Original Paragraph:
Towering trees surround the sides of my tree fort. Forest sounds sing me to sleep when I stay the night in my favorite place. Occasionally, when the moon is out, I hear the movement of animals in the brush. In a flash I'm awake and sitting up. When the noise ceases, I can sleep again. The only time I can't go back to sleep is when the coyotes laugh at me from the hills behind our property. Laughing coyotes can make any kid's mind play tricks.
-anonymous
Now I am going to write an imitation of this paragraph:
Posters of pirates and funny sayings cut from magazies cover the wall of my crowded room. Billy Joel or Guns N' Roses lull me to sleep when I hunker down for the night. Once in awhile, I'll look out my bedroom window and see the clear skies with beautiful stars peeping out to see me. I force the covers off and kneel by my window to get a closer look. After I get cold enough, I pull on my Aspen Colorado sweatshirt and rub my arms violently. I finally crawl back into bed after I have gotten a good enough look and drift off to sleep.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Formal Logic
This is a logical error that i found in one of my school text-books :
Let's take, for example, the following statement: Some men are carpenters.
This is different from the first I statement (some dogs are vicious things) we looked at for this reason: Although there are some vicious things that are not dogs, there are no carpenters who are not men. This means that we need another kind of diagram to represent this statement.
Now, do you see my point? This propostion is very wrong, although it is true that there are other things that are vicious than dogs, but there are women carpenters in addition to men. In my opinion, these are the same type of statements. And then they go and say that it's different later in the passage, because even though not all men are carpenters, all carpenters are men. I laugh at this. I think that, in the first place, if you are going to write a book to teach people about logic and how to use it, you need to at least be smart enough to be accurate.
Let's take, for example, the following statement: Some men are carpenters.
This is different from the first I statement (some dogs are vicious things) we looked at for this reason: Although there are some vicious things that are not dogs, there are no carpenters who are not men. This means that we need another kind of diagram to represent this statement.
Now, do you see my point? This propostion is very wrong, although it is true that there are other things that are vicious than dogs, but there are women carpenters in addition to men. In my opinion, these are the same type of statements. And then they go and say that it's different later in the passage, because even though not all men are carpenters, all carpenters are men. I laugh at this. I think that, in the first place, if you are going to write a book to teach people about logic and how to use it, you need to at least be smart enough to be accurate.
Heart of Darkness-based on lit book
Original Paragraph:
The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails and was at rest. The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide. The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of and interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red clusters of canvas sharply peaked, with gleams of varnished sprits.
I really like this paragraph because it really gives a great description to get you into the book. If you keep reading this book, Joseph Conrad does an excellent job effectively illustration the actions and expressions of the characters, and the settings of the story.
The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails and was at rest. The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide. The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of and interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red clusters of canvas sharply peaked, with gleams of varnished sprits.
I really like this paragraph because it really gives a great description to get you into the book. If you keep reading this book, Joseph Conrad does an excellent job effectively illustration the actions and expressions of the characters, and the settings of the story.
Black Arrow-based on lit book
Original paragraph:
Sir Daniel and his men lay in and about Kettley that night, warmly quartered and well patrolled. But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from money-getting; and even now, when he was on the brink of an adventure which should make or mar him, he was up and hour after midnight to squeeze poor neighbors. He was one who trafficked greatly in disputed inheritances; it was his way to buy out the most unlikely claimant, and then, by the favor he curried with great lords about the king, procure unjust decisions in his favor; or, if that was too roundabout, to seize the disputed manor by force of arms and rely on his influence and Sir Oliver's cunning in law to hold what he had snatched. Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his clutches; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to overawe discontent that he had led his troops that way.
Now I am going to re-write some of the sentences with new words in them.
But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from filling his coffers; and even now, when he was on the verge of adventure..........
Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his acquaintance; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to....................
Sir Daniel and his men lay in and about Kettley that night, warmly quartered and well patrolled. But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from money-getting; and even now, when he was on the brink of an adventure which should make or mar him, he was up and hour after midnight to squeeze poor neighbors. He was one who trafficked greatly in disputed inheritances; it was his way to buy out the most unlikely claimant, and then, by the favor he curried with great lords about the king, procure unjust decisions in his favor; or, if that was too roundabout, to seize the disputed manor by force of arms and rely on his influence and Sir Oliver's cunning in law to hold what he had snatched. Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his clutches; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to overawe discontent that he had led his troops that way.
Now I am going to re-write some of the sentences with new words in them.
But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from filling his coffers; and even now, when he was on the verge of adventure..........
Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his acquaintance; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to....................
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Cry, the beloved country
Original Paragraph:
There is drought over the land, and the sun shines warmly down from the cloudless sky. But what will they do when it rains, what will they do when it is winter?
-It is sad for me to see.
-Yet see them building over there. And that they have not done for many a year. Some good may come fo this. And this too is Dubula's work.
-He is everywhere, it seems.
~~~
This paragraph makes me sad everytime I read it. I would hate to live in a country where the economy and segregation was so bad that you could not live normally. I am glad that we are all equal here in the United States, because then, since I am an evil white-man, I would feel bad because I am NOT racist and they would think I was.
There is drought over the land, and the sun shines warmly down from the cloudless sky. But what will they do when it rains, what will they do when it is winter?
-It is sad for me to see.
-Yet see them building over there. And that they have not done for many a year. Some good may come fo this. And this too is Dubula's work.
