Final Book Post

The three questions I decided to pick for my blog post are:

· how would you describe the author's style of writing? What's your opinion of the style?

· Find out about the author. How did they end up writing this particular book? How is the author's life reflected in the book?

• If you've read other books in this same genre, how does this one compare?

J.K. Rowling style of writing is magical. Despite the fact that the world the characters dwell is purely intertwined, she pulls off the description of scenes and meaningful quotes by characters masterfully. In a world that lives along our own, J.K. Rowling is able to cross-reference events in history as well as circumstances in society using the protagonist Harry Potter. Potter has a perspective mounted in both “muggle” world and our own.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high.  Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.”

Rowling’s book appeal top her audiences so well by over-dramatizing Harry’s adolescent problems. Teenagers experience problems from growing up in today’s modern society, one that has grown to be more stressful and have higher expectations that decade3s before.

      It is explained in the later books that Harry has an inevitable job to fulfill, the slaying of the antagonist Lord Voldemort. Voldemort is made out to be invincible and is the greatest threat to the wizarding world in its history. Even though there have been other dark wizards like him, voldemort is the strongest and the most cunning. Even so, Coincidences intertwined into fate has created a prophecy for Harry to fulfill, as he must congquer the task of defeating Voldemort or the wizarding world will perish. I interpret Harry’s Quest as the obstacles and growing pains teenagers and adolescents today must go through to become adults. Once we conquer them, like Harry eventually does, all will be well. At the end of the series when Voldemort is vanquished, the laste sentence is “ and all was well”. Teenagers can take that sentence and an allegory for their problems so that once they have conquered them, all will be well.

            From what I have gathered, J.K. Rowling started writing the first book when she was homeless. A rumor was that’ the original copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone was written on pieces of Napkins. An article states:

“Rowling returned to Britain in 1993, settling in Edinburgh, Scotland, to be near her sister. Divorced after a brief marriage in Portugal and now with a baby, she suffered through a period of poverty and depression while she struggled to earn a living and take care of her daughter, Jessica. It was during this difficult time that she finally completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the U.S. edition. When her publisher suggested she add a middle initial to her name, she chose that of her grandmother, Kathleen."

Rowlings rise to fame could be written into a story. Her story is as simple as any rags to riches. Harry potter in my eyes was a way for her to have a creativity outlet during time of great stress for her,as she was out of a house and on the streets. Her talent in writing though is great, as someone that was poverty stricken like herself has to have had a great deal of skill to rise through levels of wealth so fast. 

I think that the book would not have been the same without the experiences rowling endured. Having been trhough such lows, it has given her perspective. Although Harry Potter is not a groundbreaking book that explores themes other classics , such as rascism and sexism, it shows other themes that rowling may have needed or wanted during her low times. Themes such as friendship, as shown  through the intense bond between harry, ron and hermione are routinely shown. 

In the latter books, Rowling makes a big deal of the importance of love. Through the character dumbledore, she says that nothing is stronger than the power of love, not even the most darkest magic in the series.

Other books that fit in this genre do not measure up in my opinion. While they focus on the action and the grave nature of obtaining such powerful magic, the Harry potter series have been a fascinating society out of it If one could leave such a world of its story and have it function alone, it would be parallel to ours. The book, creates the world to mirrors our own, and I think it does so flawlessly.

Peer Review Comments

For Kristine:
The tension between Arya and Eragon is vividly described here. I was very impressed as I read it, and felt the very same gush of emotions that you felt while reading the book. I agree with your praise of Paolini's writing. Reading your quotes form the text are inspiring me to once again re-read that series.

For Kiana:

Many of my questions are similar to Pedro: What questions did you pick to write about, what book are you even doing, and can you provide more background into the story?
You seem to only breach the surface of what the book is about. It would help more to explain deeper connections. I would have liked to see what questions you can pose for the development of the characters in this book.

For Camal:
Can you explain more of the story?  You elaborate on the conditions that the society that this book takes place, but you only briefly mention characters and nothing of the plot.

Final Book Post

The three questions I decided to pick for my blog post are:

· how would you describe the author's style of writing? What's your opinion of the style?

· Find out about the author. How did they end up writing this particular book? How is the author's life reflected in the book?

• If you've read other books in this same genre, how does this one compare?

