VOC. #3

*Apostate: a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.

When students go off to college they tend to apostate many things in order to try to find themselves.

*Effusive: pouring out; overflowing

I was overwhelmed by her effusive attitude when telling us about her past.

*Impasse: a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

He found himself in complete impasse when put between his wife and mom.

*Euphoria: a state of intense happiness and self-confidence

I never thought Sarah would be in a state of Euphoria after her many rehab treatments.

*Lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner

Mike narrated the story in such a lugubrious way that I everyone in the audience cried.

*Bravado: a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.

Men usually have this sense of bravado to them.

*Consensus: majority of opinion

My mother and I came to a consensus that instead of arguing with each other we would talk things out.

*Dichotomy: division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.

The Holy Bible can be considered a dichotomy because there is an old and new testament.

*Constrict: to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.

When I got my first tattoo I felt like the needle constricted my skin.

*Gothic: pertaining to the Middle Ages; medieval.

The gothic architecture was very popular during the middle ages.

*Punctilio: a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.

All of the pens I own are punctilio.

*Metamorphosis: a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft.

I believe one of the most beautiful metamorphic cycles is the butterfly one.

*Raconteur: a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

After hearing the priest tell the kids stories I came to a conclusion that he is quite the raconteur.

*sine qua non: an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential

Tweasers are sine qua non when it comes to perfection your eyebrows.

*quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.

I find Nicholas Sparks books to be quite quixotic.

*Vendetta: bitter feud, rivalry, contention

The vendetta between the Montagues and Capulets spoiled Romeo and Juliet’s love.

*non sequitur: Logic. an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.

I always get a bit disturbed when someone tells me a math problem is non sequitur because it just makes me over think the problem.

*Mystique: an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation or pursuit

Throughout the novel there was a mystique kind of feeling.

*Quagmire: soft boggy area of land

Because I did not realize that the lake had quagmire near it I fell and hurt myself.

*Parlous: perilous; dangerous.

Erick rode his parlous motorcycle to the dunes at 60mph. 

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.