Briana Weems
The Story of An Hour Response
6th-7th period
“The story of An Hour,” is a thrilling story that keeps you guessing the whole time you are reading it. This story is about a woman who thinks her husband is dead and then realizes that it might be the best thing that has ever happened to her. She was a woman that was abused in some time of shape or form and wasn’t happy with the life that she was living with her husband. Once she excepted the fact that he was dead all she saw was opportunities waiting for her and a lot of new doors waiting to be opened.
When Mrs. Mallard first hears that her husband is dead she is devastated and really upset. “She wept at once with sudden, wild abandonment,” this sentence shows her emotions that she was going through at that exact moment. She felt lost and alone and probably like there was no one else there that could make this miserable pain go away. Another phrase that shows her emotions at that moment is, “storm of grief.” She was pored over with grief and shock. Half of her didn’t belief it while the other half was hurting really bad inside.
In this story Mrs. Mallard is also compared to “a child who has cried itself to sleep.” Usually when children cry themselves to sleep it’s because they aren’t ready to go to bed or want something really bad and their upset that they can’t have it or their just exhausted and trying to fight their sleep. The fact that she was compared to a child that was going through one of those problems shows what stage she is in right now. A very hurt and feeling like she has been treated unfairly and the one thing she wants and she even she feels like she deserves have been taken away from.
All of a sudden this grieve stricken woman’s whole thought process changes. “She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, free! The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes.” This woman that been afraid of her husband for so many years had nothing to be afraid of anymore. The person who made her feel like, “with a shudder that life might be long” was finally gone and she didn’t have to worry about the physical or mental abuse she endured anymore. The story seems to portray her husband as being possessive and controlling. “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.”
Mrs. Mallard loved her husband to a certain extent. “She had loved him—sometimes.” This shows that even though he was doing things to her, deep down inside she still loved him. Maybe that’s the reason she married him and put up with it for so long, out of the love she has for him. But at the same time all she saw was freedom ahead of her, a life that was joyous and carefree and stress less. A life that she could live for herself and no one else and didn’t have to worry about anyone else and what anyone wanted her to do.
When her husband walked through the door, she died because of the fact she had accepted the fact that he was dead and was ready to live this new life that was waiting for her. She had made plans in her head of what she was going to do and that didn’t include him in it. In the end it was “the joy that kills” because she had lived the life she wanted in her head for that short period of time and there wasn’t anything else to live for.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
phillis wheatley response
Briana Weems
Phillis Weatley Response
6th-7th Period
Phillis Weatley was a black slave, who was born in Africa and brought to Boston in 1761. Her owner Susannah Weatley was sympathetic towards her and taught her how to read and write, which at this time even many white women weren’t getting this privilege. After learning how to read, she began reading Latin writers and the bible. Her poems began getting published when she was nineteen or twenty years old in London. Among the citizens that testified she was, “qualified enough to write” was her own master John Weatley. Her reasons for moving to England were to publish her book and her health. Weatley had 3 children, one which died and was buried with her. Her poems were very detailed and proper for a women back in this time to be writing.
Her first poem was called, “On Being Brought From Africa to America.” She talks about how at first when she was taken at first she was really upset and her soul was dark. She didn’t the idea of someone ripping her from her home and everything she has ever known. But as she is on her journey to America she realizes the bigger picture, which is God has a plan for everything. And the fact that this has happened to her means that she feels like she has a greater purpose. And she also says that even though they were taken, they should still act like citizens. Meaning that you should show them that you are better than them.
Her next poem was called, “To His Excellency General Washington.” This poem was addressed directly to President George Washington. She expressed exactly how she felt about the things he was doing and how she thought it affected the overall country. She started her poem off by saying, “Celestial choir! Enthroned in realms of light,” meaning that people were happy and singing. She continues by saying that she doesn’t know it’s going to feel to be free but she can’t wait to see its going to be for her. She also talks about how the country was surprised about some of the things that have happened. And that while some people may regret electing him into office, the person that matters, which is God, is proud of him and the choices that he has made so far while in office.
She also talks about a goddess. And when she talks about this goddess her word choice is words that are dainty, pretty, and girlie. She uses words like, “divinely, golden, charms, and grace.” All these words help you picture this beautiful woman. She then goes on to talk about, “a night of storms.” She is referring to the way people were behaving and the things that they were doing at this time in history. The way they were reacting to his decisions and the way they were treating one another. The disrespect and ignorance shown to each other throughout this time disgusted her. And she says, “such, and so many, moves the warrior’s train.” Meaning that there are some things that make you stronger. Towards the end though she does kind of threaten him in a way. “Whoever dares disgrace the land of freedom’s heaven defended race.” But at the end of the poem she does wish him good luck.
Throughout this poem Phillis Wheatley is strong and doesn’t have a problem getting her point across. She also isn’t afraid to let him know how she feels and isn’t afraid to hide the real truth and meaning behind her writing. Phillis Wheatley opened a lot a lot of doors for many women all over the country. She also crossed a lot of milestones that affects things are right now, today in America.
Phillis Weatley Response
6th-7th Period
Phillis Weatley was a black slave, who was born in Africa and brought to Boston in 1761. Her owner Susannah Weatley was sympathetic towards her and taught her how to read and write, which at this time even many white women weren’t getting this privilege. After learning how to read, she began reading Latin writers and the bible. Her poems began getting published when she was nineteen or twenty years old in London. Among the citizens that testified she was, “qualified enough to write” was her own master John Weatley. Her reasons for moving to England were to publish her book and her health. Weatley had 3 children, one which died and was buried with her. Her poems were very detailed and proper for a women back in this time to be writing.
Her first poem was called, “On Being Brought From Africa to America.” She talks about how at first when she was taken at first she was really upset and her soul was dark. She didn’t the idea of someone ripping her from her home and everything she has ever known. But as she is on her journey to America she realizes the bigger picture, which is God has a plan for everything. And the fact that this has happened to her means that she feels like she has a greater purpose. And she also says that even though they were taken, they should still act like citizens. Meaning that you should show them that you are better than them.
Her next poem was called, “To His Excellency General Washington.” This poem was addressed directly to President George Washington. She expressed exactly how she felt about the things he was doing and how she thought it affected the overall country. She started her poem off by saying, “Celestial choir! Enthroned in realms of light,” meaning that people were happy and singing. She continues by saying that she doesn’t know it’s going to feel to be free but she can’t wait to see its going to be for her. She also talks about how the country was surprised about some of the things that have happened. And that while some people may regret electing him into office, the person that matters, which is God, is proud of him and the choices that he has made so far while in office.
