All I Asking For Is My Body, Part III, Dialogue

This is an excellent story of a Hawaiian Japanese American boy who is coming of age during World War II, and also a dirt poor time of working class Hawaiians. I found this to be a heart breaking story of this teenage boy who has a longing of a life of his own, but instead he is faced with huge debts that his parents left him with because of their misfortune and bad decisions and also the poor labor conditions.

All characters in this story struggle I noticed but they seem to persist on with family loyalty, guts and humor. I feel the title and story has an aspect that is about a coming-of-age, the internal struggles of a Japanese family or Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans). The title is about finding the old ways grating and confining but yet also finding pride in heritage as Tosh, does one of the main characters. Kiyoshi, the other main character is more comfortable in the divide between the Hawaiians and Japanese divide and just wants to understand the good points of the old ways, but knows his generation is different. Tosh is the one who says, “All I asking for is my body” which is an emotional statement. I also feel that the way the title is worded is due to the author, Murayama who kept traditional English, but much of the dialogue is Hawaiian pidgin Creole, which captures to me the difference between the ways the issei and Nisei communicate as well as strongly but subtly shows the divide between the two cultures and the life on the Hawaiian plantation which is another draw that I feel is related to the title of this book. The title fascinates me because it gives a realistic way to see races pit against one another to benefit corporations milling cane, this also resonates in today’s political world.

Segregation by debt is depicted in this story well, as well as keeping poor in their place being shown such as Kiyoshi’s family as they are trapped in their massive debt and low wages and also resembles the title. Tosh too supports the title as it is shown he is suffocated as if he is in prison, both boys reactions are varied but yet the complexity of their emotions are reflected in the story which reflects the title.

Concluding that the title captures Japanese-American experience in Hawaii, plantation life, reactions to Pearl Harbor bombing, the traditional Japanese family system and the confidence the characters have in themselves. This is displayed in Kiyoshi as he has a very strong family community structure around him.

This book is very well told in the eyes of perceptive Nisei who are in difficult situations and forced to make tough choices and completely reflects the title for me because of this as well as it gives a feel of living through your ancestors and just wanting your own title.

Lastly, this book and title truly are a power of emotions for the reader as to how a man is in search of himself.

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part II, Dialogue

Why does Kiyoshi believe Obaban is a substitute for his mom?

I believe Kiyoshi gets the idea that Obaban is a substitute for his mom from his mother’s belief in superstitions, she thinks if someone gets away with a bad deed then someone is going to pay for it and not necessarily the person who committed the bad deed this person somehow replaces them she believes. This is also where the term “substitute comes from in the book.

Kiyoshi’s mother becomes very ill and is hospitalized; he is to look after her and the younger children while his father is fishing. Obanan seems to be the one who lifts his mother’s spirits as she is doing poorly. Obanan goes onto to tell Kiyoshi about bachi, which means doing something bad and getting away with it. Obanan then says that if his mother can find a substitute to take her place of death because of her bad luck she may be freed from it before it is too late.

Kiyoshi’s mother than explains her substitute theory to him at this time thinking she was near death. She tells Kiyoshi that she is next in line in her family to die because she believes that it happens in fours. Kiyoshi’s uncle died from tuberculosis, his grandmother from grief, and his grandfather from a stroke, so she thinks it is now her turn in the family line. She went on to explain that it is receiving the punishment for someone’s bad deeds in her family which Kiyoshi believes her.

Almost near her death Kiyoshi receives bad news and finds out that Obanan died of a stroke and not his mother. He is relieved and in the story we read that she becomes better and this concluded that what she told Kiyoshi is true in that Obaban took her place and died as her substitute for someone’s sins.

Week 14 Rules for Writers

I chose to give an overview of the chapters I found extremely helpful throughout the course in Diana Hackers, Rules for Writers book. The chapters I found most helpful were the ones dealing with writing research papers. The book gave specific guidelines and examples to help me through the research and arguing to construct an organized paper.
One of the areas in the book was Chapter 46 on constructing arguments which advises on how to construct a paper including the arguments. The chapter gives suggestions on how to backup the argument with facts and expert opinions with examples of papers which was extremely helpful to me because then I could see how the suggestions were used.
Chapter 47 I learned how to evaluate arguments and tactics writers use to argue their points. I think being able to see writers evaluate each other’s arguments and suggestions on avoiding pitfalls helped me to improve in these areas, especially because it offered specific arguments so that I could determine the problems of the arguments.
Chapter 48 was also helpful on conducting research, by helping you pick a topic and determine a research strategy. The book shows traditional and non-traditional sources of information, as well as suggestions on how to narrow a search when looking on the internet to write your paper.
The chapter I found the most valuable was chapter 49 evaluating sources, it gave specific guidelines on determining how valuable information is for my topic and how realiable the information is to my topic by giving a checklist to help me through writing my paper.
All these chapters gave specific information to easily and clearly help me from picking my topic, developing my arguments to researching the topic and being able to backup the topic with reliable sources. I will hang on to this book for future use.

All I Asking for is My Body Week 14

All I Asking For Is My Body

Who is Makot? Do you feel sorry for him? What are your thoughts about him and the way he copes with his parents?

Makot is a teenage boy living in Pepelau, Hawaii with his parents they are a traditional Japanese family who migrated to the sugar plantation; he is also the main character of the story. Makot finds himself always hanging out with kids much younger than him, like Kiyosh. Makot comes from a wealthy family and seems to like to spend money on his group of friends and because of this I believe is the reason no one his age will hang out with him, they make fun of him and his family. There seems to be an oddity about Makot, he is always having his group of friends over for dinner. This is when Kiyoshi acquired the feeling that Makot’s parents act very strange and told his folks and they responded by saying that Makot’s parents are bad people and live a questionable life.

Makot appears to me to be somewhat childish, this could possibly be because his parents do not spend a lot of time with him as well as check up on what is doing, he seems to run free a lot. This could also be why his behavior toward his parents is arrogant and angered. I believe that Makot learned this behavior from his parents they are not a good role model and therefore the way they act or treat him affects the way Makot treats them. I also think this is why no one Makot’s age wants to be friends with him, which I find very sad.

Kiyoshi’s mother feels Makot is a bad influence and knows that he is getting caught up in the ideas that Makot introduced him to and they are not traditional ways she feels. Eventually, Kiyoshi has to tell Makot he cannot play with him anymore.

I think that Makot is losing his friends either because he is trying to buy them or because his parents are not approved of either way it seems there is always separation because of social -economic status.

Extra Credit week 13 Dartmouth's Program Writing About Film

“Extra Credit Dartmouth’s Writing Program on Writing About Film”
By Daye Richardson April 23, 2011
English 100 Section # 8736 Instructor: Servais

"Other cultures and nations have different values and so produce different sorts of films. Sometimes these films baffle us. We might watch a French film, for example, and wonder why it's funny. Or we might watch a Russian film and wonder why the director never calls for a close up. These observations are in fact excellent starting places. Consider differences. Find out if these differences reflect something about the national character, or if they reflect trends in the national cinema. You may find that you have something interesting to say."
—Dartmouth Writing Program, Writing about Film
In this extra credit assignment I took a look at Dartmouth’s writing program on writing about film which I found very helpful. This program contains a number of materials that answer a very important question about what an academic paper is as well as provide information on researching topics for writing.
I found it useful that this program was designed in categories of writing and getting to know glossary terms. The categories included: writing academically academically which was about starting the paper and having a critical eye, in humanities which explains how to write with tools for a art history-English-film-music-religion or philosophy paper, in social sciences gives great hints on the biology and chemistry of the paper, writing about sciences explains a lot of the same tools and advice for social science but without a social environment, and finally in special tasks which basically gives you hints on using English as a second language in writing, overcoming disabilities, how to write for a job or professional audience and which I found interesting was the writing a graduate school application.
This glossary of categories is referred back to many times throughout the program to use when analyzing movies before, during and after viewing them. This program discusses how to analyze the film in a review and a comprehensive analysis. Different types of film papers that can be written was pointed out, along with analyzing behind the scenes, sequence of parts of the film, the lighting and the history of the film to use in writing a paper about film.
The program talks about writing tips, which I found a great tool to store for myself and how not to write the paper as a review by using the word “I” and do not limit as you write in discussion of plot characters.
Throughout this program I learned at ways to look at and analyze movies and how the author suggests doing research on writing a paper. What I found is that looking at the reviews of certain films and what the director’s style is in film making was critical in analyzing a film to write a paper.
I found it helpful and well noted for future use on the information given on writing about film and the suggestions on writing from fellow students which to me is using the critiquing to help write a final paper. This program also addressed how to come up with a topic for a paper, developing your thesis, structure with logic and argument which were main points that I reviewed in this program and will take with me for future use.
Concluding that the main helpful tips of this program for me were the writing tips in writing about film being no different than other kinds of humanities papers was very useful and they included Don’t simply summarize a film or summarize camera angles or editing techniques, don’t limit yourself in talking about plot and characters, and lastly avoid using “I” so that you don’t fall into a review in writing your paper.
The last point that was stated was as prevalent that film is in our lives when writing about it we must find a familiarity with the film or this will present the greatest challenge when writing a paper. We also must recognize the invisible aspects about the film and then proceed as I mentioned above in writing the kind of paper you want to write about the film.

Week 13 Essay 3 Workshop

What role does forgiveness play in smoke signals?

