Literature

     This year we have read a lot of pieces of literature that I had found interesting. My favorite out of all of them would be Edgar Allen Poe's work. To be specific, my favorite work was "The Raven". I like it because first, it is a great work of poetry. Another reason why I like it is because it is mysterious and dark. I do not find Edgar Allen Poe to be a creep. He is a great author who has written interesting pieces of literature that can captivate one's mind. 

    My least favorite piece of literature this year would have to be Death of a Salesman. This is simply because I was not as interested in this piece of literature as I was with the others. Death of a Salesman was an alright book, but I personally prefer to read Night. In the story Night, a lot of interesting events took place that made a change to the main character's thoughts and beliefs. In Death of a Salesman, the poor man wanted to kill himself. This can put some negativity on the reader. Then again, there are not always going to be happy endings. This is similar to reality as well. 

English AP Class

     Well, I can not choose my favorite part about our English class, but the humor was definitely enjoyable. The class was controlled very well and we got everything done on time. One of my favorite parts of the class was reading poetry. I am an Edgar Allen Poe fan so it was interesting for me. I also liked the challenging part of the class. One would think that the class would be easy but it is actually more than that. It was a good way to get students motivated.
     As for the "cons", I do not have any really. I think the class was great overall this year. It was better than the other classes I had because it was more fun. It is easier to learn when the class is not bored by the subject. It would be better if we had more practice worksheets for the AP exam because they are really helpful and give us an idea of what it is going to be like.

Man in Charge of Feminist Movement

    The following information can be found in TheOnion. It has been a long time since women have been fighting for their rights. But it seems like having a female leader is not good enough to catch people's attention. A 58 year old man definitely does not think that the Feminist Movement is working so well. That is why he has taken charge of this, and is now the chief of the initiative for women's rights. A man by the name of Peter McGowan is full of confidence, and is ready to make a change for women.
    Peter has decided that the first thing he is going to take care of is sexual harassment. He puts this before securing reproductive rights and promoting healthy body images for women. He feels that it is the most important out of the rest. Peter claims that he is going to bring more attention to women's sports as well. It seems funny how a man is trying to take action and advance on the women's rights initiative. Maybe this unordinary action will catch more people's attention.

Coyote Vs. Acme

     This essay was written by Ian Frazier. It is about  the law-suit of Mr. Wile E Coyote. The plaintiff is Wile E Coyote and the defendant is the ACME company. Throughout the essay, some of Coyote's accidents are explained with details.  According to Coyote, these accidents happened due to ACME's products. The reason why Coyote is getting into many accidents is because he is not following the directions or reading the warnings of the ACME products. The purpose of this essay is to show how in some cases people get taken to court for stupid reasons. It is also to show how people defend themselves and interact in court. 

    The tone of this essay is humorous and informative. Frazier's statements are mostly sarcastic, which keeps the reader interested. The audience is the people in the court and the jury. Ian Frazier shows how much of a fool Coyote is in the essay but commenting on many of Coyote's excuses and reasons for his accidents. 

Happiness = Success?

     The following information can be found on CNN. The author of this article is Shawn Achor. Shawn Achor has written the book Happiness Advantage. He has studied at Harvard for 12 years, and is a current CEO of Good Think Inc. The article which he has written on CNN is about happiness. The idea of this article is whether happiness is scientifically beneficial or advantageous towards success. If one smiles and feels happy, they can do their work much better than those who do not feel happiness. 

    In the Article he has written the following challenges which one should do, in order to prove themselves that happiness is a big boost and advantage. He has said to exercise 10 minutes a day, write about positive experience for two minutes a day, meditate for two minutes, support a friend, and so on. I personally believe that happiness can have a positive affect on a person, especially when they are trying to accomplish a task or live their life. 

Language

     The way a person chooses to speak says a lot about them. You can tell a person is confident whenever he or she speaks loud, and articulates his or her words. If a person is shy, they tend to speak rather low. This does not mean that every person is like this. Those who stutter during times when they are considered "guilty" are possibly liars. When one does not make eye contact while speaking, it usually means that they are trying to stray from your eyes so they will not be afraid to lie.
     Armenians speak Armenian, but there is more than one type of Armenian language. This can give an idea to the listener of what type of Armenian he or she is. The accents differ the Armenian language. I get told a lot that I am considered a quiet person. That is because I choose to speak whenever I know my words will matter, be helpful, provide information, or make a difference.

Great Gatsby SOAPST

     We are currently reading the book Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. There are many books that have captivated my mind and interested me to continue reading it. This would be considered one of those books. Nick, the speaker, introduces us the behaviors of people with different social classes. There is a division between West Egg and East Egg. West Egg is where the wealthy, illegal drinkers live. East Egg is for the people who are much more wealthier than West Egg, and their money is inherited.
     The occasion of this story is New York during the 1920s. At the time, this was considered the "Jazz Age". One could picture a scene of flappers, dancing, and alcohol during this era. I consider the tone to be descriptive and mysterious. The story involves dealing with love, money, judgement and so on.

