Frankenstein: Creature’s Narrative, Human kind reviled

The creature’s tale is one which Mary Shelley attempts to show the torture  in which the creature had to endure. The audience is compelled to feel compassion for the creature. The hatred displayed towards him by the towns folk due to his  hideousness enlightened the nature of  people in a different light, they did not care if he wished to harm them or his purpose of coming to them they just instinctively despised, distasted, and distrusted him. His heart appeared pure at first though the people’s hatred changed it. Even though he was pleased with the simplest of pleasures, longing for what the poorest had. Though he was not greedy, he took only when he did not know better, then he would repay that which he took and more, In the dark. Within the creature’s tale, Shelley reviles how even though humans may be accepting to their own kind, they shun those who seem to be different than them just like the creature. They only saw him as a beast not a living breathing human. He was too different from them to be accepted.
By: Josiah Keagy

Multimedia Presentation

My table group selected Los Vendidos by Luis Valdez as the play we are to read, study, and create a multimedia presentation. The major issues that are addressed in the play are cultural stereotypes, assimilating Mexicans into the American culture, and conflicts between educated and uneducated. However, it was none of these issues that attracted my table group to this particular play. My group, predominantly male, enjoyed the fact that the play contained profane language and some comedy. After reading the play and then analyzing the text with my group, we noticed the issues the play addresses and we began brainstorming how we could present the material to the class. We concluded on creating a short reenactment with according costumes and voice-overs. We will also incorporate the issues and the impact they have on the meaning of the play and the audience.

We will be meeting in one hour from now to complete our presentation. I am anxious to get together with the group and get to work on our play. I am not entirely sure how our project will turn out, but I am anticipating a fun and efficient time with the group and I look forward to successfully completing our project in exactly the manner we intend.

By Dane Johnson

Why?

     As we are finishing up our study of Frankenstein, and after examining the poem on promises today, a question is left in my head. Many times in literature we not only read a work, but follow our reading with a study of the authors techniques and strategies used in the writing. The point I am trying to come across at is whether or not you believe that studying a work after reading it is important? Isn't the purpose of reading to be exposed to the storyline and become familiar with what the writer has to say, or is it evolving into a study of the writers techniques instead?    


     I love reading and fully enjoy the kinds of things that I learn from literature, but I do not always love examining a piece of work long after I am done reading it. I know that understanding rhetorical techniques and strategies will only add to my understanding of a text, but don't get me wrong for missing the days when all I had to do was read a book. I believe that by asking high school students to look for techniques and strategies in a novel while they are reading, they are being distracted from the whole point of the book... the storyline. Perhaps if we studied certain works and only read certain ones, more kids would actually want to do the reading instead of turning to sparknotes.com. So my question is where do you stand? Do you miss the days when reading a book was the only assignment? OR are you accustomed to what literature has evolved into now... a study of rhetoric, technique, and strategy in a piece of writing?


  
Lexie Cantarero

The Ancient Mariner

“Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.”

The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,
utilizes many forms of figurative language to enrich the poem as a whole. This exert in particular applies imagery, repetition, and subtle alliteration. This impacts the poem as a whole by highlighting aspects that are important for the reader to understand the full meaning of the poem by the use of repetition. In addition, the imagery allows the reader to visualize and experience the poem rather than simply read it.

The Chronicle - "The End of Solitude" Response

Throughout reading this article, I felt refreshed. And although I'm slightly hypocritical, for I do make use of Facebook, MySpace, e-mail, a cellular phone with text messaging, and Video iChat occasionally with beloveds, I completely agree. My father always pushed for my sisters and I to spend some time alone, by ourselves, without music or any media at that, in our rooms, or in the backyard under a starry night and escape from thought and busy world. "The act of being alone has been understood as an essential dimension of religious experience...[it] renews its relationship with divinity" (1-2) is a similar expression to my dad's idea of solitude: "to pray is to ask, while to meditate is to receive the answer" he would say. My dad is an intelligent, knowledgeable, well-read man - I usually take his word on accounts and issues. Solitude, away from the "bustle of petty concerns, jostle of quotidian interests" (2) is the means to gain ideas and the "value of keeping them hidden" - the own person, own soul of each individual. I've personally have felt such fear of loneliness that I grab my phone and call an old lover, a reliable friend, in my despair. However, once overcoming the bewilderment, I relax and envelope in the isolation. I'll admit though, I spend a lot of my time by myself; however I'm usually in the company of a book or music, which I'm not sure it necessarily counts. I've been wanting to reach into my own mind, my own conscience with ideas and thoughts outside of external influence and drugs, but honestly I'm afraid. I know the only means to reach such individual ideas is to dwell in solitude habitually, occasionally on those dark lonely nights. How would you feel if suddenly you were not able to call your best friend, or boyfriend, or tell everyone what you're doing and feeling on Facebook, or listen to your favorite song, or read a good book - what would you think about, how would you feel?

-Elish I.

college applications(with voice!)

