College Depot

There are college workshops at College Depot, located in the Burton Barr Library. Anyone is able to walk in anytime during the library hours and talk with counselors to help plan for college. They have tons of workshops that you can sign up for and they basically help you with ANYTHING you need. It's completely free, you just have to be proactive enough to get yourself over there.

http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org

Enter the URL and search for college depot and they give you a full layout of all the upcoming workshops.

Always listen to your mother!!

So for days now my mom has been trying to get me to read this article about financial aid for college and I have been blowing it off. This weekend I dedicated to filling out the FAFSA and finalizing some college applications! Before I started doing all that, I finally read the article! There's this thing called College Goal Sunday coming up on January 30th and January 31st, where you can will get FREE advice from experts about how to complete the federal forms to qualify for grants and student loans. There's locations in all major cities including Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa, and Tempe. The Phoenix one will be held at South Mountain college and Phoenix college. I regret not listening to my mom and reading the article earlier because I had the power to inform other seniors about it at school /: That's unforgivable on my part..

For more information visit www.collegegoalsunday.com or call (602)-258-2435
-AlBa(:

I couldn't hear the sound, my speakers were acting up but I hope you guys can hear it clearly! I thought I'd post this since we just read chapter 7 about the kite fighting that Amir and Hassan participate in. Although Hosseni is blessed with the talent of painting vivid images with just words, actually seeing the Kite Fighting is different. This video shows an actual Afghan kite fighting champion, in addition this video gives us a history lesson, apparently kite fighting was banned by the Taliban! Enjoy!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYCLyNvFSDs





-AlBa(:

7 Years In Tiber: The Motion Picture

Hey guys! Since we were unable to schedule a time that worked for all of us to watch the film, I searched online and found the entire movie in one link (not in 6-10 min snippets like youtube)!

Prof. Hill said she would give us extra credit, 50pts, if we wrote a movie review & compared it to Siddhartha.

I am going to watch it tonight! I'll give feedback tomorrow during class,

here is the link

http://stagevu.com/video/ahyfbycqedpu

International Poets

What do you guys think of the UniVerse website? Who are your favorite authors?

Word of the week!

I apologize for the word being late guys! /:

Periodic Sentence-a sentence which is not grammatically complete until the end.

Seems logical right??!

An example is, "The child, who looked as if she were being chased by demons, ran."

Let's see what creative periodic sentences you guys can come up with! :D

-AlBa.

The Kite Runner

We will commence our reading of The Kite Runner this week. I am so grateful that we have access to the voices of Afghani/Middle Eastern writers, many of whom do not have a voice in their own countries! I have attached a link to a poetry site at the bottom of this page. One woman's poetry stands out to me the most. Please read her story. We are going to read it together on Monday.

Yo! New-Century Buddhism!

Did you guys read my post earlier this week? I essentially was wondering what religious leaders can do in order to not be lost in this century, how could they appeal to the younger crowds!
Well, I happened to stumble upon this, quite arbitrary actually. I think it is funny.
FOLLOW THE LINK:
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/01/21/lah.japan.monks.rap.cnn

The Walk, NOT Talk- Party

In the spirit of Siddhartha's way of life, of not talking, of ACTING instead, of experiencing life for one's self and allowing others to freely experience theirs, of finding middle ground in all things in life, of being open minded, We the students of the Advanced Placement South Ridge High School English class do establish this organization.

WELCOME TO THE WALK, NOT TALK PARTY!

ARE YOU TIRED OF POLITICIANS WHO JUST TALK, BUT DO NOTHING, NADA, ZIP, ZERO?

ARE YOU TURNED OFF BY TODAY'S POLITICAL IDEALS WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON ATTACKING THE "ENEMY" PARTY?

DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A BETTER POLITICIAN? YEAH, SO DO WE!

This organization is one which vows to NEVER TALK, and only ACT. As Siddhartha said, words are meaningless- experience is more important. We also vow to see both sides of every situation, of every opinion and find the middle ground of both perspectives. We understand that while there exist 6Billion people on Earth, truly there only lives one. One person who takes the form of billions, with different faces, different voices, different cities, and different experiences. We are ONE PEOPLE ONE WORLD! This organization is here to make politics work for All people, to understand all people, and to better all people.

Guys, wouldn't this be awesome? A government that does not talk and only ACTS!

Is EVOLUTION the answer?

So I just got done reading the articles we had on the situation in Tibet.

One thing that I found interesting is the comparison between old conventional Tibetan Buddhist life and the quickly-modernizing atmosphere in which it now is a part of in the Tibetan government-in-exile in India.

The (2nd) article describes the slow, but sure, fading practice of Buddhism world-wide.

I then started to think about religion in general. My question is:

With the ever-evolving world that we live in- 21st century internet, video games, television, et cetera- is the practice of religion slowly deteriorating? Are there ways that religious leaders can make practicing religion more attractive, especially to OUR generation which seems to only do things that are attractive. I personally do not believe that going to a 2-hour long session is attractive.

