GAMP English III Blog: 2009

Friday, June 5, 2009

Third Quarter Reflection

When blogging I feel no different from when I'm writing an essay that has to printed out and handed in to the teacher. Blogging just omits a step and saves paper. The same dangers are there when any assignment is done on a computer: the Internet may be down, the computer has a problem, and other factors are still there, but the benefits of others having access to your work and critiquing it is nice to have. I've slacked off in keeping up to date with my posts and it is partly because of the fact sitting in front of a computer screen typing up assignments bores me, I've paid dearly for this and now blogging seems to be the greatest thing ever. I feel indifferent about blogging, any method of doing work is fine with me. I don't mind blogging and I do plan on posting things that just happen instead of staying focused on just the work that is required of me. I enjoy this new approach to English, it keeps us engaged and allows us to ask or look to other when we're in a position of confusion or our mind goes blank. I suggest a more definite date of when the work will be checked, I personally work best under pressure, when I'm given time to turn in assignments I tend to dismiss them and turn them in at the last possible minuet, procrastination is a problem for me. i prefer to be graded by the ideas I put out when writing instead of the length of the paper. I'd also liked constructive criticism on how I can improve my writing.

The Continuation: The Soloist

Steve Lopez is trying everything in his power to see that Nathiel is recovering in some way. He often questions himself on Nathaniel's condition and if he's getting better. Nathaniel is now able to trust Steve to a greater extent, he calls him when he needs something or has a question, Steve in someway has become Nathaniel's crutch. During times of frustration Steve often fins himself wondering if there is anyway he can detach himself to Nathaniel's grasp but he soon realizes that as much as he'd like to leave Nathaniel when the story is over there's no way he could bring himself to do that. Nathaniel is now part of his life and he's made a difference. The condition that Nathaniel lives in has become very nerving to Steve and he chooses to write about the condition of Skid Row, an industrialized area during the day but once buisness hours are over it becomes a place of torment, proverty, rapes, and chaos. The story gets the attention of the mayor of Los Angeles and he promises to try his best to change the condition and get more help groups in the area. Meanwhile Steve is trying his best to make Nathaniel to move into his own apartment. Nathaniel makes small moves into moving into the apartment like leaving his cart there or taking private lessons this a musician from the Philharmonic member. Nathaniel seems to be making progress day by day.

And So it Begins: The Soloist

As The Soloist progresses we begin to see a developing friendship between Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers. There are at often times roughg spots in the development of Nathaniel's condition. He seems to have an issue with trusting Steve Lopez although he enjoys the attention that is being given to him. Through Steve's articles of the life that Nathaniel lives day bu day, Natheniel begins to gain the sympathy of the readers. They begin sending him instruemnts so he can enhance on his love for music. But that small progress is stomped by Nathaniel's paranoia, he's convinced if he leaves his instruments inside of a room then they are bond to be stolen. Steve believes if he releases his instruments to Nathaniel in the streets then they're bomd to be stolen also. But Nathaniels love for music forces him to a place where he's chosen to avoid for years....a place where help is available. The Soloist is continuing with the story of a growing friendship of two unlikely characters.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman took place in the 1940's, a very different time period that I'm accustomed to reading about. Willy (the father) seemed to have some sort of mental illness that his family didn't take very seriously. He had moments that was out of the ordinary. He often had daydreams inside his original daydream which seemed to occur when he was going on a rant. He often had very negative thought toward his son Biff, despite Biff's efforts to make his father happy. Happy seemed to e the preferred son of Willy, his accomplishments were always praised by his father and everything he did was pleasing to Willy.
While trying to find the "American Dream" the sense of a functional family seems to be lost. Each character has a dream of their own, for example Biff and Happy want to move out to a ranch out west. The death of Willy outs an end to that dream when Happy declares he'd stay in New York for a little while longer. The Death of a Salesman was a very confusing book to me. The time changes and unrealistic things that happened throughout the plot just added to my confusion.

The Soloist Chap 23-31

As The Soloist came to an end I could not help the wave of pure joy and relief that washed over me and overwhelmed my very being. Although Nathaniel wasn't cured from his disease it was comforting to know that there is a chance for him. A chance that day by day he can be on a road of recovery and maybe one day he'd be able to face his fears and do his best to help maintain his situation.
I was very pessimistic while anticipating the end of the story, expecting something to go horribly wrong and all the progress of Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers to go down the drain but much to my surprise the end was one of optimism of the future and the wonder of where Nathaniel was now and if his condition had improved by a slight percentage if any at all. Reading this book as really opened me up to the real life situations what happen everyday all under the radar if the average citizen. The pain and suffering that we ignore on the subway or the cries of help we cross the street to avoid.
This book helped me realize that just because people are homeless and may seem to be bumming around, it is not by choice but often because there is no other option. They live in a cold world where all that is needed is a helping hand and a listening ear. I portray the world as a different place because of The Soloist and I have a desire to now make a difference just as Steve Lopez did of Nathaniel Ayers, and Nathaniel Ayers for not only Los Angeles but the world.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Brainstorming The Soloist

