Dominant Pressure

English IV

4 / 23 / 14

            Meursault mentions his thoughts about the indifference he feels about time, death and thoughts of other people, yet he is easily manipulated. "Hardly anyone listened [to Masson and Salamano when they] testified that [Meursault] was an honest man" in court (Camus 94). Masson and Salamano do not make that big of a difference in the court when defending Meursault. The majority of the crowd takes the position of most importance and concern in Meursault's mind because of this. Meursault yells to the chaplain "at the top of [his] lungs, and ... insulted him and told him not to waste his prayers on [Meursault]" (Camus 120). The pressure Meursault feels from other people exceeds his ability to control his thoughts and decide for himself. Toward the end he claims to have "opened [him] self to the gentle indifference of the world"  (Camus 122). Meursault's own opinion is present but not active. His last desire is that he wants "there to be a large crowd of spectators the day of [his] execution and that they greet [him] with cries of hate" (Camus 123). As a last thought before dying he is conquered by the pressure that has been put on him by the justice system and the majority of the people around him.

Bibliograhy: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Room For Change

English IV

4 / 16 / 14

            In The Stranger by Albert Camus, Mr. Meursault’s emotions and behavior are affected by the environment in which he is in. Meursault is a very honest character and is indifferent about what others think of his actions. At the beach, he initially claims that “the sun was overpowering. It shattered into little pieces on the sand and water.” (Camus 55). Meursault feels pressure from the sun and begins to feel uncomfortable. It is odd that in an environment where most people go to relax he feels as if he is being attacked by the environment. He goes on to compare the “sunlight” to “crashing” “cymbals” “on [his] forehead” and feels “as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire.” (Camus 59). This is an extreme and exaggerated interpretation of basic surroundings that are expected to be at the beach; pain is abundant in Meursault’s mind and it is created through his interpretations of the environment. As the heat intensifies Meursault's negative mood,he says that his body got tense and he "squeezed [his] hand around the revolver...[and] The trigger gave" (Camus 59). His action of shooting the gun is blamed on the heat and this makes Meursault look weak since he cannot accept that he causes his own actions. When Meursault is arrested and he gets interrogated he claims that "it all seemed like a game to [him]" (Camus 64). He seems like he lacks responsibility and as an adult, he seems relaxed as opposed to worried. In jail Meursault says that he "had lost the habit of analyzing [himself]" (Camus 65). As a sign of maturity, Meursault learns from his mistakes in prison. He realizes that he "couldn't get used to" the fact that he is a criminal (Camus 70). Since Meursault acts as an outcast of society, he is learning where he belongs and how he should change. Sadly, prison is the place that made him reflect on his wrong doings. Fortunately, his personality appears to have room for him to change and become a better man.

Bibliography:

The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Way of Expression

English IV

4 / 9 / 14

Focus: Style

            It is hard for Mr. Meursault to find his place in society. A big contribution to this aspect of his life is Meursault's lazy, and nonchalant personality. He starts off by saying his "Maman died" and he is not sure exactly when (Camus 3). In comparison to other humans, he could be considered a strange cold man. He talks in very short sentences. For example, he replies "Yes, sir." when speaking with a person who knows about his mother (Camus 5). He does not put in an effort to express himself with the intent to carry on a conversation through the use of short sentences. What he says does not reflect any characteristic of his feelings. He is very direct because he is indifferent about what people think of what he says.

Bibliography:

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Paragraph on Patterns you detect in Meursault in The Stranger

Write a paragraph on patterns in Camus

·         30-minute in-class writing (which you can revise at home and turn in next day)

1.       Paper copy or type and email to instructor

2.       By the end of the week, post to your blog

·         TEA Body paragraph style: 1) ASSERT (topic sentence makes a claim), 2) EVIDENCE (quote(s) or examples, 3) ANALYSIS (discuss and explain evidence, and 4) CLOSER (explain how your assertion explains the text and/or the narrator).

·         1^st: Focus on a topic or a pattern you’ve detected in the writing (and that interests you).

·         Choose one:

1.       How does the writing style match the narrator’s view of life? Analyze examples.

2.       How do Meursault’s physical needs take precedence over social or emotional needs? Analyze examples.

3.       How does Meursault relate to people (Marie, Maman, Salamando, or Raymond)? Analyze one or two examples.

4.       A different pattern that you detect in the text and Meursault.

·         Analyze your example(s).

·         Craft an assertion to open your body paragraph.

·         By the end of your paragraph, write a closing to your paragraph connects your assertion, evidence, and analysis to what we are learning about Meursault as a character.

·         Revise your paragraph for clarity, grammar, sentence structure, or meaning.

·         Email your paragraph to the instructor and post it on your blog.

STYLE: How does the writing style perfectly match Meursault’s point of view?  ‘I was tired.’ (12)

PHYSICAL: Find examples of how Meursault’s physical needs are more important than his emotional needs. Washing hands. (25) Heat and light bother him. Hunger (47) Smoking. Physical thrills/attraction.

SHOULD: Meursault wonders about social conventions and “shoulds.” Should he have viewed the body?

RELATES: How does Meursault relate to others?

HABITUATION: Repetition and routine gets you used to anything. (Salamano)

YOUR CHOICE: Find a pattern in the book and analyze examples of it

Third Quarter Improvements

My main third quarter improvement has been organizing my essay ideas in a very structured way. This has led me to write my essays at a more constant advancing pace. In addition, I now write faster with more vocabulary, I can notice and correct flaws that mislead the readers of my writing. Overall, I have become aware of the writing methods that fit me the most. The new writing methods I use help me explore my creativity and improve my ideas and concepts. I use this method without doubting it and it has been a great tool.

