Lydia Schulz
Mr. H. Salsich
9 English
20 November 2008
A New Kind Of Awareness
An Essay on Heterosexism and Stump Olsen
Heterosexism, or the discrimination against homo, bi, or transsexuals by heterosexuals, is a raging battle that comes down to those who can accept these other sexual orientations and those who cant. With heterosexists under the impression that they are lording over all other orientations, thinking that they are the best, how can a homosexual woman like Stump Olsen ever gain the confidence to tell her story to a group of high school students, maybe the same types of students that used to harass her when she was our age? This will remain a mystery, because when Ms. Olsen spoke to our class, we gained much more than forty minutes with a funny, intelligent woman. We left with a greater understanding of heterosexism and of how hurtful words can be.
TS: In my opinion, heterosexism is absolutely ridiculous. SD: Heterosexism is based around something that goes back to the beginnings of mankind: being scared of something you don’t understand. CM: These fears date back to when everyone thought the world was flat and that the sun revolved around it, and when someone presented a different idea they couldn’t understand, they locked him away. CM: Fortunately, we did eventually come to realize that the earth moves around the sun, so maybe there is hope for people to overcome heterosexism and realize that a person’s sexual orientation does not define them. SD: Another main part of heterosexism is that people don’t realize that your sexual orientation is not a choice, but something you are born with. CM: These heterosexists are so set in their own ways that they cant begin to comprehend or wrap their heads around something different. CM: These stubborn, ignorant people are so busy thinking about how God intended for love and marriage to be between a man and a woman that they don’t have time to think about the fact that if God really thought that way, people wouldn’t be gay. CS: Sadly, heterosexists are too narrow minded to see new ideas.
TS: Then I see a person like Stump Olsen and I am amazed by how casual she is about her sexual orientation. SD: I don’t know how she dealt with the harassment and bullying she endured during high school. CM: A person should not have to focus all their concentration on staying alive while getting from one class to another, but this is exactly what Ms. Olsen found herself doing. CM: The worst part was that “not one teacher stood up for [her],” (quote) they were merely spectators, standing aside, watching their student get abused. SD: I’m sure when Ms. Olsen officially came out, she expected her family to be supportive and help her through it, but they were just the opposite. CM: Her family requested not to be in contact with her, refusing to accept that their daughter was gay (participle). CM: Her entire family against her (absolute), Ms. Olsen was finally able to face the world as who she truly is. SD: I was impressed that through all this, Ms. Olsen always stayed true to herself. CM: Though she has gone through hard times, she is happy with herself and is free to be the person she has always known she is. CM: She said that though she is aware that another birthday will go by without a card from her family, she will have her friends behind her to celebrate and show her a good time. CS: I admire Stump Olsen for her strength and her resilience on her journey to become her true self.
Ms. Olsen’s story is an inspiring one and it made me think about how hurtful words can be. I know that I occasionally say things that could be perceived as offensive, but I never thought about them actually hurting someone until I had heard what Ms. Olsen had to say. I will definitely be more careful with what I say and take her advice of thinking before I speak. Perhaps if we all do our part, we can abolish heterosexism once and for all. What will you do to help?
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1. I am continuing to work on tightening my writing and cutting out unnecessary words. I am also trying to be more careful with my polishing and proofreading.
2. I think I got my point across well in this essay. I said everything I wanted too and to me, it seems to all fit in nicely.
3. Some of the sentences seemed a little bit rambling. This is difficult because I am having trouble seeing where I could shorten them
4. I would give this essay an A- or a B+
Monday, November 17, 2008
Timmy's Essay 7
Timmy O’Brien
Mr. Salsich
English 9
20 November 2008
1. When you criticize someone, whether it is deliberate or accidental, it can have different effects. 2. They can see the joke and take it in stride, or they can dwell on the negatives and have a hard time forgiving you. 3. This can happen with heterosexism because if someone says the word “gay” with a negative connotation, they might let it slide a few times, but if the vocabulary persists, things could get more extreme physically and verbally. 4. Heterosexism changes a lot of lives for the worse, including Ms. Stump Olsen.
TS Being an expert on the harshness of words, Ms. Olsen came in to talk to us about the effect they can have on people. SD The first thing that stood out to me was her saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones. That’s not true.” (quote) CM Sometimes when we say something that we think might hurt someone, we think of that phrase to reassure ourselves. CM Contrarily, this phrase, according to Olsen, is completely and utterly meaningless to the targets of the harsh words. SD Something else that caught my attention was when she told her story – her inability to lead a normal life. CM People had assumed she was “queer” since she was about 12, and punished her for it. CM She spent most of her teen life thinking about how to survive the walk to the next class rather than the next class itself. SD Along with her story, I was surprised by the way “coming out of the closet” changed her life. CM At the age of 20, she decided it was time to tell people because she had already been hiding her true self for 15 years. CM When she told her parents, they politely asked her to get out of their lives, and she hasn’t spoken to them in 15 years – something I can’t even think about. CM Along with that, if she got into an accident and had to be hospitalized, her parents would be able to make an uninformed decision – not knowing what she would want because of the 15-year gap. CS Her fate being in the hands of another person (absolute), Ms. Olsen was horrified, and I understand her feelings toward this and wonder how anyone could impose so much negativity onto a person just because of prejudices.
TS In this case, the prejudice is called heterosexism. SD Unbeknownst to many people, heterosexism happens a lot in this world. CM Trying to ignore it (participle), we pass it off as unimportant and that the targets should deal with it themselves. CM Unfortunately, this doesn’t work because there seem to be more people actively supporting this prejudice than opposing it. SD With this information, we must also consider that the people being discriminated against did not choose this life. CM People don’t wake up one morning and say, “Today, I think I’ll turn some of my family, friends, and people I don’t even know against me and be physically and mentally abused on a daily basis.” CM It is an uncontrollable action, and we must try and respect them and their views. CS If we don’t, aren’t we saying that we don’t believe they are a whole person?