I wanted to start this essay with the part where Victor, a young Native American boy, is asked by his parents who his favorite Indian is and he replies “nobody”…of course they didn’t believe that answer nor settle for it. They asked him several more times and he kept saying, “nobody”, until he replied for the last time with a yell “Nobody!” He grew up not trusting people; he carries a lot of bitterness and hopelessness. This leads me into why I chose how forgiveness plays a role in this particular film.

Forgiveness is strongly portrayed in the part where Victor throws his father’s ashes off the bridge into the river and lets out his primal scream, but what I noticed that is also conveyed in this part is Victor is also able to let go of the bitterness and hopelessness he has carried with him his whole life since childhood. What ties forgiveness all together in this film is the last line of the movie showing Thomas asking “if we forgive our fathers, what is left?” This line is an adaption of the film, which makes me wonder why it is so hard forgiving those that are closest to us and usually it isn’t until they are no longer living and then we realize how much it helps, just as Victor experienced and revealed through this film. I believe that forgiveness gives us freedom and love possibly without the stigma of “daddy” that weighs us down. The last line in the film portraying forgiveness is taken from the poem written by Dick Lourie, called “forgiving our Fathers”. Lourie, is a self-described beatnik poet that brought a beauty to the motional climax of this film through his poem.
(Referenced website:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080627084016AAbcdTe)


I must say the film also coaxed my response out, of emotional abandonment I have with my father, so as I sat watching, crying out as if a blubbering-fest was taken place, I found that I had something in common with Victor self-reconciliation. I truly felt the movie tenderly moved through love, pain and hopelessness through twisted past and present scenes so well, you can see in these scenes how the emotions were faced and felt by Victor and Thomas, I too sat there watching and experiencing them within myself.
Watching this film I could see the alienation and reconciliation displayed through the Native American eyes of Victor and Thomas as they begin the film toward understanding of two opposites shared on common culture land.

Victor had to forgive the years of abuse and alcoholism that destroyed his family as it raged through his life from his father, until he separated from his mother and eventually his father died in a fire. This is also depicted in the beginning of the film narrated by Thomas of children who are born of fire and ash. Then the film opens up displaying the struggle Victor undergoes facing his past and recovering his lost identity from the personal effects of his father in a warrior role he takes on a journey with his friend Thomas in a sensitive manner.

This film is a depiction of contemporary Native American culture through a journey of Thomas and Victor Joseph’s lives woven together that leads us through the film with keen understanding of a sensitivity of universal human emotion and social commentary with love, regret, pain and forgiveness which can be related to and not just that but that these characters show moments of humor, sadness through the past and present that we understand. Both of these boys learn acceptance, human compassion, perseverance understanding and forgiveness in which is sad and comforting in this film and also opened me up to care about them. I too compared my life experiences of learning to accept and forgive my father with compassion and understanding to let go and go on with my life.

The forgiveness shown in this film certainly made me think, I wondered if Victor needed to find forgiveness for his father because his father could not forgive himself for the life he gave his family, which certainly gave me heavy thoughts into my own life of suffering of this. I also believe that by Victor forgiving his father he will then be able to move on with his own life as I have mine and possibly make his life for his children different then his own. I also thought that possibly it is us that needs to ask for forgiveness and that we are here to teach our fathers and not the other way around and we may need to find forgiveness for our fathers in our age and not in theirs or at their deaths. Forgiveness is the central theme of this movie and is important to viewers everywhere, it is about letting go and what holding on does to us and even learning to forgive the unforgivable. This film is about what has happened in our past and our present and what we become because of things our fathers did when we were young and how find forgiveness from the rage. This film has such a strong plot that triggers lost feelings of not ever understanding our fathers or ourselves because things were never expressed the way they were meant to be or things were done that couldn’t be forgiven.

This film does not receive the recognition it deserves and it seems to be largely misunderstood as it shows the quality of a very sad life on a Native American Indian reservation. I think that this movie talks to everyone about forgiveness no matter what ethnic background they may be and I think if it hadn’t been for my English teacher I may have missed watching this amazing film myself. Thank you!!

References:
1. Alexie, S. (1998). Forgiveness on movie Smoke Signals . In Smoke Signals (p.
196). English : Hyperion; 1st edition (July 1, 1998). (Reprinted from
Smoke Signals , 2008, November 21, Movie , pp. ISBN-13: 978-0786883929)

"This is What it means to say Phoenix Arizona" Dialogue

Are you more impressed with the film or the story? Why?

“This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”. Some of the differences of the story and the film are that in the short story they travel to Arizona by airplane while in the film they travel by bus. Other major changes include the addition of parts in the story for the film which was possibly to increase the length for viewers. One example in the film was when Thomas and Victor walk to Victor’s Father’s home from the bus and in the book they take a taxi. Suzy Song is also in the movie and not discussed in any of the stories of the book. In addition, I noticed that they added the dialogue and actions with the part about the fry bread in the film and this is not talked about in the book at all. It seems in the film a lot of phrases, places and characters were added that were not mentioned in the book which is why I was impressed more watching the film than reading the book.

I would have to say that whether you are a book reader or a film buff, this story is a look at sometimes difficult, sometimes brilliant times of these characters lives but from printed page to the big screen both capture a remarkable story that it is hard to decide which I liked more. Although the film did include parts that were not in the book which seemed to give the story zest to me, but in the book the characters seemed more real than they did in the film.

The book has a great way of teaching the way of Native Americans and how they were treated in the past which is not much different then now. Although I feel the book is a rough draft of the story as to where the film develops into a much more interesting story.

I think the film has great actors which gave the story life much more to me than the book and this is the main reason I preferred the movie over the book, Evan Adam is brilliant as Thomas and he brought a story of Native Americans that I think is somewhat understated out in a better way through the movie than you clearly see in the book. What I found with the film that I didn’t with the book is the understanding of American Indians lives on a reservation which included: poverty, inability to improve their economic status, addiction, public alcoholism, racism and domestic violence. The scene in the film that this brings to mind is when Victor’s father lights Thomas’ parent’s home on fire being intoxicated, and the scene that shows domestic violence is highlighted by Victor’s father’s abuse to his mother. I had a better picture of the social, cultural, political and personal issues faced by American Indians living on reservations that was expressed in the film that the book didn’t seem to make as clear to me.

Clarity Chapter Rules for Writer's Week 11

I have chosen the chapter on Clarity, particularly emphasizing on untangle mixed constructions, which I need to focus on so I thought it was fitting.
I have at many times myself read emails or letters from someone that was too wordy, lacked focus, and left me confused. So, how do you compose a writing that someone actually wants to read? I understand this is crucial to getting my message across no matter what I am writing about. Clear and concise writing is vital to having words read and understood; I seem to spend a lot of time over worded thoughts.
Diana Hacker suggests, to spend some time thinking about what you are going to write, which too often I think this is overshadowed by my concern with content and I fail to express myself clearly which in return my content doesn’t even get read.
Hacker suggested pretending that you are writing for someone else that way you don’t worry about your own performance, what a great concept one I would like to hang on to and store for future use. Hacker goes on to say, that you can then focus on the performance of your words in terms of the audience who will read it rather than you as your own audience. This seems liberating to me, possibly in developing a better relationship with my writing so that I am the director of my own words, sentences, paragraphs, punctuations. Hacker mentions that carefully directed words create clarity! (94)
I slowly am getting the techniques and developing the skills of writing, although in the particular area of clarity I seem to still struggle. I am not ever sure I think clearly, so how will I be able to untangle enough to write with clarity, it all seems like a new transition. I seem to try to write more intelligently and attractively than I need to or so this is a hint that Hacker suggests is common in writers. Possibly it comes across as trying too hard and it isn’t attractive writing this way. I can see how it is more important to be clear and inviting to my readers to write with clarity rather than try to impress with language or clever ways that end up diminishing the message. So, my first lesson of this chapter is learning to inform my readers, rather than impress them. Ultimately, I stand a better chance impressing my readers with expressed points that are clear.
I usually have a general idea of what I want to say, but apparently I am not very good at capturing it in one short sentence. I seem to touch my topic with different angles and all the bits of information that I think is relevant instead of being clear about my message, which is a common mistake Hacker points out in this chapter. Thinking back about this, a lot of the time my comments are that my writing is usually readable and professional sounding, but my readers come away thinking that they understood the gist of my intent but that they can’t really say what the point was exactly. Hacker says, this is because I never really knew what it was either.
I think this may be a possibility of too many distractions; I need to find a space to clear my mind so that my writing is precise. My focus a lot of the time is eradicated, which I will now start finding space to myself for my writing without outside influences.
Also Hacker suggests developing a clear mental state for writing, by reading broadly; searching for the right words instead of intelligent sounding words, and this will provide a much more natural feel with clear fluid writing. As well as exposing myself to new ideas and perspectives which she goes onto state this opens you up to think more critically in general and enables you to concentrate on the subjects on which I am writing about.
My key ideas I will take with me from this chapter are: clearing my writing space, block off time for writing, and eliminate distractions for starters. Next, I will take time to think about my subject thoroughly and then write out in one or two short sentences the main idea I am trying to get across. Consider my purpose of the writing and my expected outcome. This will serve as a guide for structure in my writing that I can refer back to, Hacker states.
Instead of reaching for soaring words and phrases I can just write as normal people speak; of course Hacker suggests adjusting for the difference between spoken words and written words.
I also realize that a summary or thesis statement is like a company’s mission statement, it is the clear direction of whatever I am writing about. My headline acts as my guiding force for my entire piece of writing. Once I have this, as my reference point I can then begin to write with more clarity and purpose.

