Independent Reading Activity #3

Intriguing Questions, Topics, Issues:

1. Death
2. How do you respond when you know you are going to die?
3. Can you still maintain a positive outlook on life when you know it's going to end?
4. Relationships


I can only imagine being told that very soon I am going to die, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to prevent it. This is exactly what Morrie was forced to go through. Now, this situation raises an important question, what are you going to do with your life? Are you going to react negatively and be depressed, or, not let it affect you and take over the world. Morrie, being the great man that he was, chose the later of the two.

"I know you think this is just about dying," he said, "but it's like I keep telling you. When you learn how to die, you learn how to live." - pg. 104

It was such passages and quotes like this that were a perfect testimony to the great man that Morrie had become. His approach toward dying was one that was unprecedented and one that many people, sadly, cannot bring themselves to use. I thought this quote from Morrie was an exact answer to how people should approach death, and an easy way to stay positive, even if you know you're going to die.

Valedictorian Speech

Friends, teachers, parents, fellow students, it has been my pleasure to share these last four years with you. It is here in this very school that I have learned the true methods at which to succeed in life. It is my hope that all of us in this graduating class go on to fulfill our dreams and follow the groundwork that has been laid out for us in these times at Wissahickon. High school was not my favorite of times, but, it did teach me and prepare me for the future and I am ready to move on to my next stage of life, as I'm sure all of you sitting here are as well. To be honest I don't appreciate long drawn out speeches or lectures, so I sincerely wish to conclude by saying, thank you to all who have helped me along the way and to wish everyone the best of luck in any future endeavors.

Independent Reading: 4/4

Prompt #3

The author, Mitch Albom, does not waste anytime when introducing the novel. He dives right into the story and really grabs the reader's attention. From the start, it is obvious that Mitch Albom has deep feelings for his teacher, Morrie, and that he had a great impact on him in his life.

In particular, a passage that really moved me came in only the second chapter of the book. This is when Albom is describing his graduation from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was a very emotional moment. As Mitch Albom says goodbye to his favorite teacher, Morrie, he describes the scene: "I didn't want to forget him. Maybe I didn't want him to forget me. He asks if I will stay in touch, and without hesitation I say, 'Of course'. When he steps back, I see that his is crying." (pg. 4)

I found this very emotional and moving because every student and teacher strives for this type of relationship. It is not everyday that a young student can find that strong of a connection with an older, much more experienced teacher. Because of how special such a relationship can be I thought this was important and moving, and an indicator of how the rest of the story will unfold.

Amir's Atonement

Atonement –
–noun
1. satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) Theology. the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, esp. as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.
3. Christian Science. the experience of humankind's unity with God exemplified by Jesus Christ.
4. Archaic. reconciliation; agreement.

I think that atonement is a difficult topic. Some mistakes are actually reparable, but some, just cannot be mended. For instance, if a person does not complete a homework, that’s a mistake. But, they can easily make up for it by achieving a good test grade or doing well on a project. On the other hand, murder or rape, is that a sin that is capable of reparations? And that’s the major question. People must posses an incredible passion for justice and patience to forgive a person for murder and that’s why I cannot definitively say that atonement for past sins is completely possible. It is solely based on the circumstances and the people at hand.

For the topic of Amir and atonement, I think it will be very difficult for Amir to forgive himself and for that reason I think reaching that level will be difficult for him. In order for atonement to occur both parties in the situation must be willing to forgive and repent. Once Hassan and Amir reach that point I think they can move on.

Probably the most influential sin that I feel would be the hardest to move on from would be the rape and Amir not stopping it, or telling people about it. It most likely haunts the thoughts of both Amir and Hassan and for that simple reason, atonement might not be probable. Again, I think that both parties must become "good with themselves" in their own head and only from that point can they move on.

Mistakes

One time, I told my parents I was going to church, but actually snuck over to my girlfriends house and was caught doing so. It just so happened that my dad did not believe I was heading towards mass so he decided to follow me, unbeknownst to myself. He let some time pass and proceeded to call my phone from a different number, which understandably, I answered. He asked why I was picking up the phone during church, and I was caught red handed.

I eventually gained back their trust after a lengthy talk with both of my parents. I felt bad that I disrespected my mother and father and lied about where I was going, especially church. But over time, I’m sure they have forgotten about the whole incident.

