"The term literary naturalism is used to describe a body of literature that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The central concerns of naturalism are the forces that shape and move humanity and our inability to control them. naturalism has its origins in the work of the French writer Emile Zola, who saw the naturalist as a scientist describing human behavior as a product of the forces that conditioned it, and of Charles Robert Darwin, whose On the Origin of Species (1859) postulated that humans evolved from lower animals and were therefore controlled by the same basic instincts. Darwin's theories led to the survival-of-the-fittest concept of human social evolution" (Werlock).
Basically Naturalism is a writing style that describes the world around us. It tells how things are, and it does not make up things to make someone's life sound better. Naturalism shows how nature can shape humanity, and it shows how humans cannot control it.
Some modern examples of Naturalism include TV acting. Many TV series are about families and their everyday life. They characters go about their day in a very life like way. In some sitcoms, the characters do things that everyday people normally do not do, but other sitcoms could be a completely reflection of how your day went that day. Some TV shows over amplify the struggles of everyday life, but those that do not, portray Naturalism.
Another example of Naturalism would be Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger completely becomes his character to make his performance very believable.
"American literary naturalism was strongly influenced by the French writer Emile Zola and the nineteenth-century emergence of Darwinian science. Determinism, the concept that individuals are controlled by impersonal internal and/or external forces, is the philosophical basis of naturalism. From its American origins in the turn-of-the-century fiction of Frank Norris, Stephen Crane, and Theodore Dreiser, naturalism has been devoted to documenting, with apparent objectivity, the extreme experiences of characters existing on the margins of society. Like the so-called realists, naturalists are committed to documenting the surfaces of American life and to probing its concealed depths, but unlike realists, who most often treated recognizable middle-class lives, naturalists usually focused on the desperate existence of characters trapped in slums or in other oppressed settings" (Giles).
Works Cited:
Giles, James R. "naturalism." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature, Revised Edition: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, Volume 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1255&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 4, 2011).
Werlock, Abby H. P. "naturalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0501&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 8, 2011).
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Realism
"Realism is the attempt to depict life as it actually exists, not as the author wants it to be in the present or the future, or imagines it was in the past. A realist carefully chooses details that illustrate this vision, unlike the naturalist who tries to include all possible details. The difference between realism and naturalism is compared often to that between a painting as opposed to a photograph, assuming that the photographer also does not choose which details to include in the frame of the picture. The difference between romanticism and realism was a philosophical difference over the purpose and function of literature, adherents of the former believing that it should idealize life by empathizing desirable features, those of the latter that it should be a faithful representative of facts as they appear to the senses. The change developed gradually in the 19th century; often, works such as Rebecca Harding Davis's "Life in the Iron-Mills" or local color fiction of Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, and others have elements of both. By 1900 authors such as Ambrose Bierce, Stephen Crane, William Dean Howells, and Henry James had experimented with new Points of View, setting, and symbolism to provide their own view of the rapidly changing times in which they lived and wrote. In the 20th century the writings of Sigmund Freud and increased understanding of psychology resulted in experimentation with the depiction of internal reality in metafiction, superfiction, and other alternatives to the "well-made" story" (Werlock).
So basically Realism is writing about what really happens in life. Realism is unlike Romanticism because Romanticism made everything look beautiful and colorful, while Realism shows how life really is and what is "real".
Realism includes characters as they really are with their real temperament and motive (Campbell). They are in relation to their social class, to nature, to each other, and to their own past. Social class and status is important in Realism. Realism mainly talks about middle and lower class people (Campbell).
Because Realism deals more with the lower and middle class, the American Dream, heroes, and an outlook on society can be seen very clearly. The American Dream was something that was mainly achieved or looked on by middle or lower class citizens. The American Dream has to do with building up your own fortune: going from rags to riches (Campbell).
Heroism is a part of Realism because a lot of the stories have to do with lower or middle class citizens that go through something that takes courage. Reading the protagonist of the story go through all the situations that he/she goes through can make him/her be seen as a hero. Society can also be seen in Realism because the protagonist may be looked down upon by a higher class which shows the reader what social standing can do to a person (Campbell).
Works Cited:
Campbell, Donna M. "Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University. 21 March 2011. http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm. 25 Jan 2011.
Werlock, Abby H. P. "realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0575&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
So basically Realism is writing about what really happens in life. Realism is unlike Romanticism because Romanticism made everything look beautiful and colorful, while Realism shows how life really is and what is "real".
