Allegory of the Cave Sonnet

Dancing shadows and a flickering flame
the murmurs and echoes from wall to wall
their life in the cave, everyday is the same
this is all they know, yet its nothing at all.

There had to be something greater
these chains and shackles held their thoughts
the cave is nothing but a dictator
Until one gave life a shot.

The shadows revealed their true colors
he couldn't believe what he saw
he couldn't keep this from his neighbors
the beauty of life left him in awe.

He shouted for his friends to come
he had to share the enlightenment
yet they remained in their shackles
they couldn't understand his excitement

He was just another echo and shadow on the wall
and just like everything else, he meant nothing at all.

Allegory of the Cave Questions

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
The Allegory of the Cave represents how everyone can be exposed or experience the same thing, yet we may still all perceive it in a completely different way, based on our backgrounds and what we know and what we don't know.

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
The shackles, the fire, and the array shadows on the cave wall are the key elements in the imagery used. 
  
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
The allegory shows how people are learning something new, and you can't just have an idea or a thought put into your head, we all have the capability to learn, and learn in our own way. 

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
The shackles and the cave represent how sometimes we feel limited to how much we can learn, not allowing the prisoners to expand their knowledge. 


5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
Pressure from others, or the fear of the unknown are my shackles, because I know there's so much more to life, I just don't know what it takes to get there.


6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
The freed prisoner was amazed by this world he never knew existed, and when he tried to share the excitement with his fellow prisoners, he was nothing but another shadow on the wall.  


7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
Once the prisoner is exposed to the real world, and realizes how how big life is compared to life in the cave. 


8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
The prisoner is free once the realize that there is more to life beyond the cave. They have to leave the comfort zone, and enlighten themselves. 

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
There is definitely a distinction between appearances and reality, because you can see something one way, but once you analyze it and see it for what it really is, it might not appear as it once seemed.

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
Our eye's and mind all have a different reality, reality is what you make of it. 

To Be or Not To Be...finally!

So I finally figured out how to upload it! Thank you to those who showed me how! haha I messed up a little bit, but it's al good! enjoy :)

Sonnet Analysis #1

it's not much but it's a good start!

A Poetic Inquiry

Going back to my big question, I started thinking of all the other questions that never left my mind. For some reason I felt kind of guilty in a way to change my big question, like I was abandoning it, then I realized that nothing should just be limited to one question. Soy new big question is, why can't the world change?
Now that that's was finished, finding a sonnet to math my big question wasn't really my cup of tea! Reading the sonnets it was hard to keep up and understand them, but after reading a few things started to clear up. I found the sonnet Transfigured Life, and I don't know if it was the title, or the stanzas, but this sonnet made sense to me. I actually felt accomplished that I was able to piece together the sonnet and make connections to my big question.

Transfigured Life

I looked back on my Big Question from the beginning of the year, What can truly make me happy, and I feel the need to change it. The question on my mind now is, why can't the world change? Why does there have to be wars, death, poverty, sadness? Why can the world change for the better? Soooo I found this sonnet that I think connects to my big question, it's called Transfigured Life.

As growth of form or momentary glance

In a child's features will recall to mind

The father's with the mother's face combin'd,--

Sweet interchange that memories still enhance:

And yet, as childhood's years and youth's advance,

The gradual mouldings leave one stamp behind,

Till in the blended likeness now we find

A separate man's or woman's countenance:--

So in the Song, the singer's Joy and Pain,

Its very parents, evermore expand

To bid the passion's fullgrown birth remain,

By Art's transfiguring essence subtly spann'd;

And from that song-cloud shaped as a man's hand

There comes the sound as of abundant rain.

Tools That Change the Way We Think

How does use of the Internet, media, and/or technology change the way you think? Focus on your memory, your ability to concentrate, your sense of time and priorities, and the subjects/topics that interest you most. 

