I cannot imagine what it is like for anyone to lose both of their parents and with only a few weeks apart. It seems that his parents were very difficult, but for some reason there is not much description of what Dave and his siblings’ emotions are like. I did think it was odd that they decided to give their parents bodies for medical research. Actually he does say that arrangements had already been made by their parents, but again I wonder why they thought that was the best thing to do. Even if they did not want their kids to spend so much money with a funeral or burial it always costs less to have a body cremated. The entire confusion or lack of knowledge concerning their parent’s cremains would have been incredibly difficult for any person. This issue was mention a couple of times, but we do not just how important it is for Dave until he finds out that Beth made the decision of not having the cremains back. It is the reason why I think that he has such a hard time making the decision of throwing his mother’s cremains in the lake. I honestly would have kept either or both of my parent’s remains. I would not like the idea of them being anywhere else.
I’m not sure why ha carries around the box with him for so long. He has the box in his car and is endlessly thinking about it and wondering whether people know that his mother’s cremains are in his car. I’m not sure if it is because he doesn’t feel a connection with what is in the box and who his mother was. It was important for him to have his mother’s remains, but it seems that he has a really hard time accepting what is in the box. It has been years since his parents died and I guess he just got used to the idea of not knowing where they were and actually accepting that his parent’s remains would never be with them again. When he is finally throwing his mother’s remains he is still thinking about what could have been done better or differently. He didn’t really think of what he would do with the box until he is out at the lake. I don’t know if it is a good or bad thing that he ends without his mother’s remains. I guess he could not have handled having her with him again after so many years when he was without her for so long.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
A.H.W.O.S.G. – The Real World?
At times it is difficult to make sense of what Dave is talking about when he discusses the issues of all youth. I think that, like all other people who have been in their early twenties, he discusses things endlessly which is like an inner argument/confusion he has of his own. All people of that age have similar issues of figuring out what you actually want to do with your life and trying to be serious about it. It is a little stressful to determine or figure out our life’s purpose. (I really don’t think that I could ever decide on a specific purpose). At the age of about 24 it seems that he really has his mind set on changing the world or at least for people his age.
So initially it seems that he definitely wants to be on the MTV show and always keeps in mind that it is for the sake of the magazine. He goes on for quite a while about why he should be on the show and why his character is needed. The world should know his story and experience his youth with him. Dave will be what unites all people of his age together and . . . . .
I guess the goal would be for everyone to feel as if there are other people their age who are also struggling with the same conflicts and there is a place (“the real world”) where they can share their stories. Then the only way to make sense out of one’s life is to let everyone know all the details of your life or actually the heartbreaking things which are the most interesting to anyone who will listen details. This discussion goes on through many of the book’s sections and I think that Dave is making a point about people in general. Perhaps he is also talking about himself at that age and is making a point that after all we really don’t need a TV show (even though we might still want that type of attention after being rejected) or expose ourselves that much to be content with what we do or have done (good or bad).
So initially it seems that he definitely wants to be on the MTV show and always keeps in mind that it is for the sake of the magazine. He goes on for quite a while about why he should be on the show and why his character is needed. The world should know his story and experience his youth with him. Dave will be what unites all people of his age together and . . . . .
I guess the goal would be for everyone to feel as if there are other people their age who are also struggling with the same conflicts and there is a place (“the real world”) where they can share their stories. Then the only way to make sense out of one’s life is to let everyone know all the details of your life or actually the heartbreaking things which are the most interesting to anyone who will listen details. This discussion goes on through many of the book’s sections and I think that Dave is making a point about people in general. Perhaps he is also talking about himself at that age and is making a point that after all we really don’t need a TV show (even though we might still want that type of attention after being rejected) or expose ourselves that much to be content with what we do or have done (good or bad).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
A.H.W.O.S.G. – Dave: Brother/Parent/Friend
I think it is obvious that any older sibling would worry as much as Dave does for Toph. We know what has just happened to their family and certainly Dave does too. He is very aware of his feelings for his parents’ deaths and I think it is for that reason that he worries so much for Toph’s emotions. Perhaps the death of their parents has affected Dave so much and clearly had to deal with it because he was one of the older siblings and was there to help his mother and family however he could. Dave does not make his emotions obvious, but it is what he says about his relationship with Toph that allows us to know how he is actually feeling. He says many times that he and Beth want Toph to have as normal a life possible and that’s why he wants Toph involved in so many things. I guess that he thinks Toph is aware of how Dave and Beth feel about their situation and how much it actually takes to keep them together.
It must be difficult to have just had your parents die and then take on the role of a guardian. This is when I asked many times where there older brother Bill is. He does help them, but it seems that he is less involved. It would have made more sense for Bill the eldest brother which seems to have his life in place to take that responsibility because he could better handle it. Anyway, I think that Dave is definitely beginning to change in how he feels about being a parent/guardian. When he does leave Toph with the babysitter he cannot stop thinking of all the possible things that can be occurring at that very moment, but he still does not return home. He like any responsible parent always has his son/brother in his mind, but is still struggling like any guy his age who is still in the processes of maturing. Does he continue to enjoy his freedom as a twenty-something year old man or leave that to take the complete responsibility of a 10 year old boy? I don’t think it actually means either one or the other. I am definitely anticipating, not a complete resolution, but a progression to a more stable relationship however it may be labeled.
It must be difficult to have just had your parents die and then take on the role of a guardian. This is when I asked many times where there older brother Bill is. He does help them, but it seems that he is less involved. It would have made more sense for Bill the eldest brother which seems to have his life in place to take that responsibility because he could better handle it. Anyway, I think that Dave is definitely beginning to change in how he feels about being a parent/guardian. When he does leave Toph with the babysitter he cannot stop thinking of all the possible things that can be occurring at that very moment, but he still does not return home. He like any responsible parent always has his son/brother in his mind, but is still struggling like any guy his age who is still in the processes of maturing. Does he continue to enjoy his freedom as a twenty-something year old man or leave that to take the complete responsibility of a 10 year old boy? I don’t think it actually means either one or the other. I am definitely anticipating, not a complete resolution, but a progression to a more stable relationship however it may be labeled.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Caudron's "Befriending Barbie
Caudron attends a Barbie convention where she meets so many Barbie enthusiasts. She begins the essay by describing Debbie and her fingernails. I think Caudron focuses so much on this woman’s description because she is so different from her. Debbie is so enthusiastic about her job/hobbie and it is obvious that she is honest when giving Caudron so much information. Although Caudron does admit that these type of things easily bore her and it is difficult for her to understand what all the excitement is about. Debbie tells her that there are other things which she and her colleagues collect and I think this allows us to see that they are not necessarily fanatics of one thing, but collect what they love even if one has no relation to the other. It made me think of how I view Barbie and what many things I collect. I think the things that people often collect have something to say about their personality even if it is very diverse.
