Victoria Yarbrough
Annotated Bibliography

1) Murtha , Tara. " A Philly Teen's Letter About Life in a Violent City Is Hand-Delivered to President Obama| News and Opinion|Philadelphia Weekly ." Philadelphia Weekly. N.p.. Web. 13 Feb 2013. <http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/159617395.html>.
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I chose this source because it allows me to see things from a teens perspective on teen violence. Although they are the people in question, they're opinions matter too, because those are the reasons why some of them act the way that they act. The fact that this teen wrote a letter to Obama puts things in the spotlight, and it's interesting to see how the government is willing to deal with this going problem.

2) Purcell , Dylan, and Susan Snyder . "Closings may worsen school violence." Philly.com. The Inquirer, 14 12 2012. Web. 13 Feb 2013. <http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-14/news/35822473_1_state-appointed-safe-schools-advocate-school-violence-neighborhood-rivalries>.

This just another source that will help me and my partner push the issue that the district does in fact play a roll in teen violence too. If schools close, kids have to be smushed together and from the looks of it, nothing good can come from that. If the teens become more violent, then why push them together like that?


3) "Philly mayor chides black parents over teen mobs." Fox News. Fox News, 13 08 2011. Web. 13 Feb 2013. <http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/13/philly-mayor-chides-black-parents-over-teen-mobs/>.
I believe that the parents are to blame as much as anybody else. Upbringing starts at home. I chose this article because it shows responses to this accusation. The Mayor really tries for the thousandth time to drill some words of wisdom into everyone's head.


4) Starr, Terrell- Jermaine. "Philly Cops Savagely Beat Teen To Bloody Pulp, Reportedly Splits Head Open." News one for black America . News one , 11 06 2012. Web. 14 Feb 2013. <http://newsone.com/2020081/marcus-warryton-philadelphia-cops-beat-teen-after-traffic-stop/>.

5) . "In the Line of Duty| Off Duty Philly Cop Shoots, Kills Teen Son of 2 Fellow Offcrs." In the Line of Duty. Philadelphia Inquirer . Web. 15 Feb 2013. <http://www.lineofduty.com/the-blotter/100935-off-duty-philly-cop-shoots-kills-teen-son-of-2-fellow-offcrs>.

The Philadelphia Police. Although they are here to prevent the violence, they indeed can be the cause of it. Teens are rebellious creatures. This video shows the police brutality that Philly Cops are showing against a ten driver. Outbreaks like these make teens want to rise up and rebel even more. There honestly should be some new tactics and protocol. Wailing on innocent teens isn't the way.

Click here to read.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fIo1uRO9tRiCXhC9Unbk5Gr5uJhC4rD4nj-96dgLNxQ/edit

 Doing this video gave me a new insight about my mom. It helped me re-evaluate what I'm grateful for and why. I had fun creating this project. I learned something new. Maybe you can too.
My mother and I never talk about much so this was a nice way to connect her. Her story fit right in with the topic as well. She crossed social boundaries by going to a new place and fitting in whilst being different. It was cool to hear her story. Hope you enjoy.

Reflection-

To start off, I rather enjoyed this project. I got to learn new things about my mother. And she did really well of being her natural, funny self. The editing process (even though it was said to be hard) went pretty smooth as well. I must admit that it does not meet the time requirement by two minutes. However, I feel that I have the quality that most of the longer timed podcasts have. I liked how it wrapped up, and I really appreciated what my mother had to say. It was strong and empowering, and I was inspired by her. It stayed on the general topic of crossing boundaries. The over all process went okay, even though for about three days I had to wait on my mother. She isn’t to blame however, I’m the responsible one. It was getting down to the wire. Major crunch time. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle, but I don’t necessarily like to be in spots like that. I like the calm feeling that the podcast has and I don’t think I over did anything. Maybe my music could have been a problem, I’m not too sure. It all depends on the reader. I don’t think I asked to many questions, I just let it flow. One thing to I noticed is how my mom begins sentences with transition words even without being asked a question. I added them in later.  Getting back on topic, I think I did well. Not perfect. But well.

Victoria Yarbrough

January 4, 2012

“If I feel this way, why did I conform?"

 

“You better go clean that room of yours or you’re not going anywhere this weekend Miss lady.”

“Ard, c’mon ma you ain’t gotta be like that.” My mom quirked an eyebrow at me as if I spoke another language at her.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, that you don’t gotta be like that.”

My mom repeated what I said phonically as if reading a dictionary’s guide on how to pronounce words.

“Eye Sed, Dat you doune gottuh bee lak dat.” She over enunciated and rolled her eyes.

“Straighten up. Save that ghetto speech for your friends, you will speak proper in this house. That’s not how you were brought up, talking that way is not cute.” I sucked my teeth,

“How is it wrong? And further more how do you know what’s wrong and what’s not when it comes to the way I speak? Did you create language?” I was insulted. But my mother didn’t want to hear any more of it. So I changed the way I spoke. I always held onto the idea that I would never change who I am or the parts that make me, but I did in fear of judgment. Even though I changed up, I always wonder to myself: Who am I, without my own individualistic ideas and ways? Why isn’t it okay to speak freely? And more importantly, if I feel this way, why did I conform?

 

The people in my house detest my use of slang or modern gestures; they believe that it is distasteful and therefore wrong.  My feelings however, counteract the opinions of my elders. How could it be, when it evolved from the slang of their generations? Who are they to decide on what's proper and what is not? I personally believe that language is what you make it, that’s the point of it. Language was created so people can express themselves. We all have different ways of expressing ourselves, so how could one way possibly be the right way? It isn’t hard to speak ‘properly’- whatever that is- but it’s not necessarily what I want to do all of the time.

 

My mother thinks that the way you speak can give away where you come from, and where you’re headed like James Baldwin in “If Black English isn’t a language, then tell me what is”. He brings up the same point and talks about how it can divorce you from the public or the major identity. And In a way their both right, if you went to a job interview speaking the latest slang of the streets, you’re more than most likely not going to get that job. This doesn’t exactly mean that you’re not eligible however, or that you’re wrong for showing who you actually are, but it does mean that you’re being judged. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t change my voice up depending on whom I’m around. And here is where I contradict myself, but then again maybe not. Switching around is apart of who I am too. In school, I speak differently than I do around my family. And when I do it, I do it effortlessly

“Yo dawg, you’re not gonna beat me in Tekken, I’mma pick Steve Fox and go in on that ass.” My cousin Vernon says.

“Chill, Christie gonna tear you up, yam’ sayin?” I retort.

This is the typical conversation at any of my cousins’ houses. We play video games and exchange intimidating remarks. At school however, it’s a tad bit different.

“Um, Can you pass me the stapler please and thank you? I need to staple this and get it to Mr. Reddy or he’ll kill me.” I sweetly ask any one of my peers.

“Yeah sure! Here you go.” They may reply. If that were one of my cousins, they would not have been asked so nicely, our conversation would not have been about stapling papers in the first place.

 

That day when my mother told me that the way I spoke was “not cute.”, I made a mental note to speak proper around her and any other adult. I put a chain on my tongue because I don’t want to be viewed, as something I’m not, even if the way I speak can’t determine what I am. I want to lessen my chances of judgment as much as I can. All in all, switching the way I speak isn’t too bad. I can confuse both adults and teenagers alike, by switching up just a few words. In a way, I have the upper hand in most conversations. In my eyes, that is never a bad thing.   