Fahrenheit 451 Essay Planning

Text Support:

- After the poem is read to Mrs. Phelps, Montag looses it and becomes angry at her for getting sad. (Pg. 98) Montag has a clear point of view and that is that he believes books are a good thing.

- Montag's relationship with his wife looses strength just as his tolerance for the way that the society he lives in works. (Pg. 110) Montag explains how his wife will forget him how in his house would be filled with the fire that could represent the passion that never existed in his marriage.

- Montag's wife turned him in as well as her friends as he is told by Commander Beatty. (Pg 110) Followed up by Commander Beatty mocking him, this only leads Montag becoming enraged at the system and does not allow him to recapacitate/rethink/reflect his actions and fall into the plan of Commander Beatty. If Commander Beatty was clever enough to use a different strategy to make Montag change his opinion, maybe the rest of the book would not have unfolded as violently.

- Montag's actions (Pg. 94) He shows a book.

- Montag and Faber both become a good combination and Montag can relate to Faber. (Pg. 99) Faber does help Montag search for his identity.

- When Montag thinks of Faber he gains strength (Pg.117).

Fahrenheit 451: Essay Planning

What characteristics of Guy Montag allowed him to change his perspective of society? Who was involved in increasing these characteristics on Montag and how?

Montag: Easily influenced, open minded, risk taker, brave, confused, uncertain, doubtful, fast thinker ( got the clues of how relevant books could be after seeing the lady hold on to her house with books, feels oppressed, anxious to be free and how to achieve freedom.

People involved in giving Montag a new perspective: Clarisse, Faber, old lady burning house experience, reading the book infront of Ms. Phelps.

Intro Paragraph:

Body Paragraph 1:

Clarisse had the most impact on Montag’s thoughts, she taught him how to question the circumstance and society they were in.

Body Paragraph 2:

Body Paragraph 3:

Conclusion Paragraph:

Essay Ideas About Fahrenheit 451

-What three things made Guy Montag change?

-Differences and similarities between Guy Montag and Commander Beatty.

-What characteristics of Guy Montag make him open to new ideas?

-What character or characters are similar to Guy Montag?

Fahrenheit 451, The Evolution of Montag

After living for a long time in a society where socialization turns into speaking about topics that barely require any thought and everything is very superficial, Montag decides to stand up to the people's way of living. He does this by picking up a book and attempting to make everybody realize that written works and knowledge can have a greater, better and more productive impact on society than what is considered to be tolerant and common in that society. Montag's actions have led Commander Beatty to believe that he is carrying some books and Montag seems uncomfortable after he shared the poem with his circle of friends. By doubting on himself, he has caused anxiety to dawn upon him and he attempts to have control over the situation during his talk with commander Beatty during the card game.

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly

Michael Connely, the author of The Fifth Witness, gives a very clear description of the scenes that take place in this book. He also gives the reader the perfect amount of background information about the settings in order to understand what is going on in the story. This book starts off by introducing Mrs. Pena, who is a home owner with her house on the edge of being taken away from her since she has not payed her rent for nine months. In addition, the main character, Mickey, introduces Mr. Rojas who is his driver and translator. Mickey is a lawyer and has his office in his car from which he visits his clients during the house crisis somewhat earlier than 2012 in Los Angeles. I am looking forward to what will happen after the first chapter since in the end of it Mickey gets a shocking phone call where he is informed of the murder one of his clients has comitted unexpectedly. This phone call makes him reschedule all of the meetings he has later that day.

Fahrenheit 451: Children's Roll

         In Ender's Game, the children are trained to become the best soldiers or commanders that have ever existed. Most of the children have an abnormal childhood and live by very strict military guidelines. There unreasonably is no freedom, except for during breaks and command choices during battle. Similarly, in Fahrenheit 451 people are not allowed to do the majority of the things they would like to do. For example, people can not even perform basic activities like reading about topics or book genres that interest them. The children in Fahrenheit 451 are represented as the spark of a possible revolution in an abnormal society. The girl that Montag meets causes him to realize his true emotions and really question the reasons for why their society is the way it is.

Discussion Questions on Ender

Why did humans not try to establish communication with the Buggers?

(General)

Why does Bonzo feel anger toward Ender?

Pg. 86

Why does the battle school manage every aspect of the children's lives?

Pg. 109

What could be the specific outcome of a child that grows up in a very closed and controlled environment in the battlefield?

Pg. 109

Ender, Weekend Reading

Throughout his challenges set forth by the leader commanders, Ender keeps calm and makes the right moves and decisions that eventually prove him to be the best out of the rest of his team members. He knows how to command people, uses his instinct more than other people and develops a sense of independence. As he gets toughened up through his experiences with other rough team members, he leaves his weaker self behind and becomes the better version of Peter. Ender represents justice in the book and he becomes successful in taking a stand for himself and earning the respect of his team members.

Second Semester

I am glad that I will have more free time in my hands since I am done with college apps. I would read some books of different genres to see how much I have improved in the aspect of reading and comprehending by myself on my free time. I believe that doing this would be productive and relaxing. In addition, this activity could increase my interest in reading. The more I practice this, the more I could improve my English and achieve the goals I set for myself to be achieved by the end of this senior year. By the time that this second semester ends, I want to be able to improve my grammar, increase my vocabulary, improve my reading skills, and improve my essay writing skills. If our work is shared among our class, I am willing to hear back what my classmates think about my progress.