Reading and Project Details

4/18/13- Revised my Cover letter using the comments that there made in class- 45 minutes

4/19/13- Wanted it more (Michael O'her) pages 23-55- 35 minutes

4/21/13- Wanted it more (Michael O'her) pages 55-109- 1 hour

4/21/13- Edited writing remix- 30 minutes

More?

"More?"

What I want most in the world is what I already have
A great life and family, what some only have halve
dreams of super powers are common
but some dream to have food and eat raman
 What I want most is what I already have

"Education"

 Tambu would do anything for an education
An Opportunity scarce in her situation
when Left her crazy family,
she was gone so rapidly
Although she did what she could for her Education

"Dying for power"

Ralph wanted the title and power
when denied he became sour
wanting to lead his people home
What People? Ralph was all alone
but he gave those people their last hour.

I wrote poems to explain for Tambu gave up her family for education. And how Ralph would kill to go home.

Class Chime

"Class Chime"

Class begins with a shrill

The chime that gives us a chill

Sitting there anything but enthused

How will i do this, i'm just so confused

school just makes me ill.

rhyme
Alliteration
Assonance

Reading Details

4/9/13: Writing Remix- 1 hour and 30 minutes

4/10/13Blind Side- 1 Hour and 30 minutes (Finished)

4/11/13Wanted it more 10 minutes 

Reading response: Mocking Jay Symbolism

As I completed Mocking jay, the last book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, I saw Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, and a whole lot of suspense. Although nothing made "Mocking Jay" set its self apart from the other two books in this series more than Symbolism between Katniss, and the Mocking jay. I knew the Mocking jay is relevant to Katniss prior to this book because of the refrenses to it, and obviously the title, "Mocking Jay" I feel like in completing the whole series i can confidently say that Katniss is portrayed as a Mocking jay-like Character.

With that being said there always needs to be evidence, right? So for those of you that don;'t know, a Mocking jay is a Hybrid bird that comes from the Jabberjay, a bird that over hears news and conversation and reports it to the Capital, and a Mockingbird (Hence the name Mocking jay). Katniss and the Mocking Jay are symbolically one because the Mocking Jay over time lost its ability to repeat words, but it has never had a voice of its own. With that being said, Katniss throughout her road to winning the hunger games in the first book, to her fame in "Mocking Jay" Katniss always had someone telling her what to say and what to wear meaning she never had her own voice. Like how people tell the Mocking Jay what to say.

Umbrella-Rihanna ft:Jay-z and reading details

Putting aside the obvious repetition through the words "ella" and "ay", there was much more poetic devices than I thought in this song. With this being a familiar song to me I never could've related it with poetry. Although as I studied the lines ("Because when the sun shines, we'll shine together,Told you I'll be here forever, Said I'll always be your friend Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end. Now that it's raining more than ever. Know that we'll still have each other, You can stand under my umbrella.You can stand under my umbrella") Just by scanning these two sections, I found that the repetition within the same line such as "shine" makes Rihanna tell her listeners that her love with her boyfriend will shine through anything such as the sun. On the next like the line " Told you ill be here forever" is a hyperbole because she's expressing her love by using a figure of speech or in this case, exaggerating. Next, the following line uses alleteration through the "You can stand under my umbrella.You can stand under my umbrella"

Next, by closely reading and marking up the lines above it made me put together what the whole song was trying to say. As i kept reading/listening, putting aside the metaphors ex.("You have my heart"), and personification such as ("When the world has dealt it's cards"), I found a huge symbol that was there the whole time. Through the constant repetition and stress on the word "Umbrella" I found that the umbrella stands for the security of their relationship. When the sun is shining, there shiing together. And when its pouring, they'll still have each other. Throughout the song its clear to me that with each other they can do anything and when times get tough they'll seek security (together) under her umbrella. 

Lyrics are taken from -http://www.metrolyrics.com/umbrella-lyrics-rihanna.html

Reading Details3/3/13 Mocking Jay - Suzanne Collins- 1 hour

3/5/13 Mocking Jay- Suzanne Collins- 1 hour and 30 minutes 

3/6/13 Mocking jay- Suzanne Collins 4 hours (Car ride Home, (FINISHED)

What I need to work and Reading Details

I've never been excited to write a paper or report. I get lots of red marks on my rough drafts. So you can say i've always struggled with writing. Although many of my problems come into play as the paper gets more formal and as the MLA format, Margins, and running headers come into play, thrown in there with sentence structure, word choice, and organization= My writing problem.