Smoke Signals Dialogue

Smoke Signals seems to be a successful film based exclusively of Native American Persons. The film explores the relationship between Victor Joseph and Thomas, which is important aspect of this film and what I chose to discuss for this writing.
In the beginning of the film, Thomas’s grandmother says to Victor’s mother that “Victor is a good name, because it means he’s gonna win.” I feel this is truly an inspiring part of the movie. The other scene is also in the beginning of the movie where Thomas says, “You know, there are some children who aren’t really children at all, they’re just pillars of flame that burn everything they touch. And there are some children who are just pillars of ash, that fall apart if you touch’em. Me and Victor – we were children born of flame and ash.”
The movie Smoke Signals, is written by Coeur D’ Alene Sherman Alexie and is based on a short story collection, which includes The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. For the purpose of this week Smoke Signals will be the focus of topic. The movie depicts a journey from Coeur D’ Alene reservation in Idaho to Phoenix by two teen-aged Indians, Victor Joseph and Thomas, they are headed to Victor’s fathers trailer because he has just died and Victor is returning his ashes to the reservation. This journey shows how the boys move from the reservation into the United States facing discrimination and stereotypes along the way head on. In my opinion if I may, we have all had points to make and scores to settle the Native Americans are not singled out. I think this film mirrors reality but is not overwhelming with sociological critiques.
Thomas, who Victor regards as a pest, begs to be taken along, this is basically where their relation to each other develops the central make up of the movie. Thomas is looked at as somewhat of a nerd, eccentric, a smiling young man on the reservation, the girls laugh at him, but Thomas Joseph allows him to accompany his travels. At one point in the film there is a scene where, Victor requests Thomas to “get stoic, undue his braids and lose the suit.” Thomas certainly is a complex character in the film, which blends traditional American Indian traits and contemporary American ones. An example, Thomas unties his braids at Victor’s request and puts on a T-shirt that says “Fry bread Power.” I think this is when it shows him transition in his character from the traditional to the contemporary American Indian. Thomas seems to serve as a spiritual guide for Victor. Thomas seems to be portrayed as a threat to white culture with a storytelling fetish but yet an extreme need to tell the truth.
I noticed this movie is built on honesty, partly due to the location being on a reservation and the other the way the characters are portrayed and develop and unfold in the movie and that truth is depicted much the same way that time is treated by American Indians. There is a particular scene of the movie, which I believe is the line between truth and lies that is powerful in this movie and also prior to the boys leaving where Sonya Song, Thomas Joseph’s ex-girlfriend says, “Do you want lies or the truth?” and he responded by saying, “I want both”, to me this shows a little tricky type of a character in him. Thomas seems to represent traditional Indian values, but it seems he has little concern about whether his stories are truth or not. Such as when he lied to Sonya about Victor hitting a winning shot, but in reality he missed the shot and lost the game. These stories he told seem to be a theme of the movie for his character.
Victor and Arnold are brought together through Victor’s father, who rescued Thomas as an infant from a house fire that killed his parents, so Thomas considers him a hero. On the other side, Victor has to endure his alcoholism, domestic violence and as I will discuss again later abandonment from his father, he has deep love and bitter resentment toward his father for these things. The boys grow up together as neighbors, fighting each other and at the same time forming a close alliance. Victor being the stoic and pragmatic one and Thomas more idealistic and traditional, this shows in the film as Victor’s irritation with Thomas and Thomas’s fascination with Victor. They both are true to their identity as Indians but their perspectives differ throughout the movie although the trip seems to be a soul-searching endeavor for both of them. Arnold, Victor’s father dies in Phoenix where he lived after leaving Victor’s mother Arlene this is what leads to the journey that the boys will embark together cross country to retrieve his ashes and belongings.
Continuing into the relationship of Victor and Thomas there is a scene where they are heading back to the reservation in an old truck which belonged to Thomas’s dad and they have a heated argument. Thomas shows aggression and yells at Victor telling him that he doesn’t know who he is and accuses him of making his mother cry although most of the time they are cordial and Victor always seems enthused to hear Thomas’s stories. There are several scenes that show a very abrasive and confrontational relationship between the two of them. There is also a great deal of humor in the movie that seems to be a way the movie uses this to show the characters connecting with people who have nothing in common.
I must mention a particular funny scene where there was a moment in the end of the film that Victor and Thomas were praised for their bravery because they witnessed a drunken driving accident. I mention this particular scene because it caught my attention that the nurse said, the two of them are like the lone ranger and tonto and Thomas corrects the nurse by saying, “No, we’re more like Tonto and Tonto.” As though it is depicted to show how American Indians do not always stick together. I also see this throughout the film by how Victor in the beginning wants nothing to do with Thomas and that he may even be using him for his money because they argue and fight throughout the film. It is also said in the movie that “the most intense competition on any reservation is Indians versus Indians.”
This movie is a true journey between two different types of men who form a comradeship as Victor finds the healing he needs to forgive his father. We see flashbacks of both of these men’s lives throughout the movie, which to some extent threw my attention off a little; although it also reminded me to pay attention that I am not doing this in my writing as I generally do. I also see that these flashbacks give a vivid idea of how events throughout their lives affected them in their present. The scene I will point out that shows this is when Victor remembered a party his parents had when he was a child that leads to his father leaving and his mother to stop drinking. My belief is that these flashbacks are showing a gradual view of what happened in these boys lives and it gives us a way of connecting to the movie. This gives comfort to the movie but it also tells the story of accepting whatever fate has handed to these boys.
The final scene of the movie is what ties it altogether for me, Victor finally poured his fathers ashes into the river and during this moment we hear his words and message of forgiveness which seems to be that the movie is not only about honesty as I believed in the beginning but also about forgiveness, he thanks Thomas for his support and wisdom, I think this is where the movie shows an understanding of a more tangible and meaningful relationship between Thomas and Victor. I also felt a sense of redemption towards Victor’s feelings of his father and also of his own identity and a way he could separate from his abandonment of his father.

Happy Endings, Obituary and Oompah Loompahs Week 10

The author talks about Shirley Temple and how much the main character Lovey looked forward to watching her on Sunday mornings. Every time she watched her it made her cry even though she rarely saw the endings because her and her best friends Jerry had to leave for Sunday school. As Lovey says, "I used to wish I was just like her, with perfect blond ringlets and pink cheeks and pout lips.”(25). Calhoon, Lovey’s sister teased her and called her an Oompah Loompah after she gets a perm which turns out looking like what they called a Toni perm that resembles an afro and definitely not the ringlet curls Shirley Temple had. This is the contrast of Shirley Temple and Oompah Loompahs that the author is referencing to in this story. Shirley Temple represents who Lovey wants to be, she sees Shirley as never being teased for how she talks and looks the way that Lovey and she considers herself ugly, struggling with standard English, so she was placed in the “dumb” class; as she puts it, and her family often calls her stupid.

Oompah Loompahs are completely the opposite and not what Lovey wants to be, they are the one’s teasing her for the way she talks and calling her names. Shirley Temple is Lovey’s idol, who she feels she needs to be to be accepted. My meaning of the contrast is the detailed description of Lovey’s rapture of infatuation with Shirley Temple’s perfect ringlets, cherubic smile, bright eyes, happy endings and her love for Grandpa. Lovey looks up to Shirley Temple and wants to be just like her not the girl she is who is awkward and struggles to fit in while struggling to be herself. Lovey has taken images such as Shirley Temple and Oompah Loompahs and compares herself to them and finds she ends up with a low self esteem and lacking in many areas. She is negatively shaping her identity between the contrast of Shirley Temple who she wants to be and Oompah Loompahs that she doesn't want to be.

Chapter 48 Week 10

Being able to distinguish between good and bad arguments is vital to being able to be successful in incorporating research into writing. Most good arguments or reasonable arguments I have noticed use strategies and are generally used by drawing analogies, tracing causes and weighing options when making assumptions that are effective in writing. Bad or fallacious arguments are difficult to recognize as Hacker points out in chapter 48 and the strategies that are used to twist your writing into a fallacious one.

Basically chapter 48 main topic is arguments and you first want to make sure your tactics are between reasonable and fallacious by staying away from generalizing. Hacker also shows us how to use inductive reasoning by recognizing whether your evidence is sufficient, representative and relevant. Cause and effect is another good way to argue your point, but Hacker does suggest watching out for the post hoc fallacy which is an approach writer's do to show one event comes from another. You must weigh all options to be fair and then make your assumptions. Lastly, you deduce a conclusion by putting things together using deducive reasoning Hacker explains in this chapter. The three steps in deducive reasoning Hacker informs us about are called: Syllogism and they are: major premise, minor premise and conclusion.

Next Hacker explains when evaluating arguments you want to understand the difference between legitimate and unfair emotional appeals. I really like the idea Hacker shares about writing an argument and that is you will find when someone opposes views it actually helps you gain credibility in your writing to make it better. I learned from this that it is important to quote the opposing viewers because it is accurate and fair, this will definitely be something I will pay attention to incorporating in my writing from now on. I also learned from this chapter to watch out for emotional appeals because you want to use them the right way.