1. If a person isn’t considered whole, how can they be forced to pay attention to our laws of society? 2. How can we make them pay taxes if we refuse to let them marry whom they love? 3. As Melissa Etheridge says, “I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen.” 4. Through this, she says that if she cannot be treated as an equal because of heterosexism, why should she, Ms. Olsen, and people like them have to deal with the consequences of being seen as such a monstrosity?
Mr. Salsich
English 9
20 November 2008
Prejudices Reign Free:
An Essay on the Queer Side of Life
TS Being an expert on the harshness of words, Ms. Olsen came in to talk to us about the effect they can have on people. SD The first thing that stood out to me was her saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones. That’s not true.” (quote) CM Sometimes when we say something that we think might hurt someone, we think of that phrase to reassure ourselves. CM Contrarily, this phrase, according to Olsen, is completely and utterly meaningless to the targets of the harsh words. SD Something else that caught my attention was when she told her story – her inability to lead a normal life. CM People had assumed she was “queer” since she was about 12, and punished her for it. CM She spent most of her teen life thinking about how to survive the walk to the next class rather than the next class itself. SD Along with her story, I was surprised by the way “coming out of the closet” changed her life. CM At the age of 20, she decided it was time to tell people because she had already been hiding her true self for 15 years. CM When she told her parents, they politely asked her to get out of their lives, and she hasn’t spoken to them in 15 years – something I can’t even think about. CM Along with that, if she got into an accident and had to be hospitalized, her parents would be able to make an uninformed decision – not knowing what she would want because of the 15-year gap. CS Her fate being in the hands of another person (absolute), Ms. Olsen was horrified, and I understand her feelings toward this and wonder how anyone could impose so much negativity onto a person just because of prejudices.
TS In this case, the prejudice is called heterosexism. SD Unbeknownst to many people, heterosexism happens a lot in this world. CM Trying to ignore it (participle), we pass it off as unimportant and that the targets should deal with it themselves. CM Unfortunately, this doesn’t work because there seem to be more people actively supporting this prejudice than opposing it. SD With this information, we must also consider that the people being discriminated against did not choose this life. CM People don’t wake up one morning and say, “Today, I think I’ll turn some of my family, friends, and people I don’t even know against me and be physically and mentally abused on a daily basis.” CM It is an uncontrollable action, and we must try and respect them and their views. CS If we don’t, aren’t we saying that we don’t believe they are a whole person?
1. If a person isn’t considered whole, how can they be forced to pay attention to our laws of society? 2. How can we make them pay taxes if we refuse to let them marry whom they love? 3. As Melissa Etheridge says, “I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen.” 4. Through this, she says that if she cannot be treated as an equal because of heterosexism, why should she, Ms. Olsen, and people like them have to deal with the consequences of being seen as such a monstrosity?
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Self-Assessment
1. Some writing issues I am continuing to work on are tightening my writing - trying to omit unnecessary words. Also, I am trying to make sure my writing makes sense and doesn't cause confusion for the reader.
2. Some strong points I see in this piece of writing is my first paragraph. It was all I wanted it to be and I was able to write what I wanted without any misinterpretation.
3. Some weak points I see in this writing is the concluding paragraph because it brings up a new topic and seems a little jumbled.
4. The grade I would give myself is around a B.
Sarahs Essay 7
Sarah Shourds
Hamilton Salsich
English 09
20 November 2008
What exactly is wrong with homosexuals? Thinking at this very moment, I realized why people may not like "gay" people [PARTICIPLE]. Is it the simple fact that they found love before you? Is that why you don't like them? Today Stump Olsen joined our ninth grade class and shared with us her past, and harsh words that can be exchanged between a group of people.
TS Today there are many terms that can be offensive and hurtful to the gay community. SD The general definition we think of when we hear the word "gay" is someone who likes the same sex, when truly it's when two people are in love, just like "straight" people. CM Heterosexuality is discrimination against people who aren't "normal", and things like this make the world and its people so different and apart. SD The way American's jugde one-another is unbalanced, and unfair. CM Even in school communities, people on a day-to-day basis are being threatened, and verbally abused for being gay. CM The youth of this country view these harmful comments and think its "alright" to say these things, when it truly is not. CM These harmful phrases are often used in negative ways, and used upon objects, and in ways that literally make no sense. CS Being in love shouldn't hurt you, and no one should be able to take your love away from you. CS2 Next time your about to say something is "gay", think about who your going to hurt when you say it.
TS Her head aching, her heart racing, Mrs. Olsen came in to tell us about her harsh past and about heterosexuality. [ABSOLUTE] SD When she walked into the board room, she knew that the only information we knew about her was her sexuality, and she was perfectly fine with that. CM Although her sexuality was not the only thing about her. CM Ms. Olsen had more interesting attributes that we did not even consider, and we learned that she really didn't care what people thought about her. SD As Ms. Olsen began to speak, she spoke with dignity and her words flew out of her mouth as if she were speaking to life-long friends. CM She spoke with a smile as she told us of her hard years in high school, as if they were washed out memories that faded away as time went on. CM She said, "I didn't use my brain in high school for education, I used my brain to stay alive" with a slight smile, that cringed at the sides of her face. SD Ms. Olsen had a kind of reliance in herself, only true people have. CM How could she speak of such harsh memories with a smile painted on her face? CM Only someone who knows those things happen for a reason could bare to re-live them, and talk about them. CM Only someone who believed in themselves could bare to talk about their unfortunate childhood. CS How could we people judge someone on their sexuality? CS2 Love is love, let it be. CS3 Ms. Olsen taught us a very important lesson- to not judge others by their outer appearance, to not talk in a way that could offend others unintentionally, and to respect one another.
