ramsden 10th grade blog

Raisin In The Sun Characters

2008-05-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

MAMA- she has very strong morals and is religious. She wants to help her entire family find their way to a bigger and better place.

WALTER- he is the main character in the play that wants his life to be better, and doesn’t always want to be opening car doors for a living. Throughout the play he tries his hardest to solve the problems his family faces.

BENETHA- she is the daughter and Walter’s sister. She is very smart and goes to college. She wants to be a doctor, but it’s difficult for her in the situation her family is in.

Racisim

2008-05-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

1. He thinks that the test showed that he was racist because, he seemed to shoot blacks quicker than he would shoot whites. I don’t think that shows hes racist.

2. These tests do measure unconscious racism a little bit, because what you choose to do depends on what your brain thinks at that instant.

3. I think that sexism is harder to fight than racism, because it’s something thats always obvious whether you are male or female, and very important in the american society, beacuse everywhere we go people are asking what gender you are, like on job applications or even at school they will divide it into a “girls” and “boys” side. They put people of different races in basketball jerseys and their race was the first thing looked at.

4. This quote is saying that women are known to be warm and cuddly so they shouldn’t be seen as leaders because they don’t have the strength to lead like men are thought to of.

5. The problem women are facing is they can’t get rid of the stereotypes. I think they should be looked at as equals to men, because we can do exactly the same things as men and maybe even better.

6. I think the problem can be confronted if people just realize that women aren’t always the weaker sex, and then they will be looked at as equals.

DSP

2008-05-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

After watching the movies i think the best one was the Lego one from Evans group. But the one i liked the best was Marwan, Oliver, and Ryans story. It was really funny how they used the subtitles and speak in a made up language. Also it was easier to understand when you could read what they were saying, it helped me comprehend it. Even though the Lego movie was really good and it looked they they put in a lot of effort, I didnt find it as interesting as the others.

Car Crash

2008-05-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Car

I was driving down the highway and my owner was driving way to fast. We were going 178 mph and passing cars like they were standing still. I was approaching a steep hill and starting passing a car. The driver pulled out into the other lane and then hit another car head on driving in the other lane. I flew up into the air and did a flip. Then I landed and started to roll over and over again. Finally I came to a stop and my passengers climbed out of me. They were all bloody and one had a broken leg. One managed to find his cell phone in the mess and then called the police. Then I started myself and drove away, leaving them behind.

Act 1 Scene 1

2008-05-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Act I Scene One
1. Why did Walter ask Ruth what was wrong with her?
She was mad because he was asking about the money

2. Why was Ruth upset when Walter gave Travis the money?
Their family doesn’t have lots of money

3. Who are Willy and Bobo?
They are walter’s friends who he wants to start his business with.

4. Walter said, “Damn my eggs . . . damn all the eggs that ever was!” Why?
Because he is upset and angry that she isnt listening to him.

5. Who is Beneatha?
Walter's sister.

6. Why was Mama getting a check for $10,000?
From her husbands death.

7. Why did Beneatha say she wouldn’t marry George?
She can’t marry George causes he’s a rich colored person

8. What was Beneatha’s attitude towards God?
God is just an idea. And he shouldnt get all the credit for everything good.

9. What happened to Ruth at the end of Act I Scene One?
She passes out because of the pregancy.

DSA Movie

2008-04-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

1. The Exposition. Taking place in Las Vegas. A boy’s father was famous and people (other robbers and thieves) knew him for robbing banks and other places that were hard to steal from. Then the boy decides he wants to follow up on what his father is doing. But before he started his father dies. Now the boy has to learn on his own to become a good robber.
2. The set-up. Now that all the people (robbers etc) know that this boy is the best robber’s son they are thinking he is the next big thing. They expect him to be super good and be just like his father. The boy starts robbing banks and stores.
3. The Crisis/climax. The big problem is that the boy is not good at stealing and breaking in. He has been caught numerous times and things are just going to well for him. Everyone is accepting him to be good and now they really doubt him. So he needs to find a way to show everyone that he is as good as his father.
4. The Resolution. The boy decides to do the hardest thing for a robber to do. Break into a casino vault in Las Vegas and steal the money. He thinks that this will up his status and make everyone see who he really is. He steals from the MGM Grand and gets away with it. Everyone considers him the best now

