Monday, November 11, 2013

Research Paper

Our lives are watched over every day by police and security every day. They are what make citizens feel like they are safe to go about their day to day business. What happens though when these people that are there to protect us are the ones who are also making people live in fear? Across the country and even around the world, people of all ethnicities face the problem of racial profiling whether they’re African-American, White, Mexican, Asian, or any other race. Not all people are racist but still to this day racial profiling exists and happens on a day to day basis. The minorities however are the ones who face the real impact of this profiling and are abused by law enforcement physically and mentally. Reputations of officers drop among these people because they now believe that instead of being there to protect them, the police are out to get them. These events of racial profiling are hardly brought to public concern because they are usually pushed aside as false claims. These accounts of profiling have left people across the humiliated and in some cases dead.

Racial Profiling Notes and Resources

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/opinion/racial-profiling-lives-on.html?_r=0
  • officers are more likely to stop African americans and latinos before white person based on suspicion and race.
  • racial stereo types say that an armed black man is more dangerous than a armed white man
  • could stop a person for being latino and believe that they are undocumented
  • officers can stop and question anyone because as long as there free to walk away, the fourth amendment doesn't apply
  • officers don't have to tell a person that they have the right to deny a search request
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/01/showbiz/tyler-perry-profiling/
  • white officers became more aggressive due to a fact that they had stopped a black man
  • due to the fact that perry said he was making sure no one was following him, the officers began questioning him further for things other than the traffic violation
  • perrys mentality was to not question the officers especially since they were white and to do as they say
  • officers look for things to questions such as tinted windows and begin trying to take keys from his car
  • a 3rd officer shows up that is black, upon seeing perry, there is a different reaction that comes from the two white cops that are very apologetic.
https://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/lapd-provides-disappointing-response-racial-profiling-report
  • LAPD denies any racial profiling in there department and that if there is any, its very little
  • LAPD refuses any type of work that involes weeding out or pointing out racial profiling in there department
  • 1200 claims made against LAPD for racial profiling, all of them denied by them
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/03/20/8456/racial-profiling-blamed-black-teens-shooting-florida
  • a white man who was said to be an "aggressive neighborhood watch" suspicious of a black teen walking in his complex
  • due to reports of theft, it was assumed that this black teen was up to no good
  • dispatchers tried telling Zimmerman that he didn't need to follow trayvon and he refused
  • police defend Zimmerman claiming it was "self-defense" and that it applies under stand your ground laws
  • witnesses that called the police said that the cries for help were from a boy that suddenly stopped when a gun shot was fired.
  • trayvon's girlfriend was on the phone with him before this happened and there is recorded evidence that Zimmerman confronted trayvon first
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/10/25/13612/police-killing-boy-13-pellet-gun-spotlights-foiled-attempts-regulate-replicas
  • andy was a kid of Hispanic decent, a possible reason to the quick decision to shoot
  • officers gave little warning to surrender before shooting
  • soldiers at war don't have permission to fire unless fired upon where as the police fired on this boy before he fully turned around
  • 7 shots fired within 10 seconds, a long period to be shooting at someone
http://www.thenation.com/article/175693/did-racial-profiling-put-unarmed-black-man-jail-north-Carolina
  • a young black man is stopped for traffic violation by an officer in street clothes and is choked by the officer
  • the black man says that the officer was pulling his gun and accidently shot himself in the leg and in that moment took the gun from him and threw it and ran away.
  • evidence does show that the officers equipment was scattered around the area but the gun was never found
  • officers say that riley took the officers weapon and shot him with it and ran off
  • there is a pattern that shows officers assume that the black body is considered a weapon.
  • durham county is know as one of North Carolinas most racist areas
  • other reports of racial profiling have occurred in this area that have end with physical violence by the officers who stop people based on race
http://www.channelone.com/swedish-gypsy-file-brings-racial-profiling-fears/
  • racial profiling can be found across the world and for many other races
  • A gypsy family in sweeden found out that they were on a profile for police to fight violent crime
  • 5000 people in this profile not limited to children
  • compared the situation to hitler
  • European countries are racist towards these people and are the equvilant of how people profile against minorities in America
  • Some people in Europe don't deny the racial profiling such as the French interior minister who says that there lifestyle is "confrontational" to that of the French
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/us/racial-profiling-at-boston-airport-officials-say.html?_r=0
  • officers in this airport  have observed evidence of racial profiling
  • written complaints from the officers that they were to target minorities
  • minorities were stopped to raise numbers of stops to show that there program was working but 80 percent of the stops were on minorities
http://kalw.org/post/psychology-racial-profiling-policing
  • alameda county sheriff have received about 30 complaints of racial profiling since 2005 and found 3 to be improper actions by officers
  • stereotyping is typical human behavior whether you believe it or not
  • officer Ron Davis looks on his career of policing and realize that he has been apart of racial profiling even though it wasn't intentional
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/05/two-cases-going-viral-question-police-force-profiling/2885769/
  • video evidence of an officer running over a black man running on foot
  •  shooting another man 10 times for not listening to orders.
  • officer being charged with man slaughter
  • officers report that the man shot charged the car and was shot at with a tazer and missed so 10 shots were fired but dash cam shows that the man shot had his hands above his head