Realism includes characters as they really are with their real temperament and motive (Campbell). They are in relation to their social class, to nature, to each other, and to their own past. Social class and status is important in Realism. Realism mainly talks about middle and lower class people (Campbell).
Because Realism deals more with the lower and middle class, the American Dream, heroes, and an outlook on society can be seen very clearly. The American Dream was something that was mainly achieved or looked on by middle or lower class citizens. The American Dream has to do with building up your own fortune: going from rags to riches (Campbell).
Heroism is a part of Realism because a lot of the stories have to do with lower or middle class citizens that go through something that takes courage. Reading the protagonist of the story go through all the situations that he/she goes through can make him/her be seen as a hero. Society can also be seen in Realism because the protagonist may be looked down upon by a higher class which shows the reader what social standing can do to a person (Campbell).
Works Cited:
Campbell, Donna M. "Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University. 21 March 2011. http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm. 25 Jan 2011.
Werlock, Abby H. P. "realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0575&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
Journal #34 Argumentative Writing
For the ACT you have to write an argumentative essay. The prompt will most likely be something that has to do with school or about your life, so it will be easy to write the essay and relate to the prompt. There are many things that you need to write a good argumentative essay for the ACT.
Your ACT argumentative essay should consist of several things. You should have a good introduction and conclusion. You should use wide vocabulary, you should have good, but not very revealing transitions, (ex: do not use therefore, next, after that, in conclusion) you should relate the prompt to your life, and you should give specific examples. Because you are writing an argumentative essay you need to pick a side of the argument. You should keep supporting the side you choose, but you should also say why the other side is wrong.
Here is a good example of an argumentative essay about pass/fail grades vs. A-F scale grades:
There has been some debate as to changing the grading system to a pass/fail system or to leave it as it is. Some educators believe that giving grades in a classroom is detrimental to the students’ educational growth, but in all reality, a pass/fail system does exactly that. I believe that it is important for students to be graded on their school work. A five letter scale grading system not only shows where the student is at in learning the material, but it also motivates and prepares the students for the next level of learning.
A pass/fail grading system does not motivate students to do better like a five letter grading scale. There are only two grades; there is pass or there is fail. In that grading system it does not matter how well you learn the material; one just has to pass. Plus, it does not encourage over achievement like a five letter scale does because it does not matter if you did better than the other person; you both passed. This system would not prepare students for higher levels of learning as a five letter scale would, and it also does not motivate them to do better because they only pass; they do not excel.
Unlike a pass/fail grading system, a five letter scale shows where the student is on a range of material. For example, if a student has an A in a science class, that shows that he or she knows and understands the material quite well. A pass/fail does not show that the student fully understands the subject, only that they know enough not to fail. A pass could range from an A to a D, and, certainly, if the student obtains a D in a class, they do not understand the material fully.
Understanding certain material leads to motivation because the more the student understands a subject, the more likely they are to like it and overachieve in it. With a five letter grading system, a student can achieve something. Receiving an A is very good, and can motivate the student to continue receiving A’s. It also builds self confidence; if a student knows they can achieve an A in a certain science class, they carry that confidence and motivation with them to the next level of science class. This motivation and achievement will continue to lead them to the next level and will prepare them for a higher level of schooling, such as college. For example, I have received an A in Pre-Calculus but a B in Physics. I know from this that I need to study a little more to become a better student in Physics, and I know that I am doing just fine in Pre-Calculus.
A five letter scale, unlike a pass/fail system, shows where the student is at in his or her learning, and also motivates them to do better and to achieve higher levels of learning. Students can learn from their mistakes easier if they are graded from A to F. They know if there are some things that they need to change, or if they do very well with a particular concept. School is all about learning, and if a student is only graded by passing or failing they are not learning what they need to do better in and what their strengths are.
Your ACT argumentative essay should consist of several things. You should have a good introduction and conclusion. You should use wide vocabulary, you should have good, but not very revealing transitions, (ex: do not use therefore, next, after that, in conclusion) you should relate the prompt to your life, and you should give specific examples. Because you are writing an argumentative essay you need to pick a side of the argument. You should keep supporting the side you choose, but you should also say why the other side is wrong.
