Regionalism: A literary sub genre that emphasizes the setting, history, speech, dialect, and customs of a particular geographical locale or area, not only for local color, but also for development of universal themes through the use of the local and particular (Werlock). Differing from realism and naturalism, regionalism deals with a specific region, like the definition states. Writers today use this writing style to take readers to far off and exotic places, and regionalism became most prominent and popular during the years following the Civil War, as did realism and naturalism.
I believe a cause of the popularity in regionalism is because the United States had just suffered from a war, and needed a distraction from the task at hand of cleaning up the nation, so authors took their readers away from their troubles of their modern times. Personally, I think that is a cool and good idea, and it clearly worked as regionalism is still used today in most books. However I have found that in today's society, books tend to be written in the setting of a far away futuristic made up place. However, it gets the reader's attention and draws them away into the world the author has created with their words.
Mary Rose Kasraie says that local color is, "frequently used interchangeably with regionalism, as both movements are types of realism and both emphasize places and characters unique to a geographical area (Kasraie). Therefore, all the different writing styles are interchanged within one another and can all be combined to create a unique story, or have the story written using one writing style and still have an amazing story be created.
Although regionalism deals with a specific region in one story, all regions from around the world have been used in writing and made an interesting story. Authors after the Civil War were trying to get their readers' minds off the just fought war and get them to explore another world through their writing, creating a well earned distraction for them all.
Works Cited:
Kasraie, Mary Rose. "local color." In Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0634&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 3, 2011).
Werlock, Abby H. P. "regionalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0581&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 3, 2011).
Monday, January 31, 2011
Naturalism
By definition, naturalism focuses on physical nature and material circumstances while denying the reality or significance of a spiritual or metaphysical component of humanity. Naturalism holds that while basic personal instincts are hereditary, psychological forces and social institutions—which the individual neither controls nor understands—shape and refine one's approach to life (Fargnoli).
Therefore, naturalism is basically focusing on nature, and include all the different aspects to it. So although nature can be seen as a somewhat basic concept, when written about, nature itself can be quite complex and complicated with the many things that occur in it, and is much different than realism.
Abby Werlock says, "American naturalism began in the 1890s, led by Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Theodore Dreiser, and Jack London. These writers chose to work with a prose that was more sparse and themes that were more deterministic than the realists who preceded them. In contrast to realism, which attempted to capture ordinary American life as it unfolded in cities and rural areas in the middle and late 19th century, naturalism employed harsher outdoor settings and placed characters in trying situations where they often confronted natural forces" (Werlock). I find Abby's observation interesting, because she does prove a good point regarding the differences in the two writing styles. Realism focused more on the city life, while naturalism has the characters struggling for survival out in nature itself, which makes sense considering the name "naturalism." The different aspects and differences in the two writing styles are interesting to read and contrast because coming from the same time period, the writing styles are similar, but different at the same time. That statement could be considered an oxymoron or contradictory, but it is true. The definitions of the two writing styles alone are different as well as the messages the authors are trying to convey.
Therefore, although the two writing styles of naturalism and realism are different, they both came from the same time period, thus creating two different unique aspects to their writing and adding a unique trait to their already different writing style.
Works Cited:
Fargnoli, A. Nicholas and Michael Patrick Gillespie. "naturalism and James Joyce." Critical Companion to James Joyce: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCJJ0512&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 31, 2011).
Werlock, Abby H. P. "naturalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0501&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 3, 2011).
Therefore, naturalism is basically focusing on nature, and include all the different aspects to it. So although nature can be seen as a somewhat basic concept, when written about, nature itself can be quite complex and complicated with the many things that occur in it, and is much different than realism.
