I love my Comp Class - I really, truly do.
I love literature. I love reading. I love writing and answering analytical questions.
But I think that even Ms. Kolb will agree whole-heartedly (or at least part-heartedly) that snow days are Crazy Awesome!
So no "Class Thoughts" from the 27th. :)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
"Descriptions"
"Give every guest a sheet of stationary with the name of some other guest written at the top. Instruct them to consider the person whose name they have and write a description of their appearance, talents, and abilities. At the end of five minutes the hostess should collect the papers and read the description, omitting the names at the top. As the papers are read, the guests try to judge who is being described. The author of the description that is most readily recognized receives the prize."
-excerpt from "Games for Young People: A Collection of Over One Hundred Games for Indoor Parties" by Alfred Froh and Margaret King, copyright 1943
I have quite enjoyed reading through this book for many reasons, the first of which being the quiant, old-school language and phrases it uses to detail the rules for each game. This one doesn't have many examples of that, but you can kind of get a sense of what I mean. Also, some of the games are pretty hilarious, and require the doing of things no self-respecting, 21st century person would do at a party (unless perhaps they were drunk). I also love the little things - the use of the word "stationary" rather than just paper, using "consider" and "judge" in ways we don't very often today, the use of the word "omitting" (I love that word for some reason), and the great alliteration at the end (the "r's" in bold).
-excerpt from "Games for Young People: A Collection of Over One Hundred Games for Indoor Parties" by Alfred Froh and Margaret King, copyright 1943
I have quite enjoyed reading through this book for many reasons, the first of which being the quiant, old-school language and phrases it uses to detail the rules for each game. This one doesn't have many examples of that, but you can kind of get a sense of what I mean. Also, some of the games are pretty hilarious, and require the doing of things no self-respecting, 21st century person would do at a party (unless perhaps they were drunk). I also love the little things - the use of the word "stationary" rather than just paper, using "consider" and "judge" in ways we don't very often today, the use of the word "omitting" (I love that word for some reason), and the great alliteration at the end (the "r's" in bold).
"A & P" - John Updike
2. Sammy is very fully described and shown - having the story told from his own point of view helps with that tremendously. His little "asides" about girls, the A & P, the usual customers, etc. add a touch of humor that really help you get inside his mind, and see how he sees things. While a writer could have made him seem less the hero for wanting the girls to notice what he did, the writer does a good job of making us sympathize with this desire of his, and actually relate to it - I mean, who hasn't done something with the thought of being noticed in the back of their mind? Especially a young man, trying to impress a group of young girls. And yet, because he still chooses to do the right thing, even though they don't notice him, we see that he is still truly the hero. He is portrayed much more fully than the doctor in "Godfather Death" - the story being in first person gives us great insight into who he is, whereas the doctor was described very briefly and impersonally.
3. The exposition is the entire part before he states "Now here comes the sad part . . ." It mostly describes the girls, sets the scene of the A & P for us, and gives us a good understanding of Sammy himself. Very valuable - if she had not been so fully described, we as readers may have had a hard time understanding why he chose to quit his job over this incident. But because the author gives us this description of what Sammy thinks of her, we can see his motivation.
5. The dramatic conflict becomes apparent when he says, "Then everybody's luck begins to run out," and the manager enters the scene. The crisis comes at the moment the manager challenges the girls about wearing their swimsuits. And the climax occurs when the manager tells him that he doesn't want to do this to his parents - at which point Sammy punches the No Sale tab and walks out the door.
6. On the surface, we see that Sammy quits because of the way Lengel treated the girls. But, because of his description of Lengel, we get the impression that this isn't a one-time, isolated incident and that maybe there is a deeper reason. We can see that he already has some sort of tension between him and Lengel, and that this was just the turning point when he finally decided to do something about it. Well . . . it's either that, or the fact that he is just tired of the monotony of his job, and ready to move on in life - and this incident gives him a reason, or excuse, to do so. I can't decide which it is. :)
8. Sammy is going to have a lot to deal with because of this. For one, he is 19 years old and out of a job. Also, Lengel indicated that his parents wouldn't be pleaseed with his decision (whether just because of disappointment, or for financial reasons, we don't really know). Mostly though, we see that he has truly become a man, and entered the adult world. From here on out, he will face this kind of "moral dilema," and in each one will again have to decide whether to follow his conscience and do the right thing, or to ignore it and do the easy thing. To be aware of this is what maturity is all about, but it's definitely not going to make his life any easier.
I'm not sure whether I really like this story. I definitely like the story itself, but the telling of it was a little hard to follow. Because Sammy is narrating, some of his random thoughts that get thrown in make it hard to focus on what's really happening. But . . . as these random thoughts and his strange way of saying things add to and develop his character, I guess I can't complain. The word that best describes(or at least the one I think that best describes) this story and it's style is "casual."
