my life right now... would be "Wanting too much can destroy you." It's a little exaggerated, but it's my theme. Every time I've wanted something major, I haven't gotten it. And I would hope so much that when I didn't get it, I'd be so disappointed. People who don't want anything are never unsatisfied. But people like me who want and wish for things all the time, will never be satisfied. I realize that some of the things I want are unreasonable, but I can't help what I like. If I like it, I like it. All I have to do is stop hoping that I'll get what I want. Then my theme will be "People who don't want all the things in the world, are always satisfied."
Mini 3. In your opinion, what is the theme of God's plan for this world?
The theme of God's plan for this world, as to what I think, is "Love for Him is forever." In the Bible, it says multiple times that if we love Jesus, and accept him as our savior, we will be saved. We will never die, because Jesus has taken our sins. God has planned this since before even time began. He knew Jesus would die for us, that we were to trust that Jesus did, and whoever believed in him would become children of God. If we love Him, we live on. And our love will live on. Therefore, Love in Him is forever. This world shall love Him, forever, or never.
1. I've mentioned this a little in the first mini question. To find the theme in a story, you have to analyze the story, bit by bit. You have to take it apart and examine everything. Things like what the characters say, what the characters do, and where the story takes place. A writer, usually, will put their thoughts into the mouths of their characters. Through analyzing the characters' words and actions, you can see bits of what the author thinks of the world and human kind. These things will help you get to the theme. Where the story takes place can also help find theme. If the story takes place in a war-torn country, the theme could have something to do with war. So this is the process of finding the theme.
2. I think the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is that "Things change as time goes by." Doug remembers his childhood bully/friend Ralph. Ralph had bullied Doug all the time, but in some ways they were close and needed each other. Doug, though, has bad feelings for Ralph and wants to kill him...several years later. He remembers all the awful things Ralph had done to Doug when they were 12, and he gets prepared to kill his childhood enemy. But when he gets to Ralph's house, he sees that Ralph had changed so much since he was the bully. He aged...ungracefully. Him and Doug were the same age, but Ralph looked like he could easily be 10 or 20 years older. Doug now towered over Ralph. Doug was so shocked, he didn't kill Ralph. And so this shows that not all things last through the power of time. Most things will change, and that's what's happened to Ralph. So you've gotta put the past in the past, and leave it there.
3. The moral of a story is like a lesson of the story. A moral teaches the readers something about life. But that's not what a theme does. A theme doesn't necessarily 'teach' us anything; it more shows us something about life. Something about the human race. A moral is stated at the end of the story sometimes, especially in fables. But a theme has to be figured out. A moral tells us what we should do about something in the world, and a theme tells us the something in the world. So... I'm thinking the biggest difference is that morals teach and themes show. That's one way to be sure you're finding the theme and not the moral or main idea; a theme SHOWS and has an opinion in it.
4. Yes, I think it IS the theme statement to God's world. This verse talks about God sacrificing Jesus to save us. If we love Jesus and accept the gift God has given, we are saved from eternal death. This somehow relates to the truth in literature, because all people give. Whether they are fiction or real, they have to give something to receive anything. And so we see this in literature time and time again, the giving and the receiving. Or in some cases, sacrificing. Most conflicts need something to be solved. Therefore, this is how John 3:16 relates to literature and themes.
A literary theme is a point or idea about the human race that the author wants to portray and show the readers in the text. A theme can be a sort of a main idea, but the author doesn't say it straight out. You have to analyze the characters and what they say, what they think, where the story takes place, and other things. The theme isn't there for you to read like a moral is at the end of some fables. You have to figure it out yourself. A theme is universal; everyone should be able to connect in someway to the theme. These are some examples of themes: Love lasts forever, even beyond death. War is useless. Actions are stronger than words.
Mini 2. What is the theme of your life, as you see it right now?
The theme of my life right now... would be "Wanting too much can destroy you." It's a little exaggerated, but it's my theme. Every time I've wanted something major, I haven't gotten it. And I would hope so much that when I didn't get it, I'd be so disappointed. People who don't want anything are never unsatisfied. But people like me who want and wish for things all the time, will never be satisfied. I realize that some of the things I want are unreasonable, but I can't help what I like. If I like it, I like it. All I have to do is stop hoping that I'll get what I want. Then my theme will be "People who don't want all the things in the world, are always satisfied."
Mini 3. In your opinion, what is the theme of God's plan for this world?
The theme of God's plan for this world, as to what I think, is "Love for Him is forever." In the Bible, it says multiple times that if we love Jesus, and accept him as our savior, we will be saved. We will never die, because Jesus has taken our sins. God has planned this since before even time began. He knew Jesus would die for us, that we were to trust that Jesus did, and whoever believed in him would become children of God. If we love Him, we live on. And our love will live on. Therefore, Love in Him is forever. This world shall love Him, forever, or never.
1. I've mentioned this a little in the first mini question. To find the theme in a story, you have to analyze the story, bit by bit. You have to take it apart and examine everything. Things like what the characters say, what the characters do, and where the story takes place. A writer, usually, will put their thoughts into the mouths of their characters. Through analyzing the characters' words and actions, you can see bits of what the author thinks of the world and human kind. These things will help you get to the theme. Where the story takes place can also help find theme. If the story takes place in a war-torn country, the theme could have something to do with war. So this is the process of finding the theme.
