Best of/Worst of...

What was your favorite poem? Your least favorite poem? Why?
My favorite poem was "We Real Cool" because I thought it was relatable and it was simple. My least favorite was "Ode on a Grecian Urn" because I found it hard to understand.

What was your favorite short story? Your least favorite short story? Why?
My favorite short story was "The Things They Carried" because I think it gives you an inside to what military is like and how there are thinking and feeling. My least favorite was probably "Bartleby, the Scrivener" because it was kind of slow and hard to stay with it.

Should next semester's ENGL150 students read Death of a Salesman?
I think so, yes, there is a lot of interesting aspects to it that are important and still relatable to today.
How did you feel about watching Hollywood versions of Bartleby and Death of a Salesman? Is there utility in seeing a visual version of something you're responsible to read?
I think watching the films helped bring the understanding together and gave me an aspect of looking at it that reading them just doesn't give you. It was helpful in bringing together the discussions as well.

What was your favorite in-class activity? What was your least favorite in-class activity?
My favorite in class activity was being able to get into groups to discuss what we read. I think this gives you a chance to get new information that you may not have gotten yourself from the readings. My least favorite activity was the whole class discussions because I think a lot of people didn't feel comfortable talking but in small groups it wasn't as intimidating. I am guilty of this as well, I always do better sharing ideas in smaller groups.

You'll notice that I didn't have your small groups present (even though the syllabus claimed you would). Did you miss that? Would you have rather that whole-class discussions were led by students doing presentations?
I did not miss that, I don't think having to present material would have been any more beneficial than just discussing it. I think whole class discussions can maybe be started with individuals bringing up their P assignments and talking about what they wrote about but I don't think they necessarily need to do "presentations". I do think that each person should have to talk about a P assignment though. I never did but I would have if I had been called upon to discuss.
Finally, what are your feelings on the creative blog entries? Which entry did you enjoy most? Least?
I thought the blog was an interesting aspect to the class. I really didn't mind doing any of them, I haven't had to do any creative writing for quite some time so it was kind of fun. My least favorite blog entry was the sestina/13 ways because those were tricky poems to write. My most favorite was probably the faux Facebook because you had to get into character and relate to the story.

"Grandpa" Willy

Biff telling his son about Willy.

Well son, your grandpa was a complicated man. He was a man with a lot of pride, and he worked hard all his life to try to give me and your Uncle Happy the best. Growing up he was gone a lot, he was a traveling salesman you see, so he wasn't home very much. When he was home though, he was always talking about how proud he was of us. We would help him and Mom out with chores, and he seemed to always like that. As he got older though, it was harder and harder to be around him. I don't know where he went so wrong. I guess I shouldn't bother you with all that, but what's important is that he was a proud man, and he loved what he did. Have I ever told you how proud of you I am? I hope you know that, Grandpa seemed to forget how proud he was of me as he got older. I hope I never put you through what I went through. I still loved him though. He was my pop, just like I'm your pop. You will do good in life, I can tell. No get going on that Chevy, remember how I showed you?

Linda's Diary

August 15, 1934
Dear Diary,
Will has come home from work, another successful day. I am so proud of him. The boys are doing so well too. They seem to idolize Willy so much. I hope they grow up to be successful men, just like their dad. I went and bought some new stockings today, we had extra money after the bills were paid so I thought I would treat myself. I really am living the American dream. We have a home, a new car, my boys are doing great in school and Willy is doing wonderful at work. Life is good. Now if only Biff could get his grades up, that would be the icing on the cake. New York this time of year is beautiful. Fresh air, I love sitting outside on a day like today and enjoying my family.


April 23, 1956
Dear Diary,
Well, Biff has come home again. Things just seem to be getting harder and harder for him. I don't know what to do anymore. Willy is going downhill and I have nobody to talk to about it. Willy has gotten into another wreck in his car, he keeps telling me it's an accident but I know better. I am just as worried about money but you don't see my trying to off myself, heavens no. I couldn't do that to my boys. I just wish Happy and Biff knew what they were doing with their lives, things would be so much easier if I didn't have to worry about all three of them. I'm tired. The bills aren't paid and we have no money coming in, what am I going to do? I can't talk to Willy about it, he is getting worse every day. I have to stay strong.

