Class Cancelled for Tomorrow / Make-up Assignment (incl. HW for next Thu)

Hi all,
I apologize but something has come up, and I will be unable to make it to class tomorrow.
In lieu of class, I’d like you to post the following pieces of writing to the blog—just respond to this post.
1. Write a (brief) theory as to why Renee Gladman might have suggested in “Calamities” (starting on p. 49 in packet 1) that she be referred to as an “Eastern-European African-American.”  OR, if you don’t want to do this, write about something else you found interesting in Gladman’s “Calamities.” 🙂
2. 5 vocabulary words from Gladman’s “Calamaties.”  For each word, write your own sentence that shows its meaning.
3. Gladman’s text comes from a book of short prose pieces—some of which are basically short short stories.  All of these pieces begin with the phrase “I began the day…”  This writing strategy—of using a repeating phrase to begin a series of sentences, paragraphs, or sections—is called anaphora.  I want you to try this strategy by writing a paragraph in which all of your sentences begin with the same phrase—a phrase that you want to emphasize.  Your paragraph can be about your Essay 1 topic or something else.
4. In the “Essay 1 Feedback” section, write and post your feedback for Danicel Dellosantos, Jahim Andrew, and Ashley Anderson.  These essays should all have been emailed to you.  However, e-mail me if you need an extra copy e-mailed to you.  Come to class prepared to discuss your feedback for these 3 essays. co Write Feedback
HW for next Thursday (no class on Tue 10/1): Read Denis Johnson’s The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (excerpts, p. 41 in Packet 1).  Come to class prepared to discuss how you think Johnson uses voice/tone to create interesting characters (including his first person narrator).  We’ll be talking a bit about developing voice and dialogue in your essays, and Johnson’s work is a great model for how to work with voice and character.
See you next Thursday (10/3),
Monroe

20 thoughts on “Class Cancelled for Tomorrow / Make-up Assignment (incl. HW for next Thu)”

  1. My theory towards why Renee Goldman might have suggested that she be referred to as an “ Eastern-European African American” is because of the history with migration on how Europe conquered most countries but also because as she said both Black and European aren’t too far apart in mentality.
    Solemnity – Once I’ve realized that college was two times harder than high school I’ve decided to turn to solemnity.
    Vicinity- The vicinity was approximately around 10 mins away from me.
    Undermining – the way people look at me was as if they were undermining my strategies.
    Academic – I’ve realized I’m an academic then I read “Calamities”.
    Oblivious – I was oblivious towards my own rage.
    I’ve realized that my life was no longer going to be the same the moment I step out the door. I’ve realized that my family no longer wanted my help so as to each their own. I’ve realized that overtime I will no longer regret the actions I took to defend my honor. I’ve realized that eventually my family would understand me for me and see that everything I was put through wasn’t just. I’ve realized that in my life I will have to take care of my own and what is mine.

    1. Lesly,
      Interesting theory—can we unpack (explain) it more. Is the thought that European colonialism in African countries resulted in the construction of the notion of race (i.e., “blackness,” “whiteness,” and so on)? Say more.
      Nice anaphora. Quick question: why have you chosen to use the present perfect verb tense (have realized)? How would this read differently if you used the simple past tense (realized)?

  2. 1.    Renee might have suggested that she be referred to as Eastern European because she believes African Americans are another kind of Eastern European.
    2.     Vocabulary :
    Commence – to start.
    –      I would like to commence reading on a regular basis.
    Summon – call on someone to be present.
    –      I summoned my brother so that he can help with some homework.
    Proclaim – announce officially or publicly.
    –      I proclaimed My love for action movies to the world.
     
    3.         I left the door wondering about how long it would take for me to arrive to school. I left the door thinking of how my day was going to hold for me. I left the door wondering if my life would really be how I set it out to be. I left door anxious to learn about all the ways I can succeed. I left the door wondering of what I might find when I came back.