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria Yarbrough

November 9, 2011

Monologue

 

Today is the day. The judge will determine if I get to go back home to my mama. It’s been so long and I’ve tried so hard to be a good person. I’ve been on my best behavior. I brought my grades up, I apologized to all the punks I beat up, and I even cut off the ties with the drug suppliers. It all was hard, but I don’t want to go to another home where those people could care less about me. Where they forget to feed me, tell me I can’t go outside, and make me sleep on the floor. They're all liars, and pretend to give a damn in front of the authorities. I just want my mama to want me. I even promised God that I’d be better and I don’t get into that religion stuff. No more fighting, no more staying out late, and definitely no more selling drugs. I’m not a bad person though, all I’ve done, good or bad has been for my mama. I was tired of seeing her struggle with the rent, and living paycheck to paycheck. Especially when something could be done. I had to do something, right? My daddy ain’t shit; he left at snap of a finger. For my trying to help, they blamed my poor mama saying:

“Ms. Peters, your son is out of hand, and you have no control over him. We feel that it’d be best if he lived with a more organized family.”

 But the crazy thing about it is, she didn’t even cry or beg for me to stay. She just let them take me. I expected some real dramatic Life time scene where she’d be beating people’s ass’s for me. Instead, she pulled a poker face, signed some papers, and looked right through me. I felt the chill that lived in her eyes. She didn’t want me. I tried to help her and she didn’t want me. So why do I want to go back to her so bad? We don’t even get along and all we do is bicker. She wanted for me to have a better life though, but I am content with struggling if it means I can be with her. I’ll put up with the senseless fighting. I’ll find another way to help her. Hell, I’ll get a job even though I hate working. I’d rather have bad times with her than good times with someone else. Oh God, I hope the Judge makes the right decision. I can’t stand living with her, but I can’t stand living with those other people even more. I want to feel a mother’s tough love, not the synthesized version they’re trying to spoon feed me.They don't know my mama, and she's not a bad person. I was. But I've changed.

En el verano nosotros fuímos España. Nosotros dormimos en Hotel Ritz Madrid en Madrid, España  En Madrid fuímos la Royal Palace, es muy bonita. Fuimose Buen Retiro Park, vimos muchos perros. Dispues, fuímos el resturante La Broche. Comimos paella y las ensaladas. En la noche, caminamos la Gran Vía Avenue . Dispues, fuimos en la hotel.

 

El día próximo, por la manana, comimos revuelto con setas (mmmmmm….) Fuimos la Barcelona, España. Barcelona es muy bonita. Fuímos La Sagrad Familia, es la inglesía. Dispues, fuímos Picasso Museo. Fuimos el comimos pollo y arroz. Dispues comimos, fuímos la Furnte Mágica en la noche .¿ Que hiciste en el verano ?

   People usually say "I write to express myself". And yes, that is why I do it in a nutshell. But it's deeper than that. I know for a fact that I don't like telling people how I'm feeling. I can't just say that I'm pissed, or heartbroken. Writing is my way to say all of that with out even twitching my lip. You'll find out more about me through my writing than I would ever let you hear me say. My journal listens to me and my pen is my translator. They don't judge me. And they never say anything back. This goes for analytical writing as well. I'm not perfect and sometimes I don't want people over my shoulder correcting my every move. Just let me write. I can breath and not be tense when I write, and that is why I do it.

Victoria Yarbrough

September 14, 2011

English Essay

 

     “You should have told me before hand, I’m your friend, I wouldn’t do you like that.”

 

“I didn’t think you cared, and it just came up,” I said nonchalantly. I knew I was being silly but I shouldn’t have to tell him everything that’s going in my life. This argument was so stereotypical, He’s mad because I want to go to another friend’s birthday party instead of coming to his house and doing nothing. Sounds like a teen movie doesn’t it? It’s not like he wasn’t invited. Why do I have to be anti-social just because he is?

 

“If you’re my friend you’ll let me go, I’m not going to the moon and it’s not like you’re not invited.”

 

“ I don’t care how you try to put it, you’re wrong. Dead wrong, you said you were coming to my house and now you turn around and ditch me? Not cool Torre.” He’s screaming now and me, well I’m just rolling my eyes.

 

“Mike, we hang out all the time and for you to try and keep me captive isn’t cool. Now move aside.”

 

He was pissed but before he could say anything I bolted for the exit and began mentally preparing for the party. Which sucked. I felt a little dumb. But Mike didn’t need to know that, I figured that I’d just talk to him at lunch and all would be normal. Mike and I have been friends since 2^nd grade, and if he gets upset over something like this, then he’s crazy.

 

     Well apparently he’s crazy. He walked right past me the morning after the argument. I went to the restroom and looked in the mirror.

 

“Well that’s strange because I don’t look invisible.” I said with a questioning tone.

 

I head to the first class of day, science; I hated that class. The smell of bleach and dead frogs in jars was not how I liked to start my mornings. But at least I sat next to Mike; I could ask him why he ignored me. So I get there and I’m literally 45 seconds late, thanks to a previous bathroom trip.  My science teacher Mr. Ashworth starts freaking out and hands me one of those stupid hot pink tardy slips. I spot Mike and sit next to him and stare at him with the widest of eyes. It takes about 3 minutes before he turns around gives me the evilest of looks. And then out of nowhere he gets up and moves to the other side of the room. Ok, now I’m confused, I start sniffing my armpits. Do I offend? No, it isn’t that. And then I think about the day before, and I’m like “Ooohhh,” He’s still mad about that? Without thinking I blurt,

 

“Really, you’re still on that? Grow up and come off it.”

 

He just gives me that look again and I of course get in trouble for “calling out”. What am I seven? I guess this means Mike is truly mad and wants to play “cold shoulder”, but two can play that game. He’ll crack before I do.

 

    2 weeks passed, and Mike and I were still not speaking. I was beginning to question our friendship from the start. It’s sad because I was getting used to us not talking. I didn’t want it to be that way anymore, but I couldn’t find in me to apologize. I rarely apologize for anything. I had other friends but Mike was my “Homie”, I started to miss him. I waited for him at his locker the next day; I was ready to talk it out. And this time instead of avoiding me, he began walking toward me. I was anxious, and then I did something really stupid, I ran away. I don’t know why I did it. I didn’t even have anything to say, but I went to his locker. Maybe I was being stupid. And then the realization hit me like a brick to the face. I should have never ditched Mike, no matter how unimportant our plans were. However, I also realized that Mike was indeed being a little silly. All of this came to me on a Friday night, and I resolved to go to Mike’s house the next day and talk things over. And this time I wouldn’t run away.

 

     Saturday afternoon, I rode my bike to Mike’s house. I get there and knock on his door. Someone is always home at Mike’s house so this was odd that there was no answer. Surely not all of family was avoiding me. I’m still knocking when his neighbor peeps out of his door and says

 

“Who are you looking for?”

 

I say, “I’m looking for Michael Bernson.”