So, I'm finally finished with my second essay for college applications thinking that I'm at least close to the end. Feeling as if I just conquered the world, my mind has absolutely no thought left in it and I am literally laying on the table. I am proud of myself for accomplishing this tedious task when, come to find out, I'm just barely half way! I feel like crying as my eyes swell up with tears of defeat, exhaustion, and frustration. Who created these applications anyway?! We already have to complete the SAT which is already a wearisome task on its own, as well as maintaing good grades for four years through high school! And if your'e doing sports, it's a whole other process on its own as you are required to contact the coach, miss school for official visits(which lowers your grades in school), and try and pull some money out of the colleges you want to play for! After a while, it's easy just to lay on the table, as I'm doing righrt now, and and stab yourself with a pencil(which I'm not doing).  The only thing that keeps me going is the exitement that I'll feel in the end when all of this is over and I'm laying in my bed instead of the table! I'm pretty sure that every senior knows how it feels right now at the most stressful time in a teenagers life. The application process wouldn't be as stressful if your whole life and future depended on it. The fact is, that applications get you into college, which in turn, get you a job, and therefore a better life. The whole life of a highschool teenage  basically depends on the crafting of the application; which includes the essay, the supplements, the teacher recs., etc. 
   My strategic advice is to take one part of the application process at time and definately DO NOT look at everything all at once, like what I just did, or it will seem like nothing you do is making a difference and you will end up passed out on the table!(like me). Just know that every senior is feeling this pressure of colleges right now, even if theyr'e going to Chaffey College. Hang in there seniors!

How do we view children in our society?

     As part of our responses in class today, one of the questions asked us to describe how we believe that children in our society are viewed. For my response I came up with this explanation. "On one hand, children are the cute innocent beings who venture around searching for something to entertain them. They are the selfless young minds unexposed to the dangers and hardships of todays society. On the other hand, children are the spoiled, uneducated brats who care very little about society. They are the annoying ungrateful kids who expect everything to be done for them, and do not realize the true value of life."    
     So the question then comes down to how do we really view children? Yes, they are innocent young minds who commonly venture to explore new things around our world. They look for things to play with, and are fascinated by a lot of the things that we as the older generation tend to pass by in a simple day's tasks. They have not been exposed to the dangers and the negative aspects of our world, and in this sense truly are the innocent children that they appear to be. On the other hand however, there are those children who are spoiled beyond belif, and whom would never even imagine having to do things without the aid or help of their parents. They are the bratty, ungrateful kids who are fascinated with mere things such as the hottest television shows, or the latest technology. So yes, possibly there is a balance. A balance between the innocent kind hearted children, and those who know nothing but what their parents do for them. In reality we view children by the kinds of people that they are, and by their own personal traits, qualities, and characteristics.

By: Lexie Cantarero

Alice Analysis

So throughout our studies we have discussed read the book “Alice in Wonderland” so I thought I would give my take on the book. After reading the first few chapters I concluded that the book had to do with change, due to the fact that Alice frequently changed sizes along with her surroundings, which continually changed. By the time I reached chapter five I felt confident in this view, because Alice herself in her talk with the caterpillar reveals how she was irritated by the many changes both around her and to her. So what if she was irritated (I thought), what type of influence did this have upon the book? Until the end I could not figure this out though in the final chapter it all made sense, Alice was growing up. The book had a universal theme It was not the complete gibberish I once thought it was, although was a book that effectively in a more indirect way brought the point across. In the simplest of words the theme was “Loss of Innocence”. Alice was making the transition from girl to woman hood which was what the change was she felt, and disliked. If you have questions please leave them as a comment and thanks.

By Josiah keagy

Blog #2: College Applications

By Dane Johnson

We spent much time this past week learning about college applications and becoming more familiar with the application essays, which are an extremely important part of our futures. The essays we write can determine whether or not we get into the college of our dreams. They can determine if the much anticipated letter in the mailbox reads: "Accepted" or "Denied." The essays play a crucial role in the next stage of our lives, college. The university we attend helps lay out the way we will spend the rest of our lives. College education influences almost every aspect of an adult's life, such as occupation, house, car, finance, and family. It can be argued as being the most important thing of a person's life. Due to this importance, high school seniors stress over writing the perfect essay that will grant them acceptance into their dream school. Many think that they essay needs be a work of art that will be framed and hung in a museum someday. However, this is not entirely true.

Colleges want to be able to see our personality and who we really are as human beings. They want to read an essay that reveals true character and creates an identity for ourselves. The College Application activity on Fill In The Gaps Friday during which we read essays written by presidents of prestigious colleges helped provide examples of essays with personal identity. This activity gave me the confidence I need to reassure myself that I can conquer the application essays and also give myself the best opportunity to get accepted the college of my dreams.

Blog #1 Intro to...

Introduction to Acting by Jaclynn Enriquez

I ask them to abandon their own authority
And feel all existing possibility
Like an empty mind

Or a playwrights clean journal.

I say let go to feel the beauty of the spotlight
And let it illuminate and warm their skin,

Embrace the uncertainty and
Make peace with how little control they posses.

I want them to feel adrenaline pulse
As they stare into the mysterious shapes
Beyond the blinding white.

But they see a spotlight or stage
And shudder away with irrelivent fear
As if to an omniscient searchlight.

They will never experience the true comfort
That arises with renouncing command.

While wrighting this poem I wanted to convey the inner peace that I feel when I am performing onstage. So many things can happen unexpectidly and unless you completely let yourself go to your character you will never be able to handle any sudden changes that may occur. You cannot think, if you think you will freeze and only increase the troubled situation; only if you truly release yourself and feel the stage will you be able to easily flow through any problems.