Independent Reading: Tuesdays with Morrie

Book Preview Activity

The Front Cover
• Title/Author/Awards - Tuesdays With Morrie/Mitch Albom/Bestseller
• Picture/Words - Blank cover with quote from novel and the title engraved.
• What do you think the book is about? Topic/Big Picture? - Book is most likely about meeting up with a man named Morrie, probably on Tuesdays, but I don't know why.
• Jot down 2 questions you have.
-Who is Morrie?
-What's the significance of Tuesday?

The Back Cover
• Synopsis or Plot Preview? It tells the true story of sociologist Morrie Schwartz and his relationship with his students. The book chronicle the lessons about life that Mitch, the author, learns from his professor, who is dying.
• Review/Praise/Acclaim? Overall what is your impression. - I have heard many good things about the book both from teachers, friends, parents and people of all ages. It was made into a movie which makes me assume it is pretty powerful. I look forward to reading it.
• Does the back cover reveal anything about the story (time period, characters, setting, etc.)? If so, jot down some notes.
- No, nothing on the back cover...

Inside the Book
• Copyright/Publication date? - 1997/September 1997
• Is there a dedication? Yes: "This book is dedicated to my brother, Peter, the bravest person I know.
• Table of Contents? Chapter Titles? #’s? - Yes, the table of contents contains the chapters and page numbers, approximately 27 chapters withing the book.
• Other titles listed by the author? Jot a few down. - Bo, Fab Five, Live Albom I, II, III, IV
• Open to a random page and read a few paragraphs. What is the author’s writing style?
- The book is written in first person, by Mitch, and is very descriptive. From the passage that I read the author really lets you get into his head and his feelings. It had a dreary tone about it but was sincere at the same time. Overall, a very nice writing style.

OVERALL IMPRESSION
Write down 3 questions you hope to have answered by the end of the story.

1 - Does the impact of Morrie change the man that the author has become?
2 - What is the true effect of Morrie on the author and the people around him?
3 - Does Morrie die at the end of the book?

Do Now - 4/23: Born to Run

Born to Run

The thunder of bombshells filled the air as the lonely solider fled from the ambush. You could feel and see the fear seeping from the young soldier's face as he ran on nothing but adrenaline. Being the only soldier left in his platoon he had nothing left to do but run; all he could think, "how can my feet go faster?", or, "where can I go?".

Just two minutes earlier this soldier was eating breakfast with his buddies at their latest encampment. When, unexpectedly his unit was bombarded with firepower that could knock out an entire city. Somehow, this man survived and subsequently, ran.

Not a single idea in his head as to where he was located, the soldier acted on instinct and simply ran, and continued to run; through the rugged train of Afghanistan and beyond. Constantly hoping he would stumble upon a U.S. military base or some type of group that could be of assistance to him.

Fear was at its peak as it pounded away at the young soldiers heart when suddenly I opened my eyes. It was all I dream. Was I the soldier? What does this mean? Then I remembered later that day I had a big race; maybe this was a way of preparing me for an all out sprint ...

Do Now - 4/21

The Triumph of Evil


- "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing." -
- Edmund Burke

Essentially what this quote means to me is that evil cannot succeed unless someone "lets" it. People are capable of preventing evil, it's just a matter of whether or not they're willing to do so. For example, in Kite Runner, Amir could easily have stopped the rape of Hassan but he was too concerned about his own ramifications from the situation.

I definitely agree with Burke's words and feel that people need to have courage to fight off evil and stop any evildoers. Most people have morality and seek justice and for this reason evil can be prevented. To stop evil, people need to think less about themselves and what the results will be for them, and focus on the matter at hand. Burke's word are very true and if everyone took a minute to think about what he means I think our world would be a much better place.

Decisions

Today, decisions are characterized by whether or not they are "cool" or acceptable by others around you. Any decision that one makes is guaranteed to have some ramification and hopefully any decision maker takes that into account. Most people make a decision based on whether or not it will be beneficial to them and what other people think about the decision.

I like to make decisions based on how it will ultimately affect me in the end. Some decisions I have made recently include: college choice, prom, etc. I weighed my options for each and tried to choose the option best suited for me always keeping the future in mind.

Decision making will be key in the future and in college because it will set a path for either success or failure and provide a means to move forward if done correctly.

Recipe for Afghanistan

Ingredients:

0 - Borders to Oceans
6 - Bordering Countries
1 - Religion (Muslim)
2 - Major Languages (Dari and Pashto)
34 - Provinces
1 - Civil War
$1,000,000,000s - Provided by the U.S.
= 1 - Rebuilding Country

Spring Break 2009

Over spring break I got that chance to go to one of the Phillies opening weekend games. Unfortunately, they lost, but it was a great time. I got a chance to spend time with some of my teammates from the high school baseball team and it was fun to watch a professional game with my squad. Also, I embarked on a classic stadium hot dog that never fails to stimulate the taste buds. It was very cold at the game, but definitely worth it seeing as though all fans received "Champs" t-shirts commemorating last year's World Championship. Overall, another great time at Citizens Bank Park.

