Last Blog

      This year's class was definitely one of my favorite English classes ever. Although it was an AP class and slightly more difficult than usual it was still extremely fun and interesting. We got to do a bunch of new things like using the Smart Board and even these blogs. One of my favorite parts of this class was getting to use the Smart Board. It made understanding things a lot easier because it was so interactive and visual. I really enjoyed this class, so there is no specific thing that I did not like about it, or wanted to improve. 
      This year's literature was also one of my favorites compared to other English classes. Although it was more focused on the language of the piece of literature rather than the plot, I still enjoyed reading. I had a few favorite's this year. One of them was The Great Gatsby. I really enjoyed reading this novel, because I like stories that take place during the 1920s, since it is one of my favorite eras in American history. Another of my favorite's was Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". This poem was one of my favorite's because I like Poe's work, and also because I liked how he wrote the poem. If I had to pick my least favorite piece of literature, it would have to be between Death of a Salesman, and some of the works we read from the Transcendentalist period. I did not like the play much, because I could not connect to it as which other pieces of literature. The pieces of literature from the Transcendentalist movement were interesting, but they were also a slightly harder read because of the language and vocabulary.
      Overall, I really enjoyed this class and I'm going to miss it very much. 

Fresh Fruits and Veggies

      An article titled "Healthy, Nutritious Food Would have Saved the Titanic" was written by Michelle Obama on theonion.com on April 13, 2012. The article discussed how if the passengers of the Titanic had just eaten some fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains as well as made healthier eating choices, they would have been saved from the tragedy. The article mentions how almost a century ago, the Titanic  went down, and took the lives of 1,500 passengers with it. Obama claims how the passengers died, since they did not make healthy eating choices, and therefore could not survive, since they had no strength or energy.
      This article is important, because it reminds us of the tragedy that claimed so many lives. However, it is also satirical because of its tone as well as its subject matter. The passengers could not have survived if only they had eaten healthier. There might have been cases were some passengers were healthier than others, and could therefore survive longer, but on a larger scale, eating healthy could not have saved everyone. This article also parodies Michelle Obama, because she constantly advocates healthy eating and exercise, although in this context it would not have made much of a difference.  

"Red, White, and Beer"

      This week, one of the essays that we read was titled "Red, White, and Beer". This essay was written by Dave Barry. It was a satirical essay, commenting on patriotism and how it is used in commercials. Barry gives examples such as car, beer, and other types of commercials which supposedly evoke a sense of patriotism. He mentions how even the Statue of Liberty, who is used in commercials since it is a patriotic symbol gets its value lessened because of it.
      This essay was a reflective, satirical essay. It is reflective, since Barry brings in some of his experiences, and whatever he has seen relating to patriotism in commercials. It is a satirical essay,  because Barry wants us o laugh along with him at how patriotism is used inaccurately in commercials. The purpose of this essay is to tell a story, and also to inform. His intended audience was the people of America, who are always exposed to these types of commercials. The tone of the essay was humorous, sarcastic, and light. These three characteristics fit in with what the content of reflective and satirical essays are like.

Shooting at a Jewish School Leaves Four Dead

      On Monday morning, a shooter opened fire on a Jewish school in Toulouse, France just after students arrived. The shooting took place at the Ozar Hatorah school, killing four people, and severely injuring three others. The shooter killed a thirty year old rabbi named Jonathan Sandler, as well as his three year old and six year old sons. The school headmaster's eight year old daughter was also shot and killed. The suspect had arrived with two guns on a motorcycle, and opened fire just as the students were gathering for morning prayer. Police quickly arrived trying to calm the students and parents who had heard what happened.
      Police are trying to find who the shooter was. They have sixty policemen looking for the shooter. The French police department is also trying to determine if there was a connection between the shooting at the school and a shooting that had occurred in the same area the previous week. Both shootings occurred in the same area, using the same weapon, and the suspect drove off on a motorcycle. It is important for police to find who the shooter was quickly, before he decides to attack again.

SOAPST

      These last couple of weeks we began reading The Great Gatsby in class. This novel was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The purpose of this book is to entertain and to explain. The novel tells about Nick, who is the speaker, and his interactions with the other characters such as, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan. The events in the book take place during the summer of 1922 in various parts of New York. Nick had moved there in order to make money of his own, even though he came from a well-off family. He did not want to live on his parents money, but instead see what he can do on his own, so he began working in stocks. During his time in New York, he met with his cousin Daisy, her husband Tom, and Daisy's friend Jordan. Nick learned that Tom was cheating on Daisy, and was amazed at how they pretended everything was all right. Nick also heard about the famous Gatsby, who also happened to be his neighbor, and finally got to meet him at one of his parties.
      Nick soon realizes that Gatsby is a very complicated person. There are constantly rumors circulating about him, and he hardly ever denies or accepts them, but simply allows people to believe whatever they want. Gatsby is a very convincing and charming person, although every word he says to Nick is always carefully thought out and measured. Nick soon finds out the reason for this from Jordan. Jordan explains to Nick that Gatsby and Daisy were in love, and because of certain circumstances could not be together. That was why Gatsby bought a house across the bay from Daisy's house in the hopes of one day meeting him. Jordan tells Nick that Gatsby requested to set up a surprise meeting with Daisy at Nick's house, so now Nick has to decide whether or not he wants to get involved in the situation.

Language

      Language is one of the key aspects to someone's identity. It is the main way that they express their thoughts and feelings, and communicate with the rest of the world. People from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds speak different languages. Many people do not even just speak the language of their ethnicity, but also another language. Not only do people speak different languages, but when they speak the same language, each person brings their own twist to it depending on where they came from, their level of education, and their culture. These little details may also affect how people perceive them.
      Language can tell a lot about a person. If someone is speaking using slightly higher vocabulary than usual, then it usually means that they have had some sort of higher education. The slang people use can help determine what type of environment they came from. Even accent is a strong indicator if they are native to country whose language they are speaking. I think accents are one of the most interesting aspects of language, because they can sometimes automatically tell you exactly where someone is from or at least some part of their ethnic background. I believe language is one of the most important characteristics of a person.

Party from the Twenties

      In the novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby throws an extravagant party every weekend. He has the city's best orchestra and caterers, and the wealthiest, most popular people attending. Gatsby spends so much money for his guests, yet so many people arrive who barely even know anything about Gatsby himself. However, everyone who goes to the party enjoys themselves. If I had $100,000 to spend on a party, I would make it as amazing a party as I could.
      The party would be in the summer, in a huge house on the beach shore.The theme of the party would be the "Roaring Twenties".  The entire house would be decorated with colorful, twinkling lights. The walls would be covered in newspaper articles reproduced from that era. All the food being served would be items that could be found in the United States during the twenties. Even the music would be a jazz band, and singers performing songs from the nineteen-twenties. I would do this, because I have always loved the Jazz Age in the United States, since it was a time where many people were happy and carefree. It was known as a time where people would enjoy themselves, and that is how I would want people to feel at my party.