WHY THIS BOOK?

I was looking through the stack of books at my house and I could not choose a book. I was afraid I would choose something boring and then have to finish it even if i did not want to. I picked up "The Invisible Man" by H.G. Wells and I remember thinking "hey Ana had to read this as summer homework in high school." I still remember asking her what the book was about as a child. She then went on to explain to little Erica what "The Invisible Man" was about and why his head was missing on the  front cover.  After reminiscing on those good times I decided I too would read it.

Vocabulary #2 Definitions + Sentences

1. accoutrements: personal clothing, accessories

I told Ana that Kim wanted cute and colorful accoutrements for her birthday.

2. apogee: the highest or most distant point, climax

The apogee of “Pride and Prejudice” is when Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth.

3. apropos: fitting, at the right time

Everything was going just smoothly and apropos until Tim had to ruin it and come late.

4. bicker: to engage in a querulous argument

My parents really get angry when my siblings and I bicker about lame things.

5. coalesce: to grow together or into one body

When people get married I like to think that they become coalesce.

6. contretemps: inopportune occurrence, embarrassing moment

I have a list of contretemps, but the worst was when I accidently wore my brother’s pants.

7. convolution: coiled condition, twist

When designing the ring the jeweler had to convolute the steel.

8. cull: to choose, select, pick

Kim culled Ana to be on her soccer team.

9. disparate: distinct in kind, essentially different

Although they have disparate minds they found a way to come up with only one conclusion.

10. dogmatic: pertaining to, inflexible

Tim thought his idea was so great and dogmatic that he stared down anyone with any oppositions of any kind.

11. licentious: libertine, unrestrained

I always tend to question if licentious people have strict morals.

12. mete: to distribute, apportion

I’d rather have a teacher that metes his attention to each student than to have a teacher with favorites.

13. noxious: harmful to physical/well being

Drugs and alcohol are noxious.

14. polemic: a controversial argument, as one against some opinion

The topic of abortion has become pretty polemic throughout the years.

15. populous: heavily populated

China is a populous place.

16. probity: honesty, uprightness

In my opinion Probity is the best policy.

17. repartee: quick witty reply

Erin answered his mom with a repartee after she threatened to take his electronics if he didn’t clean his room.

18. supervene: implied event or action, to take place as something additional

The Mariachi was a big surprise and supervene at the party.

19. truncate: to shorten, cut short

Students are often looking to truncate any assignment or process.

20. unimpeachable: impeccable, impossible to discredit, entirely trustworthy

I refuse to consider the dictionary as an unimpeachable source because there is so many of them. 

Beowulf Questions/Answers

Person 1: Erica

Questions: Prologue- The fight with Grendel  (10Q)           

[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]

1)Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?

The unusual thing about Shield’s journey to become a ruler was that he came from humble beginning. He was not wanted by is parents. Despite all of the neglect in his early years he became a ruler. For his funeral he was put on a boat in which he had many treasures and material goods. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that they are family.

[Heorot is Attacked]

1)What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?

Hrothgar built the Heorot hall. Grendel the monster attacked it and attacks/kills thirty men. The attacks last for 12 years. That is also the amount of year Danes residents are in fear. 

[The Hero Comes to Heorot]

1)What does Beowulf do when he hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel?

Beowulf decides to take action and help. He takes 14 of his toughest men and they all sail to Danes to stop Grendel from doing more harm.

2)Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?

The Geats first met a guard whom questions them about their arrival and purpose to be in that town. They respond that they come to help kill Grendel.

       3)They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?

Herald (Wiglaf) is a kind of watchman/messanger. He interrogates the Geats, and after he knows there purpose for being there he tells Hrothgar about them. Hrothgar is pleased to have them help.

4)What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?

Beowulf brags about himself and say he will be able to kill Grendel very easily. Hrothgar helps Beowulf’s dad with some issues.

[Feast at Heorot]                       

1)What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of? How does Beowulf answer him? How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? What does Beowulf accuse Unferth of?

Unferth doubts Beowulf’s accomplishments. Beowulf says his accomplishments loud and proud. He also accuses Unferth of killing his brothers. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because Beowulf’s confident and honor is present. Beowulf is ready to protect his reputation through out the whole poem.

2)What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?

She is being flirty welcoming to the Geats.

[The Fight with Grendel]

1)Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?

Beowulf is actually very nervous before the battle yet he refuses to wear armor.

2)What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?

When Grendel enters Heorot the hall shakes and rings. Beowulf and Grendal fight in the hall. They battle across the floor and in every direction. When Grendal tries to escape he is powerless. He manages to escape wounded, and expected to die soon. Grendal leaves his arm, claw and shoulder behind.

