Inner Thoughts

Author's Note:

This is my response to the passage "Montag said nothing, but stood looking at the women's facing as he had once looked at the faces of saints in a strange church he had entered when he was a child.  The faces of those enameled creatures meant nothing to him though he talked to them and stood in that church for a long time, trying to be of the religion trying to know what that religion was, trying to get enough of the raw incense and special dust of the place into his lungs and thus into his blood to feel touched and concerned my the meaning of the colorful men and women with the porcelain eyes and bloody ruby lips." for tone, meaning and purpose.

Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451

Page 95

This passage, from Fahrenheit 451, illustrates how Montag feels as though he should and has to be like everyone else around him, but knows that he cannot.  It personifies the materials in the church, trying to reach him, trying to make him like the rest of the crowd, but failing.  Its purpose is to show that certain feelings and thoughts can be buried or burned or destroyed, though they will never completely disappear.  The tone of this passage seems desperate, almost as though Montag still wants to be regular or normal; it seems as though Montag detests the thoughts he's pondering and the emotions he's feeling .  Overall, I feel that this passage clearly shows the reader Montag's inner thoughts and the reason behind his feelings.

Silent King

Author's Note:

This is a poem I wrote to make the reader think of the people in your life that you do not always notice, but  are helping to guide you through life and are there to catch you before you fall.  I want to make the reader  think about a person who you know, who you don't know, or who you have yet to meet, that will one day lead you in the right directions in life.  I am focusing on formatting.

Once upon a time…

A village in danger

With no chance of hope

Lost out of luck

Without a savior

But a silent king

Few have seen him

Few have tried

Few even know

That he's alive

Silent king

In trouble or darkness

In the dead of the night

He who is knowing

Will soon guide the light

Silent King

He never stays

To accept his prize

He runs out yonder

And disappears

Silent king

You cannot find him

But he will always

Find you

Whenever needed

Silent king

On the first

Day of summer

A stranger he met

Discovered the great

Silent king

They talked and talked

Face to a face

He told of his travels

He told of his mind

Silent king

But thy asked him

A question

How do you know?

How do you know where to go,

Silent king

He thought about it

And walked around

And only chirped

Few mumbled sounds

I see all that is alive

Even though I am quite blind

I hear sounds, of what is left

Even though I am quite deaf

I taste words, that drip from mouths

Even though I make few sounds

I smell hate, from quite a distance

I fix problems, no resistance

I touch lives, of all whom I meet

Even though I can't be seen

And his new friend

Rebutted

Then just how can I,

See you with my eyes

Silent king

You can believe

You do believe

All have been

Given the choice

Silent king

You were not chosen

You are not different

Than he or me

Or she nor I

Silent king

Though perhaps you see

Just like me

Everything

Yet nothing

Silent king

Nobody else can surely

Understand

What it is like

To see what we see

Silent king

The man replied with

What do we see?

And king answered

Energy

Silent king

For we do not

Need eyes or ears

Or lips or fingers

Or noses, or fears

Silent king

Ignorance is bliss

Though we would not

Give in

We kept hope

Silent king

Saving, sharing

Teaching, guiding

Lighting, giving

Caring, loving
Silent king

Silent king

Silent king

His new friend

Blinked once then

Twice, but he was

Gone, who?

Silent king

With no trace of

A path a trail or

Direction

Gone

Deserted

Vanishing

Silent king

Forgotten Words

Author's Note:

I wrote this poem to make the reader think if there were any words of kindness they would want to say to someone, in the case that they, or the other person, were gone tomorrow.  I am focusing on word choice and would appreciate comments.

People ask me

Why I give compliments

My reply?

Why not?

I figure in

The little ways

That simple words, can make a day

While it may seem

A little queer

I do it, to bring some cheer

So if I were

To ask you this

What was the last thing you missed

Was it a phrase

That you could say,

That might have maybe made their day

Do not leave life

With a regret

Do what you wanted, better yet

Just think if there

Is anybody,

Whom you would wish to say

I'm sorry

The Lazy Song

Author's Note:

I wrote this as a song/poem to go to the tune of Bruno Mars's The Lazy Song.