 

“I’m sorry but the Bernsons moved out yesterday.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Yeah, they moved out yesterday” He says with a nonchalant tone. And then goes back inside his house. I, on the other hand am trying to process what I’ve been told. They moved out? What does he mean they moved out?  And then came the water works. I rode my bike all they way over there to get my friend back, and he left. Not like a 3-day vacation left, he’s gone. And it hurt.  We’ve been friends for almost 7 years or have we? It was a horrible feeling, and I did cry, but I sucked it up and took it as a lesson: Putting your pride aside may be hard, but what if it’s for your best friend? Take it from me, you should always end thing on good note with the people you care about.

 

Element: Cesium

Uses: It is in used in atomic clocks, and thermometers

I came up with the idea for my print by researching the history behind Cesium, which was it being named after the sky blue color it has in the spectrum.

I had first draw an idea, and then I traced that onto a linoleum block (Backwards), which I then carved out. After that, I swabbed some paint on it and printed a few pictures.

I think this project was a good learning experience. I was taught something I never knew and I had fun with the painting part.

 

If I was to do this project again, I would use a different element and experiment with all the things the element is used in. So I could have more than just one print.

 

Element: Cesium

Uses: It is in used in atomic clocks, and thermometers

I came up with the idea for my print by researching the history behind Cesium, which was it being named after the sky blue color it has in the spectrum.

I had first draw an idea, and then I traced that onto a linoleum block (Backwards), which I then carved out. After that, I swabbed some paint on it and printed a few pictures.

I think this project was a good learning experience. I was taught something I never knew and I had fun with the painting part.

 

If I was to do this project again, I would use a different element and experiment with all the things the element is used in. So I could have more than just one print.

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This was a journal response to the question "How do you feel about seeing the word nigger in a book/ anywhere?" we were reading "Kindred" and the word popped up a few times. I suppose a few people were offended but I wasn't and I'm African American.

Victoria Yarbrough

March 17, 2011

English                        Journal 14

 

As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. I’m past the whole racism thing and I refuse to get upset over the ignorance of others.

 

Victoria Yarbrough

March 17, 2011

English                        Journal 14

 

As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. If my skin color doesn’t define who I am, then some word definitely won’t. And further more I don’t think it is ok when people change the ending er  and put an a. It means the same thing.  Anyways, I refuse to get upset about something that doesn’t apply to me. I’m a human not a nigger.

This was a Journal response to the question "How does your environment shape the kind of person you become?". At first I didn't know how to answer the question but then I simply thought about a few of my own experiences as well as what I read form inside "Kindred".

Victoria Yarbrough

March 14, 2011

English

                                    Journal 13

Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being something to observe. For example if you grow up in a successful family with nothing but doctors, chances are that one-day you’ll become a doctor too. However, your environment may make a person want to be different than everybody else. Like if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. In my opinion, it depends on the type of person you are and how you perceive things.

 

Victoria Yarbrough

March 14, 2011

English

                                    Journal 13

Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being what you’re around which rubs off on you after a while. In my life I know for sure that my mother has influenced the road I want to take in life as well as the decisions I make everyday. However, it may be different for another person, For example, if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. It depends on how impressionable you are and how you perceive things. I think that no matter what your environment is or looks like, that you should still be you and do the things you want to do.

 

           

This Journal was a response to a question "Did you know someone who was popular but mean spirited?". So I decided to write about a clique of girls form my old school who were pretty faced but had ugly hearts.

Victoria Yarbrough

December 17, 2010

English

                                    Journal 7

 

At my old school, there was a clique called the “school barbies”. It was a group of pretty popular girls. They would walk up and down the halls shouting “School Barbies!”. Every girl-well almost every girl- wanted to be apart of their group. Although they were pretty and grabbed the boys’ attention, they were cold hearted and not intelligent school wise. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible. Because I know that I’m beautiful without having to be in a group.

 

 

Victoria Yarbrough

May 19, 2011

English                        Journal 7

 

When I was in middle school, there was this clique of girls called the “School Barbies!”. Man were they loud. They were group of semi pretty, popular, ugly girls. When I say ugly I mean internally. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. And yet they held the attention of so many people. Since when was it okay to be mean? Beauty is only skin deep. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible.

This journal was a response to the question "Is fitting in important to you? Have you ever done something to fit in?". My answer has changed from then to know. (Just a little bit).

Victoria Yarbrough

December 1, 2010

English

                                    Journal 3

 

Fitting in is NOT important to me. If someone doesn’t like me, I just drop him or her. It’s that simple. However, of course I’ve done things with groups of people that was wrong. The reason I did it however wasn’t for acceptance but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! The way I see it, I feel that there are too many people in the world for you not to find someone like you who likes you for you. So basically, my life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. SCREW their opinions because I am who I am and there are billions of other people that probably will see the beauty in me.

 

Victoria Yarbrough

May 18, 2011

English

                                    Journal 3

 

Fitting in used to be important to me, however, it just isn’t anymore. I used to think that it was good when everyone liked you and that you were only a good person when you got along with everyone. I look back at my younger days and have a laugh along side my experiences. I’ve come to learn that fitting in is only an insecurity you have with your self. In my opinion, if you feel that you need to stoop to someone else’s standards then you are insecure about who you are. The saying “one in a million” really hits a hard point of mine. Why? Because if you are one in a million then statistically there are 4,369 other people just like you. So why fit in? Of course I’ve done things that were wrong just to get someone to like me. Heck, I’ll admit that I may have done it recently. But when it is something considered to be wrong, the reason I did it wasn’t for acceptance, but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! My life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. I am who I am and I do fit in, I fit into my own group and in the end how you feel about yourself is all that really matters.

For my independent reading choice, I chose "The evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly. It was a surprisingly captivating book. Kelly incorporated a lot of problems young women faced back in the 19th century which interested me because the wide difference form then to now.

Victoria Yarbrough

December 27, 2010

English Class  The Evolution of Culpurnia Tate.

     Book Review.

 

Book: The Evolution Of Calpurnia Tate.

Author: Jacqueline Kelly

Winner of the ‘Newberry Honor’

 

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is the only girl out of seven brothers growing up in rural Texas at the turn of the last century. (1899) Calpurnia’s mother is trying to teach her how to become a young woman so that she can find a suitable husband when she gets older. However, Calpurnia would rather spend her time observing insects, animals, and plants. She wants to become a scientist, but is restricted by the sexist ways of her town and family. The only person that believes in her and wants to help her is her grandfather. He is a naturalist him self and sees potential in the young Calpurnia. As their relationship grows, Calpurnia’s grandfather teaches her how to become an avid naturalist. He believes that young women should be educated academically and should not have to worry about things like ‘posture’ and ‘sewing’.

 

Personally, my favorite character would be the main character Calpurnia, seeing things from her point of view really hit home for me. It shows her feelings towards a situation that may be looked at differently from someone else’s point of view. It is interesting reading the way she feels about situations. This book is a prime example of the saying “Just because you are a girl does not mean that you should not pursue your dreams”.

 

I my self can partially relate to Calpurnia. When I was younger people would tell me “All a woman needs to learn how to do is cook and clean and she’ll be alright”. That enraged me even at a young age. Women have so much more potential and can do anything that a man can. I love science which is another reason why this book spoke to me, I too like Calpurnia, love to look at living organisms and study them.

