HEY! ! ! Welcome to my blog! My name is Maria Luna. Here, I will be posting things from my expository composition and my AP English class. I am a firm believer of the saying "It's not what you say but how you say it." With that in mind, feel free to comment or add to the posts in here.
Monday, January 13, 2014
VOCAB #1 PERFORMANCE REVIEW (EXPOSITORY)
I am a bit disappointed on myself because these words were from the AP vocab list one and in theory, I SHOULD know them by heart. However, I now know that I should spend more time reviewing them that I spent this week.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
vocabulary: spring list 1 (EXPOS)
adumbrate -indicate faintly,report in outline, to foreshadow
-When I read a book, I like to adumbrate the story line in order to make the book more exciting.
apotheosis - glorification to a divine level, elevation of a person to the rank of a god or the ideal example.
- In ancient times, most kings were thought to be a type of apotheosis
ascetic -one who renounces comforts in pursuit of self-discipline, often for religious purposes.
-Islam is seen as an ascetic religion by many people in the western culture.
bauble -a showing ornament of little value
-Sometimes decorating in a simple way is better than using a lot of bauble things.
beguile -to influence by trickery or flattery, to charm or divert, or to take away from by cheating
-Scammers have a beguile ability to scam people of their money.
burgeon -flourish, rapidly increase
-If students focused during class, their grades would burgeon.
complement -completes or brings to perfection
-When choosing their outfits, models have to complement their cloths and their shoes.
contumacious-stubbornly disobedient, rebellious or willfully disobedient
-The bad thing of working with middle school kids is that sometimes they behave contumaciously.
curmudgeon -a bad tempered or surly person
-Curmudgeon teachers are often not well-liked.
didactic- intended to convey instruction as well as pleasure and entertainment
-The teacher's lecture was didactic, that's why all the students were paying attention.
-When I read a book, I like to adumbrate the story line in order to make the book more exciting.
apotheosis - glorification to a divine level, elevation of a person to the rank of a god or the ideal example.
- In ancient times, most kings were thought to be a type of apotheosis
ascetic -one who renounces comforts in pursuit of self-discipline, often for religious purposes.
-Islam is seen as an ascetic religion by many people in the western culture.
bauble -a showing ornament of little value
-Sometimes decorating in a simple way is better than using a lot of bauble things.
beguile -to influence by trickery or flattery, to charm or divert, or to take away from by cheating
-Scammers have a beguile ability to scam people of their money.
burgeon -flourish, rapidly increase
-If students focused during class, their grades would burgeon.
complement -completes or brings to perfection
-When choosing their outfits, models have to complement their cloths and their shoes.
contumacious-stubbornly disobedient, rebellious or willfully disobedient
-The bad thing of working with middle school kids is that sometimes they behave contumaciously.
curmudgeon -a bad tempered or surly person
-Curmudgeon teachers are often not well-liked.
didactic- intended to convey instruction as well as pleasure and entertainment
-The teacher's lecture was didactic, that's why all the students were paying attention.
AP PREP POST 1: SIDDHARTHA
1. The quotation “Immediately he moved on again and began to walk quickly and impatiently, no longer homewards, no longer to his father, no longer looking backwards”, shows a shift from…
a. Anger and resentment, toward acceptance
b. A resolute journey, onto a more free-flowing and spontaneous path
c. Fear of his parentage, toward a fear of loneliness
d. Looking to the past for enlightenment, toward looking to the future and within himself
e. Fear of failure, toward an acceptance of possibility of error.
((found here))
-this question requires you to comprehend the reasons why Siddhartha does what he does. This also requires you to understand the tone.
2. Which of the following choices best identifies the meaning of “the last shudder of [Siddhartha’s] awakening” in paragraph 4?
a. His fear of his own ideas.
b. The last step of his understanding.
c. The physical struggle from his Samana lifestyle.
d. The last thought he had before he woke up.
e. The final epiphany he needed to reach Nirvana.
-recognize and interpret figurative language in the passage
3) A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. (Question #3)
-know what a bildungsroman is - know the characteristics of one. -characterization
4) The British novelist Fay Weldon offers this observation about happy endings:“The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events…a marriage or a last-minute rescue from death…but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” Choose a novel or play (SIDDHARTHA, please) that has the kind of ending Weldon describes. In a well-written essay, identify the “spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its significance in the work as a whole. ((found here))
-synthesize an essay that explains the quote through the passage.
5) In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. ((1970-2012 AP prompts are found here))
a. Anger and resentment, toward acceptance
b. A resolute journey, onto a more free-flowing and spontaneous path
c. Fear of his parentage, toward a fear of loneliness
d. Looking to the past for enlightenment, toward looking to the future and within himself
e. Fear of failure, toward an acceptance of possibility of error.
