Memorial Break

Overall my break was pretty good, but if deffinetly went way too fast.

My break didn't start off well, when the baseball team lost to our long-time rivals in Pascack Valley. The final score was 15-6 but the game wasn't as lopsided as the score may suggest. We were the home team since we had the higher seed (we were 12 and they were 13) so they batted first. The first batter of the game hit a homerun on the third pitch (he hit a homerun on the first pitch of their previous game). The next batter was hit by a pitch and the third batter hit a two-run bomb over the center field fence. Before one out was recorded, they had a 3-0 lead and all the momentum. We started chipping away by scoring one run in the bottom half of the first inning and a few more in the second and third innings. In the fifth inning the game looked as though it would be a nail bitter as Valley held 6-5 lead; however, it only got worse as you can tell from the final score. It was a terrible feeling to not only lose in the state tournament, but to lose in the state tournament to Pascack Valley.

My break got better when I played with my AAU team for the first time. We had our first games in a tournament down in Seacaucus. We won the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record, winning in the finals by a score of 7-4. It was a wood bat tournament which was different because most of the time I hit with metal. Its a good experience to hit with a wood bat because the ball won't travel as far and you have to have quicker hands since the wood is thicker and heavier than a metal bat. The only downside of playing in the tournament, was that I had to wake up early in the morning on two occasions when I was looking forward to catching up on some sleep.

The high point of my break was when I went to a sweet sixteen on Sunday night. It was celebrating three different girls 16th birthdays, and one of them was Nicole.

Unfortunetly, the trip ended on a down slide, for all throughout Tuesday I was catching up on work I should have done over break. I don't think i'll ever learn that its just better to spend 30 minutes a day working, instead of trying to cram it all in on the day before I head back to school.

All in all it was a pretty exciting break, but it got my ready for summer which can't be a good thing.

Final Assesment: Outline

What is your thesis statement? This sets up the entire paper with your focus and direction.
- There are kids in today’s society who feel as though they are not accepted, but surrounding students, family, and their selves put themselves in this situation.


BODY PARAGRAPH 1
What is the topic/idea of this paragraph?
- Kids who feel rejected dig themselves a bigger hole by accepting being an outcast

What quote(s) ideas from research will you use to help prove your points?
a. “… he feels trapped on the “other side: of life, and he continually attempts to find his way in a world in which he feels he doesn’t belong.”
(Spark Notes)

What example(s) from the book(s) will you use to help prove your points?
a. To avoid being hurt by those that surround him, Holden keeps a distance by being different. He knows that everyone thinks of him as a failure, but by keeping his distance he won’t have to hear it said to his face.




BODY PARAGRAPH 2
What is the topic/idea of this paragraph?
- Growing up is tough, and without strong parental figures to help you get through it, kids can feel confused and misguided.


What quote(s) ideas from research will you use to help prove your points?
a. Holden wants a quick-fix for every problem in life, but it’s becoming obvious to him that there aren’t quick fixes in the adult world.

b. “…his central goal is to resist the process of maturity itself.” “He wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed.

What example(s) from the book(s) will you use to help prove your points?
a. Christopher Creed’s mom would offer to chaperone Chris’ dances; this would cause Chris to skip the dances and make it appear as though he was unsocial.


b. Holden is constantly searching for guidance from an adult, and this comes as a result of weak help from his own parents





BODY PARAGRAPH 3
What is the topic/idea of this paragraph?
- There is a social status in school just as there is in the real world, and those on the bottom can feel rejected form everyone else.


What quote(s) ideas from research will you use to help prove your points?
a. “Holden's red hunting cap, which he dons when he is most insecure, is a continuing symbol throughout the book of his feeling that he is different, doesn't fit into his environment, and, what's more, doesn't want to fit in.”


What example(s) from the book(s) will you use to help prove your points?
a. Torey Adams is on the opposite end of the social status spectrum; he has the friends and girl friend to prove it but still feels like a “misfit” in his own group.

Final Assesment: Cornell Notes

TITLE: The Catcher in the Rye (Themes)
AUTHOR: Answers Corporation
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2006

Main Idea #1: Failure

Summary: In every situation that arises throughout the book, Holden simply fails. He sets himself up to inevitably fail, he almost flaunts his failures. It’s likely he does so to gain attention.


Quote: “Failure serves as a great attention-getting device. And perhaps, more than anything, Holden wants attention from his parents, the absent characters in the book. What Holden really longs for, most likely, is acceptance and love.”


Question: More specifically, who are the absent characters in the book that the author of this article is talking about?


Main Idea #2: Lonliness

Summary: It appears as if Holden enjoys being a misfit, for he knows what others think of him and his actions but refuses to change his ways. His red hunting hat is a great symbol of his loneliness, for he physically hides from his peers with the hat draping over his face, as he simultaneously hides from connecting and interacting with society outside of school.


Quote: “Holden's red hunting cap, which he dons when he is most insecure, is a continuing symbol throughout the book of his feeling that he is different, doesn't fit into his environment, and, what's more, doesn't want to fit in.”


Question: Is it possible that Holden seemingly chose to be lonely out of fear rather than ignorance?