    1. Karla,
      Nice thought about Gladman’s text, but go further: explain WHY she might believe African-Americans are “another kind of Eastern European.” Most people wouldn’t necessarily think so.
      Good work with the vocab and anaphora.

  3. 1. My theory as to  why Renee Gladman might have suggested that she be referred to as an “ Eastern-European African American” is because   humans are genetically related to each other? each of us belong to the same species .(Homo sapiens)

     

    Inspiring: Malala Yousafzai is inspiring  to many women.

    Delays :my package been delays.

    Observing:People are observing the eclipse.

    Summon : tina receive  a summons from the court.5.Undermining: stacy is undermining kai 3.people in a group are less likely to involve. people don’t say excuse me anymore. people text on their phones when they should be talking with a friend. people get sensitive when others invade their space in elevator.

     

    1. ChanChan,
      I love your theory about Gladman’s tongue-in-cheek wish to be called an “Eastern-European African-American”; I think she could be alluding to something like the genetic similarity of humans, among other things.
      A couple things:
      –Check your sentence using “delays.”
      –Include part 3: your use of anaphora.
      Thanks

  4. 1.Renee Gladman might have suggested that she be referred to as “Eastern-European African-American” because she says “black people are another kind of Eastern European.

    2.undermining- the events of the past years have undermined peoples confidence in the govt.

    oblivious- she was oblivious of the influences she was around.

    exhilarating- the movie was very exhilarating while it lasted.

    retrieve- she tried to retrieve the necklace after she found out what it actually meant to her.

    3. I understood what the teacher wanted me to realize and that it was for my very own good. I understood that I had to take action in what I was doing if I wanted to succeed. I understood that people only push you to get you to be a better version of yourself even if you tend to even underestimate yourself.

     

    1. Emily,
      Your sentence using “retrieve”: nice work. Can you say more about why Gladman might want to think of “black people as another kind of Eastern European”? What conventional ideas about race might she be challenging?

  5. (1) Renee Gladman  referred to her as an “Eastern-European African-American.” because she mention that – “black people are another kind of Eastern Europeans, which could be of use when observing the state of things inside a book. ”

    (2) Blazing: I can see the fire is blazing in the forest

    Companionable: I am companionable with any race people.

    Exhilarating: I enjoy exhilarating on my friend birthday

    Summons: He tried to summon his assistance.

    Proclaim: He proclaim that he will be a hacker.

    (3) I believe life is game of compensation and in this competition we are soldier. I believe we are able to face the faculty in our life. I believe we will blaze our life with kindness and we will bring smile in everyone face. I believe every day is not a good day but there is something good in everyday.

    1. Raihan,
      Interesting anaphora. I really like the sentence you end up with:
      I believe every day is not a good day but there is something good in every day.
      A couple things:
      –check your sentence for “exhilarating”; I’m not yet sure it makes sense
      –can you say more about Gladman’s sentence that you quoted? What “book” might she be talking about? What happens when we read books written from the perspective of a person from another nationality, race, or ethnicity? Is this relevant to what Gladman is saying here? How?

  6. 1)
    Something that I found  interesting when reading this text is that the author besides always start each paragraph with a “ I began the day” and through each paragraph  she takes some time to talk about her personal life and let us see that she loves books. She loves books to the point that she can’t totally narrate us her experiences without mentioning the book she was reading at the time.


    2)
    Exhilarating: Making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling.
     Solemnity: The state or quality of being serious and dignified.
     Assess: Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of. (In this case can be taken as a way to say that it had to be done by her and her family)
     Oblivious: Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.
     Domestic tourism: Spending a vacation inside the same county/ not far away from home.
     
    3)
    I was sitting down in front of my computer with nothing to say. I was sitting down in front of my computer worried I didn’t have nothing to say, what could I possibly write about? I was sitting down in front of my computer just thinking as the music sounds in my ears, invading my every thought.I was sitting down in front of my computer as the music sends me back to that time. I was sitting down in front of my computer when the music makes me remember what I tried to forget, my answers were in the most obvious place and yet hardest one to find. I was sitting down in front of my computer when I finally knew what to write. Now I sit down in front of my computer every time I have something to say, and the memories of my past just flows with my every thought in sync with the beat of my music. I was sitting down in front of my computer but this time I had something to say.
     