Abby Werlock says, "American naturalism began in the 1890s, led by Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Theodore Dreiser, and Jack London. These writers chose to work with a prose that was more sparse and themes that were more deterministic than the realists who preceded them. In contrast to realism, which attempted to capture ordinary American life as it unfolded in cities and rural areas in the middle and late 19th century, naturalism employed harsher outdoor settings and placed characters in trying situations where they often confronted natural forces" (Werlock). I find Abby's observation interesting, because she does prove a good point regarding the differences in the two writing styles. Realism focused more on the city life, while naturalism has the characters struggling for survival out in nature itself, which makes sense considering the name "naturalism." The different aspects and differences in the two writing styles are interesting to read and contrast because coming from the same time period, the writing styles are similar, but different at the same time. That statement could be considered an oxymoron or contradictory, but it is true. The definitions of the two writing styles alone are different as well as the messages the authors are trying to convey.
Therefore, although the two writing styles of naturalism and realism are different, they both came from the same time period, thus creating two different unique aspects to their writing and adding a unique trait to their already different writing style.
Works Cited:
Fargnoli, A. Nicholas and Michael Patrick Gillespie. "naturalism and James Joyce." Critical Companion to James Joyce: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCJJ0512&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 31, 2011).
Werlock, Abby H. P. "naturalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0501&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 3, 2011).
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Realism
According to Blooms Online Reference, realism is defined as the following: born out of the ideas of the romantic novel but infused with concrete details and accurate descriptions of society, the characters of realist fiction are drawn from the events and contexts of modern life and face everyday obstacles (Diamond). Basically, realism was, and is still used in writing to give the readers something to be able to relate to and therefore enjoy reading, despite the topic.
As for the American Dream, Abby Werlock defines it nicely on Bloom's by saying that it is a term originally used to define the aspiration peculiar to Americans in both life and fiction: to rise above one's situation at birth, to live self-sufficiently without financial worries, and to own land (Werlock). That pertains to realism in that the writers wrote with the American Dream in mind, which was that the authors wrote about and included the lives of the everyday people.
The Romanticism writing style faded in the mid to late nineteenth century and realism emerged (Barney). Because of the Civil War, several of the early realism stories dealt with slavery and war, which would make sense considering the time periods upon which realism emerged. As the years progressed and people made the transition from the Romanticism into realism.
Society took a more dramatic turn at the end of the century as well because the writing focused more on the middle class as opposed to the upper class. Barney also goes on to say that "the influence of realism on American literature was strongest between the end of the Civil War in 1865 oand the mid 1890s, and its tenets and tendencies encompass a broad spectrum of related ideologies and practices such as dialect or vernacular writing, local color, and pragmatism" (Barney).
Another point Barney brings up pertains to the different ways realism was used. He says, Howells wrote novels that are almost sociological in their emphasis on mundane details of dress, speech, and action. He thus strove to avoid melodrama with a "plain style" aimed at recording, rather than heightening, reality. Howells also usefully articulated the goal of the realist as instruction rather than entertainment" (Barney). Howells in particular would write in the realism writing style to inform rather than write just for entertainment.
Works Cited:
Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. "Romanticism." Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0751&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 27, 2011).
Diamond, Marie Josephine, ed. "realism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 19th and 20th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= GEWW480&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
Guelzo, Allen C. "Civil War, American." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.
Werlock, Abby H. P. "American dream." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0031&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
As for the American Dream, Abby Werlock defines it nicely on Bloom's by saying that it is a term originally used to define the aspiration peculiar to Americans in both life and fiction: to rise above one's situation at birth, to live self-sufficiently without financial worries, and to own land (Werlock). That pertains to realism in that the writers wrote with the American Dream in mind, which was that the authors wrote about and included the lives of the everyday people.
The Romanticism writing style faded in the mid to late nineteenth century and realism emerged (Barney). Because of the Civil War, several of the early realism stories dealt with slavery and war, which would make sense considering the time periods upon which realism emerged. As the years progressed and people made the transition from the Romanticism into realism.
