Character Study (3)

   Bailey has just arrived at the airport and she spots her friends. She races over to them, extremely excited to get on the plane. When she reaches them, she realizes that the three strange men standing extremely close to her friends, are going with us. Hannah explained that all of the parents felt more comfortable with us having bodyguards while we are in a different country. She introduces the three men to Bailey as Dan Smith, Eeeeee Eeeeeeeeeeee, and Torque Lewith. After a few minutes of talking with them, Bailey, her friends, and their new bodyguards decide to head to the terminal and wait for their flight to Italy.

Canterbury Tales (1)

   What stood out most to me while I was reading the prologue was how ironic each character was. Like the nun who was trying to be "perfect" and the absolutely disgusting chef. When I first read it, I thought that it was absolutely useless that Chaucer wasted him time describing each one of these characters, and I honestly didn't want to spend my time reading it. But it class, we were able to unravel that he was writing to the commoners to show to them that they weren't the only ones thinking these people were insane and ironic. Also in class, we were not sure if Chaucer did take this pilgrimage himself, and I can confirm that he indeed did. My question though, is how did all these strange people come together and decide to take a pilgrimage?

Character Study (2)

My friends and I are going to Italy! I super excited to take this trip right before we turn a new page in our life and go our separate ways to college. This experience is going to be extremely fun and I'm ready be a little adventurous and jump out of my comfort zone. I definitely think this is a great way to see what college is going to be like, without our parents, just living on our own and being able to do whatever we want. On this trip, I want to be open to whatever comes my way and make the most out of this trip. I am currently driving to the airport to meet up with them and catch our flight to Italy.

Netvibes

I'm actually surprised because I didn't really think that I would use this, or that it will be helpful, but after playing with it for awhile, I think it will actually help me. I don't have any other site to compare it to but I think it has a nice set up that will be easy to use. It was easy for me to figure out how to get the apps on my page that were already on the website. However, I wasn't able to figure how to put ones from an outside source on there, so I need help on that. Overall, I think this site will really benefit me and it will be really nice to have everything all in one spot that I can easily get access to.

Character Study (1)

    Bailey is scrambling to get the last few things packed for her journey to the unknown. Her friends called her the night before, and told her to pack her things because they were going on an adventure. One side of her was thinking that this isn't such a good idea, but the more free going side said, "Why not?" She stayed up late packing anything and everything because she has absolutely no idea where this journey is going to take her, or for how long. As she continues packing, she is hesitant because she would feel much more comfortable if she had just the simplest idea of where her friends were taking her. Once she is ready, she calls up her friends to see if she can squeeze their adventure out of them.