Here is a good example of an argumentative essay about pass/fail grades vs. A-F scale grades:
There has been some debate as to changing the grading system to a pass/fail system or to leave it as it is. Some educators believe that giving grades in a classroom is detrimental to the students’ educational growth, but in all reality, a pass/fail system does exactly that. I believe that it is important for students to be graded on their school work. A five letter scale grading system not only shows where the student is at in learning the material, but it also motivates and prepares the students for the next level of learning.
A pass/fail grading system does not motivate students to do better like a five letter grading scale. There are only two grades; there is pass or there is fail. In that grading system it does not matter how well you learn the material; one just has to pass. Plus, it does not encourage over achievement like a five letter scale does because it does not matter if you did better than the other person; you both passed. This system would not prepare students for higher levels of learning as a five letter scale would, and it also does not motivate them to do better because they only pass; they do not excel.
Unlike a pass/fail grading system, a five letter scale shows where the student is on a range of material. For example, if a student has an A in a science class, that shows that he or she knows and understands the material quite well. A pass/fail does not show that the student fully understands the subject, only that they know enough not to fail. A pass could range from an A to a D, and, certainly, if the student obtains a D in a class, they do not understand the material fully.
Understanding certain material leads to motivation because the more the student understands a subject, the more likely they are to like it and overachieve in it. With a five letter grading system, a student can achieve something. Receiving an A is very good, and can motivate the student to continue receiving A’s. It also builds self confidence; if a student knows they can achieve an A in a certain science class, they carry that confidence and motivation with them to the next level of science class. This motivation and achievement will continue to lead them to the next level and will prepare them for a higher level of schooling, such as college. For example, I have received an A in Pre-Calculus but a B in Physics. I know from this that I need to study a little more to become a better student in Physics, and I know that I am doing just fine in Pre-Calculus.
A five letter scale, unlike a pass/fail system, shows where the student is at in his or her learning, and also motivates them to do better and to achieve higher levels of learning. Students can learn from their mistakes easier if they are graded from A to F. They know if there are some things that they need to change, or if they do very well with a particular concept. School is all about learning, and if a student is only graded by passing or failing they are not learning what they need to do better in and what their strengths are.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Journal #33 Horseshoes
Sooo the horseshoe's origin is right here in Illinois. When I say horseshoe I know you are thinking about a legit horseshoe that goes on the bottom of a horse's foot, but I am not. The horseshoe is a type of food that is served in same restaurants pretty much only in Illinois. A horseshoe consists of a hamburger patty, fries, and a piece of bread. The bread goes on the bottom, then comes the hamburger patty, then the fries, and on top of the fries is a whole bunch of melted cheese. You may think this type of food sounds absolutely disgusting, and frankly, it is, but some Illinois-ians seem to like it.
You do not have to have a hamburger horseshoe. Some restaurants serve all kinds of horseshoes including pork, turkey, ham, chicken, and alligator....okay maybe not alligator. There are even certain toppings you can put on your horseshoe. I do not really know what they are because I do not really like horseshoes, but I am pretty sure that you can have like a buffalo chicken horseshoe with like hot sauce and stuff on it and peppers and stuff too. I do not really know.
If you are not daring enough to eat a whole horseshoe, there are ponyshoes for all the little tykes out there. Ponyshoes are just a smaller, less heart burning, type of horseshoe. They are delicious...yum!!
Now I do not know if you can detect my sarcasm in this little blog here, but, I must say, sometimes I do like a little ponyshoe every now and then. Pretty much the only ponyshoes that I like are served at my school. That is right. My school actually serves something that is pretty delicious. Watch out though because the pony/horseshoes get cold pretty fast due to all the cheese on top. Yeah, the cheese gets cold fast which makes the pony/horseshoe get cold fast.
So come on down to good old Illinois and try yourself a deliciously heart attack provoking, artery clogging, stomach upsetting horseshoe! It will be totally worth your money!!!!
You do not have to have a hamburger horseshoe. Some restaurants serve all kinds of horseshoes including pork, turkey, ham, chicken, and alligator....okay maybe not alligator. There are even certain toppings you can put on your horseshoe. I do not really know what they are because I do not really like horseshoes, but I am pretty sure that you can have like a buffalo chicken horseshoe with like hot sauce and stuff on it and peppers and stuff too. I do not really know.
If you are not daring enough to eat a whole horseshoe, there are ponyshoes for all the little tykes out there. Ponyshoes are just a smaller, less heart burning, type of horseshoe. They are delicious...yum!!