She also talks about a goddess. And when she talks about this goddess her word choice is words that are dainty, pretty, and girlie. She uses words like, “divinely, golden, charms, and grace.” All these words help you picture this beautiful woman. She then goes on to talk about, “a night of storms.” She is referring to the way people were behaving and the things that they were doing at this time in history. The way they were reacting to his decisions and the way they were treating one another. The disrespect and ignorance shown to each other throughout this time disgusted her. And she says, “such, and so many, moves the warrior’s train.” Meaning that there are some things that make you stronger. Towards the end though she does kind of threaten him in a way. “Whoever dares disgrace the land of freedom’s heaven defended race.” But at the end of the poem she does wish him good luck.
Throughout this poem Phillis Wheatley is strong and doesn’t have a problem getting her point across. She also isn’t afraid to let him know how she feels and isn’t afraid to hide the real truth and meaning behind her writing. Phillis Wheatley opened a lot a lot of doors for many women all over the country. She also crossed a lot of milestones that affects things are right now, today in America.
the iroqouis and pima response
Briana Weems
The Iroquois & Pima Creation Response
6th-7th Period
The Iroquois and Pima are different tribes. The Iroquois were made up of the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations. They were names Iroquois by the French but the Iroquois called themselves, “People of the Longhouse” because of where they primary stayed. There was a lot of the Iroquois; the largest town contained as many as two thousand people. There are at least twenty-five versions of the Iroquois creation story. The Pimas lived along the Gila and Salt rivers in Arizona. The Spanish gave them their name because of their remoteness of power. The first myth of their creation was in 1694, which was when they started writing in their journals. These two tribes had two different beliefs on how they were and the world was created.
In the Iroquois creation story they talked about “two worlds in existence” meaning that two worlds were already created. They also talk about how there already people on the planet and a woman was becoming pregnant with twins. The woman then falls from one world to the other and crushes a turtle, which is how islands were formed. The story goes on then to say how the woman died while giving birth to the twins. They wasn’t a nurse there so it doesn’t tell how they were taken care of but they did end having names. One son was Enigorio, which was the good mind. The other was named Enigonhahetgea, which was the bad mind. This is their reason of how we have good and evil in the world. They no longer used their names throughout the story but called them the good and bad mind.
The good mind wanted to make the world a better place while the bad mind had other plans. The good mind actually took his mother’s head and made the sub and took her body made an orb and crated the moon. He made “numerous spots of light” which is now stars. His brother, the evil mind, continued to try and mess up his plans to make the world like trying to make people but ended up making monkeys. He also made mountains, waterfalls, great steeps and dangerous reptiles, things that could be dangerous to us. In the end the good mind defeated his brother, which left us with the saying, “good always conquers evil.”
The Pima’s story starts off by saying that there wasn’t a earth or water but there was a person called “The doctor of the Earth.” He started earth off by creating a bush and ants. He made him a helper because he knew that he needed help doing all the work that needed to be done. However his worker didn’t do anything and didn’t want to help do anything. The way he made was sun was by first creating water and then put into something that was a dish and hardened in place in the sky. The moon he made the same way, and with the stars he put water into his mouth and spit it out into the sky.
“The doctor of the Earth was known for being a perfectionist. He continued to make people on the world until they were exactly how he wanted them to be. The first groups of people were too selfish; the second groups were too prone to illness, the next smoke too much. He continued smashing the world until it was exactly how he wanted it to be. Both of these worlds were so different but ended up with all these different people on it.
The Iroquois & Pima Creation Response
6th-7th Period
The Iroquois and Pima are different tribes. The Iroquois were made up of the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations. They were names Iroquois by the French but the Iroquois called themselves, “People of the Longhouse” because of where they primary stayed. There was a lot of the Iroquois; the largest town contained as many as two thousand people. There are at least twenty-five versions of the Iroquois creation story. The Pimas lived along the Gila and Salt rivers in Arizona. The Spanish gave them their name because of their remoteness of power. The first myth of their creation was in 1694, which was when they started writing in their journals. These two tribes had two different beliefs on how they were and the world was created.
In the Iroquois creation story they talked about “two worlds in existence” meaning that two worlds were already created. They also talk about how there already people on the planet and a woman was becoming pregnant with twins. The woman then falls from one world to the other and crushes a turtle, which is how islands were formed. The story goes on then to say how the woman died while giving birth to the twins. They wasn’t a nurse there so it doesn’t tell how they were taken care of but they did end having names. One son was Enigorio, which was the good mind. The other was named Enigonhahetgea, which was the bad mind. This is their reason of how we have good and evil in the world. They no longer used their names throughout the story but called them the good and bad mind.
The good mind wanted to make the world a better place while the bad mind had other plans. The good mind actually took his mother’s head and made the sub and took her body made an orb and crated the moon. He made “numerous spots of light” which is now stars. His brother, the evil mind, continued to try and mess up his plans to make the world like trying to make people but ended up making monkeys. He also made mountains, waterfalls, great steeps and dangerous reptiles, things that could be dangerous to us. In the end the good mind defeated his brother, which left us with the saying, “good always conquers evil.”
The Pima’s story starts off by saying that there wasn’t a earth or water but there was a person called “The doctor of the Earth.” He started earth off by creating a bush and ants. He made him a helper because he knew that he needed help doing all the work that needed to be done. However his worker didn’t do anything and didn’t want to help do anything. The way he made was sun was by first creating water and then put into something that was a dish and hardened in place in the sky. The moon he made the same way, and with the stars he put water into his mouth and spit it out into the sky.
“The doctor of the Earth was known for being a perfectionist. He continued to make people on the world until they were exactly how he wanted them to be. The first groups of people were too selfish; the second groups were too prone to illness, the next smoke too much. He continued smashing the world until it was exactly how he wanted it to be. Both of these worlds were so different but ended up with all these different people on it.
Friday, October 9, 2009
edward taylor poem response
Briana Weems
Edward Taylor Poem Response
6th-7th Period
Edward Taylor is a puritan whose views upon life are such as many other puritans. His poems show the views of their beliefs and how they feel about god and the worship of their lord. He talks about how he wants God to purify him and change his life. He also talks about the things he wants God to give him once he purifies him and how it is going to change his life. He rhymes a lot throughout his poems and spells words differently than usual. He also uses diction to get his point across. His word choice is very specific to make his point. He is very cautious and careful to what he says.