J.K. Rowling style of writing is magical. Despite the fact that the world the characters dwell is purely intertwined, she pulls off the description of scenes and meaningful quotes by characters masterfully. In a world that lives along our own, J.K. Rowling is able to cross-reference events in history as well as circumstances in society using the protagonist Harry Potter. Potter has a perspective mounted in both “muggle” world and our own.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high.  Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.”

Rowling’s book appeal top her audiences so well by over-dramatizing Harry’s adolescent problems. Teenagers experience problems from growing up in today’s modern society, one that has grown to be more stressful and have higher expectations that decade3s before.

      It is explained in the later books that Harry has an inevitable job to fulfill, the slaying of the antagonist Lord Voldemort. Voldemort is made out to be invincible and is the greatest threat to the wizarding world in its history. Even though there have been other dark wizards like him, voldemort is the strongest and the most cunning. Even so, Coincidences intertwined into fate has created a prophecy for Harry to fulfill, as he must congquer the task of defeating Voldemort or the wizarding world will perish. I interpret Harry’s Quest as the obstacles and growing pains teenagers and adolescents today must go through to become adults. Once we conquer them, like Harry eventually does, all will be well. At the end of the series when Voldemort is vanquished, the laste sentence is “ and all was well”. Teenagers can take that sentence and an allegory for their problems so that once they have conquered them, all will be well.

            From what I have gathered, J.K. Rowling started writing the first book when she was homeless. A rumor was that’ the original copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone was written on pieces of Napkins. An article states:

“
Rowling returned to Britain in 1993, settling in Edinburgh, Scotland, to be near her sister. Divorced after a brief marriage in Portugal and now with a baby, she suffered through a period of poverty and depression while she struggled to earn a living and take care of her daughter, Jessica. It was during this difficult time that she finally completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the U.S. edition. When her publisher suggested she add a middle initial to her name, she chose that of her grandmother, Kathleen.”

Book POst

The three questions I decided to pick for my blog post are:

·  How would you describe the author's style of writing? What's your opinion of the style?

·  Find out about the author. How did they end up writing this particular book? How is the author's life reflected in the book?

• If you've read other books in this same genre, how does this one compare?

J.K. Rowling style of writing is magical. Despite the fact that the world the characters dwell is purely intertwined, she pulls off the description of scenes and meaningful quotes by characters masterfully. In a world that lives along our own, J.K. Rowling is able to cross-reference events in history as well as circumstances in society using the protagonist Harry Potter. Potter has a perspective mounted in both “muggle” world and our own.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high.  Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.”

            From what I have gathered, J.K. Rowling started writing the first book when she was homeless. A rumor was that’ the original copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone was writtin on pieces of Napkins. An article states:

“
Rowling returned to Britain in 1993, settling in Edinburgh, Scotland, to be near her sister. Divorced after a brief marriage in Portugal and now with a baby, she suffered through a period of poverty and depression while she struggled to earn a living and take care of her daughter, Jessica. It was during this difficult time that she finally completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the U.S. edition. When her publisher suggested she add a middle initial to her name, she chose that of her grandmother, Kathleen.”

Comments on other family history

Between me and other people who have written ahout their famiy history and posted it, i have seen many similarities. As the generation after the generation who immigrated to america during the 60s and 70s, there were many sotiries about my classmats parents immigrating to America, starting a new life. Most have been the same, after  a treagedy or a global event, they fled there original country to come to america for a new life. Mine is the same as theirs, after the world war, my parents, when they met, went to America to strart a new life.
Like others who posted about immigrating families, my bluhd vy troung wrote about immigrating families here:

" In
April 1899, my parents and the others sneaked their way onto the boats.
Unfortunately, my uncles and their family did not make it onto the boat
because the police have captured but my parents were able to get away.
On the small boat, that only fitted forty people, it would take them 7
days to get from Vietnam to the Philippines. My dad on the boat worked
on the machines and help with what he could on the boat. Since, he had
no money to pay the owner of the boat, my dad had to work for him
during the time. They would have to live 7 days without any food or
water, at one point my parents did not know how they were going to
survive.
When
they arrived to Palawan Philippines, they entered a refugee camp where
they would be living for the next couple of years, they were able to
leave the camp to get some food or anything they please. Both my
parents did not have any money and they were starving when they saw a
store and the people were eating food and drinking they could not stand
but had to get something. My mom decided to exchanged her wedding ring
for  Coca-Cola and that started their life in the Philippines."