Stump Olsen's story was inspiring, and made me realize how hurtful words can truly be. I know I have said my fair share of fowl words, but I never thought who could have overheard, and who I may have hurt. Americans need to take Ms. Olsen's advice into consideration, and think before they speak. Maybe one day we can defeat heterosexism and learn to all love one another.
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Hamilton Salsich
English 09
20 November 2008
Think Before You Talk:
An Essay On A Talk By Stump Olsen
What exactly is wrong with homosexuals? Thinking at this very moment, I realized why people may not like "gay" people [PARTICIPLE]. Is it the simple fact that they found love before you? Is that why you don't like them? Today Stump Olsen joined our ninth grade class and shared with us her past, and harsh words that can be exchanged between a group of people.
TS Today there are many terms that can be offensive and hurtful to the gay community. SD The general definition we think of when we hear the word "gay" is someone who likes the same sex, when truly it's when two people are in love, just like "straight" people. CM Heterosexuality is discrimination against people who aren't "normal", and things like this make the world and its people so different and apart. SD The way American's jugde one-another is unbalanced, and unfair. CM Even in school communities, people on a day-to-day basis are being threatened, and verbally abused for being gay. CM The youth of this country view these harmful comments and think its "alright" to say these things, when it truly is not. CM These harmful phrases are often used in negative ways, and used upon objects, and in ways that literally make no sense. CS Being in love shouldn't hurt you, and no one should be able to take your love away from you. CS2 Next time your about to say something is "gay", think about who your going to hurt when you say it.
TS Her head aching, her heart racing, Mrs. Olsen came in to tell us about her harsh past and about heterosexuality. [ABSOLUTE] SD When she walked into the board room, she knew that the only information we knew about her was her sexuality, and she was perfectly fine with that. CM Although her sexuality was not the only thing about her. CM Ms. Olsen had more interesting attributes that we did not even consider, and we learned that she really didn't care what people thought about her. SD As Ms. Olsen began to speak, she spoke with dignity and her words flew out of her mouth as if she were speaking to life-long friends. CM She spoke with a smile as she told us of her hard years in high school, as if they were washed out memories that faded away as time went on. CM She said, "I didn't use my brain in high school for education, I used my brain to stay alive" with a slight smile, that cringed at the sides of her face. SD Ms. Olsen had a kind of reliance in herself, only true people have. CM How could she speak of such harsh memories with a smile painted on her face? CM Only someone who knows those things happen for a reason could bare to re-live them, and talk about them. CM Only someone who believed in themselves could bare to talk about their unfortunate childhood. CS How could we people judge someone on their sexuality? CS2 Love is love, let it be. CS3 Ms. Olsen taught us a very important lesson- to not judge others by their outer appearance, to not talk in a way that could offend others unintentionally, and to respect one another.
Stump Olsen's story was inspiring, and made me realize how hurtful words can truly be. I know I have said my fair share of fowl words, but I never thought who could have overheard, and who I may have hurt. Americans need to take Ms. Olsen's advice into consideration, and think before they speak. Maybe one day we can defeat heterosexism and learn to all love one another.
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Self Assessment
1. I am continuing to work on proofreading my essays and catch minor mistakes. Also, I'm working on organization.
2. I think I organized my essay pretty well. I tried to keep everything under one umbrella
.3. I had some trouble with the absolute and participle. I wasn't quite sure how to change them to make them work.
4. I would give this essay an B-
Ceilie's Essay #7
Ceilie Moore
Mr. Salsich
English 9
November 20th, 2008
1. Heterosexism seems almost like a verbal plague. 2. It is rapidly infecting the world with its symptoms being ignorance towards different sexual orientations and wounding words being spat out of their mouths every day. 3. This disease is also contagious, spreading from person to person because hearing these discriminatory remarks is almost normal and saying it is practically out of habit. 4. Heterosexism does not require a vaccine or a prescription to cure it, but an eye-opening lecture from a homosexual herself and a new awareness on what your saying actually means.
TS It seems today that we live in a world where heterosexism is a common thing to come upon. SD In the general dictionary definition, heterosexism is a type of prejudicial belief. CM It is discrimination against homosexuals and other sexual orientations that are not heterosexuality. CM Heterosexuality is believed to be the “normal” sexual orientation among people and anyone who’s sexual attraction agrees otherwise, is discriminated and prejudged. SD These days it seems heterosexism is progressively affecting people’s views on people being different, especially among youth. CM In middle schools and high schools heterosexism is displayed on a daily basis and in most cases, the derogatory words that are thrown around aren’t even used in the correct context. CM Youth today sees the difference in people’s sexual orientation and hurtful slurs that are used against them as something to joke around about in day-to-day conversations and these words as adjectives to something unrelated to homosexuality. CS In the end, heterosexism is more than just another type of unfair prejudice, but also a new era of supposed jokes and slang words being used in the hallways and even classrooms in educating facilities all over the country.
TS Ms. Stump Olsen, a representative from the Rhode Island Youth Center, came to visit with both the eighth and ninth grade to talk about homosexuality, heterosexism, and the power of the words we use when referring to the two. SD Stump came in and greeted us with a welcoming smile and a positive attitude, prepared and ready to educate us. (Absolute) CM First, she gave us a background story and what her childhood was like as she grew up as a homosexual. CM After that, she was more than willing to answer any of our questions, of which we had many. SD The talk from Ms. Olsen really got me thinking about a couple of things, one would be the impact our words really had on people. CM Ms. Olsen talked about how she was younger, the words she heard that referred to homosexuality were all negative and that these negative words are being taken out of their original context and used even more dismissively today. CM As she absorbed these hurtful words that were referring to homosexuals, she was “being told very actively that there was something wrong with [her]” (Quote) meaning that the words and saying people often use to make reference to gay people are gaining crueler meanings than originally intended. SD Another thing I thought about after I left the boardroom after the lecture was how much different Pine Point is from other schools. CM As I walk the halls at Pine Point, I can’t recall a recent time in which I have heard a homophobic remark or a slur towards homosexuals being uttered. CM This situation is most likely uncommon for other schools, where these words are used almost daily, proving how lucky we all are to be a part of a community that does not judge, nor disrespects people with a different sexual orientation than our own. (Participle) CS Ms. Olsen is nothing less than an admirable role model for young people because she taught us that in a world full of hate, all we need is a little support to get us through the confusing and questioning times in our lives.