Power Quote

2008-04-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

“We have learned that power is a positive force if it is used for positive purposes.” I chose this quote because it stood out to me. When I first read it I agreed with it, but the more I read it I started to disagree with it also. First off when I think, “Is power good or bad?” I think it is good, and I think a lot of people think that way. But also power can be negative and I believe that some have learned that some power is negative and not all positive. I think power has a lot to do with negative people. Like Hitler, he had a lot of power but he used it in a negative way. Another example is Gandhi; he had a lot of power with the people. He used his power in a way to convince and per sway how people looked at solving problems in a non-violent way. Even though he didn’t have “labeled” power, he still gained power by conveying ideas that affected the people. Gandhi used his power in a positive way. So overall, I agree and disagree with this quote, people learn that power is both positive and negative.

48 Laws of Power

2008-04-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Law 4

a.) I think that this law would work if a person was to do it. No one likes a person that talks to much. This law says its better to say less then say too much, which is true. If you are trying to convince someone of somthing, your more believeable if you say less. If your going on and on people often think that your making things up. Also if you are saying too much you have more of a chance to say something dumb of make your self look bad. So I think this is a good law and if one was to follow it that they would convince more people by saying less.

Shakespeare

2008-03-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

I think we learn about Shakespeare and Macbeth. We might be learning and reading it because it is well known by everyone. But it is really hard to read and understand. Some experiences I have had in the past in my English classes is that we act out the different scenes and that helps everyone learn and understand the literature better. What didn’t work for me, and what I have done in every class that we have read Shakespeare, is just sitting there reading it. It gets really boring and confusing. It helps some if we read as a class but what helps the most it doing some activity with the reading.

The Dumbing of America

2008-03-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

1. What is the author (Jacobs) trying to convince you is true. Quote one sentence in which she clearly states what she believes.

The author is trying to convince that America is getting stupider by watching too much TV and playing to much video games.

2. Why evidence does the author give to prove that America is dumber than before? How does baby Einstein prove we’re getting dumber?

The author is saying that people now days are getting more distracted with all the electronics around today.

3. What does Jacobs believe caused dumbness?

The laziness and lack of education in schools is causing the dumbness.

4. What does the author mean by “anti-intellectualism?” What is it? What causes it?

Anti-intellectualism is that we are dumb. It’s the lack of effort put into something. An example is playing video games or watching tv rather than using your brain for knowledge.

5. What is the “erosion of general knowledge?”

The erosion of general knowledge is the way that knowledge is getting less and less, getting stupider.

6. Summarize the 2nd to last paragraph (” That leads us to the third and final factor”).

In the second to last paragraph is saying its not what we dont know thats making us stupid, its what we dont need to know that is making us stupid.

Lost Outline

2008-03-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

For my lost outline i am going to write a prologe to my book Speak. It is going to be about how she graduates high school and goes to college and graduates and then she runs into the guy who raped her back in high school. Im not sure how or where she is going to run into him yet but they randomly see eachother and it is really akward.

WASL

2008-02-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

1. I think they want us to take the WASL is so that they can evaluate us on how we are doing in school. And also it prepares us for college and other tests.

2. I dont think there are many good aspects of the WASL, it is just a hassle and takes up too much time. But if someone is struggling in a subject, they can see that and help them.

3. I think that the goals of the WASL could be met without the test is that there are more little test that are to be taken in classes to check up on students skils.

CYOA

2008-01-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

Reading CYOA books are alot more interesting to read then just regular books. I enjoyed them more because intsead of reading what the author wants you to read, you can put your own personallity into it. At some points the CYOA we read in class was really confusing but the more I read, the more it made sense to me. I would choose a CYOA book over a regular book anyday.

Driving to the Funeral

2008-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

1. What logos does Quindlen use? What facts, stats, quotes from authorities, and logical cause/effect statements does she use? Quote at least 2.

"Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds in this country."

"Between July 2004 and November 2006, only 12 provisional drivers were ticketed for carrying too many passengers. Good law, bad enforcement."

2. What pathos does Quindlen use? What appeals to emotion, metaphors, rhetorical figures, and parallel sentence structures does she use? Quote at least 2.

"Perhaps the only ones who wouldn’t make a fuss are those parents who have accepted diplomas at graduation because their children were no longer alive to do so themselves, whose children traded freedom and mobility for their lives."