((found here))
-this question requires you to comprehend the reasons why Siddhartha does what he does. This also requires you to understand the tone.
2. Which of the following choices best identifies the meaning of “the last shudder of [Siddhartha’s] awakening” in paragraph 4?
a. His fear of his own ideas.
b. The last step of his understanding.
c. The physical struggle from his Samana lifestyle.
d. The last thought he had before he woke up.
e. The final epiphany he needed to reach Nirvana.
-recognize and interpret figurative language in the passage
3) A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. (Question #3)
-know what a bildungsroman is - know the characteristics of one. -characterization
4) The British novelist Fay Weldon offers this observation about happy endings:“The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events…a marriage or a last-minute rescue from death…but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” Choose a novel or play (SIDDHARTHA, please) that has the kind of ending Weldon describes. In a well-written essay, identify the “spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its significance in the work as a whole. ((found here))
-synthesize an essay that explains the quote through the passage.
5) In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. ((1970-2012 AP prompts are found here))
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
HACKING MY EDUCATION (AP ENGLISH & EXPOS COMP)
1. What do you want to know by the end of this course that you don't know now?
How to communicate my ideas more efficiently through the Internet.
2. What skills do you want to be able to demonstrate on your blog?
collaboration and competence in my usage of technology.
3. What experiences do you want to get under your belt before you graduate?
maintaining an excellent blog.
What's In This For Me? (AP ENGLISH)
My goal is to keep being focused on school and not fall behind in any of my classes. For this class, I want to pass the AP test and in general, I would like to find something I am really passionate about and incorporate it in my daily life. I hope that by the end of this class, I am going to be able to voice my opinions in a more intelligent way and that I am confident in who I am.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
THE CHOICE (expos)
1. What is the "choice" referred to in the title?
The way the medicine is administered. The parents forcing Rebecca to take it or Rebecca taking it herself.
2. Is it a real choice? Why/why not? What is the alternative?
yes, it's a real choice. Rebecca not drinking her medicine is not an alternative.
3. Why does the author use the word poison in the first line?
To make the message that the medicine kills good cells as well as the bad ones.
4. The author's daughter wants to play with a toy that is intended for older kids. Why? Do you agree with her?
She wants to play with toys for older kids because she knows that she might not get to be 8. I don't necessarily agree but I sympathize with her. I can not imagine the fear she must have of not getting to be 8.
5. If you thought you might not live to the age of 30 what would you want to do right now?
I would like to have a baby and a dog. I will probably want to visit new places.
6. Under what circumstances does it make sense to endure discomfort--or even force it on a loved one-- in service to a greater/more important cause?
The discomfort becomes bearable when you know that its for their own good. That by causing her pain, they are helping her get better.
7. Is suffering a necessary condition of life and love?
no.
8. Most readers don't share the author's circumstances, but we feel an emotional response to his words. Why?
Because we can sympathize. That's what distinguish us from psychopaths.
The way the medicine is administered. The parents forcing Rebecca to take it or Rebecca taking it herself.
2. Is it a real choice? Why/why not? What is the alternative?
yes, it's a real choice. Rebecca not drinking her medicine is not an alternative.
3. Why does the author use the word poison in the first line?
To make the message that the medicine kills good cells as well as the bad ones.
4. The author's daughter wants to play with a toy that is intended for older kids. Why? Do you agree with her?
She wants to play with toys for older kids because she knows that she might not get to be 8. I don't necessarily agree but I sympathize with her. I can not imagine the fear she must have of not getting to be 8.
5. If you thought you might not live to the age of 30 what would you want to do right now?
I would like to have a baby and a dog. I will probably want to visit new places.
6. Under what circumstances does it make sense to endure discomfort--or even force it on a loved one-- in service to a greater/more important cause?
The discomfort becomes bearable when you know that its for their own good. That by causing her pain, they are helping her get better.
7. Is suffering a necessary condition of life and love?
no.
8. Most readers don't share the author's circumstances, but we feel an emotional response to his words. Why?
Because we can sympathize. That's what distinguish us from psychopaths.
Monday, November 25, 2013
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX (AP English)
Think about the place you have chosen as your hell. Does it look ordinary and bourgeois, like Sartre's drawing room, or is it equipped with literal instruments of torture like Dante's Inferno? Can the mind be in hell in a beautiful place? Is there a way to find peace in a hellish physical environment? Enter Sartre's space more fully and imagine how it would feel to live there endlessly, night and day:
My personal hell would be somewhere I can not be happy. No matter what I did, there would be no way that I could achieve happiness. My hell would be a place people are meant to be happy but I can not. I think that hell can be found even in the most beautiful place in the world. "Hell" is different for each one of us. If a person has a strong mentality, it is possible for them to endure a hellish physical environment.
