ap lang

[alexaaalonso]

Introduction

Writing my general introduction was actually easy. Doing all the research on the book, such as the abstracts/criticisms, annotations, and background sources, really helped me figure out what I wanted to write about. Madame Bovary was a monumental novel at the time it was published, and this was something I knew I should include in my intro. I also knew there was a lot of controversy surrounding the book, so I added that in there too. Finally, I added the book's relevance to today, because a lot of the same themes that I found in the book are also found in today's society. The book also started the Realist movement so that was important to put in my intro as well. I think my introduction was interesting and contained a lot of good information. Overall...the research for this project was relativity easy. I think I picked a good book for the project because there was SO much information on it, and the themes were interesting/good to write about.

[alexaaalonso]

Annotations

For my annotations, I picked three passages that characterized the main character, Emma Bovary. Since her character/development of her character was so vital to the book, I thought these would be good passages to annotate. I also thought that these passages would help me get a greater understanding of the book (and they did!) I was able to draw in my abstracts, as well as my own knowledge, when annotating and doing the introduction to my annotations. Once I started annotating, it wasn't too hard to write. After you checked them, I realized I had to focus more on how the author, Flaubert, and how he used his language in the passages to help the character develop. After I fixed this, the annotations came easy. It was kind of hard to get two pages for my intro to my annotations, but after really looking at it, I ended up getting it to two pages.

[alexaaalonso]

I started my research with getting my abstracts. When I first went to the OU library and got my abstracts, I was prepared to fail this project. I was so confused and just got three criticisms not knowing if they were good or not. But then, I showed my criticisms to Mr. Kreinbring and he said they were good. So then I began to attempt to read them. They were long and seemed confusing at first, but after I spent time annotating them and closely reading them, I realized they were not hard at all. They actually really helped me understand the book. Writing the abstracts was also easy. The criticisms were super helpful in understand Emma's character, and this also helped me write the other parts of this project. I could bring in parts from the criticisms to help support my other arguments.

[alexaaalonso]

Last #readingthework

Since this is my last #readingthework post, I thought it would be good to summarize the main points/ideas/themes that I got from reading Madame Bovary. 1. Manipulation Emma is a key manipulator!! (i.e. the piano lessons on page 243) Emma knows how to manipulate others for her own personal gain, which eventually leads her to start spiraling out of control. 2. The power of Love Love, whether sincere or not, drove Emma to do some crazy things in this book. Emma's expectations of love also was a force behind her actions. The book really showed how love can drive people to do crazy things (which is like a cliche saying, right?) 3. Appearance Emma is very concerned with her image in the book. She wants to be seen as a prominent, respectable, wealthy women. To her, Charles will not help her attain this kind of status. That is part of the reason she longs for a more glamorous lifestyle, such as one with Léon in Paris. 4. Discontentment Emma is discontent with her situations throughout the ENTIRE book. Her desires are never met, which just leads to her acts of despair. Overall, I really did like this book, and I think it was a great book to pick for this particular research project. Because Emma is such a dynamic character, there are so many ways I can go with my criticisms and annotations.

[alexaaalonso]

Reading the work (#4)

As I read this book, I was looking for passages I could annotate. It turned out that there were a TON of good ones. A lot of the passages that grabbed my attention were the ones were Flaubert characterized her (meaning it was the author describing Emma's character, not a dialogue with Emma.) Since Emma is the main character of the book, I knew from when I started reading that I should be looking for key passages about her. However, I did not realize just HOW important the characterization of her character would be!! Flaubert did such a good job describing Emma and why the way she acted and what drove her actions. To me, these passages were extremely helpful. When reading, I was able to identify both shifts and continuities in Emma's character. It made what was happening in the story much clearer (this was much appreciated.) In addition to those passages where Flaubert described Emma, passages where Emma had dialogue were also helpful to identifying/understanding Emma's personality better. The piano that dealt with her getting piano lessons (she manipulates Charles here) was SO vital to her characterization- it described it perfectly!! I think that the combination of Flaubert's descriptions and the dialogue/situations in which he places Emma help make understanding the book so much easier.

[alexaaalonso]

Reading the work part 3

I am more than halfway done with the book 🙌🏻I still like it, but it is getting a little too detailed. There was also this part about a stable boy's leg getting amputated...I'm not sure why the author took SO much time talking about this incident because I don't see how it goes along with the themes of the story so far. Anyways, Emma (the main character) is still and awful person and is continuously growing into an even awful-er person. At the point where I just stopped reading, she and Ruldoph planned to run away. I have been highlighting the passages that I think are significant enough to annotate!!