Vocabulary #6

accolade: an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit
- The athlete was given an accolade at the luncheon.
 acerbity: sourness of taste, character, or tone
- Her acerbity was shown through her actions.
 attrition: a rubbing away or wearing down by friction
- Her shoes were worn down from the attrition of walking.
 bromide: a trite and unoriginal idea or remark
-He included the bromide regarding the well-being of the men.
 chauvinist: a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
- Everyone in the United States should become a chauvinist.
 chronic: pertaining to a long lasting medical condition
- She had a chronic medical condition that no doctor could solve.
 expound: present and explain systematically and in detail
-I would like to expound further, but it seems unnecessary.
 factionalism: conflict with an organization; internal dissension
- To avoid factionalism, he told her to take measures before the two groups arrived.
 immaculate: perfectly neat, clean or tidy
- Her roommate's side of the room was immaculate.
 imprecation: a spoken curse
-The witch spoke imprecations as she worked.
 ineluctable:  unable to be resisted or avoided
- The math test on Friday is ineluctable.
 mercurial: characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood
- Everyone stayed away from the girl because her mood was mercurial.
 palliate: make less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
- The security guard palliated the situation.
 protocol: a detailed plan or layout
- We were told to follow the protocol in order to succeed in the class.
 resplendent: attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
- Her room was filled with resplendent colors.
 stigmatize: describe or regard as worthy of disgrace
- People stigmatize the word "tutor."
sub rosa: happening or done in secret
- The meeting was held sub rosa, because of its importance.
 vainglory: inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements
- No one liked the new kid because he came off sounding vainglorious.
 vestige: a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
- She showed no vestige of guilt at being caught cheating on the test.
 volition: the faculty or power of using one's will
- He decided to enter rehab of his own free volition.
obsequious: obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
- The obsequious salesman begged me to buy the product he was selling.
 beatitude: supreme blessedness
-The richest man in the world cannot buy beatitude.
 bete noire: a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
- When they learned that he was a pedophile, he became a bête noire.
 bode: be an omen of a particular outcome, to endure
- The rain didn't bode well for the wedding
 dank: disagreeably damp or humid
- The meeting was held in his dank little apartment.
 ecumenical: of worldwide scope or applicability; universal
- He presented an ecumenical matter.
 fervid: intensely enthusiastic or passionate
- Her fervid speech opposed abortion.
 fetid: smelling extremely unpleasant
- The fetid room scared everyone away.
 gargantuan: enormous
- The popularity of their music has soared to gargantuan levels.
 heyday: the stage of greatest vigor, strength, success
- He was in the heyday of his life.
 incubus: an oppressive or nightmarish burden
- The incubus in her life was overwhelming her.
 infrastructure: The basic services, facilities etc. needed for a functioning community
- Roads are considered infrastructures in the city.
 inveigle: persuade to do something by means of deception
- She was able to inveigle the drunk man.
 kudos: praise given for achievement
- She gave the entire class kudos for their hard work.
 lagniappe: something given or obtained gratuitously by a way of good measure
- As lagniappe, the family their friends a present.
 prolix: using or containing too many words
- The teachers told her to shorten her prolix essay.
 protégé: a person who is guided by an more experienced or influential person
- The student went to his longtime protégé.
 prototype: an original model on which something is patterned
- They tested the prototype in their class.
 sycophant: a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage
- Sycophants do not make good friends.
 tautology: the saying of the same thing twice in different words.
- "Either it is going to rain or it isn't."
 truckle: to submit
- She truckled to her mother.

What A Character

*SPOILER ALERT (Don't read this if you haven't read "The Faults in Our Stars" because it will ruin a fantastic book you all NEED TO READ)

Out of all the books I have read, Augustus Waters from "The Faults in Our Stars" is by far my favorite character. Unlike other romance novels, like Nicholas Sparks, the book has such a unique story about love and I think the main reason for this is Augustus. He is an extremely unordinary teenager. He approaches every opportunity with a sole purpose of leaving a mark, and I think this is because of everything he has gone through: losing his right leg to osteosarcoma and battling cancer for the second time. From the start of the novel you see his charm, wit, confidence, good looks, and humor. He expresses a huge sense of optimism during the entire novel, yet he knows his days are coming to an end very quickly. I have a difficult time describing him just because he is so unique and unlike any character I have ever encountered, and I don't think anyone can understand how amazing he is until you read the book.

Declaration of Learning Independence

My SMART goal for the year is to get accepted to Cal Lutheran University and major in liberal studies/education to become an elementary teacher starting in the fall of 2014. This goal is specific, measurable, attainable, reinforceable, and timely. It fits these requirements because there is deadlines to turn in applications and accept,  I have worked hard throughout my high school years for this, and it's not completely up to me because the ones who are reading the applications have to want me. I hope to get the best out of this class and to learn that life is going to be a constant competition and that you need to put your best self out there.

