Cookie Monster : 'C is for Cookie, and that's good enough for me!' Cookie Monster has been a icon to a lot of children and adults throughout the ages. Created by Oz and Hanson the Cookie Monster is infatuated by nothing but cookies. Some say that the Cookie Monster is Oz's own id, with no control what so ever. Through their Healthy Habits for Life campaign, Sesame Street's producers tried to control Cookie Monsters obsession by having other characters tell him it was only a "sometimes food" and he might be replaced by the Veggie Monster.
Dora The Explorer : Dora has had a very positive impact on children ever since she debuted in 2000. Dora is a bilingual, exploring latina 7 year old who only wants to explore and encourage kids to do the same. Dora and her accomplices Boots and Backpack help along the way. Dora was introduced to help kids with common spanish terms and the producers wanted an interactive children's show. Dora promotes activity and imagination. She is important in our culture today because she teaches kids about other cultures while having fun.
One character that I find intriguing is Stephanie Plum from the Janet Evanchoic series. Stephanie is outgoing, intense and always up for a sometimes seemingly impossible challenge. Stephanie is a mid 30s woman who just got laid off from her safe job as a travel agent. In order to get by she must take a job with her cousin; he offers bounty hunting services for the local court. Stephanie, without any prior experience, takes the challenge in stride. She demonstrates a strong female character that many young women can look up to. She doesn't rely on the men around her like she is told to by her father. Stephanie usually strikes out on her own, or sometime with another female companion, to solve her case. Even though she is a strong and independent woman, Stephanie doesn't rule out all men. She is love sick for an old childhood friend, Joe Morelli. I believe that Stephanie is a well balanced character, that not many know, who could potentially help women, or even men, in their everyday struggles by providing them with insight.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Stories
Part 1: Stories are a very important to everyones childhood. Stories provide a glimps into a different life. Also when kids are read stories they can drift on into their own imagination and can expand on the story at hand. Imagination is a huge part of childhood giving kids a place to escape and have fun. Kids also learn morals and important life lessons in the stories they're told.
Part 2: When older people read stories they also are provided with an escape. They read stories for all different reasons. Some may read for consolement, joy, a good laugh or self help. Stories can provide people with an area to connect with other people they never knew. Older people can get important life lessons out of stories as well.
Part 3: Stories are important to our nation because they can provide a common ground around the country. Someone in rural North Dakota could read a book off of the New York Times Best Sellers List and get the same experience out of the book as someone in the Upper West Side of New York City. Or on the other hand they might have radically different views on the book. Also, stories provide grounds for discussions. Everyone has had a different experience in their life and therefore can bring a different view to the story. This can help other people understand other people lives and to connect with them.
Part 4: I remember stories from my childhood such as; Goodnight Moon, Marti and the Mango, Bertie and the Bear, Oh My a Fly!, and The Postman Series. All of these stories, and many more, stand out to me because my mom and dad read them to me and I always cherished time with them. The stories also helped me imagine new things in life and mental stimualtion. They are all fun stories and I look back on them fondly.
Part 2: When older people read stories they also are provided with an escape. They read stories for all different reasons. Some may read for consolement, joy, a good laugh or self help. Stories can provide people with an area to connect with other people they never knew. Older people can get important life lessons out of stories as well.
Part 3: Stories are important to our nation because they can provide a common ground around the country. Someone in rural North Dakota could read a book off of the New York Times Best Sellers List and get the same experience out of the book as someone in the Upper West Side of New York City. Or on the other hand they might have radically different views on the book. Also, stories provide grounds for discussions. Everyone has had a different experience in their life and therefore can bring a different view to the story. This can help other people understand other people lives and to connect with them.
Part 4: I remember stories from my childhood such as; Goodnight Moon, Marti and the Mango, Bertie and the Bear, Oh My a Fly!, and The Postman Series. All of these stories, and many more, stand out to me because my mom and dad read them to me and I always cherished time with them. The stories also helped me imagine new things in life and mental stimualtion. They are all fun stories and I look back on them fondly.
Part 5: What a good story should have: 1. A character that people can relate to. 2. An interesting climax that people get sucked into. 3. Word choice that is vivid and grabs the reader's attention the entire way through. 4. A plot that has purpose and is interesting. 5. Supporting characters that are either loveable or dislikable. 6. A resolution that doesn't leave the reader "hanging".
A good character is one that the reader can relate to either through their own life experiences or someone they know. If a reader can connect to the character they are more likely to be interested in the story. Also, a good character is one that provides insight into other aspects of life. I think that if a character can connect and provide insight that the author has done a good job creating that character.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Blog #4
2. Spend about ten minutes describing yourself as a writer. Answer the following questions:
What kinds of writing do you like to read? (Poetry, short stories, novels, etc.) I really like to read mysteries and suspence novels. Also, stories that make me laugh are high on my list to read. Right now I am reading a Memoir by AJ Jacobs entitled " The Know-It-All". This is one of the few books that has ever made me laugh out loud - and I love it.