Think of Siddhartha, his life is so slow and, as we agreed in class, he just lives in the moment, yet in all moments. He is thinker, and in many ways that is what religion is as well, thinking and committing one's self to a doctrine, or exploring different ones. I think that if all people just stopped to think, to reflect and to LIVE IN ALL MOMENTS, life would be better for everyone.

However, with the Western corporate, live-fast culture making its way quick across the rest of the globe, is there any hope for a Siddhartha-type society in the future?

The Wisdom of Indirection

One of the major themes in Siddhartha is "The Wisdom of Indirection." What do you think this means? How have you seen it so far in the story?

Long Live Equality!

I posted this on my other blog, but I feel that, on account of MLK day being close at hand, this was appropriate to share here.

This upcoming Monday will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day of celebration for all freedom fighters. Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary. He didn't use guns, armies, guerrilla tactics, or anything of that nature. He used his voice, his vision, peace. He showed that the idea white people had of blacks in the first half of the 20th Century as violent and uneducated creatures was wrong. In fact, he proved that it was not blacks, but racist whites that could be the most creature-like.

        The Freedom rides were assaulted and some of the buses were destroyed. Protesters at sit-ins were attacked with hot food and coffee and sat silently and proudly. Members of white supremacist groups tarred and feathered, lynched, and burned black men. If anyone was the uneducated creature in those days, it wasn't the men and women fighting for their rights.

Long Live Equality!

Help Haiti

Below are a list of charities to help the people in Haiti who have been affected by the earthquake. The easiest way to help is: simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross.


Action Against Hunger
American Red Cross
American Jewish World Service
AmeriCares
Beyond Borders
CARE
Catholic Relief Services
Childcare Worldwide
Direct Relief International
Doctors Without Borders
Feed My Starving Children
Friends of WFP
Haitian Health Foundation
Hope for Haiti
International Medical Corps
International Relief Teams
Medical Teams International
Meds and Food for Kids
Mercy Corps
Operation USA
Oxfam
Partners in Health
Samaritan's Purse
Save the Children
UNICEF
World Concern
World Vision
Yele HaitiWyclef Jean's grassroots orgText Yele to 501 501 to donate $5 via your cellphone

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

In Friday's class we are going to start our reading of Siddhartha. It is a novella that can be referenced in many of the AP writing prompts. Also, it fits in with our study of various cultures this block. Here are some famous quotes from Siddhartha himself. What do you think? What philosphies or other writings do his beliefs remind you of?

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
　
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

What we think, we become.

Your Favorite Literary Quote

Today while you were reciting your favorite literary quotes, I noticed that your peers really liked your choices. Let's post them here so we can take a closer look. Although it's difficult, please only select one for now.

"We should have never come to America!!!"

I love the way you defined culture Lizeth Rodriguez(:, "Culture
the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving." Touche!

As many of you know, I was born in Zambia, Africa, I resided there until the age of 10. As you can imagine or maybe not, the culture in Zambia greatly differs from the American culture! Thus, when my family and I migrated from the United States, I experienced culture shock! Zambia and America are on opposite ends of the spectrum, they differ in values, beliefs, and attitudes.. In Zambia whenever you refer to a person older than you, you have to to add "BWA" at the beginning of their name, so it would be like, "BWA Melissa," and that's a sign of respect..Hence, I was in utter shock when I first moved here, [there was a white American family who helped us get settled] when Lynn and Sherry Bray wanted me to call them by their first name, in fact, I was extremely hesitant!

And then another instance is, I can recall when my Grandmother came to visit, the culture shock was even more for her because she's older and is set on traditions..So, I remember one day, it was a hot summer day and there's was a girl across from our house in her tiny bikini watching her car and my Grandmother screamed out, "ALICE! ALE NA CHINTANKO WANA KAZI!" Which translates as, "ALICE! THERE"S A NAKED GIRL!" I can recall trying to explain to my Grandmother that she wasn't naked, of course my Grandma just shook her head and looked at me angrily because to her it seemed like I was defending this naked girl who didn't have values, so I was just as bad as the naked girl...That was like a dagger to my heart of course.. The reason being, to my Grandmother it seemed like I was a sell out, as if I didn't have my Zambian values.. Yet, it is so much more complex than that..

The criticism I often receive from family members who say that I've become Americanized can at times be very painful..To them, "Americanized" is bad, Americanized means I am not respectful nor do I have any values, that I am an erratic soul..My parents, [I love them to death, they have a huge peace of my heart!] are guilty of this.. Whenever I mess up, they vehemently blame it on America, "We shouldn't have come to America, you guys wouldn't have turned out like this.." I've attempted to explain the struggle that I've had to endure and will have to endure for the rest of my life, yet, they do not understand..They do not understand because they came to America as adults with their culture already defined..But I was 10 when I came here, I was raised both in Zambia and in America..My parents expect me to only embrace my Zambian culture because that's what I am...Yet, I was raised here as well...I've always struggled to find the equilibrium between the two cultures, I feel that I cannot just abandon one for the other, because I wouldn't be complete. The struggle for equilibrium is frustrating at times, yet I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in the world, this is because, my two cultures have formed my identity! I feel grateful because my Zambian culture tells me to be hard-working, diligent, "to respect strength and not power," to be empathetic, and that happiness is truly free..Those values were imbued in me, each value was taught to me by the experiences of my Grandparents and parents..My American culture offers me myriads of opportunities that are not offered by Zambia.. It's not to say that, because you are American you are not hard working or diligent.. I am just saying that that's how it worked out for me! As I am struggling to find equilibrium, my Zambian and American culture are working together to make up my identity..I often wonder whether I will find equilibrium.. Or if there is such a thing..

