TS: Do you have a right to be mean to someone just because they are different than you? SD: The kids at Stump Olsen's high school thought that they did. SD: Heterosexism, it's mouth and fists bruising the bones and heart, strikes again. CS: Situations like Mr. Olsen's happen everyday, but who is going to stop it?
TS: According to Dictionary.com heterosexism is a prejudiced attitude or discriminatory practices against homosexuals by heterosexuals. SD: Discrimination can be against anyone, of any race, religion, or sexual orientation. CM: Some people hate another person because they're different, and many people find it wrong. CM: Stump Olsen, being a gay woman who gave us a talk on LGBT* issues, was beat up everyday because of it. SD: I believe that there are two types of discrimination, physical and emotional. CM: Name calling can hurt as much as a punch to the stomach. CM: Both are painful, but emotional seems to leave a wound that is harder to heal. CS: Heterosexism is something a lot of people would love to stop, calling someone mean names hurts and just because they are different it gives people no reason to be awful to them.
TS: When Ms. Olsen talked to us about her story she made me realize two important and wonderful facts. SD: Firstly, words can hurt, "the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me, is a lie!" Ms. Olsen said. CM: I find this to be true, you could say something and mean it as a joke but it can really hurt someone. CM: We must always be careful of what we say because it could really bother another person. SD: Something else that I realized that we at Pine Point are very lucky to have, is that we all respect one another. CM: We are very lucky to have such a great community. CM: Ms. Olsen was "getting jumped at least twice a day" at her high school, but I feel if one of us came out gay we would support that person completely. CS: Ms. Olsen helped us all to realize that words can sometimes hurt more than physical abuse and that we have a exceptional community together.
TS: Heterosexism takes place daily at a lot of schools, workplaces, and even some people's homes. SD: We at Pine Point are lucky that it's not that way in our community. SD: Physical and emotional abuse can destroy a person, and all it takes is someone to tell them to stop.
CS: After Ms. Olsen talk maybe Pine Point school could be the people to say stop.
Orange= participle
Pink= absolute
Purple= FAST word
* Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Date:11/20/08 Assignment: Essay #7
2. I am trying to make sure that all of my punctuation is correct. Also I need to make sure that I have no "vagueness" in my writing.
3. I think the quote that I used really helped this piece of writing. I think that my second body paragraph is an okay paragraph.
4. I am not so sure that my absolute is completely correct. I think that my essay could be better.
5. C+
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Kate's Essay!
Kate Scott
November 17, 2008
November 17, 2008
TS: Have you ever been made fun of because you don’t belive in the same things as some one else? SD: At Stump Olsens, a gay woman, high school a lot of people made fun of her, and she still cringes when she hears some one say “that’s so gay”. SD: Ms. Olsen says, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me, that’s a lie!”. Ms. Olsen believes that words are much more hurt full and power full then getting beat up, and now she goes and teaches people about the gay community hopping people will stop.
.
TS: When Stump Olsen cam to speak to the ninth grade class on Monday, I realized how serious this situation really is. SD: Being at Pine Point we have been sheltered by the “real world”. CM: We have heard people say “that’s so gay” but that’s about it. CM: Not a lot of people have a family member or close friend that is gay, so they don’t understand that the words kids use today can be hurt full. SD: I think having Stump Olsen coming to talk to the ninth grade was an eye opener for a lot of kids. CM: I still don’t understand why some people can’t accept that some one is gay, but it’s a relief that there are still a lot of people that can. CM: Ms. Olsen, feeling that she had to stay true to her nature, has lost a lot of friends and family but some accepted her and she still has them. CS: It’s good to know that there are people who will accept gay people, even though there are a lot that still will not.
TS: When you hear the word discrimination what do you think of? Most people would think of racism, but I think of heterosexism. SD: In the dictionary it says, “Heterosexism is a term that applies to attitudes, bias, and discrimnation in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.” CM: Although a lot of people accept the gay community, there are a lot of people who don’t. CM: To me it doesn’t make sense why people yell names and make fun of them. SD: I accept them; I understand that the gay community did not pick to be gay. CM: A lot of people don’t understand that they are born that way. CM: I think if more people were educated about being gay they would be more accepting. CS: They can’t change the way they are, and they shouldn’t, people should understand that.
TS: Ms. Olsen has lost her family, and some friends while she was “coming out”. they did not support her with her choice of life like they should have, but she has staid strong and made many more friends that became her new family. Her life falling apart, Ms. Olsen turned out to be a strong woman.
Red=Participle
Blue=Absolute
*****************************************************************************************************************
Date-November 20, 2008
Assingment-Essay #7
1. I'm Trying to make all my grammer correct. and i also am trying to use the special terms correct each week.
2. I like my second body paragraph. I think I stayed under one topic through out the whole essay.
3. My into and conclution paragraphs could have related to my body paragraphs alittle bit better. I dont think I did my absolute correctly.
4. C+
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kimo's Essay #10
“No matter how you slice the pie, you still get pie.” This quote, spoken to me by my Uncle Michael about an informal occasion involving a squabble about the differences between two pieces of home baked apple pie, speak words not only for culinary direction, but for also a defense against the mistreatment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) in the world. It seems so unfair the way that most our brought and beaten up, without a praise, without a thought, without a chance. With the thoughts of the very nature of a life like that, a woman came to our school that explained the pain and changed our lives.