What kinds of writing do you like to write? (Poetry, short stories, scripts, etc.)
I'm not the biggest fan of writing poems because I don't feel like I am able to write them well. If i write its normally in the form of a short story or novel.
How often do you write when it is not a school assignment?What topics most intrigue you? Explain why. Outside of school I don't write as often as I would like to. In middle school I used to write short stories all the time and now, with less time in my schedule for free time, I barely write anymore. Topics that intrigue me are things that I know about like my life. Or things that I want to know more about like medicine or architecture.
3. Pick one topic from your list of writing territories, and write about it for 25 minutes. It can be in any form you prefer- a poem (or series of poems), a short story, a narrative, a play, etc.
What kinds of writing do you like to read? (Poetry, short stories, novels, etc.) I really like to read mysteries and suspence novels. Also, stories that make me laugh are high on my list to read. Right now I am reading a Memoir by AJ Jacobs entitled " The Know-It-All". This is one of the few books that has ever made me laugh out loud - and I love it.
What kinds of writing do you like to write? (Poetry, short stories, scripts, etc.)
I'm not the biggest fan of writing poems because I don't feel like I am able to write them well. If i write its normally in the form of a short story or novel.
How often do you write when it is not a school assignment?What topics most intrigue you? Explain why. Outside of school I don't write as often as I would like to. In middle school I used to write short stories all the time and now, with less time in my schedule for free time, I barely write anymore. Topics that intrigue me are things that I know about like my life. Or things that I want to know more about like medicine or architecture.
3. Pick one topic from your list of writing territories, and write about it for 25 minutes. It can be in any form you prefer- a poem (or series of poems), a short story, a narrative, a play, etc.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Blog #3
1. Congratulations! You wrote your first play. Reflect on your experiences here in paragraph form. Be sure to including explanation for your ideas. Write at least 75 words.
Some things to consider are:
What limitations about the form did you find frustrating?
What strengths did you see in the form?
What pleasant surprises did you find in writing a play?
What unpleasant surprises did you find in writing a play?
Would you ever be interested in attempting drama writing or any of its sister forms, screenplays or television scripts? Explain.
2. If you could give advice to a kid who was 5 years old or 10 years old (pick one), what advice would you give him or her on growing up in today's world? Would you give advice based upon your own experiences? Would you give advice based upon what you see in others? Would your advice be based on their thoughts, their choices, peer issues, school? Explain your advice and why you give it. Write at least 100 words.
If i were to give a 10 year old child advice about growing up in todays world the advice would be long and harsh, but realatable. One of the things I would tell them would be to stay positive even when things look horrible. My parents got divorced when I was about that age and it was beyond horrible. But thankfully I knew to look at the brighter side of things and I'm glad I did; it really helped. Another thing I would advise them on is staying healthy. Being and staying healthy at young stages in your life is very important for your future. If you form bad eating and excercising habits early on you'll end up having to be fork lifted off of your living room couch, and you think I'm exaggerating. And excercing can be fun! I have played soccer all of my life and its such a good way to meet people, stay in shape and have more fun than you could ever imagine from sitting on the sidelines. These are just a few things I would say, but they are definetely important.
3. Great works of literature can last a long time. Jane Austen's novels (including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility) are still popular almost 200 years after they were first published. Anne Bradstreet's poems have survived about 400 years. The works of Greek playwright Euripides (who wrote Medea) have survived for over 2000 years. What do you think causes great literary works to live forever? Could you ever foresee yourself writing something that lasts that long? (Write at least 75 words.)
I think there are a few contributing factors that help a literary work "live" for so long. One is that is relateable throughout time. Many of the works that are still mentioned today include stories of love, loss or a fued. Love and war are big contenders because everyone can read and understand, to an extent, what it is they are talking about and how it relates to their everyday life. Losing something that is precious to one may also survive because everyone knows what it is like to lose something, be it a person, an object or a feeling or emotion. I could never write, nor would I want to write something that would last 400 years because I would not want tmy work to be studied in classrooms or any other form of education. The only time I would ever want my pieces of work recognized so long from now would be some what of a Egyptian type thing where people find my work after thousands of years. Thats the only point at which I, from beyond the grave, would feel comfortable with it. And even so, I dont think any of my works would be memorable enough to last so long or be relevant.
Some things to consider are:
What limitations about the form did you find frustrating?
What strengths did you see in the form?
What pleasant surprises did you find in writing a play?