Society took a more dramatic turn at the end of the century as well because the writing focused more on the middle class as opposed to the upper class. Barney also goes on to say that "the influence of realism on American literature was strongest between the end of the Civil War in 1865 oand the mid 1890s, and its tenets and tendencies encompass a broad spectrum of related ideologies and practices such as dialect or vernacular writing, local color, and pragmatism" (Barney).
Another point Barney brings up pertains to the different ways realism was used. He says, Howells wrote novels that are almost sociological in their emphasis on mundane details of dress, speech, and action. He thus strove to avoid melodrama with a "plain style" aimed at recording, rather than heightening, reality. Howells also usefully articulated the goal of the realist as instruction rather than entertainment" (Barney). Howells in particular would write in the realism writing style to inform rather than write just for entertainment.
Works Cited:
Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. "Romanticism." Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0751&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 27, 2011).
Diamond, Marie Josephine, ed. "realism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 19th and 20th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= GEWW480&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
Guelzo, Allen C. "Civil War, American." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.
Werlock, Abby H. P. "American dream." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0031&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).
Journal 34: Writing an ACT Essay
The writing part of the ACT is said to be one of the more difficult tests on the ACT. However, by using the rubric and basically just using common sense, a person can do fairly well on the writing part.
For example, if a person just answers the question, but basically does not give any support, the highest score they are going to get is a one. Which, by most people's standards will not be a good score at all. To get a two, a person has to answer the question and give some support, but nearly not enough to fully answer the topic. For a three, a little more support is given and the question is still answered. To get a four and a five, they are quite similar and of course a five is better than a four, so the writing style would be much more intellectual and they would have good transitions in between paragraphs and would also have words that are not used everyday. For a six, the essay is extremely well written, has clear and different transitions, and just sounds smart, which I am definitely not sounding smart by the previous statement. However, if the person covers the topic and has clear and somewhat subtle transitions, they will do just fine on the writing part of the ACT.
Although many people stress out about the ACT, I think that it is not something that everyone should stress out too much about. I know that it is a big deal and will help me decide where I am going to college, but even still, when it is looked at, it is just a test. Therefore, people should not stress too much about it. So, I am just going to go and take the test and hope for the best. And hopefully because of the help we have gotten in our classes, I will do well on my ACT, and especially the writing part.
For example, if a person just answers the question, but basically does not give any support, the highest score they are going to get is a one. Which, by most people's standards will not be a good score at all. To get a two, a person has to answer the question and give some support, but nearly not enough to fully answer the topic. For a three, a little more support is given and the question is still answered. To get a four and a five, they are quite similar and of course a five is better than a four, so the writing style would be much more intellectual and they would have good transitions in between paragraphs and would also have words that are not used everyday. For a six, the essay is extremely well written, has clear and different transitions, and just sounds smart, which I am definitely not sounding smart by the previous statement. However, if the person covers the topic and has clear and somewhat subtle transitions, they will do just fine on the writing part of the ACT.
Although many people stress out about the ACT, I think that it is not something that everyone should stress out too much about. I know that it is a big deal and will help me decide where I am going to college, but even still, when it is looked at, it is just a test. Therefore, people should not stress too much about it. So, I am just going to go and take the test and hope for the best. And hopefully because of the help we have gotten in our classes, I will do well on my ACT, and especially the writing part.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Journal 33: Unique to Illinois
Because Route 66 runs through Illinois, we have many unique aspects and somewhat random landmarks/places to visit. We have the Lauterbach tire man and we also have a pink elephant holding a martini. In Wilmington, Illinois, the Gemini Giant attracts many visitors to the area.
One thing that is particularly unique to this area, however, is the Cozy Dog Drive-In. Because of Route 66, people would need somewhere to stop to get food, so the Cozy Dog came to be, and is unique.
