Close Reading (9/23)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-f-will-americas-voters-treated-like-children/2012/09/19/8d2f15e4-0277-11e2-8102-ebee9c66e190_story.html

Why Not Treat Voters Like Grown-Ups?

Diction: “In every year divisible by four, the dominant superstition of American politics—faith in the magic of presidential words and deeds…” The words dominant superstition and magic leads one to think of make believe. This is a form of satire because it shows the ridiculousness of the campaigns in how they go to extreme measures to support or oppose a given candidate. The word choice of narcissism in “…reaches an apogee that fees national narcissism…” gives insight into how we as Americans act. We feel that the president’s actions are attributed to everything happening in the world. This makes me wonder, are we concerned with the president’s policies? Or rather are we concerned with tearing down or building up the candidates?

Figurative language: “Romney called this the fruit of administration weakness…” In this quote, Romney’s use of the phrase “fruit of administration” is figurative language. The word fruit has a connotation of planting a seed, and nurturing the plant until it has grown and become stable to live on its own. When Romney paired fruit with administration he created an idea of Obama’s foreign policy being weak, thus enabling terrorist attacks. The administration is weak like a seed and allows for terrorist attacks to become bigger and more frequent like maturing fruit.

Imagery: When the author says, “It would require precise intellectual calipers to gauge which idea is silliest.” the choice of calipers brings to mind a precise measuring tool to measure a minute level of truth. This adds to the sarcasm of the editorial as the author opinionates how Romney and Obama argue over whose fault it was that the terrorists attacked us.

Diction: “None of the people involved-some cunning, some deranged—take their cues from utterances by America’s president.” The author chose the words cunning and deranged as means to describe the people involved in the attacks. This strengthens the author’s opinion that the real cause of the attacks is not the failed foreign policy, nor is it the video, instead it stems from power struggles.

Imagery: “Childlike credulity about the presidents’ abilities to subdue turbulent portions of the world by projecting “strength,” or to “manage” the domestic economy, encourages political infantilism.” Tying Americans’ thought process of how if we are strong as a nation then the world will be filled with peace to a childlike credulity creates and image in the reader mind of a simple minded individual without keen intellect powers. While reading this I found myself asking why are we so simple minded? Perhaps it is because it requires too much thought and will provide truth that we care not to know.

Figurative Language: The word erogenous is expanded on by the phrases “’which presidential candidate “would you prefer to have take care of you if you were sick” and which “would you rather invite to dinner at your home”’. The public follows their feelings not rational thought.

Imagery: ‘“Tell me you trouble,” urged President Franklin Roosevelt in a broadcast fireside chat. But the idea of the president as consoler in chief and mast of the bedside manner was unique to FDR...”’ This paints a picture in my head of a grandfather sitting next to me and reading a book to me in bed. However, FDR was no grandfather, he was an aristocrat. Furthering this idea the reader is asked to “imagine, if you can, wanting Dwight Eisenhower at your bedside.” The idea is absurd; the image created is based on false pretenses to appeal to the public. The author is again saying that the people are responding in a childlike manner to candidates.

Diction: “Someday, someone is going to seek the presidency by demystifying it. Many voters will be astonished by, and even be grateful for, the novelty of being addressed as adults”. The word demystifying connects back to the beginning of the article when the author says the presidency is magical. He shows that there is nothing magical about the presidency in fact it is just how we perceive what the president is capable of doing abroad and at home.

Open Prompt (9/16)

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

                In “Gentlemen and Players” by Joanne Harris, the story revolves around St. Oswald’s, a private school for boys.  In this society males of wealth with family backgrounds worth mentioning are held in esteem, the definition of the privileged class.  The distinction between classes is perpetuated through the establishment of prestigious schools.  Even though girls are present in the wealthy families, it still is the males who take preference, even in 20^th century England.  In the still present male dominated society, females of lower wealth stand little chance for achievement. 

                The narrator, Julia, lives on the campus with her father, a janitor at St. Oswald.  Her father desires wealth and position in society which he has no means to achieve, thus he turns to alcohol and is abusive toward Julia.  Chastising her for not being more like himself, he wishes that Julia had been a boy.   Looking at her own life in contrast to the privileged boys, she wishes she could be a part of that society.  She sees the opportunity they have compared to what little chance she has in life.  However, once she trespasses into the society posing as a boy she finds her presence unwelcome.  Angered by the rejection and seemingly by the forces preventing her from overcoming her status in life, she seeks revenge. 

                In response to the hurt caused by the people and society, Julia enters St. Oswald as a (female) teacher.  She contrives a plan to ruin St. Oswald, a representative of the societal standards.  She sees the school as a continuation of her pain as it prevented her from achieving her own ambitions.  Due to the school’s choice in who can attend, Julia never is able to become a member of the elite class.  Through a scandal and murders she tries achieving her objective; however, she stops short once her plan is discovered, only to resume it in later years.

Responses to Course Material (9/9)

Taking the Diagnostics Test and working through multiple choice questions gave me an idea of what I need to work on:  interpreting poems, analyzing works of literature, memorizing poetry terms.  The recommendations on how to read poems more effectively were good starters for me when doing the forums assignment.  I applied the techniques by first reading for the layout, then reading sentence by sentence while defining unknown words, and finally rereading carefully to begin analyzing. 

 Although Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor is directed toward analyzing stories, it was a reminder to look for symbols.  Foster asks the question “…what does it mean, what does it stand for?”(97.  Especially in “Mexican’s Begin Jogging” this question was useful as I found a lot of symbolism.  Directing my attention to one aspect of a poem helped me understand its meaning.  Following the recommendations and only focusing on one aspect of a poem is my goal for learning to analyze poems.

 Working through the Foster Presentation taught me to be more observant in regard to reading a piece of literature or watching a film.  While reading  How to Read Literature Like a Professor, I remembered books I have read and movies I have watched, and I was able to relate Foster’s ideas to them.  For example, when I read The Jungle I wondered why Jurgis’ life was filled with turmoil, especially when his son drowns in the flooded street.  Then when I read what Foster said, “…violence is a symbolic action” (91), I realized his son’s death symbolizes all the immigrants’ hopelessness when they come to America.  They have no control over their lives, just as Jurgis’ son didn’t when he was drowning.  There is a greater force that is directing them. 

Even though it seems as if Harvey’s, The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing, tells us what we already know, I found it to be interesting and beneficial.  I’m trying to follow the advice given, such as being concise, making sure the piece flows and stating its point clearly.  This connects to the three presentations that we took notes on.  I found that applying Harvey’s ideas, the ideas pertaining to the rhetorical situation, and how to write an argument all fit in to writing a good AP essay on the exam.