Thursday, September 26, 2013

Character Study (3)

Once Princess Rachel and Connor had picked us up in her motor home and Thunder, Whitney's horse, was in the trailer we were on our way to Candyland. Candyland and Iceland are neighboring kingdom but the drive from one to another is far. About 2 hours into our journey as we approach the border there is an interesting figure in the distance. Being the curious and helpful people we all are we ask Connor to pull over the vehicle and ask what this creature needed. The one-body-three-headed-human came to the passenger window to talk. Breanna started the conversation by asking, "Why do you have three heads?" In the motor home we all look at her and in unison say "Breanna!" she replies "What?! I just said what you were all thinking."
The conversation continues by the body introducing each individual head. The one on the left is Eeee Eeeeeee, the middle is Dan Smith, and the one on the right is Tyroil Smoochie-Wallace. They explained that they were on their job of dragon hunting when they each got bit by a three-headed dragon. Professor A chimes and adds, "When bit by a three-headed dragon and whomever else was bit share one body but each have their own head." The Revengers being so intrigued by one person with three heads they beg the Princess and I to let them travel with us since they are, ironically, dragon hunters.
As we then make room for our new passenger... passengers I notice in the rear view mirror Connor has a short smirk on his face as he drives on. No one is really talking, but our new traveling companion seems a little antsy the closer we get to the castle. Whitney noticing my suspecting facial expression whispers to Professor A that I was noticing something off about the boys in our vehicle. Rachel and Breanna soon catch on and before we get to the castle walls they are kicked off the motor home.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Character Study (2)

 After I ended the phone call with my sister, Rachel, the Princess of Candyland, I had to immediately call in my noble team, the Revengers. This group of girls are the smartest and bravest people of my land.  As Queen of Iceland it is my responsibility to provide my people with superior protection. Professor  A, the brains of the Revengers, comes up with brilliant plans and co-leads most operations. Whitney and her horse Thunder are key to the team because they know how to sneak up on the enemies and take them out. Our secret weapon, Breanna, is human but can transform to her bird form in the day and fish during the night. This eclectic group will help my sister win back her castle in Candyland from the  dragon who killed Whitney's father. Rachel drives a few hours to Iceland in her motor home with her driver, Connor. After myself and the Revengers get settled into our seats we create a plan of attack for when we encounter the dragon.  And our journey begins.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Canterbury Tales (1)


  • Geoffrey Chaucer (1343?- 1400)
  • "contemporary picture of fourteenth- century England"
  • fiction
  • audience: commoners
  • satire- criticizes stupidity (in Canterbury Tales the satire is aimed towards the "holy" characters)
  • the Pilgrimage begins in spring
  • Chaucer made himself a character in the poem
I'm most excited to read about the materialistic nun because that is not the stereotype for nuns so I find it interesting to see how Chaucer is describing her point of view.

Prologue vs Preface:
  • Prologue- background information before the story this describes events that occur before the actual story (could be a flashback)
  • Preface- author talks directly to reader about things the reader needs to know before reading (discussing what happened since the first edition)

Netvibes Dashboard vs. Windows 8 Dashboard

I just recently got a new laptop and it came with Windows 8. I didn't know how I was going to feel about it since I have used Windows 7 for almost my whole online life. When you turn on the computer it goes to your Windows 8 Dashboard that you can customize by adding, deleting, and moving apps. Netvibes has the same gist but you see a snapshot of the page instead of an icon and creating more tabs or folders is an option to further organize your space. On Netvibes you can add your own website if the selection doesn't have it, but for some it may not work.  I found that customizing Netvibes was difficult. Netvibes and Windows 8 are like most new things, hard to use at first but you learn how to use it and hack it.Windows 8 is very handy for keeping everything for your computer right there in front of you, same goes for Netvibes but it is strictly for the Internet and can help people prioritize how they actively spend their time online.

