After reading "Growing Up Saudi" by Karen Elliot House, I believe that the author wants readers to learn about young people in Saudi Arabia and how they are increasingly questioning the very conservative society. In this article the author discusses the strict rules that restrict youth in Saudi Arabia and how they push the boundaries to these rules. Young people are breaking rules such as the ban on womens' right to drive by protesting and posting videos of women driving on the internet.
I think the author wants readers to think about the rights of young people in Saudi Arabia and how this conservative society should be changed. The author conveys this message by including statistics and pictures to persuade the readers of this message. The author supports the idea that young people should be able to work by including statistics showing the population and unemployment rates of young people in Saudi Arabia.
One element of this article that shows the author's bias towards the restrictive society is the abundance of quotations stated by people in favor of changing this society. The author includes a quote from a young saleswomen living in this area. The quote she states is "It's nice to get out and work and get paid." This quotation supports the idea of change in Saudi Arabia. There are many quotations like this throughout the article. The fact that there are not many quotations from people who want to keep this society shows the authors bias because of the author's lack of representation for the opposing side.
In conclusion, I believe the author of "Growing Up Saudi" is in favor of changing the restrictive rules of the conservative society. The author conveys this message by including an abundance of quotations, statistics, and showing pictures that show how the youth of Saudi Arabia want and need change from this conservative society.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Poetry Reading Response: "Photography" by Nikki Giovanni
"if the eye is a camera and the film is the heart then the photo assistant is god."(Giovanni 26-27) This is one way that Nikki Giovanni, author of "Photography" expresses her idea that life is like photography. In this poem, the author uses phrases like this to show the importance of these symbols in life. The author's use of metaphors, imagery, line breaks, and symbolism illuminates the author's idea that life is like photography.
In this poem, the author uses symbols and metaphors to explain the relationship between life and photography. Some of these symbols and metaphors are: the camera to represent an eye (sight), the heart that represents film (memory), and the brain to represent knowledge. Some of these symbols are shown where the author states "if the eye is a camera and the film is the heart than the photo assistant is god"(Giovanni 26-27) This means that in life, if the camera is an eye or sight then the heart holds those memories or 'pictures' and the photo assistant is god because he/she controls those memories.
The author uses line breaks to emphasize her opinion about photography and ideas of life.
In this poem, the author uses line breaks especially in the second stanza to explain her ideas about life. This is shown where the author states "it's easy sitting in the sun/ to forget that cold exists/ let alone envelopes/ the lives of people."(Giovanni 8-11)The line breaks help show the reader the author's idea that when a person's life is going well, this person will believe that others' lives are going well even though this is not always true.
In this poem, the author also uses imagery to show the comparison between life and photography. an example of this is where the author states "watching the red sun bleed into the ocean."(Giovanni 23-24) These lines show a vivid description of sight which is compared to a camera in this poem. This symbol is important in this poem because it shows the similarities between life and photography.
This poem, "Photography" by Nikki Giovanni makes me realize the similarities between photography and life. The author portrays these similarities using symbolism, line breaks, imagery, and metaphors.
In this poem, the author uses symbols and metaphors to explain the relationship between life and photography. Some of these symbols and metaphors are: the camera to represent an eye (sight), the heart that represents film (memory), and the brain to represent knowledge. Some of these symbols are shown where the author states "if the eye is a camera and the film is the heart than the photo assistant is god"(Giovanni 26-27) This means that in life, if the camera is an eye or sight then the heart holds those memories or 'pictures' and the photo assistant is god because he/she controls those memories.
The author uses line breaks to emphasize her opinion about photography and ideas of life.
In this poem, the author uses line breaks especially in the second stanza to explain her ideas about life. This is shown where the author states "it's easy sitting in the sun/ to forget that cold exists/ let alone envelopes/ the lives of people."(Giovanni 8-11)The line breaks help show the reader the author's idea that when a person's life is going well, this person will believe that others' lives are going well even though this is not always true.