What unpleasant surprises did you find in writing a play?
Would you ever be interested in attempting drama writing or any of its sister forms, screenplays or television scripts? Explain.
2. If you could give advice to a kid who was 5 years old or 10 years old (pick one), what advice would you give him or her on growing up in today's world? Would you give advice based upon your own experiences? Would you give advice based upon what you see in others? Would your advice be based on their thoughts, their choices, peer issues, school? Explain your advice and why you give it. Write at least 100 words.
If i were to give a 10 year old child advice about growing up in todays world the advice would be long and harsh, but realatable. One of the things I would tell them would be to stay positive even when things look horrible. My parents got divorced when I was about that age and it was beyond horrible. But thankfully I knew to look at the brighter side of things and I'm glad I did; it really helped. Another thing I would advise them on is staying healthy. Being and staying healthy at young stages in your life is very important for your future. If you form bad eating and excercising habits early on you'll end up having to be fork lifted off of your living room couch, and you think I'm exaggerating. And excercing can be fun! I have played soccer all of my life and its such a good way to meet people, stay in shape and have more fun than you could ever imagine from sitting on the sidelines. These are just a few things I would say, but they are definetely important.
3. Great works of literature can last a long time. Jane Austen's novels (including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility) are still popular almost 200 years after they were first published. Anne Bradstreet's poems have survived about 400 years. The works of Greek playwright Euripides (who wrote Medea) have survived for over 2000 years. What do you think causes great literary works to live forever? Could you ever foresee yourself writing something that lasts that long? (Write at least 75 words.)
I think there are a few contributing factors that help a literary work "live" for so long. One is that is relateable throughout time. Many of the works that are still mentioned today include stories of love, loss or a fued. Love and war are big contenders because everyone can read and understand, to an extent, what it is they are talking about and how it relates to their everyday life. Losing something that is precious to one may also survive because everyone knows what it is like to lose something, be it a person, an object or a feeling or emotion. I could never write, nor would I want to write something that would last 400 years because I would not want tmy work to be studied in classrooms or any other form of education. The only time I would ever want my pieces of work recognized so long from now would be some what of a Egyptian type thing where people find my work after thousands of years. Thats the only point at which I, from beyond the grave, would feel comfortable with it. And even so, I dont think any of my works would be memorable enough to last so long or be relevant.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Blog #2
1. How important is theme in what you write? Does a great piece of literature need to express an idea? Explain your thoughts on the matter using examples from things you've read. In your response, address the opposing viewpoint. (Write at least 100 words.)
Themes are essential to any impactful piece of writing. Themes allow for plots, characters and indepth ideas to develop. Without a theme, writing doesnt have a common point to follow or a point to portray to your reader. If a piece of writing doesnt have a theme and just goes on about anything and everything without a common denominator it can still be impactful but in a different way. Themes allow generally one idea to be expressed and to be the main focus. Without a theme you could potentially portray hundreds of impactful ideas and situations that move people in one piece of writing.
2. What might be a theme that you'd consider communicating through your play. It could be a theme about something that concerns you (think back to what you wrote in your first blog), a theme about something you see socially or politically. It could be a theme about anything else. Write about that theme and why it is important to you? (Write at least 100 words).
A theme that is important to me would be the environment and protecting it. I feel strongly about this theme because it is something that effects every single human being, animal and other living organisms. I don't care if people believe in global warming, global cooling, climate change or they just don't believe in science at all but littering, unnecessary pollution and wastefulness is not okay. The environment is important to everyone, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. It is not only what we live in but it also supplies us with life. Without it we wouldnt have food, shelter, clean air or any other essential thing for life.
3. What is one conflict you write about in your play. Generate some ideas for conflicts you could write about. This may or may not be connected to potential themes. (Write at least 75 words)
A conflict that i could write about would be love. Love between more than 2 people with someone oblivious to the other. This is a very common conflict that people write about because it is so universal. Another conflict I could write about would be someone trying and fighting to save something that means a lot to them. This is also very common in everyday life. A final conflict i could write about would be someone struggling for success.
Themes are essential to any impactful piece of writing. Themes allow for plots, characters and indepth ideas to develop. Without a theme, writing doesnt have a common point to follow or a point to portray to your reader. If a piece of writing doesnt have a theme and just goes on about anything and everything without a common denominator it can still be impactful but in a different way. Themes allow generally one idea to be expressed and to be the main focus. Without a theme you could potentially portray hundreds of impactful ideas and situations that move people in one piece of writing.
2. What might be a theme that you'd consider communicating through your play. It could be a theme about something that concerns you (think back to what you wrote in your first blog), a theme about something you see socially or politically. It could be a theme about anything else. Write about that theme and why it is important to you? (Write at least 100 words).