Sgt. Stryker

2008-01-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

This blog was written and set up so it was easy to read. It was seemed like it was made for the soldiers and ways to help the soldiers. There was many different ways anyone could help them out. One of them was called "Any Soldier." It was a trying to get people to support the soldiers. He was trying to get people to send gifts, letters, anything that the soldiers dont get from family and friends. By doing this, it gives support to those who need it.

War Poem

2007-12-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

War
Sitting in the trench
Lonley, just you and your bayonet.
Watching, waiting
Staring out into no man's land.

Reading Response

2007-11-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Today I read Peak. Peak was on his way to Base Camp out Mt. Everest. To get ready for the climb, he was told he had to walk behind the truck with all his gear. Every night they stopped he would go climb a rock face that was near by to just stay in shape. As soon as he got to Base Camp he saw his father getting into a fistfight. All his father did was dodge a punch and then punched the guy in the chest and knocked him down into the snow. After that was over Captain Shek drove up in a Jeep and asked for everyone’s papers. He as checking to make sure everyone had a climbing permit and was allowed to be at the camp.

Of Mice and Men Ending

2007-11-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

1. Lennie didnt mean to kill Curley's wife. He was scared that George was going to get mad at him so he was telling her to be quiet and holding her mouth.
2. Curley get really mad, which doesnt suprise me.
3. George tells Lennie that they are going to have a house and everythig is going to be good to them, and that Lennie can have rabbits.
4. George shot Lennie because he was being bad and causing trouble.
5. No, George wasnt right to do what he did. He isnt justified at all because I think he could have taken care of Lennie in a different and less harsh way than to just kill him.
6. I dont really know what Steinbeck is saying but i think he is trying to make a strong statment about the whole situation,

Free Will

2007-11-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

I think it isn’t always 100% your choice. You can’t just go out and do whatever you want. Working as hard as you can is probably the best thing you can do to achieve what you want to do. If you wanted to be a singer, there are millions of people in the world that want to be a singer. And you can’t just say i am better than all them, you have to show it. If you work hard, you will become better and then people will notice you. And if you wanted to be a senator you cant just become a senator, you have to show that you would be a good choice for that position. To show that you’re the right person you have to work hard. So nothing is 100% your choice. There is always someone out that that can say no or be better than you, but you have more of a chance to do what you want if you work hard.

tomorrow will be a better day

2007-11-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day
1. How does Rittenberg hook the reader? What’s happening? He started off at a point where I thought that something was going to go wrong, or he would end-up upset. His father is talking to him mom about Rittenberg’s future, and how he thinks that the future is not going to be good.
2. What specifics does Rittenberg use to emphasize how older generations saw horrible things in their lifetimes? He uses the examples of his grandparents, and how they lived through wars, depressions, flu’s, and other things, yet they kept going. His father would also tell him “Tomorrow will be a better day.”
3. How does Rittenberg use specifics to demonstrate his hopefulness?  He remembered how his father used to tell him that “Tomorrow will be a better day.” And if Rittenberg asked how do you know, his father would say, “I just do.”
4. How does Rittenberg use the title to make his point? The point of his story was that; no matter how bad your day may have been, keep looking forward, because tomorrow will be better. Things will get better, and improve

ashley responce

2007-11-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

Ashley Response

1) How does the writer use the hook (“three blonde heads”) to grab the reader and set the tone for the essay?  It was a “showing” sentence; I imagined how it would look for them to turn around.
2) Re-read the paragraph starting “The first time I actually became aware…” Specific detail: “ One kid thought it was so funny his chubby face started turning red and I could see a tear gradually making its way down his face.” showing not telling. “ Like a volatile vial of glycerin, into peals of laughter.”
3) Why does the writer use the example of the pencils? What is she trying to show?  She’s explaining to us how her name was never on one of the pencils, and that made her feel left out, and not like her name.
4) How does the writer turn it around? What anecdotes and information does she give to show that she has regained her pride for her name?  The writer turns it around by telling us that when she went back to her home country, her cousin told her what her name really meant. Her name stood for “to rule without force.” She took pride in the fact that her name meant something meaningful.
5) What advice would you give the writer to make the essay even better?  I think that it would have been better is she “showed” us a little more about how she felt when her name embarrassed her.