In the first paragraph Taylor talks about how he isn’t complete and he wants God to complete him, or in other words make him whole. He compares him to spinning wheel. He wants to use him as so. If the lord is someone who uses a spinning wheel he wants him to take the time to work with him and make him whole like someone who does that for a living. He feels like he has a lot of flaws and wants to be made perfect. We can tell this by when he says “and make my Soule thy holy spoole to be.” He wants to be so perfect that God feels like he can use him in his life, even to help others. So perfect that he is perfect enough to be one of Gods servants, someone’s guardian angel.
In the next paragraph he talks about how he wants God to work with him and his flaws. He knows that he isn’t perfect and he recognizes that he needs help to fix himself. He continues to take about God using him in his plans. He says, ”then weave the web thyselfe, the yarn is fine.” He is saying that after he fixes him and changes and helps him with his flaws, he can use him because now he is okay. Okay meaning pure and perfect. He feels that’s once God fixes him he can be used and be a part of his everyday life. No matter what he has done or been going through he knows that once he pure he can do anything.
In the last paragraph he talks about the things he wants God to give him. He says he wants, “understanding, will, affections, judgment, memory, my words, and actions.” He knows that these are some of his flaws and he is letting God know what he wants him to fix. He also talks about how once he changes him on the better on the inside; it will show on the outside. He knows that once you’re fixed on the inside, it will automatically show on the outside.
Throughout this poem Edward Taylor uses words spelled wrong to give an effect. I think that spelling words wrong only shows that he is flawed. It helps with the effect of his story to make it seem obvious of his problems. He also rhymes a lot throughout his poem. Rhyming helps the poem flow well and slide through the words easier. It helps you understand what he is saying since you cant understand certain words since the words are spelled wrong.
Edward Taylor Poem Response
6th-7th Period
Edward Taylor is a puritan whose views upon life are such as many other puritans. His poems show the views of their beliefs and how they feel about god and the worship of their lord. He talks about how he wants God to purify him and change his life. He also talks about the things he wants God to give him once he purifies him and how it is going to change his life. He rhymes a lot throughout his poems and spells words differently than usual. He also uses diction to get his point across. His word choice is very specific to make his point. He is very cautious and careful to what he says.
In the first paragraph Taylor talks about how he isn’t complete and he wants God to complete him, or in other words make him whole. He compares him to spinning wheel. He wants to use him as so. If the lord is someone who uses a spinning wheel he wants him to take the time to work with him and make him whole like someone who does that for a living. He feels like he has a lot of flaws and wants to be made perfect. We can tell this by when he says “and make my Soule thy holy spoole to be.” He wants to be so perfect that God feels like he can use him in his life, even to help others. So perfect that he is perfect enough to be one of Gods servants, someone’s guardian angel.
In the next paragraph he talks about how he wants God to work with him and his flaws. He knows that he isn’t perfect and he recognizes that he needs help to fix himself. He continues to take about God using him in his plans. He says, ”then weave the web thyselfe, the yarn is fine.” He is saying that after he fixes him and changes and helps him with his flaws, he can use him because now he is okay. Okay meaning pure and perfect. He feels that’s once God fixes him he can be used and be a part of his everyday life. No matter what he has done or been going through he knows that once he pure he can do anything.
In the last paragraph he talks about the things he wants God to give him. He says he wants, “understanding, will, affections, judgment, memory, my words, and actions.” He knows that these are some of his flaws and he is letting God know what he wants him to fix. He also talks about how once he changes him on the better on the inside; it will show on the outside. He knows that once you’re fixed on the inside, it will automatically show on the outside.
Throughout this poem Edward Taylor uses words spelled wrong to give an effect. I think that spelling words wrong only shows that he is flawed. It helps with the effect of his story to make it seem obvious of his problems. He also rhymes a lot throughout his poem. Rhyming helps the poem flow well and slide through the words easier. It helps you understand what he is saying since you cant understand certain words since the words are spelled wrong.
Monday, October 5, 2009
arent i a woman response
Briana Weems
Aren’t I A Woman Response
6th-7th Period
Sojourner Truth’s “Aren’t I A Woman” is a speech that is powerful and uplifting. She talks about being an African woman and trying to figure out what makes her so different from any other woman on this earth. She wonders why she is not treated like all the other woman just because the color of her skin? And does the color of her skin make her anymore less of a woman? The original literature of her speech is well spoken with only a few errors. However the literature written by Frances Gage is the same words, with a different frame of speech and intelligence. Which brings a very important question in mind, did Gage just rewrite it to make her look less educated than she actually she was, or was the first piece of literature wrong?
The first essay has minor misspellings that anyone could, especially with as much education as Sojourner Truth had been exposed to. She pronounces a couple of words wrong, but over all her speech as far as sentence structures, was really accurate and impressive for a black woman at this time in history, with such little education. The literature by Gage has a few words spelled right. She uses a lot of slang and words that aren’t even used anymore. This shows that Gage is trying to show how illiterate she was and how unintelligent she was or that Sojourner really was illiterate and someone wrote the other to make her look smarter than she actually was
The first essay also had a lot of punctuation which shows that she took pauses in her sentences and sounded very educated throughout it. She took her time to get her point across and made sure that people knew where she was coming from and how she felt about the way she was treated. In the other literature there was never any type of punctuations. There were no commas, periods or exclamation points. It makes her seem like she is just talking with no purpose and just mumbling and maybe that people weren’t even taking her serious. It’s sad that someone would try to downgrade her words and make her speech less meaningful and powerful. This was a big step for a African American back then and for someone to take her shine and intelligence is really sad. She took the time to think out her speech and put her heart and all her emotions into it.
This speech also talks about segregation. How men deserve to be treated fairly and put on a pedestal. However back then they weren’t treating black like they were saying and Sojourner just wanted to know why. What made her so different that she didn’t deserve the royal treatment? What made her so different from any other white woman that she didn’t deserve the same respect that they got? She talked about all the emotions that all black women felt and the things, like disrespect, that they had to go through every day. The stress that they feel everyday and tolerate for no reason. She wanted to get a lot of people’s attention and she definitely did that. She wanted to change people’s opinions on the black woman and she definitely started that. People began to think twice of things that they did and how they treated woman and she changed them for the better of black woman all over in America just by that one speech.
