1) Lesther Valenzuela - knows a lot about creating/designing web pages
2) Erika Quintana (my mom ha.) - Teaches business/computer classes and would also be a great asset for computer info.
3) Dr. Preston - incredible network of people in all fields, one of them is bound to be useful.
4) Mrs. Byrne - righetti high school, knowledge about worldly things, spreads positive change, active leader.
5) TBA
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
LAUNCH
We don't want to stop at just opportunities to volunteer though. We've noticed a dangerous trend in the media in which only the bad things going on in our world are talked about. Our website will be a haven for positive media including articles, pictures and videos of citizens doing ordinary and extraordinary things on a daily basis which lead to spreading positivity in our community and throughout the world. We will provide tips and suggestions of how positive things done on a small scale can influence others and therefore "help people".
This project is all about Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) and spreading positivity throughout our community. We want to provide people with proof they can make a big difference in others lives by doing small things.
The project is still in its beginning stages but we are excited about it and hope you are too!
Monday, February 24, 2014
I, JURY
Marisol's essay: I liked the ideas you presented in your closing paragraph such as it' okay to be different! Good Job!
Eli: You did a good job at presenting an idea and then following up with a real-life example. That made your ideas more solid. Good job!
Mia's: I thought you had a nice "flow" to your essay if that makes sense. Also I though you closing paragraph was strong and left some room for thought and reflection from readers. You also had a good use of elements from the story without summarizing. Good Job!
Rachel: I thought your essay was pretty good and I thought it was interesting how you compared what our world deems as high status worthy versus what the world state looks for. Maybe just a few more textual examples (that's probable hard though because we are only on ch 6). Good job!
Most of the essays I read had good use of textual evidence from the story. I liked how when they used an example they weren't really summarizing but were actually use it to accentuate their arguments.
Eli: You did a good job at presenting an idea and then following up with a real-life example. That made your ideas more solid. Good job!
Mia's: I thought you had a nice "flow" to your essay if that makes sense. Also I though you closing paragraph was strong and left some room for thought and reflection from readers. You also had a good use of elements from the story without summarizing. Good Job!
Rachel: I thought your essay was pretty good and I thought it was interesting how you compared what our world deems as high status worthy versus what the world state looks for. Maybe just a few more textual examples (that's probable hard though because we are only on ch 6). Good job!
Most of the essays I read had good use of textual evidence from the story. I liked how when they used an example they weren't really summarizing but were actually use it to accentuate their arguments.
Brave New Essay
Prompt: Does stability really equate to happiness in individuals as well as in society?
In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley happiness is one of the ultimate sacrifices society has made for the supreme cause: stability. The very motto of the World State (the sci-fi universe meant to represent the "perfect" modern world) is "Community. Identity. Stability." Not individuality, not relationships, not free will. Huxley creates a world where individuals, some willingly and some unknowingly, give up the very entities that are now seen as inherent to the modern citizen and world. This world creates the idea that the quest for individual happiness is somehow less important than the well being of a whole group and is less important than a virtually error free society. Happiness is something people strive for on a daily basis and is different to each individual person. Happiness is not something that can be easily sacrificed even in the name of "perfection" or stability.
The character Bernard Marx is introduced as an anomaly. He isn't the typical Alpha male that the World State strives to create and also doesn't always desire to be one. In this world where people are conditioned to think and desire certain things Bernard is more being dragged with the current than a part of it. His desires and what he wants do not correlate with the desires of the World State. Does that make him wrong? Does it mean his desires and thoughts are unworthy? Bernard's seemingly rare ability to think for himself leaves him nearly tangibly unhappy on more than one occasion. He has to constantly feel less than stellar when compared to others of his kind like Henry and is struggling over how to make his feelings for Lenina clear. During his constant internal battles the World State is still stable and still moving along. His feelings of inferiority not even merely acknowledged. It is never even questioned whether his lackluster attitude and outlook is really worth the wheel turning at a constant rate.
Somewhere along the road to this new world it was determined that happiness or the lack thereof in individuals was a necessary sacrifice in the name of stability. However, a world where individuals can make their own choices and pursue their passions has a way of stabilizing itself. This has been shown again and again throughout history. The fire a craftsman gets in his eyes when he is creating something he truly cares about is contributing to a better society. The endless nights spent in labs and offices trying to find pivotal cures are benefiting and striving for a more stable society. A group of lifeless drones performing a task can get the job done, but a group of impassioned people striving for individual and societal can do it better and with purpose.