1. Heterosexism is like a disease, and this past Monday, Stump Olsen seemed to be the cure. 2. She shared her first-hand experience with being tormented for being gay and expressed to us how truly painful it is to be harassed for your sexuality. 3. Ms. Olsen’s talk left us all not only shocked, but able to see heterosexism in a new light and how it affects everyone. 4. Whether you’re a victim of heterosexism, the person discriminating a homosexual, or just a mere stander-by, watching and letting this unjust prejudice happen, the world needs to eliminate heterosexism all together and learn to accept that we are all different.
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Mr. Salsich
English 9
November 20th, 2008
Infectious Discrimination:
An Essay On Heterosexism and Stump Olsen
1. Heterosexism seems almost like a verbal plague. 2. It is rapidly infecting the world with its symptoms being ignorance towards different sexual orientations and wounding words being spat out of their mouths every day. 3. This disease is also contagious, spreading from person to person because hearing these discriminatory remarks is almost normal and saying it is practically out of habit. 4. Heterosexism does not require a vaccine or a prescription to cure it, but an eye-opening lecture from a homosexual herself and a new awareness on what your saying actually means.
TS It seems today that we live in a world where heterosexism is a common thing to come upon. SD In the general dictionary definition, heterosexism is a type of prejudicial belief. CM It is discrimination against homosexuals and other sexual orientations that are not heterosexuality. CM Heterosexuality is believed to be the “normal” sexual orientation among people and anyone who’s sexual attraction agrees otherwise, is discriminated and prejudged. SD These days it seems heterosexism is progressively affecting people’s views on people being different, especially among youth. CM In middle schools and high schools heterosexism is displayed on a daily basis and in most cases, the derogatory words that are thrown around aren’t even used in the correct context. CM Youth today sees the difference in people’s sexual orientation and hurtful slurs that are used against them as something to joke around about in day-to-day conversations and these words as adjectives to something unrelated to homosexuality. CS In the end, heterosexism is more than just another type of unfair prejudice, but also a new era of supposed jokes and slang words being used in the hallways and even classrooms in educating facilities all over the country.
TS Ms. Stump Olsen, a representative from the Rhode Island Youth Center, came to visit with both the eighth and ninth grade to talk about homosexuality, heterosexism, and the power of the words we use when referring to the two. SD Stump came in and greeted us with a welcoming smile and a positive attitude, prepared and ready to educate us. (Absolute) CM First, she gave us a background story and what her childhood was like as she grew up as a homosexual. CM After that, she was more than willing to answer any of our questions, of which we had many. SD The talk from Ms. Olsen really got me thinking about a couple of things, one would be the impact our words really had on people. CM Ms. Olsen talked about how she was younger, the words she heard that referred to homosexuality were all negative and that these negative words are being taken out of their original context and used even more dismissively today. CM As she absorbed these hurtful words that were referring to homosexuals, she was “being told very actively that there was something wrong with [her]” (Quote) meaning that the words and saying people often use to make reference to gay people are gaining crueler meanings than originally intended. SD Another thing I thought about after I left the boardroom after the lecture was how much different Pine Point is from other schools. CM As I walk the halls at Pine Point, I can’t recall a recent time in which I have heard a homophobic remark or a slur towards homosexuals being uttered. CM This situation is most likely uncommon for other schools, where these words are used almost daily, proving how lucky we all are to be a part of a community that does not judge, nor disrespects people with a different sexual orientation than our own. (Participle) CS Ms. Olsen is nothing less than an admirable role model for young people because she taught us that in a world full of hate, all we need is a little support to get us through the confusing and questioning times in our lives.
1. Heterosexism is like a disease, and this past Monday, Stump Olsen seemed to be the cure. 2. She shared her first-hand experience with being tormented for being gay and expressed to us how truly painful it is to be harassed for your sexuality. 3. Ms. Olsen’s talk left us all not only shocked, but able to see heterosexism in a new light and how it affects everyone. 4. Whether you’re a victim of heterosexism, the person discriminating a homosexual, or just a mere stander-by, watching and letting this unjust prejudice happen, the world needs to eliminate heterosexism all together and learn to accept that we are all different.
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Self-Assessment
1. I am continuing to work on eliminating unnecessary words in my writing. I am also continuing to work on polishing my work and carefully looking for errors.
2. Some strong points I see in this piece of writing are the first two paragraphs. Both the introductory and first body seem clear and strong, getting straight to the point of what I am trying to say.
3. Some weak points I see is the concluding paragraph. It's a little weak and kind of rushed.
4. The grade I would give myself would be a B+ or maybe even an A-
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ceilie's Essay #6
Ceilie Moore
Mr. Salsich
9 English
November 12th, 2008
1. There are people in this world that have a lack of respect when it comes to their culture’s origins. 2. They are ashamed of where they come from and try to shake off their past, as though it is possible. 3. As I read the essay, “The Way To Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday, I realize that Momaday is clearly not one of these ignorant people. 4. Instead of thinking of the sacred lands he came from as nothing more than ancient dirt, Momaday sees the soil of his native Oklahoma as ancestral grounds that should be respected and appreciated.