Vocabulary #5

obsequious: obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
- The obsequious salesman begged me to buy the product he was selling.
 beatitude: supreme blessedness
-The richest man in the world cannot buy beatitude.
 bete noire: a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
- When they learned that he was a pedophile, he became a bête noire.
 bode: be an omen of a particular outcome
- The rain didn't bode well for the wedding
 dank: disagreeably damp or humid
- The meeting was held in his dank little apartment.
 ecumenical: of worldwide scope or applicability; universal
- He presented an ecumenical matter.
 fervid: intensely enthusiastic or passionate
- Her fervid speech opposed abortion.
 fetid: smelling extremely unpleasant
- The fetid room scared everyone away.
 gargantuan: enormous
- The popularity of their music has soared to gargantuan levels.
 heyday: the stage of greatest vigor, strength, success
- He was in the heyday of his life.
 incubus: an oppressive or nightmarish burden
- The incubus in her life was overwhelming her.
 infrastructure: The basic services, facilities etc. needed for a functioning community
- Roads are considered infrastructures in the city.
 inveigle: persuade to do something by means of deception
- She was able to inveigle the drunk man.
 kudos: praise given for achievement
- She gave the entire class kudos for their hard work.
 lagniappe: something given or obtained gratuitously by a way of good measure
- As lagniappe, the family their friends a present.
 prolix: using or containing too many words
- The teachers told her to shorten her prolix essay.
 protégé: a person who is guided by an more experienced or influential person
- The student went to his longtime protégé.
 prototype: an original model on which something is patterned
- They tested the prototype in their class.
 sycophant: a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage
- She didn't expect her friend to turn into a sycophant when the new girl came.
 tautology: the saying of the same thing twice in different words.
- In her essay, she said the tautology, "Either it is going to rain or it isn't."
 truckle: to be servile or submissive
- She had a truckle personality.

Literature Analysis #1

The Time Traveler's Wife

1.       Henry and Clare meet at Newberry Library in Chicago. Henry is 28 years old and Clare is 20. When Clare spots Henry in the library she is overly enthusiastic and Henry is quite confused. Nevertheless, Henry agrees to her invitation to dinner. At dinner, Clare explains that she has known him since she was six, when he time traveled (at age 43) to the meadow outside of her house. She then proceeds to show him her diary which has all the dates he visited. He is overwhelmed by the information placed in front of him but it still intrigued by Clare. They begin dating and eventually get married. Throughout the novel, in between present time for Henry and Clare, it jumps to some of times Henry time travels which includes visits to see Clare in the meadow and to the car accident where his mom died when he was a young boy. As the story continues to unfold, Henry and Clare decide that they want to have a child. She gets pregnant multiple times but cannot make it to full term because the baby time travels out of her stomach. Eventually, the seventh pregnancy makes it to full term and Henry and Clare have a baby girl named Alba, who also time travels. Right before Alba is born, Henry time travels to the future, which is rare, and sees Alba as a ten year old. He learns from her that he dies when she is five and he is 43. The rest of the novel is the anticipation of his death. After he dies, we see Clare is deeply depressed, but it ends with Henry time travels (age 43) and visits Clare when she is 82 years old.

2.       The Theme in The Time Traveler’s Wife that jumps out to me is time. Time is subject to the individual. Henry experiences the past, present and future all at once while Clare is stuck with solely the present. When she is waiting for Henry, time seems to move very slowly, and when he’s with her time speed up.

3.       The tone I think Audrey Niffenegger used was mysterious and puzzling. The most obvious example of this in the book is how he times travel. He gets together with Kendrick, a doctor who finally believes him and after years of research they find out that three genes repeat themselves but they never fully understand how he can do it. A second example is that when Henry disappears, Clare spends the time he’s gone wondering and worrying where he is, and this scenario comes up constantly. Other examples of this are Clare waiting for when Henry would show up in the meadow when she was younger, why she kept having miscarriages, and how Henry would die in the end.

4.       - Metaphorical allusion to the distance in relationships and how the important people in our lives stay with us even after they are gone. Also, the author used a biblical allusion. “To walk through the Field Museum was to walk through Eden and see all that passed there.” (pg.24)

- Imagery: “The room is quiet and crowded full of solid, heavy tables piled with books surrounded by readers. Chicago autumn morning light shines through the tall windows.” (pg. 3)

- Symbolism: Time as a tape recorder. To help Clare (age 6) understand time travel, Henry used the example of a tape recorder. How you can play, pause, rewind, etc. (pg.45)

- Meaning of Meadow (setting): The meadow is like the cradle to Clare’s relationship with Henry. It serves as a sense of peace from his troubled present life with Clare. Finally, the happy times in the meadow take place when it is warm. For example, Henry and Clare made love for the first time. While in the winter, the meadow is dark and gloomy; Henry’s death takes place here. (pg516)

- Foreshadowing: Henry slips about Clare’s mother would later die of ovarian cancer. With the time traveling in general, Henry will tell Clare little things that happen in the future. For example, how she likes her coffee. (pg.74)

- Similes: “Gomez looks at me expectantly, like a large dog waiting to see if I have any more lunch meat.” (pg. 124) The use of similes thrown in constantly throughout this novel expands the imagery the author is trying to convey to the reader.