Learning about arguments has been interesting and confusing because it can be so challenging to use them in writing.

Chapter 47 Rules for Writers week 9

In reading this chapter, I am starting to see how the aspects are all coming together to be a good writer, one of these is learning how to construct a good argument with a good logical argument introduction in writing. You also must understand how to get to the point and write convincingly about a topic and not ramble on. In this chapter it was also advised to not worry as much about anticipating a reader’s objection and more on building your argument or own case in your writing. In doing this you need to provide support and not arguments with alternatives, it means that you just focus on the evidence of the argument. All this was so beneficial for me to read and write about as part of my assignment I felt it better implanted this in my brain to utilize going forward in learning the art of constructing good arguments in my writing so that I can recognize my strengths and weaknesses in my writing process.

Diana Hacker has such a commonsense language and terminology that has been so easy to follow and learn from with each chapter and this one is no exception in providing helpful skills to evaluate and learn how to begin to write logical arguments. Hacker actually walks you through how to construct an actual argument, which for me the hands on approach makes things so much more clear and understandable. I will definitely use the tactics Hacker provided to use to argue points and avoid pitfalls; I found this to be a great tool.

In my own words I believe what writing my own argument means is including: an introduction, thesis, evidence, logical support, transitions and discussion of my sources and then I approach my writing topic with and intellectual open mind, I establish my position of the topic in a clear, logical, consistent and organized way as I consider my reader’s possible objections.

Concluding this by that if my paper must be written in an argument for the purpose of this chapter, my thesis and evidence must define and support a position that my audience could potentially disagree with. An argument is not just informing my audience of a topic. I believe this clarifies what I have read so that I can now practice these skills and tools in my writing.

Extra Credit Optional Writing Summary on Fiction Week # 9

The urge to write fiction seems god given to some and a learned skill to others, but I find it can be a bit intimidating, Purdue offers great mini courses as well as reasons you may want to write fiction, of course I think it is just because a person is compelled.
I found the major topics that Purdue discussed when writing about fiction were: pre-writing, close reading, thesis development, drafting and many others. What I found interesting are the resources this particular chapter covered on basics of plot writing, character, theme, conflict and point of view when writing fiction.

There were two of these that I really focused on, the first is plot which I have found I need to structure my writing toward my plot better and watch my organization. Basically, plot is what happens in the story, not just the action of the story, but the way the writer arranges and organizes particular actions writing the plot. The suggestion was to think of the plot as a chain reaction, which I found beneficial to keep in mind and I will keep this planted going forward as a tool to access in writing an organized sequence of events as my other events of the story are arranged. The stories meaning has to still have a selection of detail as well as the cause and effect also needs to have connection between the events that make sense are logical and believable so that the reader isn't loosing interest because its hard to follow. The plot doesn't have to be written in chronological order when writing fiction, I found this interesting but at the same time, I need to be careful that I am still clear and concise because I have found my audience can get lost in the way I interrupt this and then I write my story as I know what I am writing about and not keeping in mind of my audience. I realize I have to keep in mind there are additional tools such as Point-of-View that work with each other. Basically the plot is what examines the human relations to situations that change throughout a story.Plot also strongly depends on character along with human value or idea about an experience related to the theme of the paper.

For the purpose of what I concentrated on for chapter 47, my next tool I focused on was point-of-view, this is what refers to the perspective the writer uses when writing the story. There are three points of view in writing traditional fiction they are: Third person, which means the author tells the story. Second person: is not common in writing fiction but more common in poetry, this is that the character is not referred to by name or he or she but by you. Lastly is First Person: this is when a narrator who is a character in the story speaks or tells the story usually as the main character of the story. I have learned that which ever one of these points of view above are chosen a story can change drastically from how the writer tells it. I also will keep in mind that to know which one to use for the story is a very important tool for fiction writing.

I can see how the ability to writing fiction is not easy to achieve without practice and a set of tools, skills and techniques. Obviously understand the basics of storytelling which I have mentioned and learned about myself such as plot and point of view, that I am enthused to take away from this and use ongoing in my fiction writing.

Essay 2 Rough Draft Week 8

My Essay 2 Workshop ~ Rough Draft
By: Daye Richardson email: doccottage@yahoo.com
English100 section # 8736 instructor: Lauren Servais

The Day my Dad came home, it may seem a little confusing as to why I am relating this to the story “Shooting Dad” by Sarah Vowell and that somehow I compare myself to her story. Possibly I can help invite you into why I feel it has a relationship to my life; I will begin with the uncountable days I would get up at 6:30am every morning to get ready for the day. The one thing that was always a joy was having breakfast with my Dad at the kitchen table each morning, barely ever missing one. I always finished and hugged my dad goodbye on my way out the door to school.
Every day I came home he was there, of course along with my Mom…if for some reason he wasn’t home he always was shortly thereafter I got home.
My family and friends always looked at me and said that I was “Daddy’s little girl” proud of that I was and I didn’t mind a bit that it was broadcasted to all. I loved my daddy, looked up to him and enjoyed tagging along with him every chance I could.
People who can relate to each other share one or more of the same interests, hobbies, outlooks, ideals or personality traits. Or you can just learn to get along with almost anyone and you never know some of the people someone else knows, at any rate we all have hang-ups. I do believe though that one of the most rewarding things in the world is when you realize you relate well or similarly with someone. It is a great bridge being built and not a hopeless situation that we can relate and enjoy others and they us as well. We don’t automatically understand other people and of course there are millions such as Sarah and her Dad who don’t understand how to get along but there are millions out there who can and do. We need to grow in our understanding for people, just as we don’t individually just become for example a pianist, there are insights and principles to understand and practice just as there are in getting along with people. The best place to start is with ourselves, by taking inventory of our own personality traits and attitudes and this is because the feelings we have down deep about ourselves influence how we feel about others.
Human beings have several basic
emotional needs, including the feeling
that one belongs, that he is loved,
and that he is a worthwhile person. ~ unknown

We must remember to accept people “As is”, the problem occurs when we tend to want a person to change. We can learn to focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses. One last thing on this thought, people sense whether we are being honest or not and there are aspects of honesty that make the difference whether you get along with a person or you don’t.
It certainly just seems like yesterday to me when the news came, they were shipping my dad over-seas for 2 years. “I thought mom was kidding, right…Their not taking my dad, he won’t go! We won’t let him! I couldn’t believe it not for days, weeks, until the day came and he was gone, Gone!! I sunk, I knew at that moment I wasn’t going to see my Dad, of course I couldn’t even contemplate two years, I couldn’t get past tomorrow. But, two years, not seeing my Dad, no more breakfast together talking about our days, joking around, empty I sat…I couldn’t wrap myself around the thought no more hugs before I left for school.
Months I would lay in bed every morning when I woke up knowing I wouldn’t see my Dad downstairs, his face, his hug… twenty minutes would pass daily and my mom would call me finally, “Daye”! You won’t have time for breakfast, I didn’t eat at the table for six months after he left, I didn’t care but I got up anyway knowing I had to leave for school in 30 minutes.
Somehow when I got to school as hard as it was to smile for days otherwise my friends always made it easier.
I relate my story and myself a lot to Sarah Vowell, my family was the same I had a sister who never had anything in common with my Dad as far as activities like I did and also unlike Sarah and her sister, my sister and I received equal attention. We both grew up like Sarah, in a home where we were free to make our own choices and voice our own opinions, not living in town the same as Sarah, we grew up on a ranch in the Columbia Gorge Oregon population 25,000 if you count the animals (that was a joke we passed around town just to chuckle). Our property resembled Sarah’s families as it also included an orchard, horse pasture although on 20 acres which Sarah only had 2 acres of woods and our property was all pasture land.
We also were not much of a political family per-say that we partitioned off territories, but yet my era was much different then Sarah’s yet very similar lifestyles as far as Dad being the center of our home. Also my dad and I had our differences at times with different view-points but we didn’t collide as often as Sarah with her father, although my sister and my dad never seemed to see the same eye on anything, but somehow we all managed to sit and eat and talk with compassion.
I believe a lot of my feelings of similarity to Sarah come from our fathers living very self-absorbed our whole lives in their own interests, one of my dad’s also being guns but, yet he always tried somehow to include us in his interests, differently then Sarah though he enjoyed sharing our interests as well. I didn’t grow up with antlers on my walls but many guns and rifles of all varieties lined them. Dad’s shop wasn’t messy but he definitely enjoyed having his own space, just as I did mine. My domain similar to Sarah’s but called the “Peach Room” where all walls, curtains, bed spread were painted peach and my trim cream. My sister much different she liked blue. Oh, yeah, similar in the sense that I too like musical instruments; piano, drum set, guitars and other doodads as well. Funny, I can say that now without skipping a beat, as where before even saying a word that had “dad” in it would bring me to my knees sobbing.
My sister and I also never had to be the up-talkers to impress suitors such as Sarah did, but he sure liked to show off his prize possession guns and then my sister and I. I also don’t remember a time my sister and I didn’t like to go shooting with my Dad unless we were sick, we did love Dad!!
So, as Sarah’s dad was building his replica of the cannon called the “big horn gun” his most elaborate tool of death, my father too was a man that would putter in his space called “the shop”, I would sneak out every chance I got to hang with my Dad, but my mom didn’t like me out there much, she said, his verbal expressions would get away from him. My time was always cut short from the “the shop”, and we didn’t have a long history of nefarious ancestors as Sarah did but we seem to be a little piece of everything under the sun.
My great moments I shared with my dad were also some of the same as Sarah; although my dad never had to change my mind about guns…It sometimes worried me when he pulled the trigger the gun always got bigger and the BOOM ~ louder! Oh, and not to mention I love music…Sarah Vowell!! I too had many Awe Hah…moments when I would think, Oh, My God, My dad and I am the same person and I liked it, well so did my sister.
September 13, 1987, on my 16th birthday, I woke up and lay in my bed for twenty minutes just like any other day when I would have been jumping to my feet and full of energy excited for My Birthday day, not this year. I still felt the pain from a year ago, the day dad left. My mom in the background faintly, I hear “Daye” you are not going to have time for breakfast and again as usual I wasn’t hungry for it, but today mom made my favorite eggs in the middle of toast. I sat down not any more radiant then I was prior I slowly put the fork to my mouth and noticed a note with my name on it, puzzled I opened the official looking envelope and inside a small hand-printed paragraph…”My darling daughter, Daye..I love you so much “Happy Birthday” and I will see you soon, Love Dad. Dad is coming home, to me? Soon!! I instantly rose, yelled “Yippee” ran out the door and my day was bright, my feet skipping, my heart racing the world was changing and my dad was coming back home!! Maybe at this point, I felt more like Chang-rae Lee in “Coming Home Again”, we would gather around the table again and share breakfast, how our day went and be a family together again!
All my friends, today on my birthday saw the spark, the gleam the joy of happiness radiating from and knew…my dad was going to be home soon! When, I see him they all knew I would throw my arms around him as I always did and he knew and give him the biggest hug until it hurt!!
Reference:
1. Servais, L., professor. (n.d.). Shooting Dad [Chapter Four]. In English 100
College Reading & Writing (pp. 19-23). Santa Rosa, Ca: LAD Publishing, Inc. . . .
Tracking number SRJ0198