Happiness in individuals has a natural way of bleeding in to happiness for a whole lot of people.
When elements like free will and individuality are removed from the world those who do not fit the mold of the "perfect person" are left behind. A stable society is decidedly not worth the quality of lives and therefore the happiness of individuals.
In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley happiness is one of the ultimate sacrifices society has made for the supreme cause: stability. The very motto of the World State (the sci-fi universe meant to represent the "perfect" modern world) is "Community. Identity. Stability." Not individuality, not relationships, not free will. Huxley creates a world where individuals, some willingly and some unknowingly, give up the very entities that are now seen as inherent to the modern citizen and world. This world creates the idea that the quest for individual happiness is somehow less important than the well being of a whole group and is less important than a virtually error free society. Happiness is something people strive for on a daily basis and is different to each individual person. Happiness is not something that can be easily sacrificed even in the name of "perfection" or stability.
The character Bernard Marx is introduced as an anomaly. He isn't the typical Alpha male that the World State strives to create and also doesn't always desire to be one. In this world where people are conditioned to think and desire certain things Bernard is more being dragged with the current than a part of it. His desires and what he wants do not correlate with the desires of the World State. Does that make him wrong? Does it mean his desires and thoughts are unworthy? Bernard's seemingly rare ability to think for himself leaves him nearly tangibly unhappy on more than one occasion. He has to constantly feel less than stellar when compared to others of his kind like Henry and is struggling over how to make his feelings for Lenina clear. During his constant internal battles the World State is still stable and still moving along. His feelings of inferiority not even merely acknowledged. It is never even questioned whether his lackluster attitude and outlook is really worth the wheel turning at a constant rate.
Somewhere along the road to this new world it was determined that happiness or the lack thereof in individuals was a necessary sacrifice in the name of stability. However, a world where individuals can make their own choices and pursue their passions has a way of stabilizing itself. This has been shown again and again throughout history. The fire a craftsman gets in his eyes when he is creating something he truly cares about is contributing to a better society. The endless nights spent in labs and offices trying to find pivotal cures are benefiting and striving for a more stable society. A group of lifeless drones performing a task can get the job done, but a group of impassioned people striving for individual and societal can do it better and with purpose.
Happiness in individuals has a natural way of bleeding in to happiness for a whole lot of people.
When elements like free will and individuality are removed from the world those who do not fit the mold of the "perfect person" are left behind. A stable society is decidedly not worth the quality of lives and therefore the happiness of individuals.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Brave New World Prompt
Does stability really equate to happiness in individuals as well as in society?
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
I AM HERE
This grading period so far I have been pretty focused on the standard elements of this course like reading and lit terms which have been easier for me this semester because I know what to expect this go around. I've also been trying to work out some of the details for my big project. While working on my own I couldn't really get a grasp at what exactly is it I wanted to do. So after a quick meeting with Dr. Preston, we figured the best solution was, yes, collaboration. So now I've been talking with Jenna, Meghan, Hannah, and Taylor and we've been brainstorming together. This also presented me with an opportunity to link up with their group "Project Positive" which I'm pretty excited about.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
WELCOME TO THE INTERDISCIPLINARITY (in progress)
HELP NEEDED:
I'm still not sure how to turn my passions and what I like to do into a project or even what direction to take it in. If anyone has suggestions or knows a place to start I would appreciate the help.
I'm still not sure how to turn my passions and what I like to do into a project or even what direction to take it in. If anyone has suggestions or knows a place to start I would appreciate the help.
Lit Terms #6
simile: a figure of speech that draws a comparison between two different things, especially a phrase containing the word "like" or "as"
soliloquy: the act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character's thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience
spiritual: relating to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things
speaker: somebody who makes a speech or gives a lecture
stereotype: to categorize individuals or groups according to an oversimplified standardized image or idea
stream of consciousness: a literary style that presents a character's continuous random flow of thoughts as they arise
structure: a system or organization made up of interrelated parts functioning as a whole
style: the way in which something is written or performed, as distinct from its content
subordination: the act of placing in a lower rank or position
surrealism: an early 20th-century movement in art and literature that tried to represent the subconscious mind by creating fantastic imagery and juxtaposing ideas that seem to contradict each other
suspension of disbelief: is a willingness of a reader or viewer to suspend his critical faculties to the extent of ignoring minor inconsistencies so as to enjoy a work of fiction
synesthesia: the description of one kind of sense perception using words that describe another kind of sense perception, as in the phrase "shining metallic words"
synecdoche: figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression "hired hands" for workmen
syntax: organization of words in sentences
theme: a distinct, recurring, and unifying quality or idea
thesis: a subject for an essay
tone: the way somebody says something as an indicator of what that person is feeling or thinking
tongue in cheek
tragedy: an event in life that evokes feelings of sorrow or grief. a serious play with a tragic theme, often involving a heroic struggle and the downfall of the main character.