The part of this essay which I enjoyed the most was her description of the convention and the many people who attended it. It is on the first paragraph of pg. 63 where Caudron describes that years theme and how so many people were dressed in psychedelic clothing. That sounds like a lot of fun. Another thing that was surprising for Caudron was the immense variety of Barbies and the theme each Barbie represented according to her time. With so many descriptions Caudron begins to appreciate what the dolls represent and confesses she begins to change her initial views. She includes so much humor in the essay and I don’t think she was making fun of the people at the convention and how much they enjoyed what might seem like just a doll. Through that humor I think that she is telling us so much more because of her initial responses upon hearing conversations of excitement over a doll having SPF 30 sun block or the one with the big boobs. It even surprised me to know that a doll could cost more than $15,000 and that people go to great lengths to acquire them. But I think it helps to think of our own hobbies or love for material things and it makes sense to not think of the price when you truly love what you are buying.
I like that at the end of her paper she is so much more understanding of why these people do this and that within their hobbies and conventions they also seek to help others who are in need. There is such a change in Caudron that she even says, ""I’m feeling left out." Its after seeing the interactions and strong friendships that she begins to wonder about her group of friends and if any of them come close to what the Barbie friendships are like. It becomes obvious that the convention is not only about admiring a plastic doll, but it has caused so many people to experience and develop as adults.
The part of this essay which I enjoyed the most was her description of the convention and the many people who attended it. It is on the first paragraph of pg. 63 where Caudron describes that years theme and how so many people were dressed in psychedelic clothing. That sounds like a lot of fun. Another thing that was surprising for Caudron was the immense variety of Barbies and the theme each Barbie represented according to her time. With so many descriptions Caudron begins to appreciate what the dolls represent and confesses she begins to change her initial views. She includes so much humor in the essay and I don’t think she was making fun of the people at the convention and how much they enjoyed what might seem like just a doll. Through that humor I think that she is telling us so much more because of her initial responses upon hearing conversations of excitement over a doll having SPF 30 sun block or the one with the big boobs. It even surprised me to know that a doll could cost more than $15,000 and that people go to great lengths to acquire them. But I think it helps to think of our own hobbies or love for material things and it makes sense to not think of the price when you truly love what you are buying.
I like that at the end of her paper she is so much more understanding of why these people do this and that within their hobbies and conventions they also seek to help others who are in need. There is such a change in Caudron that she even says, ""I’m feeling left out." Its after seeing the interactions and strong friendships that she begins to wonder about her group of friends and if any of them come close to what the Barbie friendships are like. It becomes obvious that the convention is not only about admiring a plastic doll, but it has caused so many people to experience and develop as adults.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
An Idea
I haven't stopped thinking about this first draft. I keep trying to figure out a way to actually start writing the essay. So, as I was having my brunch just earlier, I thought of beginning my essay with the very last scene. I think it would be a good idea to start it with the very last incident and describe it as the last drop to finally spill the glass. Then after that write about the incidents and how they led up to that last scene. I think this could be an interesting way to continue the essay.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
About My Crappy First Draft
Something that i'll say about my paper is that I typed just as I was thinking about it. I went straight through and just typed. I know that somethings might not make sense because I probably left out a few details. I don't give specific dates either, but i'll try to figure that out. I'm also not sure if the first 2 paragraphs make sense with what i'm going to eventually discuss. I kind of feel unsure about this idea overrall.
My Crappy First Draft
Summer 2006
I always look forward to summers with excitement and enthusiasm. Every May since I have been in school I can recall being eager for classes to end and my vacation to start. I do not think it was because I disliked school, but after nine months of getting up early everyday I really wanted to have freedom to do what I wanted with my time. I remember summers being the best part of the year because they were the three months that I could completely enjoy with my family and not have to worry about setting time apart to do my school work. When I was just a kid I spent all of my time playing and running around with my cousin. Later when I became a teenager I spent my summers doing the least possible and helping my dad when I was forced to. It was during these three month periods that I learned to do outside work. I learned a lot about gardening from my dad and our pets. We have always owned dogs, but it was not until four years ago that I first owned farm animals.
We had many chickens to begin with, but soon enough my dad wanted to expand and own goats as well. We began with a few goats and two of them were very young and because of that they had to be bottle fed. Initially my dad took care of that job, but soon enough we noticed that one of them began to get sick and he eventually died. The white goat survived and we soon learned what we were doing wrong and why the brown goat did not survive. As my dad continued to add more goats to the herd we raised the small white goat and bottle fed him until a very mature age. It was common for my dad and I to laugh about it and find humor in the fact that we had to bottle feed him and he knew when we were coming to do it. It was my mom’s idea to name him Taco. I have no idea why she decided on that name and I plainly told her it was not a name and it was stupid to name one of our pets that.
By the time we were officially into the summer season we probably had a total of 15 goats. They were of various breeds, but were all basically about the same age. Among them we only had three adult males, including Taco. One of our younger female goats was a few months old and her mother was not living with us. She was new and because of that was not close to the other goats. She did know how to eat on her own already so my dad and I let her roam around on her own. It was on one of those summer days when I happened be home alone. My brother and his family were not home and most importantly my dad was not home. I learned from my dad how to care for our goats and I knew when and how to feed them.
That day I went out side to check on them because it was such a hot day and to feed them. I had the habit of looking at each goat just to make sure they were all okay and because a few of them were pregnant. I noticed that the young female goat was just laying there by herself and she looked as if she was in pain. I went in the corral and when I was close enough I heard her complaints. I can recall immediately feeling ver scared because I did not know what to do in a situation like that. I noticed right away that she was not breathing properly either and gasped with a lot of effort. I was freaking out and had no idea what to do. I began telling her, "Please don’t die on me, please." I repeated that so many times as if it would cause her to get better and I guess in hope that I was only imagining things. What I did was take her out of the corral and run into my yard so I could try and so something although I had no idea what. This all occurred within one or two minutes, but I can clearly remember setting her down on the grass and watching as she breathed for the last time and died.
I felt horrible because I could think of nothing to help her. I just sat there for a while with her just thinking of what could have happened to her and if there was anything I could have done to save her. As I sat with her on the grass I was replaying the past few minutes in my mind. First I panicked, thought about it for some seconds, decided to take her out, ran with her into my yard and set her down to die. I did feel that in a sense it was my fault because I did not know what to do. After I calmed down I decided to call my dad and let him know that she had died. He said he would be home right after he was through eating with my sister and her husband. He did ask me if I knew what happened to our goat and if I had any idea of what might have caused her sudden death.