TS Stump Olsen, a woman who endured the hardships that are inexplicitly demanded by society, showed us what strength, what determination, and what a little laughter can do to heal a damaged soul. SD1 LGBT issues are often very awkward to talk about and deal with, and these were our topics of the workshop. CM “’That’s Gay.’ Does anyone truly think about what that means?” asks Ms. Olsen. CM Because so many people are afraid of the issues surrounding different people, they instead choose to direct violence at it, to try to wound them so that they will simply be gone. SD2 Ms. Olsen had to go through countless abuses as a child, and even though of the strong woman she is today, the irrational prejudice around her has hurt her as they hurt many, in more ways than one. CM There are many hurtful things to say to people, take the phrase ‘That’s Gay’ for example. CM For some, it's such a reflexive term, they don’t even think about its true meaning. CM Stump teaches us to “Name It, Claim It, and Stop it.” CM She tells us that the best way to stop homophobia and sexism is to be the friend to remind the world that those words are wrong. SD3 Being the sheltered class that we are, growing in such a small community, it’s sometimes hard to face these sorts of issues; on the other hand, I believe we are also very mature, and when faced with these problems we know how to asses them right. CM I personally know others who’ve struggled with these problems, and I’ve always tried the best I could to help them. CM I think that when we saw Ms. Olsen we looked past the image of an openly gay woman, and jumped straight to the conclusion, “This woman looks like she’s got one heck of a talk for us!” CS Life is complicated, and it takes people like Stump Olsen to sort out the weight of your world and lay it out in front of you saying, ‘This is the weight you bear. So why not drop a load?’
TS Human emotion cannot be controlled, but it is not something to be locked away and left undisclosed. SD1 Emotions are what define us, and if someone’s emotions are a different sexuality than us, then who are we to tell them whom they have to like. CM The difference between us is as simple as the clothes we wear. CM King Richard from William Shakespeare’s play of the same name got it right when he said “I live with bread like you, feel want, Taste grief, need friends,” he tells us that behind everything we are all human. SD2 Heterosexism is also a choice; it is the choice that the only right sexuality is heterosexuality. CM Choices are just as important as emotion in defining who we are; we can just as easily choose the wrong choice as the right one. CM Though no one will ever 100 percent agree on anything, the fact remains that when the choice you choose is heterosexism, you are limiting yourself to a life of irrational hatred and unhappiness to both yourself and everyone around you. SD3 I personally have no problem with homosexual people. CM As I’ve said, I’ve known a couple of people who identify as gay and each one of them is as unique and entertaining as any dear friend. CM Though they may not be as open about it as some, the gay community is all around us, flourishing in the arts, in science, in politics, we even have homosexual celebrities. I believe that one day they will be accepted the way they should be, and that heterosexism can be abolished; we’ve made so many social accomplishments in the just the past year, an African American president, the legalization of gay marriage in CT, and now it is time to propel the United States into one where every relationship will be equal, and where people will be truly seen as that, people.
I’m sure that at least one time each of us in our class has said something that would be incredulously hurtful to an LGBT person. This is a joke that is never funny; more than 30% of all LGBT youth attempt suicide. For me especially, I know I’ve said mean things, terrible things that at the time just seemed like clear innocent jokes, my heart aching at the thoughts of those words which spout from my lips. I know forever that I will hold these mistakes in mind whenever I hear the true weapon of words directed at somebody. Ms. Olsen, a woman who’s lost her family, whose high school was about nothing but survival, who now today fights today for others like her to make their stories a little bit better is truly an inspiration to us all. Stump Olsen is a true hero, one of honesty, of integrity, and of laughter, and her story and teachings are of those I will never forget.
BOLD: Participle Phrase
Italics: Absolute Phrase
1. 11/20/08 Essay #10
2. I am trying to stay on topic, remove unnecessary words, and follow the special tools correctly.
3. I think that my first body paragraph flowed very nicely. I also think that it really encapsulated the themes of Ms. Olsen’s talk. I also like my opening paragraph.
4. I believe that my second body paragraph was kind of sloppy in a sense; I don’t think that I stayed under one umbrella for that paragraph. Also, I may not have used my absolute right.
5. C
TS Stump Olsen, a woman who endured the hardships that are inexplicitly demanded by society, showed us what strength, what determination, and what a little laughter can do to heal a damaged soul. SD1 LGBT issues are often very awkward to talk about and deal with, and these were our topics of the workshop. CM “’That’s Gay.’ Does anyone truly think about what that means?” asks Ms. Olsen. CM Because so many people are afraid of the issues surrounding different people, they instead choose to direct violence at it, to try to wound them so that they will simply be gone. SD2 Ms. Olsen had to go through countless abuses as a child, and even though of the strong woman she is today, the irrational prejudice around her has hurt her as they hurt many, in more ways than one. CM There are many hurtful things to say to people, take the phrase ‘That’s Gay’ for example. CM For some, it's such a reflexive term, they don’t even think about its true meaning. CM Stump teaches us to “Name It, Claim It, and Stop it.” CM She tells us that the best way to stop homophobia and sexism is to be the friend to remind the world that those words are wrong. SD3 Being the sheltered class that we are, growing in such a small community, it’s sometimes hard to face these sorts of issues; on the other hand, I believe we are also very mature, and when faced with these problems we know how to asses them right. CM I personally know others who’ve struggled with these problems, and I’ve always tried the best I could to help them. CM I think that when we saw Ms. Olsen we looked past the image of an openly gay woman, and jumped straight to the conclusion, “This woman looks like she’s got one heck of a talk for us!” CS Life is complicated, and it takes people like Stump Olsen to sort out the weight of your world and lay it out in front of you saying, ‘This is the weight you bear. So why not drop a load?’