Could hell be described as too much of anything without a break? Are variety, moderation and balance instruments we use to keep us from boiling in any inferno of excess,' whether it be cheesecake or ravenous sex?
I think if you have too much of something, you will eventually stop wanting it and since you can not stop having it, it will become hell.
How does Sartre create a sense of place through dialogue? Can you imagine what it feels like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a specific place? How does GARCIN react to this hell? How could you twist your daily activities around so that everyday habits become hell? Is there a pattern of circumstances that reinforces the experience of hell?
Sartre creates a sense of place when the characters find that they are there to torture each other. I think that staying awake all the time with the lights on is kind of when you are trying to sleep but the lights are on or when the sun is hitting your face. Garcin is surprised by the room and feels like he needs to gain Inez' approval(?)
compare how Plato and Sartre describe the limitations of our thinking and imply solutions to the problem. Be sure to analyze their literary techniques, especially their use of allegory and extended metaphor.
Plato shows that a student is limited by the way they think. If a person wanted to be intellectually free, they could be. Sartre shows the limit to our thinking lays on the information we have and whether or not we accept it.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE SONNET (AP English)
intellectual freedom is never easy.
in a dark cave we life most of our lives.
not being able to see the real truth can be uneasy.
scholars say ignorance are like knifes.
Intellectual freedom is not common.
most people do not value mental freedom.
people missing the world is not uncommon.
ignorance can rule the world like a demon.
how can people terminate ignorance?
the decision must come from within to stop.
intelligence has a very strong fragrance.
intelligence always makes you the top.
a mind can never be kept inside a cave.
a person who gets out of the cave is brave.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
BRAIN WITH 6 LEGS
Marisol, Elisia and I decided to read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In order to collaborate regarding our reading, we plan on discussing our readings during class and creating a Facebook group message to continue discussing our book online. We also plan to meet up at one of our houses' during the break in order to clarify any confusion and discuss our understanding of the readings. We will start reading our book on November 21 and read about 37 pages each day.
Friday, November 15, 2013
PLATO STUDY QUESTIONS (AP English)
1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
the concept of reality and knowledge
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
prisoners= humans
shadows=appearances (what we think is right/real)
the outside: new ideas/knowledge
prisoner that escapes= teacher
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
it's a struggle and that if you have completely different views on something, people might be react in a negative way to you.
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
the cave suggests that people are cut of from knowledge and the shackles are what's keeping them restrained.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
laziness and the fear of the unknown
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
the freed prisoner is enlightened and the cave prisoners are reluctant to go outside because they are used to being in there
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
when they are enclosed and can't know the truth or when they don't want to know
8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
by going outside and learning the truth. Intellectual freedom is as essential as physical freedom
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
yes because what you may perceive as real might be something else.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
that people just assume is real if they can see it even though it might not be true.
the concept of reality and knowledge
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
prisoners= humans
shadows=appearances (what we think is right/real)
the outside: new ideas/knowledge
prisoner that escapes= teacher
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
it's a struggle and that if you have completely different views on something, people might be react in a negative way to you.
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
the cave suggests that people are cut of from knowledge and the shackles are what's keeping them restrained.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
laziness and the fear of the unknown
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
the freed prisoner is enlightened and the cave prisoners are reluctant to go outside because they are used to being in there
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
when they are enclosed and can't know the truth or when they don't want to know
8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
by going outside and learning the truth. Intellectual freedom is as essential as physical freedom
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
yes because what you may perceive as real might be something else.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
that people just assume is real if they can see it even though it might not be true.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
CONNECTING THE DOTS (Expository)
Based on my thoughts from zero period, I am considering the topic "racism against minority groups who don't speak the regional language." I am thinking on focusing not only in the U.S but in other countries as well.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
RESEARCH PAPER (Expository)
Xenophobia = Racism
In the United States, it is estimated that 58.5% of
hate crimes are based on race or ethnicity (fbi.com). The reason behind the “hate” that triggers these
crimes can be say that is fear. “Scientists believe the discovery can be
explained by the fact that implicit racism is fundamentally founded on fear,
and the drug acts both on nerve circuits that govern automatic functions, such
as heart rate, and the part of the brain involved in emotional responses.” (M.
Rooks)
Friday, November 8, 2013
HAMLET REMIX---in progress--(AP ENGLISH)
I havent quite figured out where I'm going with this so its not perfect yet
http://prezi.com/_tiz7wsjunhq/hamlet/
http://prezi.com/_tiz7wsjunhq/hamlet/
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
A POETIC INQUIRY (AP ENGLISH)
big question: Why is world peace sooooo hard to obtain? I mean, if EVERYONE took in consideration other people and stopped being selfish, world peace would not be so hard to obtain!
Why can't ALL humans cooperate with each other and make the Earth a better planet to live in? without any violence, corruption, or misery? How can languge help reach world peace?