The first ones to arrive were my brother and his wife. I was still there sitting with my goat on our yard. They did not even notice that the goat was dead. She was not moving and had an odd look on her face. What did they think that she taking a nap on our yard with me sitting next to her?? My dad finally got home and he went over, picked her up and tried to find any indications of what caused her to die. He suggested that perhaps something like a spider bit her or she ate a harmful insect. He picked her up and we walked to the back gate when her body made an odd sound. He said, "See she was bloated. It must have been something that she ate and she couldn’t through it up. You should’ve forced her to through up. Why didn’t you think of that?" Of course I told him that I had no idea what was wrong with her and how could I have guessed what the right thing to do was. We went to the back of our house at the area behind the corrals and buried her.
In the days that passed everything continued to work as it had before. I do not remember how many days passed until my dad found our youngest goat torn to pieces. He was a newborn and probably not more than a week old. I remember him clearly because my dad and I said that he would be just like his dad and maybe even more. My dad could not figure out what had occurred to this kid, but could only assume that it must have been a coyote which took this kid out of the corrals in the middle of the night. He was the only one born to his mother and it made me very sad to think of what she might be feeling. I know that as animals their brains do not think as we do, but I very clearly remember her expressions as she searched for her son around the corral. My dad was burying what was left of him and he said, "She’s looking for her son. Perhaps we can get her to take one of the other young goats."
The next incident to occur was another young goat found dead. Well initially we could not find her. We were out that day and when my dad went to check on our goats there was one of three sisters missing. It was already dark outside and he immediately thought that yet again somehow the coyotes came in and took her out. We searched for her all around the corral and among the nearest vineyards. My dad could not figure out how a coyote could come in and take a goat out. There was no easy way for animal to get through and drag her out. That was when my dad found her inside the area of our corrals. He dragged her body out and he told me not to look because her body was torn open. He immediately figured out that the ones who caused these deaths were our own dogs.
Our German shepherds lived in a caged area just next to the corral area, but they had not attempted to kill our goats before. By this time they had lived next to the goats for quite sometime and we were sure they were used to each other. My dad said once that Loba, the female dog, watched over our goats. She did sit there at times and just watched them as if she were a true shepherd dog doing her job. After we knew who the killers were my dad was mad, but only decided to make the fencing around the areas safer and difficult to get through.
Then it was one night, as I attempted to find my comfortable sleep again, that I heard my Scottish terriers barking endlessly. I remember thinking, "Oh great. I’m just beginning to actually rest and now they wake me up." I ignored it at first because I thought they were simply barking along with our German shepherds at other distant dogs. They continued for quite a while and I would say it was probably about half an hour later that I looked out the window again and I saw Julia, our pony, in our yard, cornered by our two German shepherds. They were chasing her around the house and barking at her which caused our others dogs to wake me up. Thankfully I heard them before our shepherds killed my pony. I immediately got out of bed, noticed it was four in the morning, ran out side and pulled the shepherds out of the yard and back into their corral. I tried to cover up the hole they dug to get to the yard as quickly as I could. Then I ran over to Julia and saw that she was covered in her own blood.
Once again I felt panicked and for about a minute only stare at her. I did not wake my dad up right away because I was unsure of how he would react to this. I told myself that I could handle it because they were probably just a few bites and scratches. I began to clean her and wash her through with the hose and as I did this I noticed all the blood streaming down her body. After that I saw that her wounds were deeper and she was in a lot of pain. She was shaking , but at the same time remained still. I expected her to lie down because her legs were what had been torn the most. I could not believe how much damage the dogs had done to her. I was astonished. I continually told her that I was sorry. I remember that very clearly saying how sorry I wasn over and over as if she understood me. I could see the pain in her face or perhaps it was just me imagining what she felt as she stood there shaking and terrified after being chewed on by a couple of dogs.
I went inside to wake my dad and told him what had happened. He came out side with me and all he could think of doing at almost five in the morning was to try and cover up her wounds. They were really bad but we managed to cover them up and stop her bleeding. I continued to hope she would lie down, but she would not. Perhaps it she would not because she was so afraid to move or simply because it was too painful for her to move. It was closer to six when we finally went inside and my dad walked into his room although I doubt it was easy for him to fall asleep. I could not sleep either. I went into my room, closed the door, wrapped myself in my blankets and just laid there. I did not know what to think or how to feel. I wondered why things were going so terrible lately. Was it something we were doing wrong and was it our fault. I really did feel like it was my fault. I continued thinking that maybe things would have been better if I woke up sooner or heard my Scotties sooner. I did not sleep.
The final incident to drive my dad to the edge was yet another morning. Throughout this summer there was not a day I can recall where I awoke in a positive mood. There was always something eerie about them as if I had spent the entire night awake when I was actually asleep. Well this particular morning I awoke to the sound of my dad’s voice. It sounded very odd and nothing I had heard before. I am almost positive that he was crying and I was sure that something terrible occurred. I did not know what to think. I stayed in my room just long enough to hear him say that he was going to kill those dogs. I got up and went outside with him. We were at the corral and he said that they had finally killed all of our goats. They were not all dead. This time they killed two goats and bit three others. My dad was devastated. It was a side of him that I had never seen and did not know how to react to.
We went in and I helped him carry out the two that were dead. We buried them and continued to clean the ones that were bitten. There wounds were not severe and we were sure they would be just fine. After that he said that if we did not get those dogs out of his sight he was going to kill them himself. I did not want him to do anything that would alter his anger even more and we finally decided to give them away. That same morning we put them in our van and drove them over to a friends house. He had mentioned to my dad before that he wanted German shepherds and accepted to take our dogs. As we drove them over I just watched their faces and tried to make sense of what was happening. It was difficult for me to think of what they had done and what they were before. I could not imagine them being evil or vicious in anyway because I never saw them do what they did.
We arrived and my dad opened the door to let them out. My dad was telling his friend what we did to care for them and overall what they were like. It was finally time to leave and I remember that the man tied them next to a fence next to his house. We got in our van and as we slowly drove away I remember looking back at them and had this nostalgic feeling. There was a part of me that did not want to leave them there because even after what they had done they were my pets just as our goats were. I felt as if I had something caught in my throat. I could not speak and did not want to. We got home and I honestly did not want to talk about anything with anyone. I guess I did avoid talking to anyone about everything that had happened and if I was asked about it I simply told them to ask my dad if they wanted to know anything.
