grace carcot

For project number 2 I plan on writing about the topic Choose one short story or novel excerpt. Write a piece in which you explore the following: In what ways could this story be considered an artifact of history? What does this story teach us about history? How does a story teach us about a time or place differently than a history book? And I am going to choose the writing The Land of the Free by Edith Maud Eaton. I really enjoyed reading this story so I think further discussing it will be good. The Land of the free by Edith Eaton tells a personal emotional story of a family and the struggles they face in different times of history and while their own personal story is creating and reflecting history. This story discusses different sides of discrimination and the process of crossing borders and having to go through customs sometimes resulting in the separation of families which is common in history today and has been a part of history in the past. I will go about this by first identif...

I have backed up my blog and looked through all of the announcements so I am caught up on all the information I may need to know. I also looked on canvas to take stock of where I am with grades and assignments and I still feel good about where I am in the class and I am excited to see where I go.

This week the reading went well, they were not really ones that I enjoyed to read but they went well. What struck me the most in the readings was that they were focused on characters and character development through the plot of the story. I think identifying the different themes in the story was hard for me to do and a lot more analyzing had to be done to do so. My best writing this week came from a different class I learned some new things that I think will back me a better writer. I read some other pretty good writings this week. Things in the class are going fine for me but school, in general, has been stressful these past few weeks but I have been able to connect some writing techniques from this class with others. This next week we are on spring break so I am looking forward to a break for me to recharge and do my best for the rest of the year.

In the story The First Oyster by M.F.K Fisher she recounts memories and experience of a time when she was at school and the experiences she had. Mrs. Cheever is the main character in the story and her characterization is brought upon by different events occurring throughout her life, going through experiences to change her as a person. Mrs. Cheever seems to be the powerhouse and almost superior to the other members at the school and she is looked upon by many. SHe can also be viewed as a Latin snob by many but her positive qualities and character traits overpower the negative. Point of view can change the way one reads and interprets this story if it was told by someone else and the knowledge background information of the person and story was different the way Mrs. CHeever is viewed I think would be different.

I feel good about my progress in the class and I used the grade chart to see that I have an A in the class with really 6 extra points which put me at ease. The class assignments I enjoy the most are reading notes, I know the structure of them and I am confident in doing them. I have been doing some of the extra credit options to add up some extra points to create a buffer over time. Looking forward I do not see changes that need to be made for me in the class. I need to keep up my participation and I look forward to continuing to work hard.

I read From the Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. It seems as though the character Spade is being stocked by a young youth character after a day of work. Not much context is given about what is occurring between two of the main characters, one can infer though that some sort of detective or undercover deal/operation is happening. The story gives off a suspenseful, eerie feel leaving the reading to want and continue to read and see what occurs next. A female character is then introduced and seems to be someone she is not, maybe working for these men. It is through the different characters in the story that the plot moves along, the literary device of character, setting, and plot all play a major role in forming the story the way it is.

I read the article https://www.rootsofaction.com/growth-mindset-fuels-creativity/ which discusses how a growth mindset fuels creativity in youth. I took away from the article that from the begin at a young age you can not have the mentality that you can not do something or you are not good enough, etc. We can be most creative during our youth with so many ideas flying through our mind, and what if everyone starting from such a young age had the mentality of a growth mindset and never stopped trying. But rather used those ideas, and failures to learn from and grow from. Having a growth mindset mentality from a young age will transfer into adulthood and set one up for success.

This week. has gone well for me so far in this class. What stuck to me most about the reading s this week is the idea of character development and different themes in a story to portray a message. The characters in this weeks reading seem to be so brave and strong-willed, able to get through very difficult situations. The tone was used throughout the story to leave the reader able to feel different emotions and be connected to the story. I think other peoples writings this week have been pretty well done with good detail. Overall, I think I have really gotten a hang off coming up with a good schedule for each week and staying on tome of everything which I am happy about.

The more I review how far I have long in the class the better I feel about it. I am sure that now I am up to date on backing up up my blog post and I have taken stock of where I am in the class. I have read all of the announcements that have been posted and I am on track.

The poem Anonymous Chinese Immigrants from an anonymous writer is composed of different messages and themes in each stanza making each one unique in its own way.  I am going to do a close reading on stanza 2 which seems like a story of the personal experience of someone coming to the U.S with a reminder that life is to short while expressing emotions and thoughts during that time. This stanza seems to be written about someone who has a positive but yet realistic outlook on life and more so talks about how fast life can go by. This section of the poem seems to be its own idea in and of itself with none of the other stanzas talking or supporting it, yet all the different stanzas can still twine together, so stanza number two is able to function on its own and does not rely on different parts of the text. After annotating and analyzing the text I took away a few more things such as: while getting across information about growing old and how fast time can go by it is done with such b...

