Reflective essay #4 (2.19.10)

Reflective Essay

Bob Payne: A traveler man

By Derek Alger

Published on Feb. 1^st, 2011

http://www.pifmagazine.com/2011/02/bob-payne-a-traveling-man

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“Bob Payne: A traveler man” by Derek Alger is about author's encounter with Bob Payne, and how he changes the view about traveling. The author created trustworthy tone by using diction, syntax, and irony.

“Specializes”, that is one of the diction that Alger uses to describe Payne. By using that word, he generates the feeling of comfortable and reliable. In addition, he states that Payne’s traveling was “simply astounded”, thus showing his personal feelings without hiding it, thus making audiences feel relaxed.

Syntax is another technique that Alger used to create trustworthy tone. He alled his home “safe”, which creates warm feelings toward the audiences since they will be thinking about their own homes, also. In addition, he states that while he did not travel much, he still was “curious”, Thus reassuring audiences of his position. This further makes audiences comfortable

“He pulled out his pistol and put the barrel to his head”, that is one of the examples of imagery that Alger used. By saying like that, Alger was able to create “awe” feelings for him, making him both brave and trustworthy.

Because Alger constructed this tone, I support Alger’s decision of traveling around. In addition, since this essay generates positive feelings, I feel that the narrator is trust worthy.

This essay’s tone would be appropriate for AP essay for it is formal and that it generates comfortable and reliable feelings for the readers. The tone stays throughout the whole story, thus creating more stable.

Editoral #4 (2.14.10)

Could she reach the top in 2012? You betcha

By Frank Rich

Published: November 20, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21rich.html

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This story, which is about Sarah Palin’s chance for being a president of the United States of America, starts up with one of her quotes, which states that she can be on the top of the world. Then he goes on by saying that she has the potential to become a president of the United States of America on 2012. Author crafts his narrative persona and a “voice” here by using these literary techniques: diction, syntax, and imagery.

Rich describes Palin’s life as “a perilous rock climb”, which is a vivid imagery. This imagery seems to generate sympathy feelings for Palin. In addition, he states that Palin’s popularity will “keep floating above the pack indefinitely”, pack representing the people who dislike her, which means that Palin will be invincible. The use of imagery seems to be the one of piece’s strengths since the author uses powerful imagery to describe her.

“Enshrined”, that is the word that Rich used to describe Palin and her husband, Todd. Rich also uses the word “vanquish” to describe how her new book is going to be popular than George W. Bush’s one. Instead of using the “more popular”, the author decided to use the word “vanquish”, thus creating negative and cruel feelings toward Bush’s new book.  In addition, the author describes Palin’s G.O.P favorable rating as an “awesome 80 percent”. This clearly shows that author supports Palin. At last, Rich describes some republicans’ attempt to criticize Palin as “spitballs”. The word “spitballs” seem to generate feelings of pathetic, thus author is trying to show that it is hopeless to criticize Palin. The choice of diction is also one of the strengths of this piece. Readers can clearly see author’s position toward Palin.

Use of syntax is another way for Rich to support Palin. For example, he describes the opposition of Sarah Palin as “so-called Republican establishment”. By using “-“, or as known as dash, Rich was able to make fun of critics of Sarah Palin. Since Rich managed to write this short essay with excellent literary techniques, there is no weakness in this piece.

By using these literary techniques, the author managed to craft a narrative persona and a “voice”, which is that he supports Sarah Palin by using optimism voice and harshly criticizing Sarah Palin’s opposition. Because he used techniques effectively, I find this piece very influential and interesting. I laud him for using such techniques. This story is not appropriate for AP Essay for its speaker use 2^nd point of view such as “we’re” and “you are kept guessing”, which is informal.

Book Review #4 (2.13.11)

Book Review

In his own words, a singular man’s double life

By Dwight Garner

Book: Under the sun” by Bruce Chartwin.

Published on February 17, 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/books/18book.html

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“In his own words, a singular man’s double life” by Dwight Garner seems to criticize the book called “Under the sun”, whose book is by Bruce Chartwin. He uses some of literary techniques to show this.

Garner describes Chartwin as “not thoroughly likable”, which is a harsh diction choice. It shows disapproval toward him. Garner also describes Chartwin as “wicked”, which seems to suggest that Chartin is not kind. This seems to be one of the strengths of this piece. The use of diction clearly shows the author’s position.

Imagery is one of the techniques that Garner used. He states that reading Under the sun is like “watching an angry gecko seize a passing trouser leg.”, which clearly creates negative feeling toward the book itself since gecko on trouser leg tends to create negative feeling. This also seems to be one of the strengths of this piece since imagery contains strong vivid images about certain things and can contain vital information regarding the subject.

Garner uses syntax as well to criticize the book. For instance, he states that Chartwin “restlessness- he need to be “perpetuum mobile”…-made him one of the least conventional men on the planet.” The use of “-“, or also known as dash, creates extra redundant and boring sentence, thus creating negative feelings toward Chartwin. Because Garner uses literary techniques well and that book review is well constructed, I have unable to find any weakness in this piece. The critical perspective of this particular book review seems to be New Historicism. Not only Garner focuses on the book, but also author’s background. 

