Journal #14: Censorship

Censorship is a very delicate topic, in my opinion. On the one hand, it can be seen as the government trying to keep the people safe, but on the other hand, it can be viewed as the government deliberately keeping information from the public.  Part of me thinks that censorship can actually be a good thing.  Leaving details out of something so as to not worry someone is a perfectly common thing, and at its core is censorship.  So, I think censorship on a scale like that is mostly harmless.  However, when it comes to the big issues, I think less fondly of it.  I understand that the governments a lot of times are trying to keep people safe, but in the case of China's censorship, it seems as though the government is using censorship as a power over the people.  This, I think, is the reason that the word "censorship" has such a negative connotation, because it is being exploited to gain and maintain power.  In the case of smaller-scale censorship, I don't think it's a big deal if the uncensored version is offered, as well.  For example, it is possible to buy both "clean" and "explicit" versions of some songs, so it is up to the people to decide what is right for them.  If they buy the "explicit" version and then complain about it being vulgar, I lose all respect for them.  But, I digress.  I think the larger-scale censorship can get out of hand really quickly, but it is difficult to change a system that has been in place for as many years as China's has.  Censorship is a double edged sword--it can be both good and bad, it just depends on the observer's point of view.

Journal #13: How Would You Have Ended F451?

Honestly, I think the ending is good the way it is.  I think that "the War" was present enough throughout the whole book that it was appropriate enough to finish with the declaration, and later the dropping of the bombs.  Part of me thinks that what the reader was supposed to take away from the ending was that humanity would tear itself apart if books were abandoned, and only the few who persisted in exploring them would really survive.  And then, from the ashes would rise a society whose view on books could be reshaped.  That is another reason I like the ending the way it is; it makes the reader think.  In this kind of book, I think that is important in the ending.  And I think that if Farenheit 451 had ended any differently, it would have left me unsatisfied.  It called upon enough of the previous events in the book, and also left the reader thinking about Montag's future; the ending left a few unanswered questions, too.  Was anyone still alive? How could Montag and the nomads "help"? It's these kind of questions that make me think that the book's ending is good the way it is--I certainly couldn't write a better one.

Journal #12: Do You Like Guy Montag?

Yes, I think I do like him.  He's very different from any other main character in any other book I have read; his intense moral struggles are readily made apparent.  He just seems so.. real.  In a censored society, he started asking questions and was shot down, which only made him have more questions.  I also enjoy the fact that he's lashing out against the current society since he embraced books.  For example, on page 101, when he is telling Mrs. Bowles to "Go home, go home! Before I knock you down and kick you out the door!" He is disgusted by what has become of people, how they can't just lose theirselves in books, they can't think profound questions anymore.  What's nice also, though, is that he still feels fear, so he still seems real.  For example, starting on page 105 when Montag becomes very uncomfortable with his hands, and Beatty notices and lectures him about books, the way the book is written clearly shows the fear and doubt in Montag's mind.  If he wasn't such a dynamic character, he wouldn't be as likable, in my opinion.  In a society where the people are afraid to think, Guy Montag thought--I think that is really what makes him such an enjoyable narrator. 

Journal #11: Wildfire Responses

1.  We learn that Corey is a detective, and an assistant to an FBI agent named Kate.  He's also very sarcastic.  I assume his wife is Kate, who is generally more friendly than he is.
2.  I actually really like the dialogue, because it fits the story well.  It makes it seem more like an interrogation.  Two parts that stood out were "'Where the hell are we?' 'In Gods' country.' 'Good.  I have a few questions to ask him,'" and "'This has to do with the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.  Keep that too yourself,' ... 'The Winter Olympics were in 1980,' ... 'Damn, we're too late!'"
3.  One rule of dialogue seems to be keep dialogue attribution to a minimum, because that trend stays throughout the book.  Another is to start a new paragraph every time someone new is speaking, which is done in the passage.  The other rule that is apparent is that punctuation that pertains to what is being said belongs in the quotations.
4.  DeMille puts the reader in the scene by describing the characters' mannerisms as well as the hustle-and-bustle of the small airport.  The fact that the narrator is very sarcastic also makes it seem more realistic.

Journal #10: About Writing

Since the start of the year, I have defineitely seen improvement in my writing.  I think mainly the success is in the development of my own writing style, which I was lacking.  Now, actually, I think that is one of my strengths, writing in that style.  However, this is also a weakness: when I have to write in another style, it is not as strong as I would like it to be.  This leads into what I would like to explore more of; I think that it would be beneficial to me as a writer to focus more on other styles of writing, not just the one that I have developed.  All in all, though, I have definitely improved as a writer since the beginning of this class, and I am glad.