 

I liked this book. The author did a really good job of emphasizing that girls don’t have to learn about the Domestic aspects of life to succeed. I felt the need for a romantic interest in this book, it seems like a challenge to fit one in this particular story. However, if there was one, that would make me appreciate it the book even more. Also, science remained one of the main ideas throughout the book; I think that will sit well with science lovers who are looking for a thrill.

 

I would recommend this book to other people. However, the book may only take to girls who are older than 10 years old. It is a fun way to learn a lesson about pursuing your dreams and exceeding past expectations.

Revision:

Victoria Yarbrough

May 19, 2011

English Class  The Evolution of Culpurnia Tate.

     Book Report.

 

Book: The Evolution Of Calpurnia Tate.

Author: Jacqueline Kelly

Winner of the ‘Newberry Honor’

 

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is the only girl out of seven brothers growing up in rural Texas at the turn of the last century. (1899) Calpurnia’s mother is trying to teach her how to become a young woman so that she can find a suitable husband when she gets older. However, Calpurnia would rather spend her time observing insects, animals, and plants. She wants to become a scientist, but is restricted by the sexist ways of her town and family. The only person that believes in her and wants to help her is her grandfather. He is a naturalist him self and sees potential in the young Calpurnia. As their relationship grows, Calpurnia’s grandfather teaches her how to become an avid naturalist. He believes that young women should be educated academically and should not have to worry about things like ‘posture’ and ‘sewing’.  The idea of a girl’s academic success being more important than her domestic abilities became the main conflict.

 

Personally, my favorite character would be the main character Calpurnia, seeing things from her point of view really hit home for me. It shows her feelings towards a situation that may be looked at differently from someone else’s point of view. It is interesting reading the way she feels about situations. This book is a prime example of the saying “Just because you are a girl does not mean that you should not pursue your dreams”.

 

I my self can partially relate to Calpurnia. When I was younger people would tell me “All a woman needs to learn how to do is cook and clean and she’ll be alright”. That enraged me even at a young age. Women have so much more potential and can do anything that a man can. I love science which is another reason why this book spoke to me, I too like Calpurnia, love to look at living organisms and study them.

 

I liked this book. The author did a really good job of emphasizing that girls don’t have to learn about the domestic aspects of life to succeed. I felt the need for a romantic interest in this book, it seems like a challenge to fit one in this particular story. However, if there was one, that would make me appreciate it the book even more. Also, science remained one of the main ideas throughout the book; I think that will sit well with science lovers who are looking for a thrill.

 

I would recommend this book to other people. However, the book may only take to girls who are older than 10 years old and younger than 18 . It is a fun way to learn a lesson about pursuing your dreams and exceeding past expectations and sexist stereotypes.

In class, we were reading Shakespeare's "Macbeth". To represent either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth's change throughout the play, we had to create an artistic version of what happened to them through the play. I chose Lady Macbeth and did a comic of how she changed.

This is my favorite piece by myself and it was a rather upsetting time for me. I started my new year off with an argument with my step dad. It escalated and at the time I wished that the New year had never came.

“A Not So Happy New Year.” – By: Victoria Yarbrough.

New Year’s is such a joyous occasion. Being with family, seeing people that I haven’t seen for months, and feeling the triumphant feelings of getting through one more year (Magic Three). However, the “joy” of New Year’s was cut short for me. My step-dad and I had an argument that ruined my New Year’s and days to come. We were all at my Aunt Teresa’s house having a good time seeing family again. Everything was going smooth. We were all dancing, hugging, and eating. (Magic Three)  Like being asked to marry (Simile), it felt unexplainably great to see them again. After the ball dropped and everyone screams “Happy New Year!” my mom, dad, and I sit down for a while and begin talking. We were talking about how glad we were to start fresh and what were our thoughts of 2010.

 

We all agreed that 2010 was a trying year and that we were going to make the best out of 2011. My stepdad and I begin talking about the events of 2010 and how we were going to change. Him and me have had some issues in the past, like all stepchildren I just didn’t feel that he possessed the authority to tell me what to do. This caused sizzling hot (Imagery) arguments, and dark (Imagery) mean words to occur just about every day. How can you expect me to respect you if you don’t even know the first thing about me? And when I asked him this he got upset and began yelling at me. “ Oh, but when I am throwing money in your damn face everything is all cool and I’m your dad huh? But when I tell you to clean your room I’m just a stranger to you”. (Dialogue)  When it’s not even about that, “I just don’t feel that you should be yelling at me when you don’t know the first thing about me.” I replied. (Dialogue) So we drove home. All the while my step-dad is yelling at us. I remained silent while my mom took the back lashes (Imagery) for me. She was trying to defend me and explain my point. I felt helpless and stupid. How could I just sit there and listen to “Shut the Fuck up” (Dialogue), and “You don’t even matter” (Dialogue)? I still look back and think how I should have defended my mom. Seeing her cry made me hate him from an unknown place within me (Imagery). He has me mistaken because I don’t think that way. Why would I? I’m not some self center egotistic manic or a user. We arrived home and I went upstairs to my room and slammed the door as hard as I could.  With the anger doing tap dancing inside of me, I picked up an old juice bottle and threw it at the wall of my room. ‘CRASH’ (Onomatopoeia). He hollered at me through the door as if I had no right. I was furious. I was here before him! It’s practically my house next to my mom. Who did he think he was? Sometimes I despised him. The way he paraded around the house as if he was the boss, as if he were my real dad! No! He would never replace my real father. I locked the door of my room so he wouldn’t get in. I wasn’t in the mood for him, not tonight, not on new years. It was quarter to 2, and my mother began to knock on my door. I didn’t answer. The sound of rushing pounds (Imagery) came to be annoying. Constant bangs against my door. “BAM, BOOM, BOOM, BAM.” (Onomatopoeia) She began screaming. “VICTORIA! UNLOCK THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!” (Dialogue) I kept the door locked. I didn’t care. I was pissed to a new level. Why did he have to say something like that? I’m not a user and for the record, I never considered him as my father in the first place. More importantly, I didn’t mean to get my mother involved but I didn’t want to see anyone at this moment. Later on she stopped screaming and yelling. I was left alone for the moment and I began to cool down. Anger still ran through me (Personification) at an all time high. The thought was still swimming (Imagery- Personification) through my mind and I wanted to feel a little less. I felt numb and confused so I went to sleep. That was a waste because I woke up 20 minutes later to the sounds of hollering…

 

…Enough was enough. I swung open my room door and followed the sounds. They were in the basement.  The next thing I hear is “ If she cant respect me then I cant respect her, so Imma’ talk to her any way I want to.” (Dialogue) I hate how he thinks that he is right. He sounds like a child. “But that’s not what she’s saying at all. She just thinks that maybe you should get to know her before you try to be a direct father figure.” (Dialogue) My mom shot back. At that moment, I didn’t even want him to get to know me. Being on a stranger like bases sounded completely fine. Right when my step dad was about to say something, I came down the basement stairs and said, “ She’s right you know. I try to be friendly with you but we all know that you don’t care about me. You only do things for me because it pleases my mom.” (Dialogue). Surprisingly, it got really quiet. And I knew what the silence meant. I had been right. He didn’t give a damn about me. All though I tried to stop them, tears fell out of my eyes. Right there in front of my mom and him. I hated myself for it. Those tears made it seem as if I cared, but they were tears of anger. I felt played. All that time he didn’t care and I thought we were working towards some kind of relationship. I guess I should have expected it, but it shocked me. Why couldn’t he accept me? Why did I have to be so ideal for him? After that, we stopped talking to each other as much as we used to. Now, we barely speak. And I wish the New Year never came. At least last year, words were exchanged no matter how gruesome. Words were words.