There seems to be a connection between this piece and Anne Frank’s diary, in which I read in freshman year. Dwight Garner states on Under the sun, the voice “grows lovelier, grainier, more confident, more wicked.” Anne Frank’s diary’s voice seems to do that, too. In the beginning, the voice seems to be weak. For example, it seems to have less confident. However, as the story progress, it becomes stronger and more confident more than ever.

Core Concept #5 (2/7/11-2/21/11)

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In the class, we have discussed explicitly on Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

-The women: We discussed that there were different types of women in this book. For example, the witch (the spiritual one?) and the weak one (Mr.Kurtz’s fiancé)

-Racism: There are lots of examples of racism in this book. However, does that make Conrad racist?

Connections: I read “Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain on American Literature. There are LOTS of racism. Does that make Twain racist? 

-Theme: Does Conrad support colonialism? Does he oppose racism?

Connections: In the beginning of school year, we have agreed that the literature is like the forest that is up to the people to explore the forest. Thus it is up to readers to interpret the theme of this book.

We have also watched “Apocalypse now”, which is based of “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad.

-Similarities between two:

• The protagonists are on a mission to find Mr. Kurtz
• The protagonists dislike their sailors/soldiers
• Their sailors/soldiers get injured
• “Heart of Darkness” and “Apocalypse Now” both shows the heads of savages, which are on sticks.
• The protagonists both travel by boats on river.
• The protagonists both got attacked by savages.

-Differences between two:

• “Apocalypse Now” takes place in Vietnam while “Heart of Darkness” takes place in Congo
• “Apocalypse Now” shows girls dancing on the state while “Heart of Darkness” doesn’t.
• In “Heart of Darkness”, the protagonist’s aunt gave him the job. In “Apocalypse Now”, the soldiers gave protagonist the job.

Things we did in class:

·        Discussed Heart of Darkness

·        Watched “Apocalypse Now”

      Homework:

• Huck/Pride read and annotate due Feb. 29^th.
• Psychology of Heart of Darkness Forum due Feb. 10^th.
• Techniques in Heart of Darkness Forum due Feb. 17th

Core Concept #4 (1/10/11-2/7/11)

Core Concept # 4

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We have learned explicitly on forms of repetition.

Forms of Repetition:

l       Anaphora: Emphasizing words by repeating them at the beginnings of neighboring clauses. Ex.) “We will go to beach. We will have fun. We will go to parties”

l       Antistrophe (also known as epistrophe or epiphora): The repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive phrases, clauses or sentences. Ex.) “I went to party when I was a kid. I hated dinosaur when I was a kid. I hit my brother when I was a kid”.

l       Anadiplosis: The repetition of a word or phrase from the end of one clause or phrase at the beginning of the next cause or phrase.

l       Diacope: Repetition with only one or two words between each repeated phrase.

l       Epizeuxis: Repetition of words in immediate succession. Ex) “Horror, Horror, Horror.”

Connection: When my brother was a year old, he used to call me “Bro” exactly 6 times. No matter how hard I tried to change his speech, he still insisted calling me “Bro.Bro.Bro.Bro.Bro.Bro” It really entertained me.

l       Polysyndeton: The repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses.

l       Alliteration: The repetition of initial sounds, usually consonants.

l       Assonance: The use of smilar vowel sounds repeated in successive or proximate words containing different consonants. Ex) A city that is set on a heill cannot be hid.

l       Consonance: The repetition of consonantns or consonant patterns, especially at the end of the words.

Forms of Parallelism:

Antithesis: Establishing a clear, contrasting releationshup between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them often in parallel structure.

Forms of Inversion:

l        Anastrophe: A figure of speech inversion of the ordinary Western order of words.

l        Chiasmus: Figure of speech in which 2 or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point.

l        Antimetabole: The repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed grammatical order: Ex) I know what I like, and I like what I know”
Connections: To make my little brother mad, i often said " I hope what i love and i love what i hope". My brother always asked, "what do you love?" I just laughed and walked away

We have also talked about the values of literature. We learned that as the time goes on, the society’s values changes. For example, in medieval time, Christianity dominated the literature.

DIfferences between a novel and novella

Novel= 30,000 words or more

Novella= 30,000 words or or less

Connections: Heart of Darkness, in which we have annotated, is a novella. Harry potter #6: Half blood prince, in which i read last summer, is a novel

Things we have done in the class:

l       Write Free Response regarding the “A Barred Owl” by Richard Wilbur and “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins.

l       Discuss Heart of Darkness

l       Studied intensively on Semester one final exam

l       Psychology forum due on February 10th.

l       Evaluation on peer’s Core Concepts and Outside Readings due on February 17th.

Homework:

l        Annotate and finish reading Heart of Darkness by February 4th.

l        Annotate and finish reading Pride and Prejudice or Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by February 28th.

l        Outside Readings and Core Concepts due on February 21st.