TS Momaday is a Kiowa Native American and it is very apparent (FAST) from the way he talks about his homeland that he respects where he came from. SD The main thing it seems Momaday appreciated about his culture is the actual land that he came from. CM “The highland meadows are a stairway to the plain[…] The sun follows a longer course in the day, and the sky is immense beyond comparison”, says Momoday when describing his native land. CM This description proves that Momoday is passionate and respects the beauty of this land. SD There is another instance in which Momoday reveals his admiration (FAST) and respect for the Oklahoman land. CM Momoday says, “And this, you think, is where Creation was begun.” CM I think in this statement, the author is trying to say that the land he stands on has so much history and so many stories behind it, you think of it as an ancient ground where the creation of the earth was started. SD Another aspect of Momoday’s past that he appreiciates is his grandmother, who is the main reason he travels back to his homeland of Oklahoma. CM “She never forgot her birthright”, states Momoday when talking about his grandmother. CM I like how he says this because it shows how similar he and his grandmother are, never forgetting where they came from. CS In the end, I think Momoday’s respect for his family and heritage is inspiring and the way he writes about it is even more influential.
Mr. Salsich
9 English
November 12th, 2008
A Man Who Remembers:
An Essay About An Essay and Its Author's Past
1. There are people in this world that have a lack of respect when it comes to their culture’s origins. 2. They are ashamed of where they come from and try to shake off their past, as though it is possible. 3. As I read the essay, “The Way To Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday, I realize that Momaday is clearly not one of these ignorant people. 4. Instead of thinking of the sacred lands he came from as nothing more than ancient dirt, Momaday sees the soil of his native Oklahoma as ancestral grounds that should be respected and appreciated.
TS Momaday is a Kiowa Native American and it is very apparent (FAST) from the way he talks about his homeland that he respects where he came from. SD The main thing it seems Momaday appreciated about his culture is the actual land that he came from. CM “The highland meadows are a stairway to the plain[…] The sun follows a longer course in the day, and the sky is immense beyond comparison”, says Momoday when describing his native land. CM This description proves that Momoday is passionate and respects the beauty of this land. SD There is another instance in which Momoday reveals his admiration (FAST) and respect for the Oklahoman land. CM Momoday says, “And this, you think, is where Creation was begun.” CM I think in this statement, the author is trying to say that the land he stands on has so much history and so many stories behind it, you think of it as an ancient ground where the creation of the earth was started. SD Another aspect of Momoday’s past that he appreiciates is his grandmother, who is the main reason he travels back to his homeland of Oklahoma. CM “She never forgot her birthright”, states Momoday when talking about his grandmother. CM I like how he says this because it shows how similar he and his grandmother are, never forgetting where they came from. CS In the end, I think Momoday’s respect for his family and heritage is inspiring and the way he writes about it is even more influential.
1. You and your family’s past is something that should never be pushed aside and ignored. 2. Heritage is one of those things that should be understood, respected and cherished by everyone. (Three-Action Sentence) 3. If you forget where you came from, or never even learn about it, you are essentially missing a part of who you are-your background. 4. Momoday not only understands his culture, but he goes as far as to revisit it and write about it, proving his past truly means something to him.
Timmy's Essay 6
Timmy O’Brien
Mr. Salsich
English 9
12 November 2008
1. When you read a book, you tend to look at the more important aspects of the story. 2. The trivial [FAST] details seem to melt away in your summary. 3. This was not the case when I read “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday. 4. I tried to pay attention to every single word and pick out the lines that meant the most to me rather than the ones that were the most influential to the story.
TS While reading this essay, I came across some lines that I found very captivating. SD First, I thought the line, “At a distance in July or August the steaming foliage seems almost to writhe in fire” was particularly fascinating. CM It was a great example of imagery that presented me with a vivid picture, explained Rainy Mountain’s weather, and allowed me to see through the Momaday’s eyes [three action sentence]. CM I was actually very surprised to see such a powerful sentence so near the beginning of the essay. SD Another line I found quite interesting was, “Their migration was the fruit of an old prophecy, for indeed they emerged from a sunless world.” CM This sentence caught me by surprise because it was an idea that I hadn’t even thought about. CM Right before this, Momaday says that this tribe, the Kiowas, acquires a sun-dance doll and came from a hollow log, and it never occurred to me how opposite these two concepts were or how indicative it was of their feelings of their old lives. SD Finally, the line, “A cricket had perched upon the handrail, only a few inches away from me,” caught my attention. CM It brought out that fact that, when something bad happens, people tend to focus on insignificant details in their lives. CM When Momaday went back to the small house; all he contemplated [FAST] was one little cricket and its place in the world. CS So much can be learned about the individual writer by paying close attention to the seemingly superfluous [FAST] lines, and all one needs to do is try.
1. When reading, paying attention can have numerous benefits. 2. You could understand the writer, the story, or even a mountains climate better. 3. You may even uncover things that haven’t ever been discovered before. 4. All you have to do is ignite your thinking and take the first step.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
12 November 2008
Discovering the Message:
An Essay on the “The Way to Rainy Mountain”
1. When you read a book, you tend to look at the more important aspects of the story. 2. The trivial [FAST] details seem to melt away in your summary. 3. This was not the case when I read “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday. 4. I tried to pay attention to every single word and pick out the lines that meant the most to me rather than the ones that were the most influential to the story.
TS While reading this essay, I came across some lines that I found very captivating. SD First, I thought the line, “At a distance in July or August the steaming foliage seems almost to writhe in fire” was particularly fascinating. CM It was a great example of imagery that presented me with a vivid picture, explained Rainy Mountain’s weather, and allowed me to see through the Momaday’s eyes [three action sentence]. CM I was actually very surprised to see such a powerful sentence so near the beginning of the essay. SD Another line I found quite interesting was, “Their migration was the fruit of an old prophecy, for indeed they emerged from a sunless world.” CM This sentence caught me by surprise because it was an idea that I hadn’t even thought about. CM Right before this, Momaday says that this tribe, the Kiowas, acquires a sun-dance doll and came from a hollow log, and it never occurred to me how opposite these two concepts were or how indicative it was of their feelings of their old lives. SD Finally, the line, “A cricket had perched upon the handrail, only a few inches away from me,” caught my attention. CM It brought out that fact that, when something bad happens, people tend to focus on insignificant details in their lives. CM When Momaday went back to the small house; all he contemplated [FAST] was one little cricket and its place in the world. CS So much can be learned about the individual writer by paying close attention to the seemingly superfluous [FAST] lines, and all one needs to do is try.