The day I don't feel like anything

Because I don't have something to do

I don't feel like hanging up my clothes

So I put them all on and pose

'Cause some day I won't feel like doing anything

I'm gonna put my hands up and do a little dance

Get a lot of money and fly northwest to France

And nobody's gone tell me I can't

I'll be lying in my bed just breathin' in the air

Flip my pillow over and screw on up my hair

'Cause in my daydreams, I'm an astronaut

The day I don't feel like anything

Because I don't have something to do

I don't feel like hanging up my clothes

So I put them all on and pose

'Cause some day I won't feel like doing anything

Tomorrow I'll fall asleep, and lie down again

Pick up my pillow and put it on my head

And I'm gonna scream out

I'm so tired

(oh my god, I'm so tired)

Yeah, I might mess around

And get a new baby kitten

Play on my piano and

Go skiing wearing mittens

Oh, oh yes I said it

I said it, I said it cause I can

Some day I don't feel like anything

And I don't have something to do

I don't feel like hanging up my clothes

So I put them all on and pose

'Cause some day I won't feel like doing anything

Magic

Author's Note:

This is a poem that I wrote after watching Nicholas Spark's The Notebook.  I am focusing on formatting.

Something

Happens in your heart

Brightens your face

Or brings tears to

Your eyes

Magic

For

Words cannot describe

Nor can you or I

We could attempt it

But no,

Magic

How

Do we express this?,

 With our art

Our thoughts

Our lips?

Magic

There

 Are just some things in

This wonderful world

Such as love and death

Or hope

Magic

These

Traits are not able to

Be bought with money

But the strength within

Your heart

Magic

We

Might still have some questions

About life or future family

Who will we marry, who will

We love

Magic

You

Can work your entire life

To fight for what is yours

But do not hold your breath-

In an instant,

Gone.

Magic

r-m-e-t-e-l-o-w-a-n

Author's Note:
This is my second attempt at writing a poem similar to E.E. Cummings r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r.  I still want comments!!!

r-m-e-t-e-l-o-w-a-n

                whole

th(en y(ou dro)p i)t

nowitsbroken

                ETLOWRANME

                                landu)!onpl(a

teThe;)^s

                mA

                     ;sh

W                                            e

                /m                                        f

eedinG                 ,rmetelowa(n

                                                    to

ch(pi)dren(cn)at(ic)a

:watermelon.

E.E. Cummings r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r

   r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
                      who
  a)s w(e loo)k
  upnowgath
                  PPEGORHRASS
                                        eringint(o-
  aThe):l
             eA
                 !p:
S                                                         a
                          (r
  rIvInG                         .gRrEaPsPhOs)
                                                         to
  rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
  ,grasshopper;

S-kI-In—G

Author’s Note:

I wrote this after reading Mai’s Blog.  I am trying to write in the style of E.E. Cumming’s r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r.   I was not sure originally what the poem was supposed to be, but you really have to almost look at the words instead of reading them.  I WANT COMMENTS.

S-kI-iN—G

                  

                                                          g       

                                                n

                                      i

                             d

i

          l                  (down)

s

t(hills)he

      u        n        n

t        r        I        g        top

                                       -

and                                 --

                                      -----

                                   -----------         

                                    -----

then                                -

                                  bottom

Slope

Mov(down the) ing

To

                                                h

                                    c

                        a

            e

r

t(bottom)he o(the)f

                        N                                 L                      n

I                                   C                                 I                                   e

Pleasure to Burn

Author's note:

This is a poem that I wrote inspired by Fahrenheit 451. 

Burn

Firefighter? Fire starter?

 Blaze

Blaze

Growing. Uncontrollable

Flame

Flame

Stunning? Disastrous?

Light

Light

Leads. Falls.

Glow

Glow

Frightening? Helpful?

Bright

Bright

Inspiring. Obliterate

Flash

Flash

Creating? Killing?

Sparkle

Sparkle

Terrifying. Alarming

Shining

Shining

Directing? Misleading?

Color

Color

Bursts of hope. Or sadness?

Destroy

Destroy

Ruins. Families.

Forgotten

Forgotten

Knowledge. Power

Change

Change

Renew? Rebuild?

Expand

Expand

Grow.  Indulge.

Renew

Renew

For better? Or worse?

Life. 

A Very Unmerry Christmas

Author's Note:

This is my response for purpose, tone, and meaning to the sentence "Awaking in the middle of a prodigiously tough snore, and sitting up in bed to get his thoughts together, Scrooge had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon the stroke of One."

Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol

Page 51

This quote, from A Christmas Carol, shows that, even after two spirits, Scrooge is not interested in hearing anymore about having a 'merry Christmas'.  I believe this because within the passage it said, "Scrooge had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon the stroke of One.", which is stating that Scrooge did not want yet another visit from yet another spirit.

I think that it's purpose is to illustrate that Scrooge does not enjoy being (almost) tormented by the spirits.  Also, I found it to show that, while you can have wealth and a big house, you cannot always be in control of everything around you.  Personally, I think that Scrooge's strong emotions towards Christmas prevents him from initially seeing the good that the ghosts are try to do for him.  Lastly, I think that the tone of this passage is almost humorous; it sounds as though Dickens is mocking Scrooge in the way that he put together this statement.