My stepdad and I had a rocky relationship. But now that I know he doesn’t care about me, I don’t think there is a relationship.  It may be wrong to feel that way, but after knowing him for a few years and still not being on good terms what am I supposed to think? Maybe in reality we are both being silly. Whatever the case may be, I’m not ready to forgive. If there is one thing I can take away, I can probably say to trust my first instinct. Why? I knew he was a phony but I let the curious side of me win and I wound up getting hurt. Now I know to not be so trusting and to not distribute my respect and love if I won’t be loved and respected back.

 

Revision:

“A Not So Happy New Year.” – By: Victoria Yarbrough.

New Year’s is such a joyous occasion. Being with family, seeing people that I haven’t seen for months, and feeling the triumphant feeling of getting through one more year (Magic Three). However, the “joy” of New Year’s was cut short for me. My step-dad and I had an argument that ruined my New Year’s and days to come. We were all at my Aunt Teresa’s house having a wonderful time seeing family again. Everything was going smooth. We were all dancing, hugging, and eating. (Magic Three)  Like receiving a surprise gift(Simile), it felt unexplainably great to see them again. After the ball dropped and everyone screams “Happy New Year!” (Dialogue) my mom, dad, and I sat down for a while and began talking. We were talking about how glad we were to start fresh and what were our thoughts of 2010.

 

We all agreed that 2010 was a trying year and that we were going to make the best out of 2011. My stepdad and I begin talking about the events of 2010 and how we were going to change. Him and me have had some issues in the past, like all stepchildren I just didn’t feel that he possessed the authority to tell me what to do. This caused sizzling hot (Imagery) arguments, and dark (Imagery) mean words to occur just about every day. How can you expect me to respect you if you don’t even know the first thing about me? And when I asked him this he got upset and began yelling at me. “ Oh, but when I am throwing money in your damn face everything is all cool and I’m your dad huh? But when I tell you to clean your room I’m just a stranger to you”. (Dialogue)  When it’s not even about that, “I just don’t feel that you should be yelling at me when you don’t know the first thing about me.” I replied. (Dialogue) So we drove home. All the while my step-dad is yelling at us. I remained silent while my mom took the backlashes (Imagery) for me. She was trying to defend me and explain my point. I felt helpless and stupid. How could I just sit there and listen to “Shut the Fuck up” (Dialogue), and “You don’t even matter” (Dialogue)? I still look back and think how I should have defended my mom. Seeing her cry made me hate him from an unknown place within me (Imagery). He has me mistaken because I don’t think that way. Why would I? I’m not some self center egotistic manic or a user.

We arrived home and I went upstairs to my room and slammed the door as hard as I could.  With the anger tap dancing inside of me, I picked up an old juice bottle that I failed to throw out some time ago and threw it at the wall of my room. ‘CRASH’ (Onomatopoeia). He hollered at me through the door as if I had no right. I was furious. I was here before him! It’s practically my house next to my mom. Who did he think he was? Sometimes I despised him. The way he paraded around the house as if he was the boss, as if he were my real dad! No! He would never replace my real father who I know for a fact wouldn’t treat me the way he does. I can’t help but have curiosity towards what my life would be like if my real dad was still around. I locked the door of my room so he wouldn’t get in. I wasn’t in the mood for him, not tonight, not on New Years. It was quarter to 2, and my mother began to knock on my door. I didn’t answer. The sound of rushing pounds (Imagery) came to be annoying. Constant bangs against my door. “BAM, BOOM, BOOM, BAM.” (Onomatopoeia) She began screaming. “VICTORIA! UNLOCK THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!” (Dialogue) I kept the door locked. I didn’t care. I was pissed to a new level. Why did he have to say something like that? I’m not a user and for the record, I never considered him as my father in the first place. More importantly, I didn’t mean to get my mother involved but I didn’t want to see anyone at this moment. Later on she stopped screaming and yelling. I was left alone for the moment and I began to cool down. Anger still ran through me (Personification) at an all time high. The thought was still swimming (Imagery- Personification) through my mind and I wanted to feel a little less. I felt numb and confused so I went to sleep. That was a waste because I woke up 20 minutes later to the sounds of hollering…

 

…Enough was enough. I swung open my room door and followed the sounds. They were in the basement.  The next thing I hear is “ If she cant respect me then I cant respect her, so Imma’ talk to her any way I want to.” (Dialogue) I hate how he thinks that he is right. He sounds like a child. “But that’s not what she’s saying at all. She just thinks that maybe you should get to know her before you try to be a direct father figure.” (Dialogue) My mom shot back. At that moment, I didn’t even want him to get to know me. Being on a stranger like bases sounded completely fine. Right when my step dad was about to say something, I came down the basement stairs and said, “ She’s right you know. I try to be friendly with you but we all know that you don’t care about me. You only do things for me because it pleases my mom.” (Dialogue). Surprisingly, it got really quiet. And I knew what the silence meant. I had been right. He didn’t give a damn about me. All though I tried to stop them, tears fell out of my eyes. Right there in front of my mom and him. I hated myself for it. Those tears made it seem as if I cared, but they were tears of anger. I felt played. All that time he didn’t care and I thought we were working towards some kind of relationship. I guess I should have expected it, but it shocked me. Why couldn’t he accept me? Why did I have to be so ideal for him? Is it my fault that you don’t like me? After that, we stopped talking to each other as much as we used to. Now, we barely speak. And I wish the New Year never came. At least last year, words were exchanged no matter how gruesome. Words were words.

My stepdad and I had a rocky relationship. But now that I know he doesn’t care about me, I don’t think there is a relationship.  It may be wrong to feel that way, but after knowing him for a few years and still not being on good terms what am I supposed to think? Maybe in reality we are both being silly. Whatever the case may be, I’m not ready to forgive. If there is one thing I can take away, I can probably say to trust my first instinct. Why? I knew he was a phony but I let the curious side of me win and I wound up getting hurt. Now I know to not be so trusting and to not distribute my respect and love if I won’t be loved and respected back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were reading the "Odyssey" at one point, and then watched a movie  ( "O, brother where art thou?") that based it's story line off of the "Odyssey". As a benchmark, we had to take two characters from the book and the movie and compare/contrast them. I chose Penelope who was the wife of Odysseus/Ulysses.