Journal #9: Us and Them Responses

1.  The main emotion in this reading seems to be confusion, particularly in the narrator.  Sedaris very effectively, I think, showed the main character's confusion with the Tomkeys.  The main way the narrator expresses their confusion is by attributing the Tomkeys' "weird" behavior to the fact that they didn't have a TV in the house.

2.  Two parts I found humorous were, "It occurred to me that they needed a guide, someone who could accompany them through the course of a n average day and point out all the things they were unable to understand," and, "Asking for candy on Halloween was called trick-or-treating, but asking for candy on November first was called begging, and it made people uncomfortable."  I thought that these were humorous mainly because of the style, but also because the narrator seemed so ignorant to the fact that people can live "non-normal" lives just fine.

3.  Sedaris built the characters through interactions with other characters, adding details where necessary.  For instance, I only learned that the narrator was a boy at the end of the story, but that wasn't important.  Sedaris gave the important details, like the fact that he was curious about the Tomkeys and that chocolate bothered him that really mattered in the story.

4.  The dialogue was used very well in this story.  It was used when characters were talking about other characters, mostly.  So, it added a layer of mystery to the Tomkeys, almost.  The most powerful line of dialogue, though, was when the mother told the narrator to, "... really look at [themself]," because it showed such a dramatic change in the family's attitude.

Journal #8: "Champion of the World" Responses

Meaning:
1.  It seems like the author's purpose in writing this story was to offer a different perspective on how Blacks felt during slavery.  The story offers what excited them.  I like the angle that the author took, making Joe Louis the protagonist.

2.  I think the author and the story audience share the same views.  The way the author made the outcome of the fight seem  so special, exciting, important makes me think that.  The big connection was that their pride was directly related; if Louis won the fight, it proved that Blacks were the strongest in the world.

Writing Strategy:
1.  The first sentence ("The last inch of space was filled, yet people continued to wedge themselves along the walls of the Store"), I think, serves not only as a hook but as a way of starting the reader off with the fact that what was about to happen was very important.

4.  The direct quotation makes the story into a narrative; it shows, rather than tells what the audience was feeling during the match.  For example, when they all yell "NO!" when the contender is trying to get back up, it really adds emotion to the story.

Journal #7: College Essay Responses

1-- This essay bored me to tears.  It is so cut and paste that it seems like a computer wrote it.  I guess technically the format is okay, but it's the content that makes the essay unenjoyable.  Besides, the fact that it says "[College X]", the fact that it mentions a college at all, just doesn't make this essay shine for me at all.

2-- Too repetetive.  The writing feels very choppy, and I think that can be attributed to the fact that there's no variety in sentence structure.  And besides, there's an entire paragraph that is unnecessary (the second one).  This essay might have potential, maybe, with the whole "goals are important" idea, but it would need to be completely rewritten.  The essay is very impersonal, and it ends on the statement that he has not achieved a goal.  This essay just doesn't do it for me.

3-- This essay.  I was very impressed by the writing style, as well as how confident the author had to be to write an essay like this.  It says absolutey nothing about him as a person, only in his competency as a writer.  It is very entertaining, though.  I think that this essay is one of the better college essays that I have ever read, and it is certainly memorable. 

4-- CLICHE.  AIEEE.  Also, every word on a new line is capitalized.  It's a sports essay and an essay about a dog.  That's a double cliche.  That's not okay.  The essay did seem like it was written with meaning, but I think more could have been done with it.

5-- This essay is pretty well written, and it draws emotion, which is good.  However, it highlights more of the author's family than it does the author.  It is more about the experience and less about what they learned.  It think that if this essay took a better approach, it could be very nice.

6-- Great hook.  Great word choice.  Very well written.  This is another essay that I like.  It, too, details an experience, but it concludes with how the experience affected the author.  The essay is also very entertaining to read.  All in all, a very nice essay.

7-- This essay is interesting.  It takes the common "comment on an experience that influenced you" prompt to a different level.  The author comments on three aspects of their life that influenced them, but concludes with stating that the biggest influence on the author was the author them self.  Decently well written entertaining to read.  I like it.

8-- Sports essay.  It's written about how football will help the author be a better person.  I do not like this essay.