TS Human emotion cannot be controlled, but it is not something to be locked away and left undisclosed. SD1 Emotions are what define us, and if someone’s emotions are a different sexuality than us, then who are we to tell them whom they have to like. CM The difference between us is as simple as the clothes we wear. CM King Richard from William Shakespeare’s play of the same name got it right when he said “I live with bread like you, feel want, Taste grief, need friends,” he tells us that behind everything we are all human. SD2 Heterosexism is also a choice; it is the choice that the only right sexuality is heterosexuality. CM Choices are just as important as emotion in defining who we are; we can just as easily choose the wrong choice as the right one. CM Though no one will ever 100 percent agree on anything, the fact remains that when the choice you choose is heterosexism, you are limiting yourself to a life of irrational hatred and unhappiness to both yourself and everyone around you. SD3 I personally have no problem with homosexual people. CM As I’ve said, I’ve known a couple of people who identify as gay and each one of them is as unique and entertaining as any dear friend. CM Though they may not be as open about it as some, the gay community is all around us, flourishing in the arts, in science, in politics, we even have homosexual celebrities. I believe that one day they will be accepted the way they should be, and that heterosexism can be abolished; we’ve made so many social accomplishments in the just the past year, an African American president, the legalization of gay marriage in CT, and now it is time to propel the United States into one where every relationship will be equal, and where people will be truly seen as that, people.
I’m sure that at least one time each of us in our class has said something that would be incredulously hurtful to an LGBT person. This is a joke that is never funny; more than 30% of all LGBT youth attempt suicide. For me especially, I know I’ve said mean things, terrible things that at the time just seemed like clear innocent jokes, my heart aching at the thoughts of those words which spout from my lips. I know forever that I will hold these mistakes in mind whenever I hear the true weapon of words directed at somebody. Ms. Olsen, a woman who’s lost her family, whose high school was about nothing but survival, who now today fights today for others like her to make their stories a little bit better is truly an inspiration to us all. Stump Olsen is a true hero, one of honesty, of integrity, and of laughter, and her story and teachings are of those I will never forget.
BOLD: Participle Phrase
Italics: Absolute Phrase
1. 11/20/08 Essay #10
2. I am trying to stay on topic, remove unnecessary words, and follow the special tools correctly.
3. I think that my first body paragraph flowed very nicely. I also think that it really encapsulated the themes of Ms. Olsen’s talk. I also like my opening paragraph.
4. I believe that my second body paragraph was kind of sloppy in a sense; I don’t think that I stayed under one umbrella for that paragraph. Also, I may not have used my absolute right.
5. C
Parker Verhoeff
English
Mr. Salsich
November 20 2008
English
Mr. Salsich
November 20 2008
An Extraordinary Story:
An Analysis of a Talk Given by Stump Olsen
An Analysis of a Talk Given by Stump Olsen
1: Stump Olsen's talk gave me a new perspective on life. 2: It was terrifying to think someone could go through that much discrimination in high school. 3: But she is perfectly fine now, seeing her joke around in front of us shows how much she has accepted, and let go of the past. 4: She didn't have the greatest childhood to say the least , but the present is looking great.
TS: Stump Olsen explains, " I didn't tell a soul [that I was gay] until I was 20. I knew when I was five, but I didn't tell anybody until I was 20." SD: This says a lot about the fear that she had as a young lesbian, growing up in Minnesota. CM: By the time she was a sophomore- even though she said she "didn't tell a soul" that she was gay- she was getting beaten up twice a week just because they assumed that she was based on her appearance. CM: She didn't know what to do, she didn't want to tell her parents and the teachers saw what was happening but did nothing. SD: In turn, her family didn't know that she was gay until she was 20 either. CM: "Coming out" with her parents was a very difficult experience for her because she hasn't spoken to them since. CM: In fact, she told us that she lost her entire immediate family due to her homosexuality. CS: I think what Ms. Olsen had to go through was horrific; from school to family problems, it shows how extremely ignorant people can be.
TS: Though she might've had a rough time then, she's currently happy; she says "you lose some people, but you gain some great people." SD: She has a girlfriend and a good number of friends as well. CM: Her friends being loving and kind, she now has a family. CM: Since her birthdays coming up she knows that she won't get a birthday card from her parents, but her mailbox will be stuffed with cards from her friends. SD: She accepted the fact that the relationship between her and her family will never change. CM: She has moved on, but she still loves them and would be happy if they learned to love her again, as well. CM: However, she still has her friends and that's what counts the most. CS: In spite of all that has happened to her, she has overcome the heterosexism she endured as a child and has finally found happiness.
