Wednesday, December 1, 2010

thINK 3: Women's Rights

“The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, ‘It’s a girl.’” This quote, by Shirley Chisholm, is discouraging because it’s true, especially in some countries. Ever since the fourteenth and fifteenth amendment, it seems that people have overlooked women’s rights. Sadly, some countries overlook women’s rights altogether.

“Despite many successes in empowering women, numerous issues still exist in all areas of life, ranging from cultural, political to the economic.” It has been stated that gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime. For example, women often work just as hard as men yet are paid less. Women and girls are often the ones that suffer the most hardship. Gender equality furthers the cause of child survival and development for all society, so the importance of women’s rights and gender equality should not be underestimated.

In comparison to women’s oppression in many countries, I am proud to live in the United States where women have stood up for what they believe in and have become an example for younger girls like me to have that same courage as they did. Many women like Abigail Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton have done that exact thing. However, even though we have our rights here, others should have the right to fight for theirs also. Some may think that women’s rights are better than they used to be, like it is in the U.S., but there are women all over the world that are still crying out for help as they are forced to do and be someone they are not.

Monday, November 22, 2010

thINK 2: Shopping Can Be Dangerous.

Black Friday is the best day to find discounts on small and large items. According to a survey talked about on the site below, the weekend after Thanksgiving has the best shopping deals. This was perceived by 61 percent. 86 percent of these consumers believed that the best deals were found on Black Friday. 33 percent felt the best deals were on Cyber Monday while 17 percent voted for the Saturday following Black Friday.

Every year, many hear about the insane chaos of the accidents that happen by just shopping. I found many sites that have tips on how to shop and think wisely about pricings and deals along the way. Many people will think about Black Friday shopping deals, but before you get excited about it, police have warnings for you. There are numerous tips on how to be safe when it comes to Black Friday shopping.

I have already heard that many are waiting in lines right now to be the first to get into stores and buy the big screen TV’s and much more for the cheapest price of the year. Many will also get up at three or four in the morning and start shopping for Christmas. I, on the other hand, will be sleeping in on Friday for as long as I can. My family has never been a big fan of shopping on Black Friday and we don’t plan to start now. However, this year, I will have to get up a little earlier than usual to come back from Missouri to cheer on the pioneers as they battle against Greenwood in the semi-finals to see who will go on to state.

http://web-self-service.tmcnet.com/topics/mobile-answers/articles/118327-black-friday-shopping-survey-reveals-best-deals-thanksgiving.htm

Monday, November 8, 2010

thINK 1: Survey. Shmurvey. Nobody takes those seriously.

Last week, my 2B AP English 12 class had to fill out a 150 question drug and violence survey. As you probably can imagine, there was a lot of groaning and complaining.

When I was younger, we took these surveys and I remember some kids in my class would fill out the worst possible answers even though they weren't bad kids. Laughing all the way to the end of the survey, they would get to the question: "How honest were you in filling out this survey?" Of course you know they are going to mark the choice "very honest." So with this said, why take these surveys? I know there are some kids that do answer the questions honestly, but the survey and end statistics are a joke in the end because some weren’t honest.

So how can you get these questions answered privately with honest answers? The answer: You really can’t. Unless... there was a one-on-one session with each student in every school in Arkansas, but that is highly unrealistic.

I, personally, think that the survey is not very efficient. The questions get answered truthfully and not truthfully, but what can the survey and statistics do about the problems that arise in kids anyway? Kids that are making bad choices are still going to make bad choices because of their peers and maybe even their parents. There has been and always will be pressure on kids to just be included in the world. A survey is not going to fix anything.