9-- Another very well written essay.  And it touches on a very sensitive topic.  It, too, tells a story and then how it affected the author.  I enjoyed the style, as well as the essay itself.

If I had to accept only five of these essays, they would be numbers three, six, seven, and nine without a doubt.  These four are written with a style that put them above the rest of the essays, and are entertaining to read.  As for the fifth, it's tough.  I think, though, I have to go with number five, mainly because of the interesting spin it takes.  As for the two that get scholarships, those of course would be numbers six and nine.  They responded to the prompt well, it was written in a unique voice, and they were entertaining to read.

College Essay Info Packet Response

One of the best pieces of advice that the packet gave me was making sure that the author focuses on their authentic voice, and not writing about what they think the college wants to hear.  It seems like the success of essays is directly related to how unique they are, and that uniqueness can be achieved through the author's own voice.  Another is to not use flowery language.  Often times colleges can see this as pretentious, and such language does not portray the author in a flattering, or accurate, light.  The last piece of advice that I found really helpful was to not try just one version.  Sometimes the author might have a good topic, but they need to rewrite their essay (not just drafts) a few times to get the right approach.  This task can seem daunting, but in the end proves helpful.

Journal #6: Celebrate Your Nerdiness

Over my seventeen years, I have come to realize that I have some qualities of something many people would call a nerd.  Though, at this point, this "nerdiness" is normal to me.  It is normal for me to have eight watches, normal to spend a half hour every day trying to assemble the right parts for building a desktop PC, normal to wear Galaga and Star Wars shirts.  In fact, I am known to frequently "nerd-out"; when I know a great deal about a topic, I have the tendency to just spew all of it, whether or not anyone is actually listening.  One of my proudest nerdy moments was when I proved to a friend that Han Solo did actually shoot first (in the original releases of the film Star Wars Episode IV, Greedo didn't shoot at all.  When they remastered the films in the '90s, George Lucas added in Greedo shooting first and missing so as to not affect Han's moral character.  But I digress.) If i've learned one lesson about nerdiness, it's to be proud of it.  Every so often I'll wear two to five watches, just because I can.  One of my goals before I go off to college is to be able to have "Superhero Week", in which for five or seven days I wear superhero shirts.  As of right now, I only have Batman and The Green Lantern, but I'm working on it.  Celebrating nerdiness is something that at first seems daunting, or seems like it could ruin one's social image.  Since I have embraced it, though, I have no regrets.

Behind The Formaldehyde Curtain: Answers to Questions

Meaning:
5. The purpose of this essay, it seems, is primarily to be to rake muck.  Mitford seemed to be generally criticizing the embalming practice, as well as the fact that the general populous thinks it is required.

Writing Strategies:
1. The tone is almost mocking-- the way she opens shows that she thinks the process is superfluous.

2. I think Mitford goes into such detail to help prove her point.  Because not many people know about what takes place, her details effectively shed light on the topic, which she is hoping will help support her opinion that the whole process is very strange and unnecessary.

3. The effect of calling the body Mr. Jones kept it very impersonal so the reader could fill in one of their own relatives.  This actually brings much more power to her point than if she had used a less ambiguous name.

4. She uses the transitions such that the chronology of the process is clearly outlined and the order in which her points are discussed make sense.

5. Mitford divided the essay into a few clear parts: first, the death and preparation; second, the actual embalming; third, the dressing of the body; and fourth, the actual funeral.

6. It is clear that she isn't writing to professionals in the field because she uses mostly lay-person terms, and she explains things that need explaining.  Also, she appeals to what the general person would know about funerals and sheds some light on why certain things are done the way they are, like how the body is positioned in the casket.

7. It seems that when Mitford quotes a professional, she is trying to show that there is a lot of careful work that goes into this unnecessary practice.  By quoting, she is showing the proper process for caring for the dead.

8. Mitford identifies the dermasurgeon's tools, chemicals, and cosmetic substances.  She felt it necessary to separate them because they are all used in different stages: first, the tools are used on the body; then, the chemicals are used to restore the body as necessary; lastly, the cosmetics are applied.

Language:
3. It's useful to Mitford to cite the brand names because it allows her to show how specialized this "art" has become.  She uses the brands to prove that this is serious to many people.  The Throop Foot Positioner was memorable, both because of the name and because it has the express purpose of positioning the feet of a dead person.