In this poem, the author also uses imagery to show the comparison between life and photography. an example of this is where the author states "watching the red sun bleed into the ocean."(Giovanni 23-24) These lines show a vivid description of sight which is compared to a camera in this poem. This symbol is important in this poem because it shows the similarities between life and photography.
This poem, "Photography" by Nikki Giovanni makes me realize the similarities between photography and life. The author portrays these similarities using symbolism, line breaks, imagery, and metaphors.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Monday Muses Poem
I am the color red.
Of bricks
that make up buildings
before the sun lets them fade.
The color that escapes
when cuts bleed.
Of heart shaped balloons
that escape from girls' hands
before they fly free.
The color of the ocean
when the sky turns orange
and the sun sets
down behind the water.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Reading Response on Flawless
After reading Flawless by Sara Shepard, I noticed that the author tries to show that death is an important issue in this book. The author portrays this by basing this story on the death of a friend of four girls in Rosewood, Pennsylvania. This book is about the lives of these girls after their friend, Alison's death and how her death has unearthed the secrets that they told her.
This book is the second book in the Pretty Little Liars series. Overall, these books are about the lives of these girls after their friend dies. This series is also about people who are determined not to let their secrets die along with their friend. Some of these secrets include stolen homework, crimes against neighbors, body image, bulimia, stealing boyfriends, homosexuality, shoplifting, and love affairs.
One reason I think death is an important issue in this text is that the author represents the idea of unanswered questions through a character, A that torments these four friends, Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hanna about the secrets only Alison knew. The author explains this where she states "Over the past week, each of them had gotten e-mails, texts, and IMs from someone who went by the initial A. The notes had mostly been about stuff from seventh grade, the year Ali went missing, but they also mentioned new secrets...stuff that was happening now."
The author also explains this issue and how it is important by repeating this issue throughout the book. The author explains this with Ali's memorial and with the friends' new secrets and issues. The author also includes death throughout the story by including things about Ali's life. An example of this is where the author introduces the issue of homosexuality in Emily's life. The author includes things about how Emily was secretly in love with Ali before she died and how this affects her possible new love interest with a girl, Maya who currently lives in Ali's house. The author also explains this issue by bringing up how Ali was involved in Aria's issue. This issue was that they both found out about her father's affair with one of his students, Meridith who went to the college that he works in. This became a problem when Aria decided to keep her dad's secret, but Ali tried to destroy Aria's family by trying tho convince her father to tell her mother. This becomes a current issue when her father's affair resumes two years later.
In conclusion, death is an important issue in this text because this story is based on the death of a friend of four girls in Rosewood. This becomes a reoccurring issue when she is remembered throughout the story. I believe that she and A represent death and how it leaves many unanswered questions and secrets.
This book is the second book in the Pretty Little Liars series. Overall, these books are about the lives of these girls after their friend dies. This series is also about people who are determined not to let their secrets die along with their friend. Some of these secrets include stolen homework, crimes against neighbors, body image, bulimia, stealing boyfriends, homosexuality, shoplifting, and love affairs.
One reason I think death is an important issue in this text is that the author represents the idea of unanswered questions through a character, A that torments these four friends, Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hanna about the secrets only Alison knew. The author explains this where she states "Over the past week, each of them had gotten e-mails, texts, and IMs from someone who went by the initial A. The notes had mostly been about stuff from seventh grade, the year Ali went missing, but they also mentioned new secrets...stuff that was happening now."
The author also explains this issue and how it is important by repeating this issue throughout the book. The author explains this with Ali's memorial and with the friends' new secrets and issues. The author also includes death throughout the story by including things about Ali's life. An example of this is where the author introduces the issue of homosexuality in Emily's life. The author includes things about how Emily was secretly in love with Ali before she died and how this affects her possible new love interest with a girl, Maya who currently lives in Ali's house. The author also explains this issue by bringing up how Ali was involved in Aria's issue. This issue was that they both found out about her father's affair with one of his students, Meridith who went to the college that he works in. This became a problem when Aria decided to keep her dad's secret, but Ali tried to destroy Aria's family by trying tho convince her father to tell her mother. This becomes a current issue when her father's affair resumes two years later.