Character Study (1)

On the morning of the journey Sarah was scurrying around the house to gather her belongings. The previous day she had made a list of everything she had wanted to bring with her, which is practically her whole room. Not knowing where this journey is taking her or what the weather is going to be like she grabs clothes and launches them into her suitcases. Being a shopaholic she has many clothes to choose from but also being indecisive she chooses them all. Prepping for this is stressing her out because she doesn't know what the plan is or what to expect, sometimes playing it by ear is fun but other times Sarah cannot handle the unknown. Later in the day after Sarah has finished packing she takes a sigh of relief says, "I love you and I will call you when I get there," to her parents and heads out the door ready for this who-knows-where journey to begin.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Fall Vocabulary #6

Accolade- an award or privilege granted for special honor

Acerbity- a sharp bitterness


Attrition- the action of weakening by attack or pressure.
 
Bromide- an unoriginal idea or remark.

Chauvinist- a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

Chronic- on going.

Expound- present and explain systematically and in detail

Factionalism- relating or belonging to a faction

Immaculate- perfectly clean and tidy

Imprecation- a spoken curse


Ineluctable- unable to be resisted or avoided


Mercurial- subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind


Palliate- severe or unpleasant without removing a cause


Protocol- the official procedure or system of governing affairs of state or diplomatic


Resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous


Stigmatize- describe or regard as worthy of disgrace pod great disapproval

Sub rosa- "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy or confidentiality

Vainglory- inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity

Vestige- a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists

Volition- the faculty or power of using one's will


Obsequious: (adj) obedient; dutiful; fawning


Beatitude: (n) exalted happiness

Bete Noire: (n) a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads

Bode: (v) to dwell.


Dank: (adj) unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and, often, chilly


Ecumenical: (adj) general; universal: promoting Christian unity throughout the world


Fervid: (adj) heated in spirit, enthusiasm; intensely hot, burning

Fetid: (adj) having an offensive odor; stinking

Gargantuan: (adj) gigantic, enormous

Heyday: (n) the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, etc.; prime

Incubus: (n) a nightmare

Infrastructure: (n) the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organisation

Inveigle:(v) to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk; to acquire by beguiling talk or methods

Kudos: (n) honor, glory, acclaim

Lagniappe: (n) tip, bonus, gratuity 

Prolix: (adj) extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy

Protege: (n) a person under the care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

Prototype: (n) the original or model on which something is based on for formed; someone who serves to illustrate the typical qualities of something

Sycophant: (n) a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite

Tautology: (n) needless repetition of an idea

 
Truckle: (v) to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely

Thursday, September 19, 2013

All of the Above

http://snstevensenglitcomp13.blogspot.com/2013/08/1987-ap-essay-question-2.html this is my original post for the 1987 AP Exam with my corrections.

What a Character

A fictional character that made an impression on me was Juliet from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Juliet's character will do anything to be with her true love, Romeo, who are family enemies. Juliet's character stands out to me because of what she did so Romeo an her can run away and be in love. The plan they had didn't work which ended up with both young lovers killing themselves so they wouldn't have to live without the other. I cannot remember any literary techniques that are used but I do know there are a few like direct and indirect characterization.

Fall Vocabulary #5

1) Obsequious: (adj) obedient; dutiful; fawning
- The servant was obsequious because she did everything she was asked.

2) Beatitude: (n) exalted happiness
- Her beatitude was shown when she started laughing and jumping up and down.

3) Bete Noire: (n) a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads
- The test was the bete noire of the day as nobody wanted to take it.

4) Bode: (v) to dwell
-The news bodes evil days for him.

5) Dank: (adj) unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and, often, chilly
- Nobody ever went into the dank cellar as it was cold and damp.


6) Ecumenical: (adj) general; universal: promoting Christian unity throughout the world
- The ecumenical organization preached about Christianity.

7) Fervid: (adj) heated in spirit, enthusiasm; intensely hot, burning
- Her fervid attitude really got the crowd cheering.

8) Fetid: (adj) having an offensive odor; stinking
- The fetid dog was in great need of a bath. 

9) Gargantuan: (adj) gigantic, enormous
- The gargantuan crowd filled up the whole entire street. 

10) Heyday: (n) the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, etc.; prime
- The team reached their heyday when they won the championships. 

11) Incubus: (n) a nightmare
- She had an incubus after she watched that scary movie.

12) Infrastructure: (n) the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organisation
- After they created the infrastructure, they were able to start building the system.

13) Inveigle:(v) to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk; to acquire by beguiling talk or methods
- He inveigled the girl into doing his homework. 