-He is everywhere, it seems.
~~~
This paragraph makes me sad everytime I read it. I would hate to live in a country where the economy and segregation was so bad that you could not live normally. I am glad that we are all equal here in the United States, because then, since I am an evil white-man, I would feel bad because I am NOT racist and they would think I was.
Cry, the Beloved Country
Original Paragraph:
And this is Shanty Town, my friend.
Even here the children laugh in the narrow lanes that run between these tragic habitations. A sheet of iron, a few planks, hessian and grass, an old door from some forgotten house. Smoke curls from vents cunningly contrived, there is a smell of food, there is a sound of voices, not raised in anger or pain, but talking of ordinary things, of this one that is born and that one that has died, of this one that does so well in school and that one who is now in prison.
Now I am going to re-write some of the sentences and write some comments:
Even here the children laugh, with the joy of people that have nothing yet are happy, in the narrow lanes that run between these tragic habitations. A sheet of iron, that has rusted from the endless dampness of the land, a few planks, hessian and grass, an old door from some forgotten house.
absolute phrase
prepositional phrase
adjectival clause
adverbial clause
And this is Shanty Town, my friend.
Even here the children laugh in the narrow lanes that run between these tragic habitations. A sheet of iron, a few planks, hessian and grass, an old door from some forgotten house. Smoke curls from vents cunningly contrived, there is a smell of food, there is a sound of voices, not raised in anger or pain, but talking of ordinary things, of this one that is born and that one that has died, of this one that does so well in school and that one who is now in prison.
Now I am going to re-write some of the sentences and write some comments:
Even here the children laugh, with the joy of people that have nothing yet are happy, in the narrow lanes that run between these tragic habitations. A sheet of iron, that has rusted from the endless dampness of the land, a few planks, hessian and grass, an old door from some forgotten house.
absolute phrase
prepositional phrase
adjectival clause
adverbial clause
Friday, February 6, 2009
Cry, the beloved country
Original Paragraph:
And some cry for the cutting up of South Africa without delay into separate areas, where white can live without black, and black without white, where black can farm their own land and mine their own minerals and administer their own laws. And others cry away with the compound system, that brings men to the towns without their wives and children, and breaks up the tribe and the house and the man, and they ask for the establishment of villages for the labourers in mines and industry.
There is a whole chapter of speeches in this book that, I think, give the book it's name. Cry, the Beloved Country, is a very good book, although I still haven't finished it. I liked this piece because it is interesting to me how the people back then were so racist. The whites moved in on the blacks and took over everything and ruined their lives. I feel that that is how they convey their feelings in this selection. I have to admit, the whites, which include me, were pretty pushy about their ways and usually either got their way, or forced their way and nothing could stop them. In this book, Kumalo, a main character who is a minister, can't understand how their land became so corrupted. But in truth, it was the whites.
And some cry for the cutting up of South Africa without delay into separate areas, where white can live without black, and black without white, where black can farm their own land and mine their own minerals and administer their own laws. And others cry away with the compound system, that brings men to the towns without their wives and children, and breaks up the tribe and the house and the man, and they ask for the establishment of villages for the labourers in mines and industry.
There is a whole chapter of speeches in this book that, I think, give the book it's name. Cry, the Beloved Country, is a very good book, although I still haven't finished it. I liked this piece because it is interesting to me how the people back then were so racist. The whites moved in on the blacks and took over everything and ruined their lives. I feel that that is how they convey their feelings in this selection. I have to admit, the whites, which include me, were pretty pushy about their ways and usually either got their way, or forced their way and nothing could stop them. In this book, Kumalo, a main character who is a minister, can't understand how their land became so corrupted. But in truth, it was the whites.
Angels watching over me
Original Paragraph:
The next day, about the middle of the morning, I was on my way back from the chicken coop with some fresh eggs, when I heard the dogs start barking. I looked up and saw a white man on a horse coming toward the house, along the wagon road that came from the west.
My heart jumped into my throat and I ran for the house. Katie was inside kneading some bread we'd mixed up earlier.
"There's a man soming, Miss Katie!" I called as I hurried through the kitchen. "Come with me!"
Now I am going to re-write a sentence and comment on the writing.
Katie, who was inside kneading some bread we'd mixed up earlier, was wearing her pink dress.
This is the beginning of a chapter in a book called "Angels watching over me." I think it's a very interesting opener, because you don't know if he is a bad guy or a good guy yet.
Red: Participial Phrase
Blue:Absolute Phrase
Green:Prepositional Phrase
Purple:Adjectival Clause
The next day, about the middle of the morning, I was on my way back from the chicken coop with some fresh eggs, when I heard the dogs start barking. I looked up and saw a white man on a horse coming toward the house, along the wagon road that came from the west.
My heart jumped into my throat and I ran for the house. Katie was inside kneading some bread we'd mixed up earlier.
"There's a man soming, Miss Katie!" I called as I hurried through the kitchen. "Come with me!"
Now I am going to re-write a sentence and comment on the writing.
Katie, who was inside kneading some bread we'd mixed up earlier, was wearing her pink dress.
This is the beginning of a chapter in a book called "Angels watching over me." I think it's a very interesting opener, because you don't know if he is a bad guy or a good guy yet.
Red: Participial Phrase
Blue:Absolute Phrase
Green:Prepositional Phrase
Purple:Adjectival Clause
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