Other than that, I have no idea what else is unique to Springfield. I mean, I personally think we are one of the smallest capitals and I find it funny that many people believe that Chicago is the capital of Illinois. When I was in Tennessee our waiter at the Hard Rock Cafe asked us where we were from. When we told him Springfield, he said, "isn't that in Chicago?" We said, "uh, no, Chicago is in Illinois, and is a city just like Springfield, where we are from." He said, "Oh, ok, because I had to go through O'Hare airport to get here." So although there is nothing really unique to Illinois and more specifically Springfield, many people are well acquainted with Chicago, as that city is one that everyone associates Illinois with despite the terrible baseball teams and occasionally the football team.
As previously stated, there is nothing really great or unique about Springfield. I mean, there are like six Springfields around the U.S., but even still, that is not exactly unique, just coincidental in my opinion. I mean, our teacher said that horseshoes originated in Illinois, which is something I did not know. But since he told us about them, we cannot exactly write about horseshoes, other than Darcy's Pint has the best horseshoes, or so I have heard. Unfortunately, I cannot go on about how good horseshoes are, or the fact that they were started in Illinois, because that topic has already been covered, and I think that I now have enough words to finish. So, I am going to stop rambling randomly and publish this blog.
One thing that is particularly unique to this area, however, is the Cozy Dog Drive-In. Because of Route 66, people would need somewhere to stop to get food, so the Cozy Dog came to be, and is unique.
Other than that, I have no idea what else is unique to Springfield. I mean, I personally think we are one of the smallest capitals and I find it funny that many people believe that Chicago is the capital of Illinois. When I was in Tennessee our waiter at the Hard Rock Cafe asked us where we were from. When we told him Springfield, he said, "isn't that in Chicago?" We said, "uh, no, Chicago is in Illinois, and is a city just like Springfield, where we are from." He said, "Oh, ok, because I had to go through O'Hare airport to get here." So although there is nothing really unique to Illinois and more specifically Springfield, many people are well acquainted with Chicago, as that city is one that everyone associates Illinois with despite the terrible baseball teams and occasionally the football team.
As previously stated, there is nothing really great or unique about Springfield. I mean, there are like six Springfields around the U.S., but even still, that is not exactly unique, just coincidental in my opinion. I mean, our teacher said that horseshoes originated in Illinois, which is something I did not know. But since he told us about them, we cannot exactly write about horseshoes, other than Darcy's Pint has the best horseshoes, or so I have heard. Unfortunately, I cannot go on about how good horseshoes are, or the fact that they were started in Illinois, because that topic has already been covered, and I think that I now have enough words to finish. So, I am going to stop rambling randomly and publish this blog.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Journal 32: A Memoir..and Then Some
Over winter break, I did not have many inspiring things happen to me that I would want to write a blog about, nor did I have an epiphany. Although I did go skiing, which was an interesting and fun experience. While I was skiing, I found a hidden trail, and decided to go down it. Unbeknownst to me, it was an extreme black diamond. Starting down the hill I began to pick up speed, remembering to weave back and forth as to not go too fast. Miraculously, I made it to the bottom of the hill, and did not break anything. After going up on the ski lift, I decide that maybe, just maybe, I will try out for the Winter Olympics in another three years. A year goes by, and I have been training extremely hard. I go up to Wisconsin every weekend to practice my skiing, and I have hired a professional trainer; things are going well, all because of an idea I had while skiing at Cascade Mountain.
The second year and third year go by, and now it is February of 2014, and I am going to the Olympics. I made it through the rigorous training and miraculously, I am on the team at 20 years Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, this will be my first time of ever leaving the country to compete in skiing. The day of my race comes, and I am a nervous wreck. Getting into the starting position, I start down the hill, wanting to beat the set time. As I am skiing, I notice that the hill I am on is quite similar to the one I have spent so much time practicing on at Cascade, and then in Colorado, that I feel quite comfortable and pick up a lot of speed, as I am feeling very confident. After finishing, I discover that I beat the set time by over two minutes, possibly setting a new Olympic record. As I find out, I am not fast enough to get a gold medal, but I am able to settle for second place and bring home a silver medal.
