Post 15

Not to be so literary, but I think Charles Dickens' opening line of A Tale of Two Cities really says it best.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness."

This line wasn't meant to describe high school, but somehow it just fits so perfectly. The best memories of my life thus far were created during my time at Millbrook. But during these past four years, I probably climbed pretty high in rank on the cry session tally board too. High school was where I learned the most, and not just in the academic sense, but in regards to experience as well. And I can't forget that this time was where I made my fair share of foolish mistakes.

It was the best of times...
One thing I'm going to miss the most is the sense of community that comes along with football season, and I don't even like football! But there was nothing I looked forward to more than Friday nights where I would get to just stand in the bleachers with a huge group of my friends and sing cheers we all knew the words to. I don't exactly remember watching the games, but I do remember how scary it first was to be thrown up into the air, counting the number on the scoreboard.

I never did attend a crazy high school party, but some of the best times that I'm sure I'll remember are when I would just be with one or two of my friends, usually at a strange hour of the night, just doing something completely random. Whether it was stargazing or night tennis with Caroline, philosophy debates or analyzing music with Pasca and Augie, ice cream and sushi adventures with Rachel, or "extending the party" with a few of my other closest pals, it was always just as exciting.

It was the worst of times...
Oh the amount of times I cried myself to sleep. I laugh about it now, but boy was I a mess. I say that like I'm not anymore, but don't you worry, I am still very much-a mess. However, one thing that's positive about all my crying sprees, was that very few had to deal with drama, and for that, I'm grateful. Compared to many of my other peers, I got myself involved in other people's battles much less, and it helped me in the long run. One thing I did notice, however, was that the drama I did somehow find myself involved in, was just because of simple misunderstandings. But you swallowed your pride and you apologized, even for things that you didn't do or weren't your fault. You don't like confrontation. This approach can be good at times, but at some point you have to stand up for yourself. 

Another thing I struggled with that added to the tears, was my addiction to procrastination, which ran so deep that I actually wrote a Ted Talk about it. Of course my procrastination was not nearly as bad as others since some reach the point where they don't even bother to finish the assignment by the due date. These past 2 years, especially, consisted of many long nights, due slightly to my self-diagnosed sleeping disorder, but probably more so because of my inability to begin homework directly when I get home from school or extracurriculars.

It was the age of wisdom...
One thing that I have learned during my 4 years in high school, is that I don't have to be the best, although being the best is indeed rewarding. Growing up, I always put myself full force into everything I did and having that focus and dedication is great, but succeeding isn't everything and there is more to my purpose than doing well.

Hard work really pays off. It wasn't fun building the set when it wasn't even my job or rehearsing the same scene over and over again, but the thrill of seeing the final bows from the booth on opening and closing nights, makes up for all the heart ache.

Group projects are the worst, the is something many of us have come to know. Will this ever change? Probably not. But at least now you won't be surprised when your group members don't carry their weight.

This one may be one of the most obvious lessons I learned, but is was very important for me to grasp the concept-the concept of eating and drinking consistently throughout the day! Okay, so maybe I haven't completely mastered this life change, but I definitely know that I have to.  I recognized how much easier the day is to get through when I've had water and food, which is why I now know the importance of hydration and getting 3 meals a day.

It was the age of foolishness...
There were the obvious, little, foolish things:  thinking I could write that 10 page paper in 3 hours, realizing I had skipped all 3 meals, and accidentally calling my teacher by another name. There were also the slightly more memorable foolish events. I remember one time during freshman year, when I believed that wearing shoes that were too big for me wouldn't hinder my ability to safely descend a flight of stairs. Needless to say, several of my fellow students had a unique insight as to what I was wearing underneath my skirt that day. And I can't reveal to you all what occurs during Millbrook's theatre "traditions," but one could say that they're unconventional and quite "foolish," especially Fridays' shows... You could also say that it is foolish to find yourself asleep in the parking lot of your school at 4 in the morning with the mix-tape of a married couple that you don't know, playing on the stereo. Is it also foolish to slide down the banisters like Mary Poppins or engage in eye contact with a school icon that claimed its territory as the route you take to biology and just so happens to be a goose? Yes. Do these things not make quite much sense? Sure. Are these things that I'll cherish forever? Absolutely. These things didn't necessarily teach me any huge life lessons, but I'm sure happy they happened.

Post 14: FREEBIE!