How I Learned To Pitch

2007-10-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Taylor Ramsden
English p. 1
10-17-07

1. Bryan Price got the author to stop over thinking by telling him to have a quiet mind
2. Bryan wanted to teach the author a change up first because it was the first step that separated the regular throwers from the pitchers.
3. To throw a change up you but your fingers in an “OK” sign around then ball. Then when you throw the ball, you throw it just as hard as you would throw a fastball.
4. Because of the finger placement on the ball it makes the ball come out of you’re had slower then it would for a fastball. That small speed difference makes the batter think the ball is coming in faster than it really is, making him swing to early.
5. A good pitching coach is someone that can look at a pitcher and see the small little mistakes and tweaks that the pitcher could change and also make the pitcher his own self- coach by making him know what he needs to do to be constant.

Thoughtful Questions

1. I think what you can learn in school from how Bryan Price taught pitching is that you should be able to teach your self in a way that if you get something wrong or didn’t study for a test enough, you should know that you have to go back and read over the topic or section that you got wrong or need to know more about. Therefore making yourself kind of like a self-coach,
2. A change up is equal to whatever each one person thinks. Maybe for someone it would be a poem. After writing a bunch of big essays and papers, you right a poem or something you enjoy to get your mind off big assignments; so then you can focus on the next one.
3. What I think the author means by that is if a pitcher is really focused and doing really good, he needs to keep a “quiet mind” so he doesn’t break down and start making mistakes.

Is dance more important than math?

2007-10-05T09:09:00.001-07:00

Is dance more important than math?

I think that dance in some cases is more important than math. It all depends on the person. Like in the movie some people had to move around to think and couldn’t sit still, for that person dance would be more important than math and it would more enjoying for them because they aren’t forced to move around. But on the other hand if someone didn’t have to move around to think and enjoyed sitting down and learning math for them math would be more important than dance. So I think that people should take not just dance but some subject that is creative and allows them to think creatively, unlike math that you have to think how everyone else thinks in order to get the right answer.

50 years from now

2007-10-05T09:08:00.001-07:00

The U.S. in 50 years is going to be very different. It is going to be completely different than it is now. If you look back on how much the U.S. has changed in the past 50 years, computers have been invented and made to do many tasks. Just think of what they are going to be able to do in 50 years, they could do anything. Another example is cars. Cars have come a long way from when they first were invented with an engine in them. Now there are cars that are going 200 mph and cost thousands and thousands of dollars. In 50 years the cars could be going 500 mph and you can fly in them and hold 100 people in comfort. If we ran out of oil, we would probably by then found something that could replace oil.

Anthem & Farenheit 451 essay quiz

2007-10-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

In Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem there are some similarities and differences. The plot of both stories are based in the future, but Ray Bradbury’s and Ayn Rand’s idea of the future in their books are very different. In Fahrenheit 451, all the people are a lot less social, and in Anthem the people are social and interact like normal people do today. In Fahrenheit 451 people have “real names” and are themselves. In Anthem the people have weird names with numbers and everyone doesn’t call themselves “I,” they say always say “we.” Both books have a government that doesn’t want the people to think for themselves so they take away the things that would let everyone to think freely.

I think the endings of Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem are have some similarities. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag overcomes the restrictions of the government and was running away from the government because he killed Beatty. In Anthem, Equality is running from The Council of World Scholars because he escaped from jail. So he goes out to the Uncharted Forest where no one really goes. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag meets a group of old men and he stayed with them. Equality did a similar thing; he met the Golden One in the forest. After Montag meets up with the group he realizes all the things he has been doing and changes his ways. Equality does the same and he starts to say “I” instead of just “we.”

Faber

2007-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

In that passage, Faber is telling Montag about how he isn’t a religious man anymore. He is saying how religion has changed so much and that it is hard to recognize what it originally was. How people that believe in Christianity have changed things around to how they think it is and not the original way. Faber is explaining that not only has the religion changed but also how people have dressed God up or down. Faber tells how he loves the smell of books. And he was explaining how books used to be so special. Then he got rid of his books and now he doesn’t have them and he feels guilty about it. And if people wouldn’t have gotten rid of the books everything would be different now. He said that he should have spoken up about the burning of the books and maybe he could have stopped them and kept books around. As he finished talking to Montag, he closes the Bible. I think that the Bible was his most important book he had and that’s why he kept it.