On Close Reading

In Peter Rabinowitz "On Close Reading" he dicusses the different types of reading on the effects they have on the reader.I enjoy how he understands that people shoudn't read just one way because doing so will not allow your mind to correctly appreciate written works.This piece helps you realize the importance of being open minded & explains the conflicts that will be encountered if readers don't.This piece was eye-opening & detailed.

On Minimalist Fiction

In John Barth's "Minimalist Ficton" he discusses what minimalist fiction is & preaches less is more.I found it a bit ironic how the piece is about minimalist but it included so much extra information in parentheses.Ernest Hemingway's quote gave life to the whole piece and simplified it.He basically described how being concise in writing allows readers to understand the piece better & feel closer to it.This piece allowed me to appreciate minimalist just as much as non-minimalist.

On the Dangers of Reading Ficton

In Thomas Jeffersons " On the  Dangers of Reading Fiction" he gives a detailed account of his dislike of fiction.He makes a few main points which include,time lost,mind poisoning, & poor judgement to give examples of why reading ficton is dangerous.I agree with what he is saying to an extent because if the reader has a balance of both fiction & non-fiction the non-fiction can help delete some of the negative effects of reading ficton.On the bright side he admits ficton is not all bad because it helps the reader develop a "sound morality" and if the reader indulges in the right kind of poetry the can appreciate complex writing.This was very informative & enjoyable.

On the Differences Between Poetry & Prose

In T.E Hulme's "On the Differences between Poetry & Prose" he uses this piece to signify poetry is better than prose.He begins by comparing prose to algebra which I thought was excellent because it really made you understand his point.Most people probably wouldn't think to compare english to math which I enjoyed.I also enjoyed how he pointed out poetry is appealing to the sense which strengthens his point while giving you a better idea of the greatness ofpoetry.Reading this piece opened my mind & allowed me to appreciate poetry and the creativity it allows.It also made me think of prose as a literary prison.

Figuring Out Metaphors: Reflection

In John R. Searle's Figuring Out Metaphors he doesn't answer any of the questions people have about metaphors and I kind of wish he would have.He basically just stated a few facts and theories about metaphors.Personally I enjoy the subject matter of the poem and appreciate metaphors.If poetry lacked metaphors it would not be as vibrant and as luring as it usually is.Metphors are very esstianal to poetry and rap as well which is another reason I enjoy them.Even though sometimes they are complicated to understand they help enrich our minds and train our brains to think harder.All in all the poem was enjoyable.

Reflection:On the Words in Poetry

This poem is intriguing and easy for me to relate to. I feel a similar way about poetry but I don't look at it the same way as the author does and I probably don’t have as much passion as he did either.. From the poem you can tell how passionate the author is about poetry and words. It is interesting to discover the author pretty much grew up hearing poetry and how that shaped him into what he is today. It is also interesting that even though he didn't understand what was being said to him as a young child he still managed to find appreciation. The author looks at poetry different then most because of the way he breaks it down and sees words for more than just words. The poem was pretty good and total and made me interested in his other works.

Reflection for Introduction to Poetry

I enjoy the way Collins unusually describes his passion for poetry.It makes all other comparisons shallow.He is more gentle and careful with the poem than the other correspondences.He understands how to get the meaning out of poetry the correct way.I agree with his methods of analysis for poetry it gives you a better feel of it if you do it his way.The poem was short but very full of meaning which is another reason I like it.There is a great use of imagery and it makes you think of everything he describes all in all the poem was interesting and did a good job of displaying the relationship between two perspectives of literature. 

Then,Now,Forever

Taking AP Language was one of the best choices I made this year. This course allowed me to accomplish things that wouldn’t be possible with an average class. It has also changed a few habits that I have picked up over time. For, instance I have learned how to manage my time and the consequences of being disorganized.AP Language was a course that was very enlightening and helped my intellectual development. This class, the lessons and my teacher were absolutely perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It was nice to have a class with a teacher who engages with the students instead of ignoring their existence. I was allowed to push myself and not let the rumors I heard about the class scare me. Actually, it wasn’t as bad as people made it seem; because it’s all about perseverance and dedication. . I think that I did well in this class overall and worked really hard. This class was a great experience for me and installed lessons that will last a life time.

It Can't Be That Bad?