Aren’t I A Woman Response
6th-7th Period
Sojourner Truth’s “Aren’t I A Woman” is a speech that is powerful and uplifting. She talks about being an African woman and trying to figure out what makes her so different from any other woman on this earth. She wonders why she is not treated like all the other woman just because the color of her skin? And does the color of her skin make her anymore less of a woman? The original literature of her speech is well spoken with only a few errors. However the literature written by Frances Gage is the same words, with a different frame of speech and intelligence. Which brings a very important question in mind, did Gage just rewrite it to make her look less educated than she actually she was, or was the first piece of literature wrong?
The first essay has minor misspellings that anyone could, especially with as much education as Sojourner Truth had been exposed to. She pronounces a couple of words wrong, but over all her speech as far as sentence structures, was really accurate and impressive for a black woman at this time in history, with such little education. The literature by Gage has a few words spelled right. She uses a lot of slang and words that aren’t even used anymore. This shows that Gage is trying to show how illiterate she was and how unintelligent she was or that Sojourner really was illiterate and someone wrote the other to make her look smarter than she actually was
The first essay also had a lot of punctuation which shows that she took pauses in her sentences and sounded very educated throughout it. She took her time to get her point across and made sure that people knew where she was coming from and how she felt about the way she was treated. In the other literature there was never any type of punctuations. There were no commas, periods or exclamation points. It makes her seem like she is just talking with no purpose and just mumbling and maybe that people weren’t even taking her serious. It’s sad that someone would try to downgrade her words and make her speech less meaningful and powerful. This was a big step for a African American back then and for someone to take her shine and intelligence is really sad. She took the time to think out her speech and put her heart and all her emotions into it.
This speech also talks about segregation. How men deserve to be treated fairly and put on a pedestal. However back then they weren’t treating black like they were saying and Sojourner just wanted to know why. What made her so different that she didn’t deserve the royal treatment? What made her so different from any other white woman that she didn’t deserve the same respect that they got? She talked about all the emotions that all black women felt and the things, like disrespect, that they had to go through every day. The stress that they feel everyday and tolerate for no reason. She wanted to get a lot of people’s attention and she definitely did that. She wanted to change people’s opinions on the black woman and she definitely started that. People began to think twice of things that they did and how they treated woman and she changed them for the better of black woman all over in America just by that one speech.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
desiree's baby response
Briana Weems
Desiree’s Baby
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin is about a black woman who has a baby but doesn’t know she is black until she has her baby. Desiree was abandoned by her parents when she was a baby and left by a big stone pillar. Valmonde, her adoptive mother, found her there and decided to take her home with her. When she awoke she began to cry for her “Dada.” She was so young that that was all she could do or say. Valmonde didn’t really care how she got there or why she was there, but she believed that she was sent to her to be “the child of her affection” because she wasn’t able to have kids. Desiree grew up to be a beautiful woman that was the idol of Valmonde and she loved everything about her.
Desiree met her husband eighteen years after Valmonde found her lying in the shadow of the pillar. Her husband, Armand Aubigny, drove past her and fell instantly in love with her beauty. It was the way that all the Aubignys fell in love. He too was adopted from Paris and brought to America to live with his new family. He knew exactly what he wanted and went after it. Soon after meeting they got married and not long after that they were married. They got married in France and then moved to L’Abri because Desiree loved her country too much to leave and live somewhere else.
When Valmonde decided to go see Desiree and the baby it had been a month since she had seen them. They had slaves that kept the land up for them and made sure that Desiree and the baby had everything they needed. However Desiree had a white woman as her full time nurse after she gave birth to her baby. When Valmonde walked into the room where they were sleeping, she first kissed Desiree on her forehead. But when she turned to the baby she noticed that it looked differently. She could tell that baby had changed since the last time that she came to visit. She didn’t want to say anything to Desiree but she could tell that the baby was definitely not completely a white baby. She just went along with what Desiree was saying about how big he had gotten and things like that because she didn’t want to worry her.
However the truth about the baby didn’t take long from coming out anyway. When the baby was three months old Armand noticed the difference as well and started acting differently. He didn’t want to be around Desiree and the baby and he made sure he kept his distance from them. But soon after he noticed Desiree noticed too and became instantly worried. She looked at one of the black servants and to her baby and noticed an incredible resemblance and she couldn’t believe it. She ran to her husband to ask him what was going on with the baby and he told her that there was no way the baby was all white, which meant that she was not all white either. After talking to Valmonde she decided the best thing for her to do was just go back to live with her.
The story is truly filled with irony because at the end instead of going home Desiree goes into the fields with the slaves because that’s where she feels she truly belongs and is never seen again. Armand then decides to burn all her clothes because he is so embarrassed and ashamed that he married and had a child with a black woman. He also burns some letters that Desiree wrote him but along with those is one from his mother to his father. At the end of the letter it says that she doesn’t want Armand to know that “he belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” This means that he was the one that was black and not Desiree. He gave the baby his black genetics.
Desiree’s Baby
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin is about a black woman who has a baby but doesn’t know she is black until she has her baby. Desiree was abandoned by her parents when she was a baby and left by a big stone pillar. Valmonde, her adoptive mother, found her there and decided to take her home with her. When she awoke she began to cry for her “Dada.” She was so young that that was all she could do or say. Valmonde didn’t really care how she got there or why she was there, but she believed that she was sent to her to be “the child of her affection” because she wasn’t able to have kids. Desiree grew up to be a beautiful woman that was the idol of Valmonde and she loved everything about her.
Desiree met her husband eighteen years after Valmonde found her lying in the shadow of the pillar. Her husband, Armand Aubigny, drove past her and fell instantly in love with her beauty. It was the way that all the Aubignys fell in love. He too was adopted from Paris and brought to America to live with his new family. He knew exactly what he wanted and went after it. Soon after meeting they got married and not long after that they were married. They got married in France and then moved to L’Abri because Desiree loved her country too much to leave and live somewhere else.
