Makot is young boy who is quite different than the other boys his age. He does not socialize with the boys in his age group because they treat him poorly. He prefers to associate with children who are several years younger than him therefore some of the boys Makot’s age call him the “shrimp gang leader.” (pg 8) Makot uses his money to buy friendships. He purchases his friends ice cream, movies tickets, and candy. Makot is known for throwing temper tantrums when he cannot get his friends to cooperate with his ideas. During a temper tantrum he threatens his friends by telling them he will not buy their treats anymore. The older boys believe Makot acts like a girl as a result they want nothing to do with him.
His family is seemingly different than his friend’s families. His parents are never home during the day. His mother dresses in uncommon clothing. His father supposedly does not have a job, but he always has an adequate amount of money. Instead of nurturing Makot they try to satisfy him with money. He followed his parent’s example of buying love and tried to buy his friendships. I feel sorry for Makot because his parents have not taught him important life principles therefore he does not understand the concept of true friendship.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Rules for Writers: Chapter 51
The main concepts of “Research” by Diana Hacker are, building a record of sources while conducting research, keeping track of the research by copying the materials, and while taking notes recording the information in the writer’s own words to avoid plagiarism.
Diana stated the writer should keep a running bibliography of the research conducted to avoid any accidental copying. She suggested utilizing an electronic database which will assist in not omitting any sources. She provided examples of some of the information necessary to create a proper source, such as, “authors, editors, translators, title, edition, and publication information” (407).
She specified three different types of note taking, summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Each type requires a source to be included, but when using another author’s exact words the writer must include quotation marks.
I appreciated Diana’s suggestions. As a college student I write many papers after conducting my research. If I do not keep an ongoing source list it is too easy to accidentally not cite a source. I have been introduced to the electronic database provided by the SRJC’s library and that has helped me keep track of all the different sources. It is such a great tool I believe all students should be required to utilize the database for their research papers.
Diana stated the writer should keep a running bibliography of the research conducted to avoid any accidental copying. She suggested utilizing an electronic database which will assist in not omitting any sources. She provided examples of some of the information necessary to create a proper source, such as, “authors, editors, translators, title, edition, and publication information” (407).
She specified three different types of note taking, summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Each type requires a source to be included, but when using another author’s exact words the writer must include quotation marks.
I appreciated Diana’s suggestions. As a college student I write many papers after conducting my research. If I do not keep an ongoing source list it is too easy to accidentally not cite a source. I have been introduced to the electronic database provided by the SRJC’s library and that has helped me keep track of all the different sources. It is such a great tool I believe all students should be required to utilize the database for their research papers.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Essay #3 Rough Draft
The definition of forgiveness is, “the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and/or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.” (Wikipedia, 2011) I believe the entire film developed around the concept of forgiving people who have wronged you. There were multiple circumstances within Smoke Signals that required forgiveness, for instance, abandonment, accidental death, physical abuse, and bullying. Many people choose to not forgive others and live a lifetime engulfed in self-pity, hatred, and resentment.
Thomas bared no malice towards Arnold for starting the fire that killed his parents. Arnold became a father figure for Thomas. He enjoyed Arnold’s company and obviously did not resent him for the role he had in his parent’s death. Thomas tried to set an example for Victor by not allowing the past to dictate his feelings towards Arnold. He possessed the ability to see the fire was an accident and liberate Arnold. In fact forgiving Arnold became a blessing for Thomas because in return he acquired a father figure.
The film reflects what will happen when you do not forgive others. Victor’s rage and resentment towards his father caused him to grow into a bitter, angry young man. He did not trust anyone and viewed the world with hatred and spite. Through his anger and animosity he did not allow anyone to know the real person inside. I do not believe Victor truly recognized how he developed into such an angry man. Thomas wanted to teach Victor that he needed to pardon his father for what he had done. He knew it would be impossible unless he could show Victor why his father truly left the reservation. Thomas knew for Victor’s sake he must forgive his father. Through his and Thomas’s experiences on the road, Victor learned multiple lessons that helped him understand why his father left, which was the first step to forgiveness. With Thomas’s help, Victor achieved the ability to forgive his father.
The film characterized why people should exonerate one another. It represented how people experience great pain when they are unable to forgive. I think Victor eventually understood the grief and guilt his father experienced from the accident and deserting his family. Through gaining the ability to forgive not only did he release the fury inside of himself, but also he released his pain.
Thomas bared no malice towards Arnold for starting the fire that killed his parents. Arnold became a father figure for Thomas. He enjoyed Arnold’s company and obviously did not resent him for the role he had in his parent’s death. Thomas tried to set an example for Victor by not allowing the past to dictate his feelings towards Arnold. He possessed the ability to see the fire was an accident and liberate Arnold. In fact forgiving Arnold became a blessing for Thomas because in return he acquired a father figure.
The film reflects what will happen when you do not forgive others. Victor’s rage and resentment towards his father caused him to grow into a bitter, angry young man. He did not trust anyone and viewed the world with hatred and spite. Through his anger and animosity he did not allow anyone to know the real person inside. I do not believe Victor truly recognized how he developed into such an angry man. Thomas wanted to teach Victor that he needed to pardon his father for what he had done. He knew it would be impossible unless he could show Victor why his father truly left the reservation. Thomas knew for Victor’s sake he must forgive his father. Through his and Thomas’s experiences on the road, Victor learned multiple lessons that helped him understand why his father left, which was the first step to forgiveness. With Thomas’s help, Victor achieved the ability to forgive his father.
The film characterized why people should exonerate one another. It represented how people experience great pain when they are unable to forgive. I think Victor eventually understood the grief and guilt his father experienced from the accident and deserting his family. Through gaining the ability to forgive not only did he release the fury inside of himself, but also he released his pain.