I can write an awesome creative writing assignment, or free write. Although when I have to go out and search the web, paraphrase, cite, and follow all these rules and regulations, I almost feel like it's not my paper anymore. But it is, with lot's of red marks, so in the future I think i need to get the assignment completed quickly so while everyone is still writing I man manipulate the writing center to get a whole new paper with few red marks. With this being said, I think it would be beneficial to revise my Literary analysis.

Reading

3/22Mocking Jay: Suzanne Collins- 1 hour

3/23Mocking Jay: Suzanne Collins- 1 hour

3/24Blind Side: 1 hour

Revise!

As i got into reading the article discussing Jane Goodall's' new book being taken from another source. I was shocked that such a expireinced writer and public figure made such a huge mistake. Next, I personally know jane Goodall for her work with chimpanzees. Her amazing story was told around the world. This made her to become peoples role model, from seeing her on tv, bill boards, and now reading about her in her new book. Or will we?

As Jane Goodall's book is read and ridiculed by many, it came out that some of her ideas were taken from other sources. I was shocked that she could go through all the steps of publishing a book without anyone editing, revising, or even noticing her work is based on other peoples ideas. If i was in  Goodall's situation I would probably go to the press and explain my innocence, if I really was. This situation will really make me be extra careful in revising my work even if I didn't get information from anywhere. Because if such a public figure in science can make this mistake, anyone can.

Nervous Conditions For next year? and Reading Times

    This year, as started Nervous Conditions I was pretty skeptical in reading it because of the foreign 

words and culture. Although as we got into the novel and started discussing it, I got very interested in 

the book and I began to enjoy it. By the time we finished Nervous Conditions, I was excited that we finished, although it was the best book iv'e read in all of my required reading. 

    Usually as I'm required to read books, there usually symbolic and deep books such as, To kill a Mockingbird. Whereas, in Nervous Conditions it was deep but easy to comprehend for me. As for next year, I think this novel should definitely be included in the syllabus simply because of it's story and themes that I haven't read in any-other book such as, female repression and gender inequality.

    Although I personally enjoyed Nervous Conditions, I can also see why people would not like to read this book, simply because of the plot. The plot in nervous Conditions is far from action packed, and most Post colonial novels tend to be like this. Although Not everyone will like the fact that it's an old setting, theres little action, and many characters. That was probably the hardest thing to deal with, the characters come very quickly in the book, and theres many names and relationships that you must understand in order to comprehend this Novel.

    Thats where the Layered projects came into play as we read Nervous Conditions. The option to pick what projects we wanted to do was a huge benefactor. Not only did we get to choose what projects we wanted to complete, but they were also broken up into an A layer, B layer, C layer 1, and C layer 2. Being due at all different times made the Nervous Conditions reading much better especially for people like me who, if the projects were all due at the end of the reading, would probably do all the projects at the last minute. Lastly, being able to chose what you wanted to do for the projects allowed you to focus on your weakness'. For me, I chose Character bookmark because I had a hard time Keeping up with the  Relations and Features of each Character.

   In conclusion, I would definitely recommend including Nervous Conditions in next years Syllabi. From the morals, unique themes, to never before seen culture, this book required me to read this book unlike iv'e ever read any other book before. I had to do this because off the Challenging Vocabulary, Characters, and Themes that iv'e never been exposed to before. With that being said, I would Definitely think reading this book for years to come would be beneficial to all it's readers to come.

Reading:

3/14/13- Nervous Conditions Playlist- 1 hour

3/15/13- Nervous Conditions project work (Playlist and Film Study) - 2 hours Mocking Jay- 45 Minutes

3/16/13- Mocking Jay- 1 hour

3/17- Mocking jay 1 hour

Free Post

As most people are aware this week marks the first week of Day light savings time. So because it's Spring, we "Spring Forward" as everyone changes their clocks to one hour ahead, everyone also looses an hour of sleep. Not only do you lose an hour of sleep during this part of the year, it also gets darker one hour earlier. That being said, if I wanted to go out and shoot basketballs at 7:30, it would already be pitch black.