When Valmonde decided to go see Desiree and the baby it had been a month since she had seen them. They had slaves that kept the land up for them and made sure that Desiree and the baby had everything they needed. However Desiree had a white woman as her full time nurse after she gave birth to her baby. When Valmonde walked into the room where they were sleeping, she first kissed Desiree on her forehead. But when she turned to the baby she noticed that it looked differently. She could tell that baby had changed since the last time that she came to visit. She didn’t want to say anything to Desiree but she could tell that the baby was definitely not completely a white baby. She just went along with what Desiree was saying about how big he had gotten and things like that because she didn’t want to worry her.
However the truth about the baby didn’t take long from coming out anyway. When the baby was three months old Armand noticed the difference as well and started acting differently. He didn’t want to be around Desiree and the baby and he made sure he kept his distance from them. But soon after he noticed Desiree noticed too and became instantly worried. She looked at one of the black servants and to her baby and noticed an incredible resemblance and she couldn’t believe it. She ran to her husband to ask him what was going on with the baby and he told her that there was no way the baby was all white, which meant that she was not all white either. After talking to Valmonde she decided the best thing for her to do was just go back to live with her.
The story is truly filled with irony because at the end instead of going home Desiree goes into the fields with the slaves because that’s where she feels she truly belongs and is never seen again. Armand then decides to burn all her clothes because he is so embarrassed and ashamed that he married and had a child with a black woman. He also burns some letters that Desiree wrote him but along with those is one from his mother to his father. At the end of the letter it says that she doesn’t want Armand to know that “he belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” This means that he was the one that was black and not Desiree. He gave the baby his black genetics.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
spontaneous me response
Briana Weems
Spontaneous Me response
Poems “From Children Of Adam” are passionate poems about romance and love. They also have some sorrow and pain involved with them. Most of these poems have a deeper meaning to show that sometimes you can’t always have what you want, and those things can be the things that you want and look forward to the most in life. For instance like true love or having kids or just truly living out your complete destiny and figuring out what God put you on this earth for, which can be a really hard thing to do in life. The author of “Spontaneous Me,” talks about being with a woman and how it makes him feel after she leaves and they are done. He talks about how he yearns for her body and wants her to be there with him. He also talks about how he wants a son to carry on his legacy but all he can produce is girls.
At the beginning of the poem he paints a vivid picture with his words. He talks about a fall day and he describes it with bright words like “loving, happy, friend” and he uses fall colors like “red, yellow, drab, purple, and light and dark green.” He is trying to get the reader to in vision what he is talking about and see it without even closing their eyes. He also talks about the how the grass is rich in color and touch and how the pebble stones are all around and the apples are bright red and gorgeous. He is talking about his favorite place to sit down and write his poems and it is somewhere where he can concentrate the most. However this is not the true topic of his poem. The true meaning he is trying to get to is how poems should be written and how you should go to a place where you are most comfortable at to do so.
In the next paragraph of the poem he talks about how even masculine men he can write poems about love and they mean something. He then continues on talking about him and a woman being together. He describes how he is able to touch and feel her and how she is so close to him that he is able to smell her hair and skin. He also talks about the way her body is made and how gorgeous it is and how it looks to him and makes him feels. He compares her to his dreams because she is something he could only dream about and he never thought he could actually have someone like her in his life for real.
He then uses pathos afterwards to describe when she leaves how he feels. He feels sort of empty and like something is missing when she is not around him. He yearns for her body and wants her to come back because he likes the way it feels when the two of them are together. He also talks about how he can only “lie willing and naked,” until she returns because things are just not the same when she is not around. He continues to talk about how his heart beats fast when she is not around because he is missing her and he can’t really concentrate or write anything else without her around to be his muse.
When she finally returns he feels excited and so is his body to have her back with him. Every part of his body physically and mentally missed her and he can’t help but show it to her. And they have to girls together but he is not completely satisfied with his life yet. He wants boys to carry on his legacy but all that he can produce is girls, which saddens him. However at the end he basically says that he realizes he can’t have everything in life that he wants and comes to terms with those things and he will just put them in God’s hands. If they were meant for him to have them he would and he refuses to continue to worry himself about them. He decides to be grateful for the things he does have and enjoy life.
Spontaneous Me response
Poems “From Children Of Adam” are passionate poems about romance and love. They also have some sorrow and pain involved with them. Most of these poems have a deeper meaning to show that sometimes you can’t always have what you want, and those things can be the things that you want and look forward to the most in life. For instance like true love or having kids or just truly living out your complete destiny and figuring out what God put you on this earth for, which can be a really hard thing to do in life. The author of “Spontaneous Me,” talks about being with a woman and how it makes him feel after she leaves and they are done. He talks about how he yearns for her body and wants her to be there with him. He also talks about how he wants a son to carry on his legacy but all he can produce is girls.
At the beginning of the poem he paints a vivid picture with his words. He talks about a fall day and he describes it with bright words like “loving, happy, friend” and he uses fall colors like “red, yellow, drab, purple, and light and dark green.” He is trying to get the reader to in vision what he is talking about and see it without even closing their eyes. He also talks about the how the grass is rich in color and touch and how the pebble stones are all around and the apples are bright red and gorgeous. He is talking about his favorite place to sit down and write his poems and it is somewhere where he can concentrate the most. However this is not the true topic of his poem. The true meaning he is trying to get to is how poems should be written and how you should go to a place where you are most comfortable at to do so.
In the next paragraph of the poem he talks about how even masculine men he can write poems about love and they mean something. He then continues on talking about him and a woman being together. He describes how he is able to touch and feel her and how she is so close to him that he is able to smell her hair and skin. He also talks about the way her body is made and how gorgeous it is and how it looks to him and makes him feels. He compares her to his dreams because she is something he could only dream about and he never thought he could actually have someone like her in his life for real.
He then uses pathos afterwards to describe when she leaves how he feels. He feels sort of empty and like something is missing when she is not around him. He yearns for her body and wants her to come back because he likes the way it feels when the two of them are together. He also talks about how he can only “lie willing and naked,” until she returns because things are just not the same when she is not around. He continues to talk about how his heart beats fast when she is not around because he is missing her and he can’t really concentrate or write anything else without her around to be his muse.
