IOC Munro

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2F7L0dp5kQ1Z0Fyd2FTMVZsN1k

Discussion Questions

Not only do they build their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, students can build their metacognitive skills while annotating literature, and then use those annotations to assist them in comparing or contrasting, or evaluating and analyzing the text in terms of theme, conflict, figurative language, tone or mood. Studying literature has many benefits that extend beyond higher level critical thinking skills as well including gaining a deeper sense of empathy. Reading allows children to experience situations vicariously, and think about what they would do in the character's place. Although it could be argued that it is a generalized statement, women’s literature is usually written by women in the recent century, it explores themes which explore the struggle of sexism or the conflict women have between societal expectations and true identities.  Munro’s social realism was significant as it further insinuated the upcoming feminism wave. Munro’s work contributed to gender equality as she pioneered the genre of women’s literature and provided an original lens on mundane life experiences from the perspective of a female. She was able to inspire other female writers to rise up and gain a voice in literature. I enjoyed reading about the morphogenesis of young girls to conform to the definition of femininity when they approach adulthood and how Munro leaves it up to the reader to interpret whether this change came about inherently or as an inevitable consequence of societal pressures.

Song Lyrics Analysis

Say You’re Sorry by Sara Bareilles

Circus of silence [L1] down at our feet
Paper cut tigers starting to bleed
Hang from your tightrope above the mess[L2] 
Just say you're sorry, no more no less
Words you won't use, you don't feel them like I do
Show will be over soon[L3] 

It's not the curtain closing causing us to call it a day[L4] 
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you are sorry
I'm not the one who went and made a mistake
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you are sorry

I used to believe that the storybook's true[L5] 
Now I don't need it, at least not with you
So if you see him, the man 'neath the mask[L6] 
Tell him I'm leaving and not looking back
Words are no use, you don't need them like I do
Show will be over soon

It's not the curtain closing causing us to call it a day
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you are sorry
I'm not the one who went and made a mistake
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you're sorry

I want the one word that you refuse to say to me
You're so good at giving me responsibility
I wash my hands clean and let you watch me as I go[L7] 
I'm sorry for you, just so you know

It's not the curtain closing causing us to call it a day
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you are sorry
I'm not the one who went and made a mistake
I want to walk away too
But I want you to say you're sorry

Analysis

            Sara Bareilles is able to convey her coming to terms with her partner’s refusal to apologize for his actions through her use of rich figurative language.

            She begins the song with a metaphor, stating that there is a “circus of silence” down at her feet, counterintuitively describing a very vibrant festive circus as a silent event. This unusual juxtaposition could imply that the problems that Sara and her partner are experiencing should be openly discussed despite how vocal the argument may become instead of quietly ignoring the matter. She continues to evoke the image of this eccentric circus when she says that he continues to “hang from your [his] tightrope above the mess”. Similar to how a trapeze artist seems detached from the busy nature of the rest of the acts occurring on the floor of the circus, Sara expresses how her partner avoids addressing the couple’s disputes and the jumbled state of their relationship. She ends the verse affirming that the “show will be over soon”. The closing of the show is being paralleled to the end of their relationship due to their misunderstandings.

            The chorus of ‘Say you’re Sorry’ furthers Sara’s tone of frustration. She affirms that it is not “the curtain closing” causing them to “call it a day” and end their relationship, suggesting that the show or their relationship was disrupted by his mistakes. In fact she wants to “walk away” as well and come to terms with their breakup, but she desperately wants him to “say you’re [he is] sorry” as evidenced by the anaphora.

            As the song progresses, Sara alludes to “storybooks” as fairytales with stereotypical happily ever after endings. The fact that she does not believe the outcomes of these stories can be achieved with her partner exposes her need to separate from him. She addresses him as “the man ‘neath the mask” to demonstrate how his lies have concealed his true, incompatible nature. She could have also denoted him with a mask in order to supplement the visual imagery of a fictional character typically found in fairytales.

            In the fifth stanza, Sara experiences a turning point in which she becomes at peace with herself. After spending four stanzas asking him to say sorry, she says “I wash my hands clean and let you watch me as I go/ I'm sorry for you, just so you know”. When Sara ‘washes her hands’ she is signifying how she has emotionally moved on past her relationship and is ready to start fresh with someone new. She apologizes for him to indicate that she does need his remorse because she is emotionally stable and secure.

            Ultimately, through utilizing metaphors and visual imagery, Sara is able to convey the shift in her tone of frustration to acceptance in regards to her relationship with her ex-partner.

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Moving to Abu Dhabi

I moved to Abu Dhabi from California about 5 months ago, and I witnessed some striking differences. One could say that I experienced a cultural shock. I would like to clarify that I did not envision the UAE to be a desolate desert with a pack of camels running around; I was well aware that it was a highly industrialized urban center. I feel blessed to call this place my new home for the time being. I have learned a few things about living here as a female American teenager although I am also an Arab.

As a student, differences in school systems were the most obvious to spot. My classes resemble the United Nations. There are children from many different countries and cultures representing a broad range of learning levels within one classroom due to differing educational backgrounds. Students are exposed to a very multicultural environment, embracing an environment of acceptance of all individuals regardless of ethnicity. Back in the US, it was more convenient to attend a free public school and attain the same top tier quality of education as a private institution. However, in Abu Dhabi, only private schools offer the more prestigious international curriculums such as the IB diploma or A- Level classes as opposed to public schools. Class size is small; however, students move in and out of school frequently due to their parents’ job placements, and so the graduating class may not be the same group as the one that started in grade 9.