1. When reading, paying attention can have numerous benefits. 2. You could understand the writer, the story, or even a mountains climate better. 3. You may even uncover things that haven’t ever been discovered before. 4. All you have to do is ignite your thinking and take the first step.
Lydia's essay 6
Lydia Schulz
Mr. H. Salsich
9 English
12 November, 2008
The Way to Rainy Mountain
an Essay on Why I Enjoyed "The Way to Rainy Mountian" by N. Scott Momaday
TS: I greatly enjoyed reading “The Way to Rainy Mountain,” by N. Scott Momaday. SD: I was especially partial to the way Momaday described his appreciation for all things small and large. CM: His essay’s topic ranges from the history of his tribe to a cricket in the night. CM: Though many people could boast their appreciation for their heritage, the tone of Momaday’s writing when he talks about the cricket that “had perched upon a handrail,” you can tell that this man cares about living things, big or small. SD: This goes right along with Momaday’s reverence for nature. CM: From his mentioning of “the divinity of the sun” to the way that from “a distance […] the steaming foliage seems almost to writhe in fire,” it is obvious that this man has great respect for nature and life. CM: To him, his grandmother, and his ancestors, the environment is something to love and protect. SD: I was amazed by how close Momaday was with his grandmother. CM: She told him stories, prayed with him, and helped raise him to the man he would become, perhaps not realizing what a colossal influence she was to her grandson. CM: But when you read the way he spoke about what she was like the last time he saw her, you cannot help but see how much Momaday loved and respected his grandmother. CS: Mr. Momaday has proved to be an extremely talented and touching author.
There are so many aspects of N. Scott Momaday’s writing that I enjoy; it is hard to fit them all into one 11-sentence paragraph. His style, his phrasing, and his smooth synchronization from one topic to the next make him really appeal to me as a writer. However, the main part I enjoy about Momaday’s essay is how much of himself he put into it. I wholeheartedly appreciate the fact that I got to read something by this creative and inspiring author.
Sarahs Essay Number 6
Sarah Shourds
English 09
Hamilton Salsich
12 November 08
A Journey Called Life:
A Look an Essay
1. Who are the Kiowa? 2. The Kiowa are a Native American tribe, which the author of the essay "The Way to Rainy Mountain", Navarre Scott Momaday was apart of. 3. In this essay there is one main theme- his life-long journey. 4. This essay also talks about his grandmother and how she impacted his life-long journey.
English 09
Hamilton Salsich
12 November 08
A Journey Called Life:
A Look an Essay
1. Who are the Kiowa? 2. The Kiowa are a Native American tribe, which the author of the essay "The Way to Rainy Mountain", Navarre Scott Momaday was apart of. 3. In this essay there is one main theme- his life-long journey. 4. This essay also talks about his grandmother and how she impacted his life-long journey.
TS In the essay, "The Way to Rainy Mountain", by N. Scott Momaday, Momaday talks about one key theme- his journey through life, and how his grandmother helped him through the journey. SD His grandmother played a big role in his tribe, the Kiowa, and in his life-long journey. CM She told the story of the "Seven Sisters", which then led the tribe to believe in the myth, and she taught him his culture. CM He would watch her pray, vaguely knowing what she is saying by her tone of voice. SD She had also taught him to look at the world in a new perspective. CM He would "lay down with [his] grandmother and [...] hear the frogs away by the river and feel the motion of the air" [Momaday 318]. CM She taught him to slow down and look at the phenomenal [FAST] nature that surrounded him. SD These few things his grandmother taught him would influence his long and strenuous journey called life. CM Being able to relate back to your own culture and heritage is a value most people lack now-a-days. CM Momaday, thanks to his grandmother, can relate to his culture and even tell the stories from her, and pass them on to his grandchildren. CM Being able to slow down and look at the marvelous world is another thing we American's tend to lack now-a-days. CS Momaday's grandmother enriched [FAST] him in the basic teachings of life, led him through his journey, and loved him fondly. [Three Action Verb]
1. Whether your Native American, White, Asian or other ethnicities, everyone will have to overcome the wearisome journey most call life. 2. Momaday skimmed through his journey, with the simple teachings from his grandmother. 3. Instead of looking at the moon, he looks at the "perched cricket upon the handrail" [Momaday 318]. 4. This theme is a very big picture most people forget about, and step all over, but Momaday's grandmother had taught him better. 5. "The Earth unfolds and [there is no] limit." [Momaday 315]
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Ceilie's Essay #5
Ceilie Moore
Mr. Salsich
9 English
November 5th, 2008
The Second Story:
An Essay On The Benefits Of Re-Reading Books
1. Most people have a love for one special story that they find it necessary to read the book over and over, never getting tired of reliving their favorite story. 2. Now would you ever think to reread a book you didn’t like in the first place? 3. Would you think that you would learn something new about the story and see it in a different light, or just loose even more interest in the book after reading it a second time through? 4. After reading Katherine Mansfield’s, "A Garden Party", for a second time, I got an opportunity to see the story a way I didn’t see it before.