[alexaaalonso]

Tribe of Taylor Swift Fans

I belong to the tribe of Taylor Swift fans.  

The Story of Us began back in 1989 (or at least that’s when Taylor Swift was born.)  Since then, our tribe’s just trying to find A Place in This World.  The first time she had an album come out (2006), we were Breathless.  Who was this amazing new country singer?!  We couldn’t wait for her new album…for it all to Begin Again. Then, in 2008, Fearless came out.  What a time to be alive. At this point, I was like Long Live Taylor Swift because her music was just that good.  2010 was the year her album Speak Now came out. Another great album!  Everyone could easily pick a favorite on the album; I know my friend and I had one.  Ours was Enchanted.  Then, in 2012, Everything Had Changed- she came out with Red, a pop album.  This was new- so new.  Everyone had thought they knew Taylor All to Well.  But now, she had this new music Style.  And that was the Moment I knew Taylor Swift rocked.  Not many artists can Change from country to pop, but it was amazing.  The Last Time Taylor Swift came out with an album was 2014.  It honestly could have been The Best Day.  

So that’s how we had become to like Taylor Swift, but we are fans of Taylor Swift for many other reasons.  For example, if we are stressed or make a mistake, we simply Shake it Off, and just Breathe.  We are usually pretty smart, but at times we do have a Blank Space in our brains.  For example, in AP Lit, sometimes we’ll be at a loss for words.  But then we’ll remember that the book we are reading is Sweeter Than Fiction (shoutout to ap lit)!  We tend to be a pretty Innocent group too.  We don’t take too many Treacherous risks, because we don’t want to Jump Then Fall.  We always are positive, but we aren’t afraid to step in and Speak Now if there are any issues.  

Somehow, Taylor Swift has a lot of haters…but when people say they don’t like Taylor Swift, we just say “I Knew You Were Trouble.”  To all the haters, I Wish You Would Stay Stay Stay and listen to her songs for while…there’s no need to be Mean.  

So this is the tribe of Taylor Swift fans…we will love her Forever and Always.

[alexaaalonso]

@taylorswift

[alexaaalonso]

Reading my book part 2

I am on page 132 and I feel pretty accomplished! Even though I haven't followed my original plan of 60 pages a week, I think I have it under control. As I finished part one of the book, I really saw Emma's character more clearly...she's an awful person! It's almost shocking how terrible of a person she is. I have found a lot of passages that deal with her lust and longing for something more. I think these passages will help me with the criticisms I read because I can use them with character development (hopefully there is some criticism in this.) At this point in the book, Emma is starting to like the second guy that's not her husband!! I'm wondering where/how this relationships will go/ end.

[alexaaalonso]

Tribe of Taylor Swift Fans

I belong to the tribe of Taylor Swift fans.  

The Story of Us began back in 1989 (or at least that’s when Taylor Swift was born.)  Since then, our tribe’s just trying to find A Place in This World.  The first time she had an album come out (2006), we were Breathless.  Who was this amazing new country singer?!  We couldn’t wait for her new album...for it all to Begin Again. Then, in 2008, Fearless came out.  What a time to be alive. At this point, I was like Long Live Taylor Swift because her music was just that good.  2010 was the year her album Speak Now came out. Another great album!  Everyone could easily pick a favorite on the album; I know my friend and I had one.  Ours was Enchanted.  Then, in 2012, Everything Had Changed- she came out with Red, a pop album.  This was new- so new.  Everyone had thought they knew Taylor All to Well.  But now, she had this new music Style.  And that was the Moment I knew Taylor Swift rocked.  Not many artists can Change from country to pop, but it was amazing.  The Last Time Taylor Swift came out with an album was 2014.  It honestly could have been The Best Day.  

So that’s how we had become to like Taylor Swift, but we are fans of Taylor Swift for many other reasons.  For example, if we are stressed or make a mistake, we simply Shake it Off, and just Breathe.  We are usually pretty smart, but at times we do have a Blank Space in our brains.  For example, in AP Lit, sometimes we’ll be at a loss for words.  But then we’ll remember that the book we are reading is Sweeter Than Fiction (shoutout to ap lit)!  We tend to be a pretty Innocent group too.  We don’t take too many Treacherous risks, because we don’t want to Jump Then Fall.  We always are positive, but we aren’t afraid to step in and Speak Now if there are any issues.  