Like vy, my parents immigrated to america. They had to leave their own contry and they left to america. However, i am very proud of tghis acvomplishment and they are good people.

The first edning if her mothers story on a hopeful note about teh creation of the joy luck club. This would inspire  a positive attitude into her child. the mother summarizes the creation that the four women came together through their lack of hope for the future. The neet and enjoy the present and forget about teh past, despite redicule they recieve other men and women of their community. The second story ends defferently, having a note of despraity, Fleeing from the japanese army, she takes her most importantn possesions and heads to a nearby city to avoid the army. Along the way, she grows very tired, so tired so that she starts shedding her belongings. Eventually, she has to drop everyhting, and only manages to carry her two children. In more despairty, she evetnaully has too leave them too. She becomes so tired that she recieves bodily harm.
I thin that she changes the story that she tells to her daughter because she doesn't want her to know about her past. This way her daughter has a hopeful idea about her future and her families past. She could also change due to the fact that her experience was very painful.

Why Chinese Mothers are superior

Chau's main point is this, : Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits and inner confidence that no one can ever take away."


even though Chau'sway of parenting seem to be effective and in the end her child was able to play the song correctly, I do not believe in her idea of progress. What she is doing is conforming her kids to her world view than progressing them. This type of parenting I am extremely against. I think that children should be able to explore their own exploits. With this sense of adventure, your own children are able to create their own world view in their world.  Chau aims to create successful children, rather than happy children. While I may be biased and westernized, I hold these truths to myself still. However, I agree with ehr censorship of the media and entertainment, as they are a nuisance rather than anything else. I do not think that they are helpful to anybodies learning or advancement.

However, I do not agree with her radical attempts to have her children get the material she wants down. She maintains a very rational and compartmentalizing point of view than can hampen the children world view. Mainting a happy perspective on behalf of the child is what think the most important part, but teaching them to be successful is also very important.

Quickwrite

 Orwellian writing often displays dystopian societies or governments than fall into on themselves. He displays mechanics of governance and the natural progression of the ever-revolving way we govern ourselves.

In the recent history of Egypt, their government has been toppled by the sheer will or protesters. Although this has progressed to angry revolt and violence, it still is a shining example of how democracy prevails.

Many parallels have been seen between the events in Egypt and the events of one of Orwell's books, “Animal Farm”. A story about the rise and fall of government, the plot alone is similar to Egypt's history. Symbols such as goonies or grunts carrying out the oppressive government agenda is seen in egypt and Animal Farm. Napoleon's dogs would represent Sulieman and his agents trying to stem the fervor than has seeped into Egypt.

Animal Farm Chapter 11

 Dark days have risen on the newly named Manor Farm. It's rich history of animal revolution and it's pioneering privileges to animals have been painted over as the pigs has risen up to mirror humans themselves. They have vaguely metamorphosed into tall, two legged beings, controlling the farm no longer with words and their dogs, but by whips and guns.

The elder animals have taken most of the abuse from the hard work. There tired bodies worn from age cannot handle the additional stress of the dystopian society formed.

The Old mare, Clover looks steadily off into the sunset every day hoping for change to come to The Manor Farm. Forlorn, lost and at the end of every animals rope, her feelings begin to speak for everybody.

Night fallen, the days work done, Clover walks around, enjoying the only silence see can experience. Her burns from the whip only just cooled from their contact.

Ruffling from a bush reveals a long lost idol: Snowball.

“ Snowball!” She says in feared amazement. “You, are not supposed to be here! Ever since you left with dogs at your heels, you've been demonized with false crimes.”

Panting and covered in sweat, Snowball said, “ I know Clover. It has been such a long time, all my comrades are so old or dead. But it could have only been now. When the oppressed become the oppressors is the time for revolution.”

“Revolution?” The old mare neighed, “There can't possibly be any talk about that. Napoleon will have us slaughtered with his dogs, and then our remains as slough!”

It is the only way future generations will live out our dream of the three day week! Where animals old and young can enjoy peace and happiness. That's Why I have come to you. You must spread dissent among the masses of animals. Spread Vandalism, destroy everything! Even the ten amendments along the barn wall, which was once so clear and pure, but now have been corrupt.”

