"Fall Semester Reflection"

Do you read your colleagues’ work online?  How often? What is it like to read their work? How does being able to see everyone’s work online at any given time change the way you do your work?
Yes, I usually read my colleagues' work when I don't understand something. Its easy for me to read blogs with reliable authors. It gives me a better example of what I'm supposed to do.
How has the publicly and always visible course blog made this course different from one without a blog?  How would the course change if the course blog disappeared tomorrow?
It gives you the option of actually reflecting your personality into your work. It would take the meaning away from collaborating working groups since we ask each other to correct homework or work together on assignments. 
Has publishing your work for the public to see changed your approach to completing an assignment? How so?  How would your feelings about the course change if you couldn’t publish your work that way?
It makes you try harder because people are able to see where you are with your work and how much effort your putting into it. It would takes away the meaning of letting us work with our peers.
Has your experience of the physical classroom changed because of the open & online aspects?  Where does your learning actually happen?  
Yes, it is a great learning experience because we are able to work with the other class periods. Their blogs are listed on the same webpage as ours so we could see their styles of work. It's a great way to expand connections and build a educational relationships. 
You were described in the Macarthur Foundation/DML  interview as “a pioneer”-- how do you describe the experience on the edge to people who haven’t been there (friends and family)?
I usually show them my blog after I finish a long assignment because they wonder what I am doing and why.
How do they respond when you describe the brave new world in which you’re working?
They are amazed at all the work we put into our blogs.
What do their responses mean to you?  What effect(s) (if any) do they have on you?
If they like my blog I simply smile because I know I am doing a good job. It encourages me to try harder and post more because they want to hear what i have to say.

Literary Analysis #5: The House On Mango Street

GENERAL

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

This novel explains the reality that many people go through. It is a story of a young girl living in a town that she does not like at all. She feels that she is trapped. Esperanza is a young girl who is guiding us through her life. She is always watching the things that are going on and we get to listen to different stories of peoples life’s while she is talking about hers. I feel that the author’s purpose of writing this novel was to show young girls that are in the shoes of Esperanza that there is in a happy ending. Just because you are from in place that has low expectations doesn’t mean that you have to set the bar that low for yourself.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

The theme was that no matter where you live, how you look, what others think of you, how much money you have, the amount of friends you have, you shouldn't  set low standards for yourself. People will put you down, make you feel that you don’t belong at times but nothing is easy. As long as you do what you need to do that's all you need. 

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

The author's tone was pretty constant. It had great details and gave you that feeling that you were welcome to continue reading. 

• Every first few sentence the novel said, “We didn’t always live one Mango Street.” Right there the Narrator begins the story with a line that lets you know that she expecting you to be listening.(page 3) 
• The next example is when Esperanza says, “this was the house Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket and this was the house Mama dreamed up in the stories she told us before we went to bed.”(page 4) 
• “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn’t it. The house on Mango Street isn’t it. For the time being, Mama says. Temporary, says Papa. But I know how those things go.”(page 5) In this line she lets us into her thoughts during a moment in which she is feeling horrible about herself. She allows herself to be vulnerable. 

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)

Diction- “ If you don’t get them you may turn into a man.” Nenny says this when Lucy, Esperanza, and Rachel are talking about why women grow hips. With this statement we as readers are reminded how young these girls and how for being so young they have had to go through so much already. 
Characterization- “ Yes, I nodded even though I knew that wasn’t my house and started to cry. I always cry when nuns yell at me, even if they’re not yelling.” (page 45) Here we see a side of Esperanza that we have not gotten to see from her so far. Well, we did in the first chapter when a nun commented on her house but this is the first time we see Esperanza spill tears. It lets us see that she is strong but every strong person has a heart that aches when in distress. 
Setting- “One day I will my pack my bags of books and paper. One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away. (page 110) When I give this as an example of setting it doesn’t make much sense, unless you are me, so let me explain myself. I mean a seting as in set of mind. She is in a new way of thinking. There is no longer anything fences that will hold her back. Only herself can get in the way now. 
Personification- “The dog is big, like a man dressed in a dog suit, and runs the same way its owner does, clumsy and wild and with the limbs flopping all over the place like untied shoes” (page 21) This part is where the new kid(Meme Ortiz) comes into the neighborhood and even his dog matches the way that the environment is.
Point of view- “But I think diseases have no eyes. They pick with a dizzy finger anyone, just anymore.” (page 59) Aunt Lupe was sick and I think this could be a connection with the surroundings. It is described as a place where no one wants to be by choice. Esperanza could say she dislikes it so much that it makes her “sick”. 
Conflict- “ The water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn’t fix them because the house was too old. We had to leave fast. We were using the washroom next door and carrying water over in empty milk gallons.” (page4) The whole was affected by their way of living. The pipes was the reason that they had to move which later becomes the reason why Esperanza finds the motivation to be better then what others expect her to be. 
Mood- “The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.” (page 7) I love this part because it reminds me of my grandparents house. It would be raining while grandpa is knocked out on the couch, snoring amd grandma and I would be baking something sweet at midnight. So when I read this quote coming from young Esperanza I can feel the calmness she feels in that period of time that this is happening in.
Theme- “Before Keeler it was Paulina , but what I remember most is Mango Street, sad red house, the house I belong but do not belong to.” (page 110)Yay! A happy ending to a wonderful story. This quotes raps up everything. This is where she puts it into writing the things that she has learned. 
Imagery- “Everybody laughing except me, because I’m wearing the new dress, pink and white with stripes, and new underclothes and new socks and the old saddle shoes I wear to school, brown and white, the kind I get every September because they last long and they do.” (page 47) Esperanza is feeling like a out cast. She knows that if she had money this wouldn’t be happening. It doesn’t help either that everyone is laughing but at the same time I feel that maybe she thinks they are all laughing but really it could all be in her head. I wouldn’t be surprised though if they were all laughing only because this is a cruel place that she is in. 