I felt awful and I did not know what to do with myself. After everything I think I did talk about it a few times, but only some details of the incidents. I did not like to go into detail about it or how every single thing made me feel. I did not say what I saw as opposed to what my dad did. I know that I saw things differently than he and he never really discussed it with me either. I know that my dad did tell other people of what happened, but just the short version. He did not mention any details and did not like to discuss it further. I understand why he didn’t.
I always look forward to summers with excitement and enthusiasm. Every May since I have been in school I can recall being eager for classes to end and my vacation to start. I do not think it was because I disliked school, but after nine months of getting up early everyday I really wanted to have freedom to do what I wanted with my time. I remember summers being the best part of the year because they were the three months that I could completely enjoy with my family and not have to worry about setting time apart to do my school work. When I was just a kid I spent all of my time playing and running around with my cousin. Later when I became a teenager I spent my summers doing the least possible and helping my dad when I was forced to. It was during these three month periods that I learned to do outside work. I learned a lot about gardening from my dad and our pets. We have always owned dogs, but it was not until four years ago that I first owned farm animals.
We had many chickens to begin with, but soon enough my dad wanted to expand and own goats as well. We began with a few goats and two of them were very young and because of that they had to be bottle fed. Initially my dad took care of that job, but soon enough we noticed that one of them began to get sick and he eventually died. The white goat survived and we soon learned what we were doing wrong and why the brown goat did not survive. As my dad continued to add more goats to the herd we raised the small white goat and bottle fed him until a very mature age. It was common for my dad and I to laugh about it and find humor in the fact that we had to bottle feed him and he knew when we were coming to do it. It was my mom’s idea to name him Taco. I have no idea why she decided on that name and I plainly told her it was not a name and it was stupid to name one of our pets that.
By the time we were officially into the summer season we probably had a total of 15 goats. They were of various breeds, but were all basically about the same age. Among them we only had three adult males, including Taco. One of our younger female goats was a few months old and her mother was not living with us. She was new and because of that was not close to the other goats. She did know how to eat on her own already so my dad and I let her roam around on her own. It was on one of those summer days when I happened be home alone. My brother and his family were not home and most importantly my dad was not home. I learned from my dad how to care for our goats and I knew when and how to feed them.
That day I went out side to check on them because it was such a hot day and to feed them. I had the habit of looking at each goat just to make sure they were all okay and because a few of them were pregnant. I noticed that the young female goat was just laying there by herself and she looked as if she was in pain. I went in the corral and when I was close enough I heard her complaints. I can recall immediately feeling ver scared because I did not know what to do in a situation like that. I noticed right away that she was not breathing properly either and gasped with a lot of effort. I was freaking out and had no idea what to do. I began telling her, "Please don’t die on me, please." I repeated that so many times as if it would cause her to get better and I guess in hope that I was only imagining things. What I did was take her out of the corral and run into my yard so I could try and so something although I had no idea what. This all occurred within one or two minutes, but I can clearly remember setting her down on the grass and watching as she breathed for the last time and died.
I felt horrible because I could think of nothing to help her. I just sat there for a while with her just thinking of what could have happened to her and if there was anything I could have done to save her. As I sat with her on the grass I was replaying the past few minutes in my mind. First I panicked, thought about it for some seconds, decided to take her out, ran with her into my yard and set her down to die. I did feel that in a sense it was my fault because I did not know what to do. After I calmed down I decided to call my dad and let him know that she had died. He said he would be home right after he was through eating with my sister and her husband. He did ask me if I knew what happened to our goat and if I had any idea of what might have caused her sudden death.
The first ones to arrive were my brother and his wife. I was still there sitting with my goat on our yard. They did not even notice that the goat was dead. She was not moving and had an odd look on her face. What did they think that she taking a nap on our yard with me sitting next to her?? My dad finally got home and he went over, picked her up and tried to find any indications of what caused her to die. He suggested that perhaps something like a spider bit her or she ate a harmful insect. He picked her up and we walked to the back gate when her body made an odd sound. He said, "See she was bloated. It must have been something that she ate and she couldn’t through it up. You should’ve forced her to through up. Why didn’t you think of that?" Of course I told him that I had no idea what was wrong with her and how could I have guessed what the right thing to do was. We went to the back of our house at the area behind the corrals and buried her.
In the days that passed everything continued to work as it had before. I do not remember how many days passed until my dad found our youngest goat torn to pieces. He was a newborn and probably not more than a week old. I remember him clearly because my dad and I said that he would be just like his dad and maybe even more. My dad could not figure out what had occurred to this kid, but could only assume that it must have been a coyote which took this kid out of the corrals in the middle of the night. He was the only one born to his mother and it made me very sad to think of what she might be feeling. I know that as animals their brains do not think as we do, but I very clearly remember her expressions as she searched for her son around the corral. My dad was burying what was left of him and he said, "She’s looking for her son. Perhaps we can get her to take one of the other young goats."
The next incident to occur was another young goat found dead. Well initially we could not find her. We were out that day and when my dad went to check on our goats there was one of three sisters missing. It was already dark outside and he immediately thought that yet again somehow the coyotes came in and took her out. We searched for her all around the corral and among the nearest vineyards. My dad could not figure out how a coyote could come in and take a goat out. There was no easy way for animal to get through and drag her out. That was when my dad found her inside the area of our corrals. He dragged her body out and he told me not to look because her body was torn open. He immediately figured out that the ones who caused these deaths were our own dogs.
Our German shepherds lived in a caged area just next to the corral area, but they had not attempted to kill our goats before. By this time they had lived next to the goats for quite sometime and we were sure they were used to each other. My dad said once that Loba, the female dog, watched over our goats. She did sit there at times and just watched them as if she were a true shepherd dog doing her job. After we knew who the killers were my dad was mad, but only decided to make the fencing around the areas safer and difficult to get through.
Then it was one night, as I attempted to find my comfortable sleep again, that I heard my Scottish terriers barking endlessly. I remember thinking, "Oh great. I’m just beginning to actually rest and now they wake me up." I ignored it at first because I thought they were simply barking along with our German shepherds at other distant dogs. They continued for quite a while and I would say it was probably about half an hour later that I looked out the window again and I saw Julia, our pony, in our yard, cornered by our two German shepherds. They were chasing her around the house and barking at her which caused our others dogs to wake me up. Thankfully I heard them before our shepherds killed my pony. I immediately got out of bed, noticed it was four in the morning, ran out side and pulled the shepherds out of the yard and back into their corral. I tried to cover up the hole they dug to get to the yard as quickly as I could. Then I ran over to Julia and saw that she was covered in her own blood.