1: I enjoyed Ms. Olsen's talk very much. 2: Homosexuality is a topic we don't discuss that often, and I think it is good for us to do so. 3: It was necessary, because in this new generation we can help prevent the heterosexism that she encountered as a kid, from happening again. 4: Stump Olsen has endured a lot due to her sexuality, but that part of her life is over; a new and improved one has begun.
green= participle
red= absolute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Self-Assessment
1. 11/20/08- An Analysis of a Talk given by Stump Olsen
2. I am continuing to work on comma issues. Also, using unnecessary words have been a re-occurring problem.
3. I see good uses of a participle and absolute. In addition, I used quotes that enhanced my writing.
4. I might've not included everything "under one umbrella". There also might be one comma-splice.
5. B
1: I enjoyed Ms. Olsen's talk very much. 2: Homosexuality is a topic we don't discuss that often, and I think it is good for us to do so. 3: It was necessary, because in this new generation we can help prevent the heterosexism that she encountered as a kid, from happening again. 4: Stump Olsen has endured a lot due to her sexuality, but that part of her life is over; a new and improved one has begun.
green= participle
red= absolute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Self-Assessment
1. 11/20/08- An Analysis of a Talk given by Stump Olsen
2. I am continuing to work on comma issues. Also, using unnecessary words have been a re-occurring problem.
3. I see good uses of a participle and absolute. In addition, I used quotes that enhanced my writing.
4. I might've not included everything "under one umbrella". There also might be one comma-splice.
5. B
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Kimo's Essay # 9
Kimo Gray
14.11.08
English
Mr.Salsich
Finding My Rainy Mountain
No matter who you are, or where you come from, everyone has a past. In the short story ‘The Way to Rainy Mountain,” by M. Scott Momaday, he tells the story of the Kiowa tribe, who lived on Rainy Mountain on the present plains of Oklahoma, and the hardships they had to endure. He also speaks of tradition, and the life the Kiowa’s lived, how they grew, how they told stories of old. Looking back on a story that tells of a tribe long gone and the importance they still have today, I believe that the message of this story is to accept your own culture, and to celebrate your past.
TS When we think of the past, we see nothing but old wounds long healed and forgotten if not for those tiny scars; when we think of tradition we think of jack-o-lanterns and November feasts; when we think of nature we think of the outside world, one that is too far for us to attempt to reach. SDI Momaday spoke about the hardships of the past and how inadequate those struggles seem to us in our daily lives; we do not appreciate our ancestors. CM Though we have not endured close to the pain they had, we must remember that they got us where we are today. CM “However tenuous their well-being, however much they had suffered and would suffer again, they had found a way out of the wilderness,” writes Momaday. CM Our ancestors, however distant they may seem, should be commemorated and respected, for if we respect our ancestors today, maybe our own descendents will smile about us. SD2 Tradition: “The handing down of beliefs, statements, legends, customs, and information from generation to generation,” as defined by Dictionary.com. CM Momaday also speaks of tradition, of the Kiowa’s worshiping of the sun, and the many festivities they would hold come summertime; they were a people full of tradition. CM Tradition is something that also seems too overlooked these days, but if we all care a little bit more, tell a few more stories of old, then the beauty of tradition will never die. SD2 The Kiowa’s, being a warrior tribe, fought a constant battle with nature, “[On Rainy Mountain] winter brings blizzards, hot tornadic winds arise in the spring, and in the summer the prairie is an anvil’s edge.” CM In our day and age, we are not fighting a battle against nature, but rather one to preserve it; we have lost touch with nature, but are trying emphatically to protect it and respect it. CM Though we find roots with our ancestors, we hold even deeper roots with nature and the earth itself; therefore nature truly is the foundation of existence. The Kiowa’s lived a life full of all these things, and they have proved that with respect for life, comes great contentment and appreciation.
There is so much to learn from our past, but in this day and age it seems like everyone has only an ostensible respect for the past, no one has the time to honor their ancestry, or to just share an old story. The past is not something to be eulogized, but rather, something to be exalted; it is a journey through time that brings awareness to the little things in life. Much like Momaday with the Kiowa tribe, I myself have somewhat lost my noble ancestry, forgotten my value for tradition, and omitted my touch with nature. I know with strength and determination I can regain these things, and just like the Kiowa’s, “Acquire the sense of destiny, therefore courage, and pride.”
FAST Words= BOLD
Three Action Sentence= Italics
Quotes= Underlined
14.11.08
English
Mr.Salsich
Finding My Rainy Mountain
No matter who you are, or where you come from, everyone has a past. In the short story ‘The Way to Rainy Mountain,” by M. Scott Momaday, he tells the story of the Kiowa tribe, who lived on Rainy Mountain on the present plains of Oklahoma, and the hardships they had to endure. He also speaks of tradition, and the life the Kiowa’s lived, how they grew, how they told stories of old. Looking back on a story that tells of a tribe long gone and the importance they still have today, I believe that the message of this story is to accept your own culture, and to celebrate your past.
TS When we think of the past, we see nothing but old wounds long healed and forgotten if not for those tiny scars; when we think of tradition we think of jack-o-lanterns and November feasts; when we think of nature we think of the outside world, one that is too far for us to attempt to reach. SDI Momaday spoke about the hardships of the past and how inadequate those struggles seem to us in our daily lives; we do not appreciate our ancestors. CM Though we have not endured close to the pain they had, we must remember that they got us where we are today. CM “However tenuous their well-being, however much they had suffered and would suffer again, they had found a way out of the wilderness,” writes Momaday. CM Our ancestors, however distant they may seem, should be commemorated and respected, for if we respect our ancestors today, maybe our own descendents will smile about us. SD2 Tradition: “The handing down of beliefs, statements, legends, customs, and information from generation to generation,” as defined by Dictionary.com. CM Momaday also speaks of tradition, of the Kiowa’s worshiping of the sun, and the many festivities they would hold come summertime; they were a people full of tradition. CM Tradition is something that also seems too overlooked these days, but if we all care a little bit more, tell a few more stories of old, then the beauty of tradition will never die. SD2 The Kiowa’s, being a warrior tribe, fought a constant battle with nature, “[On Rainy Mountain] winter brings blizzards, hot tornadic winds arise in the spring, and in the summer the prairie is an anvil’s edge.” CM In our day and age, we are not fighting a battle against nature, but rather one to preserve it; we have lost touch with nature, but are trying emphatically to protect it and respect it. CM Though we find roots with our ancestors, we hold even deeper roots with nature and the earth itself; therefore nature truly is the foundation of existence. The Kiowa’s lived a life full of all these things, and they have proved that with respect for life, comes great contentment and appreciation.