Victoria Yarbrough

Penelope v. Penny

 

Authors and directors have very different ideas on the way a character should be portrayed. However, it can confuse a viewer or a reader and make things a tad bit hard to follow. In The Odyssey, Penelope is viewed, as strong while Penny in “O, Brother Where Art Thou” is viewed as mean. A viewer may wonder why a director would change her character, but the differences in the two are important as well. Even though Penelope is portrayed in both “The Odyssey” and O, brother where art thou? She is stern towards Everett in “O, brother where art thou”, while Penelope is more loving, and understanding in “The Odyssey”.  However, both these characters challenge Odysseus and Everett, which leaves the viewer with a bad taste for Penny in O, brother where art thou? and makes it hard for Odysseus and Everett to settle down and be home.

 

In O’ brother where art thou?, Penelope is strict and hurt by the fact that Everett left, but she conceals it with anger. For example, when Everett comes back to his hometown and sees Penny in the store, she gives him the cold shoulder and disowns him in front of some of the townspeople and his own children. This shows that she does not want anything to do with Everett. There is a moment of intensity and attraction when Everett grabs Penny, but she quickly goes back to being stubborn and not giving him the chance to tell her all that had happened. This proves that she still has feelings for him, but is upset that he left her on her own. Instead of being understanding, she lets her “suitor” challenge Everett in a fight, which he loses and causes him to get thrown out the store. Viewers do not respond well to this because Everett is the main character and went through all of his triumph and adventure just to be with Penny, and in response, she acts like he is a stranger and not the man she married.

 

However, in “The Odyssey” Penelope is more loving and understanding. For example, through the whole entire book Penelope is faithful. There are countless times where she weeps for Odysseus, stands up in his name, and tricks her suitors to buy time for Odysseus. On Page 393 [99-104] Penelope says “ “Make no mistake you brazen shameless bitch… how well you knew that I meant to probe this stranger and ask about my husband… my heart breaks for him.” Penelope rages at one of her maids for being rude to a stranger who has information on the whereabouts of Odysseus. This is evidence that Penelope still yearns for Odysseus and is faithful no matter how far away he is. If she wasn’t faithful, then she would have never spoken to Melantho in that way.

 

Together, both Penelope’s challenge Odysseus and make it somewhat hard for him to fully return home. In “O, Brother Where Art Thou”, Penny – after much convincing- remarries Everett. However, she will not marry him without her old wedding ring, which is all the way back in their old home. This task is challenging for Everett because the house is far away and the ring may not even be there.  Also, in the “Odyssey” Penelope challenges Odysseus to see for herself if it’s really her husband. In the “Odyssey” Penelope says,  “ Come, Eurycleia move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber- that the master built with his own hands …”  (Page 461 lines 198-200) she says this to test Odysseus because only he would get upset by her saying this.

 

The differences in both these women make the character of Penelope hard to follow at times. However, the differences are what make the “Odyssey” and “O, brother where art thou” tie together in the end. It shows how an author thinks the way Penelope should be. A viewer would ponder the reason why the author of the book, and the director of the movie would make Penelope different, but in all, the sternness of Penny and the cunning way of Penelope help to make both the movie and book a good read and an attention keeping film.

REVISION:

Victoria Yarbrough

Penelope v. Penny

 

Authors and directors have very different ideas on the way a character should be portrayed. However, it can confuse a viewer or a reader and make things a tad bit hard to follow. In The Odyssey, Penelope is viewed, as strong while Penny in “O, Brother Where Art Thou” is viewed as mean. A viewer may wonder why a director would change her character, but the differences in the two are important as well. Even though Penelope is portrayed in both “The Odyssey” and O, brother where art thou? She is stern towards Everett in “O, brother where art thou”, while Penelope is more loving, and understanding in “The Odyssey”.  However, both these characters challenge Odysseus and Everett, which leaves the viewer with a bad taste for Penny in O, brother where art thou? and makes it hard for Odysseus and Everett to settle down and be home.

 

In O’ brother where art thou?, Penelope is strict and hurt by the fact that Everett left, but she conceals it with anger. For example, when Everett comes back to his hometown and sees Penny in the store, she gives him the cold shoulder and disowns him in front of some of the townspeople and his own children. This shows that she does not want anything to do with Everett. There is a moment of intensity and attraction when Everett grabs Penny, but she quickly goes back to being stubborn and not giving him the chance to tell her all that had happened. This proves that she still has feelings for him, but is upset that he left her on her own. Instead of being understanding, she lets her “suitor” challenge Everett in a fight, which he loses and causes him to get thrown out the store. Viewers do not respond well to this because Everett is the main character and went through all of his triumph and adventure just to be with Penny, and in response, she acts like he is a stranger and not the man she married.

 

However, in “The Odyssey” Penelope is more loving and understanding. For example, through the whole entire book Penelope is faithful. There are countless times where she weeps for Odysseus, stands up in his name, and tricks her suitors to buy time for Odysseus. On Page 393 [99-104] Penelope says “ “Make no mistake you brazen shameless bitch… how well you knew that I meant to probe this stranger and ask about my husband… my heart breaks for him.” Penelope rages at one of her maids for being rude to a stranger who has information on the whereabouts of Odysseus. This is evidence that Penelope still yearns for Odysseus and is faithful no matter how far away he is. If she wasn’t faithful, then she would have never spoken to Melantho in that way.

 

Together, both Penelope’s challenge Odysseus and make it somewhat hard for him to fully return home. In “O, Brother Where Art Thou”, Penny – after much convincing- remarries Everett. However, she will not marry him without her old wedding ring, which is all the way back in their old home. This task is challenging for Everett because the house is far away and the ring may not even be there.  Also, in the “Odyssey” Penelope challenges Odysseus to see for herself if it’s really her husband. In the “Odyssey” Penelope says,  “ Come, Eurycleia move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber- that the master built with his own hands …”  (Page 461 lines 198-200) she says this to test Odysseus because only he would get upset by her saying this.

 

The differences in both these women make the character of Penelope hard to follow at times. However, the differences are what make the “Odyssey” and “O, brother where art thou” tie together in the end. It shows how an author thinks the way Penelope should be. A viewer would ponder the reason why the author of the book, and the director of the movie would make Penelope different, but in all, the sternness of Penny and the cunning way of Penelope help to make both the movie and book a good read and an attention keeping film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the very first piece I ever wrote for Ms. Dunn. It was also my worst piece of writing. This is the paper that showed I was still in 8th grade. My writing looks different now however. This was another piece we had to do for "Macbeth". We had to follow a character throughout the story and use quotes to show how much/how they had changed.

Victoria Yarbrough                                                                                               

October 30, 2010                        English

 

Lady Macbeth, a woman once filled with greed and lust, is now filled with remorse and guilt. She was driven to the edge and in turn died.

 

Her beginning:

Lady Macbeth gets the news that Macbeth is being promoted to the thane of Cawdor. She is overjoyed but begins to hatch a plan that involves Macbeth becoming more than he already is. “Page 16, 1.5”  “Hie thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valor of my tongue”. This means that Lady Macbeth hopes that she can persuade Macbeth into seeing her plan by talking to him and seducing him. She is now starting to see a queenly future and will stop at nothing to get it.

 

Realizing that Macbeth doesn’t has what it takes to kill Duncan; Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to help her be more manly and unremorseful. She thinks that she has to be strong for the both of them. Page 17, 1.5“Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse…”. She means that she wants to be strong and have no remorse in her heart to get this done.  She is firing herself up to be strong.