Before I knew anything about open source learning, and being in Dr. Preston's class I felt like going on the Internet meant I was cheating, or cutting corners. I had the idea that if I needed to research something then I should be taking the time to read about it on my own or ask my teachers about it, not just Google it and find the quickest answer. However, despite of how my patients had crunched down, the internet has made everything so much faster and easier! It gives me thousands of perspectives, ideas, examples from minds all over the world with just one click. The technology in our generation is unbelievable! Its amazing how something in the palm of my hand can hold all my important information, pictures, music, banking, stocks, and contacts. I guess some would say technology has made people more lazy because we can do what ever need at home, where as before we would have to to wait or go across town to check our saving account, or buy tickets to the Dodger Game. Nonetheless, I would say technology and internet has helped me realize that there's not only one answer to every questoin, and it has helped millions of people connect to each other everyday.

Thoughts on Hamlet

Going into Hamlet I didn't have any background on the story, except that the Lion King has story line connected to Hamlet, and I knew someone was gong to die. I mean come on it Shakespeare, someone always dies in the end, and its always the good guy. Anyways I guess it would be expected to sympathize with Hamlet in the beginning because of his father's death, and knowing his Uncle was to blame, and that his mother is now married to his uncle the murderer. At first I was convinced that Claudius was the bad guy and Hamlet had to avenge his father, yet during our class discussions, i realized that we the reader never got any back ground on ghost Hamlet, or why Claudius killed him. Was there a reason? What King Hamlet the real bad guy, and Claudius actually did the right thing? From that point, I realized that I didn't know much about any of the characters, and I was already on team Hamlet. Reaching Act III Im starting to believe that maybe this whole revenge idea, and the though of killing someone, was infesting on Hamlet's mind too much, and was draining away his sanity. Because a sane person doesn't just kill somebody (Polonius) on accident and then just blow it off as if it doesn't matter. Nonetheless, I wouldn't say I sympathize fro Hamlet that much anymore, but I still want him to get his revenge on Claudius.

THE PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCE IN HAMLET

• Hamlet is all talk, but no walk
• things are easier said then done
• J.L Austin's theory of performativity; How to Do Things with Words
• describes how language doesn't describe an actions but acts in being spoken
• performative language divided into 3 main forces:
• locutionary force: language to deliver a message
• illocutionary force:what is done in being said ( denying a request, giving an order)
• perlocutionary force: what is achieved by being said
• performative language is not only what is done in the play, but tells us about the character
• Harold Bloom; "self-overhearing" 
• Shakespeare's characters over hear them self, and gain self knowledge
• "the royal road to individuation" 
• Hamlet over thinks himself; is this self revelation or creation?
• the audience only gets what they see and hear
• Shakespeare's characters had to present there inner selves to the audience though speeches & soliloquies

Filter Bubbles

• a) What new information did you learn from the video?
• b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
• c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
• d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?

a.) Before watching this video, I had noticed that website like Facebook and Youtube do request topics or videos for me to see based on my history. Yet, I never realized how much information it was holding me back from learning. I learned that based on your device, location, and previous searches, Google can in a sense customize you search feed based these factors. 

b.) Knowing what happens behind the scenes of the internet, it's kind of hard to believe the internet now. Not that they're giving me false information, but it feels like they're holding me back from the things I should be informed on, rather than whats happening on the VMA's. 

c.) Based on the video, I wonder how much smarter the internet can get. Its already predicting what I should watch, and what I should, or would like to know, so how much more can it predict? 

d.) Searching subjects other than your personal interest, like whats really going on in the world, and how these event can affect us, I think if we were exposed more to this, then we won't have to worry about why Kanye West and Kim Kardashian named their baby North West. 

What I think about when I think about ACT III

Reading act III I couldn't help but think of how much this would make a good TV show. At first I had my set that Hamlet isn't insane about this whole thing with his father's death, and the murderer being his uncle, I believed he was just in a really emotional state, and that should be expected from anyone. Yet once they're all at the play and he's shouting and interrupting the players of what happens next and who's doing what, I think that was Hamlets turning point. I think that is when he hit the wall, and the through of killing his uncle took over his mind. Leading into Polonius' death, even though it wasn't intentional, i believe a sane person would've been affected from killing an innocent person, and with Hamlet the second it was done, he didn't even think back on it.

vocab #8

Abase (v.) : behave in a way as to belittle or degrade

Abdicate (v.): to renounce or relinquish a throne

Abomination (n.): something that causes disgust or hatred

Brusque (adj.): abrupt or off hand in speech or manner

Saboteur (n.): a person who commits or practice sabotage.
sabo= sabotage

Debauchery (n.): excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

Proliferate(v.): increase rapidly in numbers, multiply
Anachronism (n.): something or someone that is not in its correct historical history or chronological time.