- Flashback: These take place constantly throughout the novel because when Henry time travels, he tends to go to the past. An example of this, is when Henry visits Clare in the meadow and they are playing chess and talking about the Beatles. (pg. 620)

- Characterization: At first Clare’s character is defined by her waiting and Henry is defined by his unpredictable comings and goings. The roles of the characters switch, however, when Henry learns of when he is going to die, and he is now the one waiting.

- Metaphor: Time travel is used as a metaphor throughout the novel for love, for loss and absence, for fate, aging and death. (Seen every time he travels)

- Diction: The author choices her words to give the reader insight into the character’s emotion of each scenario. For example, “’Ugh, it’s filthy.’ I say. Henry looks offended.”

All of the above

My results on this test didn't really surprise me. I thought the test was difficult, as are all AP tests, but I managed to get a little over half correct which is almost passing I think. I definitely think with more practice and a brush on literary terms and vocabulary I will most likely be able to pull at least a 3 on the AP test in May. I went back and looked through the test but since we took it so long ago, I wasn't able to remember a lot of it without taking the test all over again. That being said, I wished we could have reviewed it earlier in the year when it was fresher in our minds.
- There wasn't an overall common thing I missed constantly in the multiple choice. But I did tend to get the easier ones correct and the harder ones wrong based on the percentages on the answer sheet.
- If I did have to choose, I say the dense vocabulary made it harder for me to understand and comprehend the reading in the short amount of time we were suppose to take it in, therefore making the question, which also contained a lot of vocab, difficult to answer.

Vocab #4

accolade: an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit
- The actor was given an accolade for his performance.
 acerbity: sourness of taste, character, or tone
- Her acerbity was shown through the sharpness of her eyes.
 attrition: a rubbing away or wearing down by friction
- When both sides were unable to advance, the war became a matter of attrition.
 bromide: a trite and unoriginal idea or remark
-He included the bromide regarding the well-being of the men.
 chauvinist: a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
- The president is considered an chauvinist because of his pride for the United States.
 chronic: pertaining to a long lasting medical condition
- She had a chronic medical condition that no doctor could solve.
 expound: present and explain systematically and in detail
-I would like to expound further, but it seems unnecessary.
 factionalism: conflict with an organization; internal dissension
- To avoid factionalism, he told her to take measures before the two groups arrived.
 immaculate: perfectly neat, clean or tidy
- Her mom told her to make her room immaculate if she wanted to go to the party.
 imprecation: a spoken curse
-The witch spoke imprecations as she worked.
 ineluctable:  unable to be resisted or avoided
- The math test on Friday is ineluctable.
 mercurial: characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood
- Everyone stayed away from the boy because his mood was mercurial.
 palliate: make less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
- The doctor gave the girl some medicine to palliate the pain but didn't cure her problem.
 protocol: a detailed plan or layout
- We were told to follow the protocol in order to succeed in the class.
 resplendent: attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
- Her room was filled with resplendent colors.
 stigmatize: describe or regard as worthy of disgrace
- People stigmatize the word "tutor."
sub rosa: happening or done in secret
- The meeting was held sub rosa, because of its importance.
 vainglory: inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements
- No one liked the new kid because he came off sounding vainglorious.
 vestige: a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
- She showed no vestige of guilt at being caught cheating on the test.
 volition: the faculty or power of using one's will
- He decided to enter rehab of his own free volition.

Beowulf vs. Batman Essay

                The classic hero possesses strength, bravado, ethics and most importantly, fights evil. These characteristics apply to Beowulf and to a modern hero like Batman with slight modifications. Both of these heroes come from a completely different time period but that both have a great impact on their society. One of the most distinct similarities between these two heroes is the fact that they both don’t have superpowers, they use only their strength to defeat evil. Their differences lie behind their intentions of conquering evil.