IRP: Prompt #9 - Intriguing Questions

1. - Should illegal immigrants be deported?

2. - Are Mexican-Americans treated fairly?

3. - Do all people get the same freedoms and rights to further their lives?

4. - How do you find your place in society?

5. - Do you deserve a second chance?

These are just a few of the questions that I came up with while reading, Parrot in the Oven. On the prompt list it states to attempt to answer any question you created. My dilemna is this, these are such personal and difficult questions that I can't formulate solid answers. I have opinions for both sides of each arguement and feel it's best if left up to interpretation. That also presents the beauty of this book, which, in essence, trys to answer these questions thoroughly and I think it does... go read it!

IRP: Prompt #18 - Titles

I never came to a solid conclusion concering the title of my novel. The subtitle, Mi vida, is quite self-explanatory which in Spanish means my life. From that you can assume the title concerns Manny's life in general. Although, I still cannot decide why it is titled the way it is.

But I like to assume that Manny constantly feels under pressure, or, under heat and that he is continually being "grilled" or "baked". The struggles he is presented with may "cook" him inside, and for that reason he looks at himself as the "Parrot in the Oven".

If I was going to create a title it would be, "Manny being Manny". Because he is simply trying to find his spot in society and the only way that he will achieve this is by becoming a man and being himself, "Manny being Manny".

IRP: Prompt #4 - Surprise Steal

What surprised me the most occured towards the end of the novel, as Manny participates in the stealing of the old woman's purse. After reading the beginning portions of the book I thought that Manny was better than a "gang-banger" who lives to steal and whatnot. I had a lot of respect for him, thought he was a good guy just trying to succeed in hard times without much direction. The fact that he actually went through with the action really surprised me. I was not expecting him to carry out the robbery, rather, learn his lesson before it was too late. The whole sequence of events was surprising including when Manny gets left off the hook by the cops. Overall, it was an intruiging portion of the book that can only be described as "surprising".

IRP: Prompt #16 - Class Connection

Parrot in the Oven is a "coming of age" novel that basically concerns a young boy, "finding himself". Throughout our class discussions, essays, books and work we have been constantly asking oursleves, "who are we?" and "what impact do we have on this world?". These main questions tie in directly with the novel I read. The issues are not necessarily the same, but the overall goal and meaning of the book is understood.

By the main character being constantly tested whether it be by gangs, violence or just overall hard economic times this book asks, who do we want to become and what lessons can we learn from this boy's experiences? And that is essentially what we have been focusing on all year.

IRP: Prompt #15

GANGS/GANG INITIATIONS

A major turning point in the novel is when Manny is being intiated into a gang. I thought this image was a good representation of the trouble created by gangs and the horrible things that come with the committment. Specifically in the novel Manny is met with the challenge of assisting in the stealing of an old women's purse. He actually carries out this venture and feels the consequences when the police take him in for questioning. Overall, I thought this photo of the "crips" illustrates that scene and portion of the book.

IRP: Prompt #12

I think the author added a lot of these stories to this novel because of personal experiences. He wanted to portray tough times for a young Latino boy without creating an autobiography. I have come to the conclusion that most of these events the Manny goes through are very similar to things the author, Victor Martinez, may have gone through as well as a young boy. Such things as: gang initiaion, welfare, gun violence, immigration, were all prominent things for a Mexican-American and I think it was necessary for Martinez to include all these things. Essentially, the author wants to help teach lessons he learned growing up and that's why he included all of these specific events.

I don't think there is necessarily anything that if I was writing the book I would have added or left out. Because I was never in a situation such as Manny's it's hard for me to even fathom what stories I would and would not have included. On the otherhand, I think the author did a fine job of describing a wide array of events that really painted the picture of a Latino boy's life in the time period.

