Thursday, January 30, 2014

Literature Analysis

Topic/Events

1}This book is about Shawn Carter commonly known as Jay Z it's an autobiography. In the book there are a wide range of topics that are covered. From his childhood growing up in New York to what influenced him to want to start rapping. Also what he saw, heard and experienced throughout his life.
2}I think the reason he chose to write the autobiography was just based on the fact that he finally felt like letting people know his life story. Before the book came out people did know certain things that happened in his life but not the whole story.
3}The reason I chose this book was because it was the only book at my house that I thought would be interesting. It wasn't my first choice but it wasn't a terrible choice. The book appealed to me because it would give me the chance to learn more about one of the most influential and successful people in the last decade.The thing that made me want to keep reading was just learning more and more about his life. And what made him want to start rapping.
4}The entire book was completely realistic nothing seemed to over the top. I didn't make to many connections with the book. But there were certain instances and situations in the book that did remind me of something that happened in my life or something that I've seen or read somewhere else.

People

1}The way he described people and events were exactly how you would expect him to do it. Especially when he did go into detail about a certain topic that you know he remembered instantly. His tone in the book does seem to vary time to time. But that only happens depending on the memory he has.Some things are going to be upbeat and some not. It just depends on how he recalls those moments and how he felt at that time.
2}Jay Z is tall, brown skin, short hair. He looks like any other person you would see on any other day. The only difference is that he is really famous.
3}During the book he directly characterizes certain people that he knows and remembers from his past. Whether it be his cousin who he remembers hanging out with and them both experiencing and seeing their first rap battle. Or even how the person sounded and talked about him when she criticized his music and what he was wearing.
4}I think his diction does change when he talks about a certain person. In some cases you can tell that the thought back to a certain memory is good just by the way he words it. But when his diction turns the opposite way you are also aware because he gives off that feeling. You just have to be aware of what you're reading and how it should be read.
5}He definitely is a dynamic character if he wasn't than the book wouldn't be worth reading. He had to be dynamic in order to grow as a person but also as a rapper. He wouldn't be the person that he is today without being able to change.


Style

1}He used a journalistic style to his writing there wasn't much foreshadowing to it. He just told of events and how he saw them.And in some cases in good vivid detail which would enable you to visualize what happened.
2}In many cases he uses long descriptive sentences in order for you to visualize what exactly went on. And I think that really allows you to be consumed by the story. Which will also probably make you appreciate the book a lot more. So without those descriptive sentences the book wouldn't be as good as it is.
3}I think what he does well is recalling the memory to the best of his capability. He wants to use great detail in order for you to understand the situations he was in. And he also seemed to want to use the right words in order to describe something he didn't want to seem to dilute it in any way.
4}I think he mainly uses what he can remember. There was some help from articles and news stories also that help set the story up. But it seemed to be a lot of just him thinking back to those moments in his life that he experienced.

The thing I expect to remember from the book is how his life was a journey. It took him a long time to become as successful as he is. And I think people who read the book can also look at that and see that becoming successful is a process. It is not something that is just going to happen over night just because you want it to happen.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Vobab. List No. 4

1}accolade-an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit
2}acerbity-a sharp bitterness
3}attrition-the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.
4}bromide-a trite and unoriginal idea or remark
5}chauvinist-a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
6}chronic-persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
7}expound-to present and explain a theory or idea systematically and in detail
8}factionalism-the splitting of a group into factions
9}immaculate- perfectly clean, neat, or tidy
10}imprecation-a spoken curse
11}ineluctable-unable to be resisted or avoided
12}mercurial-a person who is subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
13}palliate-to make a disease or its symptoms less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause
14}protocol-the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of a state or diplomacy
15}resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
16}stigmatize-to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
17}sub rosa-something that is happening or done in secret
18}vainglory-inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements
19}vestige-a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
20}volition-the power of using one's will

Monday, January 27, 2014

haffta/wanna

The only difference when it comes to haffta and wanna is effort.The more you try the better result and if you don't try you can expect to fail or come up short.Most people won't change after they graduate, unless they're a wizard.They'll take whatever habits they have into whatever field or classroom they plan on being in.The way you can balance them is by just having good discipline.But really don't have to balance the things you want to do with the things you have to do.If you were to go that route you would probably screw yourself over.The expectations I have for myself would probably be high.It all depends on whatever I am doing and if I truly am interested in whatever I may be doing.