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

7 Times

The officers shot out of racial profiling, no doubt in my mind. I won't lie if I saw someone in a hoodie walking around with what appeared to be a real weapon, I'd be a little on edge. What troubles me is the fact that the officers were so quick to shoot without letting the boy answer. The officer fired because the kid supposedly turned around and pointed the gun at the officer. I don't believe that one second because I'm pretty sure no one is dumb enough to point a gun, fake or real, at an officer. I think the kid was just turning around to see who called him but wasn't given the chance too. If officers have free range like this, are we saying that if a ranger calls out to a hunter and they turn around, they have the right to shoot them. Even on the battlefields in Afghanistan,  There are still rules to engagement. Soldiers are not to shoot unless fired upon. Does this mean that people over there who we're at war with get more protection that the citizens who are supposed to be protected by police? The article says the officer was 30 feet away. Even if there's no orange tip, that's still close enough to determine if its a air rifle. As realistic as it may have looked there are still clear distinguishable differences between the two. If this was really and accident, the officer would have shot only once, because at that point the person would shoot back immediately. Seven times though in 10 seconds though..... that tells you that this officer only wanted to kill.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Racial Profiling Lives On Notes

  • Officers tend to harass minorities due to racial profiling.
  • An officer is more likely to stop a African American or Latino before a white person.
  • Crime rates are significantly higher for minorities but that's due to officers who patrol and frisk low in come/ high crime rate areas which are usually home to minorities.
  • Officers will try and find and excuse to stop a minority.
  • People don't have the right to know that they can refuse a request to conduct a search. This causes people to give themselves up to search.
  • Immigration laws cause most Latinos to be stopped and checked of documents just by suspicion.
  • Even if the officer was to use what the suspect would call "excessive force" court would appeal to the officer because it is there judgment.
  • As long as an officer has reasonable excuse for why they stopped someone, it is constitutional and there's no proof against and officer who is supposedly using racial profiling.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

LAQ #3 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry


Topic
1)     I thought that the book I read was nonfiction because I remember my teacher back in 7th grade telling us that it was when we read it back then. It is not though, it is historical fiction which is somewhat close to nonfiction. This story though is about two neighboring families during world war 2 in Nazi occupied Denmark. One family the families is Jewish and both have two girls that go to school together. Nazi hostility towards the Jews leads to the Rosen family fleeing but leaving there daughter behind with the Johansen's who are helping Jews escape to Sweden.

2)     Lowry chose to write about this time because, it is a history filled time period. All though this time was a dark point in our history. It is good to tell stories about this time to remind people of what happened and how it should never happen again.

3)     I chose this book because I remember this book from junior high and I thought that maybe if I read it now, I would understand it better because now I know what the holocaust is. Also because I never returned it and its one of the only books I have that I thought was nonfiction.

4)     I found this book to be realistic because there is extensive history on the holocaust. From reading this also, it's believable to read this because in history books and videos, they talk about how Jews would be hidden by friends or helped to escape. I can't relate to this story at all because I will never experience a type of hardship like this.