Now I do not know if you can detect my sarcasm in this little blog here, but, I must say, sometimes I do like a little ponyshoe every now and then. Pretty much the only ponyshoes that I like are served at my school. That is right. My school actually serves something that is pretty delicious. Watch out though because the pony/horseshoes get cold pretty fast due to all the cheese on top. Yeah, the cheese gets cold fast which makes the pony/horseshoe get cold fast.
So come on down to good old Illinois and try yourself a deliciously heart attack provoking, artery clogging, stomach upsetting horseshoe! It will be totally worth your money!!!!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Journal #32 Memoir
So we are supposed to write a memoir of our experiences over winter break. We have been back to school for about three-ish weeks now, and frankly, I just can not remember what I do over winter break. I do remember what I did on New Years though, since it is the closest thing to today that happened over winter break. Since I have a pretty good picture of what I did not New Years in my head, I will tell the truth about what I did, but I will twist the story a little so it is more interesting. You can decide what is the truth and what is fake.
New Years Eve. I wake up around 1 PM, and go into the basement to watch TV. Hopefully my family did not see me sneak down so then I will not have to do any chores around the house. After watching a few of my favorite episodes of Tosh.0 I sneak back upstairs to take a shower. I get dressed then I go downstairs to eat some lunch. I am meeting my friends Haley, Lauren, and Mallorie at Mallorie's house around 6, and then we are going to Haley's boyfriends work. Haley's boyfriend Josh works at a Chinese restaurant, and he does not get off work until 8. All of us girls make it to the restaurant, and a few minutes later Mallorie's boyfriend Jared shows up with our friends Collin and Ethan. The boys and Mallorie get something to eat at the Chinese restaurant, but the rest of us do not. Once everyone is done eating we leave to meet everyone at Jared's house. The boys (except for Josh who is still working) go straight to Jared's house, but us girls stop at McDonald's next door because we do not like Chinese food. After we are done eating we go to Jared's house. We arrive at Jared's house, and we all go in the basement. I decide that we should play some video games because there are not any other fun things to do. We play a racing game on Jared's Nintendo 64.
After some intense playing, Josh finally shows up. We decide to leave Jared's house and have an adventure in his backyard. There is a small park behind his house. All of a sudden we are in an unknown jungle full of wild animals some still not known to man. Our clothes have turned into safari attire, and we all have some type of gun to kill any animal that wants to eat us. We explore the jungle and fight a lot of animals.....
My memoir is over, so here is the epiphany. The epiphany of this story is that this story is dumb. I have realized that no one wants to read this, I do not even want to read this, so I will stop while I am ahead. I have learned from this experience because hopefully next time (if I ever have to write about "epiphanies" again) I will not write about something so boring!
New Years Eve. I wake up around 1 PM, and go into the basement to watch TV. Hopefully my family did not see me sneak down so then I will not have to do any chores around the house. After watching a few of my favorite episodes of Tosh.0 I sneak back upstairs to take a shower. I get dressed then I go downstairs to eat some lunch. I am meeting my friends Haley, Lauren, and Mallorie at Mallorie's house around 6, and then we are going to Haley's boyfriends work. Haley's boyfriend Josh works at a Chinese restaurant, and he does not get off work until 8. All of us girls make it to the restaurant, and a few minutes later Mallorie's boyfriend Jared shows up with our friends Collin and Ethan. The boys and Mallorie get something to eat at the Chinese restaurant, but the rest of us do not. Once everyone is done eating we leave to meet everyone at Jared's house. The boys (except for Josh who is still working) go straight to Jared's house, but us girls stop at McDonald's next door because we do not like Chinese food. After we are done eating we go to Jared's house. We arrive at Jared's house, and we all go in the basement. I decide that we should play some video games because there are not any other fun things to do. We play a racing game on Jared's Nintendo 64.
After some intense playing, Josh finally shows up. We decide to leave Jared's house and have an adventure in his backyard. There is a small park behind his house. All of a sudden we are in an unknown jungle full of wild animals some still not known to man. Our clothes have turned into safari attire, and we all have some type of gun to kill any animal that wants to eat us. We explore the jungle and fight a lot of animals.....
