Tuesday, August 19, 2014

MY OPINION ISN'T (A) RIGHT
 
 
I guess I don't really don't get to say I have a right to my own opinion anymore when I'm losing an argument. I've been exposed. The author of the article has a great point and it is about time someone said it. To many people have been using that phrase to get away from the fact they have no idea what they are talking about. Well, if people actually presented facts, like my classmates did on Friday, I feel like the world would be a much better place for argument's sake. A couple examples of your own opinion not being a right, especially the man crossing the rode in England and looking left first instead of right, really got ahold of my attention and made me question the idea of the right to my own opinion.  

Monday, August 18, 2014

Reflections on week 1
 
1. There is nothing to keep me from being involved in this class. I have a computer, a smart phone, and I'm ready to learn.
 
2. A learning experience that changed me was in middle school on the first day when my teacher told us to raise our hands when we had the answer or else. Raising my hand was imprinted in my brain because I did not want to learn what "or else" meant.
 
3. I'm excited to learn a different way of thinking, and I think that I will be able to look at the world from a more intellectual aspect.  
Vocabulary #1
 
 
1. Adumbrate- sketchily indicate something: to give an incomplete or faint outline or indication of something
 
The man in the hospital was adumbrating the man who attacked him, in fear of being hunted down by his assailant for giving the police his identity.
 
2. Apotheosis- the glorification of a subject to divine level
 
 
The Japanese's people apotheosis of their emperor in the past was at such a high level that only a select few people were allowed to here his voice.
 
 
3. Ascetic- a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.
 
The ascetic Buddhist Monks have been reported to have used self-immolation to protest.
 
4. Bauble- a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw
 
My aunt gave me a bauble of a gift for my car when I passed my driving test.
 
5. Beguile- charm somebody: to win and hold somebody's attention, interest, or devotion
 
A lot of students attempt to beguile their teachers in order to get on there good sides.
 
6. Burgeon- produce new growth: to produce new buds and leaves, or swell and develop into leaves and flowers
 
The rose bush burgeoned at the beginning of spring.
 
7. Complement- completing part: something that completes or perfects something else
 
The cinnamon complemented my banana nut muffins so well that I won the blue ribbon in the dessert contest.
 
8. Contumacious- very resistant to authority: flagrantly disobedient or rebellious
 
The contumacious black panthers of the 1950's fought for there right to equal rights.
 
9. Curmudgeon- somebody who is irritable or stubborn: somebody considered to be bad-tempered, disagreeable, or stubborn 
 
My little cousin is so curmudgeon that my aunt has to make him sit at the table for hours until he eats his dinner. 
 
10. Didactic- with message: containing a political or moral message
 
In every novel that has been published, there is some form of didactic. 
 
11. Disingenuous- withholding information: withholding or not taking account of known information
 
The disingenuous drug dealer would not tell the police who his supplier is.
 
12. Exculpate- prove somebody innocent: to free somebody from blame or accusation of guilt
 
Walter White tried to exculpate one of his drug dealers so he wouldn't give the police his name.
 
13. Faux Pas- social blunder: an embarrassing mistake that breaks a social convention
 
Bill unknowingly created a faux pas when he threw up on the dance floor at prom. 
 
14. Fulminate- speak scathingly: to express forceful criticism of somebody or something

Simon was very fulminate when reviewed the hopeful singer on America's Got Talent.

15. Fustian- bombastic: written or spoken with pretentiousness or pomposity

The hipster talked about his prius with great fustianism.

16. Hauteur- haughtiness: a haughty manner, feeling, or quality

The hauteur mechanic described the problem to the woman unneeded rudeness.

17. Inhibit- hold something in check: to stop something from continuing or developing

The American Army inhibited the Nazis from taking over Britain on D-Day.

18. Jeremiad- lengthy complaint: a long recitation of mournful complaints

My brother jeremiad about his old math teacher for always giving him extra homework on weekends.

19. Opportunist- unprincipled resourceful person: somebody who takes advantage of something, especially somebody who does so in a devious, unscrupulous, or unprincipled way

The opportunistic young man made a skateboard out of materials he found because he couldn't afford his own.

20. Unconscionable- morally unacceptable: shocking and morally unacceptable

The idea of gay marriage is so unconscionable to most religions that people of many faith choose to protest in the streets and send gay couples hate mail.  


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Essay #1
 
         In the book "The Odyssey" by Homer, the main character, Odysseus, is subject to several tests of strength and endurance as he attempts to return home to his loving wife, Penelope. It took 10 long years for the Greek hero to return home from the successful attack on Troy.  After fighting his way through several mythical monsters, he finally returns home and claims his wife.
 
          Odysseus showed the millions that read "The Odyssey" that no matter how long it takes and no matter the danger, there is no substitute for being with loved ones. Odysseus had a couple of opportunities to stay and settle for the place he was comfortable with, but he did no such thing because all he wanted was to see his wife. his struggle revealed the plot of the story to the audience: never give up. Many of us can agree that everyone has been in a situation where to be happy they must put in the effort to be happy.
 
         "The Odyssey", to me, greatly represents any given class I've ever taken. Meaning that to get the good grade I want, there are always barriers in the way such as homework and tests. As you get farther and farther into the story, it reveals the true meaning, the pursuit of happiness.
 

Poetry #1
 
 
1. Charles Bukowski's "The Laughing Heart"
 
2. The Poem speaks of light at the end of the tunnel, but when it comes down to it, there is little to no light for the factory workers sewing the Levis together.
 
3. the Poem does go along with the majority of his writings because he addressed the lives of poor Americans, showing them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
 
4. For the first question I googled a line from the from the poem. For the third question, I looked up his name and read his biography on Wikipedia.