Characters

1)      In my case, the author did create these characters. I feel though to create these characters, the author had to have done extensive research to get personalities and memories of people who were alive in that time and relate it to that time in history and make them believable characters who would do anything to survive.

2)     Ellen Rosen- She is Annemarie's best friend. She is a studious girl and serious. She is a Jew though so she is in immediate danger with the Nazi presence so she is seen being scared. Ellen has dark hair which makes her look different from the rest of Johansen family but is able to pull of being a daughter because Annemarie's dead sister had dark hair like Ellen.
      Annemarie Johansen- She is Ellen's best friend. She is said to be abnormally tall for a ten year old and she's very aware about the war going on around her. She doesn't have any fear of the Nazis because she knows that they aren't after her. She admires brave people and wishes that she can show her bravery.

3)     What makes these two characters so interesting to write about is the point of view that the book is written from. Most world war 2 and holocaust stories are told from the eyes of an adult. This book is so original because it is told from the views of two children who are trying to understand what the war is really about.

4)     The main character is Annemarie and she is a dynamic character. At the beginning of the novel she does realize that there is a war going on but doesn't understand the severity. After being stopped by a Nazi soldier, she began questioning what was really happening. Little by little she is fully let into the background of the war and details like how her sister really died because she was apart of the resistance. At the end of the war, Annemarie choses to where the star of david until she meets Ellen again.

5) The authors syntax changes when he begins to focus on Ellen. There is a more fearful tone because Ellen is the one who is at risk of being taken by the Nazis. The tone becomes more suspenseful during these times show Ellen's paranoia.

6) I feel after reading this book that I actually met a character. Annemarie was the most dynamic because from beginning to end you see growth in her. The war around her makes her more mature and insightful to the things around her.

Style
1)     One symbol that clearly stood out for me was at the end when Annemarie choses to where the Star of David until she is reunited with Ellen. It shows that she has a very close bond with her friend and that she will stand through anything for her.

2)     Lowry took a serious stance to the topic in this story. This period of time was a devastation to millions of people and wants us to see through a point of view of people caught in this situation.

3)     I think that the main characters in this story learn that even in the face of humanities evil behaviors, not everyone is like that and are willing to stand by your side to defend you. Ellen and her family knows this because the Johansen's were risking there own safety to help out those in need to escape the Nazis. I see this because Annemarie wants to show her bravery to help her friend and at the end of the novel, shows her devotion as a friend to Ellen.



Monday, October 14, 2013

Value of learning/ value of life

 Hamlet's Soliloquy Activities
  • Activity 1
To me, being alive is actually doing something with your life. Not just sitting around letting things come to you but being a go getter. Being alive is a person looking for something to do, to be a change, looking for every opportunity that they can get. Life is made worth while when you are setting goals for yourself to achieve. Not just simple goals that can be obtained with no effort but something that you will have to work for in order to achieve.

  • Activity 2
The word "Life" has different meanings to people. To one person life can mean physical life. An example is how a person looks at there well-being or the how people physically live. To others it can mean showing signs of thought or an indication of hope. The word can be interpreted in many different ways to show different meaning.

  • Activity 3
  1. I've only been to one play in my life and it was for my sister. I couldn't stand all the singing.
  2. I noticed that it really doesn't rhyme and each line isn't end just because it goes down a line.
  3. The text is written in iambic pentameter which Shakespeare is known to use a lot.
  • Activity 4
  1. Tragedy usually means something very disastrous happened. So in this case know Hamlet is a tradgedy, you know that it isn't going to end well.
  2. Normally Shakespeare has very difficult plays to understand. Mostly because no one ever talks that way so it's hard to pull meaning out of what's said.
  3. Normally I would just look up a summary on the reading because I had no way of understanding it myself.
  4. Hamlet is deciding if he will kill his uncle or not. He has already made up his mind that it has to be done but now he's afraid to do it. He is scarred of the unknown that comes afterwards.
  • Activity 5
opposition- support
action- stand by
endurance- unconditioned
mystery- solved
life- death

action- attack, commit, react, offensive
thought- hesitation, second-guessing, regret, uncertain
suffering- hurt, emotions, conflicted
mortality- short, unexpected, death
fear- unknown, death, nervous, confidence

  • Activity 6
I would say that Hamlet is more of a pessimist just because the fact that he is hesitant. He knows that he must kill his uncle but is unsure of himself. He s scared of what might happen to him but also scared of what will happen if he doesn't. Nothing is looked at in a positive way.