14) Kudos: (n) honor, glory, acclaim
- He received kudos after winning the spelling bee. 

15) Lagniappe: (n) tip, bonus, gratuity 
- The waitress received a lagniappe from her table as she was a fantastic waitress. 

16) Prolix: (adj) extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy
- Her prolix essay was almost six pages long!

17) Protege: (n) a person under the care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.
-He was a protege as he was under the care of his career.

18) Prototype: (n) the original or model on which something is based on for formed; someone who serves to illustrate the typical qualities of something 
- She is the prototype of a perfect student as she always does her homework and gets A's on tests.

19) Sycophant: (n) a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite
- He was a sycophant as he praised everybody.

20) Tautology: (n) needless repetition of an idea
- It's a tautology when the teacher says to stop talking. 

21) Truckle: (v) to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely
- Don't truckle to unreasonable demands. 

Definitions and Sentences from Micaela Hellman's blog. I thought they were lovely and gave me a more crisp sense of the words.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Literature Analysis #1

1) The main character, Emma Corrigan, ruins her promotional opporunuty at a meeting and on the way back to England from Scotland, Emma has anxiety on the plane. The man sitting next to her on the plan hears all her secrets during her anxiety attack. Once off the plane, her current boufriend asks if she wants to live together. The next week at work Emma realizes the man on the plane was her corporations co-founder. She couldn't stop thinking about him and as a reader I thought it was obvious the boss, Jack, was interested in her. Emma breaks up with her boyfriend and she goes out with Jack. She claims to be in love with Jack but her roommate queations what she knows about his personal life. Emma believes that faite had brought her and Jack together. The rising action of the story begins when she sees him at work and realizes who he is.

2) How much infromation is too much information? What secrets should be kept to yourself and what secrets can be shared?

3) Most of the book the authors tone is rushed, paranoid, and trying to relax.
"Why is the plane bumping? Oh, God. An avalanche of fear hits me with no warning. This is madness... MADNESS!" p.20
"Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh... OH.. NO. NO .NO. We're falling. Oh, God, we're falling." p.21

4) Foreshadowing- Emma states some of her secrets on the first page that come back later. "Inside my head, my own voice from the plane is babbling away inncoently ... 'just skimmed the back and pretended like I read it'" p. 91
Foreshadowing- Man from the plane ends up being a huge part of Emma's life. I catch a glimpse of dark eyes, stubble, a deep frown stiched on his forehead." p. 16  "OK, keep calm, maybe he won't remember me. It was just one short flight," p. 69
Speaker- Emma is the narrator of the story, refferring to herself as 'I'. "My mind is blank. I can't think of anything. All I can think is that Jack is sitting four feet away" p.298
Language- There is cursing to emphasize anger and that the setting is in England, same with the voabulary. "And they never chivvy you-" p. 203  "Fuck. My head lerks up.." p. 21
Setting- "It's a bit out of the way, in South London." p. 203
Mood- Tension/ anger " What does he think? That I'll just meekly say 'Thank you?' and get in? That just because he's got a fancy car he can behave how he likes?" p.182
Alliteration- "We're going to die. We're going to die" p.23
Imagery- "I did have the odd imaginary scenario in my head, ranging from dreadful (he doesn't turn up; it turns out he's a Nazi) to fantastic (we end up making love on a speedboat on the Thames and he asks me to marry him.)" p. 185
Satire- "'You can't play a bus fare with American Express' I say 'Don't you know anything?'" p. 184
Echoing- "She leans forward confidentially, 'and I mean, the top guy' 'The top guy?' echoes Jack."

Declaration of Learning Independence

Collaborative Working Group: www.californiacountrydiy.blogspot.com Rachel Nolan and I made a blog that is going to have DIY craft projects, fashion, hair and makeup, and food tips and how-to's. 

SMART Goal: I want to be accepted and enrolled to major in Business at California Lutheran University for the fall 2014 semester.

BIG Question: What makes a person an individual in a society where everyone seems relatively the same. 

