English 10-21

Hating himself, repulsed by what he had done, he pushed his legs to move faster and faster to the point of a barely controlled fall. He sprinted across the field, gasping for every breath his body screamed for to keep his muscles churning. As he turned a corner out of sight, leaving much more than just muddy tracks behind, he collapsed by a tree and wept.

Book Review

This semester I selected three books from my long list, varying from in genre, and one book that was forced upon me, including:

• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, that tells the migrants' story of the struggles of the dust bowl and the cruelty they were received with. This book drove home the point that "we are one" and the corruptness of some systems still used today, stirring up questions about how America treats immigrants of today. It rounded up at 464 pages.


• The Alchemist ,by Paulo Coelho, was a refreshing alternative to the increasingly trashy modern works, weaving a story of self discovery through a journey, much like the classic Illiad.


• The Awakening, by Kate Chopin: I found Edna annoyingly evasive of her motherly duties. Now don't get me wrong! I'm all for women's rights but I don't think that Edna was really fighting for rights.


• Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, is uniquely written in the only way I can describe it as a newspaper column, strangely distant but still personal, probably the only way to relay a catastrophic event such as his to get all the details in and straight.

That about sums it up...

Has News Becomes Slander?

Turn on your TV, your computer, or your radio, or just open your news paper and what do you see? You see men and women arguing, shouting their "news", talking as loudly as it takes to be heard and resorting to yelling when that doesn't work. What do you hear? You hear ranting, raving reporters, overheated Democrats and Republicans. Chaos... and they call it "news".

News used to be objective, events were reported as they were, without opinion, and the opinions were left for the editorials.

But it seems editorials are leaking into the news columns...

So where are we suppose to find objective news? I know I can turn to CNN and FOX for their opinions. But what if I'm uninformed and want to hear it straight? Objective news lets the listeners make their opinions. But subjective news broadcasters have obtained credential ,and people are taking their "news" as fact. Subjective news is killing free thinking, and our country's unity, splitting us into Democrats and Republicans, and encouraging unpatriotic behavior after their choice candidate is not elected, instead of supporting the one we have.

Broadcasters have gotten out of hand, saying whatever they like about whoever they choose with no punishment. When news becomes slander, what do we do about it?

Sentence 5- Terran, Micheal, and Mollie

Independence vs. Happiness

According to the article Happy Hunting by Rebecca Mead, 30% of women don't intend to be married in five years to the man they're married to now. As divorce rates reach all time highs and it is almost more common to come from a broken home than not and women's depression rates rise, you have to question why. Mead thinks the reason is financial independence, that as women's statues in society rises, their happiness sinks. In my opinion this mass dampening of spirit is not from independence but from the basis of their happiness and the foundation for their relationships.

Let me paint for you the picture of the lives of women in the olden days... women were raised in their close knit families (with divorce rates low, most with a father and a mother under the same roof) and learned how to sew and cook, take care of younger siblings and their family; they didn't spend their time studying literature, but the arts, drawing, music. They grew into mothers that kept the house in order and raised their daughters into suitable brides, and, while the father was ultimately in charge of decisions and budgets, being a source for second opinions and support. Their role in the family was crucial and they were to be precisely in tune with each individual of the family and their needs.

Now let me zap you back to present day, where daughters wake up to alarm clocks (not a motherly or sisterly voice) and spend their day in school (away from home) preparing for their future. When they get out of school they find a job and start their lives, and maybe look around for a spouse. If they find one they can marry them with the reassurance that they can undo their vows and keep their money, maybe even get some of his if they play their cards right. Then if they have kids, she can put them in daycare and not miss more than one year at work.

As women's roles in society have gone up and a majority of family budgeters are women, they have become a market target, so their complaints are not only being heard but listened for. Also, women have the choice of divorce since they no longer have to rely on their husband's source of income, turning relationships from financial dependence to... what?

When women are independent they don't NEED men to ensure they will have a roof over their heads, so what are they looking for in relationships? Maybe it's emotional support... And in a world that turns at the speed of light, it's hard to find someone to really listen to you.

Then there's the need for money, the drive of your day, the reason you skip family dinner... Wait! What was that? Turning in quality family time for a little bit more money? Of course that isn't the case in every family, but see how many you can name.

In the modern world that's caught up in material need and neglecting those around you, it's no wonder women are unhappy now! But it's not because their independent... If they'd just turn their treasure hunting upward and look at the faces around them, they would know happiness.

Sentence 12

Her sentence:

It was time to get out.
by Catherine O'Flynn in What Was Lost

This simple sentence mirrors the simplicity of the character's decision, she had decided and that was what she was going to do.

My sentence:

It was time to quit.

Sentence 11

His sentence:

In the towns, on the edges of the towns, in field, in vacant lots, the used-car yards, the wreckers' yards, the garages with blazoned signs- Used Cars, Good Used Cars.
by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

This rhetorical fragment takes the reader through a vivid description and describes the scene and the chaos in one sentence.

My sentence:

In the corners, on the floor of the room, in the hamper, on any surface, the papers, the clutter, the laundry with a oder- sweat, old sweat.