2. I think the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is that "Things change as time goes by." Doug remembers his childhood bully/friend Ralph. Ralph had bullied Doug all the time, but in some ways they were close and needed each other. Doug, though, has bad feelings for Ralph and wants to kill him...several years later. He remembers all the awful things Ralph had done to Doug when they were 12, and he gets prepared to kill his childhood enemy. But when he gets to Ralph's house, he sees that Ralph had changed so much since he was the bully. He aged...ungracefully. Him and Doug were the same age, but Ralph looked like he could easily be 10 or 20 years older. Doug now towered over Ralph. Doug was so shocked, he didn't kill Ralph. And so this shows that not all things last through the power of time. Most things will change, and that's what's happened to Ralph. So you've gotta put the past in the past, and leave it there.
3. The moral of a story is like a lesson of the story. A moral teaches the readers something about life. But that's not what a theme does. A theme doesn't necessarily 'teach' us anything; it more shows us something about life. Something about the human race. A moral is stated at the end of the story sometimes, especially in fables. But a theme has to be figured out. A moral tells us what we should do about something in the world, and a theme tells us the something in the world. So... I'm thinking the biggest difference is that morals teach and themes show. That's one way to be sure you're finding the theme and not the moral or main idea; a theme SHOWS and has an opinion in it.
4. Yes, I think it IS the theme statement to God's world. This verse talks about God sacrificing Jesus to save us. If we love Jesus and accept the gift God has given, we are saved from eternal death. This somehow relates to the truth in literature, because all people give. Whether they are fiction or real, they have to give something to receive anything. And so we see this in literature time and time again, the giving and the receiving. Or in some cases, sacrificing. Most conflicts need something to be solved. Therefore, this is how John 3:16 relates to literature and themes.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Clue 6
Mini 1. Define a metaphor and a simile.
A metaphor is a comparison between two things without using like or as, and a simile is a comparison between two things using like or as.
1. Authors use figurative language because it's more eloquent than literally saying things sometimes. If everyone always wrote literally saying everything, then writing wouldn't be as beautiful as it is. A piece of writing just needs a dash of things like hyperbole, metaphor, simile, personification and/or idioms to make it a little more than just talking to someone. To use figurative language, you need a little imagination, because it takes a little imagination to compare, for example, a dog to the sky. Imagination can create more beautiful things than our eyes could possible see. Authors, in a way, are artists. They need to paint a picture for us, and sometimes figurative language helps us get to where they are, better. We can see what they are trying to show us, and all it takes is a little hyperbole or metaphor-ing.
2. a) And her voice is the air I breathe to survive everyday...
b) I'm the fat kid and you're the cake.
c) The clouds were the cotton candy at my parade, the wind the laughter and the bright shining sun the spotlight.
3. John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the Word, and the Word was God.
4. Well, when you first read it, it feels like one of those confusing riddles that say one thing is another, and that another is another thing. I had no IDEA what this meant until I took a closer look. This verse is talking about how the Holy Trinity works. In the beginning, before the world was created, there was the Word. But the Word was God, so God was there, too. God spoke the world into existence, and if you read Genesis, you can see that the Holy Spirit was hovering above the waters. So God the Father is there, the Holy Spirit is there, but where's the Son? The Son, otherwise known as Jesus, was the words that God spoke. Without the Word there was nothing. So this verse is saying that Jesus was at the beginning, Jesus was with God, and Jesus is God. I know it's confusing, and there are some times when I don't get exactly how God could be three and one. But I guess it's just a part of God's world, and it just works.
A metaphor is a comparison between two things without using like or as, and a simile is a comparison between two things using like or as.
1. Authors use figurative language because it's more eloquent than literally saying things sometimes. If everyone always wrote literally saying everything, then writing wouldn't be as beautiful as it is. A piece of writing just needs a dash of things like hyperbole, metaphor, simile, personification and/or idioms to make it a little more than just talking to someone. To use figurative language, you need a little imagination, because it takes a little imagination to compare, for example, a dog to the sky. Imagination can create more beautiful things than our eyes could possible see. Authors, in a way, are artists. They need to paint a picture for us, and sometimes figurative language helps us get to where they are, better. We can see what they are trying to show us, and all it takes is a little hyperbole or metaphor-ing.
2. a) And her voice is the air I breathe to survive everyday...
b) I'm the fat kid and you're the cake.
c) The clouds were the cotton candy at my parade, the wind the laughter and the bright shining sun the spotlight.
3. John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the Word, and the Word was God.
4. Well, when you first read it, it feels like one of those confusing riddles that say one thing is another, and that another is another thing. I had no IDEA what this meant until I took a closer look. This verse is talking about how the Holy Trinity works. In the beginning, before the world was created, there was the Word. But the Word was God, so God was there, too. God spoke the world into existence, and if you read Genesis, you can see that the Holy Spirit was hovering above the waters. So God the Father is there, the Holy Spirit is there, but where's the Son? The Son, otherwise known as Jesus, was the words that God spoke. Without the Word there was nothing. So this verse is saying that Jesus was at the beginning, Jesus was with God, and Jesus is God. I know it's confusing, and there are some times when I don't get exactly how God could be three and one. But I guess it's just a part of God's world, and it just works.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Personal Ads
Heyyy, I'm Kristen Kim.
