Grammar Girl

Meet my new hero, Grammar Girl.  Check out her podcasts for grammar tips.  I have added her to my itunes and get a weekly updated podcast for free.  You should do the same.  

Grammar Girl logo compliments of:  Grammar girl (online image).  http://podbean.com, December 13, 2008.  

Work Over Break

I am going light on the homework over break for several reasons.  One being that by definition, break implies a rest from work.  Reason number two is purely selfish; I do not want to come back from break and have to correct a ton of work.  Reason number three is because I would like to see all of you read for enjoyment over break.  If you are looking for any book recommendations you can check out what I am reading at shelfari or goodreads.  Sign up and add me as a friend.   I would LOVE to set up another page on our wiki for book recommendations and discussions if enough of you are interested.    

The final book in the Twilight series

For all of you Twilight fans out there- here is a partial draft of the final novel in the series- Midnight Sun

It is a retelling of Twilight from Edward's point of view.

Twilight

Under the recommendation of several students I have been reading the Twilight series. I have read the first two and am sort of stuck on the third. I see the appeal for students, forbidden love is always a good story. However, I have some issues with the protagonist. She always is in need or rescuing. Come on ladies, we don't need a man to rescue us, even if he is a dashingly handsome vampire. I want a strong protagonist who rescues the guy for once. If you really want a story of forbidden love, read Romeo and Juliet or for a lighter approach try A Midsummer Night's Dream.
This weekend I went to the movies to see The Changeling, but somehow messed up the times and ended up going to see Twilight. Just another case of the book being better than the movie. The actress who plays Bella only seems to have one expression and relies on it, no matter what the circumstance. Her character seemed just as weak in the movie as it does in the novels.
I heard on the radio this morning that the movie quickly hit number one this weekend, with a primary audience of young women ages 15-25. Who else saw this movie? What are your thoughts?

Movie Poster Compliments of: Twilight Movie Poster (Online Image). http://itsderrick.wordpress.com, November 24, 2008.

The Politics of Language

After reading Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language"
and discussing it in class, I have come to several conclusions. The first one being how smart all of you are. I thought this essay would be more troublesome reading for all of you and you proved me wrong. Your ability to draw out the main points and understand some of the complex ideas Orwell discusses amazed me. As far as what Orwell is discussing, I keep coming back to a line from Hamlet, "Brevity is the soul of wit." Of course, it isn't quite so simple, but the ideas are similar. Say what you mean, mean what you say. There is no need to flower our ideas with big words or unnecessary adjectives in an attempt to make ourselves sound smarter or worse yet, to conceal the fact we might not be saying anything at all.

Orwell's six rules are:

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

Never use the passive where you can use the active.

Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Identify the Propaganda Techniques

What is being implied in this ad? What is the effect of the statement "Big Brother is Watching You"? What sort of technique is the creator using to influence behavior?

What is being implied by "Victory Waits on Your Fingers"? Does this make absolute sense? What technique is being used here?

Appealing to patriotism is a technique, what is it?


Works Cited:
Save food (Online Image). Available http://www.iqpoquioson.org/propaganda12.jpg November 18, 2008.
Victory Waits (Online Image). Available http://www.truepropaganda.com November 18, 2008.
Big Brother (Online Image). Available http//www.pphase.com/robert_sackett.com November 18, 2008.

1984 Introduction

1984 cartoon (online image) Available: http://www.hermes-press.com/1984.jpg
November 11, 2008.

Propaganda is all around us. This year's election was no exception. In the week prior to election day I received at least one "robo-call" a day, in an effort to influence my decision. In The Fine Art of Propaganda, the IPA stated that "It is essential in a democratic society that young people and adults learn how to think, learn how to make up their minds. They must learn how to think independently, and they must learn how to think together. They must come to conclusions, but at the same time they must recognize the right of other men to come to opposite conclusions. So far as individuals are concerned, the art of democracy is the art of thinking and discussing independently together." This year National Honor Society conducted a mock election. They are now in the process of conducting a survey to figure out what influences people to make decisions. Are we adequately informed? Are our thoughts and decisions controlled by what we see in the media? Turn on the television, what do you see? Go online, what happens? Read a magazine or newspaper- is the information you are receiving completely unbiased? It is hard to avoid being bombarded with messages in this technology age we live in today. Look around you. In what ways is the media trying to influence you? Check out this site on propaganda for more information.