  • Activity 7
  1. The main question is asked in line one when he says, "To be, or not to be."
  2. Immediately after Hamlet asks the question, he begins describing what he means by the initial question.
  3. Hamlet never does answer his own question but continues on and on about how he feels about it.
  4. He also talks about death and wondering what it would be like if he was gone.
  5. I don't think Hamlet actually ever finished his speech because it seemed like he would physic himself out when it seemed that he was coming to a conclusion.

  • Activity 8
"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come/ when we have shuffled off this mortal coil/ must give us peace."
Death is the subject and shuffled is the verb.

  • Activity 9

Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles
 
 
For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,
The Oppressor's wrong, the proud man's Contumely
 
 
Thus Conscience does make Cowards of us all
 
  • Activity 10
  ...take Arms against a Sea of troubles- go against life's struggles

That makes Calamity of so long life- living with disasters makes like seem longer

But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered Country, from whose bourn- Scared of what happens when you die
No Traveller returns

Thus Conscience does make Cowards of us all- everyone is intimidated by there thoughts

Shakespeare talks in this weird way because the meaning isn't given away so clearly making the reader try to interpret their own meanings.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

LAQ #2 Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger

  1. The novel I read is a non-fiction story about a high school football team in Odessa, Texas. An all black school was closed down to merge with an all white school, Permian High school. It talks about six unique players of the team and there lives on and off the field. The story follows the 1988 season of the Permian High School and its players with all the struggles they faced and triumphs they achieved.
  2. The author chose to write about the Permian Panthers season because it is an interesting story that not only focuses on football, but also the life problems the players faced. In Odessa, Texas, there was racism, economic problems, high expectations of the boys playing, and how where they lived effected the living conditions.
  3. I chose this book because I've watched the movie and it's very inspirational and shows there's more to life than just football. Once I heard there was a book of the movie though I really wanted to read it. My dad also recommended the book because he wants me to understand the true football experience and some of the hardships these players that have their hearts and souls poured into his is like. As I began reading, it went more into depth of each of the main characters than the movie did.
  4. I found this book very realistic. The family bond showed by the players on this team and how hard they pushed eachother so hard is something I've always wanted to be apart of. This year I know our team isn't on the same level as the team I read about but its without a doubt the closest bond I've ever had with a team and I consider all my team mates my brothers.

  1. Yes the author did have some affect on how the characters were portray but for the most part, the story is almost given in a type of report. The story jumps between the lives of the different players and I feel that the author accurately describe each ones life. You can also in a way compare them to what happened in the years following to get a better idea of if these portrayals were correct.
  2. Brian Chavez- He loves to play football for the excitement it brings but unlike most the others he doesn't plan to have a career in it. He is the only Hispanic on the team and is more focused on his grades because he plans to get into Harvard after graduating his class of 88' as valedictorian.
          Boobie Miles- By far the best athlete on the team. He can do it all on the field, no matter what
          it is. He is one of the most highly recruited players in Texas but unfortunately, all he has is
          football and nothing to fall on. Being black in a racist community, he escapes it for the most
          part because of football. But after a career ending injury in a scrimmage. He is lost in life not
          knowing what to do next.
     3.  This is only a few of the players covered in the story but what makes them interesting to write
          the different backgrounds they come from and how they choose to live their lives. For instance
          Boobie Miles and Brian Chavez have two completely different looks on life. Chavez is looking
          For his future to continue in his education while Miles is completely reliant on football.