So, I've got a question for those of you who are Hispanic or whatever, do you struggle to find the balance between your Hispanic culture and your American culture? Do you think you've achieved equilibrium? Do you think is exists at all?

Cultura, ¿QUÉ ES?

Essentially, culture is the way people act and react in their environment. This conversation directly correlates with one we had while reading The Scarlet Letter and while studying Transcendentalism. We discussed living inside out versus living from the outside in, how do we go about giving meaning to our lives. I would say culture is happiness, because every different type of people (wether it be ethnic groups, social groups such as the Gay/Lesbian community, religious groups and others) has a culture. However, we must ask ourselves, well WHY do different cultures exist?

I believe it is because we all have different opinions on what happiness means. Do you think of it as a Mercedes in your parking lot, or a Ph.D on your wall, or perhaps the fact that you helped better the lives of hundreds of people while on a missionary trip to Africa? It is all based on happiness, and once we find people who share similar views on what happiness means we have found our culture.

Every culture has different morals, beliefs, opinions, and ways of conducting life which is the direct effect of the myriad of definitions of happiness out there.

Example, I am Mexican. My mexican culture expects me to act one way or another. However, I have found that that culture, that idea of happiness is not who I am, which is why I am in search of another culture which shares the similar definition of happiness as me. Culture is not always about the color of the skin on your head, but more about what is under that skin, YOUR MIND!

Culture

the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving.



"The Stairway to Culture-knowledge"conceptual photo DeviantArt Cristina Alexandra Andries
I agree with this definition culture to me is the knowledge, the behavior one acquires through their social group. Every different group of people have come up with their own way of thinking, their own values, and attitudes based on where they live, what resources they have, and how exposed they are to the world. I say knowledge because when defining the word cultured or to be cultured means to be knowledgeable, educated, cultivated. “Our written languages, governments, buildings, and other man-made things are merely the products of culture” says Dennis O'Neil. Thus culture is in the mind, it is a psychological phenomenon that Is always changing and so fragile due to the altering human mind and values.

Did I make any sense?

If not please comment I will try to further my argument.

What does culture mean to you?

Since the focus for this block is on culturally significant works, one must first have a clear definition of what culture is. Add your ideas!

Welcome Back, Students!

This week we will begin reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. This novella is very appropriate for the situation many of you are facing now--preparing to leave home and starting a new life. Siddhartha is on a journey of self-realization. We will discuss the concepts of Buddhism as well as the universal themes presented in the story.

AP Word of the Week

Hey, Jose Garcia.

I though it would be pretty awesome for us to have an AP word of the week. These are words, literary devices, which we are going to encounter during the AP English Exam. & It will serve as reinforcement for what we already know!

So for the first word, let's start easy.

WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THIS!, IF YOU DO NOT, THEN HEY! YOU WILL LEARN SOMETHING KNEW

ANAPHORA

the sentence below is a perfect example of anaphora, see if you can figure out what it is.

"I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun."

You Guess it!

Definition: A rhetorical term for the repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses.

College Board AP English

Hey guys! This is Jose Garcia (make sure to check out own blog "HistoryStrength.Blogspot.com")

Anyway, I thought it would be fitting to post up the College Board's own description of what an AP English course should look like, as well as information on what knowledge students need in order to conquer that AP exam.

Here is the link for the website which, in a nutshell, explains AP Engl Lit. "http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_englit.html?englit"

The Exam

You've explored works of literature in great depth. Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test -- and perhaps earn college credit -- with the AP English Literature & Composition Exam.

About the Exam

The three-hour exam usually consists of a one-hour multiple-choice section and a two-hour free-response section.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

The multiple-choice section tests your critical reading skills. You'll read several passages and answer questions about the content, form, and style of each. Remember that random guessing can hurt your final score. While you don't lose anything for leaving a question blank, one quarter of a point is subtracted for each incorrect answer on the test. But if you have some knowledge of the question and can eliminate one or more answers, it's usually to your advantage to choose what you believe is the best answer from the remaining choices.

Section II: Free-Response

In this section you'll write essays to show your ability to analyze and interpret literary texts in clear and effective prose.

Scoring the Exam

The multiple-choice section counts for 45 percent of your grade. The free-response section contributes the remaining 55 percent.

So this is just things to keep in mind as the course progresses.