Once again I felt panicked and for about a minute only stare at her. I did not wake my dad up right away because I was unsure of how he would react to this. I told myself that I could handle it because they were probably just a few bites and scratches. I began to clean her and wash her through with the hose and as I did this I noticed all the blood streaming down her body. After that I saw that her wounds were deeper and she was in a lot of pain. She was shaking , but at the same time remained still. I expected her to lie down because her legs were what had been torn the most. I could not believe how much damage the dogs had done to her. I was astonished. I continually told her that I was sorry. I remember that very clearly saying how sorry I wasn over and over as if she understood me. I could see the pain in her face or perhaps it was just me imagining what she felt as she stood there shaking and terrified after being chewed on by a couple of dogs.
I went inside to wake my dad and told him what had happened. He came out side with me and all he could think of doing at almost five in the morning was to try and cover up her wounds. They were really bad but we managed to cover them up and stop her bleeding. I continued to hope she would lie down, but she would not. Perhaps it she would not because she was so afraid to move or simply because it was too painful for her to move. It was closer to six when we finally went inside and my dad walked into his room although I doubt it was easy for him to fall asleep. I could not sleep either. I went into my room, closed the door, wrapped myself in my blankets and just laid there. I did not know what to think or how to feel. I wondered why things were going so terrible lately. Was it something we were doing wrong and was it our fault. I really did feel like it was my fault. I continued thinking that maybe things would have been better if I woke up sooner or heard my Scotties sooner. I did not sleep.
The final incident to drive my dad to the edge was yet another morning. Throughout this summer there was not a day I can recall where I awoke in a positive mood. There was always something eerie about them as if I had spent the entire night awake when I was actually asleep. Well this particular morning I awoke to the sound of my dad’s voice. It sounded very odd and nothing I had heard before. I am almost positive that he was crying and I was sure that something terrible occurred. I did not know what to think. I stayed in my room just long enough to hear him say that he was going to kill those dogs. I got up and went outside with him. We were at the corral and he said that they had finally killed all of our goats. They were not all dead. This time they killed two goats and bit three others. My dad was devastated. It was a side of him that I had never seen and did not know how to react to.
We went in and I helped him carry out the two that were dead. We buried them and continued to clean the ones that were bitten. There wounds were not severe and we were sure they would be just fine. After that he said that if we did not get those dogs out of his sight he was going to kill them himself. I did not want him to do anything that would alter his anger even more and we finally decided to give them away. That same morning we put them in our van and drove them over to a friends house. He had mentioned to my dad before that he wanted German shepherds and accepted to take our dogs. As we drove them over I just watched their faces and tried to make sense of what was happening. It was difficult for me to think of what they had done and what they were before. I could not imagine them being evil or vicious in anyway because I never saw them do what they did.
We arrived and my dad opened the door to let them out. My dad was telling his friend what we did to care for them and overall what they were like. It was finally time to leave and I remember that the man tied them next to a fence next to his house. We got in our van and as we slowly drove away I remember looking back at them and had this nostalgic feeling. There was a part of me that did not want to leave them there because even after what they had done they were my pets just as our goats were. I felt as if I had something caught in my throat. I could not speak and did not want to. We got home and I honestly did not want to talk about anything with anyone. I guess I did avoid talking to anyone about everything that had happened and if I was asked about it I simply told them to ask my dad if they wanted to know anything.
I felt awful and I did not know what to do with myself. After everything I think I did talk about it a few times, but only some details of the incidents. I did not like to go into detail about it or how every single thing made me feel. I did not say what I saw as opposed to what my dad did. I know that I saw things differently than he and he never really discussed it with me either. I know that my dad did tell other people of what happened, but just the short version. He did not mention any details and did not like to discuss it further. I understand why he didn’t.
Monday, September 10, 2007
English 44 Group
Hey, I don't think anyone has posted for our group yet, but since we should begin to blog our ideas for the Personal Essay, I think we should decided what days we are going to be workshopped. It would be best to do this so we could get seriously started.
Do we have anything due tomorrow besides the readings?
Do we have anything due tomorrow besides the readings?
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Oleanna
I enjoyed reading this play because it was like nothing else I had read before. The dialogue and subject of the play were very new to me, but I was able to read it in one sitting. An aspect that was new was the style of the dialogue because in only a few instances did a character express themselves completely. I think that John was probably the one who said the least because he was always interrupted by the phone or his thoughts. I think this is the reason why he did not understand or explain to Carol what was necessary. The phone conversation and his own thoughts on the subject of Carol's difficulty were causing him to give her short answers. Carol had many questions about her inability to understand John's book and class. She said that she was frustrated with the fact that the class continued with the lecture and discussion, but she did not understand what they were discussing. It seems that she was also frustrated that they were discussing something so difficult to understand for her and many others and that the class continued without her. It was her inability to understand those concepts in class why she could not comprehend John's explanations or ideas to help Carol. I guess it was as if they were speaking a different language because they were both unable to comprehend the others point of views and since John and Carol both understood education differently they could not come to a solution. Although, when I first finished reading the play I could not understand how Carol could do such a thing to John, her professor, and ruin his life so easily.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Elbow/5 Paragraph Essay
The Five-Paragraph Essay is the form of writing that I was taught probably since the 7th/8th grade. I remember it became very important for us to k now how to organize it in the 9th/10th grade. It began with the usual brainstorming and writing down what our main ideas were. Then as it has been described in the readings we were to choose the top 3 most important ideas in order to have a topic sentence per paragraph. When those 3 were ready then we had to organize the introduction and were taught to not forget to include the thesis statement as the last sentence of the introduction. It was very important to state the 3 main topics in that thesis and organize the paragraphs in the order that was previously mentioned. I did not have much of a problem doing this type of essay and thought that I was a good essay writer. There were many times when I had an essay to write and as soon as I had my 5 paragraphs I was done. I think this was definitely negative for my development of ideas because I had my 3 topics explained them in about 5-6 sentences and that was it. Then I do remember one teacher telling us to state everything as a fact and because of that I never really explained what I thought or incorporated how those facts affected my thinking.
My last year of high school I was in the AP English class and of course had endless amounts of practice essays to write. My teacher always gave me the average grade and always said I had to develop my ideas and include more detail. Although, we were still instructed to write in the 5 paragraph form and to state things as facts. I definitely think that students should be exposed to different types of essay forms and not forced to construct their ideas around only the 5 paragraphs. It does limit what they can say and it seems that because its so focused on the structure that they are not free to express or develop a style that is unique to them.