  1. Examples of direct characterization is when they are telling you how big one of the players are and their appearance like when they point out that Brian Chavez is the only starting Hispanic on the team. Most of the indirect characterization comes when the author takes you into the life outside of football like the problems faced at home and how they react to them or how other people around Odessa talk about them.
  2. When the authors attention shifts from the football field to the life of each player. There's a more serious tone that follows it. Each player has their struggle like Jerrod McDougal. There are intense periods of fighting between him and his dad and it is made apparent in front of the rest of the team. The author really has an intense tone when describing his life because it is his dad trying to live through his son.
  3. It's hard to focus in on one protagonist but I would say that they are dynamic. After they all graduate, you see even if they move on in football or leave it, they end up having to change to life. Boobie Miles tried giving football another go on a lower level college but his injury held him back from being the player he used to be. Without football, he was forced to eventually leave it and find a new calling.
  4. After reading the story, I wish I could not only meet the players of the story, but play with them. I want to know what that experience is like and how being around people like that would affect my life.

  1. The author of the novel wrote in a journalistic report. Not only is he the author but he narrates the story because he was in the town of Odessa, Texas during the 1988 season. Surprised by what he found in this town he began following the Permian Panthers and their lives in Odessa. He tells the story from his viewpoint of the situations unfolding infront of him because he is considered an outsider to the town.
  2. There is more of a focus on the action and dialogue unfolding in the town. There is many different things to see and here from the intense and emotional games and practices on the field where the entire town shuts down to watch the games on Friday night to the arguments and struggles that are the players over come like Boobie Miles fighting with doctors trying to prove them wrong.

         

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

To Be or Not To Be

My question is, should I or should I not.
Should I just sit back and let things happen or go and do something about it. If I take action, it will all be over and worries will be gone and if I don't, I'll sit there and wonder what if? It's these thoughts that make the struggles of life seem so long. Will I be able to deal with someone who was clearly disrespected my family. I'm scared of what will happen after because that is unknown to me, and my thoughts of it make me more fearful. What ever I choose to do, please forgive me.

Vocabulary 7

cursory- going rapidly over something.
The welder had cursory tendencies and that's why the weld qualities aren't the best.

impetus- a moving force.
His influence was impetus on people because they would vote for him constantly.

pinnacle- a loft peak.
After the win, the team was sitting on a pinnacle over the competition.

contumely- insulting display of contempt in words or actions.
His rival was contumely, he showed no respect at all.

bereavement- a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one.
The family was in bereavement after the tragic lost of their grandfather.

cache- a hiding place.
It seemed like a good cache for all of the soldiers ammunition.

consummation- the act of completing.
The student know for consummation of projects with great quality.

calamity- a great misfortune or disaster.
The calamity of the earthquake ruined many people's lives.

avarice- insatiable greed for riches.
The millionaire had an avarice personality, so he kept getting more money without using it to help anyone.

fortify- to protect or strengthen against attack.
We need to fortify ourselves better against terrorist attacks.
 
erratic- deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion.
The pilot was on an erratic course for the run way.

ubiquitous- existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time.
It seems that the president is ubiquitous, he always seems to be everywhere.

fortitude- mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously.
I have respect for him because he shows fortitude in the face of the enemy.

nonchalant- coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited.
He has that nonchalant walk to him because he thinks he's the best.

affect- to act on something.
All players want to have an affect on the team that will help them to win.

effect- what is produced from a cause.
The effect of the chemical is that it produces carbon dioxide.

misappropriate- to put to a wrong use.
Using a toilet brush to brush your teeth is VERY misappropriate use.

pragmatic- of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
The teacher never listens to suggestions and sticks to his pragmatic ways.

metacognition- higher order thinking that enables understanding, analysis, and control of one's cognitive processes, especially when engaged in learning.
The student was a metacognition when it came to learning about subjects she really liked.

devoutly- devoted to divine worship or service.
Some people have devoutly life styles so intense, they are willing to start wars over it.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Vocabulary 7 Suggestions

Devoutly

Quietus

Perchance

Pangs

Bodkin

Fardels

Ophelia

Orisons

Awry
\
Aalamity

My Value

In my life, I wouldn't say I'm the risk taker. I would take some every once in the while and some times they turned out bad, and others turned out good. There are times where I think, what if I would've said this or done that. In recent years, I've learned to let go of that fear. When opportunities come up, I'm becoming less fearful of that know and willing to take the risk. These risks have been a positive for me too and that only builds my confidence to make more. Even especially now, it's my senior year, I have only one more shot at opportunities before I'm completely on my own.