Jay Gatsby

     If I were as rich as Jay Gatsby and had a party I would spend my money on the most expensive stereo and music equippment. I would make sure that the music plays loud and the guests enjoy it. I would order an exaggerated amount of the best food I could find. The house would be decorated and would look sophisticated.
    On the outside of the house, there would also be decorations. Signs would be everywhere that welcomed anyone who wanted to enter. There would be dancers and people who served drinks. Statues would be standing nicely in the front yard. The house would look welcoming.

1920's Prohibition

    Nowadays, alcohol seems to be a very popular drink for celebrations involving adults. The required age to be able to consume and purchase alcohol is 21 and over. Some may say that alcohol is beneficial, while others may disagree. The 1920's Prohibition was the banning of alcohol. Immigrants thought that alcohol was beneficial, claiming that it can help people with socializing. On the other hand, reformers and Protestants were not okay with drinking. They thought that alcohol caused corruptions, anger, uncontrollable behavior and so on.
     What people did not expect was the irony of the banning of alcohol. Instead of solving problems that were already there, the Prohibition Act caused even more problems. People who were addicts could not control themselves. Businesses were going down because alcohol was to be banned. Personally, I think alcohol should be available to those who have control, respect, and use it for a good purpose.
   

Pastor Near Death

     The following information can be found on CNN. The author of this article is Dan Merica. People have different ideas and beliefs of life and death. Some are aware of how short life could be, while others are not. A pastor by the name of Ed Dobson has ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain, as well as the spinal cord. Dobson was asked to quit being a pastor. By doing so, he has realized his purpose for living.
     Dobson was emotionally hurt because he had not received calls after the day he had quit being a pastor. He claimed it was rough feeling unwanted, and it made a person question their purpose of living. However, he did not lose hope. Now that he has the time, his purpose for living is following Jesus. Till this day he is a very religious man and wants nothing more than to help others. Also, he said that some people in this world think that they are going to live forever, when in reality they are not. This could send a message to people to experience all that they want and do what they love, not necessarily what others expect from them.

Barbie In Black

     The following information can be found on CNN. The article was written by Sarah Springer on February 10, 2012. For many years, Barbie has been sold as a Caucasian doll. She has had many costumes such as a rock star, a princess, a bride and so on. Young girls love to play with these dolls, but some do not realize that Barbie could be a bad influence on children. Some young girls might try to be "perfect" like Barbie, and possibly lower their self esteem.

     A woman by the name of Stacey McBride not only thinks that Barbie is a bad influence, but has noticed that Barbie is only advertised and sold as a Caucasian. She has started to design new dolls which have features and skin tones that represent many other races other than Caucasian. McBride thinks that by doing this, children of all races will be able to play with dolls and get rid of racism. The dolls will also be a good influence for young girls.

Appreciating Nature

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Hero For Another Heart

     The following information can be found on CNN. The article is written by Rick Martin. Nowadays there are a lot of people who try their best to help their friends and family. Whether it be for protection, for health, or for a sickness. A man by the name of Mike Ainsworth has saved a life of his neighbor. To most, he is now looked upon as a hero. He has made many people think more about how much they actually help people around them.        
     While a woman was trying to get into her car, a man with a gun in his hand had tried to steel the car away from her. When Mike had heard screaming, he had immediately let go of his kids, and had ran towards the gunman to defend the woman who was being attacked. Sadly, Mike had been shot in the action of defending. When the gunman had started to flee, Mike had tried to run after him, even though he was struggling to move. Ainsworth fell on the yard of one of his neighbors and passed away. He will be remembered as a  great hero, and as a great father and husband for his kids and wife.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"

The author of "The Fall of the House of Usher", Edgar Allan Poe, is known for being a dark writer. He has many short stories and poems that introduce gothic material. For instance, in "The Fall of the House of Usher", the main character's description is faint and frightening. The house which he lives in is described similar to the main character. They are both dark, scary,  and mysterious.
    Edgar Allan Poe uses the two windows of the house, and describes it as the eyes of a human. The door along with its other features is imagined as a frown. It seems as though the main character is in such a tragic mood that the house is giving away his emotions. Whatever is happening on the inside of the house, is happening on the outside of the house as well. Edgar also inputs fear into his story, which makes the story gothic as well. The narrator and the main character both wake up in the middle of a night, knowing that there is a dead body several floors beneath them. The scariness of his writings is what makes him an interesting yet gothic writer.

News Article #7

     The following information can be found on CNN. The news article has been published by Todd Wasserman. Twitter, a social networking website, is nowadays very popular among the U.S. People have the ability to share what they are doing in text, with a limit of 140 characters. Some view twitter as a waist of time, while others view it as a useful source. However, others view it as a form of cyber-bullying. 
     There was a case involving a woman named Alyce Zeoli, a Buddhist leader from Maryland. She had reported that a man by the name of William Lawrence Cassidy had been tweeting offensive and threatening messages about Zeoli. Cassidy had been put to jail because of this. However, she has now won the case. By saying that her words are considered free speech, according to the First Amendment, she should not be put in jail. Cassidy is most likely going to be released soon. 
   