Works Cited
“Forgiveness.” Wikipedia. Wikimeida Foundation, 20 Apr. 2011.
Web. 20 Apr. 2011.
Web. 20 Apr. 2011.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
"This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona” Dialogue
I found the movie and the reading significantly different. The movie’s portrayal of drunk Arnold Joseph accidentally setting fire to Thomas’s home and saving Thomas from the fire was not mentioned in the reading. In the movie Arnold essentially left the reservation and his family because the considerable amount of guilt he suffered for his role in the accidental initiation of the fire. I sympathized with Arnold Joseph for leaving the reservation. He not only caused pain for himself, but also for his family through a terrible accident. I believed he left his son Victor because he thought his mistake was unforgivable.
My perspective changed without the fire element of the story included in the reading. I became confused and wondered why Arnold moved to Phoenix. Consequently Arnold appeared selfish in the reading because we did not receive any understandable excuse for him leaving his family. In the reading Arnold’s character differences affected the depiction of Victor’s character too. He was more open and friendly to strangers. He did not appear as bitter towards his father and the world. He got along better with Thomas during their travels. I felt the movie offered the viewers a more in-depth and dramatic insight into guilt, forgiveness, and redemption.
My perspective changed without the fire element of the story included in the reading. I became confused and wondered why Arnold moved to Phoenix. Consequently Arnold appeared selfish in the reading because we did not receive any understandable excuse for him leaving his family. In the reading Arnold’s character differences affected the depiction of Victor’s character too. He was more open and friendly to strangers. He did not appear as bitter towards his father and the world. He got along better with Thomas during their travels. I felt the movie offered the viewers a more in-depth and dramatic insight into guilt, forgiveness, and redemption.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Smoke Signals Dialogue
Victor and Thomas were the “children born of flame and ash.” Their relationship was surprisingly similar to brothers. They were not related by blood, but by saving Thomas’s life, Arnold Joseph, provided life to both Victor and Thomas.
Victor allowed Thomas to travel with him to Arizona to retrieve his dead father‘s ashes. During their travels he tried to teach Thomas to be more like him. He was annoyed with the way Thomas communicated, dressed, and smiled. He wanted Thomas’s attire and personality to reflect his perception of Indian culture. Thomas listened to Victor and tried to appease him by following some of his advice. They went through several challenging circumstances that Victor could have viewed pessimistically, but Thomas helped Victor view the experiences with a more hopeful perspective.
Although they were seemingly different types of people, they complimented each other. When Victor was hot-tempered, pessimistic, and non-trusting, Thomas was nurturing, optimistic, and kind-hearted. They were opposite in their strengths and weaknesses. Their experiences taught them they were brothers through loss and culture.
Victor allowed Thomas to travel with him to Arizona to retrieve his dead father‘s ashes. During their travels he tried to teach Thomas to be more like him. He was annoyed with the way Thomas communicated, dressed, and smiled. He wanted Thomas’s attire and personality to reflect his perception of Indian culture. Thomas listened to Victor and tried to appease him by following some of his advice. They went through several challenging circumstances that Victor could have viewed pessimistically, but Thomas helped Victor view the experiences with a more hopeful perspective.
Although they were seemingly different types of people, they complimented each other. When Victor was hot-tempered, pessimistic, and non-trusting, Thomas was nurturing, optimistic, and kind-hearted. They were opposite in their strengths and weaknesses. Their experiences taught them they were brothers through loss and culture.
Writing Topic: Rules for Writers Chapter 13
The main ideas in “Shifts” by Diana Hacker are, constructing sentences with the appropriate written perspective for the kind of text, utilizing the same type of “verb tense” throughout the text, applying the same “mood” verbs throughout the document, and telling the difference between direct and indirect questions.
Diana Hacker explained the author can write three different types of viewpoints, first, second, or third person. The first person standpoint is used to highlight the writer, for example, when the author is addressing personal experiences. The second person should be applied when the author wants to give guidance on how to handle a situation or when writing an instruction guide. The third person viewpoint is used to help reflect the subject. The third person perspective can be utilized to write formal or academic texts. Before beginning a text the writer must decide what type of viewpoint the text will be written in. The audience will become confused if the writer uses different standpoints within the same text.
The author needs to try remaining consistent with the use of “verb tenses“. If the writer is using a form of “verb tense” the text should stay the same throughout. She explained there are three “moods” of verbs within the English language, “indicative, “imperative, and “subjunctive”. Each type of “mood” verb should be utilized dependent upon the style of text being written. She also pointed out when the author is inserting quotes they either need to be direct or indirect. If both direct and indirect are used within the same sentence the audience can become confused on the context.
Diana Hacker explained the author can write three different types of viewpoints, first, second, or third person. The first person standpoint is used to highlight the writer, for example, when the author is addressing personal experiences. The second person should be applied when the author wants to give guidance on how to handle a situation or when writing an instruction guide. The third person viewpoint is used to help reflect the subject. The third person perspective can be utilized to write formal or academic texts. Before beginning a text the writer must decide what type of viewpoint the text will be written in. The audience will become confused if the writer uses different standpoints within the same text.
The author needs to try remaining consistent with the use of “verb tenses“. If the writer is using a form of “verb tense” the text should stay the same throughout. She explained there are three “moods” of verbs within the English language, “indicative, “imperative, and “subjunctive”. Each type of “mood” verb should be utilized dependent upon the style of text being written. She also pointed out when the author is inserting quotes they either need to be direct or indirect. If both direct and indirect are used within the same sentence the audience can become confused on the context.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)