When she finally returns he feels excited and so is his body to have her back with him. Every part of his body physically and mentally missed her and he can’t help but show it to her. And they have to girls together but he is not completely satisfied with his life yet. He wants boys to carry on his legacy but all that he can produce is girls, which saddens him. However at the end he basically says that he realizes he can’t have everything in life that he wants and comes to terms with those things and he will just put them in God’s hands. If they were meant for him to have them he would and he refuses to continue to worry himself about them. He decides to be grateful for the things he does have and enjoy life.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
sinners in the hands of an angry god respnse
Briana Weems
Sinners In The Hands Paper
Pastor Jonathon Edwards is the pastor of a church who openly speaks his beliefs. He tells you that what he believes is the truth and is all that matters. He uses both pathos and ethos to get his point across. He tells the story about how when you do things wrong God will punish you for them. He also talks about how he thinks the world is going to end because he thinks that there are so many people doing things wrong that God is going to punish them all at once.
In one part of his speech he uses ethos to get his point across. He uses the bible as his credibility. “The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. Surely thou castedst them down into destruction.” He is talking about how when you are always in places where things are not right you are destined to have something bad happen to you. He is using the fact that what he was talking about had to be right because it was in the bible. He does it again when he was talking how when you do wrong things you don’t know when you are going to get punished for doing those bad things and when it happens it is going to be worse than you expected it to be. “Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!”
Edwards also uses logics to prove that what he is saying is what is best. He talks about how just as easy as it is for us to do people wrong, it is easy for god to send us to hell. So that basically is you think it was easy for you to do someone wrong, watch and see how easy it is for God to punish for doing someone wrong. He is using logics here because he is saying its not faulty logic because why should it be hard for God to punish you for the wrong doings you have did to others.
Edwards also uses pathos to try to get people to do right and believe that what he is saying is the truth. “God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.” Edwards is appealing to fear to make people think about what they are doing and what is going to happen to them. He is basically telling them that God is more angry with the people that are sitting in this church right now, meaning that just because you are in church doesn’t mean that are not saved from his wrath, than people burning in hell for the things that they have done to others.
Edwards uses descriptive words to describe how God punishes those who does wrong doings. “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.” Edwards uses scary words to scare his audience into doing the right things. He uses words like “wrath, burns, pit, fire, furnace, flames, and rage” to paint the picture of what is waiting for these people if they continue to do the wrong things they are doing. He is using these words to paint a vivid picture by using all these imagery words.
Throughout his speech Jonathon Edwards talked about the wrong doings with others. He talked about how when you do things wrong what is going to happen to you. He talked about the punishments God has in store for you and how you will burn for those things. He makes his audience see what is in store for them and how it will affect them in long term. And how just because you don’t get punished immediately for what you have done don’t think God has forgotten and he is just waiting for the right time to execute his plan.
Sinners In The Hands Paper
Pastor Jonathon Edwards is the pastor of a church who openly speaks his beliefs. He tells you that what he believes is the truth and is all that matters. He uses both pathos and ethos to get his point across. He tells the story about how when you do things wrong God will punish you for them. He also talks about how he thinks the world is going to end because he thinks that there are so many people doing things wrong that God is going to punish them all at once.
In one part of his speech he uses ethos to get his point across. He uses the bible as his credibility. “The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. Surely thou castedst them down into destruction.” He is talking about how when you are always in places where things are not right you are destined to have something bad happen to you. He is using the fact that what he was talking about had to be right because it was in the bible. He does it again when he was talking how when you do wrong things you don’t know when you are going to get punished for doing those bad things and when it happens it is going to be worse than you expected it to be. “Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!”
Edwards also uses logics to prove that what he is saying is what is best. He talks about how just as easy as it is for us to do people wrong, it is easy for god to send us to hell. So that basically is you think it was easy for you to do someone wrong, watch and see how easy it is for God to punish for doing someone wrong. He is using logics here because he is saying its not faulty logic because why should it be hard for God to punish you for the wrong doings you have did to others.
Edwards also uses pathos to try to get people to do right and believe that what he is saying is the truth. “God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.” Edwards is appealing to fear to make people think about what they are doing and what is going to happen to them. He is basically telling them that God is more angry with the people that are sitting in this church right now, meaning that just because you are in church doesn’t mean that are not saved from his wrath, than people burning in hell for the things that they have done to others.
Edwards uses descriptive words to describe how God punishes those who does wrong doings. “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.” Edwards uses scary words to scare his audience into doing the right things. He uses words like “wrath, burns, pit, fire, furnace, flames, and rage” to paint the picture of what is waiting for these people if they continue to do the wrong things they are doing. He is using these words to paint a vivid picture by using all these imagery words.
Throughout his speech Jonathon Edwards talked about the wrong doings with others. He talked about how when you do things wrong what is going to happen to you. He talked about the punishments God has in store for you and how you will burn for those things. He makes his audience see what is in store for them and how it will affect them in long term. And how just because you don’t get punished immediately for what you have done don’t think God has forgotten and he is just waiting for the right time to execute his plan.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
poems response
Briana Weems
Poems Responses
7-8th period
Anne Bradstreet is a writer of many poems. She is the first female poet and made a lot of history. One thing that makes her such a famous poet is that she was a puritan and puritans didn’t like poetry. Another thing that makes her a famous poem is because she was a puritan and she never really uses her religious beliefs in her poems. She has wrote many poems and among all her many treasures are “The Author to Her Book” and “To My Dear and Loving Husband”. The first poem is about how a woman’s friend betrays her and steals her idea and publishes it. But the idea doesn’t come out like how the author intentionally wanted so she tries to fix it, but when she fixes it, it only comes out worse. In the second poem it talks about a woman who is deeply in love with her husband that she even believes when they die, they will still be together. While these two poems are about two different things, they are alike in a lot of similar ways.
In both poems Bradstreet uses a lot of similes. In “The Author to Her Book” she compares her thoughts to offspring. She trying to show how much her ideas mean to her and how precious they are to her, like a child. In “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she compares her love for her lover to rivers. She says that it is more than any river can quench. She is trying to represent how much she loves him and how deep it is. Using similes makes the reader think and wonder why she compared her love or writings to certain things.
In both poems Bradstreet also uses rhyming words at the end of her sentences. She uses words like “true and view, trudge and judge, and small and call”, in “The Author to Her Book”. And in “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she uses rhyming words like “we and thee, man and can, repay and pray”. Words like these make her known as a well known writer and famous for her poems ending like that. Each time she rhymes it gives her poems a special effect and makes the reader think twice about what she is reading.