Well... that's my name. :]
I'm known to be a real easy-going person (*AHEM* you can call it LAZY). I'm not one to panic until absolutely necessary, like when the world comes to an explosive end. My voice is as beautiful and light as a humming bird's, and I use it to talk for hours on end: I never tire of talking. My voice also happens to be as loud as it is pretty, and I tend to catch the eye of every single person on the bus when I ride (I can't control it!) I play a trillion instruments, all incredibly well, and I enjoy playing them. I especially love the piano, and love playing beautiful, flowing songs. My fashion sense is so impeccable, even all the biggest stars would love my style. I love shopping like a fat kid loves cake. I need chocolate to live; me = serious chocoholic. And that's a basic description about me!
Well... that's my name. :]
I'm known to be a real easy-going person (*AHEM* you can call it LAZY). I'm not one to panic until absolutely necessary, like when the world comes to an explosive end. My voice is as beautiful and light as a humming bird's, and I use it to talk for hours on end: I never tire of talking. My voice also happens to be as loud as it is pretty, and I tend to catch the eye of every single person on the bus when I ride (I can't control it!) I play a trillion instruments, all incredibly well, and I enjoy playing them. I especially love the piano, and love playing beautiful, flowing songs. My fashion sense is so impeccable, even all the biggest stars would love my style. I love shopping like a fat kid loves cake. I need chocolate to live; me = serious chocoholic. And that's a basic description about me!
Clue 1
Mini 1. What is Beauty?
Beauty gives us pleasure physically (something beautiful in shape, sound or color; stuff like that) or gives us pleasure to the mind. So beauty is something that's admirable, adorable, pretty, lovely, and other adjectives like that. A lovely flower could be beautiful. A woman could be beautiful. A speech could be beautiful. There is a lot of beauty in this world, even in the small things everyday.
Mini 2. Find 2 Bible verses about God's view of beauty.
Proverbs 31:30 (New International Version)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (New International Version)
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1. Reader Response analysis is when there is interaction between each reader and the text. Because each person has his or her own memories, thoughts and feelings, everyone brings something of their own to the text, and interprets the meaning of it in their own way. The theory of Reader Response says that a piece of literature has no true meaning and that it's all about the reader's interpretation of it. In other words, there isn't just one way to look at a text because of all the personal things a reader brings to it. Although, there are some people who disagree. There are actually some steps for Reader Response to happen. You may not recognize you're doing it, but most of the time you are when you read. For Reader Response to happen, the reader must be active by thinking, connecting, and understanding that they actually are creating meaning as they read. They are understanding what they read, connecting their emotions or settings or their personality traits to the characters and story, and that's how Reader Response happens.
2. Reader Response can open our eyes to more truth as we read. Reader Response is when we try and connect to a text to make meaning from it. As we try to connect, we tend to see more of the character and theme of the story. Truthfully, when you read while half-asleep, you don't really get anything from it, right? That's one of the steps of Reader Response: be an active reader. As you use Reader Response, you're bound to find that there are just one or two things that you didn't know or realize before you read the text. Maybe you found out something about yourself through the thoughts of a character in a book. Maybe you try and connect to the thoughts of an author about a subject and it sheds a new light on it. When you open your mind to literature, you add your meaning to the text, but new truths from the book enter in your mind as well. Simply put, it's a two-way street.
3. It's important for us to interact and connect with literature. Without that connection, we would never get anything from literature. There would be no meaning to reading. If we don't interact and connect, it pretty much means we're not understanding. Even if we're reading a book that seems like it has absolutely nothing about us, people from past, present, 'future', and 'fiction' all have this thing called EMOTIONS. We'll connect to the feelings, if nothing else, and that will give us a better understanding of the piece of text. Imagine reading Harry Potter without connecting to his vividly described emotions and adventures. In the beginning of one book, J.K. Rowling starts off with Harry being bored over the summer. Now, everyone's felt this way before, and knows what it's like to not have anything to do (especially in the summer). If no one could connect to a story, either the story itself isn't good enough, or we are all just heartless, emotionless people who wouldn't be able to make meaning of anything in life. Or books.
4. There's a book I've read called The Luxe that showed me something new about this world. The Luxe is actually a book based on a different time in the past, but I saw something new about our world and our people through this book. Actually, I sort of connected to something in our modern world. The Luxe is about the socialites and elite of the Upper East Side. Hear that line anywhere before? Yes, Gossip Girl. Just reading about people back then doing similar things as the characters in Gossip Girl just made me realize that the characters of human beings don't change over time. There will always be that stereotype of rich and spoiled, and they actually think in the same ways. Unless some tragic accident happened and humans all lost thought, every generation has their Blair Waldorfs, the goody-two-shoes, the responsible people, and strangely, we all think and feel similar things. I know it's just fiction, but when I thought more about it, what the book is saying about people isn't made up.
Beauty gives us pleasure physically (something beautiful in shape, sound or color; stuff like that) or gives us pleasure to the mind. So beauty is something that's admirable, adorable, pretty, lovely, and other adjectives like that. A lovely flower could be beautiful. A woman could be beautiful. A speech could be beautiful. There is a lot of beauty in this world, even in the small things everyday.
Mini 2. Find 2 Bible verses about God's view of beauty.