I have not changed my question. But now I am a bit more focused on the linguistics concept of it because I would like to be a translator.
Finding a sonnet was difficult. Were we supposed to choose a sonnet by Shakespeare or Petrarchan? or it didn't matter who the author was?
The sonnet that I found doesn't have a big relationship with the language component of my question but it does talk about peace.
Why can't ALL humans cooperate with each other and make the Earth a better planet to live in? without any violence, corruption, or misery? How can languge help reach world peace?
I have not changed my question. But now I am a bit more focused on the linguistics concept of it because I would like to be a translator.
Finding a sonnet was difficult. Were we supposed to choose a sonnet by Shakespeare or Petrarchan? or it didn't matter who the author was?
The sonnet that I found doesn't have a big relationship with the language component of my question but it does talk about peace.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
7 TIMES (Expos)
1. tone? The tone in Erica's essay is one of disbelieve and personal while Javier's tone was neutral.
2. facts? Even though both of them said the same thing, I feel that Erica's facts were affected by her personal feelings and that might have a stronger impact on the audience. (Pathos)
3. conclusions? Erica comes to the conclusion that shooting a teenager 7 times is 7 times too many while Javier sees a way to justify the police's actions.
4. writing techniques (figurative language, punctuation/capitalization, etc.)? Erica uses the word "I" throughout the essay while Javier keeps a distance. This shows the use of syntax(?) and punctuation. (?)
2. facts? Even though both of them said the same thing, I feel that Erica's facts were affected by her personal feelings and that might have a stronger impact on the audience. (Pathos)
3. conclusions? Erica comes to the conclusion that shooting a teenager 7 times is 7 times too many while Javier sees a way to justify the police's actions.
4. writing techniques (figurative language, punctuation/capitalization, etc.)? Erica uses the word "I" throughout the essay while Javier keeps a distance. This shows the use of syntax(?) and punctuation. (?)
"bullet 1. and he was probably down or even dead
bullet 2. definitely dead
bullet 3. still dead
bullet 4. still dead
bullet 5. still dead
bullet 6. still dead
bullet 7. still dead
WHY 7?"
bullet 2. definitely dead
bullet 3. still dead
bullet 4. still dead
bullet 5. still dead
bullet 6. still dead
bullet 7. still dead
WHY 7?"
Personally, I can see why the police did what they did. If you take a minute to put yourself on their shoes, what else could they do? They saw someone that had an appearance to be a gangster with a toy gun looked like a real one. However, I am not saying that the 14-year-old should of died.
Monday, November 4, 2013
RACIAL PROFILING LIVES ON (EXPOS)
- "The ruling by Judge Scheindlin, of the Federal District Court in Manhattan, does nothing to disrupt the authority the Supreme Court has given police officers to target African-Americans and Latinos with little or no basis."
- legalized/institutional racism
- The hypothetical scenarios show the loopholes in the 4 amendment.
- If a female African-American/Latina were to be stopped and frisked, and they feel like they were sexually harrased, would they win if they went to court?
VOCABULARY 9 (EXPOS)
ultimate: being or happening at the end of a process; final.
The ultimate showdown happened when the smartest students had a debate against each other.
interactive: (of two people or things) influencing or having an effect on each other; to come into contact
Two year-old are very interactive when they play among each other.
principle: a fundamental source or basis of something.
A principle in physics is that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted by an outside force.
guidance: advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, esp. as given by someone in authority.
I go to the career center to get guidance in my college applications and scholarships.
collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something.
The doctors were collaborating in a case that was difficult to diagnose.
formative: serving to form something, esp. having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development.
In a pregnancy, the first 6-8 weeks are formative.
summative: additive, cumulative
The grades for this semester are summative to my total GPA.
racism: poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race; the belief that some races of people are better than others.
Even though people would like to think racism doesn't exist, it still does.
intelligence: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations
I wish I had Issac Newton's intelligence.
The ultimate showdown happened when the smartest students had a debate against each other.
interactive: (of two people or things) influencing or having an effect on each other; to come into contact
Two year-old are very interactive when they play among each other.
principle: a fundamental source or basis of something.
A principle in physics is that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted by an outside force.
guidance: advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, esp. as given by someone in authority.
I go to the career center to get guidance in my college applications and scholarships.
collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something.
The doctors were collaborating in a case that was difficult to diagnose.
formative: serving to form something, esp. having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development.
In a pregnancy, the first 6-8 weeks are formative.
summative: additive, cumulative
The grades for this semester are summative to my total GPA.
racism: poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race; the belief that some races of people are better than others.
Even though people would like to think racism doesn't exist, it still does.
intelligence: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations
I wish I had Issac Newton's intelligence.
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