In both poems Bradstreet has deep meanings but it takes some thinking to figure it out. In “The Author to Her Book” she talks about how her friends stole an idea from her and published and made it their own. She talks about how it’s not right because they can’t express her emotions and thoughts like she can but when she tries to and fix it only comes out worse. She says all of this but doesn’t come right out and directly say it. For instance she calls her idea her offspring. In “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she talks about her love for her husband. How she loves him so much and how they are meant to be. Also how powerful and strong their love is. In this poem as well she doesn’t directly come out and say this. She compares their love to riches and how it’s worth more than all the riches from the east.
In both of these poems Anne Bradstreet has deep meanings. She goes deeper and she wants you to think about what she’s talking about instead of just putting out there. She goes for a deeper meaning each time she writes and she uses different types of diction, details, and syntax. Anne Bradstreet puts her heart into each poem she writes and it shows in her writings.
Poems Responses
7-8th period
Anne Bradstreet is a writer of many poems. She is the first female poet and made a lot of history. One thing that makes her such a famous poet is that she was a puritan and puritans didn’t like poetry. Another thing that makes her a famous poem is because she was a puritan and she never really uses her religious beliefs in her poems. She has wrote many poems and among all her many treasures are “The Author to Her Book” and “To My Dear and Loving Husband”. The first poem is about how a woman’s friend betrays her and steals her idea and publishes it. But the idea doesn’t come out like how the author intentionally wanted so she tries to fix it, but when she fixes it, it only comes out worse. In the second poem it talks about a woman who is deeply in love with her husband that she even believes when they die, they will still be together. While these two poems are about two different things, they are alike in a lot of similar ways.
In both poems Bradstreet uses a lot of similes. In “The Author to Her Book” she compares her thoughts to offspring. She trying to show how much her ideas mean to her and how precious they are to her, like a child. In “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she compares her love for her lover to rivers. She says that it is more than any river can quench. She is trying to represent how much she loves him and how deep it is. Using similes makes the reader think and wonder why she compared her love or writings to certain things.
In both poems Bradstreet also uses rhyming words at the end of her sentences. She uses words like “true and view, trudge and judge, and small and call”, in “The Author to Her Book”. And in “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she uses rhyming words like “we and thee, man and can, repay and pray”. Words like these make her known as a well known writer and famous for her poems ending like that. Each time she rhymes it gives her poems a special effect and makes the reader think twice about what she is reading.
In both poems Bradstreet has deep meanings but it takes some thinking to figure it out. In “The Author to Her Book” she talks about how her friends stole an idea from her and published and made it their own. She talks about how it’s not right because they can’t express her emotions and thoughts like she can but when she tries to and fix it only comes out worse. She says all of this but doesn’t come right out and directly say it. For instance she calls her idea her offspring. In “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she talks about her love for her husband. How she loves him so much and how they are meant to be. Also how powerful and strong their love is. In this poem as well she doesn’t directly come out and say this. She compares their love to riches and how it’s worth more than all the riches from the east.
In both of these poems Anne Bradstreet has deep meanings. She goes deeper and she wants you to think about what she’s talking about instead of just putting out there. She goes for a deeper meaning each time she writes and she uses different types of diction, details, and syntax. Anne Bradstreet puts her heart into each poem she writes and it shows in her writings.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Creations myths response
Briana Weems
6-7th Period
The Creation Stories
The Iroquois Creation Story and The Story of the Creation are both mythical stories. Their writers wrote alike in some aspects but differently in others. They both dealt with how the earth was created and who created it. They both deal with two different societies and their cultural beliefs.
Both myths appealed to the same audience but different cultures. They both deal with writing to these two different races, the Iroquois and the Pimas, who believe that the earth was created by gods. They both appeal to the idea that the world was created by “man” and done only by “man.” They also appeal to the facts they believed in spiritual beings and an after life. They also appeal to people that work towards perfection seeing as how both “creators” did so in both myths.
The purposes of these stories were to inform. They talked about how these gods made the earth and what it entailed. They used detail and diction to do so but in different areas. In the first myth, it talked about two twin brothers who were the complete opposite of each other and wanted the world to be two different ways. This author became detailed when he talked about how the “good mind” created all the people and the animals and the food. In the second myth it talked about a man who created everything by himself. This author became detailed when he talked about how the “doctor of the earth” created the sky, the moon, and the stars and how he wanted the world to be perfect. For instance, he talked about how he continuingly kept destroying the earth until he got the people to be how he wanted them to be. And how he wouldn’t give up until he got exactly what he wanted.
Both myths appeal to pathos in different aspects. The first myth appeals to pathos in how the “good mind” believed in good and wanted the earth to be made of good things and good people just as in the second myth. The “doctor of the earth” strived to make things right and he continuously did so until it was the way he wanted things to be. They both did things to make things right. They appealed to emotions because these two races believed so strongly in these “creators” and what they did for them.
Both myths also appealed to ethos. As far as most people believe they value and respect good and genuine people. Their character and how they treated people and wanted things to be appeals to their audience. It also makes people respect them and appreciate what these “creators” did for them, especially after all the trials and tribulations that they had to go through to get to the point that we are at. They also made strong decisions and stood up for what they believed in.
Both myths are based off of beliefs and faiths of two different types of races with different backgrounds. However these authors wrote their stories so similarly that it would be hard to debate that they weren’t talking to the same audience. They both appealed to their audience logically, and as far as ethos and pathos.
6-7th Period
The Creation Stories
The Iroquois Creation Story and The Story of the Creation are both mythical stories. Their writers wrote alike in some aspects but differently in others. They both dealt with how the earth was created and who created it. They both deal with two different societies and their cultural beliefs.
Both myths appealed to the same audience but different cultures. They both deal with writing to these two different races, the Iroquois and the Pimas, who believe that the earth was created by gods. They both appeal to the idea that the world was created by “man” and done only by “man.” They also appeal to the facts they believed in spiritual beings and an after life. They also appeal to people that work towards perfection seeing as how both “creators” did so in both myths.
The purposes of these stories were to inform. They talked about how these gods made the earth and what it entailed. They used detail and diction to do so but in different areas. In the first myth, it talked about two twin brothers who were the complete opposite of each other and wanted the world to be two different ways. This author became detailed when he talked about how the “good mind” created all the people and the animals and the food. In the second myth it talked about a man who created everything by himself. This author became detailed when he talked about how the “doctor of the earth” created the sky, the moon, and the stars and how he wanted the world to be perfect. For instance, he talked about how he continuingly kept destroying the earth until he got the people to be how he wanted them to be. And how he wouldn’t give up until he got exactly what he wanted.