3. The exposition is the entire part before he states "Now here comes the sad part . . ." It mostly describes the girls, sets the scene of the A & P for us, and gives us a good understanding of Sammy himself. Very valuable - if she had not been so fully described, we as readers may have had a hard time understanding why he chose to quit his job over this incident. But because the author gives us this description of what Sammy thinks of her, we can see his motivation.
5. The dramatic conflict becomes apparent when he says, "Then everybody's luck begins to run out," and the manager enters the scene. The crisis comes at the moment the manager challenges the girls about wearing their swimsuits. And the climax occurs when the manager tells him that he doesn't want to do this to his parents - at which point Sammy punches the No Sale tab and walks out the door.
6. On the surface, we see that Sammy quits because of the way Lengel treated the girls. But, because of his description of Lengel, we get the impression that this isn't a one-time, isolated incident and that maybe there is a deeper reason. We can see that he already has some sort of tension between him and Lengel, and that this was just the turning point when he finally decided to do something about it. Well . . . it's either that, or the fact that he is just tired of the monotony of his job, and ready to move on in life - and this incident gives him a reason, or excuse, to do so. I can't decide which it is. :)
8. Sammy is going to have a lot to deal with because of this. For one, he is 19 years old and out of a job. Also, Lengel indicated that his parents wouldn't be pleaseed with his decision (whether just because of disappointment, or for financial reasons, we don't really know). Mostly though, we see that he has truly become a man, and entered the adult world. From here on out, he will face this kind of "moral dilema," and in each one will again have to decide whether to follow his conscience and do the right thing, or to ignore it and do the easy thing. To be aware of this is what maturity is all about, but it's definitely not going to make his life any easier.
I'm not sure whether I really like this story. I definitely like the story itself, but the telling of it was a little hard to follow. Because Sammy is narrating, some of his random thoughts that get thrown in make it hard to focus on what's really happening. But . . . as these random thoughts and his strange way of saying things add to and develop his character, I guess I can't complain. The word that best describes(or at least the one I think that best describes) this story and it's style is "casual."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Class Thoughts
I doodled 3 neat pictures while Ms. Kolb reviewed the basic MLA style formatting. (I'm going to feel incredibly stupid if I mess that up on one of my papers, after just admitting I wasn't paying much attention.)
I got my book from Camie (!!) and tried to quickly catch up on our reading assignment while Ms. Kolb took roll.
I loved the fact that Ms.Kolb had gone "quote happy" and put so many thought provoking quotes on the power point. I also very much enjoyed her sample essay, about how we ought to use global warming as a tourism opportunity. Nice one. . .
"We read to know we are not alone." - C.S. Lewis
Learned: to read in an active, not passive way. You often hear that in regards to writing, but never reading. Good insight!
I got my book from Camie (!!) and tried to quickly catch up on our reading assignment while Ms. Kolb took roll.
I loved the fact that Ms.Kolb had gone "quote happy" and put so many thought provoking quotes on the power point. I also very much enjoyed her sample essay, about how we ought to use global warming as a tourism opportunity. Nice one. . .
"We read to know we are not alone." - C.S. Lewis
Learned: to read in an active, not passive way. You often hear that in regards to writing, but never reading. Good insight!
"The North Wind and the Sun" - Aesop
1.) The wind is terribly impetuous, with it's forceful, gusty breaths. The sun however is wise and patient, thinking ahead to final outcome of his actions, rather than being stuck in the present.
2.) It was forceful - as in real life, when we try to persuade by force, it wasn't very effective
3.) The sun used warmth, or gentle persuasion - it took longer, but was more effective in the end.
4.) Just as an object they could test their boasts on.
5.) "Persuasion is better than force." - pretty self-explanatory. :) The sun used persuasion and patience, while the wind rushed ahead and tried to succeed by brute force. . . the sun's way was better.
2.) It was forceful - as in real life, when we try to persuade by force, it wasn't very effective
3.) The sun used warmth, or gentle persuasion - it took longer, but was more effective in the end.
4.) Just as an object they could test their boasts on.
5.) "Persuasion is better than force." - pretty self-explanatory. :) The sun used persuasion and patience, while the wind rushed ahead and tried to succeed by brute force. . . the sun's way was better.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Introduction
Yesterday was our first day of Spring Semester - I am taking English Composition II, and this assignment was on the sylabus for extra credit. Because this is my only class this semester, I don't anticipate needing extra credit . . . but I thought it sounded like a good idea anyways. Enjoy reading my thoughts and ramblings about Comp Class and the things I read these next few months!
P.S. Any typos on here are due to the fact that my laptop keys are sticking, and very little to do with me being unable to spell or type. :D
P.S. Any typos on here are due to the fact that my laptop keys are sticking, and very little to do with me being unable to spell or type. :D
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