Thursday, October 25, 2012

Vocabulary: Fall List #8


Flout: Openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)
Caveat: A warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
Blazon: Display prominently or vividly.
filch: Pilfer or steal (something, esp. a thing of small value) in a casual way
fractious: Easily irritated; bad-tempered
Equitable: Fair and impartial
autonomy: A self-governing country or region
addendum: An item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or other publication.
Amnesty: An official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses.
Axiomatic: Self-evident or unquestionable.
Extricate: Free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty.
Soporific: Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.
Scathing: Witheringly scornful; severely critical
Unwieldy Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight
Vapid: Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging
Prognosticate: Foretell or prophesy.
Sepulchral: Of or relating to a tomb or interment
Salutary: Producing good effects; beneficial.
Straitlaced: priggish: exaggeratedly proper
Scourge: A whip used as an instrument of punishment
Precept: A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought
Transient: Lasting only for a short time; impermanent

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Vocabulary: Fall List #7


ad infinitum- endless.
bona fide- authentic
buoyant- not easily depressed; cheerful
clique- a small exclusive group of people
concede- to acknowledge as true
congenial- agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character
 lofty- extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering
migration- the movement of persons from one country or locality to another.
perceive- Become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.
 perverse- Showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable
 prelude- An action or event serving as an introduction to something more important.
 rancid- Smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being old and stale.
 rustic- Having a simplicity and charm that is considered typical of the countryside.
sever- Divide by cutting or slicing, esp. suddenly and forcibly.
sordid- Involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.
untenable- Not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
versatile- Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities
vindicate- Show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified..
wane- Have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.
 contemporary - A person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
predominate- Be the strongest or main element; be greater in number or amount
transcendent- Beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience
benefactor- A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
conformity- Compliance with standards, rules, or laws
aversion- A strong dislike or disinclination
suffrage- The right to vote in political elections; A series of intercessory prayers or petitions
inaudible- Unable to be heard.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Thoreau's Walden In Class Notes


First Paragraph
  • He went to the woods to live a simple life and see what he would learn from it
  • Wanted to discover his purpose in life
  • Wanted to live life the way it was meant to be lived without distractions because life is precious.
  • Wanted to make the best out of his life
  • To live life with the basic essentials
  • Experience all the right of things and really understand them
  • He expects to be enlightened
  • Nobody knows the purpose of their life

Second Paragraph
  • We walk blindly but together, wanting to stay strong.
  • As our fable(life) went on we grew stronger and smarter
  • We try to be "bigger" people to get a better view of life
  • It's mistake after mistake no matter what method we try

Monday, October 1, 2012

LAQ'S #1

General

    1. The plot of "Cruise Control" is about a boy named Paul who is in high school and he has a bad temper but he is one of the best if not the best athlete at his school. His brother, Shawn on the other hand is not so fortunate. He is mentally disabled, in a wheel chair,can't do anything on his own and he has seizures that get worse and worse and on top of that, his father left them when they were about 5 years old. Throughout the story he has to go through the mental torment of seeing his father coming to his home every once in a while to try and make things better but Paul wants nothing to do with it

    2. The theme of this story is that no matter how bad things are right now, you have to find the will to get through it and keep on moving forward.

    3. The author's tone is both fearful and hatred. One example that shows fearfulness is when Paul having a terrible seizure with drool all over, he calls his mom because Paul sees that Shawn's face is purple and he is afraid to lose his brother. Another example is when Paul starts to think about collage and starts to realize that he may not be able to go to collage because he has to stay and take care of his brother. One example of hatred is when Paul realizes that he can't go to collage because of his father, if his father wouldn't have left them, he would be able to go to collage while his dad takes care of Shawn.

    4.
         1. Direct characterization/ "My only brother is a veg. Yep, a full-fledged, drooling, fourteen-year-old idiot."
         2. Mood/ "Like i said, I've got a bad temper. It's so bad, it makes me sick sometimes."
         3. Conflict/ "When i pull up to our house, my dad's car is here. Damn! I consider rolling right on by, killing time until he leaves..."
         4. Third person/ "I pull up to my regular parking spot and cut the engine."
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Characterization

    1. :Direct characterization/ "My only brother is a veg. Yep, a full-fledged, drooling, fourteen-year-old idiot."
       :Direct characterization/ "My name is Paul, but don't call me Pauly. I mean never."
    2. The author uses diction when he is talking about Paul and when Paul speaks. A lot of it is exaggerated
    3. Paul is a static character because he doesn't change much
    4. When i finished the book i felt like i knew Paul very well, i felt alot of emotion, and i felt what Paul would feel in the situations he was in