URL for Picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38188263@N07/4149365785/
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Blog: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
I am just going to start by saying that I think I had a general idea of what the story was about, as well as how realism affected how Bierce wrote. However, I do not know if my assumption of the idea we are supposed to be getting from this story is correct, but this is what I got out of this story. A man is about to be hung, so Bierce goes into great detail of the atmosphere around him as well as what is going on in regards to how the noose fits on the man, and what the man is actually thinking. However, then Bierce starts talking as if the man, Peyton Fahrquhar, is still living and not being hung. As the reader eventually finds out, though, Peyton does not live, but has been hallucinating right until his neck breaks, and he dies (Bierce). Realism according to Dictionary.com is defined as: a manner of treating subject matter that presents a careful description of everyday life, usually of the lower and middle classes; a theory of writing in which the ordinary, familiar, or mundane aspects of life are represented in a straightforward or matter-of-fact manner that is presumed to reflect life as it actually is (Realism).
That definition is really common sense, because realism is just basically talking about events that occur in real life, and going into great detail about them. While reading this story I was struck at how similar to Edgar Allen Poe it sounded. Just because Bierce goes into great detail about everything and the topic is one of death, which Poe tended to write about.
"The man who was engaged in being hanged was apparently about thirty-five years of age. He was a civilian, if one might judge from his habit, which was that of a planter. His features were good -- a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well fitting frock coat. He wore a moustache and pointed beard, but no whiskers; his eyes were large and dark gray, and had a kindly expression which one would hardly have expected in one whose neck was in the hemp. Evidently this was no vulgar assassin. The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded" (Bierce). This passage is an example of the realism because Bierce is explaining how ordinary the man is seeming to be and that he is of middle class, a class that realism seems to focus on. However, this story in general also demonstrates realism because Bierce is telling of something that could have possibly happened in that time; a man is hung for not following the military code. In today's time, that is not the case for breaking the law, so we would not consider it modern realism. But to people living in Bierce's time, being hung for breaking the law was what happened, so it is considered realism.
Works Cited:
Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge." Page By Page Books. Web. http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Ambrose_Bierce/An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bridge/index.html.
"realism." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 18 Jan. 2011.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/realism>.
That definition is really common sense, because realism is just basically talking about events that occur in real life, and going into great detail about them. While reading this story I was struck at how similar to Edgar Allen Poe it sounded. Just because Bierce goes into great detail about everything and the topic is one of death, which Poe tended to write about.
"The man who was engaged in being hanged was apparently about thirty-five years of age. He was a civilian, if one might judge from his habit, which was that of a planter. His features were good -- a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well fitting frock coat. He wore a moustache and pointed beard, but no whiskers; his eyes were large and dark gray, and had a kindly expression which one would hardly have expected in one whose neck was in the hemp. Evidently this was no vulgar assassin. The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded" (Bierce). This passage is an example of the realism because Bierce is explaining how ordinary the man is seeming to be and that he is of middle class, a class that realism seems to focus on. However, this story in general also demonstrates realism because Bierce is telling of something that could have possibly happened in that time; a man is hung for not following the military code. In today's time, that is not the case for breaking the law, so we would not consider it modern realism. But to people living in Bierce's time, being hung for breaking the law was what happened, so it is considered realism.
Works Cited:
Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge." Page By Page Books. Web. http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Ambrose_Bierce/An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bridge/index.html.
"realism." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 18 Jan. 2011.