Idiotic

Author's Note:
This is a poem I wrote to try and make people think of how they come off to others.

Some people just are not that bright
Some people think they know it all
Some people act like big oak trees
 For they seem proud--until they fall

Some people just do not re'lize
That acting smart is not act
They really think they what's right
For that, I say, is just fact

Do they really listen to the words
That they spit out of their mouths?
Do they even listen to the things they say
When talking in their house?

Though what I truly do not get
Is how people do not see
That idiotic behavior
Is most definitely a gene

But this 'special' type of people
Cannot honestly portray
The general community
Of our own world today

These people musn't understand
The way just how life works
We might do stupid acts
But the smart don't use stupid words

The wise may give you lessons
Such as 'think before you act'
But how many of us listen
And how many of us lack


Are we ignorant to what we speak
When speaking to our friends
Do we believe that certain rules
Have the right of being bent

Does our anger cloud our judgement
When deciding what to do
Do we ever grow out of things
We've adapted in our youth

Do we tend to side with others
Even when we know that they are wrong
Just because you're bias
Of their favorite type of song

The lowest form of idiots
Is not knowing that you are one
You might know who I'm mentioning
Though don't you tell just anyone

If we were all created equal
Then most of us are wasting brain cells
We do not give in to what is just
Or understand just how it felt

And if you have read to this point
You could be questioning your place
But if you comprehend this to here
Then I will say this to your face

You are either really wise or really dumb
Extremely smart or fairly stupid
Vastly knowledged or just ignorant
Or maybe you see right through it

Though do not take pity on these certain souls
For they have designed their own lives
Even if they seem to know
Less knowledge than a grade 5

If these narrow minded people
Could only view the entire scene
Then idiotic, stupid, dumb
Is not what they would be

Aleks?

 Author’s Note:

This is an essay describing how the math program, Aleks, should not be used as an individual math educator.  I am focusing on Idea Development and Content.

Should computers be teaching children? Students today achieve high grades in math because they are given meaningless practice, easy tests, and pointless assessments. Districts can give students simple exams as they work their way to high school, but what then? Children in today’s world are no longer being prepared for tests that will later get them into colleges or other further education. I believe that it would help kids improve their math skills if they did not use the Aleks program, but learned information from a teacher and took regular paper tests, not twenty question effortless assessments.

While it is fun, it does not mean that it is effective; there are definite cons of the Aleks program. The first is, since children on Aleks no longer take regular quizzes or tests, they will most likely not be prepared when it comes time to take mandatory high school exams, SAT’s, or ACT’s. This would severely impact our school’s, our state’s, and our nation’s overall average scores on some of these tests.  Another disadvantage is, while there are several topics/units to be mastered on Aleks, students still need to learn other skills that are not taught on it. That being known, math teachers would still be needed to teach students extra topics to complete Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, etc.  Also, it would become an inconvenience for spatial learners that cannot learn by reading math instructions, but seeing how there are done by a teacher. The last drawback is if children do not learn as much in the mathematics area, America would fall farther behind other nations, such as Russia, China, Canada, Japan, or Sweden. Overall, I believe that there are other ways to learn math that are fun, but still effective.

Even though there are a large number of disadvantages, there are a few advantages of Aleks.  First, the Aleks program is an enjoyable way that children can complete math courses at their own pace.  While it does not cover all material, it could also show teachers or supervisors what the difficulty of math class that students should take.  Lastly, a small benefit of the Aleks program is that students can see how close or far they are from achieving specific math goals.  

I have personally gone through three Aleks courses and will admit that it was a more fun way to learn math.  In one year I got to work independently all the way from Pre-Algebra through Geometry, but I still had to take Benchmark District Assessments (BDAs) between each one.  Since Aleks did not cover all the units necessary for me to take the BDAs, I still had to work with a teacher to complete those skills; which demolishes the current point of Aleks.  Furthermore, every time I completed one of the courses, I had to continue learning out of a book and work on paper study guides.  In conclusion, I would have to say that I am learning math more effectively and at a steadier pace in a traditional math classroom.

In today's improving technology world, there has to be a solution for a way to learn math that was fun, yet still effective. A first solution would be to use Aleks as more of a study tool, than a sole instructional program. That way, students could work on math and complete assignments at home, but actually learn lessons with a regular mathematics teacher at school. Another solution would be to completely take away using Aleks.  While that would not be necessary, it would solve the problem. A final solution would be to find another similar online math program related to Aleks.