 

Lady Macbeth was out drinking with the guards and now she is fired up to proceed in killing Duncan. Page 27, 2.2 “That which hath made me drunk hath made me bold; what hath quenched them hath given me fire.” She means that the alcohol that made the servants drunk has fired her up and she is ready to kill the king. Lady Macbeth says that she is ready to kill the king, but she does not have to do anything but make the guards drunk.

 

Now That the king is dead, Macbeth is really paranoid and is regretting killing him. Page 29, 2.2 “Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think so brainsickly of things.” She means that Macbeth is driving his self-crazy thinking about the repercussions of killing Duncan. She says this because she wants him to forget about it. Also, she does not want to be worried about too, so she tells him to forget about it.

 

Now that people have found Duncan dead, Lady Macbeth pretends to be surprised as if she doesn’t know who killed Duncan. Page 34, 2.3 “What in our house?” She is now being a weak lady again who didn’t know what happened, she will now be queen.

 

Her down fall:

 

Now that lady Macbeth is queen, she does not want to kill anymore. She has gotten what she wants so now she is taking the backseat as queen. Page 46, 3.2“You must leave this”

Lady Macbeth does not want to kill any more She will begin to feel guilty because she only had one objective.

 

Everyone is at a banquet prepared by lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Macbeth has gotten word that the murderers killed Banquo, while at dinner he saw Banquo’s ghost and is now acting crazy in front of the lords. Page 52, 3.4“, Are you a man?” lady Macbeth notices Macbeth acting weird in front of all of the guest at the dinner party. She pulls him aside and asks him is he a man. She really doesn’t know what is going on now; she had no prior knowledge of Macbeth killing Banquo.

 

 

Now that Macbeth is being suspected of killing Duncan and Banquo, lady Macbeth is sick with guilt and remorse. She is on the edge of insanity. Page 84, 5.1,“Out damned spot! Out I say! One two- why then ‘tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie my lord, fie! A solider and afeard? What we need we fear who knows it, when no one can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

lady Macbeth is spiraling downward into guilty insanity, she is seeing things that are not really there, and is babbling aloud to herself. She sees Duncan and Banquo’s blood on her hands and is feeling guilty for what she talked Macbeth into doing.

 

Lady Macbeth is dipping in between insanity and reality, she is telling herself to go to be and forget about it. When she just was seeing blood on her clean hands. Page 85, 5.2“Wash your hands, put on your night- gown, and look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth is now trying to convince herself that everything will be all right. That what is done is done. So she is telling herself to go to bed and not worry about anything, and get some rest.

 

Macbeth and the servant are talking when suddenly they hear a scream. Another servant comes and tells Macbeth that lady Macbeth died. Page 91, 5.5, lady Macbeth dies of guilt.  She probably just could not take the guilt any more and it may have driven her to the edge. She probably became so guilty and so worried that she died a sick woman.

 

Lady Macbeth went from greedy and lustful to insane and guilty in a matter of scenes. She wanted to become queen and coaxed her husband into making her so. However, lady Macbeth did not think of the repercussions, which was her own health and sanity. This goes to show that good things come in time and that if you rush, you mess up the order of things.

 

 Revision:

Victoria Yarbrough                                                                                               

May 18, 2011                        English

 

Lady Macbeth, a woman once fraught with greed and lust, is now filled with remorse and penitence

 

Her rise:

Lady Macbeth gets the news that Macbeth is being promoted to the Thane of Cawdor. She is overjoyed but begins to hatch a plan that involves Macbeth becoming more than he already is. “Page 16, 1.5”  “Hie thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valor of my tongue” she says. This means that Lady Macbeth hopes that she can persuade Macbeth into seeing her plan by talking to him and seducing him. She is now starting to see a queenly future and will stop at nothing to get it.

 

Realizing that Macbeth doesn’t have what it takes to kill Duncan Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to help her be more manly and adept. She thinks that she has to be strong for the both her and Macbeth now since he won’t kill the king. On page 17, 1.5 she calls up to the spirits and says “Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse…”. She means that she wants to be strong and have no form of guilt in her heart to get this done.  She is firing herself up to be strong.

 

Lady Macbeth was out drinking with the guards of the king and now she is fired up about the idea of killing king Duncan. On Page 27, 2.2, she says “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; what hath quenched them hath given me fire.” She means that the alcohol that made the servants drunk has her up ready to proceed in her devious scourge to become queen. Lady Macbeth says that she is ready to kill the king, but she does not have to do anything but make the guards drunk to have a successful outcome. She uses the alcohol to manipulate a drunken guard into sleep.  Then he is blamed for a deed that Macbeth committed.

 

Now that the king is dead, Macbeth is really paranoid and is regretting killing him. Lady Macbeth says to her husband on Page 29, 2.2 ,“Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think so brainsickly of things.” She means that Macbeth is driving himself crazy thinking about the repercussions of killing king Duncan. She says this because she wants him to forget about it doing it and be happy for what’s to come. Also, she does not want to think of the consequences if they get caught, so she tells him to forget about it for the sake of her sanity as well. People have found Duncan dead, and Lady Macbeth pretends to be surprised as if she doesn’t know who killed Duncan. On Page 34, 2.3, she says with an innocent tone “What in our house?”. She is trying to come off as a weak lady who didn’t know what happened; All the while she is going to become queen.

 

Her down fall:

 

Now that lady Macbeth is queen, she does is satisfied. She has gotten what she wants so now she is taking the backseat. On Page 46, 3.2, when Macbeth begins to grow an insatiable attitude, Lady Macbeth says, “You must leave this”. Lady Macbeth does not want to kill any more or She will begin to feel guilty because she only had one objective, but in turn created a monster.

 

Everyone is at a banquet prepared by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to celebrate their new royalty. Macbeth has gotten word that the murderers killed Banquo (who was his next objective after Duncan). While at dinner his mind sees Banquo’s ghost and is now talking to himself and acting crazy in front of the lords. On Page 52, 3.4, surprised, Lady Macbeth asks “, Are you a man?”. Lady Macbeth notices Macbeth acting weird in front of all of the guest – who are just as surprised as she is-at the dinner party. She pulls him aside and asks him is he a man meaning is he sane, and what did he do this time? She really doesn’t know what is going on now; she had no prior knowledge of Macbeth killing Banquo.

 

 

Macbeth is being suspected of killing Duncan and Banquo, Lady Macbeth is sick with guilt and remorse. She is on the edge of insanity. On Page 84, 5.1, she’s at the hospital yelling “Out damned spot! Out I say! One two- why then ‘tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie my lord, fie! A solider and afeard? What we need we fear who knows it, when no one can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

Lady Macbeth is seeing things that are not really there, and is babbling aloud to herself. She sees Duncan and Banquo’s blood on her hands and is feeling guilty for what she talked Macbeth into doing. Lady Macbeth is dipping in between insanity and reality, she is telling herself to go to bed and forget about it all that has happened when not too long ago, she was seeing blood on her clean hands. On Page 85, 5.2, she says, “Wash your hands, put on your night- gown, and look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth is now trying to convince herself that everything will be all right and that what’s done is done. She is also partially talking to Macbeth who was worried about murdering Duncan and Banquo in the beginning as much as Lady Macbeth is now.