Suggestions for Writing:
4. Based on this reading, Mitford is making assumptions about the general populous when it comes to the dead.  One such assumption is that most people are ignorant towards the whole embalming process, and I think she is correct in that assumption.  Through my own experience, I knew what embalming meant, but I was not aware of the careful art form that preparing the dead for burial has become.  Another assumption she is making is that, if people knew what was happening to the body, it would fall out of practice.  I both agree and disagree with this point.  On the one hand, many people might be disgusted knowing that the body has been drained and filled with various fluids.  But, on the other, I think that many people would not really care, as the person is dead.  The embalming practice is based upon making the body look presentable for the wake and burial.  Still, though, I think many people would be divided over this issue.  The last assumption that Mitford seems to make is that she assumes that there is too much work put into this task, that the whole process is superfluous.  This, though, I think can be linked back to the previous point.  Of course some will view it as absolutely ridiculous, but others could view it as distinctly necessary.  I think it all has to do with the family and the dead person's background when it comes to how they should be buried.  In my father's family at least, his parents were both cremated, so I was never really exposed to the burial of a casket.  Personally, though, I think the process might be a tad unnecessary, only because it seems that so much work is put into something that just winds up being buried.  But, the whole profession of being a mortician is viewed as an art by some, so the necessity of it depends on who you ask.  All in all, though, I think Mitford raises many very nice points, but I would love to see the other side of the story, the side that says that the mortician's process is explicitly necessary.

Journal #5: How to Hunt a Unicorn

So, you want to hunt a Unicorn? Well, there are a few things that one must consider before embarking on this magnificent journey.  One must make sure that they are well equipped.  As in any long journey, one must make sure to pack for the long haul.  I would estimate about five days' worth of supplies should be sufficient.  This would include: food, water, a makeshift shelter (e.g. tent), a lance (for the slaying of the beast), and all the wits one can muster.  One must realize that, even though a unicorn seems to be nothing more than a convoluted cross-breed between a narwhal and a horse, it is so much more.  Unicorns are actually very aggressive creatures, and one must hope that the Unicorn does not decide that their follower is a threat, or that follower (in this case, the avid unicorn hunter) will be in a very dire situation.  When hunting unicorns, one must keep in mind the fact that their name literally means "one horn", and that horn is nothing to trifle with, for I have seen that mythical creature take down men twice your size.  What's that, you don't mind? Well then, the last thing to keep in mind his how to actually hunt the unicorn.  One must be vewwy vewwy quiet, because a Unicorn proves much more troublesome than a wabbit.  One must always cover their tracks, so as to avoid the reversal and become hunted by their own prey.  And, lastly, in that final confrontation, one must never back down.  Even though Unicorns are made of magic and happiness, they can smell fear.  One must keep their wits about them and strike out with the lance only when it is advantageous to them.  If one should happen to succeed, then huzzah! Drink a cup of its blood and rejoice in their takedown, for they would be the first to successfully hunt a Unicorn.

Journal #4: How Does One Kill a Horde of Zombies?

     Aim for the head, always.  Shoot it, sever it, whatever.  Aim for the head.  Once the head is removed from the shoulders, the zombie just slumps down and becomes even more useless than it was before.  After taking this into consideration, however, one must also take into consideration the kind of zombie one is fighting. 

     If one is in combat with the "generic zombie", a reanimated corpseit is ideal, as they shuffle about and moan, but don't do much apart from that.  They do tend to be very aggressive, but are not too quick.  Hole up somewhere safe, build a fence, and shoot them if they get too close. 

     However, if one has the misfortune to be fighting against the "modern zombie", which is not technically a zombie at all, it could prove more of a problem.  In today's society, the zombie is not a reanimated corpse, but instead was a human who became infected with some sort of virus that attacks the brain and makes them hyper aggressive.  These zombies are also called "fast zombies", as they sprint after any provocation.  These zombies can only be deterred with the severing of the head, as anything else will only enrage them further.  To fight a horde of these, get to high ground, inside, and monitor the exits; be prepared to spend a very long time there.

     Another factor that needs to be considered is the method of infection.  Since it is most likely that one will be trying to survive the onslaught of modern zombies, this can be a very important factor.  Is it purely through contact with the zombie, e.g. a bite, or has the virus gone airborne? If it is purely physical contact, then take the necessary cautions, discussed above.  If it is airborne, though, one must take extreme caution.  Wear a mask frequently, and don't venture outside unless absolutely necessary.