Journal 31: Daydreams
Usually, whenever I get bored, I daydream, or just let my mind wander. Which, I guess that
could be classified as daydreaming as well, but I do not really know the technical definition of daydream. Because I do not have a legit daydream that helped me solve a problem, I will use an example from Harry Potter, because many people are at least familiar with the generic story line of the book series.In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry is constantly getting dreams, which could be considered daydreams, inside of his head from Lord Voldemort. In one particular day dream, Harry is taking a wizarding test, and gets a vision of his godfather,
Sirius, being tortured by Voldemort. Actually, as I am remembering, I believe that Harry was actually asleep, so that would be an actual dream. But anyway, Harry has a vision/daydream/dream of his godfather being attacked and thus uses that as a basis of how he acts. As it turns out, he rounds up a bunch of his close friends, and together they sneak out of the school, get on broomsticks and thestrals, and fly to the Ministry of Magic, where Sirius is allegedly getting attacked. However, as the reader eventually finds out, Voldemort planted a fake vision into Harry's head, making him believe Sirius was truly being attacked, when really, Sirius was still at his house. But, Harry did receive a vision, and acted upon it, ultimately leading to his godfather's death, so things did not work out so well for Harry in the end.
That example there goes to show that even though Harry Potter is not exactly real and that scenario cannot exactly happen, people can still get the wrong idea inside of their heads, possibly from daydreaming in class, and then act upon it, causing problems. Those daydreams usually do not go as extreme as ending in the death of someone by dark magic, but even still, people can get the wrong idea or impression into their heads and just act on impulse, sometimes leading to situations that probably would not have happened in the first place.
So, although I do not daydream often, I can still find examples of people acting on impulse due to their own daydreams or visions.
Journal 30: Uniforms
One of the most impeding questions in almost every high school is should they have uniforms. There are many different opinions on the subject as well as a vast variety of pros and cons both for and against uniforms. As for me personally, I would not mind if our school were to get uniforms.
Many people may disagree in saying that in having uniforms, the administrators would be taking away from the students' individuality and uniqueness. However, I believe the complete opposite. By having uniforms, everyone would look the same, thus resulting in less bullying due to a certain outfit. As a female high school student, I am judged a lot more by what clothes I am wearing as opposed to what classes I happen to be taking. By adding uniforms, the judgments would not be as prominent in the schools due to clothes and who is wearing what name brand.
Also, by having uniforms the school is not taking away a student's individuality. They will be more likely to focus more on school if they are not constantly thinking about what they are wearing or the fact that so and so looks so much better than them. Students, mainly the females as we tend to be the ones to stress over these kind of things more as opposed to males, would focus on the current classes they are taking as well as the homework, projects, etc. In addition, there are ways to work around looking the same every single day. The administration could make every Friday casual day, where no uniforms need to be worn, or make it so that the girls have to wear just black shoes, but give no real restrictions on the type of shoe, thus providing more ways for the students to express themselves through their clothes, without having to worry about wearing a different outfit every day.
Therefore, I believe our school should enforce having uniforms as it would make a girls life in particular much easier and allow them to focus on school more instead of the outfit they have on and how it compares to everyone else.
Many people may disagree in saying that in having uniforms, the administrators would be taking away from the students' individuality and uniqueness. However, I believe the complete opposite. By having uniforms, everyone would look the same, thus resulting in less bullying due to a certain outfit. As a female high school student, I am judged a lot more by what clothes I am wearing as opposed to what classes I happen to be taking. By adding uniforms, the judgments would not be as prominent in the schools due to clothes and who is wearing what name brand.
Also, by having uniforms the school is not taking away a student's individuality. They will be more likely to focus more on school if they are not constantly thinking about what they are wearing or the fact that so and so looks so much better than them. Students, mainly the females as we tend to be the ones to stress over these kind of things more as opposed to males, would focus on the current classes they are taking as well as the homework, projects, etc. In addition, there are ways to work around looking the same every single day. The administration could make every Friday casual day, where no uniforms need to be worn, or make it so that the girls have to wear just black shoes, but give no real restrictions on the type of shoe, thus providing more ways for the students to express themselves through their clothes, without having to worry about wearing a different outfit every day.