There is so much to learn from our past, but in this day and age it seems like everyone has only an ostensible respect for the past, no one has the time to honor their ancestry, or to just share an old story. The past is not something to be eulogized, but rather, something to be exalted; it is a journey through time that brings awareness to the little things in life. Much like Momaday with the Kiowa tribe, I myself have somewhat lost my noble ancestry, forgotten my value for tradition, and omitted my touch with nature. I know with strength and determination I can regain these things, and just like the Kiowa’s, “Acquire the sense of destiny, therefore courage, and pride.”
FAST Words= BOLD
Three Action Sentence= Italics
Quotes= Underlined
Thursday, November 13, 2008
How could someone tell a story about something when they weren't there to experience it? In the essay "The Way to Rainy Mountain" by N. Scott Momaday, he tells the story of the Kiowas. He says that his grandmother was there for a lot of the experiences the tribe went through. It's amazing how he can tell a story that he was even there for.
TS: In Momaday's essay there were three main things that I thoroughly enjoyed. SD: First, he told the story of the tribe, Kiowas without actually being there. CM: Aho, his grandmother, went through many experiences at a young age and he told us of those through stories she had told him. CM: He talks about how hard their lives were as they made their journey to Rainy Mountain. SD: Secondly, the imagery he used was stunningly believable. CM: "the grass turns brittle and brown, and it crack beneath your feet" made you feel as if you were on the top of the mountain. CM: As I read the story, I could feel "the sun at my back". SD: Lastly, His writing was an exquisite piece of history. CM: He makes learning about history more interesting. CM: The way he told the story was very different then a history textbook, it was real. CS: Momaday could make you feel as if you were there and that you could see and feel the pictures in the story.
Momaday writes with such great imagery, understands his history, and makes you love to learn about the Kiowa tribe. I now know what it was like for many of the Native Americans when the new people came to the west. I can picture Rainy Mountains with it's harsh weather. Momaday wrote a beautiful essay full of imagery and culture.
TS: In Momaday's essay there were three main things that I thoroughly enjoyed. SD: First, he told the story of the tribe, Kiowas without actually being there. CM: Aho, his grandmother, went through many experiences at a young age and he told us of those through stories she had told him. CM: He talks about how hard their lives were as they made their journey to Rainy Mountain. SD: Secondly, the imagery he used was stunningly believable. CM: "the grass turns brittle and brown, and it crack beneath your feet" made you feel as if you were on the top of the mountain. CM: As I read the story, I could feel "the sun at my back". SD: Lastly, His writing was an exquisite piece of history. CM: He makes learning about history more interesting. CM: The way he told the story was very different then a history textbook, it was real. CS: Momaday could make you feel as if you were there and that you could see and feel the pictures in the story.
Momaday writes with such great imagery, understands his history, and makes you love to learn about the Kiowa tribe. I now know what it was like for many of the Native Americans when the new people came to the west. I can picture Rainy Mountains with it's harsh weather. Momaday wrote a beautiful essay full of imagery and culture.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Kate's Essay
The essay, “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday was a very engrossing. Some things that stuck out the most for me is the story about how the big dipper became. There were also stories in the essay that were about his grandmother and her tribe and traditions they had that were very fascinating.
The stories in the essay, “The Way to Rainy Mountain” were all ones that caught my attention. I especially liked the stories about the big dipper. The author tells one of the stories his grandmother told him about how the big dipper was created. She said that a man turned into a bear and chased after his seven sisters and a tree lifted them up into the night sky and they are now known as the Big Dipper. I have heard other stories about how the big dipper was created but this is one that I will remember. The author also talked about a customary dance, known as the sun dance, the Kiowa’s had for the sun. They believed that the sun was the god, because if the sun was never there, they would also not be there. The dance was very significant and powerful, but it came to an end and his grandmother was there for the last sun dance. Also got the sense that N Scott Momaday wished he could have been there for it too. I feel that he is telling these stories wishing he was there, with his grandmother, experiencing the memories.
While reading this essay I could tell how much this ment to the author. How much he wished he could be there and how he missed his grandmother. I got the feeling that he wanted to walk on “the dirt road to Rainy Mountain” with the tribe and his grandmother. But he can’t, so he has to remember the stories that his grandmother told him, and it will be the closest way he can go back.
The stories in the essay, “The Way to Rainy Mountain” were all ones that caught my attention. I especially liked the stories about the big dipper. The author tells one of the stories his grandmother told him about how the big dipper was created. She said that a man turned into a bear and chased after his seven sisters and a tree lifted them up into the night sky and they are now known as the Big Dipper. I have heard other stories about how the big dipper was created but this is one that I will remember. The author also talked about a customary dance, known as the sun dance, the Kiowa’s had for the sun. They believed that the sun was the god, because if the sun was never there, they would also not be there. The dance was very significant and powerful, but it came to an end and his grandmother was there for the last sun dance. Also got the sense that N Scott Momaday wished he could have been there for it too. I feel that he is telling these stories wishing he was there, with his grandmother, experiencing the memories.