My last year of high school I was in the AP English class and of course had endless amounts of practice essays to write. My teacher always gave me the average grade and always said I had to develop my ideas and include more detail. Although, we were still instructed to write in the 5 paragraph form and to state things as facts. I definitely think that students should be exposed to different types of essay forms and not forced to construct their ideas around only the 5 paragraphs. It does limit what they can say and it seems that because its so focused on the structure that they are not free to express or develop a style that is unique to them.
Elbow/5 Paragraph Essay
The Five-Paragraph Essay is the form of writing that I was taught probably since the 7th/8th grade. I remember it became very important for us to k now how to organize it in the 9th/10th grade. It began with the usual brainstorming and writing down what our main ideas were. Then as it has been described in the readings we were to choose the top 3 most important ideas in order to have a topic sentence per paragraph. When those 3 were ready then we had to organize the introduction and were taught to not forget to include the thesis statement as the last sentence of the introduction. It was very important to state the 3 main topics in that thesis and organize the paragraphs in the order that was previously mentioned. I did not have much of a problem doing this type of essay and thought that I was a good essay writer. There were many times when I had an essay to write and as soon as I had my 5 paragraphs I was done. I think this was definitely negative for my development of ideas because I had my 3 topics explained them in about 5-6 sentences and that was it. Then I do remember one teacher telling us to state everything as a fact and because of that I never really explained what I thought or incorporated how those facts affected my thinking.
My last year of high school I was in the AP English class and of course had endless amounts of practice essays to write. My teacher always gave me the average grade and always said I had to develop my ideas and include more detail. Although, we were still instructed to write in the 5 paragraph form and to state things as facts. I definitely think that students should be exposed to different types of essay forms and not forced to construct their ideas around only the 5 paragraphs. It does limit what they can say and it seems that because its so focused on the structure that they are not free to express or develop a style that is unique to them.
My last year of high school I was in the AP English class and of course had endless amounts of practice essays to write. My teacher always gave me the average grade and always said I had to develop my ideas and include more detail. Although, we were still instructed to write in the 5 paragraph form and to state things as facts. I definitely think that students should be exposed to different types of essay forms and not forced to construct their ideas around only the 5 paragraphs. It does limit what they can say and it seems that because its so focused on the structure that they are not free to express or develop a style that is unique to them.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Presentations
I thought that all the presentations were very informative and it was great how many of them related to each other because then we had varying points. Specifically I liked the presentations related to the choices of literature students have in the classrooms. I do think that it is important to introduce classic literature to young students and agree that it should be combined with young adult books. It's true that often students are not so enthusiastic about reading the classics because they think its just a boring book that they are forced to read, but then when also given the choice of reading something they want encourages them to have interest in other books.
I do remember reading some of the books that were at one point banned and when I was in high school those were the ones I was most interested in. For example, books like Catcher in the Rye and Fahrenheit 451 captured the attention of most students and caused there to be actual discussions about the ideas presented in these books. If students are engaged into reading with books such as these or with any idea that was not presented before, it gives them the sense that literature might actually be interesting because they can discover other genres of it and find one particular to their interests. I think its great when this occurs because even if the classics are not their favorites they are still reading and exploring books which then may lead them to other levels of literature.
I do remember reading some of the books that were at one point banned and when I was in high school those were the ones I was most interested in. For example, books like Catcher in the Rye and Fahrenheit 451 captured the attention of most students and caused there to be actual discussions about the ideas presented in these books. If students are engaged into reading with books such as these or with any idea that was not presented before, it gives them the sense that literature might actually be interesting because they can discover other genres of it and find one particular to their interests. I think its great when this occurs because even if the classics are not their favorites they are still reading and exploring books which then may lead them to other levels of literature.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
English and what makes a text literature
When I was younger I always thought of English as reading books and writing essays about them. I guess I just felt that I had to get through the book and write a summary of what I understood it was about. It was not until I was in high school that I understood it consisted of many other things. That is when I began to actually read the books and think critically about them. I always enjoyed books where the characters so distinctively described their emotions. It is probably for that reason why I believe that literature should be full of emotion in order to ignite something within us. It is different for each person because we do look for or see certain images according to the manner we are used to reading. Perhaps certain words or characters stand out to us more because they may be like us or someone we closely know. When something like this occurs one may feel even more emerged into the book and relate other instances with our own. Even if it is a book that takes place in another continent, 400 years ago or from now, I think that what is essential to it, at least for me, is the reality given to each character's individualism and life that it almost seems as if you do know the person. Although, I do love to read and it is for that reason that I enjoy exploring different areas of literature, whether it be science fiction, autobiographies and multicultural.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Politt and Eagleton Readings
In the Politt reading the question is once again discussed of what authors are in the canon and which should be added. Is it only according to the "qualities of greatness" found within it that makes them important or matter more than others? Does it depend on who is reading the book and what interpretation they are giving it? I do think that not all the books within the canon can relate to everyone, but it does not mean they are meaningless to a specific person. If I read a book that takes place in Africa, it does not mean that I will not understand it simply because I cannot relate to the setting or characters struggles. I actually enjoy reading books which are different to what I am used to because they demonstrate a different point of life. It is an important way to have better understanding of societies we are not part of. I do not think that only those books on the list are important enough to read and if they are not on the list then they are not read. Often times it is those books on the list that are not read because it seems that the majority of people would rather read popular books that get much attention at the moment.
The Eagleton reading explains what it is that literature teaches us and what the purpose is of many of those classic books. He describes it as a moral technology and it is what produces things like sensitivity and imagination. I think this is true because often times novels teach us about a feeling that we may not have given much thought to before. It may be sympathy for a character even if that character is not the protagonist because of their situation or circumstances. Living that experience, using it or grasping it within our lives would be the final outcome or goal of the book. Perhaps it was the author's intention to do this in order to form people who will be more inclined towards that specific experience they explained in their book.
The Eagleton reading explains what it is that literature teaches us and what the purpose is of many of those classic books. He describes it as a moral technology and it is what produces things like sensitivity and imagination. I think this is true because often times novels teach us about a feeling that we may not have given much thought to before. It may be sympathy for a character even if that character is not the protagonist because of their situation or circumstances. Living that experience, using it or grasping it within our lives would be the final outcome or goal of the book. Perhaps it was the author's intention to do this in order to form people who will be more inclined towards that specific experience they explained in their book.