hacking my education

Hacking my education would basically mean building the class around whatever it is that I'm interested in so that I can somehow use it to my advantage

profile in courage

My first impression of the movie was that the sport of wheelchair rugby and the men who play it won't be taken lightly.I also noticed how each one of the guys in the movie are just like everyone else.The only difference is that they're in a wheelchair.I also noticed that even though they are limited in what they can or can't do they as individuals didn't limit themselves.They did everything like any other person would do the only difference was the way they may have done it.

the choice

There have been many choices I've needed to make throughout my life and especially as I became older and started to make the hard one's on my own. Some small and meaningless and some the complete opposite. When it comes to making decisions I'm quick and usually unsure, I usually pick whichever one seems to be the best one at that moment.Then shortly after think of if the right choice was made. But it usually doesn't go much further than that.I am not a person that keeps changing my mind over and over again.So when the choice of either staying here or moving to Texas came around it wasn't that big of a deal.So I thought about it for about an hour after receiving the news.The first thought was staying and finishing out my senior year since there is not much left.Then I thought of going to Texas and finishing my school out there.I was fine either way it didn't really matter to me.A month or so later when I know what option I will choose I find out that moving to Texas isn't going to happen after all.So I never had to make that choice even though my choice had already been made.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Life After

I don't really know what life after high school will be like for me. I do plan on attending college after high school. But either during that time or after that point I don't really know what I see myself doing. A lot can happen in a small window of time so that's why I can't see myself doing one specific thing. But I'll probably doing something that interests me.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Visual Storytelling

One technique that can make visual storytelling effective is the lighting. Whether it's the overall lighting of the whole scene or the lighting of an individual character. It can have an effect that can allow the viewer to keen in on something that is important that the director may want you to notice. There also is the music which is one of the most important aspects of the storytelling. It's the directors way of trying to make you feel a certain way. And another effective way of storytelling is the camera angles. They can be broad to show you a lot which can give you a good understanding. But the broad angles can also be used to try to overwhelm or make you look all over the place as you try to notice everything. Then there are the small compact shots that usually focus on one important item or thing. There are also the unusual angles that can distort or even give an eerie feeling to a specific scene or item.

Vocab. N. 2

Accoutrements: additional items of dress or equipment.
Apogee: the point in the orbit of an object.
Apropos: used to state a speakers beliefs.
Bicker: argue about petty and trivial matter.
Coalesce: come together and form one mass or whole.
Contretemps: an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence.
Convolution: a form or shape that is folded.
Cull: select from a large quantity.
Dogmatic: inclined to lay down principles.
Licentious: promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
Mete: dispense or allot justice.
Noxious: harmful, poisonous or very unpleasant.
Populous: containing many people or inhabitants.
Probity: the quality of having strong moral principles.
Supervene: occur later than a specified or implied event.
Unimpeachable: not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Vocab. No.1 performance review

I did pretty good on the quiz it wasn't that hard, I did although forget the definition of two words. I also blanked out for a little bit on some words but soon remembered. Could've gotten a hundred percent on the quiz but as long as I don't bomb it I'm good.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Vocab. Spring List 1

1}adumbrate-to report or represent in outline
    The man adumbrated the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions.
 2}apotheosis-the highest point in the development of something.
    His role in that movie was the apotheosis of his career.
3}ascetic-a person who practices severe self-discipline.
    He lives in an ascetic type of life style.
 4}bauble-a small trinket or decoration.
     He tried to secure all of his grandfathers old baubles.
 5}beguile-a persons charm or enchant; sometimes in a deceptive way.
     He was beguiled by her charm.
6}burgeon-something that grows rapidly
    Manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand.
7}complement- a thing that completes or brings to perfection.

  The cheese complemented the spaghetti perfectly.
8}contumacious-stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.
    Contumacious would be the best word to describe the troubled child. 
 9}curmudgeon-a bad tempered person.
     That man is such a curmudgeon.
 10}didactic- intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
        A didactic movie that set out to expose social injustice.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

the choice

1} The choice refers to whether the little girl will voluntarily take the poison or rather it being forced down her throat.
2} It's a real choice because there are two options, although in a way it isn't because if she doesn't want to take it it'll still be forced upon her. The alternative is that her health will deteriorate to a level worse than it may be.
3} Because it tells you exactly what it's with one simple word and there is an impact that comes with the word.
4} She wants to play with it because in her mind she doesn't believe she will live up to be eight years old. I agree with her since she seems to be trying to take advantage of what time she may still have, no harm will come just because she is playing with that toy.
5} Skydiving/go to space and other things
6} Probably in circumstances close to this one but only if you and the person both agreed it would or could benefit them.
7} Yea.You just have to deal with it.
8} Since we tend to try imagine of how it would be to deal with something of that magnitude.