Nomenclature(n.): the names or terms compromising a set or system.
Nomenclature is similar to genre.
NoMenclauture= names 

Expurgate (v.): remove matter thought to be objectionable

Bellicose (adj.): inclined or eager to fight.

Gauche (adj.) : lacking social grace, awkward, tactless.

Rapacious (adj.): very greedy.

Paradox (n.) : a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd.
paradox=proposition

Conundrum (n.): a confusing and difficult problem.

Anomaly (n.): a deviation from the common rule; someone abnormal who doesn't fit in; an odd or peculiar condition.

Ephemeral (adj.) : lasting a very short time; short-lived.

Rancorous (adj.): full of or showing resentment.

Churlish (adj.): rude behavior.
Precipitous (adj.): extremely steep.

Green Eggs and Hamlet

a) What do you know about Hamlet, the "Melancholy Dane"? 

I don't know that much at all about Hamlet, except that the movie the Lion King follows the story of Hamlet.

b) What do you know about Shakespeare? 

I know freshman year we did a subject on Shakespeare, the most I remember is that he was married to Ann Hathaway, he constructed 37 plays, and 154 sonnets, and he was from Stradford.
 c) Why do so many students involuntarily frown when they hear the name "Shakespeare"?  

I think the main reason we all get shaken from hearing Shakespeare name is because we all know his work is difficult to understand, and that it take a period of time to understand his true meaning. 
d) What can we do to make studying this play an amazing experience we'll never forget?

I think if we remixed the play into a way that fits our generation, and putting our selves into the story that would really help us understand the meaning, and get us connected with what Shakespeare was trying to get this audience to know. 

Vocab 7

For my group Jasmine had the idea for all of use to out the ending together on our ether pad so here's what we got! riiiiiggghhhhtttt here!

if I just had more time

Overall, I think its obvious I needed more time to study. I think if I would've at least spend 15 minutes each night to review the vocab list I would've been more than prepared for the test. Although I think just knowing that it was a midterm and only have a few days to study for it, I think I already had it in my head that it would be too hard.

Tale of a Canterbury Tale

So Jasmine, Lauren, and I discussed the story about the monk through the etherpad here, and this is where the magic happened! haha

Character Study

She knew they could never be together if they stayed there, her parents wouldn't allow it. This was her only moment, while her parents were away, and she made the decision. She was going to make a run for it. As her boyfriend was already on his way, she grab as many of her things, all her money, and she was ready to elope.

Canterbury tales

Vocab words that caught my eye:

• martyr
• solicitous
• cloister
• garnished
• prelate
• glib
• verity
• penitent
• absolution
• rote
• avouches

I was surprised that most of the characters Chaucer created were males. 

I think the knight and the monk seemed like the most interesting characters, I would want to hear what they had to share. 

Netvibes or symballo?

I tried to make the Netvibes account, but every time I tried to log in it wouldn't go through. I tried creating different accounts, but each one didn't work somehow. I went back to the blog to see what else I can do, and I remembered that Brenna had her preference of Symbaloo. I went to symbaloo and the sign up was so much easier! I created my own account, and im still experimenting on setting up my apps, but so far its looking pretty cool! However, im not quite sure what a browse launch page is or how to set it up....any ideas??

Vocab #6...remix?

Sooo I for this weeks vocab since its from both #5,4, I wanted to remix it for my own memory, and the way I get the words to stick in my head, kinda how we did it last year in Dr. Preston's American Literature course. 

Obsequious: (adj.) Obedient; attentive.

•  OBsequious = OBedient ; both start with OB

Beatitude: (n.) Supreme blessedness or happiness.

• beatitude almost looks like the word beautiful, and when you feel beautiful you feel happy and blessed.

Bête noire: (n.) A person or thing that one dislikes.

• The fire hydrant was always seen as a bete noire, because it took up parking space. 

Bode: (v.) To be an omen of a particular outcome

• 
  

Dank: (adj.) Damp; musty, typically cold.

• dank looks like the word dark, and dark places are typically cold

Ecumenical: (adj.) General; universal; pertaining to a movement

• 
  

Fervid: (adj.) intensely enthusiastic or passionate  

• fervid looks like fervent

Fetid: (adj.) Stinking; having an offensive odor.

• fetid reminds me of the word feet, and feet smell

Gargantuan: (adj.) Enormous; colossal.

• gargantuan is a big word, looks like gigantic 

Heyday: (n.) The stage or period of greatest success.

• heyday is in your stage of success and young people want to be successful, and young people say "hey"

Incubus: (n.) An oppressive nightmare.

• After watching the scary movie she knew her night was going to be full of incubus.

Infrastructure: (n.) The fundamental framework of a system or organization

• structure= framework. 

Inveigle: (v.) To entice or lure by flattery; to beguile.

• The little sister always inveigled her sister to give her the last cookie. 

Kudos: (n.) Honor; glory; acclaim.

• Dr. preston gave the class kudos for trying to find ways to study vocab. 

Lagniappe: given as a bonus; an unexpected benefit.

• For doing really good on her econ project the teacher gave her a lagniappe of points. 

Prolix: (adj.) using to many words; wordy.

• prolix looks like prefix, and a lot of words have prefixes

Protégé: (n.) A person who is guided by an older, influential person.

• protégé= PRO, pros are influential

Prototype: (n.) Someone or something that illustrates the typical qualities of a class, model, etc.; an archetype.

• pro= a model, someone to look up to

Sycophant: (n.) A self-seeking flatterer or fawner; someone who acts obediently toward someone important in order to gain advantage; a kiss-ass.

• Everyone knew the rich kid was a sycophant to get on the teachers good side.

Tautology: (n.) Needless repetition of an idea; redundant.

• His tautology of his win was getting on everyones nerves,

Truckle: (v.) To submit or yield obediently, giving in out of fear

• truckle looks like to fall and sink down

(n) accolade- award or privilege granted as a special honor

• Accolade= Award; both start with A

(adj.) acerbity- sour or harsh expression in 

• acer- acid

 (n) attrition- the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure

• The attrition of his health was holding him back from participating in sports. 

(n) bromide- someone who is dull and boring

• bromide=bored

(n) chauvinist- a person who is very patriotic or one who believes that gender is superior to the other

• During the war it was encouraging to find chauvinists, who supported the soldiers.

(adj) chronic- (of an illness)  constant, habitual

• chronic=constant both start with a C

 (v) expound- to set forth or state in detail; interpret; explain

• EXpound= EXplain

(n) factionalism- self interest


 (adj) immaculate- perfectly clean., neat, or tidy

• immaculate looks like it has the word accurate, and some people need their room to be accurate; clean

(n) imprecation- cursing

• Imprecation was prohibited in the classroom. 

(adj) ineluctable- unable to be resisted or avoidable 

• Her beauty was so ineluctable, all the man couldn't keep their eyes off her. 

(adj) mercurial- sudden or unpredictable changes 

• mercurial looks like miracle and miracles happen all of the sudden

 (v) palliate- to relieve or lessen without curing

• The medicine was suppose to palliate the patients pain. 

(n) protocol-  the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions

• The protocol of every classroom is that you have to raise your hand before answering a question.

(adj) resplendent- shining brilliantly; colorful 

• resplendent looks like splendid is in it, and colors are splendid

(v) stigmatize- describe or regard some mark of disgrace

• The police officer stigmatized their behavior as inappropriate. 

(adj) sub rosa- confidentiality; secretly; privately

• The government has many sub rosa missions.

(n)vainglory- excessive pride over one's achievements 

• gory, when you are glorious you have pride 

(n) vestige- a trace of something that is disappearing 

• Once the vestige of smoke cleared away we were able to see the road. 

(n) volition- the power of using ones will

• You have the volition to whatever you eat.

Declaration of Learning Independence

Before entering Dr. Preston's class, there was no such thing as learning independence. We've been trained to think that there is one way to learn, a time period to learn it, and if we don't get it then we're pretty much lost hope.  Sure teachers say they want us to think freely are that we should be creative, yet we are never given or allowed the opportunity to do so. It wasn't until I met Dr. Preston that I was actually allowed to use my brain and not the one the state says I should have. What I want by the end of this year is to continue this drive to be creative not only in Dr. Preston's class but out side of school. I want to push my imagination and creativity to the limit, and not keep it to my self.

Vocab #5

Obsequious: (adj.) Obedient; attentive.

•  The obsequious servants bid as they were told by their master.

Beatitude: (n.) Supreme blessedness or happiness.

• The beatitude of the play really captured the true meaning of Christmas.

Bête noire: (n.) A person or thing that one dislikes.

• The fire hydrant was always seen as a bete noire, because it took up parking space. 

Bode: (v.) To be an omen of a particular outcome

• 
  

Dank: (adj.) Damp; musty, typically cold.

• The little girl was always scared to go to the basement because it was so dank and dark. 

Ecumenical: (adj.) General; universal; pertaining to a movement

• 
  

Fervid: (adj.) intensely enthusiastic or passionate  

• The fervid fans encouraged the team to do their best!

Fetid: (adj.) Stinking; having an offensive odor.

• After changing the first fetid diaper, the father didn't want to change the baby anymore.

Gargantuan: (adj.) Enormous; colossal.

• The TV was to gargantuan to fit through the door. 

Heyday: (n.) The stage or period of greatest success.

• Most soccer players are in their heyday between ages 17 to 29.

Incubus: (n.) An oppressive nightmare.

• She didn't want to watch the movie because she thought it would give incubus dreams.

Infrastructure: (n.) The fundamental framework of a system or organization

• Everyone put their input for the infrastructure of the clubs rules. 

Inveigle: (v.) To entice or lure by flattery; to beguile.

• The little sister always inveigled her sister to give her the last cookie. 

Kudos: (n.) Honor; glory; acclaim.

• Dr. preston gave the class kudos for trying to find ways to study vocab. 

Lagniappe: given as a bonus; an unexpected benefit.

• For doing really good on her econ project the teacher gave her a lagniappe of points. 

Prolix: (adj.) using to many words; wordy.

• His essay was too prolix, it was hard to understand the meaning behind it.

Protégé: (n.) A person who is guided by an older, influential person.

• In Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was seen as a protege to help Will. 

Prototype: (n.) Someone or something that illustrates the typical qualities of a class, model, etc.; an archetype.

• The prototype for the new mall was designed to beautifully. 

Sycophant: (n.) A self-seeking flatterer or fawner; someone who acts obediently toward someone important in order to gain advantage; a kiss-ass.

• Everyone knew the rich kid was a sycophant to get on the teachers good side.

Tautology: (n.) Needless repetition of an idea; redundant.

• His tautology of his win was getting on everyones nerves,

Truckle: (v.) To submit or yield obediently, giving in out of fear

• Throughout high school we have been installed to always truckle to our teachers.

Vocab getting intense...somewhat haha

our attempt at studying vocab in a fun way 😋 hahaha

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Going into the AP exam I started off with high hopes, yet once I got to the first  couple questions, everything sort of shot down. I had to read the passages a couple times to really understand what I had to look for in order to answer the questions, and after getting through the first few I felt more comfortable and back on track. I would say the context questions were easier for me to answer because I knew where I needed to look and I understood the passages more once I really analyzed them. The diction of the poem was hard to follow, and I couldn't make sense of them. Finishing the test I was expecting to get a low score, but I was surprised and happy actually to see that I did somewhat good. I didn't understand how to calculate the number grade I got but overall Im pretty happy wit the results. :)

Beowulf....tada!!

Protecting your people or protecting your pride. For a super hero the obvious choice would be to protect the ones who couldn't protect themselves, right? Looking at a modern day hero like Batman, and a 100 year old hero Beowulf, even though they come from distant times, the hero in them is nothing different. Beowulf, an epitome for his culture and time period, was seen as a god who could defeat monsters and had everything needed to be a hero. Meanwhile, Batman, a successful, smart, and clever man used his wealth and wits to help the people of Gotham, always putting the safety of others before anything. Though both of these characters may seem like their soul purpose is to protect others, their attitude, and actions have slightly different backgrounds. 

As a hero your almost expected to be perfect, always having your mind set to protecting your people. However, not all heroes have that same view. Some would say that Beowulf's pride and arrogance always got the best of, never wanting to receive help or fail. Having others know that he was strong and capable of defeating the Grendel was more important than actually defeating the Grendel itself.  Yet, for Batman advertising his victories wasn't really what he had in mind, he always disguised his life of a hero. I believe for Batman, because of his parents death and the pain he went through, he didn't want anyone else to experience what he had, and he made sure that didn't happen. A heroes attitude may not always be expected, but it's their actions that really speak out. 

In the world that Beowulf was around monsters were the main threat in town, and for Batman the only people to fear were the ones around you. For a hero, they are determined on how they fight, who they fight, and what they fight for. I believe this is where two heroes are no different despite their time periods. Even though Batman's heroism came from his brains and his wealth, that didn't stop him from attempting the impossible. He kept his loyalty to Gotham, just as Beowulf did to his king. However, the way they dealt with their enemy was very different. Being that Batman is just like any other person, he never really killed his opponent, like the Joker. He always found an alternative either leaving it to the authorities or finding another way to punish the bad guys. Whereas in Beowulf, he always went for the kill, defeating the Grendel, knowing that was his job. 

In the end, a hero isn't perfect. They are just individuals who have the heart and mind to protect those who can'r protect themselves, and mask or not, powers or no powers, Beowulf and Batman have what it takes to be called a hero. 

an essay by Spongebob Squarepants

so this has been me for the past hour on the Beowulf essay :( haha it's still in progress tho hehe

Vocab #4

1.(n) accolade- award or privilege granted as a special honor
At the end of the year everyone receives an accolade based on their scores.

2.(adj.) acerbity- sour or harsh expression in 
His acerbity remark caused him to go to the principals office.


3. (n) attrition- the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressureThe attrition of his health was holding him back from participating in sports. 

4. (n) bromide- someone who is dull and boring
After seeing the movie multiple times it became more of a bromide than a horror movie.

5. (n) chauvinist- a person who is very patriotic or one who believes that gender is superior to the other
During the war it was encouraging to find chauvinists, who supported the soldiers.

6. (adj) chronic- (of an illness)  constant, habitual
The tumors were so chronic they decided to have them removed. 

7. (v) expound- to set forth or state in detail; interpret; explain
It wasn't easy to expound the science project to my little sister. 

8. (n) factionalism- self interest


9. (adj) immaculate- perfectly clean., neat, or tidy
Because of her OCD her room always had to be immaculate.

10. (n) imprecation- cursing
Imprecation was prohibited in the classroom. 

11. (adj) ineluctable- unable to be resisted or avoidable 
Her beauty was so ineluctable, all the man couldn't keep their eyes off her. 

12. (adj) mercurial- sudden or unpredictable changes 
Her mercurial behavior always pushed people away. 

13. (v) palliate- to relieve or lessen without curing
The medicine was suppose to palliate the patients pain. 

14. (n) protocol-  the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions
The protocol of every classroom is that you have to raise your hand before answering a question.

15. (adj) resplendent- shining brilliantly; colorful 
Her resplendent wardrobe always made her standout form everyone else.

16. (v) stigmatize- describe or regard some mark of disgrace
The police officer stigmatized their behavior as inappropriate. 

17. (adj) sub rosa- confidentiality; secretly; privately
The government has many sub rosa missions.

18. (n)vainglory- excessive pride over one's achievements 
His Vainglory after winning the game was shown through his sportsmanship. 

19. (n) vestige- a trace of something that is disappearing 
Once the vestige of smoke cleared away we were able to see the road. 

20. (n) volition- the power of using ones will
You have the volition to whatever you eat.

Will Study For Food

The scholarship I would like to apply for would be the hispanic scholarship fund. With the help of scholarships I will be able to take my place at UCLA or any other college open to me. With these funds I will be able to pay for housing and meals, dorms, and text books. Being the kind of girl with big dreams Im aiming to reach $8,000 in scholarship funds to take the stress off my family and the though of being in debt with loans.

Vocab #3

1. apostate: a person who renounces a religious or political.

• Their mom always had them go to church every sunday so they wouldn't be seen as an apostate.

2.effusive: expressing feeing of gratitude or pleasure 

• Gradnight was full of effusive and wild teenagers.

3. impasse: a situation in wich no progress is possible, because of disagreement

• Whenever it came to who was going to wash the dishes there was always an impasse between everyone.

4. euphoria: feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.

• After the honeymoon stage the euphoria they felt wasn't that strong.

5. lugubrious: looking or sounding sad

• I enjoy reading more mysterious books rather than lugubrious dreadful stories

6. bravado: a bold manner or show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate 

• The dog tried to show his bravado to seem like the alpha dog.

7.consensus: general agreement

• The consensus the parents came up with brought the family closer together.

8. dichotomy: a difference or contrast between two things that are represented as being 
entirely different


9.constrict: make narrower by encircling pressure 


10.gothic: relating to the goths 
 
11. punctilio: a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure 


12. metamorphosis: the process of transformation


13. raconteur: a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly

14. sine qua non: an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential

15. quixotic: extravagantly romantic; impractical; impulsive; rashly unpredictable

16. vendetta: prolonged and bitter feud or rivalry

17. non sequitur: a statement containing an illogical conclusion; an inference that doesn't follow from the premises

18. mystique: a framework of doctrines, ideas, and beliefs constructed around a person or object

19. quagmire: a bog; a situation from which extrication is difficult; anything soft or flabby

20. parlous: perilous; dangerous; clever; shrewd

why this book?

The reason I chose the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is because of the great reviews iv heard. I remember when my brother had to read this book for class, and he's the kind who only sparknotes every reading assignment, and for some reason he couldn't put this book down. I figured if he enjoyed this book, then it must be worth reading!

Hosting a Good Conversation Online

I know it wasn't required to post anything on the Art of Hosting Good Conversations Online article, but this actually made a lot of sense to me, and these are just a few of the bullets that caught my eye! :)

• Make newcomers feel welcomed, contributors valued, recreational hasslers ignored.
• The ongoing goal is civil discourse: all kinds of people having conversations and arguments about a variety of subjects and treating each other decently. 
• Provide a way for people to get to know each other beyond their usual masks. 
• A host is like a host at a party. You don't automatically throw a great party by hiring a room and buying some beer. Someone needs to invite an interesting mix of people, greet people at the door, make introductions, start conversations, avert fisticuffs, encourage people to let their hair down and entertain each other. 
• Good hosts model the behavior they want others to emulate: read carefully and post entertainingly, informatively, and economically, acknowledge other people by name, assume good will, assert trust until convinced otherwise , add knowledge, offer help , be slow to anger, apologize when wrong, politely ask for clarification, exercise patience when your temper flares. 
• under the right conditions, online communities grow. They are gardened.
• Keep the rules as few as possible. Keep them simple and based on ordinary human courtesy 

Vocabulary #2

1. Accoutrements: additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity

• The accoutrements for wrestling are wrestling shoes, a headgear, and a singlet.

2.Apogee: highest point of development in something; climax

• The apogee of her trip was when she went to see the Eiffel Tower.

3. Apropos: with reference to; concerning

• The teachers apropos about the Egyptians made better sense to her students than the books example.

4. Bicker: argue about pity and trivia matters;(of water) flow or fall with a gentle repetitive noise; patter

• Once the student wouldn't stop bickering about her tardies she was sent to the office. 

5. Coalesce: come together and form one mass or whole

• The group tried to coalesce all their ideas, but in the end it only caused more confusion. 

6. Contretemps: and unexpected and unfortunate occurrence 

• The contretemps of the car crash put fear in a lot of the drivers.

7. Convolution: a coil or twist

• She had so many topics she wanted to put into her essay it turned into a convolution of random sentences.

8. Cull: select from a large quantity 

• The company culled the applicant with most experience.

9. Disparate: different in kind; not allowed for comparison 

• Twix and Resess have such a disparate taste, that I decide to take both.

10. Dogmatic: inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

• The dogmatic rules were so outrageous, that the employes hardly ever followed them. 

11. Licentious: promiscuous in sexual matters, disregarding accepted rules.

• Her licentious behavior was restricted at the restaurant.

12. Mete: a punishment or harsh treatment

13. Noxious: harmful, poisonous, very unpleasant 

• The noxious fumes were coming form the sewer.

14. Polemic: a strong verbal or written attack on someone 

• To get a better understanding of the election, the teacher assigned the class the watch the polemic sciences of the debate.

15. Populous: having a large population 

• California is the third populous state in America.

16. Probity: honesty and decency 

• Probity was the main rule in their house.

17. Repartee: witty comments or replies

18. Supervene: occur later than a specified or implied event or action, typically in such a way as to change the situation

19. Truncate: shorten something by cutting of the pot or end piece 

20. Unimpeachable: not able to be doubted, questioned

Little help?....anyone?....someone?!

I'm having a little trouble understanding the Beowulf, and for some reason the resources that were left in the comments from that one post from Dr. Preston earlier they won't work on my computer so I'm a little stuck :( and I don't know if it's just a bad day for my computer but the mind map keeps showing blank as well? someone send me a sign!! haha

My Opinion Isn't (A) Right..... :(

I've reviewed the article "The right to your own opinion" for the past three years, in Mrs. Byrnes class, last year in Dr. Preston's American Let class, and again this year. Each year it gave me something new to think about, reminding me all over again that my I really don't have a right to my opinion. What really caught my attention though was when we discussed that even in school our opinion doesn't matter. We are never ask about what we think or feel, its always, " this is how it is, and that's how its going to be." Never once has a teach asked me about what I feel about an assignment, until last year when I met Dr. Preston. He wanted our feed back, and he let us know from the beginning that this wasn't a one man job, we all had a say, and we all had to work together.

Back to the article though and the socratic seminar, I didn't take too many notes because I just wanted to focus on what the class had to say but here's some things I jotted down.

• you can't CHANGE an opinion; you can INFLUENCE it tho
• you are entitled to your own opinion, but you should be willing to listen to others opinions 
• you should have evidence, something to bak you up
• we are all connected; 
• limbic: part of your brain that deals with emotions 
• michales example of how she likes to argue
• she argues with her emotions rather that logically
• saying " I have the right to my own opinion" is like throwing in the towel
• Daniele knows a lot about physics haha 

Vocabulary #1

1. Adumbrate: to represent in outline; to indicate faintly
The teacher adumbrated the syllabus to the class.

2. Apotheosis: the highest point of development of something.
The apotheosis of the school year was graduation.
3. Ascetic: practicing service of self discipline 
The ascetic lifestyle of the family cause the youngest to be a rebel.

4. Bauble: cheap, ornament; trinket
The yard sale consist of many old baubles.


5. Beguile: enchant; charm; take away by cheating or flattery
The little sister beguiled her older brother to give her the last cookie.

6. Burgeon: grow quickly; flourish
The number of ants burgeoned in the kitchen as the rain started coming in.

7. Complement: to complete; to make perfect; full quantity
Her shoes complemented her outfit.
8. Contumacious: stubborn ; willfully disobedient
All the high schoolers were contumacious when they had to return to school after summer.

9. Curmudgeon: a bad-tempered; surly person
The old man was such a curmudgeon, that no one ever want to bother him.
10. Didactic: instructive; inclined to teach
Her mothers didactic methods always made more sense. 

11. Disingenuous: insincere; lacking in candor
His disingenuous personality made me seem arrogant and boring.
12. Exculpate: to free from blame; vindicate, innocentOnce the results came in, the suspect was exculpated and sent home. 

13. Faux pas: an embarrassing or tackless act
Falling on stage was a faux pas she will never forget. 

14. Fulminate: to issue denunciations; to pronounce with condemnation
Martin Luther King Jr. fulminated against slavery.

15. Fustian: inflated language in writing; worthless; cheap; twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dipped in dark colored dye

16. Hauteur: arrogance; disdainful pride
At first the man had this hauteur demeanor, but he turned to be a very respectful man.
17. Inhibit: to hinder; to prevent; to restrain
Waking up late inhibited Danny from getting a good parking spot.

18. Jeremiad: prolonged lamentation; mournful complaint, list of woes
19. Opportunist: the policy of adapting actions and decisions; someone who practices opportunism
Her goal is to become more of an opportunist, rather than focus on the negative.

20. Unconscionable: not right or reasonable
Lying to your parents is unconscionable.