understatement: a statement, or a way of expressing yourself, that is deliberately less forceful or dramatic than the subject would seem to justify or require
vernacular: the everyday language of the people in a country or region
voice: is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique
zeitgeist: ideas and spirit of time, the ideas prevalent in a period and place, particularly as expressed in literature, philosophy, and religion.
soliloquy: the act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character's thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience
spiritual: relating to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things
speaker: somebody who makes a speech or gives a lecture
stereotype: to categorize individuals or groups according to an oversimplified standardized image or idea
stream of consciousness: a literary style that presents a character's continuous random flow of thoughts as they arise
structure: a system or organization made up of interrelated parts functioning as a whole
style: the way in which something is written or performed, as distinct from its content
subordination: the act of placing in a lower rank or position
surrealism: an early 20th-century movement in art and literature that tried to represent the subconscious mind by creating fantastic imagery and juxtaposing ideas that seem to contradict each other
suspension of disbelief: is a willingness of a reader or viewer to suspend his critical faculties to the extent of ignoring minor inconsistencies so as to enjoy a work of fiction
synesthesia: the description of one kind of sense perception using words that describe another kind of sense perception, as in the phrase "shining metallic words"
synecdoche: figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression "hired hands" for workmen
syntax: organization of words in sentences
theme: a distinct, recurring, and unifying quality or idea
thesis: a subject for an essay
tone: the way somebody says something as an indicator of what that person is feeling or thinking
tongue in cheek
tragedy: an event in life that evokes feelings of sorrow or grief. a serious play with a tragic theme, often involving a heroic struggle and the downfall of the main character.
understatement: a statement, or a way of expressing yourself, that is deliberately less forceful or dramatic than the subject would seem to justify or require
vernacular: the everyday language of the people in a country or region
voice: is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique
zeitgeist: ideas and spirit of time, the ideas prevalent in a period and place, particularly as expressed in literature, philosophy, and religion.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
HAFTA/WANNA
I don't expect everything to be automatically different the second I walk across the graduation stage or even the day after. Things will definitely be dramatically different though. Scenery will change for a lot of us, the people we hang out with will change, some people might even change. Whether they become more mature or have an altered view on what's really important I believe some people will evolve after high school. That being said I don't think merely graduating from high school can change who you are. Most of us graduate at eighteen and by then we can consciously make decisions on what type of person we want to be and therefore taking the next step doesn't automatically change who you are for the better or worse. We will all find ourselves in new situations with different people in brand new places and I think the most we can ask of ourselves is to take something positive away from each new opportunity. The next few years will help shape and develop us as people so it's important to make sure we are taking part in activities that we actually want to be a part of us. We all have a basic education and how we take it from here and apply it to higher education is completely up to us as individuals.
Monday, February 10, 2014
LAUNCH/DRAFT
- What am I passionate about? What do I want to do?
- How can I use the tools from last semester (and the Internet in general)?
- What will I need to do in order to "feel the awesomeness with no regrets" by June?
- What will impress/convince others (both in my life and in my field)?
- How will I move beyond 'What If' and take this from idea --> reality?
- Who will be the peers, public, and experts in my personal learning network?
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Lit Terms #5
parallelism:repetition for effect: in writing, the deliberate repetition of words or sentence structures for effect
-"beside one another."
parody: amusing imitation: a piece of writing or music that deliberately copies another work in a comic or satirical way
-Saturday Night Live is famous for it's political and pop culture parodies.
pathos: quality that arouses pity: the quality in something that makes people feel pity or sadness
-The ASPCA commercials utilize pathos.
pedantry: a pedantic attitude or an example of pedantic behavior
-A friend standing in line for a show not letting another friend cut in line in front of them.
personification: an embodiment or perfect example of something
-"The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky."
plot: the story or sequence of events in something such as a novel, play, or movie
-Some people found the plot of American Hustle hard to follow.
poignant: particularly penetrating and effective or relevant
-The death of Simba's father was a poignant moment in the movie.
point of view: somebody's way of thinking about or approaching a subject, as shaped by his or her own character, experience, mindset, and history
-In an argument you should always try and see the other person's point of view.
postmodernism: a style in architecture, art, literature, and criticism developed after and often in reaction to modernism, characterized by reference to other periods or styles in a self-conscious way and a rejection of the notion of high art
-"The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot."
prose: writing or speech in its normal continuous form, without the rhythmic or visual line structure of poetry
-"The cheetah is the fastest land animal."
protagonist: the most important character in a novel, play, story, or other literary work
-Harry Potter.
pun: a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning
-"Why do people study gravity? It's a pretty attractive field."
purpose: the goal or intended outcome of something
-Most authors don't write for the sole purpose of making money.
realism: a practical understanding and acceptance of the actual nature of the world, rather than an idealized or romantic view of it
-Mark Twain.
refrain: to avoid doing something or hold yourself back from doing something
-I should refrain from using the word "like" so much.
requiem: a piece of music written to commemorate somebody who has died
-The Oscars do a live requiem each year.
resolution: the process of resolving something such as a problem or dispute
-I know the movie is going to end soon if the resolution begins.
restatement: to state again or in a new way
-Puck, from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
rhetoric: speech or writing that communicates its point persuasively
My uncle was an expert in rhetoric when he was the speech writer for Diane Feinstein.
rhetorical question: a question asked for effect that neither expects nor requires an answer
-"Is the pope Catholic?"
rising action: a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest
-The rising action really hooks me into a book or a movie.
romanticism: romantic quality or spirit in thought, expression, or action
-Daffodils by William Wordsworth.
satire: the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults
-Jimmy Fallon uses some satire in his opening monologue.
scansion: the analysis of verse according to the rules of meter
-I never quite mastered scansion when writing poetry.
setting: the surroundings or environment in which something exists or takes place
-Usually when the character is sad their setting is dark and gloomy.
(collaboration with: Jenna Noce)
-"beside one another."
parody: amusing imitation: a piece of writing or music that deliberately copies another work in a comic or satirical way
-Saturday Night Live is famous for it's political and pop culture parodies.
pathos: quality that arouses pity: the quality in something that makes people feel pity or sadness
-The ASPCA commercials utilize pathos.
pedantry: a pedantic attitude or an example of pedantic behavior
-A friend standing in line for a show not letting another friend cut in line in front of them.
personification: an embodiment or perfect example of something
-"The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky."
plot: the story or sequence of events in something such as a novel, play, or movie
-Some people found the plot of American Hustle hard to follow.
poignant: particularly penetrating and effective or relevant
-The death of Simba's father was a poignant moment in the movie.
point of view: somebody's way of thinking about or approaching a subject, as shaped by his or her own character, experience, mindset, and history
-In an argument you should always try and see the other person's point of view.
postmodernism: a style in architecture, art, literature, and criticism developed after and often in reaction to modernism, characterized by reference to other periods or styles in a self-conscious way and a rejection of the notion of high art
-"The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot."
prose: writing or speech in its normal continuous form, without the rhythmic or visual line structure of poetry
-"The cheetah is the fastest land animal."
protagonist: the most important character in a novel, play, story, or other literary work
-Harry Potter.
pun: a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning
-"Why do people study gravity? It's a pretty attractive field."
purpose: the goal or intended outcome of something
-Most authors don't write for the sole purpose of making money.
realism: a practical understanding and acceptance of the actual nature of the world, rather than an idealized or romantic view of it
-Mark Twain.
refrain: to avoid doing something or hold yourself back from doing something
-I should refrain from using the word "like" so much.
requiem: a piece of music written to commemorate somebody who has died
-The Oscars do a live requiem each year.
resolution: the process of resolving something such as a problem or dispute
-I know the movie is going to end soon if the resolution begins.
restatement: to state again or in a new way
-Puck, from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
rhetoric: speech or writing that communicates its point persuasively
My uncle was an expert in rhetoric when he was the speech writer for Diane Feinstein.
rhetorical question: a question asked for effect that neither expects nor requires an answer
-"Is the pope Catholic?"
rising action: a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest
-The rising action really hooks me into a book or a movie.
romanticism: romantic quality or spirit in thought, expression, or action
-Daffodils by William Wordsworth.
satire: the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults
-Jimmy Fallon uses some satire in his opening monologue.
scansion: the analysis of verse according to the rules of meter
-I never quite mastered scansion when writing poetry.
setting: the surroundings or environment in which something exists or takes place
-Usually when the character is sad their setting is dark and gloomy.
(collaboration with: Jenna Noce)
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