CHARACTERIZATION 

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization.  Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
Both indirect and direct characterization is used because it changes things up and it is a great strategy to make reading a lot more interesting. Sandra Cisneros has a way of writing to where you get a specific out look on a character. The way she describes her characters make you almost become part of the characters. 

• Indirect: “I’m about to tell her that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but the more I think it…” (page 50) Esperanza has her own thoughts but is easily influenced as we can see clearly. Also, another example of her being easily influenced is when her uncle Nacho says, “Then Uncle Nacho is pulling and pulling my arm and it doesn’t matter how new the dress Mama bought is because my feet are ugly until my uncle who is a lair says, You are the prettiest girl here, will you dance, but I believe him, and yes, we are dancing, my Uncle Nacho an me, only I don’t want to at first.” Uncle Nacho saw that she was self conscious about her shoes so decided to pull her out on the dance floor to show her that she is beautiful. To him it didn’t matter if her shoes were not the most lovely things on the planet. He told her she was the prettiest girl in the room and she doesn’t believe it but after dancing around she starts to believe it. Which is awesome because I am she IS very pretty on the outside as she is on the inside. 
• Direct: “They are without respect for all things living, including themselves.” (page 29) The kids of Rosa Vargas are wild and this is example of the truth being told. “Is a good girl, my friend, studies all night and sees the mice, the ones her father says do not exist. Is afraid of nothing except four legged fur. And fathers.” (page 32) Alice is only afraid of ending up working hard her whole live and never enjoying herself and of course her father because he is stuck in the place she doesn’t want to be in. 

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)? 
When the novel takes time to focus on Papa it changes things a lot because not only does Esperanza feel shocked about her father crying but we are a bit shocked that she would be telling us this. She gets to see her father in a way that she has never seen him in and we get to be with her in that moment. 

• “Your abuelito is dead, Papa says one early morning in my room. Esta muerto, and then as if he just heard the news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave Papa cries. I have never seen my Papa cry and don’t know what to do.” (page 56) 

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.

The protagonist is a dynamic and a round character. Some examples of this are in the ending of the story when Esperanza is saying how one day she is going to get out of the place that she in. She says out loud how she is going to leave and what others are going to say about her when she does leave. 

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.

After reading this novel I come away feeling like I met the characters that were introduced. Each chapter that we read goes into details of the life’s of each person or group of people that Esperanza knows. 

• “Earl lives next door in Edna’s basement, behind the flower boxes Edna paints green each year, behind the dusty geraniums.” Getting to know how each character lives was a big part of feeling like we were apart of the story and characters.

=]

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Lit Analysis #4: No Exit

GENERAL 

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

"No Exit" is a book that consists of four characters. However, only three are placed in this room, which is supposed to be Hell. Of course, the characters believe the stereotypes of Hell. They expect to tortured by a numerous of objects/machines. Yet, Hell is a normal room, but has no exit. The room has sofa's and lights. One of the characters, Inez asks what the characters have done to have gone to Hell. Estelle and Garcin deny they have done anything wrong. Throughout the book, the characters admit to what they have done and have realized why they were brought there. Also, they have realized that Hell is not itself, but the people you are with. Garcin has tried to leave the room, but there is no exit. The characters are stuck and must remain in Hell for eternity.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid  cliches.

The theme of this book is to notice that the choices you make are the one's you must hold on to forever. There is no escape. Also, do not stereotype. Hell is not what the characters seem because it is much more than that. You are with people who have the same mindset as you. They most likely believe they have done nothing wrong, yet they have done the most vile sins.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

The author tone is suppose to help the audience correctly interpret life, and the choice weare dealt with. The author constantly mentions how there is no exit. The tone is overall didactic.

• “There were days when you peered into yourself, into the secret places of your heart, and what you saw there made you faint with horror. And then, next day, you didn't know what to make of it,you couldn't interpret the horror you had glimpsed the day before. Yes, you know what evil costs.” 

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)

Metaphor: “I'm going to smile, and my smile will sink down into your pupils, and heaven knows what it will become.”

Anaphora: "No, I wasn't joking. No mirrors, I notice. No windows. "

Rhetorical question: "And what use do you suppose I have for one? Do you know who I was?"

Allusions: the book relates to art and music.

Simile : "Oh just look at her face, all scarlet like a tomato." " And presently we shall be naked, as new born babies"

Imagery:"A man's drowning, choking, sinking by inches, till only his eyes are just above water."

Allegory:

"GARCIN: What's this?

VALET: Can't you see? An ordinary paper-knife.

GARCIN: Are there books here?
VALET: No.
GARCIN: Then what's the use of this?"
Symbolism: The vase at the end represents how your life can be easily broken, yet easily stored, but one crack can cause your life to end immediately. 
Repetition:  When Garcin keeps saying over and over and asking if he is a coward. Towards the end of the play.

CHARACTERIZATION

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?

• "You see, I'm fond of teasing, it's a second nature with me-- and I'm used to teasing myself. Plaguing myself, if you prefer; I don't tease nicely."

• "I feel so queer. Don't you ever get taken that way? When I can't see myself I begin to wonder if I really and truly exist. I pat myself just to make sure, but it doesn't help much.” 

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?

Throughout the whole book, the diction and syntax for each character remains the same. Although, the characters have different personalities, they are still common. 

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.

There are no protagonist characters because they are all the same since they have done unforgivable things to belong in Hell. They're no characters that change so they are all flat.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
I don't believe I've met any of the characters because they are so mean, and so inconsiderate. However, I do believe I've met people close to them. The world is filled with many people who are mean, and don't believe they do anything wrong.