To Act or Not to Act

Both Shakespeare and Steve Jobs talk about the values in our life but in different ways. Steve Jobs says that the unknown is scary but he still went in because you will never know what may happen. In
Jobs case, the unknown led him to own a billion dollar company that we know today as Apple. Hamlet on the other had is hesitant. He is scared to go into the unknown because he is not sure how it will change his life, but he knows if he doesn't do anything, he will live his life in wondering what would have happened if he did take the risk.

Dear Steve

In the passage I read about Steve Jobs, I was amazed. All these bumps in the road and curve balls thrown at him, and he says that they are the greatest things that could have ever happened to him. He takes what most people would look at as negatives and set backs and made them positives. Never does he look at being fired from apple or dropping out from college as life ruiners, but something that he would be able to "connect the dots" on later. I think all people should live like this and take a stab at change and opportunity. The unknowns in our life bring fear to us but you never know what may come out of them.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Freedom of Choice

Having the freedom of choice can have its pros and cons. We make choices everyday that affect our next choice. Making your own choice allows you to be an individual and shows that you are responsible. These choices can land you great opportunities but on the flip side can cause trouble. If you are a trouble maker, you are more likely to chose to do something very bad. Sometime it's not purposeful that you take a bad choice, but you just make a wrong choice. Choices can help you float or sink so it's not something to take lightly.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Vocabulary #5

Adroit- expert or nimble use of hands and body.

Amicable- characterized by or showing good will.

Averse- having a strong feeling of opposition.

Belligerent- warlike

Benevolent- characterized by or expressing good will

Cursory- going rapid over something without noticing details.

Duplicity- two face

Extol- to praise highly

Feasible- capable of being done

Grimace- a facial expression, often ugly or contorted.

Holocaust- a great devastating disaster.

Impervious- untouchable

Impetus- a moving force.

Jeopardy- hazard or at risk of loss, harm, and death.

Meticulous- taking or showing extreme care care yo detail.

Nostalgia- a desire to go back to a thought or time in your life.

Quintessence- the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.

Retrogress- to go backwards into an earlier usually worse condition.

Scrutinize- to examine in detail with critical and careful attention.

Tepid- lukewarm

No Child Left Untableted

This article to me seems to relate to our class that we're in right now. Teachers look and say it's crazy to let students use technology in class. Well so far they've been proven wrong. People that are still attached to the traditional ways of teaching show no trust in students which is shown in the article because most of the teachers that we're rejecting the tablet idea where the ones that sounded like they'd rather stick a book in front of a kid and say read. Technology is a huge part of our generation and it seems to be the best way to get kids to respond to anything these days. I feel that the only way to effectively use the tablets is to introduce it to only those teachers who are excited to use them to there full potential and as newer, younger teachers are hired, bring them in slowly until it can be used school wide. The only problem with the tablets though to me is that staring at a screen all day can really have harmful effects which is why I don't like staring at screens for long periods of time.

Declaration of Learning Independence

In this class, I want to use it to get myself started in a career path in engineering. I know that it sounds like a literature class and engineering don't exactly go hand and hand but the tools used in this class can help me in ways. I need to start of by work my way into college. I need consistently good grades this year and to make sure my resumes and personal statements make me more unique than other kids. Once there I can use the media tools for collaboration with any classmates I happen to work with there and maybe even with someone who can help me find my future career in Engineering.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

LAQ #1 Great Sports Feats of the '70s by: Bill Gutman

Topic and Events

1) My book is about a few of the greatest accomplishments in sports during the decade of the 70s. It covers a wide variety of sports from football to hockey. In this book the author tells about the greatest players and teams and the challenges they faced and there greatest accomplishments that they did. It also gives a brief background to the players and teams and talks about how they got to where they were. A lot of these teams and players faced many doubts and even received hate for becoming the best. The author states at the beginning of this book that there are many, many more players and teams that should be included into this book but couldn't because it would be to much. This book is nonfiction because it covers facts and tells the true story of these great professional athletes.