     Of course, another important factor is are you alone? Being in a group is key to survival, so to combat a horde of any kind, make friends.  Stick together, fight together, survive together.  The key to killing a horde of zombies is surviving; it is very unlikely that one person, or a group of people, will manage to kill off the entire horde.  If they do, great! If not, follow the rules: cardio is key, limber up, double tap, and fight to the death.

Journal #3: Author's Writing Process

     As of right now, my favorite authors are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  The catch, though, is they write novels together.  Naturally, this could present a problem if they went about it the wrong way.  When asked in an interview to "describe the way [they] work together", they responded:

Douglas:
First, Linc and I work out the plot. Linc sends me an outline of the chapters, I write the first draft, then Linc polishes it. As you can see, I do most of the work.
Lincoln:
(Laughs.) There are lies, damned lies, and writer's exaggerations. I take the coal Doug gives me and, using tremendous force, press it into a diamond.
Essentially, we wrote RELIC without ever seeing each other once. The first time we got together since that day we first brainstormed about the idea was to have our author photograph taken just before the book was published.

     And in the same interview, when asked "don't you ever argue?" Lincoln Child responded:

Are you kidding? We argue about every detail. That's why RELIC is so tight. Nothing gets by unless we both like it. Have you ever read a novel and said to yourself, 'How did that clunker get through?' Well, with us, it doesn't get through. That's also why we're two thousand miles apart. Less chance of inflicting bodily harm on each other. (Laughs.)

     It seems as though these two authors have really worked out their joint writing process.  They discuss how, even before computers were around, they were discussing novels over modem (prestonchild.com).  Also, on their website, they gave their advice on how to be a successful writer.  They said that one needs to "write, and write often," and to "develop the habit of ruthless self-criticism" (prestonchild.com).  They also briefly describe more details of their writing process.  They say that they "do all their own research", and offer one last piece of advice: "you must rearrange your life so that you have an uninterrupted, inviolable period of time to write every single day" (prestonchild.com).

Works Cited


"Relic -- An Interview With the Authors." Interview. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - The Official Web Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://www.prestonchild.com/>.

Ruelke, Claudia. "Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - The Official Web Site." Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - The Official Web Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2012. <http://www.prestonchild.com/>.

Journal #2: Purpose in Writing

     The most important thing, I think, an author can have is a strong feeling of purpose when they are writing.  This means that said author probably knows a thing or two about what they're writing about, so they can write a solid paper.  Without that feeling of purpose, it would be easily to do the paper half-heartedly, leave things out, just do the bare minimum, etc.  However, with a sense of purpose, the author wants to put everything they know about something into the paper.  In my experience, a sense of purpose allows for an excellent first draft, in that the editing doesn't really consist of having to add content to the paper. 

     An author with a very strong sense of purpose can make one want to read their paper, as well.  Purpose allows for the author to be "intellectually interesting" -- they can discuss the topic very knowledgably, but still make sure the paper isn't dull and uninteresting to read.  That also means that they will stick to the topic at hand.  Purpose, though, does not only help with research-type papers.  It also comes into play with narratives and fictional stories, too.  When writing, the author usually has a goal they want to achieve, whether it be to support a point or to effectively tell you exactly why they put their cat in the oven last summer.  That means they have purpose.  Purpose, I believe, is  by far the most important thing for an author to keep in mind when they write anything.

Journal #1: The Name

     This, I think, is a bit of a bizarre title for an advanced writing class journal.  However, there is a story behind the title.  Ever since I moved into this house in the first grade, I have been sleeping on the same mattress.  However, my bunk bed has gone through many iterations; the bed varied between just the bottom bunk or both bunks many times, but about a year ago I removed the bottom bunk and made it into a "loft bed".  In the process of moving my preferred mattress to the top bunk, I noticed something peculiar.  In between the mattress and one of the base boards on the bed was a little red-and-yellow electronic bell.  I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when I discovered this, as I had been sleeping on it for about twelve years, completely unaware.  So, naturally, after making this discovery, I showed the bell to my parents.  Turns out, it belonged to one of my favorite board games when I was very young, and I was devastated to find out it was lost.
     Now, I know this doesn't seem to have much to do with a journal, or with anything, but I think it does.  That little bell was a gem from my past that I found somewhere I wouldn't have even thought to look.  In a way, I think this can relate to high school; so many people end up finding things that they love in high school, their own little bells.  This being my last year, I hope to fill it with wonderful experiences both in and out of class.  I hope to find a few more bells under mattresses.

The bell: