Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Eleanor's Essay #7
9 English
Mr. Salsich
November 20th 2008
Words
Some thoughts about Stump Olsen’s discussion with us
Wouldn’t it be horrible if everyday twenty-four seven you were being beaten up, made fun of, and hurt emotionally just because you were just being yourself? Stump Olsen had a tough childhood just like this, and on November 17th she came to talk to us about issues such as these, focusing on the bullying of gay, trans and lesbian people of our world.
TS. My first initial reaction to Stump Olsen talk with us was shock. SD. This was first of all because of her rough and difficult childhood. CM. I find it so horrible that someone could be beaten up anywhere and anytime just because they were gay. CM. When Ms. Olsen said, “By my sophomore year of high school I was being jumped at least twice a week” I was completely flabbergasted. CM. In today's sophisticated world, you would think that everyone wouldn’t care who you were and how you were. SD. Another thing I found shocking was about her family. CM. Her hands shaking, but her back remaining straight, she told us that when she came out her parents told her that they wanted nothing to do with her. (absolute) CM. They haven’t sent her a birthday card, and she says that she doubts there will be any for the rest of her life from them or the rest of her family. SD. Although her talk probably sounds quite sad from what I’m mentioning but it was also quite inspiring. CM. She was a very pleasant person to have a conversation with, and our whole class was laughing about the jokes and other stories she told. CM. She also talked about her cause, Youth Pride, at her work in Providence where she and some others are providing shelter, food and a fun, safe afternoon to those who are bullied themselves. CS. Perhaps someday, we can get rid of this unnecessary hatred to people who are just being who they naturally are.
TS. In the world of today comments like “that’s so gay”, and “dyke” are heard everywhere. SD. Unfortunately, most of the time words and phrases such as these are used out of context. CM. So somebody perhaps would have lost a game of soccer, and a team member would shout “that’s so gay” for no reason, or out of habit. CM. Not only is that hurtful, but saying it around someone who is gay or a lesbian, is just plain cruel. SD. However, to me it’s not a surprise. CM. Throughout the history of our world there have been discriminations, hurtful words tossed around, many fights, and just plain meanness. CM. In World War II it was the Jews who were hurt and put in camps; in the 60’s it was the African Americans who were rejected by society. SD. Now it’s the lesbian gay and trans people that are being hurt, and it needs to stop. CM. Stump Olsen’s organization Youth Pride helps people who need it, and their friends who just don’t know what to do in complicated school situations. CM. Many children and students go on a regular basis for safety, emotionally and physically. CS. Starting with us, heterosexism, the unkindness to gay, lesbian and trans people, needs to stop. (participle)
Ms. Olsen really opened my eyes to what’s out there in the world today. Discrimination, and hurtful words are some of the things, but what annoys me the most is that what most people say is out of context. Recently it’s been the ‘thing’ to say, and quite frankly I’m sure that most people who say “That’s so Gay” don’t even know what they are talking about. Hopefully people like Stump Olsen will continue teaching to people how strong these words really are, so that eventually everyone can at least try to live without saying hurtful words, even if they don’t mean them.
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Writing issues I am continuing to work on:
I am working on improving my punctuation when writing essay's. Also I am making sure my requirements are apt.
Some strong points I see in this piece of writing:
A strong point that I see is that I have some quotes. This supports and enhances the writing.
Some weak points I see:
Generally this essay isn't my best. I didn't manage to find a spot for an absolute because the way I write is very factorial, not descriptive. Which means that there is nothing to have an absolute on.
The grade I would give myself:
Probably a B or a B- because I didn't manage to complete a requirement
Monday, November 17, 2008
Mr. Salsich
English 9
20 November 2008
Reactions and Discussion
An essay on a talk with Ms. Stump Olsen and what I think Heterosexism is
OP: In today’s world, discrimination against gay people is a big debate. Some people take the situation lightly and then there are people like Ms. Stump Olsen who take it quite seriously. Also, there are some people who just discriminate for the heck of it and don’t fully understand what heterosexism is and it is wrong. In this essay you will read about my reaction to a talk our ninth grade class had with Ms. Olsen and also about what heterosexism means to me.
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TS:Imagine what it would be like wondering if people are going to hate you? Questioning if they are ever going to treat you like everyone else? Well those questions are ones Ms. Stump Olsen had to face when questioning her sexuality. SD: Ms. Olsen is a remarkable person full of interesting stories that came in to talk to the 9th grade class. CM: One of her sad stories that she shared with us was that she got jumped at least twice a week at the high school attended. CM: This story simply shocked me and really put things into perspective and made me realize that there are some cruel people out there that don’t understand how “hurtful” they can be SD: Something else that saddened me during her talk was how she mentioned the lack of teachers support. Here at Pine Point, the teachers aren’t just here to teach you, but to also be your friend. CM: Ms. Olsen stated that “not one teacher stood up for me.” CM: This statement is extremely hurtful since I am in such a loving community and have never been exposed to a situation like this. CS: But, all I know is that Ms. Olsen’s story has inspired me to help other people if they need it and to not judge people just because they are different.
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TS: My take on heterosexism is that everyone should be able to express themselves without thinking twice. SD: I believe that no one should be judged on how they look or who they like. CM: If everyone liked the same thing and looked the same, the world would be plain and boring. CM: Also, without people expressing themselves and being proud of whom they are, there are no support systems to help them when there are difficult times. SD: Also, heterosexism means to me that it’s ok to show your emotions and get angry sometimes. CM: Crying for help and crying for love, (absolute) Ms. Olsen finally got out what she needed to say. CM: As you can see feelings are such big parts of being a person and then on top of it having people not like you for something stupid, is really a shame and is one side of heterosexism. CS: Whether you are gay or straight, one thing will never change and that is your personality and emotions. If something is bothering you, pestering you and really irking you to the extreme, (participle) don’t be afraid to let it out and tell the world what you need to say.
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CP: As you can see the hate some people have against gay people is horrible and most of the times these people don’t understand the effect they are having on this person’s life. I think it’s great that Ms. Olsen is going around educating students about this matter because it is one that is affecting many lives today. Also, by having this discussion I think that many of us are slowly starting to have a new perspective on the word heterosexism and what exactly it means.
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Self Assesment:
Name: Hannah Staley
Date: November 20, 2008
Assignment name: Reactions and discussion
Some strong points I see in my writing is the opening paragraph. I think it captures the readers attention and summarizes what I am about to talk about quite well.
Some weak points I see in my writing is my absolute. I think that maybe I could have found a better place to put it. Plus, I was still a little confussed.
Some things in my writing I am continuing to work on in the use of unnecissary words. I started falling out of that habit and now I am noticing myself doing it again. So that is something I need to keep on my radar screen.
Olivia's Essay
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
English 9
21 November 2008
Words, Hatred and Courage
Your impact on people
When you say something just to joke around, do you ever think about how some people might take it seriously? Have you ever seen someone hurt another person physically just because of who they are? What would you do to stop this? Would you have enough courage to stand up to that person and say stop? This happened to Stump Olsen, who is gay. While she was growing up, no one was there to say stop to those people who verbally, mentally and physically abused her because of her sexual orientation.
TS Stump Olsen recently came in to talk about her experience as a lesbian in high school; her experience was like no one else’s. SD When she told us that she got beaten up and called names, my first reaction was how could someone do that? However, I quickly realized that most people do not accept those who are different. CM Olsen said instead of focusing (participle) on schoolwork, she had to focus on how to get from class to class without getting attacked. At least twice a week she would get jumped, and no one said anything about it, not even the teachers. CM Every time she was attacked, she would secretly hope that the “gay” would get beaten out of her so that the next day she would not be gay anymore. I thought it was really sad that she felt that she had to conform. SD I was deeply moved when she mentioned her family. Olsen’s parents have not spoken to her or had any contact with her since she “came out” to them fifteen years ago while in college. Olsen still looks in her mailbox for a birthday card from her parents or siblings, even though she knows she will not get one. CM Also, Olsen has not spoken to her older sister and younger brother during the past fifteen years. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to have no contact whatsoever with your family for that long just because you are different. CS There are people who would wish to do harm to those whom they view as being diferent. It seems as though no one ever steps in and says, “Stop!”
TS Discrimination comes in numerous forms; you could not like someone else’s religion, how a person looks, or their sexual orientation. SD The discrimination that Ms. Olsen faced was against gays and how some people act toward them. CM People can view things differently and people can treat others differently. CM Some people just cannot tolerate a person being different so they have to hurt them, which is not right (absolute). SD Ms. Olsen was discriminated against and even though people and teachers were aware of it, no one ever did anything. CM If she had a better relationship with her parents, she could have told them what was happening. Instead, she kept it to herself without anybody to support and protect her. CM It is unfair to pick on someone and especially wrong to hurt them physically just because they are different than you. CS It is terrible for someone to have to experience what Ms. Olsen did and it is hard to imagine that it actually happened.
Some people cannot accept that some differences in other people are not by their own choice and cannot be changed. Tolerance of these differences must be learned. People can think these differences are strange, but they should not express how they feel toward that person, no matter how much they want or feel the need to. No one should ever hurt anyone in any way just because they are different.
Self Assessment
Writing Issues I’m continuing working on.
The big things for me are punctuation and smoothness. I’ve been trying to work my transitions with using words like however or for example instead of just repeating myself. I’ve always have had trouble with punctuation, especially with commas which makes me write run on sentences which I have trouble identifying. So I’m working on identifying punctuation and run on sentences.
Some strong points I see.
I feel like I made some good points in my essay, especially in my first body paragraph. I also feel like I checked it over really well for mistakes, even though I probably missed some.
Some weak points I see.
I feel like that my second body paragraph is a little short but I think I have good points but I could have elaborated on them. I also don’t think my conclusion is that strong, but I could be wrong.
Grade I would give myself.
86
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Olivia's Essay 6
Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
English 9
13 November 2008
Take a look around you
A three paragraph essay on “The Way to Rainy Montain”
1. “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday, on the surface, is a story about his dying grandmother’s life and where she lived, but it is actually much more than that. 2. When you look more closely at the descriptions of the land, the animals and even his grandmother’s life, there is actually a deeper meaning. 3. With Momaday’s use of imagery, a mental picture is formed from his words. 4. His writing is very meaningful and inspiring to his people, but also can have different meanings to all people.
(TS) From the many quotes that I could have chosen, I feel that three show Momaday’s use of imagery the best. (SD) “To look upon that landscape…is to lose all sense of proportion. Your imagination comes to life, and this, you think, is where Creation was begun.” This quote paints a picture in my mind. (CM) Momaday capitalized the ‘C’ in creation, because he was talking about it in the biblical sense, comparing the land and how beautiful it was to when man first walked the earth. (CM) Also, he seems to be saying you can lose yourself either in the vastness of the mountains or in their beauty. (SD) “It was a journey toward the dawn, and it led to the golden age.” (CM) Here, Momaday is talking about how his people migrated south and east to find better land and a new beginning, which started a new and plentiful age of success. (CM) The fact that these people sacrificed everything to make a journey to a new land is quite remarkable. (SD) “The sun follows a longer course in the day, and the sky is immense beyond all comparison.” (CM) This quote makes me believe that it is summer time and the sky is so big you could run forever without end. (CM) Momaday is saying that the sky is the limit and there is more out there than just mountains and trees. (CS) In his writing, Momaday is trying to say that there are memories and stories these trees and animals can tell with the way they stand or with their eyes.
1. The essay was interesting, and Momaday writes like no one else. 2. He incorporates his culture and beliefs very well into his grandmother’s death. 3. At first I did not appreciate why he was writing about this, but afterwards I could see how important it was to him to write about his grandmother growing up and dying. 4. Momaday cleverly related his life and his grandmother’s life to the land where he grew up.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Eleanor's Essay #6
Mr. Salsich
English 9
November 12th 2008
Pause
Taking a moment to think about ‘The Way to Rainy Mountain’
When you read something, there is usually a moment just after completing it that you pause. Not many people think about it, but for that pause, for that one little second there are a thousand thoughts and feelings buzzing around your head. For the essay, ‘The Way to Rainy Mountain’ I might not have grabbed all my feelings but I certainly kept a few to think about a bit more.
T.S: Three of these feelings that come to mind when I read the essay are, sadness, happiness, and curiosity. S.D: The first, sadness is felt for the author. C.M: This because his grandmother had died. C.M: He may not have known her perfectly well, but he knew enough to grieve because of her death and take great interest in her culture, “the Kiowa [people]”. S.D: This leads me to my second reaction, happiness. C.M: I feel this because Mr. Momaday ends up learning about his heritage. C.M: “The last Kiowa Sun Dance was held in 1887 on the Washita River above Rainy Mountain Creek” [pg. 316 The Way to Rainy Mountain] he says this with such sureness and belief that I know it is true that he really knew exactly what he was talking about because he had learned it from his grandmother or had researched it himself. S.D: My third feeling, curiosity, comes from page 317, when Mr. Momaday talks about her praying. C.M: “She began in a high and descending pitch, exhausting her breath to silence; then again and again” I find this captivating because when he describes what she sounded like, when she prayed it made me want to know what she was talking about, and who she was talking to. C.M: It almost made me feel like there was another something just beyond her, another place, another time, even another planet maybe. T.S: These three feelings certainly aren’t all of my feelings, but they are the most pronounced.
After reading “The Way to Rainy Mountain” I probably had a very long pause. There was so much emotion in that essay that I’m surprised the book hasn’t exploded. Next time you read something, don’t forget to take that time to think about what you just read, whether it’s just a poem or a seven hundred page novel.
Hannah's Essay
Mr.Salsich
English 9
12 November 2008
An evaluation
An essay on the themes in the essay “The way to Rainy Mountain
By Navarre Scott Momaday
OP: When you read an essay, examine it and talk about it, is it always easy? The answer to this question in my case is no. The essay “The Way to Rainy Mountain” written by Navarre Scott Momaday was a complex essay that made me think deeply. Also, this essay made me have mixed feelings and emotions about what Mr. Momaday is trying to get across.
TS: This essay had noticeably many themes to reminisce about. SD: One theme that we were asked to think about and that I noticed examples of is journey. CM: The Kiowa tribe seemed to find many places in their travels that gave them “perfect freedom” (Momaday 315) and made them experience all nature has to offer. CM: The native people of this tribe seemed to relate to and love nature like it was “their sacred business” (Momaday 314). SD: Another theme that I found in this essay was family. CM: Family played a big role in this essay because the whole tribe was related and acted as one. CM: Also, when one family member dies like Mr. Momaday’s grandmother, they are always remembered and in the family’s heart where ever they go. SD: Finally, the last theme I found in this book was love. CM: These family members traveling together had a lot of boisterous times and started forming new friendships and bonds. CM: They worked together as one to get the job done and make it to their final destination. CS: This essay had many apparent examples of themes, and each one had immense meaning.
CP: Whether it’s from a long journey, your family or love, everything comes together. When you look at each of these topics individually, you don’t really care, but once you see the big picture things start falling into place. You realize that you need all of these components in your life in some way. For example you need a journey. Maybe not the kind of journey the Kiowa’s experienced, but an educational journey. As you can see all of these themes are expressed in this essay and in our lives if you just look at the big picture.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Olivia's Essay
Have you ever re-read a book? If you have I’m sure you have noticed at least one thing that you missed or had a better understanding of the book after re-reading it. There were a couple things that I missed while re-reading the “Garden Party”, but one thing that I noticed was how much the author mentions class distinctions. She mentions this throughout the story bad some things aren’t as evident as the others.
(TS) When I read the “Garden Party” a second time I noticed how immense the theme of class distinction was used. (SD) This first comes into play when the men come to set the marquee up for the Sheridan’s garden party. (CM) These men are much like the ones that live in the village under the Sheridan’s. (CM) Although, Laura thinks that they are much more fitting for her taste then the men of her standards. (SD) During the setting up of the garden party, the Sheridan’s are informed that a man in the village was killed by getting thrown off his horse. (CM) When Laura hears this she is quick to say to her sister and mother that they should stop the garden party because it would bother the mourning family of the dead man to se people coming to a party. (CM) Her sister thinks Laura is being, “extravagant” and that “You won’t bring a drunken workmen back to life by being sentimental” (SD) Laura’s sister is comparing him to the workmen who came to set up the marquee and she is making assumptions that they are drunk just because they are below them. (CM) Her mother reacts the same way, when Laura tells her and her mom tries to distract her by giving her a hat that makes her look beautiful to wear to the garden party. (CM) It does but after the garden party Laura brings leftovers from the party to the dead mans house and she see him lying in bed and how beautifully serene he is. (CS) Nothing can distract Laura from the fact that they aren’t like her but Laura can see that they really are like them.
Once re-reading the Garden Party, I was able to understand more what everything meant, even parts I was confused about. I would advise others to re-read books of theirs too because even though you thought you understood it you might get a different feeling, understanding or you might see the story from someone else’s perspective. You can share your thoughts about the book better and feel as though you understand it better than those who didn’t re-read it. Maybe I’ll re-read book that I don’t understand more often to help increase my knowledge about them.
Eleanor's essay #5
Mr. Salsich
9 English
November 5th 2008
A Second Look
An Essay on the Advantages of Re-Reading
1. What have you recently looked at for a second, third or more times? 2. Maybe you would have thought of a song, a school musical, but would you have considered a book? 3. Until the age of thirteen I thought nothing of the sort, to me re-reading a book was like doing your homework twice, but not anymore. 4. If you are to truly appreciate a certain book you have to read it more than once.
T.S: Just a few days ago, I re-read the short story, “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield. S.D: One of the first things I noticed was about Laura. C.M: I noticed that when she was first meeting the marquee men, she tried to hide her bread and butter, as if it was disrespectful to eat in front of them. C.M: Then Ms. Mansfield writes, “Laura took a big bite of the bread-and-butter as she looked at the little drawing.” perhaps then she realized that these men were kind and didn’t care whether some-one was eating beside them or not, compared to her friends. S.D: The next thing I noticed was that Laura’s mother was very much like a normal parent. C.M: This I mean in the sense that, in most books parents don’t act or talk how normal parents would in reality. C.M: "She says “[stop] asking me dear, I determined to leave [the party] to you children this year,” but then later involving herself in the planning like she was organizing it herself. S.D: My last re-reading find is when Laura first noticed the sound of air, and the sun spots. C.M: I had never thought that she had not sat down and listened for a few minutes to her surroundings. C.M: This makes me happy, to think that even in a busy schedule she listened even if only for just the once. C.S: I am glad to have re-read a book and have benefited from it; perhaps I will read it again!
1. Just as I have re-read “The Garden Party” I think you should re-read some of your books too. 2. Not only is it helpful, but gives you more of a rounded feeling about the book itself. 3. There are no loose ends that you have to tie up, and it doesn’t leave you feeling confused. 4. I wish I had re-read my books sooner.