"The Raven"

     "The Raven", written by Edgar Allan Poe, is overall a very dark, scary and gothic poem. Edgar indirectly introduces the reader about his lost love Lenore, whom he is remembering throughout the poem.  Gothic writings are generally mysterious, frightening and unexpected. In "The Raven", we come across Edgar's paranoia when he claims that he is hearing a knocking on his door. This leaves the reader in suspense, and thinking about who the person behind his door could be. However, as soon as Edgar opens the door, there is no one there. 

     Edgar is later trying to make excuses that the sound is continuing from the window. He describes it as the wind hitting the window. When he opens the window, he notices a strange raven, who he thinks can talk. He begins speaking with the raven, and all the raven answers  is "nevermore". Edgar becomes confused and starts analyzing the word "nevermore". He even starts thinking Lenore's scent is in the room.

News Article #7

     The following information can be found on CNN. The author of this article is the CNN Wire Staff. When reading this article, one can be disturbed by the thought of a father killing his own children. Even if they are his adopted children, it still seems wrong to many. Jorge Barahona, a 53 year old man, had injured and had tried killing his four adopted kids. Jorge had said that his children were inside a pest control truck which he was driving. The car was found parked on the side of I-95 near West Palm Beach, Florida. His ten year old daughter's dead body was found in the truck, along with her twin sister. His daughter was found covered in a plastic bag, and his son was found next to an open gas can, soaked in chemicals. Jorge claims that he had wanted to commit suicide by burning himself at the gas station. He had also claimed that his sons head was on his lap, and that is the reason why he is burnt. When his son was taken to the hospital, it was discovered that the boy had been covered in such intense chemicals, that he had caused the staff who had taken care of him to become ill as well. 
    The reporters are finding it hard to believe that Jorge feels remorse for what he has done. The fact that he claims to have wanting to commit suicide due to his acts does not have a high chance of being considered as believable. Because of what he has done, Jorge is most likely to be sentenced and has to pay for what he has done. When the children had been given a chance to speak out, they had reported that they have been abused several times by their father. The act of locking them in the restroom for long periods of time and covering them with tape is proof that Jorge is not surprised and does not feel as bad for what he has now done. 

The Scarlet Letter (Favorite Part)

     The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorn, is a book filled with several enticing scenes which one can call their "favorite". My favorite part of the book would probably be whenever Dimsdale carves a letter "A" on his chest. To me, this is a very interesting scene, because the reader does not expect someone to be taken over by guilt as much as Dimsdale had. At this point, it is shown that Dimsdale cannot handle hiding his secret, and because of that, he is struggling from pressure. 

     Chillingworth is also the cause of Dimsdale's suffering. Dimsdale thinks that Chillingworth is helping him with his illness, but instead, Chillingworth is keeping him alive to torture him even more. This shows that in reality, Chillingworth is a worse sinner than Dimsdale. I also found it interesting when Chillingworth figured out who Dimsdale really was, and what was going on. The thought of him staring at Hester with a smirk lets the reader know that he is sending a message to Hester, and that he was aware of everything. 

News Article #6

     The following information can be found on CNN. The article was written by Masoud Popalzai. An Afghan woman with the last name of Gulnaz had the choice of either staying home or being sentenced to jail after she had been raped by a family relative. The rapist, or the attacker, was her cousin's husband. Because she had not reported her attack immediately, she has to face the consequence of being sentenced in jail for twelve years. I had found this article interesting because it is a form of adultery, which we are also familiar with in the book The Scarlet Letter.
     Gulnaz now has to face the struggle of raising her child in jail. Another similarity between Gulnaz and Hester from The Scarlet Letter is that they both are being "shunned" from society. They are both being looked down upon. Gulnaz can choose if she would like to marry the "father" of the child so she will not go to jail, but she refuses to do so. The president's spokesman said, "If Gulnaz tells the justice minister today that she would marry the man and wouldn't have any problem after release or if she presents any other way that she could live without any risk to her life and her daughter's, then the Justice Ministry will issue a statement today announcing her release." 

Scarlet Letter

     The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, has several examples from the Romantic Era. For instance, " The rust on the ponderous iron-work of its oaken door looked more antique than any thing else in the new world. Like all that pertains to crime, it seemed never to have known a youthful era" (Hawthorne 41).  The prison door is grayish black, has spikes, and is described as old and ugly. It is expected that such a door would portray the same characteristics as the person behind the prison doors.
      "The penalty thereof is death. But, in their great mercy and tenderness of heart, they have doomed Mistress Prynne to stand only a space of three hours on the platform of the pillory, and ten and thereafter, for the remainder of her natural life, to wear a mark of shame upon her bosom" (Hawthorne 54). Hester had been punished for her sin and was forced to stand on the platform for several hours in front of an audience. She also had to wear a Gothic scarlet letter "A" on her bosom. This portrays the Romantic Era and its darkness due to the punishment of having to be stared at.