While reading this essay I could tell how much this ment to the author. How much he wished he could be there and how he missed his grandmother. I got the feeling that he wanted to walk on “the dirt road to Rainy Mountain” with the tribe and his grandmother. But he can’t, so he has to remember the stories that his grandmother told him, and it will be the closest way he can go back.
Parker Verhoeff
9th Grade English
Mr. Salsich
November 12 2008
"Winter brings blizzards, hot tornadic winds arise in the spring, and in summer the prairie is an anvil's edge", a quote from N. Scott Momaday's essay, "The way to Rainy Mountain". That quote spoke of just some of the turmoils his people had to go through. However he uses excellent imagery in this wonderfully written essay. He paints a picture in your mind of the struggles as well as the exceptional qualities, of the Kiowa tribe.
TS: Momaday is a meticulous writer who explains what it was like to live in the Kiowa tribe. SD: He wasn't born yet to live through those times, but he speaks of his grandmother's life when she was little, and wanted to see what she had seen back then. CM: His grandmother's name was Aho, and she lived with her tribe at the base of "Rainy Mountain", in the Great Plains. CM: Even though she never trekked past the mountain,"the immense landscape of the continental interior lay like a memory in her blood". SD: By the time she was ten however, the tribe was met with several severe disturbances. CM: First the numbers of buffalo herd began to decline at alarming rate; they couldn't perform their sacred rituals without them. CM: Then soldiers came from Fort Sill, who were told to "disperse the tribe". CM: "Without bitterness, and for as long as she lived, she bore a vision of deicide", a terrorizing moment that she remembered for the rest of her life, but handled it with dignity. SD: She died very peacefully, "her face was like a child", Momaday said. CM: Momaday visited her grave once more and was taken a back,"There, where it ought to be, at the end of a long and legendary way, was my grandmother's grave. [...] Looking back once, I saw the mountain and came away." CS: All in all, the Kiowa tribe are an extraordinary people, which Momaday explained better than any other writer ever could.
This essay was an outstanding piece of literature that was filled with history and breath-taking imagery. Momaday writes about his grandmother, and how she lived through tough times but still made it back into society. He talks of the struggles, but also of the dignity that the Kiowas show. Momaday is proud to be part of the Kiowa tribe, and proud of his grandmother who will live on in his heart forever.
9th Grade English
Mr. Salsich
November 12 2008
The Kiowas:
A reaction of an Essay
A reaction of an Essay
"Winter brings blizzards, hot tornadic winds arise in the spring, and in summer the prairie is an anvil's edge", a quote from N. Scott Momaday's essay, "The way to Rainy Mountain". That quote spoke of just some of the turmoils his people had to go through. However he uses excellent imagery in this wonderfully written essay. He paints a picture in your mind of the struggles as well as the exceptional qualities, of the Kiowa tribe.
TS: Momaday is a meticulous writer who explains what it was like to live in the Kiowa tribe. SD: He wasn't born yet to live through those times, but he speaks of his grandmother's life when she was little, and wanted to see what she had seen back then. CM: His grandmother's name was Aho, and she lived with her tribe at the base of "Rainy Mountain", in the Great Plains. CM: Even though she never trekked past the mountain,"the immense landscape of the continental interior lay like a memory in her blood". SD: By the time she was ten however, the tribe was met with several severe disturbances. CM: First the numbers of buffalo herd began to decline at alarming rate; they couldn't perform their sacred rituals without them. CM: Then soldiers came from Fort Sill, who were told to "disperse the tribe". CM: "Without bitterness, and for as long as she lived, she bore a vision of deicide", a terrorizing moment that she remembered for the rest of her life, but handled it with dignity. SD: She died very peacefully, "her face was like a child", Momaday said. CM: Momaday visited her grave once more and was taken a back,"There, where it ought to be, at the end of a long and legendary way, was my grandmother's grave. [...] Looking back once, I saw the mountain and came away." CS: All in all, the Kiowa tribe are an extraordinary people, which Momaday explained better than any other writer ever could.
This essay was an outstanding piece of literature that was filled with history and breath-taking imagery. Momaday writes about his grandmother, and how she lived through tough times but still made it back into society. He talks of the struggles, but also of the dignity that the Kiowas show. Momaday is proud to be part of the Kiowa tribe, and proud of his grandmother who will live on in his heart forever.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Kimos Essay #7
Kimo Gray
11.04.08
English 9
Mr. Salsich
I am the type of person who relishes the sigh of relief I get when I finish a good book or story. I’m not one to go back and re-read the same story and study it closely. The Garden Party, by Katherine Mansfield, is a simple story about a girl named Laura that comes face to face with the harsh reality of life when forced by society to value a silly garden party more than the death of a man lesser than her. Though re-reading stories and such is unusual to me, The Garden Party featured many subtle techniques and sentences that I had carelessly overlooked on my first reading.