Monday, September 9, 2013

Fall Vocabulary #4

accolade- an award or privilege granted for special honor

acerbity- a sharp bitterness


attrition- the action of weakening by attack or pressure.
 
bromide- an unoriginal idea or remark.

chauvinist- a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

chronic- on going.

expound- present and explain systematically and in detail

factionalism- relating or belonging to a faction

immaculate- perfectly clean and tidy

imprecation- a spoken curse


ineluctable- unable to be resisted or avoided

mercurial- subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind


palliate- severe or unpleasant without removing a cause

protocol- the official procedure or system of governing affairs of state or diplomatic

resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous


stigmatize- describe or regard as worthy of disgrace pod great disapproval


sub rosa- "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy or confidentiality


vainglory- inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity


vestige- a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists


volition- the faculty or power of using one's will

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Beowulf Essay

   All heroes put others before themselves. Beowulf put Hrothgar's people first to kill Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. A modern day hero that is selfless and puts the people of a city before himself is Batman. Batman protects the citizens in Gothem City by killing the Joker and stopping robbers and murderers. Beowulf and Batman occur in different time periods but both heroes have the same intent to stop "monsters" from causing mayhem and taking lives.

   Beowulf defeats three monsters and Batman takes crime off the streets. Both acts are great deeds that take confidence and strength, which both heroes possess. Batman represents the time setting because of the crime that is occurring is a problem in big cities and that law enforcement just isn't enough to handle it and the city needs a super hero to make the citizens feel safe. Beowulf contrasts Batman by encompassing the old myths of how one person can take on fictional creatures and always be victorious. The defeats both characters have are strong and make a difference in the lives of the people they protected. The triumphs of both heroes are emphasized through the diction the author uses and the syntax in which the events of the fighting scenes are described to illustrate for the reader how successful the defeat of Grendel or the Joker was.

   Everyone has a hero inside them fighting off demons which is what Beowulf represents, where as, Batman symbolizes the heroes in our city. Beowulf symbolizes inner conflict because the monsters get bigger as as the story progresses. The monsters symbolize Beowulf's fears or faults that he is overcoming. Batman shows the outer world how destructive and twisted can be. Batman is a person who wants to protect people from harm. Batman hides who he really is with a mask and Beowulf presents himself oozing with pride and ego. Batman is more humble about his defeats than Beowulf is because Beowulf shares his stories with everyone so people will know of his success and strength

   Both epic and modern day heroes have similar qualities as well as differences, and both represent the times in which they were created. Beowulf and Batman have superhuman characteristics which make them the heroes they are but the way these heroes go about their life saving business reflects that the heroes are from different periods. The way the stories end also share similarities by having both the heroes end in different ways; Beowulf dies from old age and injury, Batman confesses of not wanting to continue his heroic duties.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Will Study for Food

I found this scholarship on a blog 
http://www.scholarships360.org/collegeprowler-no-essay-scholarship-program/
I thought it was really cool that you don't have to write an essay for this and it's a $2,000 scholarship. In the blog post it says that money would go towards books or even a new laptop for college. I need to do more research on this scholarship but if anyone else has any thoughts on this scholarship or others similar please share! 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Why This Book

I chose Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinseller. I chose this book because my mom read a different series by the same author and said I would enjoy her writing. 

Fall Vocabulary #3

Apostate- someone who abandons faith and rejects it
 He is known as an apostate because he  abandoned his church.

Effusive- unrestrained in emotional expression
• The effusive love of the mother is shown by her constant bragging about her children. 

Impasse- a road, passage, or situation having no exit
• He reached and impasse when his lies unfolded. 

Euphoria- a feeling of intense excitement
• The team oozed euphoria when they won the championship. 

Lugubrious- looking or sounding sad
• The baby's cries are lugubrious when she is hungry. 

Bravado- a bold manner or a show of boldness
• John Wayne movies are popular because they are full of bravado.

Consensus- general agreement 
• The jury reached an unanimous consensus and was about to declare the defendent guilty or not. 

Dichotomy- a division or contract between two things (either or choice)
• 

Constrict- make narrower
• The constricting road can only fit one car at a time. 

Gothic- language or type of style

Punctilio- a fine point of conduct

Metamorphosis- a change of form

Raconteur- a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way

Sine Qua Non- an essential condition

Quixotic- unrealistic and impractical

Vendetta- bitter quarrel

Non Sequitur- a conclusion or statement that does not follow previous statement

Mystique- a fascinating aura of mystery

Quagmire- a soft boggy area of land

Parlous- full of danger or uncertainty