Therefore, I believe our school should enforce having uniforms as it would make a girls life in particular much easier and allow them to focus on school more instead of the outfit they have on and how it compares to everyone else.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Journal 29: Convincing You to Buy this CD
So even though its from 1998, the movie soundtrack to Titanic is one of the best I have ever heard, and I listen to many types of soundtracks. However, Titanic could be classified as one of the greatest soundtracks that goes along with the movie. James Horner is the composer of the music, and while listening to the music, the listener can feel as if they are in the movie, or at least watching it. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this soundtrack to anyone who really likes the movie, and wants more peaceful music to listen to as opposed to all the modern stuff that's out there, so its quite different than most music.
Although, unique can be cool as well. Because, I do listen to different music as opposed to many of my fellow classmates. Which, that does have its advantages at times because I know that I have my own unique style and listen to whatever I want. Which is why I then have to convince people to listen to my type of music. Sometimes that can be difficult, because people are all like, "why do you listen to this kind of music?" The thing is, it is what I am used to, so it is what I listen to and am comfortable with. Whenever I am feeling upset or anything I listen to movie soundtracks or classical type music, which is seems to be different from my fellow classmates. Another weird thing, though, is that I change my taste in music depending on my mood. Sometimes I listen to country, sometimes to modern, sometimes classical. It all just depends really on what I feel like listening to. That is why you should by the Titanic soundtrack. It is a CD you can add to your music collection, and be able to listen to whenever it strikes your fancy. I would definetly reccommend it, for anyone who likes relaxing music and very well composed music as well.
Although, unique can be cool as well. Because, I do listen to different music as opposed to many of my fellow classmates. Which, that does have its advantages at times because I know that I have my own unique style and listen to whatever I want. Which is why I then have to convince people to listen to my type of music. Sometimes that can be difficult, because people are all like, "why do you listen to this kind of music?" The thing is, it is what I am used to, so it is what I listen to and am comfortable with. Whenever I am feeling upset or anything I listen to movie soundtracks or classical type music, which is seems to be different from my fellow classmates. Another weird thing, though, is that I change my taste in music depending on my mood. Sometimes I listen to country, sometimes to modern, sometimes classical. It all just depends really on what I feel like listening to. That is why you should by the Titanic soundtrack. It is a CD you can add to your music collection, and be able to listen to whenever it strikes your fancy. I would definetly reccommend it, for anyone who likes relaxing music and very well composed music as well.
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Thursday, January 6, 2011
Journal 28: Convincing Someone
At times, when you don't get or like something that you want, you try to convince someone that what you want is correct, or should be the right way. Also, it kinda depends on the situation or the circumstances upon which you are arguing or trying to convince someone. Most of the time, I am trying to convince my parents to let them do what I want, whether they actually want me to do it or not. Usually, I am wanting to hang out with friends, or go somewhere and I have to try to convince them that yes, my room is clean enough, and I will be home before curfew, and will not do anything stupid. Most of the times, I am able to convince them to let me do whatever it is that I want to do. However, trying to convince my brothers is much more difficult, as they often do not want to listen to their big sister or do what I say. Although that is really more of me asking them to do something instead of trying to convince them, per se.
As for me, I am not the greatest person to try and convince people, which is why I am most definitely not going to be a lawyer for my career, because when it comes to convincing people, I am not good at it, at all. I mean, if the issue is something that I seriously feel strongly about, then I will try and convince someone, but more times than not, it does not really work and I am not able to get them to get on my side. But then again, it is not like I am arguing serious issues right now and so my opinion will not be affecting many people. When I get older, though, I will have to be able to persuade people about issues that I feel strongly for or against. So, that is something I will have to work on as I get older.
As for me, I am not the greatest person to try and convince people, which is why I am most definitely not going to be a lawyer for my career, because when it comes to convincing people, I am not good at it, at all. I mean, if the issue is something that I seriously feel strongly about, then I will try and convince someone, but more times than not, it does not really work and I am not able to get them to get on my side. But then again, it is not like I am arguing serious issues right now and so my opinion will not be affecting many people. When I get older, though, I will have to be able to persuade people about issues that I feel strongly for or against. So, that is something I will have to work on as I get older.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Journal 27: Persistence
According to dictionary.com, persistence is basically described as continuing to pursue something even after it seems as if the cause is lost, and you do not think you will be able to come back.