2) Gutman wrote about many different players and teams to tell the reader about some of the greatest accomplishments made to sports during the 70s.

3) What immediately stuck out to me about this book was that it was a book about sports. Probably the closest I can get to reading a sports illustrated and calling that school work. Ones I began reading I was definitely hooked because of reading about some of the greatest players to there sports. Some I knew and some I didn't but it was still a great read to learn about the players of another sport that I don't really pay attention to as much.

4) I found this book realistic immediately because its about some of the greatest athletes in history. The only person I can really connect to is Nancy Lopez, one of the greatest female golfers. Her family came from a Mexican-American family that didn't have much but her parents wanted to make sure that Nancy had what she needed to succeed. In a way, this is like my moms family because when they first came to the US, they didn't have much but they wanted to make sure that there daughters would have what they needed to succeed.

People

1) The author in some cases would use foreshadowing in some instances when introducing a new athlete or team in each chapter. An example is show right at the beginning of the book where the author is talking about the greatest teams in the NFL. It starts of by talking about how people argue about who was the greatest team but no one would ever know because it was an arbitrary judgment. In that Gutman brings up how nothing compares to the 1972 Miami Dolphins and how they were destined to become super bowl champions.

2)The author sticks to the main focus because the book is loaded with different athletes to cover. So he briefly gives the players background before talking about there outstanding performances and give information on that players outbreak season.

3) The author uses the sports fanatics to create a mood for the book because in each players cases, te fans were either pulling for them to succeed or against them and sending them hate mail. So it gave a feeling of suspense and hope for the player to succeed.

4) I think the author was very excited and knowledgeable about the subject. The tone used by the author when explaining each players accomplishment was very exciting,


I think I will remember those players the most that fought to get where they were in there careers and those who faced hate and discrimination for beating a favorite players record. I feel that this should be an inspiration to all athletes out there to show where there dedication to the game got them.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Vocabulary #4

Accede- to give consent, approval, or adherence.

Brandish- to shake or wave as a weapon.

Comprise- to include or contain.

Deft- dexterous.

Destitute- without means of subsidence.

Explicit- fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated.

Extirpate- to remove or destroy totally.

Inopportune- not opportune or inappropriate.

Ironic- use of words to convey mean but have a opposite meaning.

Musty- having an odor or flavor of moldy,old room.

Officious- objectionable aggressive in. offering ones unrequested or unwanted help.

Ominous- portending evil or harm.

Pinnacle- a lofty peak.

Premeditated- done deliberately.

Rampant- violent in action or spirit.

Solace- comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble.

Stately- majestic.

Supple- bending readily without breaking or becoming disformed.

Suppress- to put to an end of activities of a body or person.

Venal- willing to sell ones influences.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Vocabulary #3

Accomplice- a person who helps another in crime or wrong doing.

Annihilate- to reduce to utter ruin.
 
Arbitrary- subject to individual will or judgment without restriction.

Brazer-to unite metal at high temperatures by applying and various nonferrous solders.
 
Catalyst- something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without effect.
 
Exodus- a going out of a large number of people.
 
Facilitate- to make easier or less difficult.
 
Incorrigible- bad beyond collection.
 
Latent- present but not visible.
 
Militant- vigorously activity and aggressive.

Morose- gloomily or sullenly ill-humored

Opaque- not transparent or translucent.
 
Paramount- chief in importance or impact.

Prattle- to talk in a foolish or simple-minded way.
 
Rebut- to refute by evidence or argument.

Reprimand- a sever reproof or rebuke.

Servitude- slavery or bondage of any kind.

Slapdash- in a hasty, haphazard.