2. Servais, L., Professor. (n.d.). Coming Home Again [Chapter Three]. In English
100 College Reading & Writing (pp. 11-18). Santa Rosa, CA: LAD Publishing, Inc. . . .
Tracking number: SRJ0198

3. Narramore, C. M., Dr. (1998-2011). Psychology for living (Version Narramore
Christian Foundation) [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.ncfliving.org/
bk_123_relate4.php

Extra Credit: Optional Writing Topic Summary

Starting this writing topic on Purdue’s Online Writing Lab, it seemed to make sense to reference the first sentence considering I have little or no experience in writing an extended literary essay and I definitely didn’t take into consideration that I am essentially writing an argument. This seemed very interesting to me on how it suggested how to become comfortable with the uses of quotations, paraphrases and summaries basically to summarize and synthesize a comprehensive discussion about the issue. The examples showed me how to summarize the topic phrase or sentence to generate free flow in developing an outline. Reading Purdue’s online writing lab I also found out that it ranks among the best known and most highly valued.
First, I encountered the understanding that there are four genres of essays: description, narration, exposition and argumentation or “EDNA” for short known as the modes of discourse. I went onto what makes for a good extended literary essay one that requires research, and found that you argue about your interpretation or perspective of an evaluated critical judgment assuring that it is a valid one. This online lab stated that you must start with a specific detailed thesis statement which includes your perspective and that it must be debatable.
Basically the argument/evaluation is the extent that the essay develops an argument relevant to the research question of the essay from the materials being considered and that a conclusion is consistent with the argument.
I found this very interesting and exciting to understand the meaning of this and now when I intensively look for a literary topic that is in the scope for discussion, I can then engage personal critical judgment of literature establishing critical comment as I develop persuasive views in a structured manner appropriate to the study of the literature. I see the argument as the backbone of the essay and that my personal views should be supported with reasoned argument that persuades my audience of the validity of my argument, which I will keep with me as my tool of knowledge that I learned when I write my essays. I also noted that a narration of the action or straightforward description of a literary summary should be avoided in the argument.
The conclusion of this literary writing essay is that the argument should come out of it and not introduce new matter in the end or repeat the introduction but yet present a synthesis of the discussion. In knowing this I better understand the process and going forward using this as a tool and guideline.

Insufficiency of Honesty Week 8

“The Insufficiency of Honesty" Dialogue
a. Choose one of the examples Carter provides. Do you agree with Carter's reasoning?
Stephen L. Carter states that “one cannot have integrity without being honest but one can certainly be honest yet have little integrity.” He also states that “honesty can be used quite selfishly.” As he points out there are specific differences between honesty and integrity.
The statement in the first paragraph I used of Carter’s is linked to integrity and honesty and I do agree with his reasoning. Honesty is most laudable when we risk harm to ourselves he said, which is why I agree with his reasoning as well as he goes on to say that honesty becomes a good deal less if we instead risk harm to others when there is no gain to any other other than ourselves. I believe what he says about integrity also ties into the example I chose above and that is integrity may counsel keeping our secrets in order to spare the feelings of others as in the example of the wayward.
There are three constraints discussed in Carter’s insufficiency of Honesty essay that determined why I agree with his reasoning. One is integrity does require moral reflectiveness, second: integrity may cause conflict to be resolved and third: someone with integrity can be trusted. I also believe what ties all this together is the “American Core” that has six values necessary for good character that Carter spoke about and they are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship.
My example is that in class many times students have plenty of opportunity to cheat during tests, quizzes or assignments. Integrity is not taking advantage of these opportunities and being honest with others especially yourself. I think if integrity didn’t exist many people in these situations would copy other people’s work and be dishonest. Think of how the world is today if Martin Luther King didn’t have the integrity to fight against segregation.
I also feel that it is important to recognize that integrity and honesty are quoted in the bible and the examples I have chosen are:
1) 1 Thessalonians 2:10 “You are witnesses, and God also, how holily, justly and honest, we behaved ourselves in front of all that believe.”
2) Proverbs 2:7 “He lad up solid wisdom for the righteous: he is a shield to them that walk with integrity.”
3) Titus 2:7 “Do away with all yourself, a pattern of good works: in teaching incorruptness, gravity, sincerity.”
I do believe that integrity is taking responsibility for one’s own actions, being in the military I was taught this first hand because straying from ones core values compromises both my own and another’s integrity. In the military we defined integrity as “Doing what is right legally, and morally.” This is so successful team building can be built.
A distant relative of mine I grew up with taught me honesty, not because he was honest but because he lied all the time. It seemed he took the easiest way out of any situation and I think he felt it was the best way out. This meant telling a lie that seemed believable and when we were young it seemed cool at the time to lie and then I started going to him with a problem or issue wanting to know what to do and of course he insisted I lie. Naturally, I would and soon found out that these occasions taught me that it was more painful to be caught in the lie than to actually tell the truth and be honest. I wondered why he never learned that lesson, and I had so painfully easily. He told so many lies after lie, but what bothered me the most about him being dishonest was that he used me in his lies.
I feel like living in the world these days is hard, people are not honest with each other which to me is a problem because it seems to always lead to someone getting hurt emotionally or physically. Actually in the end the truth eventually comes out and it causes more pain and a bigger problem, it seems much easier to me to have a clean conscious. “Honesty is the best policy.” So in researching this statement I also saw a series of comments regarding the definition of honesty, what I came up with is that human quality that values integrity and truth during communication with other people. Honesty is characterized by truth and sincerity and building a positive self-image, and creating a heart-warming social atmosphere.
Concluding that my agreeing with Carter’s statement leads me to end by saying that the faith of honesty may be decreasing today from mistrust, lack of communication, deceit and hate which all decline social values. Such as the common saying “Cheater’s never win and winners never cheat.” This goes with fair play, prosperity of self and others in an honest lifestyle. You must know your limitations in life and build on your strengths to face situations where honesty pays with integrity and good self-image.

Chapter four Paragraphs

Chapter four was a great learning experience for me that I felt I greatly needed to grasp some of these pointers so my enthuiasm opened up I noticed to absorb this chapter. Focusing on main points in sentences by restating them, recapping and summarizing arguments and expanding on topics I seemed to consider the broader meaning of what this was informing me to do when I read this chapter, more than I have before which I feel will be a great benefit going forward in helping my proofreading and hearing what I write from an audience point rather than my own personal experience of knowing what I am writing. I also found that relaxing so I can focus on my choices o fmy main points and how I develop them is a great tool to have so that all my sentences flow and relate to the topic in that paragraph or basically supporting the development of my single idea of the paragraph. I gathered what this means is that each paragraph should have its own topic sentence or main idea. The paragraph Hacker stated should have three main points including the topic sentence and then the conclusion tying them all together. This will form a clear concise eligible paper for your audience which is what chooses the suitable pattern of organization for the paper and the paragraphs.

Unity was mentioned in making paragraphs coherent, using transitional words to create understanding and structure. Bascially coherence combines every paragraph and sentence to contribute to the meaning of the topic. Suggested that you make sure that the sentences look good backward and forward for a paragraph to be coherent.

I think I have learned to write a paragraph and share it with someone to see if the meaning I am trying to relate to is the meaning that is being read. this obviously is a learning skill with practice to beable to write paragraphs from the heart that make sense to your reader and I look forward to using these skills to better my skills in writing readable coherent paragraphs and sentences going forward using these tools.
Thank you ...