In conclusion, death is an important issue in this text because this story is based on the death of a friend of four girls in Rosewood. This becomes a reoccurring issue when she is remembered throughout the story. I believe that she and A represent death and how it leaves many unanswered questions and secrets.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Non-Fiction Reading Response 1:Upfront Article
After reading "The High Price of Cheap Fashion" by Patricia Smith, I think that the author wants the readers to realize the terrible working conditions of the workers that make Americans' clothes. This article is about the unsafe working conditions and low pay of workers in places like Bangladesh and China. The author writes about one factory in specific in Bangladesh where a building collapsed. It collapsed because the owner illegally added extra floors and let heavy equipment be installed that the building could not support. This caused 1,100 deaths and 2,500 more workers to be injured.This factory was used to produce clothes for companies like Benetton and Children's Place to be sold in the U.S. and Europe.
The author states in the text, "As recently as 1990, 50 percent of the clothes in the U.S. were made in the U.S. Now it's just 2 percent." This shows that the author wants readers to know that the amount of clothes made in the U.S. has decreased. In the article the author also states that the minimum wages of workers in Bangladesh are lower than any other in the world and this does not change because fourteen million people depend on this industry. This shows that the author wants readers to know about where their clothes come from and how much workers there are paid.
The author's bias is also shown in this article. The author quotes from books and companies such as the National Consumers League that are also addressing the issue of unfair pay and unsafe working conditions in other countries. An example of this is where the author quotes the N.C.L.,"We're hoping this will be a game changer in the way the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire was in the U.S." The author also discusses the Triangle fire in 1911 that also shows bias. The author also quotes many sources that show this as an issue, but misrepresents the opposing side. I think the author does this so this topic is clearly shown as an issue in this article.
After reading this article, I have concluded that this clothing industry can be unfair to it's workers and it might even be a danger to them. I believe that Americans should be more aware of what clothes the buy and look past the price. This article has made me more aware of this issue and even though I knew these workers were paid unfairly I didn't know that these jobs were potentially dangerous to them. I believe this article will make other readers more aware of what they buy and might make them purchase fair-trade certified clothing instead of the alternative the next time they need new clothing.
The author states in the text, "As recently as 1990, 50 percent of the clothes in the U.S. were made in the U.S. Now it's just 2 percent." This shows that the author wants readers to know that the amount of clothes made in the U.S. has decreased. In the article the author also states that the minimum wages of workers in Bangladesh are lower than any other in the world and this does not change because fourteen million people depend on this industry. This shows that the author wants readers to know about where their clothes come from and how much workers there are paid.
The author's bias is also shown in this article. The author quotes from books and companies such as the National Consumers League that are also addressing the issue of unfair pay and unsafe working conditions in other countries. An example of this is where the author quotes the N.C.L.,"We're hoping this will be a game changer in the way the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire was in the U.S." The author also discusses the Triangle fire in 1911 that also shows bias. The author also quotes many sources that show this as an issue, but misrepresents the opposing side. I think the author does this so this topic is clearly shown as an issue in this article.
After reading this article, I have concluded that this clothing industry can be unfair to it's workers and it might even be a danger to them. I believe that Americans should be more aware of what clothes the buy and look past the price. This article has made me more aware of this issue and even though I knew these workers were paid unfairly I didn't know that these jobs were potentially dangerous to them. I believe this article will make other readers more aware of what they buy and might make them purchase fair-trade certified clothing instead of the alternative the next time they need new clothing.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Wintergirls: Second Critical Thinking Question
I chose the critical thinking question 'What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?' I chose this same question because I would like to know if there were any similarities between the texts because they are both by the same author.
I noticed some hard issues in this text such as Anorexia, bullying, death, and self harm. In this text the main character, Lia deals with many of these issues and her best friend Cassie does too. Lia deals with Anorexia because she has had it for a long time. She starves herself, counts calories, weighs herself a lot, sets unhealthy weight 'goals', and other unhealthy habits. She deals with her best friend's death, too. Lia also harms herself on purpose by cutting herself. She cuts words and gashes into herself with razorblades.
