Thursday, October 7, 2010

Ashes for the Wind.

1. What is the central conflict of the story? What does the story reveal about the Martinez family's motivations for resisting? What do we learn about the motivation of Arevalo?

-This story shows that the family seems to want fairness and won't be pushed around. 

2. In your opinion, was Juan Martinez a fool? Explain your answer



I don't think he was a fool. It wasn't a smart idea to stay inside his burning house, after all he lost his life. It may have had an effect on the antagonists, as they had also taken somebody's life with his home.

3. The Narrator says that "Everyone did his duty. Arevalo and the law, Juan and Carmen and the Baby." If everyone 'did his duty,' was any wrong done in the story? comment



-Nothing was wrong, they just couldn't hold the rent for their house and were evicted. They just weren't getting enough money to hold their rent from whoever payed them for work.



A) TITLE AND AUTHOR

-Ashes for the wind written by Hernando Tellez.

B) BIOGRAPHY OF AUTHOR

Born 1908 and educated in Colombia and was introduced very early to the world of journalism (Couldn't find any more information)


C) SYMBOL





D) RESPONSE


E) CRITICAL THINKING
i.Why do you think the author wrote the text?

-To show that the law isn't always fair and the poorer people can't make the money because the opportunities aren't given to them. Also, the law can be cruel.

ii.What does the author want you to think?

-I think Tellez wants me to think about social justice and how the poor sometimes get pushed around

iii.Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?

-Not that I can think of.

iv.Does the story remind you of a real life event?

-Can't recall the last time I was evicted or burned alive.

v.Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

-I wish I had answers for these, I really do. I really don't think I can think of one.

vi.How does this story help you think about social issues and social justice?

-We should have more consideration for the poor, Maybe they don't have the opportunities presented for them to make money and it isn't their fault.

vii.What action might you take from what you have learned?

I should ask myself, before judging someone who is poor, "Did they want to be like this"?

vii.what big question has this text left you with?

Can the world ever be poverty free?


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The possibility of evil

a) TITLE AND AUTHOR of the story

-The possibility of evil, written by Shirley Jackson

b) BIOGRAPHY of the author


-She was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1919 and died on August 8, 1965. Shirley Jackson graduated from Syracuse University in 1940 and during her life, wrote short stories, novels and children's stories. Her most famous book is "The Lottery".


c) SYMBOL: Find a picture or artwork to post with the story that symbolizes something in the story. Explain what the picture symbolizes at the top of the post.





e) CRITICAL THINKING: For each of the stories, meet with a group of classmates and together share your answers to the following questions. After meeting with your group, post your responses (one word answers are not appropriate – explain all your responses).

i) Why do you think the author wrote the text?

-To show how spreading rumours most of the time can come back and haunt you

ii) What does the author want you to think?

-I believe she wants me to think about the consequences of spreading rumours and how it can affect the general public.

iii) Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?

-Not that I can think of.

iv) Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?

-In grade three when the anonymous letters in my desk started :D

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

-A childrens book (Can't remember the name), on not spreading rumours.

vi) How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?

-Rumors can tear apart a town unless they're prevented.

vii) What action might you take from what you have learned?

-Think twice about talking behind someone's back because it can come back and haunt you.

viii) What big question has this text left you with?

-How would the other person feel, if they knew what you were saying?

1. What is Miss Strangeworth trying to accomplish by sending out her letters? Does she succeed? Discuss.

I think she created more panic in the neighbor hood, sure she meant good but it didn't work out very well.

2. How would you describe the story's atmosphere at the beginning? How does this atmosphere help to emphasize the ending?

She is very proud of her roses, and someone decides to ruin them after they found out about the letters
3. Why don't the people ignore the letters they recieve? If you recieved one of Miss Strangeworth's letters, what would you do? Write your response and share it.

-I would find who sent it, and if that wasn't possible I'd try and ignore it. Unless it bothered me alot, In that case I would probably tell the police.

4. What are two interpretations you could give to the story's title? Share your ideas.

-A story about somethign evil waiting to happen
-A town with a criminal in it
5. What do you think this story is saying about crime and criminals? Do you agree? Discuss, giving examples to support your opinion.

- think it is saying that criminals need ot be arrested and taken care of. I agree that Ms Strangeworth needed to be punished because what she was doing wasn't right and was none of her business

6. Consider both Miss Strangeworth's anxiety about evil and the final crime story. Do you think human beings will ever create a society that is crime-free? Comment

-Human beings have flaws and that's part of why we grow as a race. Without flaws, we wouldnt learn anything new or have anything to improve.

Monday, October 4, 2010

All the troubles of the world






1. Why do Ali Othman and Rafe Leemy wait before they tell Bernard Gulliman the whole truth? Are their actions believable considering the seriousness of the crime? Explain.