The Lottery

In the short story "The Lottery" written by Shirley Jackson, the premise of equality is very apparent. I will be discussing 'Man's ability (and need) to rationalize generally unacceptable actions.' This story is about the whole town, of roughly 300 people, that get together every summer for the lottery. Unfortunately, this is the kind of lottery you do not want to win, since your prize is to be stoned to death. I think this town is used to going about their lives in such a way that daily routines are like a ritual. They have been doing the same things, with the same people for years. According to Old Man Warner, this is his ""77th time" being in the lottery. It was just something that they had always done, and people were used to it. There was talk of stopping the lottery, but that seemed all there was, just talk. These people that lived in this town knew no different, and even though the lottery was such a terrible thing, they thought it was what you were supposed to do. I think they rationalize their actions based on the fact that things had been that way for so long, why change them. Children grew up knowing nothing different, probably even thinking this was the right thing to do. I can see the same thing happening today, currently an issue is gay marriage. People think that it is such a horrible thing because they don't believe in it, based on religion, or how they were brought up, but either way, there are those people that just don't think it's right. Comparing that situation to The Lottery, where those people do think that stoning people, based on chance, on the luck of the draw, is an okay thing to participate in. They don't know any different, but this lottery is kind of like religion, in that it is something that the community is involved in together, like a church, and they believe that this is the only way, like believing in a certain religion. People tend to justify their actions based on acceptace from their peers as well, and I think that is something that is always going on around society, no matter what the issue is, but whether or not the actions are bad or good, if there are enough people involved, there are ways to fit in and adjust to what is going on around you.

Facebook

Charlotte Gilman

-My husband John and my brother are both Doctors, but they think nothing is wrong with me...Please, I think I would know! Anyone can google it...

-I'm stuck in this awful place, this beautiful, albeit haunted, mansion...FML

-This room...is it any wonder I'm depressed all the time, this horrible wall paper...and the bars on the windows...really, what is up with that?!

-At least I have my writing...I love to write...I just have to make sure that nobody catches me...talk to you later.

-So I found some interesting information about depression, check this out
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004481/
I wonder if I should have never had a baby...am I a horrible mother?

-I would love to get out...I miss seeing people but it is so exhausting

-Well, we just had some people over for the 4th, that was interesting to say the least, I'm actually relieved that it's over...I was right, entertaing people certainly is exhausting, Goodnight!

-It's another day and I am finally alone with my thoughts, I so love to write. Hello all, I have been trying to figure out this horrible wallpaper...I think this house may be haunted but I'm not sure. I keep seeing something and I don't know if it is just me...or if there really is something there...

-Seriously check this out...isn't it hideous?! This is what I have to live with!

-I finally figured out how to get this hideous wallpaper off of the walls...Project!!! If only I could figure out how to get these damn bars off the windows!

-Okay you guys, I know that I keep talking about this ridiculous wallpaper, but I totally did it, I worked my ass off but I got it all off...ahh peace!

-Hey, I might not be on here for a while, I'm taking a trip. I'm finally free...FINALLY. Just wait and see...I'm finally free!!! :)

Boy

Make sure you say 'Thank You'; Pull your pants up; Don't leave your video games out on the floor or Mom will step on them; Clean up your room; Put a belt on; Be polite; Wash your hands often; When you go to the store, make sure you count your money; Put your helmet on before you ride your bike; Put your dishes away so Mom doesn't have to; Put your laundry away; I always try to pick up after myself; Pick up the dog poop out of the yard; Put your bike away so it doesn't get stolen; Don't be the hoodlum you are destined to become; Move your skateboard so Mom won't trip over it; Dress your best for church on Sunday; Pull your pants up; When you go to the store, make sure you buy a belt; Mow the lawn every week; Keep the cars washed and waxed; Fix the broken hinge; Keep oil in your dirt bike; Clean up after yourself so Mom doesn't have to; Be on your best behavior; Stay out of trouble; I never get into trouble; Don't be a hoodlum, like I'm certain you are already becoming.

Dialogue

Two girls run into each other in the hallway at school, this is their conversation.

 Girl 1: “Hey, what are you doing?”

 Girl 2: “Not much, just getting ready to head home. What’s up?”

 Girl 1: “Oh nothing, I was just going to see what you were doing Friday.”

 Girl 2: “We have no plans yet.”

 Girl 1: “Well you do now. We are going to John’s cousin’s house to play darts and drink clam diggers. I’m calling one!”

 Girl 2: “Okey dokey, it’s a plan.”

 Girl 1: “Yay, I’m so excited, we haven’t hung out in forever. You guys will get along well with Jon’s cousin too.”

 Girl 2: “Cool, sounds fun.”

 Girl 1: “So I’m studying for my Sociology exam later.”

 Girl 2: “Sounds fun, I’m going to be studying for an exam myself.”

 Girl 1: “Well, I thought you said you still had your old flash cards and notes from Soc right?”
 Girl 2: “Yeppers.”

 Girl 1: “Well would you mind if I borrow them? Do you have the old tests too?”

 Girl 2: “Yea you can borrow them, I have to find them first though. The exams won’t help you, I know she changes them every year and from what I remember, we had the exam and an answer sheet so it won’t help you.”

 Girl 1: “Oh okay, that’s fine. I would still like to borrow your notes and stuff.”

 Girl 2: “Sure, no problem.”

 Girl 1: “Okay, thanks. I am going to get ready and then come over later, probably around 7:30 or so, is that okay?”

 Girl 2: “That would be fine. Maybe we can hang out for a little bit?”

 Girl 1: “Great, see you later.”

Girl 2: "Okay, bye."

Both girls leave the room.