My memoir is over, so here is the epiphany. The epiphany of this story is that this story is dumb. I have realized that no one wants to read this, I do not even want to read this, so I will stop while I am ahead. I have learned from this experience because hopefully next time (if I ever have to write about "epiphanies" again) I will not write about something so boring!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
An Occurrence At Owl Creek
Realism is seeing things for what they really are. An Occurrence At Owl Creek represents Realism in a few different ways. An Occurrence At Owl Creek is about a man who has been captured during the Civil War and is about to be hanged by being pushed off a railroad track with a river running beneath it. The man imagines himself escaping from his terrible fate which is the part of the story that represents realism. He tries to think of a real and somewhat easy way to escape.
"He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. "If I could free my hands," he thought, "I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader's farthest advance" (Bierce).
As said from a source from Bloom's Literary Reference Online:
"The second part of the story describes the events that have led up to the hanging: induced to the action by a disguised Union soldier, Farquhar has attempted to sabotage the bridge and has been captured. In the next section Farquhar's rope breaks, and he falls into the water, ultimately swimming to safety through volleys of gunfire. As he travels through the forest at night, he begins to experience strange psychological phenomena. In a memorable twist at the end of the story, it is revealed that Farquhar has imagined his entire escape in the brief time between his being pushed from the bridge and the noose's breaking his neck. The story is lauded for its intensive psychological examination of a mind facing death in wartime" (Renfro).
Realism is also describing the everyday life of a middle class or lower class citizen.
"Peyton Fahrquhar was a well to do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician, he was naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause. Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with that gallant army which had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction. That opportunity, he felt, would come, as it comes to all in wartime. Meanwhile he did what he could. No service was too humble for him to perform in the aid of the South, no adventure to perilous for him to undertake if consistent with the character of a civilian who was at heart a soldier, and who in good faith and without too much qualification assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair in love and war" (Bierce).
This quote represents Realism because it helps to describe the somewhat everyday life of a middle class man. It helps the reader to see how he could end up being hung, and it lets the reader know that he is either middle or lower class because he can not participate in the war.
Works Cited:
Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence At Owl Creek". Page By Page Books. 18 Jan 2011. http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Ambrose_Bierce/An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bridge/II_p1.html.
Renfro, Y. P. "'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'." In Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0691&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 18, 2011).
"He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. "If I could free my hands," he thought, "I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader's farthest advance" (Bierce).
As said from a source from Bloom's Literary Reference Online:
"The second part of the story describes the events that have led up to the hanging: induced to the action by a disguised Union soldier, Farquhar has attempted to sabotage the bridge and has been captured. In the next section Farquhar's rope breaks, and he falls into the water, ultimately swimming to safety through volleys of gunfire. As he travels through the forest at night, he begins to experience strange psychological phenomena. In a memorable twist at the end of the story, it is revealed that Farquhar has imagined his entire escape in the brief time between his being pushed from the bridge and the noose's breaking his neck. The story is lauded for its intensive psychological examination of a mind facing death in wartime" (Renfro).
Realism is also describing the everyday life of a middle class or lower class citizen.
"Peyton Fahrquhar was a well to do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician, he was naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause. Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with that gallant army which had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction. That opportunity, he felt, would come, as it comes to all in wartime. Meanwhile he did what he could. No service was too humble for him to perform in the aid of the South, no adventure to perilous for him to undertake if consistent with the character of a civilian who was at heart a soldier, and who in good faith and without too much qualification assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair in love and war" (Bierce).
This quote represents Realism because it helps to describe the somewhat everyday life of a middle class man. It helps the reader to see how he could end up being hung, and it lets the reader know that he is either middle or lower class because he can not participate in the war.
Works Cited:
Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence At Owl Creek". Page By Page Books. 18 Jan 2011. http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Ambrose_Bierce/An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bridge/II_p1.html.
Renfro, Y. P. "'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'." In Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0691&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 18, 2011).
Friday, January 14, 2011
Journal #31 Daydreams
I have had many daydreams that helped me figure out how to get out of a bad situation. I daydream all the time, so it is not that hard for me to have a daydream that helped me get out of a bad situation.