If you can;t already tell, I'm not a fan of Daylights savings time what-so-ever. In math today we discussed ways that we could prevent daylights saving time. Maybe by using 24 hour military time, we would'nt have am and pm and that could affect the Day light savings time. So far it looks like we will have daylights savings time forever, although if anyone has an idea, just comment.

How environment affects peoples behavior

In Chapter 7, Tambu had to adjust to just about every one of her classmates being white. By the end of the chapter, she was trying to act white to fit in.Everyone has at least one friend that acts a certain way when he or she is alone with you, than when he or she is in a big group. Throughout many different scenarios in life, people are expected to sort of adapt to where they all at all time. Take it from my typical sunday which consists of church, basketball practice, then maybe out to eat. I can't act the same way in church as I would if I was practicing basketball, I couldn't act the same at the restraunt as I would in church, and I can't act the same way in basketball practice as I would in the restaurant, so I'm sure you get my point. Just like we wouldn't act the same sitting through a lecture in a history class as we would watching a LSU football game, Tambu is trying to adapt to her surroundings but she doesn't seem to be making progress.


Reading Times

Nervous Conditions Every Day this week:
1 hour work day
10 minute class time
10 minute class time
10 minute class time
10 minute class time
1 hour at home
1 hour at home

Nervous Conditions: Chapter 9-10

In Chapter 9 It is revealed that Education is affecting not only Tambu, but her family as well. As the chapter progresses, Tambu is offered a scholarship although Babamukuru won't allow her to go. Later, after talking to Jeremiah, Tambu is finally given the chance to leave the mission to go to this "White School". Ma'shingayi suffers from anxiety that her daughter is attending this english based school and is having a hard time dealing with it. As Tambu leaves Nyasha explains that she doesn't have a friend to laugh with, and she will not eat anything by the time Tambu comes back, Nyasha is about to starve herself to death.

In Chapter 10 Tambu shows up to find that she is being crammed in with the "African Students". As for Nyasha, Theres no luck finding a African Psychiatrist so they have to use a white one. As they talk to the Psychiatrist, he tells them that because Nyasha is African, she probably is just being bad and needs to be disciplined. This shows the different mindsets that race put people in during this time. Just because Nyasha is black, that means she probably is just acting bad which isn't the case.

Nervous Conditions: Chapter 8

Chapter 8 stuck out to me because of the way the title ties into this book. As a began the book I had no idea what a nervous condition in Zimbawe could be. Putting aside small hints at what this nervous condition is throughout the book, here in chapter 8 is the only time we get a full explanation of what this Nervous condition is. As Tambu thinks about the wedding she feels horrible crawling, breathless tension, and she feels like she can't speak up and tell her mother how she feels about this wedding. She feels anxious about how Babamukuru is forcing this event upon her aunt. In addition to this outbreak of what the nervous condition is, Maiguru stands up to Babamukuru, but she still stays together with him which makes Nyasha upset.

Nervous Conditions: Chapter 6-7

Chapter six was crazy. It starts off as Tambu looks at the difference between whites and blacks, and ends with a life changing event to some characters... Many people get in small fights with their parents whether it's regularly or rarely, usually it isn't a huge deal. Although that wasn't the case with Nyasha. Her father tried to kill her after their argument over what the wore to her first social event. So far in this book there has been numerous occasions where family members try to kill each other, it's like they don't care if there gone.Along with the horrific behavior Babamukuru showed in chapter 6, his reputation is ruined rethought to be a bad person. Tambu, who loved her Uncle probably will never feel the same way again. 

In chapter 7 there was many events that went on in the duration of this chapter.  From returning home to when Lucias baby one theme was evident throughout this chapter, poverty. Along with some racism, poverty is displayed in a big way in this chapter. When Tambu returns from the mission to her home where it is old, run down, and falling apart she tries to tidy up a bit with Nyasha. But not much got accomplished as they still are living a hard, poor life.

Reflection on c layer and Persona of Nyasha

The most useful project Iv'e done so far was definitely the character bookmark. Although it was a little time consuming in coming up with descriptions and relationships, it was a fairly easy thing to accomplish that will benefit you greatly in the long run. Overall, my projects in c layer 1 have been good for me. Being able to choose which assignments I had to complete was awesome for me. I feel like I did a good job staying on top of whats going on rather than waiting till the last second to complete the project.