TITLE: Alienation in the Life of Students
AUTHOR: Shaun Kerry
YEAR PUBLISHED:

Main Idea #1:
Summary: Unfortunately for Christopher Creed, he took this quote literally. He physically escapes society by running away. In reality, Chris fell behind society for his social differences, and his solution was to run away from the problem.

Quote: “There is only one way to escape the alienation of present day society: to retreat ahead of it.” – Roland Barthes

Question: How much of Christopher Creed’s decision to run away had to do with his social life at school and how much had to do with issues at home with his mother?


Main Idea #2: Alienation: adolescent’s quest for identity

Summary: An adolescent is at the time of their life, when they search for ways to discover their individual identity; however, many difficulties stand in their way of accomplishing just that.

Quote: “Estranged adolescents feel that they have little control over the events that shape their seemingly meaningless lives. They tend to feel isolated from adults, their peer group, and even themselves.” – Shaun Kerry


TITLE: The Catcher in the Rye: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
AUTHOR: Spark Notes
YEAR PUBLISHED: Unknown

Main Idea #1: Alienation as a Form of Self-Protection

Summary: To avoid being hurt by those that surround him, Holden keeps a distance by being different. He knows that everyone thinks of him as a failure, but by keeping his distance he won’t have to hear it said to his face.

Quote: “… he feels trapped on the “other side: of life, and he continually attempts to find his way in a world in which he feels he doesn’t belong.”


Main Idea #2: The Painfulness of Growing Up

Summary: Holden wants a quick-fix for every problem in life, but it’s becoming obvious to him that there aren’t quick fixes in the adult world.

Quote: “…his central goal is to resist the process of maturity itself.” “He wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed.

Sources for Final Assesment

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/themes.html (Spark Notes - Catcher in the Rye)

http://cltl.umassd.edu/resourcesinstruct3kk.cfm (Website - The Body of Chistopher Creed)

http://www.dist113.org/DHS/Library/Class_links/English/Cal.htm (Theme Links - The Body of Christopher Creed)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/70918/the_catcher_in_the_rye_themes_motifs.html (Website - Catcher in the Rye)

http://www.answers.com/topic/the-catcher-in-the-rye-novel-3 (Website - Catcher in the Rye)

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/06/study_strict_pa.html (Website- Strict Parents = Fat Kids)

Thoughts From Socratic Seminar

- It seems like David is always in the right place at the right time to find out secrets

- David has chosen to put his family before anything else by not turning is brother in. In real life, when push came to shove most people wouldn't rat out their family

- David is the best possible narrator for this story, he doesn't choose sides in the situations hes in. This is great for the reader, because they can choose their own side without hearing it from an influential source

- David is eventually going to get some confidence and confront his brother, this summer was the turning point for a reason and I think that when he confronts his brother is the turning point of David's life

- The scene where David pointed the gun at his uncle seems to be foreshadowing an event at the end of the book

Sibling Rivalries

BODY PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE SIBLING RIVALRY IN MONTANA 1948
Sibling rivalry, the competition between two siblings to prove one is superior to the other, is a major theme in Montana 1948. This sibling rivalry has David’s father and uncle, Wes and Frank respectively, in a face-off to prove to the family they are better; however, it’s not a competitive rivalry, for David claims, “… and when comparisons were made between those two, my father was bound to suffer.” With Uncle Frank inevitably winning, doesn’t make for a great rivalry. There is without a question a sibling rivalry theme present in Montana 1948, but it’s not a very competitive one.

(RESEARCH TACTICS) THE SIBLING RIVALRY IN MONTANA 1948
QUESTION:
• Sibling rivalry is prevalent in all ages. What are tactics to help stop rivalry, and are those tactics seen in our literature

The dispute of sibling rivalry occurs no matter the age of the competitors, but there are tactics to avoid the possible life-long controversy; tactics can be found in, FAMILY Feud, an article written by Denise Henry about sibling rivalries. Henry goes on to explain that sibling rivalries are common in households everywhere, but there are ways to avoid the controversy. For example, she says that in the midst of an argument you shouldn’t let it get out of hand, “If an argument really heats up, walk away before someone loses their temper and does something that he or she will regret later,” (Henry, pg. 14). Family bridges are burned in situations like this, for one heated comment could destroy a potentially strong relationship. Doing things independent is another possible tactic, “That way you get some enjoyment out of an activity without having it ruined by your rivalry with your sibling,” (Henry, pg. 14). I often use this method; playing Xbox in my basement, away from my sister always puts me in a comfort zone. Finally, Henry leaves the reader with a reassuring comment of, “As you mature and develop your own identity and interests that are separate from those belonging to family members, your rivalry with siblings will cool off. That may be hard to believe, but trust us, it will,” (Henry, pg. 14). Denise Henry does a great job of letting the reader know that sibling rivalries are universal, but there are ways to evade it and when the siblings mature the rivalry will cease to exist.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PARAGRAPHS
QUESTION:
• Explain the differences between the two paragraphs.

The sibling rivalry between Wes and Uncle Frank in Montana 1948 is no different from those that exist in real life. The specifics of the rivalry may be unique but in the end all sibling rivalries are relatively similar and that’s why the tactics introduced by Denise Henry could apply. If Wes used some of these tactics, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have successfully avoided the tense rivalry created with his brother.

Check out Brian’s blog to see his thoughts on sibling rivalry.