    1. Thanks, Iverson–I really like the progression from “nothing to say” to “something to say” that develops as you work through your anaphora starting with “I was sitting down…”
      Quickly: can you make sentences for you vocab words to begin practicing them?

  7. 3.people in a group are less likely to involve. people don’t say excuse me anymore. people text on their phones when they should be talking with a friend. people get sensitive when others invade their space in elevator. ( it was under sentence Undermining: stacy is undermining kai)

     

     because of the hurricane school has been  Delays  ( new sentence)

  8. My theory of Renee’s thought as to why she would like to be referred to as a “
    Eastern European African American” (This was really confusing for me to read but this is what I came up with) is because she herself said that black people are another kind of Eastern Europeans but she is not an Eastern European but yet she would like to be referred to as one because they are not but the same.

    Undermining-the action or process of lessening the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something, especially gradually or insidiously.
    ExP:The undermining Sickness began to slowly fade away.

    Proximity -nearness in space, time, or relationship
    ExP:Being in close proximity to a phone that is contacting you can result in an echo.

    Oblivious-not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.
    ExP:I was oblivious to the fact that someone was walking in front of me when I was looking down at my phone.

    Robust-
    strong and healthy; vigorous.
    ExP:The old man was not only wise but very robust for his age that he was able to lift the box by himself.

    Proclaim-announce officially or publicly
    ExP:Donald Trump proclaimed the ban on Juul Pods last week.

    The day I realized that I will graduate Middleschool and transition to high-school I was afraid of growing up.The day I started to apply for colleges as a senior in high-school,I realized I was growing up.The day I graduated high-school I knew I was taking a big step into the real world.The day I started attending college I thought I would have a hard time understanding the work.The day I realized that college is very much like highschool but 10x better and a bit more rigorous,I liked it.

  9. 1. Renee Gladman may have been referred to an Eastern-European African American because of the history of Europeans and Africans. When Africans were taken into slavery, on top of forced labor, they were also exploited sexually. Perhaps Renee Gladman came from a situation like that, making her have European and African blood.

    2. Domestic – The father who beat up his children was charged for domestic violence.
    Proximity – John’s arachnophobia made him cringe when a spider was in his proximity.
    Companionable – Doe was a very charismatic person, everyone described him as companionable.
    Solemnity – The eulogy by the best friend of Jane was spoken with solemnity.
    Repressed – Since the beginning of time there was a group of people being repressed.

    3. I don’t understand where we came from. I don’t understand how long we’ve been here. I don’t understand why we are here. I don’t understand what is the point of being here if it isn’t permanent. I don’t understand why we have pushed everything so far. I don’t understand where we will be in the future. I don’t understand why we want it so bad. I don’t understand where we will be soon. I don’t understand why I don’t want to leave.

  10. 1) My theory towards Renee Gladman and why she is referring herself as a “Eastern-European African American” to me does not necessarily mean she IS genetically Eastern-European African american , in my opinion, she feels that black people are somewhat that simply for the reason that almost all blacks lived in Eastern Europe under slavery. Considering that point she feels that they are somewhat related.

    2) Undermining: performing an act that takes away any kind of power or imprint on someone or something slowly. EX: The citizens of America are working to undermine Donald J. Trump.

    Full-fledged: completely developed, matured EX: She is now a full-fledged woman that does not foll around anymore.

    Solemnity: dignified EX: Everyone prayed for him in solemnity for he was an American hero.

    Robust: strong, well-built (physically) EX: Dwayne the Rock Johnson has a naturally robust figure.

    Vicinity: area surrounding your neighborhood EX: She signed him up at a school in her vicinity.