The first topic I may want to use for my project is: Choose one short story or novel excerpt. Write a piece in which you explore the following: In what ways could this story be considered an artifact of history? What does this story teach us about history? How does a story teach us about a time or place differently than a history book? This project topic is interesting to me because I think events big or small can play a lasting impression and part in history. Personal events and happenings can also play a role and reflect different times in history and history that will never be forgotten. Depending on the story I choose to go with this topic I will most likely have previous knowledge on what has happened to make history and how that ties into the story. I hope to learn through this assignment that even the smallest events or biggest events in someone's life can be a part of history even a history that is just their own. From doing the project I have learned that not having a basi...

1. The reading and writing assignments are going well for me. My favorite reading and writing I have done so far would probably my reading notes and analysis post about the story The Land of The Free. I would say the reading notes are helping me with my story and analysis post, it allows me to gather an overall understanding of the text and become familiar with it before I jump into analyzing and digging deeper. I think it is important to reread the story multiple times without a biased view of the story, to begin with. I am pretty happy with my project one, at first I was confident in my writing but then when revisions came around I was not as happy with it but I know how I can improve in the future so that is a plus. My biggest accomplishment in my writing this far would really just be how much I am writing. Writing has never been a strong suit of mine so being able to write so much every week has definitely made me a better writer so far I believe. 2. Looking back  I think I ha...

The writing by Robinson Jeffers is composed of 6 short stories all relying on their own themes and messages. Jeffers worth a short text called Continents Ends that really stuck out to be because of the vivid imagery I had while I read it. Imagery and different parts of nature are expressed through the author's word choice. The use of words like: “ soft and violent wear”,  “ wet poppies awaiting spring” and “the ocean swelled for a far storm” ( 408 Jeffers) painted a beautiful picture in my head of a sea and while it was stormy it still seemed calming and wet poppies awaiting spring show that there are new beginnings and beautiful things amount the storm. Jeffers also discusses the relationship between a mother and child and compares that relationship to the moon, stars, sky, and sea. People are also seen as being watched by the earth and parts of nature seem to reflect people’s actions and events in life.

Each stanza from the poem Anonymous Chinese Immigrants from an anonymous writer is composed of different messages but yet all the messages together moving along smoothly for the reader. To begin with, Stanza 1 from the poem anonymous Chinese immigrants stuck out to me and has a bold message behind it. Talking about immigration and different feelings and events associating with people immigrating “from ancient times, heroes often were the ones to first face diversity” ( 354 unknown).  To think that many of the heroes knew they would face diversity but yet they still acted as heroes and potentially take the adversity away from others so they do not have to face it, being true heroes. In addition, to think of the pain and fear associated with immigrating and the unknown most of been daunting but yet you needed to be strong enough to push through those difficult times. The tone in this poem is mainly full of sorrow, sadness and the reality of difficult times. The message and story are...

This week I enjoyed reading all of the readings and I thought the message and themes behind the were very good as well. What struck me the most was the theme of racism and discrimination in all the readings I wrote about, which I think is a theme that needs to be discussed so enjoyed reading different stories and what really needs to be done about it.

In the taking stock assignment, I was able to see where I am in the class through the announcements made. There was an announcement showing how many points I should have going into week seven and I was able to notice that I still need to make up a few points so I feel good about knowing what else I need to accomplish.

In the story The Land of the Free by Edith Maud Eaton it is  through the characters experiencing the theme of discrimination and fear that they then reflect the greater theme of love and sacrifice. The literary element I have chosen being characters in this story play a major role in the plot. The 3 main characters being: The little one, Lao Choo and Hom Hing his parents have a very special bond with one another. These individuals have the characteristics of being brave, strong-willed, loving and inseparable staying this way through the very difficult challenges they face of being separated from one another against their will. This family is faced with the worst fear many parents have, being separated from their child and through that time they did not give up, they fought so hard to be reunited to their little one, having unconditional love toward their child. The parents continued to fight until they got their papers to be reunited to their little one. Once they got the papers ...

I read Langston Hughes writing of “Hollywood Mammy” I  have gathered that it highlights how Hollywood films and the film industry has a lot of racism and discrimination stereotyping. The sole actor a woman, who is to reflects a black stereotypical mammy. The black mammy is portraying someone she actually is not and has a different personality on to gain acceptance, an idea from the producers. She uses the audience to realize she is playing the role of someone she really is not which is what the Hollywood producers of the production wanted her to achieve. Langston Hughes uses Hollywood mammy to expose the racial stereotyping often times used in Hollywood films. Hughes Langston, Hollywood Mammy

The relationship between the setting and character development in the story Coyote Cooks His Daughter written by Jack Hicks is very important. Without both elements developing and moving along as these concepts do in most stories, the plot would not function the way it should. The setting in the story is the reasoning and motivation behind the protagonist who is the Father Coyote’s actions which influence his inner being.  The Literature of California book written by Jack Hicks discusses the Indian customs and beliefs that reflect the story of Coyote Cooks His Daughter. According to Jack Hicks, coyote stories were often told because of the broad appeal, shock and surprise they deliver to the reader. The relationship between a character and its setting can be both a good and bad bond until things took a turn for the worse in the story Coyote Cooks His Daughter. The setting and character in the story have a cause and effect relationship, the two devices depend on each other but it ...