Yeah, I daydream all the time. In almost every class I daydream. I can not really think of a time during school when I was not at least half daydreaming. (But hey, I still get straight A's, so I can daydream if I want). Most of the time I daydream about what I am going to do after school or about my friends and stuff. Sometimes I daydream about how I am going to get a really tough and annoying assignment done. <<
Daydreams are a good thing in my opinion. They help you to escape the every day world for at least a little bit. Sometimes your surroundings are just so boring, so you pretty much have to daydream. If I have to ride a bus or subway or something, I daydream all the time. Sometimes I get those really girly daydreams and I daydream about a really handsome boy who sweeps me off my feet and all that stuff. You know how it goes. Sometimes I daydream about just nothing. I just sit there and think about pretty much nothing. Sometimes when I am done daydreaming I forget what I was daydreaming about. Those type of daydreams usually occur in my AP Chemistry class or my AP American History class. Those classes can get really boring. Sometimes I have to daydream about how to get out of a punishment from my parents or something. Usually I do not have to do that though because I usually do not get in trouble. Sometimes I just do not even care though about my punishment and I just watch TV all day or do laundry or homework. So yeah, I usually do not daydream about getting out of a situation because I usually do not have a situation that I need to get out of. My daydreams are usually about nice fun things.
Yeah, I daydream all the time. In almost every class I daydream. I can not really think of a time during school when I was not at least half daydreaming. (But hey, I still get straight A's, so I can daydream if I want). Most of the time I daydream about what I am going to do after school or about my friends and stuff. Sometimes I daydream about how I am going to get a really tough and annoying assignment done. <<
Daydreams are a good thing in my opinion. They help you to escape the every day world for at least a little bit. Sometimes your surroundings are just so boring, so you pretty much have to daydream. If I have to ride a bus or subway or something, I daydream all the time. Sometimes I get those really girly daydreams and I daydream about a really handsome boy who sweeps me off my feet and all that stuff. You know how it goes. Sometimes I daydream about just nothing. I just sit there and think about pretty much nothing. Sometimes when I am done daydreaming I forget what I was daydreaming about. Those type of daydreams usually occur in my AP Chemistry class or my AP American History class. Those classes can get really boring. Sometimes I have to daydream about how to get out of a punishment from my parents or something. Usually I do not have to do that though because I usually do not get in trouble. Sometimes I just do not even care though about my punishment and I just watch TV all day or do laundry or homework. So yeah, I usually do not daydream about getting out of a situation because I usually do not have a situation that I need to get out of. My daydreams are usually about nice fun things.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Journal 30 Uniforms
According to most Pleasant Plains students, we should not have uniforms. Thankfully, our school does not make us wear uniforms, so the students of Pleasant Plains are happy.
A poll was taken from 20 Pleasant Plains students. 18 said they do not want to have school uniforms, and 2 said that they would like to have school uniforms. When asked why the students would not want to have a school uniform, one student answered, "wearing our own clothes can give us a sense of uniqueness, we can be ourselves". Another student said, "I like to just get up in the morning and put on a pair of sweats and be comfortable for the day. I do not want to have to wear a skirt and blouse all day and feel very uncomfortable".
When a student who was for school uniforms was asked why they wanted school uniforms the student said, "I do not want to have to plan my outfit everyday and worry about what people think about my outfit." The other student said, "I am just too lazy to pick out something to wear for the day, I would rather have something preplanned for me."
My opinion is that I do not really care if we have school uniforms or not. I agree with both sides of the argument. I have been to a school where I had to wear a uniform, and I go to a school now where I do not have to wear a uniform. There are pros and cons to each side of the argument. If you do not wear a uniform to school, you can wear ALMOST whatever you want, and you can express your individuality. Not wearing a uniform can lead to people judging you on what you wear and look like as opposed to who you are and what your personality is like.
If you have to wear a uniform to school, you will most likely not get made fun of because of what you are wearing. Most people wear almost the same exact thing. A downside is that you have to buy your uniforms along with regular clothes for everyday use, so it costs more money. You may also not get a certain outfit for every day of the week, so you may have to do your laundry more often. You also cannot express yourself through your clothes unless you are allowed to wear a cool cami or headband or socks or something.
A poll was taken from 20 Pleasant Plains students. 18 said they do not want to have school uniforms, and 2 said that they would like to have school uniforms. When asked why the students would not want to have a school uniform, one student answered, "wearing our own clothes can give us a sense of uniqueness, we can be ourselves". Another student said, "I like to just get up in the morning and put on a pair of sweats and be comfortable for the day. I do not want to have to wear a skirt and blouse all day and feel very uncomfortable".
When a student who was for school uniforms was asked why they wanted school uniforms the student said, "I do not want to have to plan my outfit everyday and worry about what people think about my outfit." The other student said, "I am just too lazy to pick out something to wear for the day, I would rather have something preplanned for me."