                Though thoughts and opinions of a hero have altered through the years, both Beowulf and Batman possess similar qualities. They both execute a great deal of strength. Beowulf swam for seven straight days and fights multiple sea monsters. He also uses his robustness during the battle with Grendel and rips off Grendel’s arm with his bare hands. Batman, also single-handedly, fights gangs of criminals on numerous occasions in the movie, showing not only strength but endurance like Beowulf. Batman ethics show that he does not allow for murder unless it is absolutely necessary. If the criminals are not an immediate threat he will let them go. Beowulf shows this code of ethics as well in a conversation with Unferth. He says, “You murdered your own brothers, your own close kin. Words and bright wit won’t help your soul; you’ll suffer hell’s fire, Unferth, forever tormented. Beowulf would not harm a soul, unless it would harm those he loves, like the monsters surrounding the Danes. Lastly, they both prove themselves as heroes by defeating evil. When the enemy attacked, both were there to protect the innocent. Beowulf came and protected those in Herot by killing Grendel, and then killing Grendel’s mother. Batman also knows he must fight evil in Gotham City. He battles criminals on the street and eventually fights and destroys the joker.

                Though both Beowulf and Batman hold many similar qualities, they have differences as well. The main dissimilarities lie behind their intentions. Humility has become a desired trait in modern times today, whereas in Beowulf’s time self-confidence to the point of hauteur was a favorable attribute. Beowulf fights the monsters for praise and worthiness. On the other hand, Batman never reveals his identity when fighting criminals, therefore showing he is not looking for praise but rather protecting the innocent citizens out of the goodness of his heart and justice.

                For the most part characterization of heroes hasn’t change over the centuries. Comparing Beowulf to a more modern hero like Batman doesn’t have many exterior differences. They both use their strength to fight evil and protect those who do not deserve to be harmed.

Will study for food

One scholarship I am interested in applying for is the Dean Memorial Legacy Scholarship. This opportunity offers three $1,000 scholarships to those in 4h who demonstrate a level of skill and knowledge in a certain project (ex. swine). I would also like to apply for a scholarship relating to 4h treasurers I just haven't looked for one yet. I will need scholarship money for everything; tuition, board and food, books etc. It would be ideal to get at least $30,000 total because the school I REALLY want to go to is extremely expensive.

Vocabulary #3

apostate: abandoning a religious or political belief or principle
- He became an apostate from communism.
effusive: expressing feelings of gratitude
- Her effusive feelings made them feel proud of what they did.
 impasse: a situation in which no progress is possible
- Their government was in a political impasse.
 euphoria: A feeling of great happiness
- The team was in a state of euphoria after winning the game.
 lugubrious: looking or sounding sad or dismal
- He was lugubrious after he lost the competition.
 bravado: Defiant behavior
- He's full of bravado but he is really a coward.
 consensus: a general agreement
- The consensus was that we would have the new student join.
 dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things
- There was a big dichotomy between their opinions.
 constrict: make narrower
- The cones constricted the road we drove on.
 gothic: characterized by or emphasizing a gloomy setting and grotesque or violent events
- He had a love for gothic novels.
 punctilio: a fine or petty point of conduct
- No situation should be compromised by punctilio.
 metamorphosis: a complete transformation
- The girl went through a complete metamorphosis by the end of the novel.
 raconteur: a person who tells anecdotes in a skill and amusing way
- His friends knew him and the entertaining raconteur.
 sine qua non: an essential or indispensable element or condition
- He forgot the most important sine qua non for warm weather, drinking water.
 quixotic: exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
- Her quixotic idea was not liked by the others.
 vendetta: a prolonged feud, typically between two families.
- The two families had a vendetta that has lasted for centuries.
 non sequitur: an argument in which the conclusion does not follow the premises
- Again, you have made a non sequitur answer to my question.
 mystique: an aura or attitude of mystery
- Her mystique made her a very appealing person
 quagmire: a difficult, precarious or entrapping position
- His lies got him into a deeper quagmire than he was already in.
 parlous: full of danger
- We were told not to enter that building because the police said it was parlous.

Why This Book?

For the literature analysis I chose the book "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger because I had been meaning to read it since I finished the summer reading homework for this class. Also, I enjoy reading my own books much more than ones from the AP reading list because none of the books we have read in class before in the previous years has really sparked an interest in me.