Shooting Dad Dialogue

Shooting Dad Dialogue

What is the significance of the title?

Sarah struggles with her relationship with her father because he admires firearms and she music, both at high octane. She also conflict's with her Dad's politics one Repulic and the other democratic under the same roof. Sarah and her sister were allowed to voice their own opinions of politics and beliefs in the house and Sarah doesnt fall short holding her tongue which causes many disputes between her father and her.

I believe that the title of this story is directly related to the last sentence "Because when I blow what used to be my dad into the earth, I want it to hurt." I feel it has some sort of Farwell to arms meaning, finally peace resting of their differences but yet somewhat similarites just in different areas.
I think Sarah and her father both disillusioned themselves into believing each of their views was right but yet their relationship struggled in a tug-o-war, but yet the same person.

I found this reading so enjoyable, I shared it with my family because the way Sarah used comparisons was so interesting to me. This story captured my attention by how she used figures of speech, my imagination was inspired which lead me to ponder into what the title actually meant of this story. I think it was Sarah's way of preparing her written statement to burry her father with closure.

I think she feels that shooting her father out of that cannon is for the love of him and what his wishes are and therefore she feels is one of the most loving acts she will perform.

So I feel that Sarah realizes that she related to her father more than was acknowledged because in reality they existed harmoniously through different passions but yet similar dedications to their respective arts. I also see how Sarah may have felt she failed to see the appeal of her father's trait as his art, she later recognized that her Dad was a driven talented enthusiast and it was her that early on failed to see the appeal firearms possessed and finding a way to bond with her father.

Chapter 3 Rules for Writers Global Revision

There are many stages of writing in which have great techniques to use but global revision definitely seems to be the most under used correctly and overlooked. I have realized a different concept of how global revision is used than I had prior to chapter three reading. We all know that writing never emerges perfectly from our minds with clarity and organization and we must travel through a series of stages to the final product. I also see how global revision and proofreading can be thought of as one in the same and I think it is important to separate these processes of revising and editing. There is definitely an overlap in the two but revision is a continual process of writing and re-writing where editing or proofreading focuses on grammar once you have a draft.
Global revision is revising and redrafting a paper till its right, you review the overall paper looking at the bigger picture, how it flows and the main point having clarity which may mean changing the direction of the paper. In a nutshell I see this as a revision where you review and change the ideas, reasoning and conclusions of a paper which it is mentioned is the process that is often resisted. This is important in clarifying the introduction, thesis and main point of a paper so that it is clear enough.
Editing is proofreading attending to the detail and usually this is done once you are happy with the idea and flow of the paper. This is done after you have done everything else; this is also the integral part of the paper. I learned great techniques on how to proofread properly in this chapter and wished I would have known them when I was doing the first essay. They include: don’t read large sections because you will miss a lot, read the paper aloud to find repetitions and missing links, use a hard copy to proofread rather than a computer screen it is useful!! Spell check is not your best friend although useful it cannot be relied on alone, because if you don’t have the right word it may not catch this.
My last point is that global revision in the book suggests that in this revising process we look at the paper fresh so that we see it again but in the view of our audience to make our point consistent. Going forward I will definitely attempt to use global revision to my advantage with more clarity of how the process is used.

Week Six "Coming Home Again"

“Coming Home Again” response: c. what’s the importance of food in this essay?
This story was so real…about a man whose family is united through his mother, who dies of stomach cancer and the family seems to fall apart.
Lee shares the food his mother cooks throughout the story as the symbolism of his mother’s tool to keep the family together. Lee knows that even when he is at boarding school, knowing he hates to be with his parents when he tastes his mother’s food he feels happy. Lee felt he bonded with his mother when he watched her cook this food was the force that brought the family together.
Everyone had their own seat at the dining table, this was the time the family came together in order. Lee’s mother always sat next to the stove as he mentioned in the story, his father on her right, on his father’s right he sat Chang-Rae Lee and then his sister sat to the right of him. The table filled with food and plates, everything seeming right as they ate and conversed together.
When Lee’s mother was stricken with cancer and could no longer sit and eat the food with the family they seemed to separate, especially after she died his sister moved back out of the house. Lee stayed in the house with his father and they continued sharing the meals now Lee made from watching his mother all those years. Nothing seemed the same, he states the color of the food was wrong and so was the taste…the touch of his mother was gone, he realized she was more than the family cook, she was their bond that kept them as a family unit, that connected them through food she made everything taste delectable.

Week five Chapter two Rules for Writer's

A rough draft is a collaboration of ideas and thoughts you gather and flesh out on paper, you add and delete material until you are satisfied that your work is complete and then you write your final draft.
You start a rough draft out with a good thesis statement including a summary of what my paper is about; this forms your topic paragraph or your introduction. This was also the main point of this section of the chapter. The chapter also mentioned a few common mistakes that are made when writing good thesis statements. Hacker suggested that your thesis is as specific as possible with good supporting detail making the topic clear.
The next point of the chapter was the body of the rough draft which is developed to support your thesis in a clear concise structure so that the readers understand your point. I found it interesting to learn to approach my rough draft in sections meaning not pay as much attention to the flow in the beginning and that these sections of paragraphs will be grouped or clustered together through the revision process toward writing my final draft.
Basically the rough draft is the place to only worry about focusing on your ideas from your research not to worry about sentence structure, punctuation, spelling or logical statements.
The last point was to attempt a conclusion or summarize the essay’s key points by wrapping up the essay. Also it was suggested to come back to review my introduction and conclusion after I have written them and see how my thesis statement is supported and concluded and I may need to slightly make changes to my thesis statement at this point.
I will use the information I learned this week in my rough draft by clustering and grouping the information in the body of my rough draft and then create an outline to follow and start placing the clusters and groups into the outline as I build my rough draft.

Essay 1 Image Rough Draft

A rainbow image will appear as a mirror image in the voluminous down fall of this water.
So, how do you create a magic moment or describe an image or modeling of language to someone as if their blindfolded, I would do it something like this…
This water is sometimes called cataracts that arise from an abrupt steepening of a river channel which causes the flow of water to drop vertically into a good size body of water. A waterfall is characterized as a great erosive power with a downward flow.
Another option is to just hand them a book without any words just pictures…Waterfalls offer a unique opportunity although I have been told they are a more challenging image to capture a picture of. Their image gives me a gentle attitude with an aggressive natural look that is strong and forceful.
Some of the most beautiful places on earth are the mountains of western North Carolina where there are miles and miles of hundreds of waterfalls, most high up in the mountains that you have to hike to see. The rocks are slippery and you wouldn’t want to attempt to climb the ones around the waterfalls, or cross the streams or swim at the top of a waterfall it is too dangerous.
I still remember the Catawba Falls it’s a very steep tricky goat trail down to the base of the lower drop, as you come to the creek crossing where you get your feet wet there are fallen trees with big rocks which make it a bit easier to cross. At the base there is another trail heading up the right side of the waterfall that is very steep but gives you a closer view of parts of the waterfall it is an amazing as it cascades for more than 100 feet. Look for the rope part way up as well as solid roots and rocks to hold onto they will assist the hike. Keep in mind though going down is trickier than coming up, I use to go every year and hoped that they would build a trail that swings around which would make the access to the upper fall much safer.
Although, since I was a teenager Wachlella Falls in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon has been my favorite. It’s usually not very crowded and one of the most beautiful in this area, there are many good view points of these falls but my preference is from up high where you see the water plunge down into the canyon into fountains of pools. There is also a huge cave behind the waterfall which gives it a dark shadow, mysterious feel with a steep canyon background a thundering sound of the water hitting bottom and it is all well worth the hike and the view. The sound of this waterfall you can hear from a mile away, the splashing water you feel as if you were standing in front of it.
What is the meaning of a waterfall, a rebirth that offers a rejuvenating cleansing or a dream interpretation of falling water that is a phenomenon of water flowing in a river channel encountering a vertical drop. The deeper meaning of a waterfall is the dream interpretation I mentioned which one becomes curious of this mass water and goes after it or pursues it and it is not going to last a long time till the next downfall and it will end abruptly to me this is the image of a waterfall.
For instance, I ask you to remember the word “waterfall” you automatically envision a mental image of a waterfall. But, suppose you didn’t have that mental image to envision you would need to rely on my efforts to identify the mental image for you. So, I will continue doing this with my words as I have been above.
There are definitely much smaller images of waterfalls then what I have displayed in my interpretation and descriptions, these are called cascades and these are waterfalls that are lesser steepness and smaller in height traveling down the same type of river channel and encounters a vertical drop in the channel bed just as a more massive waterfall would. There are many shapes and sizes of waterfalls or these massive downward flows of water but everyone fits either of two categories the first is a river waterfall which it wider than tall and handles a high volume of water and never goes dry. The other is a steam waterfall found on a mountain stream it is higher than it is wide, its flow is small to medium and it does go dry during certain months of the year. Whichever type the waterfall the features is what gives the significant image and description of a waterfall.
A waterfall to me is calming, spectacular, magnificent, powerful and breathtaking, even majestically tranquil and peaceful if you will, but it is continuous as it tumbles, spills and cascades like an intense freedom of water with a sound that is roaring, thunderous, loud and pounding as it rushes down with force.
There is a mystical amusement a waterfall represents to me, an exuberance that is an uninhibited outpour of creative energy that celebrates life. I dream of them, have passion for them, my interpretation is a magic melody of mother nature that at times gives an excitement of emotional overwhelm but yet a subtle touch of comfort. This is the significant connection waterfalls have to my identity and sense of self. There are also so many dimensions to a waterfall as well as myself, spiritually searching for peace and finding it within a waterfall it has time and rhythm which is my connection to earth. All my experiences in life I can portray as a huge waterfall recording my life events as a waterfall paves its path of its life I shall as well through my life. There is a strong healing that a moving waterfall has that is so realistic and similar to my-self healing of mind and body from its soothing sounds of nature that calms and relaxes me. These are reasons I can see myself mirrored as a waterfall in a euphoric feeling. Waterfalls are competent, capable; they are responsible in their collaboration much the same way my sense of self is to me. They have a strength and optimism of possibilities which provokes their movement, change, power, flow, potential, creativity and freedom just as I have in myself identity.
Waterfalls have central frameworks similar to myself, they are natural and build environments that are connected to the past and present the same way I am.
I believe in the meaning of waterfall dreaming…I interpretate it an emotional release, a fulfillment of deserving what you are wishing for. The meaning to me represents an unconscious emotion that is positive but suggesting to cleanse psychological issues which is what the water of the waterfall represents to me. This cleansing makes me think of a new beginning a fresh start a new surface or identity. I also feel waterfall dreams bring a sign of fierce passion which is what the water also reflects a longing and yearning in your heart. As though you really want something but you can’t have it. These waterfall dreams are symbolic to letting go of pent up emotions and negative feelings and going for your goals and secure your desires as you heal energies within. These are powerful feelings and emotions, that draw energy with beauty and grace in changing way that expresses emotion.
These gentle flowing waters in your dreams of waterfalls signify contentment and peace of mind; you will stop drifting and feel the movement of energy as you visualize it pouring through you from your head out your feet. This is also where I see waterfalls that others may not which is why I carefully described what it is in my dreams waterfalls bring to me so I could share them in this writing.
I conclude with my image of the significance of waterfalls as being tied to a backdrop or a wall of historic and cultural significance that gives natural lighting that has simplicity of a diminished impact which are pooled together by streams and brooks running down mountains bubbling and roaring sounds that surround our souls on a journey of paradise. Uninterrupted the splashing water is a steady path and endless rhythm; this is a meaning of a natural course of a stream or narrow stretch of water between two larger bodies of water giving a path or passage of the soul from this world to a better one. There is a true quality of the waterfall, I believe a fulfillment of the soul through its fall or passage to heaven. There is a significance of a waterfalls goal compared to the goal of a person’s mortal life. A waterfall paints a scene so perfectly a moment captured.
My journey in life is still a discovery of possibilities just as similar to that of a waterfall, I simply lofe the sight sound and relaxation a waterfall brings me.