Beowulf Comp. Question Team Work

*Only the work assigned to that person will be posted on their blog

Person 1: Erica Marquez

Questions: Prologue- The fight with Grendel  (10Q)           

Person 2: Marisol Duarte

Questions: Celebration at Heorot- Another attack

Do question 6 from Beowulf’s funeral  (10Q)

Person 3: Maria Luna

Questions: Beowulf Fights Grendel’s mother- Further Celebration at Heorot (11Q)

Person 4: Elisia Estrada

Questions: Beowulf returns home- The dragon wakes up to question 5 (10Q)

Person 5: Vanessa Vargas

Questions: The dragon wakes question 6 –Beowulf’s funeral up to question 5 (11Q)

MY OPINION ISN'T (A) RIGHT

Notes:

*During class:

-Interdependence: dependent of others and society
-Limbic: part if your brain that governs feelings
-schema: routines or structure we use to make sense of the world

- "Fiction is the lie that tells the truth."

*Before discussion/on my own time:

-inquiry: asking for info.
-legal action: one party vs the other
-delusion: firm impression that is contradicted
-presumptuous: failing to observe limits on what is permitted
-preempt: prevent, to stall
-epistemic:referring to knowledge
-egregious: remarkably good, shocking
-Zionist Conspiracy: controversy between Jews and others about Jerusalem the promise land.

Questions to think about:

-Why can't opinions be respected and simply be left alone?

-"The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights" article 19 states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." What is it that the united nations mean by this? How is it similar or different to what the article states?

Reflections On Week 1

1. Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class? Access to a computer?  Mobile/smart phone?  Transportation?  Friends/family? Schedule?

*Fortunately there are no factors that I could think of that will affect my learning experience in this class.

2. Think of an awesome best ever learning experience that changed you. What did you learn? Where were you? What happened? Who else was there? Did it teach you anything about how you learn (or pay attention... or remember, or think?) How did you know what was happening? 

*This summer I got to participate in a seminar called YCS (Youth Citizenship Seminar) at Pepperdine University with two hundred and forty nine other students. It was an awesome experience because after the five day completion I was truly in awe. I learned to believe in myself once more, to count myself as one of the “smart” kids and not be intimidated by others intelligence, but to feed off of it instead. All of the speakers at the Seminar really made me appreciate the country I live in and the family I have. I learned so much about myself and others. I learned that I learn better when I am collaborating and sharing ideas with others. Two brains are better than one. I knew I was learning because everything that came out of a speakers mouth made me think. It made me think, deeply and thoroughly about what they were saying.

3. What are you most [excited/concerned] about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning?  How do you think it can/will make a practical difference in your life?

*I am most exited about academically interacting with my peers. I am looking forward to feeding off of my peers’ knowledge and to gain more myself. I know this class will make a difference in my life because it is like any other. In this class the student takes responsibility for speaking up and voicing their opinion, which is what learning is all about. If anything I am definitely going to be exercising my brain in this class.

Voc. #1

1. Adumbrate: to foreshadow vaguely

Most novels do not give you the whole picture in one page, but adumbrate throughout it.

2. Apotheosis: elevation to divine status

In Mushu’s family his younger sister Ari is seen as the apotheosis of the family.

3. Ascetic: severe self-discipline

In order to accomplish anything in life a person must have an ascetic point of view.

4. Bauble: something of no importance or worth

Mrs. Reed told me that all of the subjects in school were bauble except for art.

5. Beguile: to lead by deception

Many Catholics believe that the devil beguiles people into doing wrong.

6. Burgeon: to send forth new growth/bloom/sprout

Other peoples ideas really allow my mind to wander and burgeon.

7. Complement: something that fills up, completes

Peanut butter and jelly are what complements bread.

8. Contumacious: stubbornly disobedient, rebellious

Teens are always the first to act contumacious against anybody who questions their power.

9. Curmudgeon: miser

I tried to be nice to the old man, but he was just so curmudgeon that it seemed impossible.

10. Didactic: designed or intended to teach

Today in child development we participated in a quick didactic, using pictures and the text to try to understand the material better.

11. Disingenuous: lacking candor, frankness. False appearance

I really like the class, but I have a hard time coping with Mr. Wing’s disingenuous personality.

12. Exculpate: to clear from fault

John was exculpated when he apologized to Timmy for pushing him down the slide.

13. Faux pas: blunder

It really bugs me when I make a faux pas on an arithmetic problem.

14. Fulminate: express protest

If I get angry at something do not expect me to sit still with out trying to fumigate a debate first.

15. Fustian: strong cotton durable cloth

All of the laundry detergents promise their buyers fustian clothes, but I refuse to believe them.

16. Hauteur: arrogance, haughtiness  

Based on the way she acted today I would say she is quite the hauteur person.

17. Inhibit: restrain

If it was possible I would have inhibited him from smoking at all.

18. Jeremiad: long mournful complain

I hate it when I am having a good day and some one ruins it by having a big jeremiad.

19. Opportunist: person who takes advantage of all his opportunities

Opportunist are probably the most successful people due to the fact that they waste no time in taking advantage of things.

20. Unconscionable: unreasonable, not controlled by conscience

There are some diseases  that are unconscionable, but many have a scientific background tied to them.