With the end of this speech, the bushes have rustled even more. With the blood draining from his face, Snowball fled into the brush from where he came.

From then on, Such “random incidents of hate against the majestic Manor Farm” occurred. The fields soiled with salt, the wheat and barley slashed and burned. The hens eggs were pilfered and later seen cracked open in the watering hole where urine was also found. It wasn't until the a effort to stop the incidents when the Ten Amendments of the Animal Farm were found washed off and erased.

Patrols around the farm were scheduled day and night. Sure enough, the dissent snowball wanted had worked. Animals were afraid of what was to come. Rations were dropped in hope in lowering the occurrences of the incidents. The swift and clever governing Napoleon had constructed had trouble keeping its iron grip over the lower animals.

It wasn't until a dark night when Moses, the old raven, had awoken Clover in her sleep. Stating that he is an agent for Snowball in resurrection of the Manor Farm, he passed on the next thing Snowball wanted Clover to do.

“As further means to destroy the infrastructure of the Manor Farm, We should take hit their valuable asset. I want you to destroy the dynamo in the west windmill, hampering their economic output”

With her mission set, Clover knew what to do. Reaching the windmill, she was old and tired, but she thought she could finish this last mission, but had decided this would be her last.

Ramming the dynamo, one of Napoleon's dog came in.

Growling and in a offensive stance, Clover had surrendered her position.

The whole farm was brought to attention that Clover had been the one committing the crime. AS an open statement to her crimes and her affiliation with snowball, Napoleon appeared out of the house. With his pack of a faithful and strong dogs at his steed, he declared the execution of Clover.

As the dogs killed her, Moses the raven shrieked a fearful cry.

Her came down onto Napoleon, with a knife enclosed in his beak. With the dogs ravaging Clover corpse no one was able to defend Napoleon against the attack. As the knife pierced his heart, this whole oppression over the Manor Farm seem to evaporate onto itself.

Essay (my computer was down)

 In George Orwell's essay, “Politics and the English Language, he discusses how the English language's lax in formality is the cause of our general lack of intelligence. Stating that our civilization has become lazy and leading toward collapse, our language must accompany it. To reverse the collapse, we must think more clearly. We are unable to think more clearly however, due to the habits of thinking we have learned because of speaking the English language. Reversing the collapse by yourself I useless however, as it is impossible to change or affect a whole language by being just one person. It takes a large group of people to make a change and time, as language is natural mechanic of our existence. Our capabilities of speech have evolved over time and have become part of our anatomy as any other structural advantage. Therefore, language is not something we can shape and change depending on our wants. It changes depending on our needs, whether needing to be complicated, or in Orwell's case, uncomplicated.

Orwell tells us that not only does the decline of our language affects us mentally, but it will also have political and economical affects. Language is a mean to critical thinking and our world has thrived on critical thinkers since the industrial age. Inventors creating complicated machines and methods to mass produce items to have our civilizations ascend to a global scale. Without language, we would be no more than animals. Consequently, if our language suffers, so will our economy because we will not be able to create such dynamic tools as before. It will suffer because the complexity of our factories, our inventors will have decreased. The average intelligence will have gone down. Politically, we will not be able to move forward to democratic times, resulting in totalitarian rule because democarcy requires that the masses are informed and are educated. The decline of language shows the decline of intelligence.

I agree with Orwell's position on the decline of our language. People have become lazy with their tongues and means of lifestyle due to the decadent parts of our lifestyles. If we have no point to move forward, we can't stay put. We will only move back. If language suffers, so does our ability to communicate. This leads to the decline of langauge because of our bad habits. To elaborate on our bad habits, Orwell states that the English language, “becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thought are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts” (par.2) From my experience this is very true. We become very lazy because of the advance in our technology. Every year, people have a easier life than the year before. Because of this, it affects our language. This becomes a snowball affect; our langauge becomes affect, affecting our lifestyles, which affects our langauge, and so on. Therefore, we are unable to repair our language without political regeneration with out society.