Proverbs 31:30 (New International Version)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (New International Version)
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1. Reader Response analysis is when there is interaction between each reader and the text. Because each person has his or her own memories, thoughts and feelings, everyone brings something of their own to the text, and interprets the meaning of it in their own way. The theory of Reader Response says that a piece of literature has no true meaning and that it's all about the reader's interpretation of it. In other words, there isn't just one way to look at a text because of all the personal things a reader brings to it. Although, there are some people who disagree. There are actually some steps for Reader Response to happen. You may not recognize you're doing it, but most of the time you are when you read. For Reader Response to happen, the reader must be active by thinking, connecting, and understanding that they actually are creating meaning as they read. They are understanding what they read, connecting their emotions or settings or their personality traits to the characters and story, and that's how Reader Response happens.
2. Reader Response can open our eyes to more truth as we read. Reader Response is when we try and connect to a text to make meaning from it. As we try to connect, we tend to see more of the character and theme of the story. Truthfully, when you read while half-asleep, you don't really get anything from it, right? That's one of the steps of Reader Response: be an active reader. As you use Reader Response, you're bound to find that there are just one or two things that you didn't know or realize before you read the text. Maybe you found out something about yourself through the thoughts of a character in a book. Maybe you try and connect to the thoughts of an author about a subject and it sheds a new light on it. When you open your mind to literature, you add your meaning to the text, but new truths from the book enter in your mind as well. Simply put, it's a two-way street.
3. It's important for us to interact and connect with literature. Without that connection, we would never get anything from literature. There would be no meaning to reading. If we don't interact and connect, it pretty much means we're not understanding. Even if we're reading a book that seems like it has absolutely nothing about us, people from past, present, 'future', and 'fiction' all have this thing called EMOTIONS. We'll connect to the feelings, if nothing else, and that will give us a better understanding of the piece of text. Imagine reading Harry Potter without connecting to his vividly described emotions and adventures. In the beginning of one book, J.K. Rowling starts off with Harry being bored over the summer. Now, everyone's felt this way before, and knows what it's like to not have anything to do (especially in the summer). If no one could connect to a story, either the story itself isn't good enough, or we are all just heartless, emotionless people who wouldn't be able to make meaning of anything in life. Or books.
4. There's a book I've read called The Luxe that showed me something new about this world. The Luxe is actually a book based on a different time in the past, but I saw something new about our world and our people through this book. Actually, I sort of connected to something in our modern world. The Luxe is about the socialites and elite of the Upper East Side. Hear that line anywhere before? Yes, Gossip Girl. Just reading about people back then doing similar things as the characters in Gossip Girl just made me realize that the characters of human beings don't change over time. There will always be that stereotype of rich and spoiled, and they actually think in the same ways. Unless some tragic accident happened and humans all lost thought, every generation has their Blair Waldorfs, the goody-two-shoes, the responsible people, and strangely, we all think and feel similar things. I know it's just fiction, but when I thought more about it, what the book is saying about people isn't made up.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Revenge on The Utterly Perfect Murder
I think that The Utterly Perfect Murder will be about someone that talks about how is the perfect way to kill someone. Maybe a story about someone planning a lot about how to kill someone, trying to do it in the most utterly perfect way. MAYBE someone does something wrong to the main character and so the main character talks about getting revenge and thinks of killing that person and wants to do it in the most cruel and utterly perfect way possible. *evil smile*
There was one time when my sister stole my chocolate. GRRRRR. I'm such a chocoholic, and when someone STEALS my chocolate, that's major news. I mean, I don't mind sharing. If you ask, I can give you some. But STEALING?? Yeah. I left my chocolate bar in the fridge because it was melting a lot. It was milk chocolate... my favorite! Then the next morning, I found that IT. WAS. GONE. I asked my dad (he tends to just eat whatever is in the fridge) but he said he didn't eat it. Then it had to be my sister. I asked her after school (she escaped by leaving for school early) and she was like "What? I was hungry" and in that moment I wanted to be like Joey from Friends and scream out "KRISTEN DOESN'T SHARE FOOD!" But I was nice and I let it go. 'Cause I'd be getting my revenge. *evil smile* The next day my sister had bought Peppero and left it in the fridge so it wouldn't melt and I found it. First. Heehee. So I ate half the box. OK maybe more... there was only 2 or 3 left. Then when my sister came home she was yelling at me like "WHY'D YOU EAT MY PEPPEROS?!?!?!" and I simply said "You eat my milk chocolate, I eat your pepperos. Call it even?" and she's a cool girl so she was like "fine." I have to say it felt goooood :]
There was one time when my sister stole my chocolate. GRRRRR. I'm such a chocoholic, and when someone STEALS my chocolate, that's major news. I mean, I don't mind sharing. If you ask, I can give you some. But STEALING?? Yeah. I left my chocolate bar in the fridge because it was melting a lot. It was milk chocolate... my favorite! Then the next morning, I found that IT. WAS. GONE. I asked my dad (he tends to just eat whatever is in the fridge) but he said he didn't eat it. Then it had to be my sister. I asked her after school (she escaped by leaving for school early) and she was like "What? I was hungry" and in that moment I wanted to be like Joey from Friends and scream out "KRISTEN DOESN'T SHARE FOOD!" But I was nice and I let it go. 'Cause I'd be getting my revenge. *evil smile* The next day my sister had bought Peppero and left it in the fridge so it wouldn't melt and I found it. First. Heehee. So I ate half the box. OK maybe more... there was only 2 or 3 left. Then when my sister came home she was yelling at me like "WHY'D YOU EAT MY PEPPEROS?!?!?!" and I simply said "You eat my milk chocolate, I eat your pepperos. Call it even?" and she's a cool girl so she was like "fine." I have to say it felt goooood :]
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Connecting with Literature
There was a time when I read a book called Tithe and I connected with a character named Cornelius AKA Corny. His sister's friend is a changeling and so transformed into a pixie. He happened to be around when the change happened, and so he helped her and stuff. As he was deciding whether or not to help her, the thought that made up his mind was "When else am I going to be asked to be a part of something magical and out-of-this-world like I've always pretended there was?" There are some times, because I read so many fantasy books about vampires and faeries, SOME times I really wished there would actually be a world of fantasy creatures that lived among us or something... and that I would somehow become a part of it. When Corny had that thought, I was like "Man, you're lucky you're a character in a book and that's actually possible...!" The rest of Corny's character, and the way he thinks, is a lot unlike me. But that one thought made me connect with the character.