 

At the end of his prime, Macbeth and a servant are talking when suddenly they hear a scream. Another servant comes and tells Macbeth that his queen has died. On Page 91, 5.5, lady Macbeth dies. She probably just could not take the guilt any more and it may have driven her to the edge of insanity, stress, and remorse. She became so guilty and so worried that she died a sick woman.

 

Lady Macbeth went from greedy and lustful to insane and guilty in a matter of scenes. She wanted to become queen and coaxed her husband into making her so. However, lady Macbeth did not think of the repercussions, which was her own health and sanity in the end. This goes to show that good things come in time and that if you rush, you mess up the order of things and in turn screw yourself over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As 9th grader who's on her way to being a 10th grader, I feel that my work in the beginning represented someone who was transitioning from the 8th grade. However, as the year progressed and I was guided on how to become a better writer, my work became stronger. And rather than receiving a 70 as a grade, I received 90's. When people read my work, I want them to think of the actual subject and not who's behind it. Why? because I want people to actually think about what ever it is that I wrote and not form an opinion about me personally, until the end.

Ninth grade English was definitely not what I suspected. I thought it was going to be a breeze because I have always been an A student when it came to reading and writing. Boy was I wrong, I was challenged form the very first day we came into Ms. Dunn's Class. Regardless of how challenging it got, Ms. Dunn was always there for us-And ms. Findlay too-. I am grateful to have been given the chance to be taught how to become a better writer. My writing now compared to my writing in September is completely different. But different in a good way. My weakness as a writer I would have to say is the fact that my vocabulary isn't broad enough. I work on that everyday by just sitting down and picking up the dictionary every once in a while. One of my strengths would probably be comprehension. I understand text immediately and already have a response to whatever it is I read.

For this project I may have encountered an Issue as far as uploading and putting things onto the blog. But this was mostly because of technical difficulties. Anyways, when I went back through my work, I was proud of the few errors I had, but disappointed in the errors that were made. There were some things where I felt like it shouldn't have been a mistake that I made. I simply had to retouch most of my work however. It felt great to go back through my old work and look at what I have become over the past few months.

Democracy is hard thing to stand up for when the consequences are so dire. Let's take North Korea for instance, Kim Jong il tries to keep the governmental conduct  of North Korea secretive, but reports have shown that people have been publicly executed, sent to a labor camp, or put in prison. All of this for standing up for a better way of life. Statistically , the US estimates that approx. 150,000 Koreans are in work camps, most for crimes of treachery. (Standing up against dictatorship.) Il is the Supreme leader of the  Korean People’s Army, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission and the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (the nation’s ruling party since 1949). No one can make decisions unless he's involved, therefore, everyone is walking on eggshells. People in /North Korea have been so Brain washed and fear stricken, that they believe that Kim Jong-Il and his father Kim II-Sung created the earth and can control its weather.

 

            Let's move southward. In Zimbabwe, Africa, Robert Mugabe is the dictator. there is a 70% unemployment rate, people are persecuted with death for being homosexual. Out of a population of 12 million, 6 million rely on food aid, which doesn't always arrive. The Government will kill anyone who does not pay taxes, when they don't use the money for the right thing. They pocket it all leaving these people to suffer.

 

            Are you seeing my point now? If not I have another region to cover. Let's go to Libya. Muammar al-Gaddafi is the dictator. He publicly broadcasts the execution of people. He leads a harsh grip over daily Libyan life. He censors Every newspaper and puts propaganda around. Just recently, people protested, they wanted Democracy. Gaddafi sent his troops to kill the protesters and even bombed a few areas. bombed. These are inhumane crimes how do we sit by and do nothing when people are suffering because they want to be free? I don't plan to do nothing I will blog about these injustices and keep people aware about the governmental position of people around the world.

           

 

http://brainz.org/10-most-evil-dictators-on-earth/

 

5/5/11
    In further research, I discovered that some countries are divided and have different opinions on democracy. For example, Arabs and Muslims have a very different view on democracy. Most Arabs take to the idea of "democracy" and wouldn't mind having a bit more freedom. On the other hand, Muslims disagree. The religion of Islam is an authoritative religion, so as a result, having control over one's own decisions is a bit "iffy". I also learned that Democracy is proliferating and as time goes by.

    I am beginning to move into the Asian population and what I have noticed is that some nations are democratic-ish or just all communistic or socialistic. In North Korea, Kim Jong il is the dictator/ruler. I have heard stories about how punishments are given to people who do not comply with his way. In my research, these stories held to be true. In South Korea, they have more of a democratic society, they have a president who had to be voted in. The difference between these two naions is staggering, they differ and dissagree with theyre governmental issues.In North Korea if one doesn't bow when they see a picture of Kim Jong il they get arrested. Someone should not be arrested for not "bowing". That's demeaning, In America people don't have to bow. This is another reason why I'm studying this topic because  it brings me anger. It may sound weird but I like the challenge it brings my emotions.


Sources:
http://www.wmd.org/about/current-challenges/current-challenges-democracy
http://www.fnf.org.ph/liberallibrary/democracy-democratization.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/c/carothers-democracy.html

Democracy, why is it wanted? Why is it important?
  
 You and the world is a project based on the issues of the world and how they relate to a student. In english class we were asked to focus on an issue that people around the world care about. For this project, I chose democracy, it is something that people have been fighting for for hundreds of years and it has made the headlines several times in the past 5 months.

    I'm interested in Democracy around the world because I dream of a Free world. Of course there isn't really a true form of "freedom" but when I hear of certain countries and how they have limitations that people in America may not have, it makes me angry.

    In my research, I have discovered that since 1999 democratic progress around the world has been made. Especially in places like Latin America. I also learned that some countries don't really mind living in dictatorship, they don't know any other way and are afraid of standing up for a change.

    I wonder if people of certain countries were shown a different way of government, would they stand up and try to make a change. Are people not tired of being told what to do?

    My plan is to single out a few countries and research the type of government they have right now. Then I will list the pros and cons.

Bibliography-
http://www.wmd.org/about/current-challenges/current-challenges-democracy
http://www.loc.gov/bicentennial/symposia_democracy.html

Negative Space is the space around or between an object. For example if you have an apple, you would draw the space around the apple.

In my Stool drawings, I found the negative space by creating the shapes the space was taking up. So for example, if two Stool legs have space between them, that space made a trapezoid. For my cut- out, to find the negative space, I just looked at the parts around the drawing.

It helps an artist to see negative space because they can see the shape and formation of an object to draw it almost to perfection.

In my opinion, negative space does enhance the drawing because it makes the object pop.


Stool drawings (First two)
Bat cut out (last)

​Q: How do you feel about your 10-20-30 ?
A: "I feel that it has a lot of content and application of knowledge"

Q: If you could do it again, what would you differently?
A: "I would Put more content into the events, because I didn't do that well."

Q: What is the best part of your project
A: "The best part is the music I put on there."

Q: What is the most challenging part?
A: "The hardest part was making it visually appealing."

Q: What do you feel is the purpose of this project?
A: "I think that the purpose of this project is to learn about music from the past."

[ Victoria Yarbrough asking Johnathan Spencer questions.]