My opinion is that I do not really care if we have school uniforms or not. I agree with both sides of the argument. I have been to a school where I had to wear a uniform, and I go to a school now where I do not have to wear a uniform. There are pros and cons to each side of the argument. If you do not wear a uniform to school, you can wear ALMOST whatever you want, and you can express your individuality. Not wearing a uniform can lead to people judging you on what you wear and look like as opposed to who you are and what your personality is like.
If you have to wear a uniform to school, you will most likely not get made fun of because of what you are wearing. Most people wear almost the same exact thing. A downside is that you have to buy your uniforms along with regular clothes for everyday use, so it costs more money. You may also not get a certain outfit for every day of the week, so you may have to do your laundry more often. You also cannot express yourself through your clothes unless you are allowed to wear a cool cami or headband or socks or something.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Journal #29 Persuasion
I do not have a favorite CD. I do not know names of CD's. I am going to make up a CD because I do not know any CD's.
You should buy the CD Boring. It is all about school. The title is very appropriate because school is super boring. There is a catch though. The CD is actually not boring at all, and any teacher will let you listen to it during class. "Why?" you ask. Because this CD is one of a kind. It comes in many different colors and has an array of "topics". You see, the cover and artwork of this CD can be history, science, math, or even english. That's right. English. Your teachers will be so excited that you are listening to a CD about their class. Their excitement will lead to letting you listen to this wonderful CD every day which is awesome because school is boring.
What is the actual content in this CD? Anything you want. We have comedy CD's, CD's that give you ideas on how to skip class or fake sick, CD's full of soothing music just in case you want to take a little cat nap during your boring AP American History class. But don't you worry reader, our CD comes with a full proof pair of glasses that makes it look like your eyes are actually open! Your teachers will have no idea that you are actually asleep.
Along with these other fantastic CD's, you can also go to our website, www.ilikeboring.com and create your own CD. You can put some of your favorite songs on your CD along with some of the above CD contents.
Now doesn't this CD sound terrific? I think it does. I would totally buy this CD. Who wants to actually learn in school anyways? School is for socializing and having fun (note..this is sarcasm). But really, this is a great offer that you should totally take advantage of! This CD can, will, and should be yours at a price of only $0.01! That's right! It only costs a penny! (Shipping and handling is $99.99).
So come on! Don't you want to NOT learn in school?!
You should buy the CD Boring. It is all about school. The title is very appropriate because school is super boring. There is a catch though. The CD is actually not boring at all, and any teacher will let you listen to it during class. "Why?" you ask. Because this CD is one of a kind. It comes in many different colors and has an array of "topics". You see, the cover and artwork of this CD can be history, science, math, or even english. That's right. English. Your teachers will be so excited that you are listening to a CD about their class. Their excitement will lead to letting you listen to this wonderful CD every day which is awesome because school is boring.
What is the actual content in this CD? Anything you want. We have comedy CD's, CD's that give you ideas on how to skip class or fake sick, CD's full of soothing music just in case you want to take a little cat nap during your boring AP American History class. But don't you worry reader, our CD comes with a full proof pair of glasses that makes it look like your eyes are actually open! Your teachers will have no idea that you are actually asleep.
Along with these other fantastic CD's, you can also go to our website, www.ilikeboring.com and create your own CD. You can put some of your favorite songs on your CD along with some of the above CD contents.
Now doesn't this CD sound terrific? I think it does. I would totally buy this CD. Who wants to actually learn in school anyways? School is for socializing and having fun (note..this is sarcasm). But really, this is a great offer that you should totally take advantage of! This CD can, will, and should be yours at a price of only $0.01! That's right! It only costs a penny! (Shipping and handling is $99.99).
So come on! Don't you want to NOT learn in school?!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Journal #28 Convincing
There have been many times that I convince people to do things that I want them to do. The easiest people to convince to do things are my younger siblings (obviously). I convince my little brother and sister to do things for me all the time. All older siblings do that. I convince my little sister to go shopping with me or to run errands with me for my family. A lot of the time she is like "no I do not want to go! blah blah blah!!!" but then I am like "we'll get ice cream!" or whatever she wants. Then sometimes she comes with me. Most of the time she is really stubborn and lazy and she just wants to sit and watch TV all day instead of go out and move around. She is really super lazy.