On my re-reading of the Garden Party, I found certain things that I had failed to overlook before. One example is the function of class distinctions throughout the story. Laura states, that she feels as if she had a choice, she would socialize with all the people she could, she would have fun with these men rather than the boys, she would be herself, no matter what social status society gave them. But later in the story, immediately after learning the news of the man’s death, Jose, Laura’s sister, instantaneously accused the man, who was of lower class than them, of being a drunk, without even giving him a chance. Along with that, another overlooked example would be the distinct change in Laura’s appreciation of life. From the beginning, where her greatest worry was a silly little garden party, to the fretted prevention of the party in order to honor this unknown man, to her confrontation with the unanticipated. Laura faced her true initiation in this short story; her initiation into appreciating life. Furthermore, my third example of the success of re-reading would lie on page 6, where little Laura, still concerned about this garden party, sang a song. But this song spoke of the difficulty life trusts upon us, and how we all wish, sometimes, to just die. This superb act of foreshadowing that I missed in my first reading propels what seems to be a simple tale into a grand adventure through life’s biggest questions. Even though Garden Party may not have been my favorite piece ever, I think I have shown what a good re-reading can do; reveal truths, raise more questions and paint the picture a little bit clearer for next time you read it.
I don’t like to be proven wrong. Before given the assignment I would have stated that to go and re-read a whole story just to find information would be a useless waste of time. But given the large amount of detail I found in Ms. Mansfield’s writing, I now can say that I have been proven wrong. While it may not be the most ideal thing to do, the best way to enjoy a story is to go back and reveal the detail that makes it even better.
11.04.08
English 9
Mr. Salsich
I am the type of person who relishes the sigh of relief I get when I finish a good book or story. I’m not one to go back and re-read the same story and study it closely. The Garden Party, by Katherine Mansfield, is a simple story about a girl named Laura that comes face to face with the harsh reality of life when forced by society to value a silly garden party more than the death of a man lesser than her. Though re-reading stories and such is unusual to me, The Garden Party featured many subtle techniques and sentences that I had carelessly overlooked on my first reading.
On my re-reading of the Garden Party, I found certain things that I had failed to overlook before. One example is the function of class distinctions throughout the story. Laura states, that she feels as if she had a choice, she would socialize with all the people she could, she would have fun with these men rather than the boys, she would be herself, no matter what social status society gave them. But later in the story, immediately after learning the news of the man’s death, Jose, Laura’s sister, instantaneously accused the man, who was of lower class than them, of being a drunk, without even giving him a chance. Along with that, another overlooked example would be the distinct change in Laura’s appreciation of life. From the beginning, where her greatest worry was a silly little garden party, to the fretted prevention of the party in order to honor this unknown man, to her confrontation with the unanticipated. Laura faced her true initiation in this short story; her initiation into appreciating life. Furthermore, my third example of the success of re-reading would lie on page 6, where little Laura, still concerned about this garden party, sang a song. But this song spoke of the difficulty life trusts upon us, and how we all wish, sometimes, to just die. This superb act of foreshadowing that I missed in my first reading propels what seems to be a simple tale into a grand adventure through life’s biggest questions. Even though Garden Party may not have been my favorite piece ever, I think I have shown what a good re-reading can do; reveal truths, raise more questions and paint the picture a little bit clearer for next time you read it.
I don’t like to be proven wrong. Before given the assignment I would have stated that to go and re-read a whole story just to find information would be a useless waste of time. But given the large amount of detail I found in Ms. Mansfield’s writing, I now can say that I have been proven wrong. While it may not be the most ideal thing to do, the best way to enjoy a story is to go back and reveal the detail that makes it even better.
Kate's Essay!!!
When you’re at home reading a book, do you ever think to re-read it? At first I didn’t think to either. But while reading “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield for the second time I realized how much I missed the first time reading, and how helpful it is to reread books.
When you first read, “The Garden Party” there is a lot to take in, and sometimes you miss it. But when you re-read the book you find out so much more about Laura and her family. They may not be the most important facts, but the little things make the story. For example, in the beginning of the story they talk about how Laura is the most creative daughter, and was good at placing things and how she could do it better then any one else. But when you keep reading, the work men think they can do it better and they do, they place the marquee where she didn’t even think to put it. Also, when you’re reading the book over the second time, you may have missed that they talk about classes a lot and how much it separates people. Even though Laura and her family lived down the road from a poor family, they never knew each other. Even when the man died who was poor, her family didn’t even think of canceling the party. Laura was the only one who thought to do that, when she told her family about it they told her it was absurd to do such a thing. I was really surprised that Laura was the only one who really cared about the peoples feeling even though they weren’t in her class. If I didn’t re-read the book, I would not have noticed any of these things.
Re-reading “The Garden Party” really changes my opinion about the story. At first I was not excited about having to re-read it again, because I did not enjoy it. But once I read it for the second time, and got a closer look in to the writing I learned to appreciate the short story much more.
When you first read, “The Garden Party” there is a lot to take in, and sometimes you miss it. But when you re-read the book you find out so much more about Laura and her family. They may not be the most important facts, but the little things make the story. For example, in the beginning of the story they talk about how Laura is the most creative daughter, and was good at placing things and how she could do it better then any one else. But when you keep reading, the work men think they can do it better and they do, they place the marquee where she didn’t even think to put it. Also, when you’re reading the book over the second time, you may have missed that they talk about classes a lot and how much it separates people. Even though Laura and her family lived down the road from a poor family, they never knew each other. Even when the man died who was poor, her family didn’t even think of canceling the party. Laura was the only one who thought to do that, when she told her family about it they told her it was absurd to do such a thing. I was really surprised that Laura was the only one who really cared about the peoples feeling even though they weren’t in her class. If I didn’t re-read the book, I would not have noticed any of these things.