Once again, I am going to use a track analogy. My freshman year, I was in three relays, and two open events. My coach had accidentally put me in five events, instead of the maximum amount of four. However, I do not think anyone actually noticed except me and my coach, after I informed him, and it has nothing to do with my story. But I had already run the 4x100, and was getting ready to run the 4x200. I was anchor leg, meaning I was the fourth runner. I went to my spot along with the other runners, and got warmed up. The gun went off, and the race began. Because I was fourth, I had to wait for the second runner to go by, so I could get the baton. After the second exchange, I got into my lane and waited for it to be my turn to get the baton, which would be handed to me from Katie. After I received the baton, we were in second to last place, and I was going to have to run quite fast to make up all that lost ground. Don't get me wrong, it was not our normal 4x200 relay, so things were a little jumbled up, and I was not used to running last at all. So on top of trying to figure out how I am going to pull this race off, I also have a slight uh oh moment about this race, all during like the first fifteen seconds of getting the baton. However, I was known my freshman and sophomore year to play "catch-up" and this race is just yet another example. Because I was persistent through my leg of the race, I ended up passing everyone in front of me, except the person in first. In the last 50 meters, I was able to just pass her, and our relay won the race. Therefore, persistence and working hard does pay off in the end.
Another thing that relates more to us juniors is we are constantly being bombarded with the college letters and the stress that comes with the current semester as we look to taking the ACT, and what colleges will and will not take us. However, with persistence, we should be able to achieve the goals we want. I mean, personally, I would like to go to the U of I or ISU, but in order to get there, I am going to have to do really well on my ACT and stay focused. Even if the U of I does not accept me, then I will still have to be persistent and work just as hard so I can be sure to get into the college that I actually want, and not go to one, just because I have to, or it is the only one that will take me. Therefore, persistence can pay off in the end, even when it seems you won't make it.
Once again, I am going to use a track analogy. My freshman year, I was in three relays, and two open events. My coach had accidentally put me in five events, instead of the maximum amount of four. However, I do not think anyone actually noticed except me and my coach, after I informed him, and it has nothing to do with my story. But I had already run the 4x100, and was getting ready to run the 4x200. I was anchor leg, meaning I was the fourth runner. I went to my spot along with the other runners, and got warmed up. The gun went off, and the race began. Because I was fourth, I had to wait for the second runner to go by, so I could get the baton. After the second exchange, I got into my lane and waited for it to be my turn to get the baton, which would be handed to me from Katie. After I received the baton, we were in second to last place, and I was going to have to run quite fast to make up all that lost ground. Don't get me wrong, it was not our normal 4x200 relay, so things were a little jumbled up, and I was not used to running last at all. So on top of trying to figure out how I am going to pull this race off, I also have a slight uh oh moment about this race, all during like the first fifteen seconds of getting the baton. However, I was known my freshman and sophomore year to play "catch-up" and this race is just yet another example. Because I was persistent through my leg of the race, I ended up passing everyone in front of me, except the person in first. In the last 50 meters, I was able to just pass her, and our relay won the race. Therefore, persistence and working hard does pay off in the end.
Another thing that relates more to us juniors is we are constantly being bombarded with the college letters and the stress that comes with the current semester as we look to taking the ACT, and what colleges will and will not take us. However, with persistence, we should be able to achieve the goals we want. I mean, personally, I would like to go to the U of I or ISU, but in order to get there, I am going to have to do really well on my ACT and stay focused. Even if the U of I does not accept me, then I will still have to be persistent and work just as hard so I can be sure to get into the college that I actually want, and not go to one, just because I have to, or it is the only one that will take me. Therefore, persistence can pay off in the end, even when it seems you won't make it.
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