References:
1. Sorenson, C. (2009, April 10). Love or Hate Valentine's Day with EHow. In How to
create a magic moment (ehow) [Article ]. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/how_4747985_create-magic-moment.html
2. Corrigan, C. (2010, August 23). Alive in the process of Arts. In An invitation
to go over the waterfall (art of hosting, bc, collaboration, community,
facilitation, leadership, open space, organization) [article ]. Retrieved
August 23, 2010, from WordPress & Atahualpa website:
http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?p=2893
3. Hamilton-Parker, C. (1999). Waterfall Dreams the hidden meaning. In
Waterfall Dream Meaning (psychics & mediums) [Text & images].
Retrieved from Craig Hamilton-Parker T/A Q.K.E. Ltd. website:
http://www.dreamsleep.net/waterfall_dream_meaning.html
4. Stevenson, R. (1998). Waterfall Springs. In North Carolina waterfalls [Website
photo fest]. Retrieved 2011, from WebRing website:
http://ncwaterfalls.com/

The Ways We Lie

We lie, we all do, exaggerate, minimize, partly I think it is because we engage in certain life choices that we think are unacceptable to our family, friends or in other’s views. I think this defines who we are and our goals as individuals, this can be destructive in my opinion and I think it is something we should really pay attention to how we speak even if we have champagne dreams on beer pocket books. At any extent we compromise our integrity in my belief when we engage in any form of lying because it is the Law of attraction that you draw to your environment how you interact with people is what you draw into your life.

I think lying boils down to the self and our self esteem we try to look good both to ourselves and others, when we are threatened our lies are at higher levels. I don’t feel all lies are harmful and at times it protects our privacy. I look at boasting can be less serious than bald-faced lies when you leave out the truth or put in something false is harmful and corrode trust and intimacy.

We are so engrossed in how others perceive us that we end up often unable to separate truth from fiction in our minds and it becomes almost reflexively as though it is part of our normal social discourse. I think we try to hard to impress other people that we are inconsistent with the way we are viewed by others.

I think nearly anyone may tell you lying is wrong, but when it comes to avoiding trouble or saving face or sparing another’s feelings, self-preservation many of us find ourselves lying anyway. I don’t believe that most lies are meant to be hurtful but meant to help or benefit the person fibbing and so often this turns into an instinctual frequent error that we give ourselves permission to do and be irresponsible with deception.

I think many times lying eventually hinders people from having close connections and relationships with people. I do not think that you can tell lies habitually which could potentially to diminishing a person’s ability to deal with bigger problems in life and still maintain being an honest person. I believe people become resentful and burdened when continually lied to.

I think when we are tempted to lie or be less than truthful we need to ask ourselves to dig deep and accept responsibility for our actions and not give away our power and control by lying to avoid our mistakes or short comings or afraid of what people may think of you.

The temptation is unbearable at times but resorting to dishonesty teaches us and others we are unworthy and weak. Ask yourself will you be comfortable and happy or upset with the lie or are you defining yourself according to another person. I agree with Ericsson that we tell lies when we are afraid and I think people lie more often than they realize partly because white lies are socially acceptable and bald-faced lies are not.

I love the saying, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.” Unknown~
I think we need to consider these examples: we lie to impress, we lie to be polite, to avoid punishment, to flatter and most are not intended to harm anyone and at times the truth hurts…I do believe that honesty is an overrated virtue and there are tricky situations and sometimes things are not black and white but I think everyone needs to give their selves a chance to be 100% honest at any cost and to any extent. Lies are falsities, but is it possible to always tell the truth well I do think that honesty is what makes love possible and I do think to be an honest person we should always try to be true, humble and courageous.

We also must know that to avoid tension in families at times it may be a problem to tell all truth. Remember before we judge or critize others to any extent we must think before we answer or speak untruth.

Honesty is about learning how to express openly to another person and setting aside your defenses. I encourage each person to be aware and recognize dishonesty in yourself and others when you see it and don’t be afraid to call it as it is dishonesty.

Chapter One rules for Writers Week 3

Diana Hacker, expresses concepts on “The Writing Process” and how to write a well written paper, develop a subject, determine the type of paper being asked to write, the purpose the paper will have and making sure that your reader’s understand the message you are trying to deliver in your writing.
First, start with a subject, come up with ideas such as brainstorming and ask yourself questions about these thoughts and ideas. Hacker explains there is two styles of writing one is an essay the other a research paper. These both have their own characteristics which identify them. Either one you write you must read about the topic you are writing about so you understand it, annotating the text as you do, make an outline of your reading and begin a rough draft from this outline. Lastly thoroughly revise your paper until reaching the final draft. The difference between the two styles is an essay requires reading the text closely and writing to support the text and in my reading of this it suggested the page number is referred to from the text. In a research paper you must gather information from many resources on your topic and have a bibliography of the resources you used. The final step in this writing process is to sketch an outline or plan about your subject with the sources of information you used.
Hacker, suggested communicating to your reader’s and that they can understand specifically what you are saying. Also answer the questions that may be most important to the audience adequately by asking who, what, where, why and how about the topic.
I feel I will use this writing process in conversation with people as well as my writing that way I can expand my thoughts and ideas by conversing with other people. Other people are a great source of other opinions and thoughts to brainstorm in writing papers. I will definitely utilize the outline tool, I never really have done this but I feel starting out by annotating as you read and then going back and being able to outline from that is an excellent way to have a organized paper and find things you may have missed your first time through. I will also have a plan so that my writing will flow with understanding and interest.

The Joy of Reading and Writing Superman and Me Week 3

a. Why is a “smart Indian” dangerous?
A smart Indian is widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-Indians who fight with their classmates on a daily basis. They were expected to be stupid and struggled with basic reading in school. Possibly being educated about their rights and changing the culture of Indian reservations as they are known to be ill-literate uneducated and stupid. They are taught to keep their heads low and expected not to speak up or answer.
Because education doesn’t stop smart Indians like Alexie from achieving their hopes and dreams in life such as he did becoming a writer and educator.

b. Dangerous to whom?
Indians because of the potential that they know it gives them to be an educated smart Indian. They are not stupid as expected and so they stand out among their people and probably ridiculed and feared or even threatened.
Non-Indians because they don’t keep quite anymore they become curious to explore their learning potentials and are not typical stereotype Indians that are stupid. This would definitely be highly threatened to their own people and non-Indians to continue to exceed and be smart.

c. How could it be dangerous to be smart?
Because they are ridiculed and feared and don’t stay quiet when non-Indian teachers ask for answers which causes their classmates fight with them. Knowledge is power, its gives you the ability to advance in life without many restrictions.

d. What does it mean to be smart in contemporary U.S. society?
Being school educated, provided common sense and to save your life being educated opens the door to anything you want in life. You can have a career toward financial success. Also having a college degree you are not stereotyped as ignorant but educated and with the ability to have an opinion and earning potential.

e. What do people need to know and/or be able to do, and where is all of this learned? I believe that people need to be able to read, write and communicate and they learn this through some form of school education. They need to know that they have the right and can be educated to become successful. They need to know the resources available to them to pursue their success. Yet I also want to state that not going to school or college or being educated today doesn’t make you stupid, but it does have its limitations that may be harder obstacles to overcome. Anyone can become successful with knowledge and personal effort to learn and educate themselves.

f. How is education a means to save one’s life?
Education empowers people with hope, inspiration and drive to succeed in life to be a better person with inner self confidence. This education is a building of self reliance, image and meaning to one’s self.

g. How is Alexie attempting to save the life of the students he works with?
Alexie visits the schools frequently, tells stories with learning meaning and value to the students and encouraging them to be what they want to be in life. He is teaching these kids to write poems, short stories and novels. They are reading more advanced then they may have without him who gives not arrogance or worthlessness but meaning.