    3) In the middle of the year I thought this was it, I was not gonna graduate early. In the middle of the year, so much anxiety rushed in my brain. In the middle of the year, I was complaining from the amount of work I signed up for. In the middle of the year, my grades were going down because I gave up so fast. In the middle of the year, I regretted my decision but I had to do it now.

     

     

     

  11. (1) Renee Gladman  referred to her as an “Eastern-European African-American.” because she mention that – “black people are another kind of Eastern Europeans, which could be of use when observing the state of things inside a book. “
    By referring the book she is trying make the reader visualize the African American history. When she was ready the book she felt like African American people are Eastern European. She also mentioned she is not Eastern European in her real life. 
    (2) Blazing: I can see the fire is blazing in the forest
    Companionable: I am companionable with any race people.
    Exhilarating: I heard exhilarating news when i was in my friend birthday
    Summons: He tried to summon his assistance.
    Proclaim: He proclaim that he will be a hacker.
    (3) I believe life is game of compensation and in this competition we are soldier. I believe we are able to face the faculty in our life. I believe we will blaze our life with kindness and we will bring smile in everyone face. I believe every day is not a good day but there is something good in everyday.

  12. My theory towards Renee Goldman is that she wants to be called a European African American. She believes because of all the African migration that have been going on in Europe they are closely related. She also emphasizes that Europeans and African are closely related mentally as well.

    Oblivious- She is very oblivious to the fact that he is using her.

    Vicinity- The Vicinity between my house and my grandpas house is about 20 minutes.

    Robust- After multiple visits to the doctor the old man seemed very robust.

    Domestic- That animal was very domestic because of all it had gone through.

    A mouse, the pray of a cat or just any animal. When the animal grabs its pray which is the mouse it is helpless and it can’t defend itself. It is the pray of basically all animals, its very similar to just a little girl in a playground. A little girl which is a toddler is very fragile and helpless but to the fact of her not being able to defend herself. And the predators are all the rapist and pedophiles put there who seek to harm a defenseless toddler. So a toddler is similar to a mice defenseless and every bad person is seeking to hurt them when they get a chance.

  13. Something that came up interesting to me while reading the expert was the fact that the author Renee Gladman, was the fact that she was worried about what people though of her  if she was a Eastern European when she is not. The  reason for me coming up with this statement is because she clams to be African American. With those those statements of hers i am confused on what she is trying to say.

    Summons: an order to appear before a judge or magistrate or the writ containing it.

    Undermining: The action or process of lessening the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something, especially gradually or insidiously.

    Proclaim: Declare something one considers important with due emphasis.

    Tourist: a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.

    Proximity: nearness in space, time or relationship.

     

    I like how dreams take a lot of hard work and dedication to be accomplished. I like how you can have a dream and sometimes think of quitting because of how hard it is to get to it. I like how the human mindset to accomplishing a dream can battle every obstacle on their way to the desalinated dream. I like how having a strong desire, having faith and working hard without the mindset of quitting can lead to the big smile at the end.

  14. Renee Gladman wants to be referred to as  an Eastern-European African American because she wants everyone to realize that they don’t have to just be black. She wants blacks to embrace the full nationality they are. Kinda like how they have Afro Latinas. They are black but embrace the Hispanic side as well.

    Vocabulary Words-

    Solemnity : Though she had a rough past, she kept her solemnity.

    Vicinity : There was a robbery in the vicinity of my neighborhood

    Oblivious : The dog was oblivious to to the work around him

    Exhilarating – The roller coaster was exhilarating for the child.

    Commence – The graduation was about to commence, so everyone had to be quiet.

     

    This girl was so annoying, she made random outburst and was always loud.This  girl was so annoying, she was never did what she was supposed to . This girl was so annoying, anytime we had plans she said she was tired. This girl is so annoying, she was so irrational and wild. This girl was so annoying, but she also had a tumor. This girl was so annoying, but it wasn’t her fault.

     

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