So just like every teenager I usually spend the night out with my friends, we laugh, have fun or whatever, and sometimes theres that awkward situation where your friend and his/her parent get in a big fight and you don't know what to do or say. You just sort of wait till it passes over, awkwardly pretending not to pay attention. But there is that situation where the parent wants to kill her child...

In chapter 6 Tambu was that friend. If I was watching my friends dad try to kill my friend, let alone my cousin I think I'd be so overwhelmed that i probably wouldn't know what to do. I'd probably just be in shock that what I think I saw, actually happened. After the "Dad" calmed down I'd probably have to leave, it would change my whole opinion on what type of person he really is, which is I think what Tambu did to Babamukuru. Let's just say I won't be spending the night at Nyasha's house.

Nervous Conditions: 4-5

In Chapter 4 not much went on in my opinion. The family headed over to the mission where Tambu was worried about everything to come. Also, Nyasha is talking back, reading inappropriate books, and Tambu doesn't think she can room with her but she's forced to learn how.

Although, in chapter 5, it was like a book in itself. SO many different things happened. As we begin this chapter Tambua and Nyasha are fighting. Then at the family dinner, Nyasha and Maiguru get in another fight about her inappropriate book. The next day Nyasha and Tambu head to school where Tambu is not liked. She tries to change her, everything, to be more like the whites who attend her schoool. Lastly, Nyasha teaches Tambu to use a tampon which only the white people really knew about, by the end of this chapter Tambu was speaking English.

Research Paper Reflection

During the process of this paper I fell behind. Not only because of a few days I was sick, but i also procrastinated and worked on Nervous Conditions some as i should've been submitting my paper, which was hard to shy away from doing. Although I learned a lot of things by writing this paper from MLA works cited to the difference of affects and effects, I feel like Iv'e improved as a writer and i'm ready for the next paper. While next time I should look for more help earlier on in my writing process such as going to the writing center, and using my tutorial's to my advantage. I recieved pretty good feedback from my writing group in class and i also had a guy on my basketball team edit my paper when I was sick. Also Dr. D helped me out tremendously by giving me this extension.

My strong points are my introduction and conclusions. Usually I tend to be better at those than the body paragraphys in which I struggle keeping readers attention and developing my paper. Lastly as Dr. D reads my paper theres not much I would like her to know. Iv'e gone to her many times so she probably knows the problems Iv'e had completing and writing my paper.

Chapter 3: Nervous Conditions

As Chapter 3 progresses, 2 big themes appeared to me within the events that went on. The first one is education, as everyone makes a big deal about Babamukuru, Tambus uncle, arrival but as her cousins  , arrive they don't know Shona Language anymore but english. This really hits hard on Tambu as she can't communicate with her cousins she was so close to. Next, Babamukuru suggested that Education could get Tambu's family out of poverty and struggle. Although everyones mind is on Nhamo's education and Tambu gets left out.

Next, Gender plays a huge role in this chapter. The whole reason Tambu can't get her beloved education is because she's a girl. Next, Tambu is ordered to walk are the bowl which everyone washes their hands in. Tambu gets confused in all of this hierarchy and feels like she is at the bottom of it. Next as Jeremiah's side of the family suggests that Nhamo should live with them. As he gets all excited, he gloats to Tambu about this only to get a rock hurled a his face.

Chapter 1-2: Nervous Conditions

In chapter one Tambu, the narrator, begins this novel by saying "I was not sorry when my brother died", This introduction sentence really drew me in as a reader. I was shocked as Tambu proceeds to explain how bright and smart Nhamo was said to be, but she wasn't sorry when he died. Then, as Tambu flashes back to remember when Nhamo felt like he was higher than the rest of his family as he makes his sisters, Netsai and Tambu, carry his bags.

So far we don't have a concrete plot or theme evident in this chapter. Although as Tambu closes chapter 1, she says that she doesn't really like anyone, not even her parents for that matter. There have been hints of poverty and hierarchy or class that i expect to see more of in chapter 2 and so forth.

We begin chapter 2 with many memories of Tambus past life and experiences especially with her grandmother. Tambu is told about the lives woman have and the jobs women must do daily, but in the meantime tambu's mind is still on her education. Because her father is keeping all the money for himself and Nhamos education, Tambu decides to sell "meelies" which are like maize on a cob.