Opening statement

 The voter base in America for years has been for everybody ages eighteen and on under the justification that they are educated enough to know they effects there vote has on their country. The voter age has been eighteen because people at that age seem to be educated enough to know what they are voting for, but should the voting age be lowered? I say it should, as lowering the voting age to six-teen will provide the option to young adults to vote on matters that will affect them when they are adults.
At eight-teen , you are able to be drafted into war, smoke, but not drink. As the voting age used to be 21, it had been lowered to eight-teen in the 26^th amendment on the grounds that in a draft you should have all your rights as a citizen. If you turn eight-teen as a draft is alive in our country, you would have had no choice to enter it or not. But, if the voting age was lowered to six-teen, new entrants into the army because of such a draft would have the choice to even start it. To avoid negative feelings, it should be lowered to prevent condemning unnecessary lives to warfare.

Students that are taught politics in school are politically active and denying their right to do so is destroying a useful voter base to stem stalemates between two parties. Marco Roth, a founding editor of politcal magazine n+1, states, in his article, “Lower the Voting Age!” that, “a lowered Voting age might just be the catalyst to help release our stalled democratic, revolutionary energies.” It will prove benefcial to our country to have this voter base and can provide a more politically active youth. The larger amount of voters would help end the fight between liberalism and republicanism, creatng bi-partisanship.

A lowered voting age would prove nothing but beneficial as having a wider base would be more fair and provide a cleaner point of view than older generations past. At six-teen, students are able to work a job and therefore pay taxes, so why shouldn't they have the right to vote too?

political power

 An trend has occurred in governments that when someone obtains power, they become completely corrupt. From the Romans, where Nero became a horribly corrupt ruler, to the United States and the scathing Water Gate scandal. It is human nature to use what we have as advantages over other people to gain for ourselves. Fighting for their seat in office, or simply having the throne passed down to the, people will use their power over others to gain for themselves. Leaders will be motivated to do what they want, whether it be money, indulgence, desire, because they have a whole nation for them to seize if from. However, as everything is in nature, nothing is identical.

There are the few, glorious leaders within out time who have cast aside their greed and desire, and have taken a step back. Knowing that they have a whole nation depending on them to improve life, they have actually done their job. Role models for all leadership, those who have a publicly clean slate in office, are the ones who have not been tainted by corruption. Shining examples from America have been Abraham Lincoln, JFK, and now, Barack Obama. They are the posters fr justice in government. Having not embellished funds, or sex scandals dirtying their reputation, they are free from corruption. There is something that makes them different however.

They have known the means to achieve their end. With a plan of justice, improvement, and a hint of cunning, they can and will improve the country, being seen as an actual leader. Unlike common leaders, who take from public funds, or tyrants whose whole country is built on sating their thrist, they have n9ot come into leadership without a plan. With knowing the means to their end, they can justify and execute their means. Each example has come into office with a goal, and each has more or less completed their goals

The answer to the question “does political power corrupt the people who attain it?” is a mix quandary. In a such a broad field, it is impossible to find a single certain trend that every instance follows.

Who ever said college isn't important?

 In today's growing economy, the selectivity of employer's has significantly increased with competition from oversea companies and employees working over long lines of communication, making it all the harder for the professionals to find a career in the local job search. To get ahead, however, it is important to know what employers look for. To become the best choice, it is necessary to get the best college education available.

With colleges nowadays being the most institutionalized form of post-high school education, you can find at least one university of community college in your immediate area, all offering classes and degrees. You can go anywhere to obtain skills that can be used in a job.

Despite this, where you go is important; having the best degree gets you the best job, from which you earn the most money. By these standards, you are “happy”; being more or less free from financial strains. On that note, the answer to the question, “Will you have a better life if you go to an elite college or university” is yes, based on how what college you went is seen by your employer and the quality of training you receive.

From Richard D Kahlenberg's article, “Does It Matter Where You Go To College?”, he states “We wage war in this country over affirmative action in higher education because people realize that attending a selective college with a large endowment offers numerous advantages, which can put students on a more favorable trajectory in life.” (http://www.nytimes.com)The wealth of a college makes it name known because money is power, and in this case, it is the power to teach. Slap any name onto Harvard and it will still be one of the best because of it's wealth. Kahlenberg uses this idea at his beginning of his article because it is the core of defining the difference between Hayward University nd Cambridge.

Obtaining your training from an elite college is almost a surefire way to have a more quliaty education. The reasoning behind that statement is common sense and coincides with the fact about money: the more you got, the more you can do.

However, determining if you are happy or not by what college you go to is a very poorly planned question. It is necessary to take out the factors of each individual person, any events that could negativly affect a person or any abnormalities someone might have.