Graff Reading
What I think this article is discussing is which authors are in the canon and what others are being added. He presents the question of whether the classics like Shakespeare are being tossed out in order to make room for new authors. It is a matter of whether people can still relate to the classic authors. I do not think that the Graff is saying that only certain authors should be taught because only they are good enough. I do agree with the fact that authors or novels already in the canon are still being taught and as new authors or books have emerged, then those are gradually being added as well. Just because the classics are really old does not mean that they are the only ones which are good enough to teach. I do think that the canon has been changing, but not necessarily leaving out authors, but making additions to the list. People who think that classic authors are no longer being taught because people do not think they are important any more are probably not aware of the classes that are specifically for the original authors. I do think that it is important to include those originals in the English curriculum because it is important in order to understand why modern writers write the way they do. I think it is obvious that authors often use ideas or methods of constructing their novels through the classics they have read and studied.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Haas: Learning to Read Biology
When I began reading this article I thought it was about someone who did not know much about Biology and their process was going to be of how they picked up new strategies of how to learn about a subject one is not familiar with. Although the article did describe a similar idea in the sense that Eliza did know a good amount of Biology, since it was her major, but did not know how to interpret it properly. Haas says that people are encouraged or taught to read almost everything as fact and we often times just read something and say okay that's the answer. One of the aspects of reading that is presented here is that we as readers and learners should learn to question what we read. I do not mean question everything and think that everything has faults, but to understand what a writer is trying to explain and then apply it or question it as it makes sense to us. I do agree with Haas when she says that people or in this case Eliza read a book or article and are not aware that there are people who wrote this and are their interpretations of certain Biological ideas.
It was not so difficult to read this because I understand why Eliza during her freshman and sophomore years read the way she did. As students we often times have so much to read for different subjects that it is difficult to focus so much on each subject. It is common for people to read through a book and simply grab the main points in order to know just enough to pass the test or the class. When Eliza was in her freshman English class perhaps she was not so analytical of the novels or authors because it was not the subject she was most interested in. Although she did show some similarity when discussing her biology readings, but was able to understand those ideas better since she was already familiar with the terms. Haas says the most important change in Eliza's development was not only learning the facts, but "negotiating meaning." I do agree with this because it is important to understand what an author is explaining and then be able to relate it to our own thoughts on the specific subject or apply it to the research we may be conducting.
It was not so difficult to read this because I understand why Eliza during her freshman and sophomore years read the way she did. As students we often times have so much to read for different subjects that it is difficult to focus so much on each subject. It is common for people to read through a book and simply grab the main points in order to know just enough to pass the test or the class. When Eliza was in her freshman English class perhaps she was not so analytical of the novels or authors because it was not the subject she was most interested in. Although she did show some similarity when discussing her biology readings, but was able to understand those ideas better since she was already familiar with the terms. Haas says the most important change in Eliza's development was not only learning the facts, but "negotiating meaning." I do agree with this because it is important to understand what an author is explaining and then be able to relate it to our own thoughts on the specific subject or apply it to the research we may be conducting.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Reading First: Cautions and Recommendations
It was surprising to know that something as important as a reading first program would be based on research that was not actually researched. This is because schools and teachers that were implementing or restructuring the order in which they handled their classes were changing their methods because of what these new reports were saying. The reports on which these findings were based said to have improved the methods for teaching, but were actually not based on facts or adequate for all children and their levels. It seems that these reports did not understand what reading consists of because they only wanted to focus on one or two methods of learning. The reports tried to greatly emphasize the importance of phonics and stressed that children needed to know what sounds were and how they were useful before they learned to do any reading. Other aspects like silent reading were not given importance because they did not feel it would do much when teaching children to read.
Although it is important for children to experience the different methods available when learning to read because not all children learn in the same manner and one method might work for one and not for another. If teachers are conducting their lessons through a set script then it is difficult to integrate other reading and writing exercises that might be just as effective if not better. If a student does not understand how to apply a method then there are not many other options available especially when the lessons are not given sufficient amount of time.
Although it is important for children to experience the different methods available when learning to read because not all children learn in the same manner and one method might work for one and not for another. If teachers are conducting their lessons through a set script then it is difficult to integrate other reading and writing exercises that might be just as effective if not better. If a student does not understand how to apply a method then there are not many other options available especially when the lessons are not given sufficient amount of time.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Scribner & Cole "Unpackaging Literacy"
What I think that this implies toward schooling is that it is important to learn within a school setting because it may offer other forms of learning. It provides different strategies which may not be found within a social setting. Being in school offers different areas of learning and a person may develop other skills when it comes to problem solving. I think this is important because if a person only knows one form of retaining information it may become difficult when confronted with a new subject to learn. An example that was given is that school provides access to learn the language of politics and economics. It is important for students going into this field to learn English because it will become necessary within their jobs. It seems that the different languages are assigned to different purposes. Each plays its own role among the Vai and depending on what you need or will do may require even a basic understanding of one language.
Schooling is important for certain literacies, but it does not mean that those who scored lower may not be capable of other tasks. They may not be literate when compared to those who do attend school because of the different degrees of understandment they have. It was explained that they were better when it came to discribing things like symbols because of the form of their language. This meant that they may be illiterate in some areas because of no experience, but were literate where they have been trained. I think that it is obvious that anyone who has not learned the skills of a certain area, whether through school or socially, will be illiterate in that area.
Schooling is important for certain literacies, but it does not mean that those who scored lower may not be capable of other tasks. They may not be literate when compared to those who do attend school because of the different degrees of understandment they have. It was explained that they were better when it came to discribing things like symbols because of the form of their language. This meant that they may be illiterate in some areas because of no experience, but were literate where they have been trained. I think that it is obvious that anyone who has not learned the skills of a certain area, whether through school or socially, will be illiterate in that area.
Monday, February 5, 2007
What Reading Means To Me
Before I began attending elementary school, I remember being read to by my mother. She read to me in Spanish and probably all that she did read to me were bible stories. I enjoyed this time because it was half an hour or so that my mother put aside to spend time with me and my sister. I remember being very interested in what the book said and I felt I understood the story probably because my mother did a very good job when explaining it. Although my sister already knew how to read Spanish because she is almost five years older, it was through these reading sessions with my mother that I learned how to read Spanish. Later when my sister began to read English, she started to read her books to me and I began to learn words in English. This was also another time that I very much enjoyed because it was once again learning something new. Perhaps learning new words in English were not as difficult for me because I already knew how to read and write basic Spanish words. It could also be because I was still young and learning things at this age tend to be a lot easier.
By the time I was in the first grade I remember that I was a very good reader for my age and was usually ahead of everyone else. Of course at that age that made me feel very smart and unique. I was one of those kids that would constantly volunteer to read and I think that it was because of that enthusiasm that I had for reading that also led me to be a better speller at that age. There was a time when my mother had a parent teacher conference with my second grade teacher and Mrs. Huerta recommended that my mother did not teach me how to read and write Spanish because she said it would confuse me while I was learning how to read and write English. My mother did not think it made sense to do that because I already knew how to read Spanish and I was still doing quite good in class. I do not know exactly how Mrs. Huerta thought it would affect me, but I think that it was an excellent thing to know both languages. I think that it caused me to be a better reader because of the similarities in vocabulary. Although, now that I have been in school since kindergarten and throughout that time being taught and learned to read only in English, I have become a much better reader and writer in the English language. It is difficult for me to, for example, read a novel in Spanish because I am not used to doing so and I do not have the same knowledge for Spanish vocabulary.