2. What evidence from the story tells you that Ben and the other characters see Multivac as a kind of god? What effect does their view have on the story's ending?

-They believe in Multivac as some sort of god because it does everything for them and basically takes the place of most jobs and makes life a lot easier. They learned to depend on it far too much and it's intelligence almost turned it into a biological being.

3. What does the ending suggest about the ability of technology to bring about a perfect world? Do you agree? Explain your answer.

-The ending suggests that robots might one day have the ability to learn with the ability to learn, they may be able to acquire the ability to feel pain, and other emotions. If one day we create learning robots to do our work, Who's to say they'll want to do it any more than we do?

4. Would you like to live in a society in which there was a computer such as Multivac? How might it help/ hinder the progress of society? Discuss

I wouldn't like to live in a time or society with a supercompute controlling everything, Partially because i'm afraid of the day that artificial intelligence is created, knowing really bad things could happen. I think it would end up destroying humanity.

5. What do you believe the world of 2100 will be like? Write your Response, using evidence from the future planning of today to support your ideas. Share your discription with others.

-I think the world of 2100 will be HOPEFULLY a lot more enironment friendly, if that doesn't kill us before then. I think people will also be stupid enough to create artificial intelligence and hopefully think it through enough to make sure they can't replace us entirely.

A) TITLE AND AUTHOR
All the troubles of the world- Isaac Asimov

B) BIOGRAPHY OF AUTHOR
Asimov was born in Russia in the early 1920s. Asimov went to Columbia University graduating in 1939.  After graduation, Asimov spent three years working as a civilian at the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s Naval Air Experimental Station during World War II.  After the war ended, he was drafted by the Army.  Asimov served just less than nine months before being honorably discharged in the rank of Colonel.  Asimov married Gertrude Blugerman in 1942, and in 1948 he returned to Columbia to earn his Ph.D. in biochemistry.
C) SYMBOL



D) RESPONSE


E) CRITICAL THINKING
i.Why do you think the author wrote the text?
-To bring to life the possibilities of artificial intelligence and how dangerous it can be.
ii.What does the author want you to think?
Wants me to think about what could happen in the near future if we try and let robots take over our jobs and lives.
iii.Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?
-The supercomputer. Because I can do all that.
iv.Does the story remind you of a real life event?
-Yeah! That one the states built a supercomputer to do everything for them! (Better than saying no I guess)
v.Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?
-iRobot (Movie), Bicentennial man (Movie), The Veldt (Book)
vi.How does this story help you think about social issues and social justice?
-This story makes me think about social issues, because if we were to replace our worlds leaders and great thinkers with a computer, Hypothetically the computer could learn and take over humanity easily.
vii.What action might you take from what you have learned?
-I would try and oppose against the ongoing need for more technology and realise I can do fine without it and it's probably healthier to do without technology.
vii.what big question has this text left you with?
-If we have survived for so long without technology, why would we want a supercomputer? Is humanity's greed getting stronger?

WHIPPED CREAM POURIN' LIKE WATERFALLS

:D

Monday, September 27, 2010

Harrison Bergeron

a) TITLE AND AUTHOR of the story

-Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

b) BIOGRAPHY of the author


-Vonnegut was born November 11, 1922.  He was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He attended Cornell university in 1940-1942, and then got sent by the army to Carnegie Mellon university in 1943. He served for the army in Europe before getting captured and being inprisoned. After he returned from the army he married his high school girlfriend and they had 3 children. To support his family before his writing career took off he worked three jobs. He was a news paper reporter, a teacher, and a public relations imployee for general electric. In 1959 his writing career finally took off with his first book, "The Sirens of Titan." He died in 2007

c) SYMBOL: Find a picture or artwork to post with the story that symbolizes something in the story. Explain what the picture symbolizes at the top of the post.



d) RESPONSE: At the end of each of the stories, you will find a series of questions – add four of the questions to your post and answer them using complete sentences.



e) CRITICAL THINKING: For each of the stories, meet with a group of classmates and together share your answers to the following questions. After meeting with your group, post your responses (one word answers are not appropriate – explain all your responses).

i) Why do you think the author wrote the text?

-I think he wrote the text to show that humans can't be made perfect, there will always be flaws.

ii) What does the author want you to think?

-I think he wants me to think about what would happen if everyone was equal. I don't think that would've worked because we need to have some people smarter than others for a civilization t work properly.

iii) Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?

-I think I would belong to the people who rebel against the handicap.

iv) Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?

-No it doesn't really remind me of anything. This story doesn't seem to relate to real life situations as well

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

-It reminds me of "The Uglies" because they tried to alter society and there were still flaws.

vi) How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?