Monday, October 11, 2010

thINK Journal 3: Managing time.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.impactlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/childand-tv.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.impactlab.net/2008/11/20/childhood-obesity-and-fast-food-commercials-linked/&usg=__4kT7eFnLXwOy15h2pGwUj8OwNjQ=&h=384&w=512&sz=14&hl=en&start=4&sig2=yNLvXpByZZ3sI_ULVb6r8A&zoom=1&tbnid=a4d_lWiScMANQM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&ei=6cm3TKWXN4-0ngeu1tDkCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dadvirtisements%2Bfor%2Bchildren%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D838%26bih%3D388%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C364&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=545&vpy=83&dur=6147&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=151&ty=203&oei=pcm3TMTvBoOclgf-p6iNCQ&esq=13&page=2&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:4&biw=838&bih=388

As I was searching for something to write about for my last journal for the nine weeks, I came across the advertisement that is cited above.

Even though the advertisement has no words, the point comes across clear. When I was little, I was amazed by the TV and I used to watch my favorite movies and shows all the time. My younger cousins, especially when they were toddlers, would not listen to me or my family members when they needed to get their attention. You would have to say their names multiple times for them to listen. This shows how much a distraction TV is, starting at a young age. When I was in Junior High, I would come home and watch TV for two hours, even when I had loads of homework to do. I remember getting into trouble all the time for not getting my work done.

So what can we do to stop this problem? We can make sure that our kids have a time limit on the TV, or at least have their homework, chores, etc. done by the time they watch shows. Not only is it important for there to be limit, but also monitoring. Kids need to be watching appropriate shows and that can only be taken care of by the parents.

Not only does TV take away valuable time, but it also can hurt a person’s eyes if they are too close like the boy in the picture. So let’s not only manage our time, but protect our eyes also.

thINK Journal 2: Don't lie.

http://nymag.com/news/features/43893/

The article, "Learning to Lie," found above in the New York Times has very excellent research and information on lies and how and when they start happening.

Many children are found innocent when they are young, but naturally, they are learning how to become good liars. Around three years old, kids will start lying about things that even their parents see them do. Around four years old, they start learning how to become good liars which “is a strong sign that he/she has brains.” Reading this article, I found that even though we think “truthfulness is a young child’s virtue,” it’s really “lying that becomes more of the advanced skill.” While these statements were hard to believe, they made sense. A child has to recognize the truth in order to lie, and make it a good lie at that.

As the children grow older, they start lying about situations that could get them into serious trouble. “For two decades, parents have rated ‘honesty’ as the trait they most want in their children.” This shows how much trouble parents have at home with trying to fix this problem and that something needs to be changed. Many say that trust and honesty are essential in relationships and that lying is wrong, yet most of them lie. If people say that lying is wrong and then go and lie, then where does that leave them? There has to be discipline for themselves and kids. If there is not discipline, how will we know when someone as close as our friends or family are telling the truth or not?

thINK Journal 1: Girl Power Isn't All About Looks

http://demo.fb.se/e/girlpower/retouch/retouch/index.html

Right when I saw the cover of this magazine (site listed above), I knew it would be perfect to write about. Reading the side comments about what is in the magazine almost made me mad. Girl power is not just about looks and how you can be the impossible "perfect."

The comments "Look like the stars in Hollywood, large imperfections that can easily be retouched, and how I became perfect" is what makes the insecurities of girls start to boil, and that's just on the front cover! TV, magazines, and more make girls today feel like they have to be skinny, fit, and fashionable. Yes, it is important to take care of a person's body and be healthy, but not to the point where they are miserable trying to look like the latest size zero fashion models.

If a survey was taken, I would predict that more than half would say that they are insecure about their bodies. So many people are caught up in looks that they do not look past the makeup and see the real girl inside. We should not judge people, me included, by what they are wearing or how they fix their hair. What is going to matter in the end? Definitely not fashion, my friends.

The comment “Look like the stars in Hollywood” is almost impossible because they don’t even look like that. We have so much technology today that it is hard not to fix every imperfection. In all honesty, I catch myself wishing I could be cute and look like Selena Gomez, but then, I sometimes wonder what stars would look like without all the cosmetic help and fame.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Inking My Thinking Through Independent Reading

Independent reading book: "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman
(Information is what has been read so far.)