Post 13

I would describe the "American Dream" as the possibility and opportunity for success. People view the United States as the ideal place to build a life. No matter where one comes from, they can work hard and achieve a living in America. It is expected that one's cultural background will not significantly hinder one's capacity to be prosperous. However, I know that this is not the case for all immigrants. Sadly enough, in today's America, many are not given equal opportunities or receive the fair and equal treatment. Truth be told there are far better countries to achieve this so called dream filled with immense wealth, America just seemed to trademark it first.

I know what many people will say. They will say that wealth is not only tangible via possessions and money, but is more than that and also includes things and ideas of emotional significance. Wealth to me, are those possessions and money. These are the things I immediately think of when imagining wealth, but that is not to say that there is not value in relationships and other experiences of emotional significance.

Americans value wealth immensely, and particularly wealth of monetary value. Americans fear poverty, especially since we seem to connect it to not only a lack of money, but also lack of relatable experience and intelligence. It is common to believe that happiness does not come immediately with wealth, as we are all told this constantly. I, for one, am guilty of thinking the opposite of this. Wealth gives access to worldly experiences, which would most definitively feed my happiness. However, I understand the saying, wealth isn't everything and there are things much more important in life, but it can make life a little more enjoyable.

Overall, the "American Dream" is important to keep in mind and an important goal for America. America should be a place where anyone can come and build a wealth that they see fit, without being obstructed by their color, gender, or other defining factor other than their merit and ethic. 

Post 12

Original: Als Gregor Samsa eines Morgens aus unruhigen Träumen erwachte, fand er sich in seinem Bett zu einem ungeheuren Ungeziefer verwandelt.

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
Diction (connotation/denotation):
"uneasy"- less negative, filled with worry
"transformed" - connotative with a drastic change that is permanent
"bed" - personal, place of comfort
"gigantic" - extremely large, abnormally so
"insect" - more professional way to say bug
Syntax:
This is a generically short sentence. It has very standard punctuation with the sentence ending in a period. There are no commas or exclamation marks, thus making the sentence not have a lot of emotion.
Imagery/Details:
Setting is given through the use of "bed". There is not a lot of description besides noting that his dreams were uneasy and that he was a "gigantic" insect. One can imagine a large bug awkwardly placed in a bed, but cannot visualize a detailed scene.
Structure:
It first notes the character, then its action, and finally a description of the action. By beginning with "as," it feels like much more of story that will include narrative. There is less focus on the transformation into a bug, because it can be assumed that this is not the whole story, and that much more will occur.
Other Stylist/Figurative Elements:
The use of "Gregor Samsa" suggests an attempt at consistency with the novella's German heritage, as it is an original German name.
#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.
Diction (connotation/denotation):
"woke" - less active and less commonly used compared to awoke or woke up
"uneasy" - less negative,  filled with worry
"changed" - less drastic, implies possibility of reversal
"giant" - less dramatic, more casual
"bug" - more simple and casual
Syntax:
The sentence is very short and thus appears more factual. There is also no punctuation, so the sentence is able to be said quickly, since there is no specific focus placed.
Imagery/Details:
The adjectives are not as powerful, and thus the details are not seen as a big deal compared to the fact that there was a change in his composition. This sentence lacks elaboration and is thus more difficult to imagine the scene from.
Structure:
This sentence is very to the point and matter of fact. It simply states that the character awoke from bad dreams to have changed into a bug.
Other Stylist/Figurative Elements:
By choosing to use "Gregory" instead of Gregor, Americanizes the text, making it more relatable to an English audience, instead of a German one.
#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.
Diction (connotation/denotation):
"troubled" - more negative
"transformed" - drastic, permanent change
"enormous" - extremely large, overwhelmingly so
"bug" - casual
Syntax:
Though this sentence has slight more length than others, it still lacks sufficient punctuation. I see places where I feel a natural pause, yet there is no comma. This makes it so there is no focus placed on any specific part. It makes the story seem very extensive.
Imagery/Details:
It can be implied through the details that Gregor's dreams are very negative and consistently so, though this was contrasted to waking up to an even worse reality due to his transformation.
Structure:
This structure focuses on cause and effect. This is done by beginning with "when" which prepares the reader for the action, which is "he found he had been transformed." The important event here is the transformation, which makes it more dramatic.
Other Stylist/Figurative Elements:
The use of "Gregor Samsa" suggests an attempt at consistency with the novella's German heritage, as it is an original German name.
#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.
Diction (connotation/denotation):
"upon wakening" - very formal
"agitated" - violent and dramatic, indicates not much sleep was achieved due to the dreams
"transformed" - drastic, permanent change
"monstrous vermin" - elevated diction that is connotative with evil and repulsiveness
Syntax:
This sentenced is much more elongated than others. It utilizes many commas. This serves to isolate certain details to make them appear not as important as the main idea of the transformation.
Imagery/Details:
Much more detailed visualization of the scene, but also much more negative. One imagines Gregor thrashing around in his sleep due to the description of the dream and once transformed, as a violent disgusting and undesirable animal, not necessarily an insect.
Structure:
This sentence is set in the past tense and begins with an introductory clause. The transformation seems to interrupt the action of waking up.
Other Stylist/Figurative Elements:
The use of "Gregor Samsa" suggests an attempt at consistency with the novella's German heritage, as it is an original German name.