Re-reading “The Garden Party” really changes my opinion about the story. At first I was not excited about having to re-read it again, because I did not enjoy it. But once I read it for the second time, and got a closer look in to the writing I learned to appreciate the short story much more.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Parker Verhoeff
9th Grade English
Mr. Salsich
November 04 2008
9th Grade English
Mr. Salsich
November 04 2008
A Second Look:
An Analysis on a second reading of, “The Garden Party” by, Katherine Mansfield
Why would anyone read a story over again, you ask? Well, you can look for sentences, words, or themes that you didn’t see the first time you read it. It is extremely helpful if you want to be a serious reader, and try to understand what the author was trying to say, but you’ll also appreciate the story more as well. Overall, re-reading a story is a great way to understand more about what the author’s message was, and the aspects of the story that you didn’t understand the first time around.
"The Garden Party" was a very interesting read the first time, but reading it a second time gave me the opportunity to watch for things that I might have missed. For example, I realized how much Laura adored parties. But on the contrary, when the man died right across the street- without even giving it much thought- she assumed that the best decision was to call the party off. Laura heard that a man died, she thought it would be of best interest not to have the garden party, and quickly explained this to her mother and sister. However, both her mother and sister thought otherwise; her sister Jose says, "Stop the Garden Party? My dear Laura, don't be so absurd. Of course we can't do anything of the kind.", and finally the mother explained her argument; "But, my dear child, use your common sense. It's only by accident we've heard of it. If someone had died there normally [...] we should still be having our party, shouldn't we?" In addition, I also found that the song that Jose sang in the beginning, related to one of the themes of the whole story. She sings, "This Life is Wee-ary A Tear-a Sigh, A Love that Chan-ges. This Life is Wee-ary, A Tear-a Sigh. A Love that Chan-ges, And then... Goodbye! This LIfe is Wee-ary, Hope comes to Die. A Dream-a Wa-kening.", all of this relates to the theme of how people take life for granite and don't pay attention to life until they die or see death first hand. Like Laura, she didn't realize how "marvelous" life was until she saw the dead man's body lying there- peaceful and sanguine. Also, because I read the story a second time, I noticed that Laura did not enjoy walking across the street to give the basket to the newly widowed woman. But some how she managed to say, "[this experience] was simply marvelous", even though during her walk up to the house she was thinking, "Oh, to be away from this! [...] To be away from those staring eyes […] [I] only [want] to get out, to get away." I thought it was extraordinary for a teenager like her, after having that terrifying experience, to still come away with what was really important; how wonderful life really is- which was what Mansfield was trying to say in her writings as well. I also, gained a new appreciation for Mansfield’s writing, since I understand it more. In the end, I believe that reading this exceptional piece of literature twice was beneficial towards my understanding of the general theme, which was stated in this short story.
I enjoyed reading the short story, “The Garden Party” for a second time. I saw themes of the story in a new light. I wouldn’t have seen this if I had stopped reading after the first time I read it. Lastly, this second look helped my overall understanding of the story, which- in turn- made me appreciate the story more.
TS: When you read a story you think that you fully understand the plot and what the author is trying to say, but maybe you don't. SD: When I re-read "The Garden Party" I noticed so many important things that I didn't see before. SD: Re-reading helped me understand the story so much better. CS: Maybe at first re-reading a story seems silly but it really does make a difference.
TS:When I re-read "The Garden Party" I noticed three key parts of the story that I didn't see before. SD:Firstly, I didn't really notice how often Katherine Mansfield used extravagant in the story. CM:She used this word about five times over and I think it was to make a point that Laura was being very over dramatic. CM:The first time I read this story I did not take notice to this repetition. SD:Another thing I didn't see before was how Laura sings Life Is Weary and then she says at the end of the story that life is darling. CM:I didn't notice the obvious contrast between the two before. CM:Without re-reading this story I would not have thought about that. SD:Before I re-read The Garden Party I didn't fully realize how much class distinction there is. CM:Laura and her brother are disgusted by the small cabin down the hill from them. CM:It was a very important part of the story that I did not realize before. CS:Now after re-reading I see how much it can show you the main idea of the story.
TS: I noticed so many others important concepts when I read this story again. SD: I noticed how often the author repeated one word for emphasis. SD: I also noticed the contrast she was purposefully making between to parts of the story. CS: Re-reading a story may seem like a strange and annoying thing to do but in the end it truly helps out the reader.
TS:When I re-read "The Garden Party" I noticed three key parts of the story that I didn't see before. SD:Firstly, I didn't really notice how often Katherine Mansfield used extravagant in the story. CM:She used this word about five times over and I think it was to make a point that Laura was being very over dramatic. CM:The first time I read this story I did not take notice to this repetition. SD:Another thing I didn't see before was how Laura sings Life Is Weary and then she says at the end of the story that life is darling. CM:I didn't notice the obvious contrast between the two before. CM:Without re-reading this story I would not have thought about that. SD:Before I re-read The Garden Party I didn't fully realize how much class distinction there is. CM:Laura and her brother are disgusted by the small cabin down the hill from them. CM:It was a very important part of the story that I did not realize before. CS:Now after re-reading I see how much it can show you the main idea of the story.
TS: I noticed so many others important concepts when I read this story again. SD: I noticed how often the author repeated one word for emphasis. SD: I also noticed the contrast she was purposefully making between to parts of the story. CS: Re-reading a story may seem like a strange and annoying thing to do but in the end it truly helps out the reader.
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