VICTOR MARTINEZ:

IRP: Prompt #14 - (Chapter 2)

Key quote:

"Dad believed weasely guys already owned the world, and anything you could do to get over on them was useless. He believed people were like money. If you were a million-dollar person, you had a grip on things, a big house maybe, and a crowd of suckers you could push around. You could be a thousand-dollar person or a hundred-dollar person--even a ten-, five-, or one-dollar person. Below that, everybody was just nickels and dimes. To my dad, we were pennies." (pg. 26)

This quote shows the life that Manny had to live. To his dad, he was nothing until he earned enough money to show for it. His dad was very materialistic and this created problems within the household. Also, the recent layoff of Manny's father created shame within the family. The dad felt that welfare was not an option and was too proud to beg. In essence, this created tough times for Manny and this quote was key in showing that.

IRP: Prompt #10 - (Chapter 1) "The Baseball Glove"

The first Chapter is entitled, "The Baseball Glove". Throughout the chapter you learn that Manny (the main character) is determined to raise enough money to buy himself an outfielder's glove. Manny, on more than one occurence, mentions baseball and visualizes the game fantasizing about succeeding on the field. This was an obvious connection for myself. As a boy his age, and sometimes still now, I dream about that perfect catch, perfect hit, the winning run or buying that special glove. His determination and will to get his new equipment reminded me of myself and my passion for the game of baseball. This kind of connection makes a book easier to read and forms a relationship with the character. I appreciate Manny's love of the game of baseball and fully understand where he is coming from.

IRP: Prompt #5 (Chapter 1) - Immigration Encounter

In Chapter 1, Manny and Nardo are picking chilis in the field for some fast cash. As they are going about their work they have an encounter with immigration officials. Before their eyes numerous vans and buses pull up to the field and start taking away workers. Luckily, Manny and Nardo are U.S. citizens, but, the immigration officials go looking for the "wetbacks" as they said. Just normal people doing their best to make a living get hauled off unexpectedly right before these young boy's eyes. This was a scene in the book which I thought was moving. It showed me what I take for granted each day and there are people here in this country that must go about their daily lives in fear of just this type of instance with immigration police.

IRP: Prompt #1 - (Chapter 1)

In Chapter 1 I really enoyed the characterization that Victor Martinez used. After reading just a few short pages I felt like I already knew a lot about Manny and Nardo (the main characters), and that I had been reading about them for a long time. It's easy to understand what kind of character the author is trying to create and this fact enhances the reading.

I also like the setting and time period. Mexican immigrants is not really something I have read a lot about before and this makes it even more interesting and inticing. Their perspective in the United States is a lot different than ours and it's worthwhile to get their viewpoint and see both sides of the story.

The first chapter has me excited to read the rest of the book and learn more about Manny and Nardo.

Independent Reading Project

Announcement:

For the next week I will be making periodic posts concerning a book I'm reading independently, Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez. I will be assessing the novel in various prompts and assignments to analyze the story effectively. I will most likely post one or two per night until I reach my 10 required posts. These posts will be detail oriented and contain specific references to the novel to provide solid analysis and summarization.



Enjoy....

Thesis Practice

Do Now - 3/12

Che: Thesis -

Despite Che's glorification on a t-shirt, the man that he wanted to become was the exact opposite. Che Guevara wanted more to reform Latin America than to get public recognition, simply wanting to impact our world positively rather than having himself labeled.

Your Own Do Now ...

Please Do Now -

Describe in a paragraph why you think that Che was so interested and absorbed in the topic of Cuzco and if you think there is any significance of his writings.

I chose this because I think it was important how much time he spent describing Cuzco and it was the only location or place that he focused on that much.

Do Now - 3/9

Che's Essential Questions:

1. Who did Che want to become?

This is a tough question to answer because there may not be one definitive conclusion. I don't think Che was necessarily interested in becoming "someone". What I'm trying to get at is, he was so interested in Socialism and those ideals that I think he was more concerned about affecting the world than becoming a merely a figure. Because of the way Socialism is set up, I don't see how Che could have wanted to have an image.

2. What impact did Che have on the world around him?

I think Che wanted to simply create a "better" world. One that was functional and simplistic in which each and every person helped and played their role. He was very interested in Socialism and I think he wanted to be the man to make it succeed and work effectively in Latin America and eventually the world. I don't think he wanted to be that "superstar" and most popular guy, I just believe he wanted to be viewed as a man that stood up for his beliefs and made a change in this world.

Do Now - 3/5

Chilean 6-word Memoir:

Ribbon-like country, rich South American culture.

Do Now - 2/27

America's 6-word Memoir

Life, liberty, happiness; jobless, homeless, "recession".