Lopez seems not to be writing for himself but for the awareness of others. He wants society to realize the events and situations that occur in front of their eyes on a daily basis. His focus is on the lives of the underprivileged and underestimated, trying to portray the person and not the situation they are in. The genre of the book seems to be more like an editorial. I can easily see this book in a magazine as an important cover story, in some ways it is just that. The process of finding a story on Nathaniel Ayers is the article itself. I often wonder where Nathaniel Ayers is at present day and if he ever got better. An article on the update of Nathaniel would be very interesting. Steve Lopez writes of modern day, real life situations that plagues society today. He writes of the unhidden talents and gifts of the people society would least expect it from. He writes of their accomplishments/goals/aspirations/life. He writes about those motivated to make a change for the better and make a difference. That is what "The Soloist" focuses on, the underestimated shining through.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Quote to Ernest Hemingway

“Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.”
–Letter, Aug. 1936, to Ernest Hemingway

"The Great Gatsby" is a book that portrays the views of society such as class and social standings. Money determined your worth as a human being and the way you were viewed in society. The narrator Nick was an individual that tried at aquire money, Tom was an individual that had money he didn't have to work for, and Gatsby had money through endeavors of his own. But what made Gatsby so "great" aside from his riches was his charcter. He left an impression that people often talked about, they took time out of their day to sit and ponder o about who Gatsby was. The amount of money he had only contributed to the mystery of who Gatsby the man was. Tom had wealth, money that was passed through family and not many people seem interested to know who the man Tom was. Gatsby had an aura about him that attracted people, made them ponder, want to get to kmow him, know him for HIM and not his money and without charm and elegance the riches that Gatsby had would all be in vain.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Great Gatsby

The main character Nick begins chapter one with a saying his father told him while he was growing up. He was told that he shouldn't judge people because ot everyone was dealt with the same cards in life. Due to this Nick often kept to himself even in situations where his opinion should have been voiced. Gatsby is a mystery in the first three chapters, nobody really knows who is or the things he's accomplished in life. Yet he always makes sure that he is in the company of others. Daisy is a second cousin of Nick who is married to Tom. Tom lives a very wealthy life and begins to confide in Nick by introducing him to Tom's mistress.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Eldarado, Edgar Allan Poe

http://www.mat.upm.es/~jcm/poe--shadow.html

Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be a very important part of the American Romantic period. Born in Boston, MA on Jan.19,1908 he was taken in by John and Frances Allan after the death of his parents. He was baptized in the Episcopal Church in 1812. He attended school in Irvine, Scotland and then returned to his family back in London. Edgar Allan Poe lived in an era where many people died of Tuberculosis. Poe dropped out of school because John Allan could no longer fund is school. Poe then writes his first book entitled "Tamerlane and other Poems." Poe could no longer support himself so he joins the United States Army. Poe's hard life inspired him ti be the writer that he became, alot of his poems reflected things he saw or how he felt. In Eldarado written by Poe, he tells us that life is a journey where people search for wealth, fame, joy, God and many other aspects of life. The knight seems to represent everyone who travels the journey of life. Eldarado is the paradise and peace that everybody is in search for, the deep content and feeling of satisfaction people yearn to feel as they live day by day. The works of Poe in my opinion makes him distinctly American, he is a man with this ambition in many of his poems, a longing for something better, as many people, not only Americans wish to gain.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Poetry Protests

"Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?"

"No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails
Aren't good for a little child."

"But, mother, I won't be alone.
Other children will go with me,
And march the streets of Birmingham
To make our country free."

"No, baby, no, you may not go,
For I fear those guns will fire.
But you may go to church instead
And sing in the children's choir."

She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,
And bathed rose petal sweet,
And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,
And white shoes on her feet.

The mother smiled to know that her child
Was in the sacred place,
But that smile was the last smile
To come upon her face.

For when she heard the explosion,
Her eyes grew wet and wild.
She raced through the streets of Birmingham
Calling for her child.

She clawed through bits of glass and brick,
Then lifted out a shoe.
"O, here's the shoe my baby wore,
But, baby, where are you?"

In my first reading of the poem "Ballad of Birmingham", by Dudley Randall, it sent me on an emotional spiral. A small boy wanted to support his people and attend an non-violent protest to fight for the rights that he rightfully deserve. An innocent gesture was turned into an act of destruction and chaos. Writing this poem, may it be fictional or not, gave its readers a very powerful message and a dose of the tragedies of everyday life. Writing can enact social change, it only takes one person to read this or any piece of writing and gain the longing to make a difference. This poem gave me the motivation and the sincerity to want to change and make the world a better place. Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech also moved and motivated people to make a difference and fight for freedom. Any and all of our current president Obama's speeches motivates at least one person to fight for change, exactly why he is in office today. Writing is a very powerful tool that can change people's opinions, beliefs, and desires.

Friday, February 20, 2009

The Price of a Child Poem

Bilha Pierre
English III
11’1
Mr.Fiorni

Answer…
Did my birth certificate come with a receipt?
I was sold against my will
Working day after day no pay no way to escape
This my life as it was my mothers
A lineage of suppression a history of abuse
Pregnant without a choice
My voice just a distant whisper
For to reproduce for those I produce hard labor for
Why me?
Why single me out?
How could you force me to bring in a soul that I could not care for?
Where can I receive help?
I certainly can't rely on my master for help or even sympathy
Multiple kids, one job, no pay
How is this possible?
Help has arrived
What a prayer that has been answered
Very seldom an opportunity I must take it
What a brave group of people to put they're life on the line
Finally an answer

Sunday, September 13, 2009

angels in america