Although things begin to heat up as Tambu finds out her brother is steeling her meelies and giving them away to the sunday school people for free, as tambu finds out she looses all respect for her brother as she runs at him in attempt to kill him. Then Mr. Mutumbo, the Teacher of the Sunday school breaks them up, he advises tambu to sell her meelie at the church to the white people. This is when we start to develop a theme, racism. As a white couple walks up to Tambu's stand they instantly insult it and say this is not what they should be apart of. But they get the money only because Mr. Mutumbo tells the couple that Tambu is a Orphan.

Reading Times

Reading and writing times

2/11/13 - Work on Research paper ( Integrating quotes in my paper) 45 minutes
2/14/13- Work on Research paper (Integrating Sources from more sources in my paper)- One Hour
2/15/13- Work on Research Paper (Fixing Editing Mistakes and Fragments) 45 minutes
2/16/13- 1 chapter of nervous Conditions and (work on conclusion and introduction)- 45 minutes

Research Times and Reading

January 26- 1 Hour of detailed outline work ( wrote out my topics ) (added information) read 15 minutes sold: 4-30

January 27- 1 hour of Detailed Outline Work ( Got more support ) (worked on Thesis) Read 2 hours of Slavery: Bondage throughout history 6- 130

January 28-  40 minutes ( final formatting and editing) read: 30 minutes of Sold pg 30- 65

Research Explination and reading time

   Hey Mom, we're doing this project at school and i picked human trafficking. You probably don't know what that is so ill go ahead and tell you. Human Trafficking is the illegal movement of people taken from someone who uses trickery to promise a better life, education, or jobs. It's a huge problem in our world that's growing very quickly because it's a low risk- high reward crime. You may still wonder why you haven't heard about this, thats because it mainly happens in the poor middle easter countries such as thailand. Lastly these slaves are taken hostage and forced to work without pay and mainly used as sex slaves.

   How could you not understand that mom? Human trafficking is an illegal movement or trade of human beings for forced labor or as sex slaves. This problem is booming in the broke countries of the middle east. The poor protection that countries such as Thailand have cannot get the job done to put this crime to an end. These criminals make millions of dollars just of one human being because they can be sold many times. Human trafficking is even surpassing the drug dealing industry because unlike drugs they buy humans and they don't go away or run out.


Slavery:Bondage through history- 1 hour Pg. 1-52

Slavery:Bondage through history- 1 hour Pg. 52-109
research project: 30 minutes (sources)
research project: 1 hour (sources)
research project: 1 hour (sources)

Reading Times

Head Case , Sarah Aronson- 30 minutes
Head Case , Sarah Aronson- 45 minutes
Head Case , Sarah Aronson- 10 minutes
Head Case , Sarah Aronson- 5 minutes
Research Project- Found informations for notecards and completed 3- 45 minutes
Research Project- Found 2 websites and began but not completed both citations- 30 minutes

Research update

My research project is moving very slowly because i'm still catching up on work from every single class iv'e missed from my concussion. Although i'm not at the point which my classmates are at in there project, i'm getting there. The hardest thing for me since I missed all of the instructions is to understand how to do the note cards, annotated bib, or citations. I think I need to have a conference with Dr. D tomorrow about my questions, and try to make more progress.

So far, not much has been completed besides a few notecards, a couple citations, and some background knowledge, and i'm suppose to have an annotated bibliography by friday? I think I definitely need to make some progress quickly before I fall even more behind.

My Avocation

If someone asked me what is my favorite avocation, i would give them a definitive answer, "basketball". A major aspect in basketball, and in all sports is the anxiety or "butterflies" many people get before games. I personally am not good at handling the pressure of big games because i over think everything, it's not like I'm going up against these basketball prodigies, but sometimes i feel like i am even though i'm not.

 Once iv'e gotten into the game and into the swing of things, half time comes around and the raucous crowd makes me lapse and get more nervous, which leads to me playing bad. basically i'm the farthest from adroit at handling these high pressure games, and the affronts some opposing players make during the game does't help either. Sometimes these players act militant towards me or other players, leading to me getting intimidated, but i always have to keep my demeanor in check and play through it.