I think it's important, but not quite necessary to connect with literature. Of course, you get a better understanding of the characters and the plot of the story if you do connect with it, but you don't need to connect to enjoy a good book.
I think it's important, but not quite necessary to connect with literature. Of course, you get a better understanding of the characters and the plot of the story if you do connect with it, but you don't need to connect to enjoy a good book.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Clue 2
Jesus is God, a part of God, and was with God when the world was created. He created everything. John came and spread the word about the light (Jesus) to people on Earth, but he was not the light. He wasn't received by his own (us) when he came on the Earth. But those who did receive him became Children of God. Grace and truth come through him, and make God known to us.
These details describe the rising action to Christ's life. He's born, unaccepted by the people of our world, but there are some who believe. He preaches about God to the people.
1. The exposition is when the story starts, and we get to see who the characters are and an introduction to the main problem. Then during the rising action, complications stick onto the problem. At the climax, the main character makes a choice or a change, and through that the problem is resolved. During the falling action, all knots are tied and the problem is no more. Resolution is the end, the last words, the happily ever after.
2. Stories need to be structured in a way that has a clear beginning, middle and end. The beginning has to hook us and start off slow and easy. Then the middle has to be interesting and draw us along to the end, where there should be a satisfying ending, or a cliffhanger for a next book. Without organization and structure, stories are a big mess and no one can understand them. If the end is at the beginning, it would be so confusing. If the climax was at the beginning and the complications were all solved by the middle of the story, no one would want to read the rest. When the structure is not there, we don't enjoy the story anymore and just feel confused and lost. As humans we need to construct understanding because we don't like not knowing and not understanding something. Humans seem to want to know everything. To us, knowledge is power. And so, we don't like finding something that's confusing and complex when it's supposed to be so simple.
3. I personally didn't have any expectations for the story. I didn't have any guesses, any predictions as I went along, nothing. And so I wasn't exactly sure what all the stuff about memories and innocence and compassion was at the beginning. And as I kept reading, the part where Lizabeth pulls out the marigolds and has this eye-opening experience with Miss Lottie was just a part of the story. But later as I looked back at the story to make the plot graph of Marigolds, I saw that that part is actually the height of the story: the climax. Lizabeth had found a change in herself as she realized she wasn't an innocent child anymore. Through her immature way of letting out her feelings, she had found compassion for another. Now, the beginning was about: 1) feelings, 2) innocence and compassion, and 3) memories. TADA. The beginning had given us a little taste and a heads-up for the climax. I just didn't realize it because I didn't have any predictions as I read (or you could call it not actively reading ;P) It was because I had to make and see the plot graph for Marigolds that I saw this in the story.
4. The theme of the story is that people lose their innocence as they gain compassion, for once you have compassion for others, there is no innocence. Children are innocent; they don't realize the things they do make a difference to other people. Compassion is when you see anothers' pain and hurt and have the urge to help them. Since innocence requires not realizing others' pain, you can't possibly be innocent and compassionate at once. The structure of the story makes this evident, for it was at the climax when the main character realizes her change from innocent child to compassionate woman. As she hurts Miss Lottie, she sees something in her eyes that she hadn't noticed before. She gains compassion for her, and she sees that because she has compassion, she has lost her innocence. This change is what made the climax the climax, and so the structure of the story shows that clearly.
These details describe the rising action to Christ's life. He's born, unaccepted by the people of our world, but there are some who believe. He preaches about God to the people.
1. The exposition is when the story starts, and we get to see who the characters are and an introduction to the main problem. Then during the rising action, complications stick onto the problem. At the climax, the main character makes a choice or a change, and through that the problem is resolved. During the falling action, all knots are tied and the problem is no more. Resolution is the end, the last words, the happily ever after.
2. Stories need to be structured in a way that has a clear beginning, middle and end. The beginning has to hook us and start off slow and easy. Then the middle has to be interesting and draw us along to the end, where there should be a satisfying ending, or a cliffhanger for a next book. Without organization and structure, stories are a big mess and no one can understand them. If the end is at the beginning, it would be so confusing. If the climax was at the beginning and the complications were all solved by the middle of the story, no one would want to read the rest. When the structure is not there, we don't enjoy the story anymore and just feel confused and lost. As humans we need to construct understanding because we don't like not knowing and not understanding something. Humans seem to want to know everything. To us, knowledge is power. And so, we don't like finding something that's confusing and complex when it's supposed to be so simple.