It is really easy to convince my little brother to do things. He is only seven, so he is pretty gullible. Although he is pretty lazy just like my little sister, he likes to go places with me. Sometimes I just do not want him to come with me though because he gets really annoying. One time he was whining and crying because we went to the bookstore and I had to get a book for a little kid or something and he really wanted one, so I had to buy him one too. It was annoying. And really, only when my little brother is in a really good mood does he do things for me. That is how most siblings are I guess.
As you can see, the easiest people to convince to do things are children. I work at an after school babysitting program for our district's elementary school. Not only do all the kids love us high schoolers that work there, but they will do whatever you want them to do. They are soooo gullible! Of course, I don't make any kids do bad stuff. That's just weird and wrong. I'll make them pick up toys (which is their job anyways because they played with the toys) or get me a straw during snack time or whatever.
It's pretty nice to be able to convince people to do things for you. Sometimes it's kind of bad though, but other times it's awesome.
It is really easy to convince my little brother to do things. He is only seven, so he is pretty gullible. Although he is pretty lazy just like my little sister, he likes to go places with me. Sometimes I just do not want him to come with me though because he gets really annoying. One time he was whining and crying because we went to the bookstore and I had to get a book for a little kid or something and he really wanted one, so I had to buy him one too. It was annoying. And really, only when my little brother is in a really good mood does he do things for me. That is how most siblings are I guess.
As you can see, the easiest people to convince to do things are children. I work at an after school babysitting program for our district's elementary school. Not only do all the kids love us high schoolers that work there, but they will do whatever you want them to do. They are soooo gullible! Of course, I don't make any kids do bad stuff. That's just weird and wrong. I'll make them pick up toys (which is their job anyways because they played with the toys) or get me a straw during snack time or whatever.
It's pretty nice to be able to convince people to do things for you. Sometimes it's kind of bad though, but other times it's awesome.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Journal #27 Persistence
Being persistent is very important. You have to be persistent in many aspects in life. Well, you pretty much have to be persistent in everything to excel. If you become really lazy your not being persistent. Right now, I am feeling really super lazy, so this blog sounds really dumb because I am not being persistent with my ideas.
Persistence helps you to be the best you can be. You are not going to be a good piano player when you first start, but if you are persistent with your practicing, you will eventually get better. I play the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. I only take clarinet lessons right now, and I am the best at the clarinet. Because I am not persistent in practicing the piano or saxophone, I am not the best at them. I used to take piano lessons for a very long time. I am still really good at the piano, but I just do not have a lot of time to teach myself new songs. I do not really care about the saxophone because it is really easy to play and it is pretty crappy. Anyone could play the saxophone. The clarinet, I would say, takes the longest to master out of these three instruments. There are a lot of different things you can do with the clarinet, and it often has the melody. The clarinet also plays a lot of crazy runs and stuff in really fast pieces, so you have to be pretty good to be able to do that. I heard somewhere that the clarinet is like the violin of bands.
Anyways...I am not being very persistent with my blog because I got totally side tracked talking about instruments. Bad. One thing people in school should be persistent with is trying hard in school. Believe me, I know it really stinks to study all the time and do homework all the time. I am the queen of laziness and procrastination. I hate doing homework, I hate studying for tests, but I complain when I get bad grades. It is all my fault if I get bad grades, and it is all a fact of me being super lazy and not persistent.
Persistence helps you to be the best you can be. You are not going to be a good piano player when you first start, but if you are persistent with your practicing, you will eventually get better. I play the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. I only take clarinet lessons right now, and I am the best at the clarinet. Because I am not persistent in practicing the piano or saxophone, I am not the best at them. I used to take piano lessons for a very long time. I am still really good at the piano, but I just do not have a lot of time to teach myself new songs. I do not really care about the saxophone because it is really easy to play and it is pretty crappy. Anyone could play the saxophone. The clarinet, I would say, takes the longest to master out of these three instruments. There are a lot of different things you can do with the clarinet, and it often has the melody. The clarinet also plays a lot of crazy runs and stuff in really fast pieces, so you have to be pretty good to be able to do that. I heard somewhere that the clarinet is like the violin of bands.
Anyways...I am not being very persistent with my blog because I got totally side tracked talking about instruments. Bad. One thing people in school should be persistent with is trying hard in school. Believe me, I know it really stinks to study all the time and do homework all the time. I am the queen of laziness and procrastination. I hate doing homework, I hate studying for tests, but I complain when I get bad grades. It is all my fault if I get bad grades, and it is all a fact of me being super lazy and not persistent.
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