TS As I was reading this famous, yet in my eyes, tedious, story that I had not appreciated the first time I had read it, I noticed new things that I had never been brought to my attention before. (Three-action sentence) SD For one, I realized an important interaction Laura has with some workmen in the beginning scene. CM In the scene, Laura is given the decision to choose where the workmen get to pitch the marquee in the backyard. CM I found it interesting how she assumed the workmen were lower class and felt uncomfortable being around them, but as she studied them, she realized they were “extraordinarily nice” and regretted feeling so self-conscious around them. SD Another thing I noticed that I hadn’t before was the conversation Laura has with her mother after the dead man was discovered in the street. CM Laura confides in her mother, questioning whether or not to cancel the garden party because this poor man has died and it was almost inconsiderate to continue with the gathering. CM As Laura says this, I never realized that her mother responds to the suggestion by basically blaming her daughter for trying to ruin everyone’s fun, then places a pretty hat on her head and shoos her along. SD One last thing I observed as I re-read this story was the positive reaction Laura has as she visits the dead man’s home. CM As she watches the deceased man in his bed, she doesn’t see him as a dead person, but more of “sleeping[…] soundly […][and] peaceful”. CM She sees him as a lucky, unknowing of the struggles she goes through with picking out the perfect party decorations and sitting through hours of social events. CS In the end, I am glad I re-read this story because it shows how observant you really need to be to truly understand a story and appreciate it to its full potential. 1. We have all re-read a favorite book, but have you ever re-read one you didn't like in the first place? 2. The idea of doing such a thing would never cross my mind, but after actually doing it, I got a much better understanding of the book that I re-read. 3. By seriously absorbing the information in the story, "The Garden Party", many details that were not brought to my attention before, were noticed during my second round of reading. 4. So don't set down a book after reading it the first time, but instead read it again, hopefully you'll benefit from the story the second time around.
Timmy's Essay 5
Timmy O’Brien
Mr. Salsich
English 9
6 November 2008
1. Every once in a while during your reading you may be confused by a certain sentence or paragraph, so you go back to read it again. 2. What some people don’t realize is that this can be helpful on a much larger scale. 3. If you reread a whole story or novel, you may come to understand everything about that work much better. 4. I put this into use with the short story “The Garden Party” in the hopes that I will better be able to understand the particular events of the story.
TS Upon taking a second look at “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, I saw several things I had not noticed at first. SD First, the peculiar relationship of Laura and her mother stood out to me. CM When Laura suggests that to have a party in the area of a dead man would “terribly heartless of [them]” (brief quote), Mrs. Sheridan gets angry. CM Instead of talking with her daughter about this conflict, she deliberately tries to change her mind by giving her a hat and shifting her mindset from their heartlessness to her own prettiness. SD Another thing that stood out to me was the new theme of focusing on oneself instead of others. CM This was made apparent to me because Laura admired her own arranging capabilities, was asked not to care about a dying man so they could have a garden party, and said that because the little cottages were “eyesores, [] they had no right to be in that neighborhood at all.” (three action sentence and brief quote) CM Her mother directly tells Laura that the garden party they are hosting should be more important than a dead man in their neighborhood, which seems quite self-serving. SD The last thing I noticed while re-reading this story was the use of the word “relish” in the sentence: “ ‘Dead when the picked him up,’ said Godber’s man with relish”. CM He seems to be happy about informing the Sheridans of the death just down the street, which doesn’t seem right. CM The man could have produced a sympathetic tone to fit the story, but instead he talked with a seemingly arrogant manner, as if the content didn’t actually matte – the only thing that did was that he had a story to tell. CS Re-reading the story, I found many things that helped me understand it’s story, events, and themes.
1. The things one can achieve through re-reading are endless. 2. You could find a whole new side of a character you never saw before, or discover a different view on a particular event. 3. Either way, whatever you find will most likely enrich your understand of the work you are reading, so next time you finish a book with even the slightest trace of misunderstanding, go back and re-read what you finished. 4. It may come back to help you in later days.
Mr. Salsich
English 9
6 November 2008
A Second Look:
An Essay on the Advantages and New Insights of Re-reading
1. Every once in a while during your reading you may be confused by a certain sentence or paragraph, so you go back to read it again. 2. What some people don’t realize is that this can be helpful on a much larger scale. 3. If you reread a whole story or novel, you may come to understand everything about that work much better. 4. I put this into use with the short story “The Garden Party” in the hopes that I will better be able to understand the particular events of the story.
TS Upon taking a second look at “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, I saw several things I had not noticed at first. SD First, the peculiar relationship of Laura and her mother stood out to me. CM When Laura suggests that to have a party in the area of a dead man would “terribly heartless of [them]” (brief quote), Mrs. Sheridan gets angry. CM Instead of talking with her daughter about this conflict, she deliberately tries to change her mind by giving her a hat and shifting her mindset from their heartlessness to her own prettiness. SD Another thing that stood out to me was the new theme of focusing on oneself instead of others. CM This was made apparent to me because Laura admired her own arranging capabilities, was asked not to care about a dying man so they could have a garden party, and said that because the little cottages were “eyesores, [] they had no right to be in that neighborhood at all.” (three action sentence and brief quote) CM Her mother directly tells Laura that the garden party they are hosting should be more important than a dead man in their neighborhood, which seems quite self-serving. SD The last thing I noticed while re-reading this story was the use of the word “relish” in the sentence: “ ‘Dead when the picked him up,’ said Godber’s man with relish”. CM He seems to be happy about informing the Sheridans of the death just down the street, which doesn’t seem right. CM The man could have produced a sympathetic tone to fit the story, but instead he talked with a seemingly arrogant manner, as if the content didn’t actually matte – the only thing that did was that he had a story to tell. CS Re-reading the story, I found many things that helped me understand it’s story, events, and themes.
1. The things one can achieve through re-reading are endless. 2. You could find a whole new side of a character you never saw before, or discover a different view on a particular event. 3. Either way, whatever you find will most likely enrich your understand of the work you are reading, so next time you finish a book with even the slightest trace of misunderstanding, go back and re-read what you finished. 4. It may come back to help you in later days.