-It makes me think that society needs different levels of intelligence to function properly, society will never be flawless. I think people should, IF ANYTHING, Make people better and not handicap them down.

vii) What action might you take from what you have learned?

-When I rule the world, I will know not to try and make everyone equal because society needs a wide variety of people.

viii) What big question has this text left you with?

-Is society ever going to be perfect?

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Metaphor short story

Title and Author:

The Metaphor, Written by Budge Wilson

Biography:


Budge Wilson was educated at Halifax schools and attended Dalhousie University. She did two years of english work at the University of Toronto. She worked for several years as a freelance commercial artist and a child photographer, She then moved on to being a fitness instructor from 1968 to 1989. Budge has been writing juvenile and adult fiction since 1978. Her first book was published in 1984.


Symbol: The skyscraper is a metaphor used to describe the main character's mother.






Response:


1.)


A.) Why do you think Miss Hancock got along so well in junior highschool but had so much difficulty in Senior highschool? 


I think Miss Hancock got along better with Jr. Highschool better because her methods seemed very child-friendly. I think when you get into grade 10-12. Something changes with you and you need a more direct approach to learning. Personally, I can't learn as well in classes that aren't as straightforward. But I do think there has to be a happy medium between an overenthusiastic teacher and a dull teacher. Just enough to keep you entertained.


B.) In your experience what were some of the differences you noticed in your teachers at grades 9-7 and grades 10-12?


I noticed the teachers seem to expect a lot more maturity from you and I understand that, People change a lot during highschool and most of the maturity comes in grades 10-12. The teachers seem to have a more 'down-to-business' approach to teaching for the most part.


2.) What recommendation would you make to a teacher moving from a junior high to a senior high? Write your ideas about the adjustments necessary for a successful transition and share them.






3.) Is charlotte right for blaming herself for Miss Hancock's death? Would being more friendly to Miss hancock at senior high have made any difference?


4.) How were the metaphorical descriptions similar to the actual characters of

 

A.) Charlotte's mom?

She was elegant like a skyscraper on the outside, but on the inside she was uncomfortable and with "no comfortable chairs in the lobby. meaning she appeared very nice and fashionable, but her personality to some people was snobbish and rude.
 
B.) Miss Hancock?

 Miss Hancock was a lot like a birthday cake. With peppermint almost too strong, meaning she was very enthusiastic. The inside had 2 layers, Chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate was rich soft and very delicious, and the vanilla was subtle and delicate. Only those thoroughly familiar with cakes could have perceived it's fine flavour.


How were they different? Explain using examples from the story.


5.) What do you think was the author's main purpose for writing this story?


I think the author of the story tried to show how people change when they're older and some methods with teaching have to change as you get older to fit your current maturity level. I think that another moral in this story was that if you find something you're good at it, Stick to it.


6.) Describe two people who have influenced you significantly during your years at school, Using metaphors or similes. You might choose teachers, principals, job supervisors or members of your family.


My friends are the air conditioning after a hot day outside.

My parents are the ozone layer


Critical thinking:


Why do you think the author wrote the text?


To show why teachers need to change their teaching method. Also, If the crowd does one thing, doesn't mean you have to follow along with it. For example, If your class hates writing, english and the teacher but you enjoy it then you shouldn't stop just because the majority of your peers do.


What does the author want you to think?


In my opinion, the author wants you to feel sympathetic, and to relate on a universal level to when you were in the position where you felt pressured to not like doing something you loved.


Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?


I think I belong half to Charlotte's perspective and half to the stereotypical highschool student group. The stereotype of being a highschool student is basically created by what happens to teenagers, they get older and adjust to changes and try to fit in no matter what. I try to sway away from that stereotype, as being stereotyped at all isn't generally a good thing if you want to be original.


Does the story remind you of a real-life event (Your own or others)?


I can't recall a story like this being told or happening to me


Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?


Not that I can think of, I don't read as much as I'd like to or watch movies often.


How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?


This story makes me think about respecting teachers in a new environment. This could also go as a more broad statement. To respect people in a new environment for them.


What action might you take from what you have learned?


Have more understanding for how people feel in a new environment, and if someone says you're good at something, keep going with it if it's something you love to do.


What big question has this text left you with?

-What kind of parent will I be?

My Metaphor:

My kindergarten teacher was a dull pencil, the led messily sticking to the paper in large unappealing lines. After all, who can read even half of the words produced by a dull pencil? Dull pencils also do not get sharper over time, they get duller and duller to the point where you cannot distinguish between scrawling and written word. When the pencil runs out of led at the tip, It needs to be sharpened, but the crisp sharpness only tends to last for a day or so until it gradually wears down again and sloppily produces meaningless words