3. I personally didn't have any expectations for the story. I didn't have any guesses, any predictions as I went along, nothing. And so I wasn't exactly sure what all the stuff about memories and innocence and compassion was at the beginning. And as I kept reading, the part where Lizabeth pulls out the marigolds and has this eye-opening experience with Miss Lottie was just a part of the story. But later as I looked back at the story to make the plot graph of Marigolds, I saw that that part is actually the height of the story: the climax. Lizabeth had found a change in herself as she realized she wasn't an innocent child anymore. Through her immature way of letting out her feelings, she had found compassion for another. Now, the beginning was about: 1) feelings, 2) innocence and compassion, and 3) memories. TADA. The beginning had given us a little taste and a heads-up for the climax. I just didn't realize it because I didn't have any predictions as I read (or you could call it not actively reading ;P) It was because I had to make and see the plot graph for Marigolds that I saw this in the story.
4. The theme of the story is that people lose their innocence as they gain compassion, for once you have compassion for others, there is no innocence. Children are innocent; they don't realize the things they do make a difference to other people. Compassion is when you see anothers' pain and hurt and have the urge to help them. Since innocence requires not realizing others' pain, you can't possibly be innocent and compassionate at once. The structure of the story makes this evident, for it was at the climax when the main character realizes her change from innocent child to compassionate woman. As she hurts Miss Lottie, she sees something in her eyes that she hadn't noticed before. She gains compassion for her, and she sees that because she has compassion, she has lost her innocence. This change is what made the climax the climax, and so the structure of the story shows that clearly.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Personal Connections
In the first paragraph, Collier says that memory doesn't show things as they are, but rather how they feel. When I remember things, I usually go to thinking it because of something I'm feeling now, and connecting with how I felt at another time in my life. It's like my mind has memories grouped by feelings.
In the fourth paragraph, Collier says that they unaware of anything happening outside their own community. When I was growing up, I also didn't really pay attention to things that were happening outside of my world. New diseases, hurricanes, some famous person dies, etc, and I wouldn't know or really care.
In the fifth paragraph, Lizabeth explains how her and her brother were free to run around and do whatever they want after their chores are done. My sister and I were EXACTLY the same!!! Over the summer, our parents were out at work and so my sister and I would finish the daily work and chores we had to do (because we were good kids) and then we'd do whatever we wanted for the whole day.
AND THEN...
On the second page, second paragraph, Lizabeth and Joey are bored of their summers. Us too. We got so tired of doing all we wanted all day and everything was just not so interesting anymore. We completely ran out of things to do. And then ended up doing work to pass the time.
Second page, third paragraph, Lizabeth says she's still kid enough to run around and jump fences with the young kids. HAH I feel that way when I'm around my cousins. They do things that I normally wouldn't do if I were on my own, but just for the sake of still being a kid, I play and do childish things with them.
Third page, first paragraph, Miss Lottie is described tending her marigolds on her knees. This description reminds me so much of my childhood gardener friend. She was an old lady, and also the school gardener. I met her by chance on my way home from school and she was so kind. She was always on the ground, tending the flowers around the school. Sometimes she let me help. :]
Third page, last paragraph, Lizabeth wakes up and overhears her parents talking. I had woken up one morning and heard my parents softly talking in the living room. I forget what it was about, but that image reminded me of that time.
Fourth page, second column, first paragraph Lizabeth wakes up Joey because she was scared. When I was little and my sister and I shared a room, I did that once in the middle of the night. I've woken my parents too because I was scared.
Fifth page, second paragraph, Lizabeth cries after having ripped the marigolds out. There was one time when I did something bad that I didn't really mean to do and sat and cried like Lizabeth did.
Fifth page, last paragraph, Lizabeth says something like "Time has taken me far from that home" (OK it's nothing like that but that somewhat sums it up) and I was just thinking yes, God does take us far far from our childhood homes but he gives us memories of them to make up for it. I don't know what my home in Canada looks like now, but it'd be really nice to see again...
In the fourth paragraph, Collier says that they unaware of anything happening outside their own community. When I was growing up, I also didn't really pay attention to things that were happening outside of my world. New diseases, hurricanes, some famous person dies, etc, and I wouldn't know or really care.
In the fifth paragraph, Lizabeth explains how her and her brother were free to run around and do whatever they want after their chores are done. My sister and I were EXACTLY the same!!! Over the summer, our parents were out at work and so my sister and I would finish the daily work and chores we had to do (because we were good kids) and then we'd do whatever we wanted for the whole day.
AND THEN...
On the second page, second paragraph, Lizabeth and Joey are bored of their summers. Us too. We got so tired of doing all we wanted all day and everything was just not so interesting anymore. We completely ran out of things to do. And then ended up doing work to pass the time.
Second page, third paragraph, Lizabeth says she's still kid enough to run around and jump fences with the young kids. HAH I feel that way when I'm around my cousins. They do things that I normally wouldn't do if I were on my own, but just for the sake of still being a kid, I play and do childish things with them.