Lydia's essay 5
Lydia Schulz
Mr. H. Salsich
English 9
5 November 2008
Mr. H. Salsich
English 9
5 November 2008
It’s The Details That Count
An Essay on Rereading “The Garden Party”
An Essay on Rereading “The Garden Party”
With the exception of things necessary to living, people don’t repeat a lot of their actions. You might think “I’ve already done that, why would I do it again?” but this view certainly does not apply to all things. For example, rereading a book or story can give you a much better understanding of it. This was definitely the case when I reread “The Garden Party,” by Katherine Mansfield because it helped me see the details I hadn’t noticed before.
TS: When I reread “The Garden Party”, I noticed many things I had skimmed over before. SD: The main part I became aware of was how influenced Laura is by her mother. CM: Mrs. Sheridan told Laura how beautiful she looked in the hat and then when Laura mentioned the man who had died, her mother told her she was being absurd. CM: When Laura sees herself in the hat, she starts to think “Is mother right?” SD: Laura then starts to think that maybe she is being extravagant. CM: Maybe she, Laura, who helped plan the party, oversaw the placement of the marquee, and felt compassionate toward the man who died, was being extravagant. CM: Once she thought this, “she hoped her mother was right,” and as if this settled the matter, she went to join the party. SD: Another thing I noticed was how opposed Jose was to the idea of calling of the party. CM: Jose was utterly astonished when Laura suggested that they stop everything. CM: When Jose remarked, “if you’re going to stop a band playing every time someone has an accident you’ll lead a very strenuous life,” I was surprised by how seriously annoyed she was. CS: Rereading “The Garden Party” definitely improved my understanding of the story.
Though many people may not think much of the idea of rereading, I found it immensely helpful. If I hadn’t reread the story, there would be so many aspects of the theme I would have missed. Of course, I have reread certain favorite books of mine, but I never thought of doing it with a story like this. I am glad I got to read “The Garden Party” again, even for just the details.
Sarah's Essay Number 5
1. Do you think re-doing something can help you in any way? 2. Most people think re-reading a book is unnecessary and a waste of time, but for some people, when re-reading a book, they gain new perspectives of the book. 3. I re-read a short story, skimmed for new, and important facts I didn’t notice before, and saw “The Garden Party” in a whole new way [ three action verb]. 4. Re-reading Katherine Mansfield’s, “The Garden Party” made me see the short story in a whole new standpoint.
CM Re-reading “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield has made me look at Laura’s mother in a whole new perspective, and it helped me view the smaller, yet harsh comments the Sheridans make about poor people. SD The most compelling piece evidence about Laura’s mother was on page 10 where Jose and her mother were talking about the death of the man down the street. CM In this discussion Jose asked if it was “completely heartless of [them]” to continue their extravagant party, and her mother ignored the question and gave Jose a new hat. CM Once Jose referred back to the question her mother got irritated and said that just because a man died down the street, they couldn’t “spoil every[one’s] enjoyment”. SD A small comment that stood out to me was when Laura was explaining the “very smoke coming out of [the poor people’s] chimney was [even] poverty-stricken.” CM It is very harsh of her to compare even the slightest of things against the people that aren’t as fortunate as her. CM I also thought it was very ironic because she was just saying how they shouldn’t hold the garden party anymore because of the poor people down the street. SD Another small quote that captured my attention was how she called all of the workmen, “workmen” and the cook, “cook”. CM I think she called them just that because they were of a different class than she. CM For example, when she was eating her bread and butter, not only did she think it was rude to eat in front of them, but also because they probably don’t have such exquisite meals. CS Re-reading has made me look at the short-story in a whole new perspective. CS2 At first I thought re-reading was pointless, but now I see the advantages you can gain from it.
1. Reading a book for the first time is always a marvelous experience, but re-reading can give you the full-on experience you truly wanted. 2. While re-reading “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, I noticed things about Laura’s mother that I never noticed before. 3. I now know that Laura and her mother both secretly, and harshly speak about the poor people down the street- I had never noticed that before. 4. By reading a story for the second time, you can gain more than you would think, and it could change your entire view on the book, or the characters themselves.
CM Re-reading “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield has made me look at Laura’s mother in a whole new perspective, and it helped me view the smaller, yet harsh comments the Sheridans make about poor people. SD The most compelling piece evidence about Laura’s mother was on page 10 where Jose and her mother were talking about the death of the man down the street. CM In this discussion Jose asked if it was “completely heartless of [them]” to continue their extravagant party, and her mother ignored the question and gave Jose a new hat. CM Once Jose referred back to the question her mother got irritated and said that just because a man died down the street, they couldn’t “spoil every[one’s] enjoyment”. SD A small comment that stood out to me was when Laura was explaining the “very smoke coming out of [the poor people’s] chimney was [even] poverty-stricken.” CM It is very harsh of her to compare even the slightest of things against the people that aren’t as fortunate as her. CM I also thought it was very ironic because she was just saying how they shouldn’t hold the garden party anymore because of the poor people down the street. SD Another small quote that captured my attention was how she called all of the workmen, “workmen” and the cook, “cook”. CM I think she called them just that because they were of a different class than she. CM For example, when she was eating her bread and butter, not only did she think it was rude to eat in front of them, but also because they probably don’t have such exquisite meals. CS Re-reading has made me look at the short-story in a whole new perspective. CS2 At first I thought re-reading was pointless, but now I see the advantages you can gain from it.
1. Reading a book for the first time is always a marvelous experience, but re-reading can give you the full-on experience you truly wanted. 2. While re-reading “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, I noticed things about Laura’s mother that I never noticed before. 3. I now know that Laura and her mother both secretly, and harshly speak about the poor people down the street- I had never noticed that before. 4. By reading a story for the second time, you can gain more than you would think, and it could change your entire view on the book, or the characters themselves.
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