Do Now - 2/26

Personal Ideology

I think that at this point in my life I cannot really formulate a true ideology. I think growing up in a household with solid parenting you can gain a legitimate base of your ideology, but, until you get out on your own I don't think that you truly have a personal ideology. There may be certain subjects or topics that you feel very strongly about, but, I don't think you know enough about the world and what goes on to truly come up with your own ideology. I think one of the main goals in life is to find this "ideology" and that's what we should all be striving for.

Apples to Apples?

Do Now - 2/25

Is U.S. involvement in Pakistan the same as Che's involvement in Bolivia?

I think this is a fair comparison of overall goals but the exact specifics are not the same. You can compare the essential point of the U.S. in Pakistan to Che being in Bolivia; but, certain things, such as, the resources the Che lacked and the amount of manpower, navigation and technological support does not compare. The secrecy of the operation is comparable and the final goals are definitely the same. I think the means at which that goal is achieved are different and the U.S. involvement is just more modern than in Che's time. Overall, I think it's not wrong to compare these two occurrences, they're just not exact replicas.

Do Now - 2/24

Che's voice is one that is very distinct in the Motorcycle Diaries. You can see this voice in two excerpts within the book...

The first: "I suddenly felt myself flying off with the sailor to far-off lands, far away the current drama of my life. A feeling of profound unease came over me; I felt that I was incapable of feeling anything." (pg. 54)

It seems to me that Che uses a specific tone within most of his writings. I sometimes feel as though he can be almost too philosophical and tries to describe things more than necessary. Although, he uses great imagery and really can capture the reader at the same time.

The second: "The bike exhaled with boredom along the long accident-free road and we exhaled with fatigue. Driving on a gravel-covered road had transformed a pleasant jaunt into a heavy job." (pg. 40)

This small passage shows the descriptiveness of Che's voice that is very prevalent in his writing. You can really feel as though you're part of his diary and can see the bike "exhaling with boredom". Che uses great detail and I think that's what attributes to his great success in story telling.

Both passages help to gain insight into Che because his descriptive passion for writing and his great detail with his words really assists in building a personal relationship with the book and into his diary.

Che's Ideology

What do think Che's personal mission statement/ideology could be? What doctrine or set of beliefs seems to have guided him?


I think Che's personal mission is to create a perfectly socialist world. Reform all of mankind, not just physically, but mentally and morally as well. I think he wanted to create a place, a sort of Utopia, in which everything was equal; the powerful countries shared their wealth and resources with the third world countries and everyone stood at the same level. I believe he wanted everyone to have the same ideals, hard-working attitude and views toward life. Che, I think, wanted to move away from the materialistic ways of the world and focus solely on what's "really important". Che probably focused a lot on communist and socialist writings and most likely received most of his influences from men such as Marx. Overall, I think Che just wanted to create a better world and did not really care how that came to be.

My Che Documentary

Based on what I know about Che, if I was going to create a documentary I think I would mainly focus on Che's younger life and how he came to understand and get involved with his slightly communistic ideas. I would focus on his influences and the things that really drove him. Also, I would try to answer certain questions about Che such as, why did he kill so many people, or what made him who he was. When you want to cover a man with such a legacy as Che's you really want to encompass most of his life and that's what I would definitely try and do.

Judging Books by their Cover

Books are quite easy to judge by first glance. When speaking on this topic it makes me think of reading the book, Blink. In that book, it was all about first impressions and how they constantly affected your beliefs about a certain topic, specifically a book. Based on the picture on the front cover or certain colors, a book can really catch a reader’s eye. If you see an image or color that is particularly appeasing to you, the reader most likely gets an urge to pick it up and “take it for a spin”. An occurrence of this for me, was the book, “Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief”. It had an iconic baseball player on the front and a picture that really drew me in. Despite the saying, most people still judge books by their cover.

"Of a Revolutionary Che Guevara"

I think that Beck is absolutely correct. It is undoubtedly appropriate to compare a Che Guevara t-shirt to a Hitler t-shirt. Any man that is connected with cold-blooded, mass murder should not be glorified on a t-shirt. Think about it, you don’t see t-shirts printed with pictures of Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson or any well-known serial killers; it’s exactly the same thing with Che and they should not be sold. Beck stated that Guevara was on track to kill more people than Hitler; this is what makes it shocking to me that people would wear t-shirts supporting him or anything he believed in. I think that Beck’s sarcastic demeanor and manner of getting his point across really helps him get he attention of the viewers. By taking the side that he did he made it quite apparent of what his view was and was able to support why the t-shirts were wrong with facts and solid ideals. It is not even a question that the Che Guevara t-shirts are inhumane and inappropriate; get them off the shelves!

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