How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning? Is one more effective than another? Why? What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence? 
In summary, the differences in diction, syntax, punctuation, imagery, and structure in each of the translations greatly affect its meaning and how it can be perceived by a reader. Although the subject of the sentence initially described in the original never changed, simple alterations when translated to an alternative language, transformed the sentence into one that seemed to be an entirely new phrase. The words chosen may have different connotations, and according to someone's personal knowledge and experience, can paint a whole separate image. Emphasis is determined through syntax and punctuation and where emphasis is placed, will greatly influence how the reader interprets it.

For example, the first translation lacks sufficient punctuation, and thus forms a narrative that reflects a story. Since the narrative flows quickly with no eye-catching word choice, the reader will most likely not interpret Gregor's transformation as significant, thus being effective in a story-like narrative that has to build before it makes any climactic statements. This contrasts from the fourth translation which employs pauses, and thus has the effect of informing the reader of what parts of the sentence should be stressed, and which are only small details. the fact that awoke "from agitated dreams" "in his bed," are both enclosed by commas, and thus are not seen as important as the fact that Gregor Samsa transformed into a bug. This last translation, which utilizes the most punctuation, is the most effective because by emphasizing key aspects of the event and sentence, it clearly illustrates the absurdity that the author intended. With the descriptive vocabulary, the reader is given the ability to interpret the content and thus visualize the scenario.

As shown through this exercise, situations can easily be described in unique ways. However, in regards to translations, this is negative. A reader's understanding of a text can change with simple alterations to words, punctuation, and structure. Translations are difficult to achieve, as when transferring a work to a different language, the intended tone and visual is hard to decipher. Due to the various connotations of words, a tone can either become more serious or casual, depending on the diction used. Specific translations can truly change the intended meaning and impact of the entire story. This suggests a similar difficulty in the reading of translated texts. A reader cannot be sure that the tone created within the translation is the same one the author intended. How can a reader make sure that the original text has not been altered in a way that significantly change the meaning and feeling surrounding the story. Through this exercise, I have realize the struggle existing in writing translations as it relates to tone. This not only directly relates to translations of Metamorphosis, but also The Stranger.

Post 11

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6_EeVqAN9GmSVM1dXp4eDFyRm8

*the audio is very terrible, I apologize*

Self-Score

Criteria A-7

I think that I show knowledge and understanding of the novel its context. The context that I explained regarding the creation of the book as well as the passage, I believe makes the IOC understandable for people, even those who have not read the novel. The themes and main ideas I chose to highlight are supported by quotes from the passage and the literary features mentioned are backed up by at least one direct quote. I explain my inclusion of every quote and connect it to a literary feature and theme of the novel that leads to an explanation of its effect on the reader.

Criteria B-6
I showed awareness of main literary features that Ishiguro uses throughout the book. I also explained how each quote was an example of a literary feature, as well as its meaning in regards to the theme which then had an effect on the reader. Though I believe I could have offered more meanings to the quotes as well as show the greater effect on the reader.

Criteria C-4
I think that my IOC was very organized. I gave clear background information and context on both the book and the specific passage. I stated my thesis and also gave specific, clear examples and explained how they supported my thesis. I ended my IOC with a conclusion relating back to thesis and also connecting to a bigger picture as well as a possible author's purpose. I think I could have made my thesis more clear.