Quester: Richard Mayhew

A place to go: London

Reason to go there: He got a job.

Challenges and trials (so far): Had to make the decision of whether or not to save the girl on the street that was injured. He did and it ruined his relationship with his fiance.

Real reason to go there: Not entirely sure yet.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Communion and Rebirth

In "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" by Thomas C. Foster, Chapter 2 talks about communion and chapter 18 talks about rebirth.

A few days ago in AP English, we read chapter 8 of "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" by D.H. Lawrence and the book applies perfectly with these two chapters of "How to Read Literature like a Professor."

"Sometimes a meal is just a meal and eating with others is simply eating with others. More often than not, though, it's not. Whenever people eat or drink together, it's communion." In communion, however, some people choose to not participate like Mabel in "The Horse Dealer's Daughter." She was there physically but not apart of the conversation between her brothers. Moreover, it showed that Mabel's brothers did not care about her by the way they talked about her appearance. They said that the "fixity of her face" was that of a bull-dog.

In chapter 18, it talks about people entering water- some never to return and others to survive. "When writer's baptize a character, they mean death, rebirth, or new identity." In "The Horse Dealer's Daughter", Mabel wasn't happy at all. She wanted something new, she wanted to be happy, she wanted a "rebirth", and that is exactly what happened. Almost drowning in the water, she was saved by the doctor and they fell in love. As I said in the post before this, the pond is used as a symbol of rebirth for both characters- a rebirth of love and happiness. They entered the "dead water" and came out with a "relief to be out of the clutches of the pond."

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Symbolism

After reading "The Horse Dealer's Daughter", the English class was asked: The pond is a major symbol in the story. Examine its symbolic value by providing quotations from the story. Discuss whether it always symbolizes the same thing whenever used or whether it is polysemic. What really happens in the pond? Here is my response:

In the story before the scene of the pond and there on after, it shows that the pond symbolizes rebirth and love. Mabel and the doctor catch each other's eyes and then eventually, he'll risk his life to save Marbel who almost drowns in the "motionless water." Mabel purposefully tries to drown herself because she wants to be happy and start something new. The pond is used as a symbol of rebirth for both characters- a rebirth of love and happiness. They entered the "dead water" and came out with a "relief to be out of the clutches of the pond." Seeing that the pond can symbolize rebirth leading to love and happiness, I would say that the pond can be polysemic.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Reading Journal Word List

Ineffectuality
Stupor
Floutingly
Sprawled
Erect
Jaunty
Fippancy
Spat

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Journal 4: Always determined

In class, we read "A Worn Path."

1. Quester: Phoenix Jackson.
2. Place to go: Town.
3. Reason to go there: Get medicine for her grandson.
4. Challenges and trials: Walking over a log (she closed her eyes because she was so scared), getting caught on a bush (she did not want to rip her dress), coming across a man in the woods telling her to go back home (she does not take no for an answer).
5. Real reason to go there: She remembers that she wanted to buy her child a little windmill.

Phoenix Jackson is very determined throughout the story. Even though she was half blind, she knew she still needed to get to town for her grandson. In the story, you learn that she trusts herself. She comes across challenges, like the ones listed above, and handles them very well.

Phoenix talks to herself and the animals a lot. She does so because she is lonely and/or scared. You can tell that she is practical with her poverty. She finds a nickel in the woods and knows that she cannot rip her dress because she needs to pay for items in town for her grandson.

This short story was very uplifting. It showed how much somebody is willing to suffer for someone they love.

Thesis: Phoenix Jackson's encouraging determination shows that she is loving and dedicated to her grandson by being able to see the many challenges she overcomes throughout her journey.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Journal 3: Unity in Care

Everyday in this world people hear about unexpected, horrifying tragedies. However, they come together as one with love in caring for others who are in need. In this picture cited below called “Fragile”, this child is being taken care of after a great tragedy in his life. Surrounding the young child, nurses and doctors care for him, wrapping him in bandages.