 
 
Stagnant- not flowing or running.
 

 a stagnant pool with mosquitos and fish corpses
Succumb- to give way to a superior force.
 succumb-to-gravity

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Essay Ideas

My favorite essay topic idea for obesity is who is responsible for childhood obesity. I can start research on this by finding out the causes of it, what kids are born with this genetically and how many kids get this later in life through there eating. It would also be good to Find out a link between parents with no time to make food, parents who let there kid eat whatever, and parents who by junk because it's cheap and affordable.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Text Analysis #1

This text goes over who is really to blame in the problem of obesity in America. People in our country look to blame someone in this epidemic and these people are very quick to blame the food industry for their problems. The author of the passage believes that the food industry isn't all to blame. The article talks about how eating these easily accessible foods should be regulated by ourselves and is no one else's responsibility. Sure, the food industry markets heavily to the people and food is plentiful for everyone to get but these companies selling you the processed trash are not forcing you to eat it.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Vocabulary: Fall #1

Expository- to expound, set forth, or explain
I hope that one day we can get an expository answer to what the meaning of life is.

Composition- the act of combining parts or elements to form a whole
After reading the paper the teacher was impressed, he said that it had great composition.

Assumage- to make milder or less severe
A great way to assumage the pain, you should maybe take advil.

Decadence- the act of falling into an inferior condition or state
As time goes on devices such as the iphone 3g become a decadence.

Hackneyed- made commonplace or trite
It's become hackneyed for seagulls to be around people who are eating.

Coalition- a combination or alliance, especially a temporary one between persons
The hero and villain formed a coalition to stop a common problem.

Transcend- to rise above
Great athletes try to transcend the competition to become the best.

Meritorious- deserving praise
The student received meritorious honors after his performance.

Lurid- gruesome
I will never watch the conjouring, I think scary movies are lurid.

Petulant- moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation
The little kid was going through his terrible 2's. I'm becoming more and more petulant but I try not to show.

My Opinion is Not a Right

- people in London are grated the right to a good night's rest. Therefore loud services like airplane flights stop in the morning.
- there is no law saying you have the right to your opinion.
- if we had the right to our opinion, those rights would be violated because in an argument, not both peoples opinion can be the right one.
- the saying you are entitled to your opinion is giving people a false sense of something they have. The only time you are entitled to you opinion is when you have something to back up your idea.
- your opinion is best when you have support for it

This is PHAT!

http://www.naturalnews.com/039566_natural_remedies_fat_burning_obesity.html

The link I just provided is an article about 10 tips and tricks that are ways to burn fat.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Typing Accent Mark Help

To type in accent marks on smartphones, just hold down the letter you want to have an accent mark.
Ex. Á É Í Ó Ú Ñ

To type in accent marks on computers, type in one of the following numbers while holding the alt button.
Ex.
é -ALT+130
á -ALT+160
í -ALT+161
ó -ALT+162
ú -ALT+163
ñ -ALT+164

Monday, August 19, 2013

5 Go-To Sources for Good Nonfiction

http://www.readprint.com/books-1/Non-Fiction
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/nonfiction/
http://pinterest.com/wegivebooks/non-fiction-books/
http://www.readbookonline.net/nonfiction/
https://www.creativenonfiction.org/list/type/onlinereading

Reflections on Week 1

Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class?
Access to a computer?  Mobile/smart phone?  Transportation?  Friends/family? Schedule?

- Nothing should really affect me in this class other than maybe sports but it wont be a big deal.





Think of an awesome best ever learning experience that changed you. What did you learn? Where were you? What happened? Who else was there? Did it teach you anything about how you learn (or pay attention... or remember, or think?) How did you know what was happening?

- I would have to say that out of all my years of learning, last year in this class. It was the first time I'd ever heard of using the internet as my tool for education. Using it brought out a more creative side of me that I have seen. I could tell that what I was learning in this class was helping because it transferred over to my other classes and helped me succeed in them.





What are you most [excited/concerned] about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning?  How do you think it can/will make a practical difference in your life?

- I'm just excited to be continuing this class again. I'm looking to learn how to put my writing skills to better use for myself and see where it can get me.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

What is Expository Composition

Expository Composition is  type of writing used to explain, describe, inform, or give information about a subject.

My Big Question

My big question is is there something out there watching us. What i mean by this is is there some kind of people from some other planet we dont know just studying us as some animal or an experiment.

It's All Latin To Me

dimidium facti qui coepit habet: sapere aude, incipe
"He who has begun is half done: dare to know, dare to begin!"

What this quote means to me is that if you take the effort to start something, you need to continue on with it. Pretty much I see this similar to the saying finish what you start.