Somehow, Taylor Swift has a lot of haters...but when people say they don’t like Taylor Swift, we just say “I Knew You Were Trouble.”  To all the haters, I Wish You Would Stay Stay Stay and listen to her songs for while...there’s no need to be Mean.  

So this is the tribe of Taylor Swift fans...we will love her Forever and Always.

[alexaaalonso]

Started reading!

Last week I started reading my book. I am kinda behind schedule (I planes to read 60 pages a week so I would be done with the book my spring break) but I think I can make it up. Surprisingly, I actually enjoy the book so far. Although I didn't want to, I read the introduction. I think this was very beneficial to me because it provided insight AND showed parts of the book that were criticized literally (like ap literary). This will be so helpful because I know what to look for whole reading. Also, it gave insight about the author and why the book is written like it is!! This will also be helpful because I think part of our project is about the author's influences. I'm actually excited to finish this book and I'm glad I picked it.

[alexaaalonso]

My querencia is when I'm with my friends. I believe it's the people that makes the place where I belong, not the place. I love spending time with my friends. I am forever laughing, and it's always a good time. I think that it's the people that make a querencia because they are the ones you interact with. You might me in an annoying place (like ap bio or soccer conditioning) but as long as you are with people that make you happy, you feel like it's a place where you belong. I make memories with people, not places, so I feel like it truly is the people who make the place, not the place that makes the people.

[alexaaalonso]

I chose this picture because after reading the second half of Ceremony, I feel like Tayo expresses his anger towards his situation/ white people so much more. I specifically noticed this when the Texan and his friend (Cowboys I think?) pick him up and the leave him just so they can go hunt a mountain lion. Tayo is so angry about this! He is most angry about what they are doing to the land and the animals. Silko wrote "He lay there and hates them. Not for what they wanted to do with him, but for what they did to the earth with their machines..." (Page 203). This made me think of eco criticism. Now I wonder if Silko wanted to saying something not just about preserving tradition/identity, but also about PRESERVING NATURE.

[alexaaalonso]

I am almost done with Ceremony. I still do not like it at all- there is too much detail that I lose sight of what is actually going on. I really don't know to be honest. Somehow, I understand the themes (like discrimination/race, identity, tradition/culture, and others). It's easier to see the "big picture" than it is to read about the details. This picture is the cover of my copy of Ceremony. It's an Indian who looks really sad, but I liked it because he is wearing a lot of colors. Colors and symbolism is something that has come up in Ceremony a lot, and I liked how this cover represented that. The other copies I have seen, the reddish one and the blue one, only show one specific color.

[alexaaalonso]

I chose this picture because it is of native Americans telling a story...and the way this story is told is really important. I am 130 pages into Ceremony, and honestly I still don't really like it! It is too much detail! However, I am finally starting to realize some themes in the book. The relationship between the whites and the native Americans, the way the story is told, and the importance of tradition. I think identifying these themes makes the book a little easier to read because now as I continue to read, I can kind of get what Silko is trying to get at. Hopefully as the book goes on, there is more talking and less descriptions. I also wonder if all the poems will link together at the end...

[alexaaalonso]

My question for Atwood

My question for Atwood...why did you end the book in the way you did!? I was soo frustrated when the ending did not give a certain future for Offred or the Gilead society. I like closure when I read a book, and this ending did not give it!! If you say the book is speculative fiction, I guess it makes sense because it leaves the readers to speculate the ending. And my other question for Atwood is who does she want the readers to think the real enemy is...the women (who pit themselves against each other) or the men?

[alexaaalonso]

I am almost to page 130 in Ceremony and I do not like it!! There is too much detail-so much detail that I think it distracts from what the plot/point of the book is (which I cannot figure out still.) I can't figure out if I like Auntie's character or not. For now, she seems mean for only being concerned with her image and not really loving Tayo. But then again, there are parts where I'm like maybe she does love him deep down. I chose the picture of the tree from Pocahontas, Grandmother Willow, because when I was first reading about Josiah, his character reminded me of it. In Pocahontas, the tree provides wisdom and so far, that's what I think Josiah provided for Tayo. He seemed kind of like Tayo's "safe haven."

[alexaaalonso]

So I ended up choosing "Madame Bovary." I think I will end up liking this book. The plot seems good (it's basically about a women who is unsatisfied in her marriage and seeks something more.) The book I got actually has criticism in the back which will be really helpful when I need to start looking for the criticism. I am going to try to be done reading this book my mid March so I can start getting criticism before spring break. The book isn't too long, but it's not the shortest either, and I want to make sure I give myself enough time to read it and fully understand it.