Both myths appeal to pathos in different aspects. The first myth appeals to pathos in how the “good mind” believed in good and wanted the earth to be made of good things and good people just as in the second myth. The “doctor of the earth” strived to make things right and he continuously did so until it was the way he wanted things to be. They both did things to make things right. They appealed to emotions because these two races believed so strongly in these “creators” and what they did for them.
Both myths also appealed to ethos. As far as most people believe they value and respect good and genuine people. Their character and how they treated people and wanted things to be appeals to their audience. It also makes people respect them and appreciate what these “creators” did for them, especially after all the trials and tribulations that they had to go through to get to the point that we are at. They also made strong decisions and stood up for what they believed in.
Both myths are based off of beliefs and faiths of two different types of races with different backgrounds. However these authors wrote their stories so similarly that it would be hard to debate that they weren’t talking to the same audience. They both appealed to their audience logically, and as far as ethos and pathos.
Assignment 2- Political Cartoon
I think that the cartoon's audience is African Americans because it has to do with Rosa Parks and racism. I think the purpose of this cartoon was to show that there has been change in America and that is for the better and not worse of the country. I think that the cartoon was logical because it appealed to people's belief that was Rosa Parks did was right and that she deserves to be in heaven for it. It definitely appealed to emotions because people always get emotional when they think about that time period in America and how African Americans were treated back then. I think it appealed to character as well because what person that isn't racist who feel like what Rosa Parks did wasn't something good and she should be rewarded for it in her after life.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Albert Einstein's respone- 1st section
I dont think that Albert Einstein answered the question at all. He forgot he was talking to a 6th grader and used big words and logic that even I didnt understand. He didnt really give an answer and went all around the subject. Most of the things he said were not necessary to say back in his response to this 6th grader. The point of him writing this letter was to answer this little girl's question which he did not.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Is Google Making Us Stupid Paper
Briana Weems
6-7th period
Google paper
Nicholas Carr wrote an article describing what exactly the internet is doing to our brains. Not only are our brains changing our thought process but it is also changing the way we read. He goes into great details about the affects and damage that the internet is doing to everyone. He talks to professional writers and psychologists about the affects of continuously using the internet.
Nicholas Carr talked to a friend who stated that the internet has definitely changed the way he reads. He was stated saying that “I’m just seeking convenience.” A lot of readers look for a easier way out and the internet definitely makes it easier. Instead of searching through books and spending ours at the library, you can talk 15 minutes in your home to go on a search engine like Google and type in exactly what you are looking for. You no longer have to ask a librarian or somebody else for help because the internet does it for you.
A study that Nicholas wrote about in his article talked about how people don’t read as much as they use to. They found that people used the sites as “a form of skimming activity”, meaning they browsed through to get exactly what they needed. Carr talked to another one of his friends who said that “even a blog that consists of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb. I skim it.”Before the internet you had to get the book or paper and read all of it until you found what you needed. Now days you can skim the article online until you find exactly what you are looking for and then be done with it. The internet makes it very easy where there is no longer the need to do all of that reading. However Carr is pointing out that now we are missing out on that extra knowledge we were getting before from reading the whole book or the whole newspaper.
Nicholas Carr also talked to a psychologist who agrees with him that the internet is not helping us. “Our ability to interpret text, to make sure the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction remains largely disengaged.” While reading anything on the internet a lot of things pop up. Pop ups about getting new emails, celebrity gossip, sales at stores, and others are a few examples. While our mind was on what we were reading, it is now completely distracted by this pop up and what it is talking about. Our concentration on one thing is completely gone and on to something else. This distraction is taking us away from learning something and on to spending something or helping consumers make more money.
Throughout Nicholas Carr’s article he talked about reading that’s convenient and straight to the point. He talked about how he himself hated reading long things and could tell that he was becoming a product of what the internet is making us to be. However he stuck to what he believed in and didn’t conform like the internet. His article was not just a couple paragraphs but 6 pages long. He stuck to his point that reading is fundamental and gave us all the evidence and proof that we needed to push that point across. We should all watch what he read and how much we read on the internet because reading is fundamental and that is the only way that our knowledge will grow.
6-7th period
Google paper
Nicholas Carr wrote an article describing what exactly the internet is doing to our brains. Not only are our brains changing our thought process but it is also changing the way we read. He goes into great details about the affects and damage that the internet is doing to everyone. He talks to professional writers and psychologists about the affects of continuously using the internet.
Nicholas Carr talked to a friend who stated that the internet has definitely changed the way he reads. He was stated saying that “I’m just seeking convenience.” A lot of readers look for a easier way out and the internet definitely makes it easier. Instead of searching through books and spending ours at the library, you can talk 15 minutes in your home to go on a search engine like Google and type in exactly what you are looking for. You no longer have to ask a librarian or somebody else for help because the internet does it for you.
A study that Nicholas wrote about in his article talked about how people don’t read as much as they use to. They found that people used the sites as “a form of skimming activity”, meaning they browsed through to get exactly what they needed. Carr talked to another one of his friends who said that “even a blog that consists of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb. I skim it.”Before the internet you had to get the book or paper and read all of it until you found what you needed. Now days you can skim the article online until you find exactly what you are looking for and then be done with it. The internet makes it very easy where there is no longer the need to do all of that reading. However Carr is pointing out that now we are missing out on that extra knowledge we were getting before from reading the whole book or the whole newspaper.
Nicholas Carr also talked to a psychologist who agrees with him that the internet is not helping us. “Our ability to interpret text, to make sure the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction remains largely disengaged.” While reading anything on the internet a lot of things pop up. Pop ups about getting new emails, celebrity gossip, sales at stores, and others are a few examples. While our mind was on what we were reading, it is now completely distracted by this pop up and what it is talking about. Our concentration on one thing is completely gone and on to something else. This distraction is taking us away from learning something and on to spending something or helping consumers make more money.
Throughout Nicholas Carr’s article he talked about reading that’s convenient and straight to the point. He talked about how he himself hated reading long things and could tell that he was becoming a product of what the internet is making us to be. However he stuck to what he believed in and didn’t conform like the internet. His article was not just a couple paragraphs but 6 pages long. He stuck to his point that reading is fundamental and gave us all the evidence and proof that we needed to push that point across. We should all watch what he read and how much we read on the internet because reading is fundamental and that is the only way that our knowledge will grow.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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