Third page, first paragraph, Miss Lottie is described tending her marigolds on her knees. This description reminds me so much of my childhood gardener friend. She was an old lady, and also the school gardener. I met her by chance on my way home from school and she was so kind. She was always on the ground, tending the flowers around the school. Sometimes she let me help. :]
Third page, last paragraph, Lizabeth wakes up and overhears her parents talking. I had woken up one morning and heard my parents softly talking in the living room. I forget what it was about, but that image reminded me of that time.
Fourth page, second column, first paragraph Lizabeth wakes up Joey because she was scared. When I was little and my sister and I shared a room, I did that once in the middle of the night. I've woken my parents too because I was scared.
Fifth page, second paragraph, Lizabeth cries after having ripped the marigolds out. There was one time when I did something bad that I didn't really mean to do and sat and cried like Lizabeth did.
Fifth page, last paragraph, Lizabeth says something like "Time has taken me far from that home" (OK it's nothing like that but that somewhat sums it up) and I was just thinking yes, God does take us far far from our childhood homes but he gives us memories of them to make up for it. I don't know what my home in Canada looks like now, but it'd be really nice to see again...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A Simple Story of Mine...
Exposition:
My parents always want me to do the best I can on everything I do, even on the smaller things in school and life. They definitely put that belief into action last year... So, my reading teacher had set a sort-of high AR goal for me (it was high considering it was the last quarter and I hardly had time to read then). I had completely forgot about it until about 2 weeks till the due date. I also had most of my assessments due then, so I considered just not making my goal. But my parents went berserk when I told them that and told me that I'd have to put everything into it. I made a list of books and their point values, then I got to work.
Rising Action:
By the day before the deadline, I had finished 2 books that had gotten me to only 10 more points. I was frantically looking through my bookshelf for a book I could easily read in one night. There was just one book that would do, but it was somewhat thick and had small print. The only thing that made the book better than the others was that I had watched the movie.
My savior was, drum roll pleaseeeee...The Golden Compass.
I took the book and went and sat on the couch. For the first 3 hours I was good. I was really getting into the story, and because I had watched the movie I was familiar with the plot line. But as midnight came and went, I realized I was going too slowly. I would need to skim and just get the important details and remind myself the story. I kept going. But I was so tired my eyes just wouldn't stay open, and by 1 AM I gave up and just lied down on the couch, immediately falling asleep.
Climax:
I just woke up at 4 AM (a gift, some say, to be able to wake up naturally in times like these) and in a panicked state, skimmed like craaazy. I was drifting in between consciousness and sleep but I forced my eyes open, slapped myself, whatever I could to stay awake. By 6 I only had a couple dozen more pages to read. 6:30: my parents woke up and came out into the living room to wake me up. They found me awake and were incredibly shocked. But by then, I was done. I was finished!
Falling Action:
All that was left was for me to take the AR quiz at school by 8:10. Once on campus, I ran to the library and found others running with me there. We waited for the librarian to unlock the doors, then we all impatiently waited for the computers to load. I was confident in taking tests, but I was scared I might've forgotten a significant detail of the book because I was half-asleep. But my worrying was for nothing. I got all the points I needed to make my goal.
Resolution:
I walked back to the middle school covered area, glad to have gotten all the way to the end. I know I might have gone to drastic measures to finish an AR goal, but somehow it felt good to finish something you thought was impossible to complete. But never again do I wanna go through that. :P
Conflict: My tiredness and slowness in reading got in my way as I tried to finish the book, to finish my AR goal.
My parents always want me to do the best I can on everything I do, even on the smaller things in school and life. They definitely put that belief into action last year... So, my reading teacher had set a sort-of high AR goal for me (it was high considering it was the last quarter and I hardly had time to read then). I had completely forgot about it until about 2 weeks till the due date. I also had most of my assessments due then, so I considered just not making my goal. But my parents went berserk when I told them that and told me that I'd have to put everything into it. I made a list of books and their point values, then I got to work.
Rising Action:
By the day before the deadline, I had finished 2 books that had gotten me to only 10 more points. I was frantically looking through my bookshelf for a book I could easily read in one night. There was just one book that would do, but it was somewhat thick and had small print. The only thing that made the book better than the others was that I had watched the movie.
My savior was, drum roll pleaseeeee...The Golden Compass.
I took the book and went and sat on the couch. For the first 3 hours I was good. I was really getting into the story, and because I had watched the movie I was familiar with the plot line. But as midnight came and went, I realized I was going too slowly. I would need to skim and just get the important details and remind myself the story. I kept going. But I was so tired my eyes just wouldn't stay open, and by 1 AM I gave up and just lied down on the couch, immediately falling asleep.
Climax:
I just woke up at 4 AM (a gift, some say, to be able to wake up naturally in times like these) and in a panicked state, skimmed like craaazy. I was drifting in between consciousness and sleep but I forced my eyes open, slapped myself, whatever I could to stay awake. By 6 I only had a couple dozen more pages to read. 6:30: my parents woke up and came out into the living room to wake me up. They found me awake and were incredibly shocked. But by then, I was done. I was finished!