A theme that is important to me would be the environment and protecting it. I feel strongly about this theme because it is something that effects every single human being, animal and other living organisms. I don't care if people believe in global warming, global cooling, climate change or they just don't believe in science at all but littering, unnecessary pollution and wastefulness is not okay. The environment is important to everyone, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. It is not only what we live in but it also supplies us with life. Without it we wouldnt have food, shelter, clean air or any other essential thing for life.
3. What is one conflict you write about in your play. Generate some ideas for conflicts you could write about. This may or may not be connected to potential themes. (Write at least 75 words)
A conflict that i could write about would be love. Love between more than 2 people with someone oblivious to the other. This is a very common conflict that people write about because it is so universal. Another conflict I could write about would be someone trying and fighting to save something that means a lot to them. This is also very common in everyday life. A final conflict i could write about would be someone struggling for success.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Blog #1
1. The writer's adage is as follows:Reading is breathing in; writing is breathing out.Why is reading so crucial for a writer? Whenever I've heard writers speak--be it playwrights, novelists, or poets--they talk about the importance of reading. In Pat Conroy's memoir My Losing Season, in fact, he goes into great depth about the books he was devouring at that point in his life and what they meant to him.So, talk about the role of reading to the writer and why it is important. If you disagree, then explain why you think OTHERS think it is important. Write at least 100 words.
I think reading is a very important part of anyones education and general knowledge. Reading lets the person explore leaps and bounds that may not have had the chance to otherwise. Reading also helps to open people's minds to new things and help to connect people though a common languge. Another reason why reading is important is literacy. I think that being literate is crucial to the human experience and helping to empower people. Books give people hope and can explore emotions that one never knew they had.
2. What is something you see in your world that concerns you? This could be something among your peer group, something you see in America, or something you see in the world. What is your interpretation of this topic, and why do you feel that way? Write at least 75 words about it.
A major thing that concerns me in the world is America's economy. We have begun to enter one of the worst recessions of our time. Plumeting stocks and rising fuel costs are just a few of the things involved in this recession that concern me. People are more concerned about saving money now and not investing in the stock market or putting money into our now fragile economy. Only just a year ago did the DOW reach an all time high of more than 1300 and now we are worried about this quater being the worse since 1987 or 1992. Its pitiful how much people don't seem to care nor do they think that this will have any long term effects on our country.
3. What is one piece of art (painting, movie, book, song, whatever) that has greatly inspired you? What is that piece and what about it has inspired you? Explain in detail. Write at least 100 words.
One piece of work that has greatly inspired me has been the television show Scrubs. It is hilarious, clever and heart warming. The show deals with situtions in which I hope to encounter when I am a doctor. It makes me laugh and I find humor necessary attribute to survival. This is a show that my friends and I can watch without having to know everything about medicine yet still enjoy the funny yet descrete jokes about it. It inspires me in the way that I find scrubs to look good and want to wear them and name tags with funny pictures make me smile. Scrubs has inspired me to want to work in medicine and laugh about things along the way.
I think reading is a very important part of anyones education and general knowledge. Reading lets the person explore leaps and bounds that may not have had the chance to otherwise. Reading also helps to open people's minds to new things and help to connect people though a common languge. Another reason why reading is important is literacy. I think that being literate is crucial to the human experience and helping to empower people. Books give people hope and can explore emotions that one never knew they had.
2. What is something you see in your world that concerns you? This could be something among your peer group, something you see in America, or something you see in the world. What is your interpretation of this topic, and why do you feel that way? Write at least 75 words about it.
A major thing that concerns me in the world is America's economy. We have begun to enter one of the worst recessions of our time. Plumeting stocks and rising fuel costs are just a few of the things involved in this recession that concern me. People are more concerned about saving money now and not investing in the stock market or putting money into our now fragile economy. Only just a year ago did the DOW reach an all time high of more than 1300 and now we are worried about this quater being the worse since 1987 or 1992. Its pitiful how much people don't seem to care nor do they think that this will have any long term effects on our country.
3. What is one piece of art (painting, movie, book, song, whatever) that has greatly inspired you? What is that piece and what about it has inspired you? Explain in detail. Write at least 100 words.
One piece of work that has greatly inspired me has been the television show Scrubs. It is hilarious, clever and heart warming. The show deals with situtions in which I hope to encounter when I am a doctor. It makes me laugh and I find humor necessary attribute to survival. This is a show that my friends and I can watch without having to know everything about medicine yet still enjoy the funny yet descrete jokes about it. It inspires me in the way that I find scrubs to look good and want to wear them and name tags with funny pictures make me smile. Scrubs has inspired me to want to work in medicine and laugh about things along the way.
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