Criteria D-5
I used clear and appropriate language. I used the diction of the book when referring back to it. and even considered connotations of words that I used in order to display their effect on the reader. Despite a few pauses and slips, my grammar was mostly correct. My terminology and structure were appropriate and effective in communicating my thesis and examples.

Post 10

Cover 1

Characteristics: The focal point of this cover is a Caucasian blonde girl sitting in a vegetated area with a sad and possibly thoughtful expression on her face. The font of the title and author are both small and capital letters, but the title is slightly larger. It includes accolades such as the Man Booker Prize and a review from The New York Times.

Intended Purpose:  This cover implies that the book takes a melancholic tone and is possibly about a girl seeking in the secluded forest since she is alone and centered on the cover, appearing as if she is deep in thought.
Reason:  Focus on the main character and her feelings about her struggles

Cover 2

Characteristics:  This cover includes an ambiguous girl, possibly Asian, who is possibly fleeting. The background is yellow, which alludes to safety and warmth, which contrasts form the title and action of the girl. The author and title are in a large font, but the author's name is larger and more centered on the cover. It includes accolades such as the Man Booker Prize, a review from Observer, and Top Ten Bestseller.
Intended Purpose:  This cover implies that the book is perhaps about a child who is fleeing, based on the blurred image. Though it also puts importance on the author since the font of his name is larger than the title and centered.
Reason:  Focus on the journey of the main character

Cover 3

Characteristics:  This cover pictures a white boat tied to a pole in a desolate pond. It has a dreary, yellow tint to it which is similar to Sepia, which alludes to the past and possibly a memory. The emotion depicted is sad because the boat is alone with no people near it and everything seems very still and calm. The font of the author and title are slightly large, though the focus is on the author's name. It includes accolades such as the Man Booker Prize and a review from Time.
Intended Purpose:  This cover implies that the book is sad and depicts loneliness since it pictures a lone boat on a pond, which could also represent the internal struggle of a main character.
Reason:  Focus on the desolate setting in which the story takes place

Cover 4

Characteristics:  This cover shows a child-like drawing of  organs inside a barbed wire body with a window picturing trees faintly in the background. The emotion revealed is one of fear since the paper is "trapped" inside the window. The font of the title is large and scrawled, covering a lot of area on the cover, which differs from the author's name which is small and included on the bottom of the cover.
Intended Purpose:  This cover attempts to create a mysterious tone for the novel through scrawled handwriting and a child-like drawing of internal organs surrounded by barbed wire. This depiction implies that someone may be trapped.
Reason:  Focus on the mystery of the novel, while slightly connecting the the health aspect of the novel, with things such as donors and carers.

Similarities:
Cover 1 and Cover 2 both picture a young adult female on the cover. Cover 1 is similar to Cover 3 because both integrate an outdoor setting that insinuates loneliness. Cover 1 and Cover 4 both picture forests and vegetation while showing a sad tone. Also, they both have a focus on the title in comparison to the author. Cover 2 and Cover 3 both have a yellow tint to the background and have the font of the author larger than the title. Cover 2 and Cover 4 both have connections to the idea of being trapped or wanting to escape. Cover 3 and Cover 4 both refrain from including images of people.

A Closer Examination:
Cover 1
At first glance, this cover conjures the words "alone," and "hidden". It makes me think of the feelings you experience when one bad thing happens to you that makes you just want to separate yourself from the world for awhile.

If I saw this cover before I read Never Let Me Go, it would make me think the book was about a lost girl in a rural or magical place. But because I have read the book, I believe the image is meant to represent Kathy H. at Hailsham and how she has many wonders about the secrets of the location.

This cover seems to portray the main character, Kathy H., from possibly the perspective of someone who does not attend Hailsham and disapproves of the project going on there, thus explaining why the girl on the cover appears sad and hidden away.

This cover places the book in a Westernized cultural setting. The teenage girl pictured, appears to be dressed modestly without makeup, implying that she is innocent.

I think the cover was made by a European, particularly British, company. I think this because it follows the English archetype of innocent female characters in need of help. Also, since the author lives in England, he most likely has a large English following.

Cover 2
Cover 2 makes me think of the words "child," and "escape". It appears that the person on the cover is running from the photographer because they are either scared or sad. Running away from problems is most connected to children.

Before reading, this cover would make me think the book is about a child who is unhappy and trying to escape from their current situation. After reading, the cover now represents a child who has many responsibilities, such as a donor, and is scared of her future.