During that time in elementary school I began to develop the love that I have for reading. I loved to read any books that the teacher had and enjoyed the time that the class was spent in the library. I loved when either the teacher or librarian had a reading session for the class and read books to us. It was the 5th or 6th grade when I first began to read short chapter books and it was because I searched in the library or I ordered them. At that time the chapter books seemed very long compared to the others and I enjoyed reading these because there was more detail, more to be explained and more to think about. When I began to read actual chapter books or those with 100 to 200 pages, was when I was in the 7th and 8th grade. The author that I began to have a strong interest in was Stephen King. I guess I developed in interest in his novels because of the mystery and suspense in them. At that time I started to read many of his novels and of other authors like him.
It was not until the time that I was a sophomore in high school that I feel I actually learned how to read. It was in Mr. Agler's English class where things like metaphor and allusion were first introduced to me. I absolutely loved reading the novels that were assigned and perhaps it was not so much what the novel was about, but because I knew what to look for. It was in this class where I first read Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome and since that time it is one of my top 5 favorite novels. This was the time when I became much more interested in reading different authors and in learning what literature was. I was much more interested in the classic novels and learning what it was that made them different from what I was used to reading. Although I began to love reading Shakespeare's sonnets I still enjoy the time I spend reading Koontz or Bradbury.
By the time I was in the first grade I remember that I was a very good reader for my age and was usually ahead of everyone else. Of course at that age that made me feel very smart and unique. I was one of those kids that would constantly volunteer to read and I think that it was because of that enthusiasm that I had for reading that also led me to be a better speller at that age. There was a time when my mother had a parent teacher conference with my second grade teacher and Mrs. Huerta recommended that my mother did not teach me how to read and write Spanish because she said it would confuse me while I was learning how to read and write English. My mother did not think it made sense to do that because I already knew how to read Spanish and I was still doing quite good in class. I do not know exactly how Mrs. Huerta thought it would affect me, but I think that it was an excellent thing to know both languages. I think that it caused me to be a better reader because of the similarities in vocabulary. Although, now that I have been in school since kindergarten and throughout that time being taught and learned to read only in English, I have become a much better reader and writer in the English language. It is difficult for me to, for example, read a novel in Spanish because I am not used to doing so and I do not have the same knowledge for Spanish vocabulary.
During that time in elementary school I began to develop the love that I have for reading. I loved to read any books that the teacher had and enjoyed the time that the class was spent in the library. I loved when either the teacher or librarian had a reading session for the class and read books to us. It was the 5th or 6th grade when I first began to read short chapter books and it was because I searched in the library or I ordered them. At that time the chapter books seemed very long compared to the others and I enjoyed reading these because there was more detail, more to be explained and more to think about. When I began to read actual chapter books or those with 100 to 200 pages, was when I was in the 7th and 8th grade. The author that I began to have a strong interest in was Stephen King. I guess I developed in interest in his novels because of the mystery and suspense in them. At that time I started to read many of his novels and of other authors like him.
It was not until the time that I was a sophomore in high school that I feel I actually learned how to read. It was in Mr. Agler's English class where things like metaphor and allusion were first introduced to me. I absolutely loved reading the novels that were assigned and perhaps it was not so much what the novel was about, but because I knew what to look for. It was in this class where I first read Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome and since that time it is one of my top 5 favorite novels. This was the time when I became much more interested in reading different authors and in learning what literature was. I was much more interested in the classic novels and learning what it was that made them different from what I was used to reading. Although I began to love reading Shakespeare's sonnets I still enjoy the time I spend reading Koontz or Bradbury.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sarah Michaels "Sharing Time"
This reading reminded me so much of when I was in elementary school and the times when we were asked to bring something to class for "show and tell." I remember that I enjoyed the time taken to do things like this because it was an opportunity for me to tell everyone of some exciting or different thing that my family and I did. I recalled this because Michaels mentions sharing time in Mrs. Jones' class as a "unique speech event" where the children used a "highly marked intonation contour" that they did not do in other activities. I think that most children do like when a special time is set aside specifically for them because it is when they are able to share something of their like. It is when they can tell the other kids that there is something different or special about them. I think that it is an opportunity for kids to feel important and unique because they are sharing something that other kids may not know about. For example Mindy had the opportunity to tell the class about her experience at camp and how she learned to make candles.
Another thing that I found interesting was her findings in the differences in discourse between white and black children. Perhaps it is that I have not spent much time around young children, but I had not thought about this before. I would not have thought that there were differences in the manner that they described events. I did not know or think that there would be differences in focus of topics between the white and black children because they are a group of children of the same age and are all in the first grade. Although at the end of the reading she does analyze Mrs. Jones conversation with Deena and does try to make it a little clearer and explains that perhaps Deena was not given the opportunity to explain herself because of Mrs. Jones' questions. I think that what she meant by this was that the questions simply confused Deena when she was trying to find the words for the connections she had already thought of.
I do agree with Michaels when she says in the conclusion that what causes these types of problems are "unintentional mismatches in conversation style." What I think this means is that teachers are used to or set to a certain way of teaching that they probably attempt to get the child to make sense of things too quickly and try to help them by asking questions. Although it may not be that the child forgot what they were talking about, but they are simply searching for the words to explain what they are thinking.
Another thing that I found interesting was her findings in the differences in discourse between white and black children. Perhaps it is that I have not spent much time around young children, but I had not thought about this before. I would not have thought that there were differences in the manner that they described events. I did not know or think that there would be differences in focus of topics between the white and black children because they are a group of children of the same age and are all in the first grade. Although at the end of the reading she does analyze Mrs. Jones conversation with Deena and does try to make it a little clearer and explains that perhaps Deena was not given the opportunity to explain herself because of Mrs. Jones' questions. I think that what she meant by this was that the questions simply confused Deena when she was trying to find the words for the connections she had already thought of.
I do agree with Michaels when she says in the conclusion that what causes these types of problems are "unintentional mismatches in conversation style." What I think this means is that teachers are used to or set to a certain way of teaching that they probably attempt to get the child to make sense of things too quickly and try to help them by asking questions. Although it may not be that the child forgot what they were talking about, but they are simply searching for the words to explain what they are thinking.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
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