How did Alexie save his own life?
Alexie did not give up, he wasn’t quite when expected to be, he had curious eager to learn and didn’t give up on his goal and kept reading as his father did but till he fell asleep which helped his brain keep the attention of his readings in the most peaceful time when he rested so he was able to take that to his conscious in the days. Most important he didn’t let anyone tell him or stop him by telling him he was stupid and he spoke out!

h. Choose a quote from the reading and share your critical thinking in response.
“I refused to fail I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.” Alexie used these words in his story depicting that Indian children were suppose to fail in school, most did. He loved to read everything and I think he shows how easy it is to teach young children how to read with enjoyment. Alexie pursued as a writer in life because of his eager determination to not fail or give up. He gives back to children who weren’t as lucky as he was and doesn’t give up on them even though they may not be trying to save their lives as he did. He really states how the world can be viewed as a book “we are all just paragraphs in one big long essay.”

i. Come up with your own question/topic on the reading.
I would possibly ask what literacy means to Sherman Alexie.

My first topic would be ways of not struggling with English and writing and replacing them with singing powwow songs.
How can be placing a comic book in every child’s hands educating them to read or as an inspiration to conquer and achieve in life.

Chapter 46 Summaries Rules for Writer's

Chapter 46 covers information for writing about texts such as essays, articles, books, advertisements, and photographs. It helps to explain different types of texts and what they are by easily breaking down the text's content. Chapter 46 shows how to summarize our thoughts and ideas between our emotions, reactions and analysis by demonstrating our understanding about the main points which gives us useful hints for reading and writing.

I learned how to read actively from this chapter, how to take notes on questions and thoughts and how to go back and outline with a pencil instead of a highlighter by circling points and writing in margins. A pencil allows you to erase and change ideas and thoughts, unlike a highlighter you’re stuck with the illuminated text once you highlighted an area. I did this in this chapter after I read this instruction and realized it worked quite well for me.

The other suggestion for note taking that I thought would work quite well for me, as I love to take notes but find more times than not they are all over the paper and unorganized, is by setting up an outline. This outline would highlight key points of the text and I would probably have to re-read the text when using this method, which is a suggestion I would make anyway because I always feel it is a good way to catch things you may have missed in the first reading.

Lastly, writing a summary is basically just showing your understanding of the text and the main ideas you gathered from the reading. You correctly begin writing a summary with a title and continue by writing it in third person as chapter 46 suggests.

This was a very useful exercise and I plan to use the techniques to help write concise and efficient papers as the semester goes on. I learned many useful tools of writing and reading to take with me for future use making reading and writing much more simple and concise.

Freewriting Exericse Dialogue Week 2

“Free writing Exercises ~ Dialogue” ~ Week two
Free writing is letting your thoughts flow as they will, writing down whatever ideas and thoughts come into your mind and not to produce pages of polished prose but a way to formulate ideas, warm your brain and simply just get yourself in a habit of thinking and writing. This is a place to reflect, make connections between your experiences while learning to put words on paper without judgments. Free writing is actually a loose unorganized way of writing for a period of time without stopping. The purpose of free writing is basically to continue to write random thoughts without correcting anything even misspelling the point is to just not stop writing.
The basic definition of Free writing or another term they call this style is “automatic writing”; this is stream of consciousness writing or a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar or topic. (Resource: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free writing).

This type of writing is meant to expand our awareness and grow stronger writing muscles as we put pen to paper and write freely. I believe this is how we can developed stronger writing by simply just taking the time to practice writing openly without judging or critiquing as you put words and thoughts on paper without editing.

Free writing to me seems very flighty but yet is also very interesting as I think of it in a way to do just exactly as it states "Freely" write and not think about editing as your mind flows with thoughts and ideas and you allow yourself to babble.

I was somewhat skeptical about free writes simply because I am so use to being in control of my thoughts and how I write rather than just letting my pen meet the paper and my mind pour out what comes to it. I can honestly see how it can improve my writing in many ways without wasting my time as I originally thought. I can see how it will start to expand my mind with strong points of interest and ideas which will better reflect my opinions and meanings of what I am writing.

I believe I will take the advice that was suggested in this week’s reading and practice this at least three times a week to better improve my writing skills.

Sam's Blog: Sam's blog

Sam's Blog: Sam's blog: "HI my names Samantha. But most people call me Sam or Samie.I’m the baby of six kids. Five sisters including me and one brother. I’ve been a ..."

Hey Sammie ...I would love to learn Italian not that we would ever find time in our busy college schedules to do that but sure would be grateful my family is 100% italian and I know very little!! Thank you for sharing your ventures!! My best~
Daye

Introduction Dialogue Autobiography

GOALS for this class: “Free write” Dialogue ~

My goals are simple, I would like to pass this class with an “A”…learn and absorb new interesting information on this topic and move closer toward accomplishing my degree in Psychology. For this course I would like to develop a deeper appreciation for writing without critiquing myself, let go of my control of just expressing my thoughts on paper and expanding my mind as I do write.
Other than my life goal being accomplishing my degree in psychology and utilizing it in treatment centers and advocacy work as well as a speaker of Behavioral change I also look positively forward at achieving everything I would like to in my personal and professional life without my head spinning.

With that said I am a facing forward, straight ahead open person ready for what this course outline has to offer and enhance in me. I am keeping as clear of head as possible and clearly concisely and openly going to reply in my words, my story and what I can offer to each homework assignment.
So, worries that I may have, knowing myself doesn’t seem like I have any right now, but possibly just running short on time...this course seems to ask me to let go and write freely which seems to be a hard thing at times to allow yourself to do, but I do want to accomplish this task so I will take it on eager and ready with a willingness to learn and grasp all I can from this course.
This is my second year and fifth semester at SRJC which I am specifically going for my AA/AS in psychology and a possible second in Advocacy with SRJC. Most of my courses have been online and most of them this spring are as well...I myself prefer this, for the freedom and ability to take many courses!!
I am taking this course not only to add to my accomplished courses toward my degree but satisfy my interests personally. Being back in college after so many years has been one of the biggest challenges of my life!! This also has shown me to allow myself to make more mistakes in life and realize I learn quicker!!
Which takes me onto inviting you into a more in depth relation with me and that is my personal venue!
I was born in Santa Rosa, moved to Oregon when I was 10 years old, raised horses and sheep as well as competed in 4-H and FFA with both. After high school I followed my high school sweet heart to San Diego and went to San Diego State college in hopes of obtaining my business degree, that didn’t pan out. I joined the United States Marines with the only requirement of myself was getting a direction and learning discipline with myself. Once this was achieved I didn’t stick with it and for many years since wished I would have gone back, but didn’t. So, I then had a series of careers that all had endings. I moved back to California 5 years ago from Oregon and I am happily rooted back in Healdsburg on Fitch Mtn Rd. the Russian River side. I started with SRJC a couple years ago and have taken mostly online courses, because I live part time in Healdsburg and part time in Atascadero, Ca where my step son lives with his Dad. This is quite a story in itself, I adopted him when he was three years old, although his Dad and I have only ever been best friends, but his mother left and I stepped up to the plate to co-parent my best friend’s son with him.
So, I am now going toward my long awaited passion of being a Psychologist and want to specialize in implementing treatment programs in centers and advocacy work to help those transitioning back home after their programs.
I do not currently work, so school is my primary focus, as well as I don’t have any animals to occupy my time…so it frees me up to concentrate on accomplishing my goal.

I am the type of person who is a sponge to learn and experience new things with eagerness and both feet in!! I love to work in a comfortable pace to accomplish my work but as life goes at times it doesn’t always work this way…I have often caused myself to run short due to the amount I put on my plate and commit myself to. I think with age and at times falling short or coming close to not making deadlines I am learning my limitations and that I can do many things but not all at once!!

So, If I had to compare myself to a plant as to what type of learner I am I would say: I put the best plant forward to describe me and that would be a “Arrowwood viburnum” because they are easy to care for and produce wine vines…that are flavorful, they are rich in color and give in abundance. Their goal is to produce and they do it miraculously as expected on time if not before expected.

One last closing: I tend to be long winded, so another area may be learning to shorten up saying the same thing!!

Thank you for reading~ My best to all for this course and your life directions!!
Daye Richardson