A natural disaster, like this earthquake, can destroy lives, property, and emotional well-being in an instant. However, it takes time for healing and these doctors and nurses are the beginning of this healing process in this child’s life- physically and emotionally.

In this picture I see chaos. Picturing myself looking at the situation in real life, I see people running around, grabbing bandages, and caring for the hurt person as best as they know how. Not knowing the outcome of the child, they care for him as if it was their own. This chaos slowly turns into peace as they calm and comfort the child. Saying this, I also see love. The child might remember the disaster and the physical and emotional pain that he went through, but he will also never forget the love given by the people that took care of him, his family, and his friends.

The scared child might be afraid for his obscure future, but he can also see hope from the people surrounding him and taking care of him. Over all, this picture teaches a lesson. It shows that even though we might not know a person, we always need to show love. This will help the child and also build up the people around the child as they unite and move forward together with care.

Munoz, Eduardo. Fragile. Digital image. Photos. 13 June 2010. Web. 25 July 2010.
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Journal 2: Older and Wiser

As people become older, they become wiser. Read along as you think about this statement and look at the picture cited below: “Older now, I draw myself better.” This statement and picture can mean so many things. Physically drawing a picture and/or someone mentally drawing a picture says so much about a person's character.

Did you like drawing when you were little? Did you ever draw portraits of yourself? When a person is young, drawing is messy, not straight, and scattered. Picture a five year old child with me. They do not make them or their friends look anything like they do in real life. They make them fat with board straight hair, pointy dresses, and sticks for arms and legs. Not knowing what he/she will become, the five year old has a whole unknown future ahead of him/her.

However, as a person’s life begins to shape, they learn more and more about who they truly are. The older and wiser they get, the better they can “draw” themselves. Knowing their characteristics better, they can see themselves in a light that they might not have ever imagined.

Looking at this picture, you see this man as someone who loves to enjoy life. He is older, and therefore he knows himself better. As a result, he is better able to portray who he truly is. Comparing two pictures of a person when they were young and when they were old can tell a story of their journey and how far they have come in their adventure of life.

Arkle, Peter. "NPR: Six-Word Memoirs." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Six-Word Memoirs, 2010. Web. 18 July 2010. .
(Last picture on slide.)

Journal 1: Blast from the Past

Images: so many stories and so many memories. Looking at the image of “My Sunday Best” was a blast from the past for me. Working hard to buy nice clothes, the parents show pride in their children as they provide as best they can for Sundays.
This picture caught my attention at first glance. Why? I love old timey things, especially pictures because they tell stories. If I’m ever at anyone’s house and they have pictures on the wall or photo albums on the coffee table, it’s a guarantee that I’ll be looking at them. Growing up and going to church every Sunday, I always wore a dress, panty hose or lacy socks, and white or black shoes depending on the season, of course. My mom always wanted me and my sister to dress in our “Sunday best” so we hardly ever wore slacks. My mom was raised wearing her Sunday best to show respect, so wearing my Sunday best was a must.

This picture says more than just old-timey, genuinely happy, and church. It shows what they did to be able to dress like shown. You always see the old movies where the men and boys wear their nicest overalls, and the women and girls wear their prettiest dresses made with the finest cloth they can afford. Times were hard even before this picture was taken, but people still made sure that they saved money and took care of their new clothes that they worked so hard to buy. Saving them for special occasions, people took pride in dressing in their Sunday best. Being able to purchase new clothes shows evidence of a person’s hard work. Knowing that a person’s hard work paid off will always make them appreciate whatever they own or even do.

Wearing your “Sunday best” does show respect. It’s not to impress other members of the church, but rather to look nice as if Jesus was sitting right beside you, even if it does take effort to be able to wear that pretty dress with the cutest handbag.


Grubb, Johnny. My Sunday Best. Photograph. Found Magazine. 26 July 2005. Web. .