Falling Action:
All that was left was for me to take the AR quiz at school by 8:10. Once on campus, I ran to the library and found others running with me there. We waited for the librarian to unlock the doors, then we all impatiently waited for the computers to load. I was confident in taking tests, but I was scared I might've forgotten a significant detail of the book because I was half-asleep. But my worrying was for nothing. I got all the points I needed to make my goal.
Resolution:
I walked back to the middle school covered area, glad to have gotten all the way to the end. I know I might have gone to drastic measures to finish an AR goal, but somehow it felt good to finish something you thought was impossible to complete. But never again do I wanna go through that. :P
Conflict: My tiredness and slowness in reading got in my way as I tried to finish the book, to finish my AR goal.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Myself as a Reader
The last 5 things I've read were...:Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Midnight Sun (on the Internet), Twilight, and The Luxe
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My favorite genre for books is fantasy. I love books about faeries, vampires, magical beings, stuff like that. But I also like the books to have a bit of romance in it :] And it's even better if the characters aren't in some complete other world; I like a bit of reality in it, but enough fantasy to make me think it could never be in my world. I don't really have favorite authors... maybe Stephenie Meyer, Melissa Marr (the author of Wicked Lovely), and Scott Westerfeld (author of the Uglies series, the Midnighters series, and the Peeps series). I think that can give you a sort of idea about the books I like to read.
I usually read on my bed. I prop up my pillow vertically, then lean against the head of my bed/my wall. Unless I've gotten deep and focused into my reading, I get distracted really easily, so I can't listen to music as I read, and I have to close my door if someone is watching TV in the living room. I can't eat or drink anything either, because that would be distracting. I can drink something before I start to read, but nothing while I'm reading.
I don't mind if books are made into movies. Some movies that were first books are actually good. But Twilight...ugh. The movie sucked; the main actors just were so different from the Edward and Bella that I imagined. The one other bad thing about making books into movies, is that people will be too lazy to read the book and will just watch the movie. That shouldn't happen; the movie should make people want to read the book.
Principled
This guy is being Principled because he is picking up trash that is not his even when no one is watching.
Communicator
The guy holding the whiteboard is being a communicator because he is communicating with the other guy in another way that just talking.
Knowledgable
She is knowledgeable because she is reading and studying and soaking up that knowledge.
Thinker
This guy is being a Thinker. He had thought and thought hard, then he finally got a conclusion.
Balanced
This ESLR we are representing is balanced. The girl in the center is balancing out these people, like we should balance out things in our life.
First Stab at Essential Questions
1. What are my current reading skills?
I think my current reading skills are pretty good. I usually understand everything I read: my own books I read for pleasure, textbooks, museum descriptions, and etc. I have a little difficulty with classics though, like books like Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. I can read it, and I understand the story, but I don't know a lot of words (although I can guess their meanings.) I enjoy reading and I think that's why I'm good, but I'm not very fast at reading.
2. How can I improve and grow as a reader?
I think that if I read more challenging books instead of books that are simple and books that I read just for pleasure. Or, get books that I wanna read for pleasure, that are challenging. Because I never really challenge myself, I'm never growing my skills in reading, getting faster, or growing my vocabulary either. So more books like Wuthering Heights would help me improve.
3. What purpose can literature serve in my life?
Literature can be a sort of foundation for other subjects in school. Things we learn in literature can be used in writing class, can be used as an example in global studies or other classes, and for many other things. Literature can also be enjoyment. Reading books and stories can be tons of fun if you find the right book for you. Literature can shape how we think of the world. People who have read someone else's thoughts about a topic or about life, will have those thoughts in their head and will be influenced by them in some way. The books you read change you. (Mr. Lindeman had mentioned this in class today and I thought of it now.)
4. What resources can I find in the library that will help me in this course and other courses?
There's the Library Catalogue that can help find me books in the library on specific topics, authors, or titles. Then there's the database.. I forget what it's called but the database that searches for articles about the keywords you type in. There are computers to research on, and another resource could be the librarians. They can help you find books that you need.
I think my current reading skills are pretty good. I usually understand everything I read: my own books I read for pleasure, textbooks, museum descriptions, and etc. I have a little difficulty with classics though, like books like Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. I can read it, and I understand the story, but I don't know a lot of words (although I can guess their meanings.) I enjoy reading and I think that's why I'm good, but I'm not very fast at reading.
2. How can I improve and grow as a reader?
I think that if I read more challenging books instead of books that are simple and books that I read just for pleasure. Or, get books that I wanna read for pleasure, that are challenging. Because I never really challenge myself, I'm never growing my skills in reading, getting faster, or growing my vocabulary either. So more books like Wuthering Heights would help me improve.
3. What purpose can literature serve in my life?
Literature can be a sort of foundation for other subjects in school. Things we learn in literature can be used in writing class, can be used as an example in global studies or other classes, and for many other things. Literature can also be enjoyment. Reading books and stories can be tons of fun if you find the right book for you. Literature can shape how we think of the world. People who have read someone else's thoughts about a topic or about life, will have those thoughts in their head and will be influenced by them in some way. The books you read change you. (Mr. Lindeman had mentioned this in class today and I thought of it now.)
4. What resources can I find in the library that will help me in this course and other courses?
There's the Library Catalogue that can help find me books in the library on specific topics, authors, or titles. Then there's the database.. I forget what it's called but the database that searches for articles about the keywords you type in. There are computers to research on, and another resource could be the librarians. They can help you find books that you need.
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