The story In the Land of the Free by  Edith Maud  Eaton focuses in on the child-parent relationship and the strong bond and emotions their relationship evokes. The use of imagery and emotions evoked in the story create a very personal story for the readers. The character, The little one who is the child of Lao Choo and Hom Hing are faced with many challenges while trying to bring their little one into the states. It is through the turmoil this family endures that test their strengths and shows that unique bond of child and parent leaving the readers with emotions many of us can resonate with. The mother and father of the little one have a very difficult time of the separation between their child and to think of the emotional pain they were in is unimaginable“ what it is to miss the feel of the little fingers and the little toes and the soft round limbs of your little ones” (Eaton 324). Many parents have and still do go through similar situations like this, being separated fr...

The relationship between the setting and character development in the story Coyote Cooks His Daughter written by Jack Hicks is very important. Without both elements developing and moving along as these concepts do in most stories, the plot would not function the way it should. The setting in the story is the reasoning and motivation behind the protagonist who is the Father Coyote’s actions which influence his inner being.  The Literature of California book written by Jack Hicks discusses the Indian customs and beliefs that reflect the story of Coyote Cooks His Daughter . According to Jack Hicks, coyote stories were often told because of the broad appeal, shock and surprise they deliver to the reader. The relationship between a character and its setting can be both a good and bad bond until things took a turn for the worse in the story Coyote Cooks His Daughter. The setting and character in the story have a cause and effect relationship, the two devices depend on each other but it...

In completing the taking stock extra credit assignment I have found that I am in a pretty good spot in the class. I completed the backup and read through all of the announcements so I am up to date on all the information. I also found that I am up to date on my declarations but need to keep up on doing a few extra credit assignments each to make up some missed points other than that I feel good about taking stock in where I am in the class.

 I have chosen to do a close reading on the poem Beyond the Breakers by George Sterling. “The Breakers rose before me where the hard, wet sands were grey- Each in its colored robe, fronting the new-born day; The singing waves of the sea, clean beyond all of clean, Beautiful, swift, alive, undulant, apple-green.” (Sterling 208) This poem and more so this paragraph from it brings emotions to the reader of peace, comfort, and the cleanliness of a new start just like the waves of the ocean. I was drawn into these passages because of the use of unique language and the imagery it brought along, as well as the different emotions I felt and could feel through the author's words while reading his poem. I picked apart this paragraph and found out what he is talking about in each sentence and the emotions it brings forth. He begins by talking about the breaker which are a heavy wave in the sea that breaks into white foam at the shore. I can picture Sterling standing, looking out into the...

I read and explored about feedback in the article giving creative feedback. After reading this article I got confirmation that when giving feedback you need to ask probing questions to what you are reading which will help yourself and the writer. One thing I have learned after reading the article is that where my attention is caught on those first, second and third things or if it not caught on anything at all can mean a lot about the reading. I am now curious and something that I want to explore more is when giving feedback I need to put aside my initial reaction and to not let my own bias get in the way of what I am reading and I can practice this in the next time I give feedback. https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/giving-creative-feedback-–-guide

George Sterling's poem Beyond the Breakers talks about the different characteristics and feelings associated with that of the ocean. Being someone who loves nature and loves the ocean I really enjoyed reading this text. As I read it I felt calm, at ease and I could picture every word that was said like as if I was a character in the story. With that, I think the author, George Sterling did a great job with the use of imagery being able to paint a picture of what he wrote into the reader's' mind. The calmness and tranquility of the ocean can be summarized from a few lines of his poem " The singing waves of the sea, clean beyond all of clean" ( Sterling). The author points out the pureness of the ocean, the waves coming into shore are described as singing and the ocean is the cleanest of anything, with each new wave coming in bring cleanliness. I can picture myself sitting on the beach seeing and hearing each wave come crashing in bringing peace and calm among me. ...

William Nauns Rick poem The Coming Night creates very vivid imagery for its reader with the use of very descriptive words. Author William Rick talks about the coming of the morning to night and the different parts of nature doing so. Imagery is evidently the most used literary analysis device with William Rick using descriptive words of animals preparing for the night as well as the sky and sea. Animals prepare for a night in a few ways written by the author " cattle down the hillside", "cooling doves and mates in pride" and " Seagulls fly with curving measured sweep" (Ricks). Rick discusses the animal's way to go prepare for sleep and the night. I believe the author discusses the way the world prepares for sleep to give a sense of ease to the reader and which is what I felt while reading his poem. The way the author describes how the earth and different parts of nature as the sun and sky prepare for the day to end is very calming and beautiful to read...