I think the cover is from the perspective of a person in charge, possibly a guardian, portraying a girl who is a clone who is going to begin donating.

This cover places a focus on the author's name. This makes me think that the dark haired child pictured is of Asian descent. This brings in a construct of improving your life through hard work, since many Asians have traveled to other countries for a better life, which is supported by the image being a child running away.

This cover was perhaps made by a more broadly oriented company. By making the child pictured have brown hair, this widens the possibility of more people connecting with character since most people have dark hair.

Post 9

Aspen Baker:  A better way to talk about abortion
https://www.ted.com/talks/aspen_baker_a_better_way_to_talk_about_abortion

Within the TED talk, Aspen Baker wishes to share the importance of storytelling and having listening skills. She does this through discussion of abortion, and how the conversation surrounding it is not conversation at all, but a polarized war between people screaming pro-life and others fighting pro-choice. An issue that is extremely personal has become extremely political. She recognizes that in so many places, people are unable to talk about the issues that matter to them, solely because people are unwilling and unable to do it in a respectful way. Through her program, "Pro-Voice", women and men alike and call in and talk without facing any judgement. This is made possible through asking open-ended questions and utilizing reflective language. These are ways to improve your listening skills and be a respectful member of the conversation. But to make the other person feel safe and comfortable, a lot of practice and empathy is required. This kind of storytelling can improve the world by changing the way we talk about all delicate topics.

Baker employs the appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos in her TED talk in hopes of getting the audience to back her argument in favor of being "pro-voice".

"Pro-Voice" is a new concept for the audience, and to prove herself as a credible source, Baker utilizes ethos. Since "Pro-Voice" focuses on the issue of abortion, Baker shares her experience with debating and deciding on an abortion. In her anecdote she describes how she was raised in a beach town in Southern California, where nearly everyone was Christian and pro-life. She notes how this environment showed her the struggles women who have abortions may have. There aren't many people that are willing to have an actual, thoughtful conversation on the topic. Due to this reality, she discovered that she wanted to help and guide others who went or are going through the same difficult decision-thus she created "Pro-Voice". After this information was shared, the audience is more likely to respect her thoughts on the topic she is speaking on.

With logos, Baker makes a strong argument for why her program, "Pro-Voice" is needed. She includes a statistic from the Guttmacher Institute, that "one in three women in America will have an abortion in their lifetime". This statement proves that abortion is common, and that we need to start talking about it-and that "Pro-Voice" is the outlet in which a solution could be found. She designed the program for people to share their stories and unite people under our similarities and differences-the things that make us human.

Through pathos, Baker is able to incite emotion in the audience which is helpful in getting the audience to empathize with the sensitive issue of abortion. We get to listen to her personal story regarding her abortion, and all the raw feelings and struggles that come with it. She references the powerful Supreme Court case-Roe v. Wade, which for many, automatically causes emotional response. But she shows that it does not have to be all negative when she describes the gift that her friend Polly had given her-that she "wasn't alone and the realization that abortion was something we can talk about". The audience will be uplifted at the chance of hope, since there are so many others dealing with similar problems. With this appeal, the audience will support the move Baker's program is attempting to make towards comfort and empowerment through storytelling. This captures her entire purpose of the talk-encouraging the people to make a strive towards being "pro-voice", making a better way to speak on difficult topics.

As I was sifting through the various TED talks tagged with storytelling, I came across this one, and was immediately intrigued. Abortion. It's inherently a difficult topic to discuss. But I notice that when it's discussed, it's only being argued. Its relevancy in the political world has only increased, but nothing is being done about it. I recognized that maybe Aspen Baker was right-we need "a better way to talk about abortion".

When I converse with other people, talking about things that happened to them, and how they dealt with them, I can't help but compare their decisions with what I would have done. I judge. I wear my opposition on my face. This is not done with the intent to make them feel lesser or myself feel more than, but out of poor habit. This TED talk showed me that maybe my listening skills were not up to par. 

One of the summarizing arguments that I took from this talk was that our experiences are what humanize us, which is also a theme within Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Within the novel, what it means to be human is examined. While reading we get to see what experiences make us human and how those experiences are the stories of our lives. Ishiguro also includes the contrasting reactions of pity and terror, as well as love and compassion. This is closely connected to the duality of man discussed in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I found that these ideas relate to the argument Baker is making in her talk-that there seems to be only two sides in the conversation of abortion.