Many people are familiar with Henna tattoos since they are common at carnivals festivals etc. but many are not familiar with the dangers that can come with getting Henna. People would like to believe that it is a safe and temporary but Henna artist are being sneaky and using black Henna instead of genuine traditional Henna. By using Black Henna which contains PPD, para-phenylenediaime it can cause skin to blister, swell and become highly irritated. 100% pure henna stains skin in some color between orange, red, burgundy, brown or coffee. The FDA classifies 100% pure henna as so safe for hair that it is exempt from regulation. These are a few ways to identify black henna:

PPD paste is jet black.
Ask how long it takes to stain and how long it lasts. If the answers are "just an hour or two" and "a week or more", its PPD.
Ask what color it will give. If the answer is "pure black", it's PPD.
Ask to see an ingredients list. If the artist can't supply one, or you don't like what you see, walk away.

Additional information about genuine Henna:

Artists often add essential oils such as Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Cajeput and others to henna paste to "terp" them, and make the stain quicker and darker. If these are from aromatherapy grade essential oils containing monoterpene alcohols, this is a safe and effective way to make henna very dark. Many of these give wonderful results are fragrant and harmless.  Some may cause minor skin irritation.

Before people get Henna they should make sure it is natural and not Black Henna or else they will suffer the consequences. Henna tattoos are pretty awesome beside the fact of Black Henna and people should do research before getting one.

It's So Easy!

Lately gun control has been a major issue in society and this picture is a perfect depiction of why it needs to be enforced. It is clear to see how easy it was for the criminals to access the guns and once the people get a hold of the guns they will be able to do just as much damage as the characters in the cartoon. As you can see from the captions the customers assumed they wouldn’t pass a background check because of their terrible history but yet the worst of all people were allowed to get guns anyway. This cartoon is an exact replica of what occurs in real life and it upsets me how easily guns land in the wrong hands.

If society enforces a stricter gun control the world will see a decrease in violence. Since the 2000’s homicides and mass murders have been on a rise. For example, the shooting that occurred at Virginia Tech University, which can be considered the worst shooting that the U.S. has seen so far, killed 32 people died on April 2007.Speaking of America it is in the top list of the number of people killed from guns and homicides which is proof that gun control is needed and it is easy for people with bad intentions to get weapons.

I really agree with the message the cartoon is sending and hopefully the world will do a better job with gun control. It saddens me every time I tune into TV and it is broadcasting another murder. Too much violence has already occurred and hopefully laws will be tightened so there will not be much more.

Human Trafficking: A Road to Destruction

 Did you know that January is National Human Trafficking month?  Few are aware that the month let alone the problem exists however “Every year, up to 800,000 people worldwide – mostly girls and women – become the victims of human trafficking.”(ABC news) This really bothers me because I’ve seen numerous documentaries and heard many stories about it and its really messed up that people have to endure a lifestyle as such. It really sickens me to know that people would take others and hold them hostage or make them sex slaves. How could people do such a thing? The saddest part of it all is that people are minimally aware of sex/human trafficking and as a result the victims are not receiving the amount of help they could have possibly had.

“Human trafficking endangers the lives of millions of people around the world, and it is a crime that knows no borders,” according to the presidential proclamation. “Trafficking networks operate both domestically and transnationally, and although abuses disproportionally affect women and girls, the victims of this ongoing global tragedy are men, women, and children of all ages.” All of this is very true about human trafficking and is why it needs to be abolished, prevented, and brought to the public’s attention.

Here are the facts about sex trafficking: Most often the victims are females between the ages of five and twenty-five with the average age range being twelve to fourteen.” (Crisis Aid) "There is no one profile that encapsulates the "typical" client. Men who purchase women are both rich and poor, Eastern and Western. Often they are married and have children, and in some cases such as was reported the New York Times men have sex with trafficked girls instead of abusing their own young children."(Slavery's New Face) All of this information is very scary to me because so many people are enslaved and it is hard to determine who are the victims and victimizers. Also, if they victims are to be freed they will be emotionally unstable and mentally disturbed. They will also be haunted with daily reminders of what their life was once like and possible turn back into what they once were.

Human trafficking is a major problem and thankfully there are ways you can raise awareness such as:  Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization. Volunteer to do victim outreach or offer your professional services to a local anti-trafficking organization. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about human trafficking in your community. Join or establish a university or secondary school club to raise awareness about human trafficking and initiate action throughout your local community. Consider doing one of your research papers on a topic concerning human trafficking. Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal government representatives to let them know that you care about combating human trafficking in your community, and ask what they are doing to address human trafficking in your area. Taking these small steps can lead to a big change.