 Computers or books; keyboards or pencils; screens or whiteboards; which ones should we be using to teach students math?  Aleks is an online instructional tool that should be applied less and traditional math teachers should be utilized further.  As a personal alumna to the Aleks program, I have to admit that it was more fun, but not as effective.   I would advise to not further use Aleks as a sole mathematics educator, yet a study tool for teachers.   Would you rather complete math courses knowing that you learned all the information you could and that you were ready for the next course, or would you want to rush through math, but forget it by tomorrow?

Sources:

 "Aleks Math Review and Free Trial." Raising Olives. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <raisingolives.com/2009/08/aleks-math-review-and-free-trial/>.

 "Technology Changed World - InfoBarrel." InfoBarrel - Crowdsourcing Information | Make Extra Money Writing. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://www.infobarrel.com/Technology_Changed_World>.

 

"The College Board." Completion Agenda. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <completionagenda.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/reports_pdf/Progress_Report_2010.pdf>. 

"The GeeksFTW! » My life without a PC." The GeeksFTW!. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://thegeeksftw.com/2011/02/08/my-life-without-a-pc/>. 

"The Homeschool Magazine Freebie Directory." The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - Homeschooling - Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/freebiedirectory/index.php>.

"The visual (spatial) learning style." Learning Styles Online.com - including a free inventory. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://www.learning-styles-online.com/style/visual-spatial/>.

Harrison Bergeron Inference Piece

Author's Note:
This is my inference response to the short story Harrison Bergeron.

Welcome to a cut rope world of torment, unease, and conformity; change is unpermitted and the rules are simple: survive and you win, if you do not, you lose.  What kind of world would this be?  It is not a futuristic, dystopia; it is the world we live in.  If we do not change to fit what is "normal", we are ashamed.  I found that this was a reoccurring inference as I read, Harrison Bergeron.   

In the beginning of the story, the narrator described how "everybody was finally equal", but I believe that he thought everybody was not born equal, but shaped to be.  Then, as we work up our courage to be our own person, like when Harrison proudly stated "I am the Emperor.", we get shot down and our hope is "dead before [we] hit the floor".   Lastly, since the characters see the world from the outside looking in, I thought that if they got a different perspective, they would not "forget the sad things."  That phrase made me think of when someone in your life dies, some people tell you to forget about it, but what's the point of living any life that is going to be forgotten?  Overall, this piece kept making me think on bad worlds, that world, and our world.

While Chasing Your Dreams

When you are chasing your dreams

How do you know when they are caught

Do you define them with money or wealth

Or the lessons you've been taught

When imagining your greatest dreams

What exactly do you see

Do you look just like Zac Efron

Or do you look exactly like me

Though now that I may state my input

Here's just what I would say

If you think that one day you'll be something

Make that day today!

The Time for Now

The time for breakfast's in the morning

The time for baseball's after school

The time for reading's before bed

The time for shopping's whenever's cool

The time for sleeping's during night

The time for dancing is forever

The time for singing's in your shower

The time for testing is for never

The time for kissing is in Paris

The time for smiling's when you frown

The time for walking's after you run

But when is the time for now?

Who, What, Where, When, How, Why?

Author's Note:
This is a poem I decided to write after seeing a billboard that said "Who are you? What do you want to be?"

Who can say what will happen

When you open your eyes tomorrow?

Who can know  what will come

When you close your mind sorrow?

When you trust others with your feelings

How exactly will they reply?

Why would you divulge your deepest thoughts

If they will just be denied?

What hour of the day will be the best

Hour of your entire life?

Who has the right to measure this

No honestly, who has that right?

Where will you learn to do so many things

Like tie your shoes or hop a fence?

How old will you be when you learn math

Such as equal, greater than, or less?

What gift have you been given in life

What gift will you have when you die?

Well start with these simple questions

Who, what, when, where, how, and why

The Never Ending Unwrapping Job

Author's Note:
This is my passage inspired by a Christmas Break event.  It is from the perspective of my sister as she's opening a present from me.  The point of this story is to describe what happened and her thoughts as she was opening it.  I am focusing on voice.  Please leave comments.
Opening that sole, large, multi-colored box; with your name on it.  As you unwrap the first layer of paper, you notice that there was another box inside.  You unwrap that box, another, another, another, another, another, another, another, and finally get to a small jewelry looking box and the very center.  You carefully open this delicate container and you discover a note.  This note has one word upon its' page.  Your mind thinks that this is some kind of joke since you just spent eleven minutes opening the previous boxes.   What did the note say, you ask, and I answer; FAIL.