Friday, December 16, 2011

My Antonia

Willa Cather in her novel My Antonia offers her view of life during the pioneer time.
  • It would be told different in many ways if it was told in Antonias perspective. The story would be told as a girl who went through all these struggles, and the thoughts she might have of had about jim. Compared to Jims thoughts of Antonia being mean or stubborn the story could have actually been seen why she acted this way, and why she wanted to live so rough for. Also as she was growing up when Jim thought she was being foolish for the parties and dances, she probably thought Jim was being selfish for acting like that to her. So personally this story would be almost opposite with alot of the same.
  • I think Cather was very effective at playing Jim. She went through what would go through alot of young boys minds and played a normal man just as well as could be expected. When he was a boy he did all the things a boy did, he ran barefoot, liked Antonia, got a temper easily. Jims character is put out as a little girly though. Instead of working in the fields and laboring all the time he was studying or helping his grandma in the house. He didnt go to the dances and flirt with all the girls but instead stayed home. All in all though Cather did a good job at playing Jim.
  • I think Jim changed the title from Antonia to My Antonia because he thought of her as his. Jim was in love with Antonia so it can be assumed that he seen her as the one he was in a relationship with. Even though they were not Jim always cared about Antonia more than any of the other girls and he had took care of her since they were kids. So possibly Jim changed the title because Antonia was in someway his.
  • All in all this book was an excellent book about a mans life story with the girl he loved. The bohemian girl, Antonia, who learned so much from Jim, all the way till they were grown. A story of hard times, romance, and care.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Setting Bellwork 12/7/11

Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing. 

"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."

"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."

"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie.  The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together.  The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.

      The setting has a major effect on the characters in this book. Its just like an animal in their habitat, the conditions are what makes them act the way they do. Ambrosch is always in the fields working and so it gives  him a negative attitude towards jim and his family. The poor living situation of the shimerdas makes Mrs. Shimerda angry and unhappy all the time. The hard farm work has made Antonia full of pride and makes her think she is more like the men. 
Setting has a major effect on me. Such as today when i looked out the window and seen the white gleaming snow i was extremely happy. When it is winter and all the lushious green has gone theirs always a gloomy effect.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Arguement: Soccer should be called football.

Assertion/Claim (Topic Sentence)= Main idea
  • Soccer should be called football.
Evidence- Concrete detail:
  • Soccer should be called football mainly for the fact that football would refer to a game played with your feet. It also should be called this based on the FIFA name the "International Futbol Association."
  • Commentary 1: In European countries soccer is known as futbol, which in American terms would be pronounced football. Football referring to a ball that should be played with by feet. American football does not use their feet they use their hands, the sport has almost nothing to do with using feet to handle the ball.Futbol, or soccer, uses feet throughout the whole game.
  • Commentary 2: American football was originally called gridiron. So shouldn't it still be? The word football has nothing in common with the full contact sport that uses hand and body instead of just feet. Soccer has nothing in common with the all foot sport. Doesn't soccer sound like soccem, or something that sounds like hitting? So i think it gives American football more justice then it does soccer.
  • Would it not make more since for a sport that uses their feet to play the game be called football? I think so.
  • Commentary 1: Football in America is not referred to a sport played with feet. The main thing you use in American football is your hands (the exact opposite of feet). N.G.L. (National Gridiron League) would make more since than the National Football League, because gridiron fits an all contact sport more than talking about a football.
  • Commentary 2: Football should be a sport played with feet because it is clearly stated in the name FOOT ball. Not to break this year old tradition but futbol has been around longer and is internationally recognized not just in America. So in all fairness i would say that it should be able to keep it's name and be referred to as football. 
Opposing claims; Football should be called football because it has been an American tradition and was introduced before soccer was introduced to America.
My rebuttal; Even though football has been around longer and is an American tradition. Futbol has been around longer in the world and was called football before football was born.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The last mountain man.

The last mountain man is about three men who explore the west, a father, a son, and a stanger mountain man. The father has been in the civil war and the boy has been stuck on the plantation by him self until his father returns. With no family around, the boy and his father sat out to the west in search of men that killed his brother, and stole from the confederates.On their way traveling the arkansas river, they come up on a strange old man named preacher. They dismissed the mountain man and moved on but they were ambushed by indians and preacher came to the rescue. So now with this new partnership the three headed out west. When the time came the father sat off for the three men that were treasoners and left who was now known as smoke, and preacher. So the two set off and one day they came upon what had been an indian attack and so they went to see if any was left alive and found a blonde headed woman that smoke fell in love with. By this time smoke has become an outlaw killing and stealing. So now he has a bounty on his head, his father is gone, and preacher is on the deathbed. So what will happen to smoke and his lover?

Wounded Warrior Project

The wounded warrior project is a help for wounded American soldiers to provide comfort and needs. There are many soldiers out there fighting for our freedom and well being that get injured everyday. Some of them return disturbed, missing body parts, and worrying about what will happen to them in the future. This project helps them recover and get used to being back in everyday life with their disability.                                         The wounded warrior project is sponsored by under armour, and a few NCAA football teams.These sponsors send backpacks filled with clothes, and supplies for these soldiers that after so much time in a hospital gown means the world to them. Their trying to promote what is called FILIS, Fun, Integrity, Loyalty, Innovation, and Service. They have a vision to "foster the most succesful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in the nations history. I think that us as citizens of America should do better, and more to show appreciation of these soldiers.
The wounded warrior project began when several veterans and their friends took action to help other soldiers in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items is now a complete rehabilitative effort to help soldiers recover and get back in civilized life. This is a great progress one that needs to keep growing.
There have been 5769 backpacks delivered to the soldiers, 87% of the soldiers graduate from the recovery program, 95% of the project have gained new coping skills. These soldiers are gaining there pride and self confidence back and thats what is important.
I believe us as a school and community should get together and sponsor this cause and our wounded warriors. If we come together, then who's to say that the whole country won't come together?

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Remembering 9/11

9/11/01 was a tragic day in history. In New York and Virgina the U.S.A. was attacked. The nation was devestated but we didnt let it knock us all the way down. On that day the nation came together and prayed and hoped and cared for each other. We were as one and on that day everyone realized how strong this nation was as one. The soldiers, firemen, police men, and all goverment workers that came to the rescue are still in remembrance today and we thank them for what they did.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

War is...

War is needed, protecting our rights.
War is hatred, killing each other.
War is good, protecting the innocent.
War is bad, hurting our nation.
War is a challenge, conquering the enemy.
War is justice, getting the enemy back for what they've done.
War is a arguement, trying to get our way.
War is a help, defending ourselves.
War is sadness, mourning for the lost.
War is history, changing our lives forever.