Cassie has had bulimia and she has been bullied. One cause of her bulimia could have been being bullied. She was bullied because of her weight and size. This could have lowered her self esteem.
These issues do happen in the world between most people. Anorexia and Bulimia affects many people especially victims bullied because of their weight like Cassie. Bullying affects many people like children in public schools like these characters. Self harm is like eating disorders as it can affect victims of bullying and people who don't feel good about themselves.
I noticed some hard issues in this text such as Anorexia, bullying, death, and self harm. In this text the main character, Lia deals with many of these issues and her best friend Cassie does too. Lia deals with Anorexia because she has had it for a long time. She starves herself, counts calories, weighs herself a lot, sets unhealthy weight 'goals', and other unhealthy habits. She deals with her best friend's death, too. Lia also harms herself on purpose by cutting herself. She cuts words and gashes into herself with razorblades.
Cassie has had bulimia and she has been bullied. One cause of her bulimia could have been being bullied. She was bullied because of her weight and size. This could have lowered her self esteem.
These issues do happen in the world between most people. Anorexia and Bulimia affects many people especially victims bullied because of their weight like Cassie. Bullying affects many people like children in public schools like these characters. Self harm is like eating disorders as it can affect victims of bullying and people who don't feel good about themselves.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Revised Reading Response
"The kids behind me laugh so loud I know they are laughing about me. I can't help myself. I turn around." The critical thinking question I chose to think about while reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was 'What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?'
Something I thought about while reading this were the hard things that occur. One problem that affects the main character, Melinda is bullying and feeling left out. I noticed this problem early on in the book when Melinda starts her first day of high school. She immediately gets labeled 'outcast' because she has no one to sit with and people laugh and talk about her behind her back. I believe that this problem of bullying and feeling like an outcast does happen around the world now to some people. I think this issue occurs in most schools like in the text. Bullying can also happen around the world in many places by many people.
Another hard issue I noticed in this text was rape. The main character also faces this issue throughout the book without even noticing that she was a victim of it. Throughout the book she struggles to face the reality that the reason she is an outcast is because she called the police at a party where she had been raped. This issue is not only in the moment it happens, but the aftermath of it. Many victims don't realize what happened or choose not to talk about it. The issue in the text is that she chooses not to speak about it. This issue does happen in the world today and is a big problem because in some countries it is not seen as an issue. an example of this is in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick. In this text a thirteen year old girl gets sold into prostitution and no one is concerned, including her father. She is then brought to a house filled with other girls her age, all who have also been sold and some which are mothers. This is why I believe rape is a big issue in this text and in the world.
In conclusion there are many issues in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson including bullying and rape. These are issues that are seen around the world that are not always being addressed.
Something I thought about while reading this were the hard things that occur. One problem that affects the main character, Melinda is bullying and feeling left out. I noticed this problem early on in the book when Melinda starts her first day of high school. She immediately gets labeled 'outcast' because she has no one to sit with and people laugh and talk about her behind her back. I believe that this problem of bullying and feeling like an outcast does happen around the world now to some people. I think this issue occurs in most schools like in the text. Bullying can also happen around the world in many places by many people.
Another hard issue I noticed in this text was rape. The main character also faces this issue throughout the book without even noticing that she was a victim of it. Throughout the book she struggles to face the reality that the reason she is an outcast is because she called the police at a party where she had been raped. This issue is not only in the moment it happens, but the aftermath of it. Many victims don't realize what happened or choose not to talk about it. The issue in the text is that she chooses not to speak about it. This issue does happen in the world today and is a big problem because in some countries it is not seen as an issue. an example of this is in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick. In this text a thirteen year old girl gets sold into prostitution and no one is concerned, including her father. She is then brought to a house filled with other girls her age, all who have also been sold and some which are mothers. This is why I believe rape is a big issue in this text and in the world.
In conclusion there are many issues in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson including bullying and rape. These are issues that are seen around the world that are not always being addressed.
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