If you ever need to get to a destination, chances are that within a couple of minutes you immediately find a roaming taxi. Even though Uber services are available in the UAE, the company has garnered more interest in the US in terms of on demand transportation. On your ride over to your destination, you are bound to encounter an unnatural number of speed bumps and spot a traffic camera every 150 meters, but at the same time you appreciate the safety regulations in the city. You casually look around at a stop sign and point out several supercars- Ferraris, Porches, etc. - that used to make your jaw drop anywhere else in the world, but now they seem to be a mundane, ordinary sight. Just yesterday you saw a red Lamborghini aventador pull up next to your car in front of the salsa studio. At this point you find yourself having to describe landmarks as opposed to actual street names to your taxi driver because no real addresses exist.

Weekend days are shifted to Friday and Saturday due to Muslim’s religious observance of Friday. It is typical for Abu Dhabi locals to go try out new restaurants and buffets in hotels or to visit the bustling business hub, Dubai. If you are not up for an outing downtown, you can be sure to order anything to your doorstep ranging from toilet paper or a case of water to sushi and ice cream, guilt free.

We are nearing the end of June, and the one undeniable factor of living in Abu Dhabi is the significantly high percentage of humidity- it really gets us all. The minute you step outside of the comfort of your air conditioned building, you are hit by a wave of moisture and unpleasant stickiness, similar to the sensation you get when you have just stepped out of a sauna or a really hot shower.

I will admit that living in Abu Dhabi differs greatly from California, but ultimately, I am thankful to be able to experience living in such a beautiful city.

Recounts from a Syrian American

To preserve a memory from being extinguished, it must constantly be sparked. When a culture has lost its state of unity, it is essential that we all become carriers of our traditions and share these keepsakes with our children and our children’s children.

Currently, over 220,000 people have been killed by the full-blown Syrian conflict, a majority of who are civilians. Bombings and air raids have destroyed crowded cities and reduced them to a mere pile of rubble. Basic human needs of food and medical care are sparse.

According to the UN, 7.6 million people are internally displaced- an increase of more than three million in just one year. More than half of the country’s original population of 23 million is in need of urgent humanitarian aid whether they have escaped as refugees or remain in the country.

Even though I only visited my parents’ homeland, Syria, once as a child, I am also affected by this conflict though I may not be as deeply injured as my parents who constantly reminisce about their memories from childhood to graduation. I always hear about how they listened to Firouz songs in the morning, inhaled the fresh scent of Turkish coffee mixed with sweet jasmine and orange a blossom, or awoke to the dripping of the water fountain in the courtyard. Now that Ramadan is here, they remember the voice ‘musaher’ or man in charge of waking up the community for suhur with the beating of his drum. Unfortunately, I probably will not get the opportunity to share my parents’ experiences and trace back to my origins.

Unless grotesque news of a bombing or of a child’s death appears on television, Syria is on the backburner of our minds- for some it has a greater presence than others. Since I only have a second hand connection to the country, news of Syria has an almost unreal, artificial feeling to them, as if the events are not really happening.

It saddens me to realize that the fragments of such a rich culture remain with the previous generation and is prone to be lost with the dispersion and assimilation of Syrian people in other countries. They are burdened with the immense responsibility of ensuring that they pass down the customs of their home country. Likewise, this generation has to be willing to listen to these stories and not dismiss them as irrelevant history.

My heart goes out to all families struggling to overcome this conflict- whether they are currently in Syria, have migrated as refugees, or constantly have their heart strings pulled by fear they have for people left in the war torn area.

IOC

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2F7L0dp5kQ1enpwaEJreE8wWUkwRHVNb1YyUjZSYW1WU1Bz/view?usp=sharing

Paper 2

3- Discuss the significance of social status in Things Fall Apart and comment on its contribution to characterization.

            Social status plays a significant role in Things Fall Apart as it drives many of Okonkwo’s actions. Okonkwo’s hamartia or main fatal flaw is his fear of emulating his idle father or any hint of femininity or weakness. Driven by this fear, Okonkwo reacted violently, worked intensely, and strove to hold a respectable status in his village.

            In Igbo culture, a man’s social status was determined by his merit rather than his inheritance. The narrator reiterates that Okonkwo holds two titles in the village in order to prove that he is extremely hard working and has worked his way up the social ladder in order to become a well-respected individual. His father on the other hand, never earned any titles which further emphasizes the large contrast between both characters. Okonkwo specifically worked to break away from his father’s lazy lifestyle by showcasing his bravery in war, athletic skill as a wrestler, and wealth of yam crop. His first major step towards becoming a upright individual was when he sought out the help of Nwakibie, a wealthy clansmen who takes a chance on Okonkwo by lending him 800 seed yams—twice the number for which Okonkwo asks. Nwakibie thereby helps Okonkwo build up the beginnings of his personal wealth, status, and independence. His other major feat was his defeat of the Cat. Though he accomplished considerable feats, his determination in earning social status lead him to have an inflated ego and become very prideful.

            Okonkwo’s village is largely achievement oriented. Therefore, in an attempt to maintain his social status, Okonkwo is steered to acts he emotionally does not agree with. For instance, Okonkwo not only volunteers to join the party that will execute his adopted son but also violently stabs him with his machete simply because he is afraid of appearing weak and losing status in his village. In order to establish his patriarchal role in his domestic life, he beats his wife when she does not bring him dinner though it was unheard of to commit violent acts during the week of peace. During his exile, he even asks his daughter not to marry anyone, though they were at a ripe age, until he returned so that he could quickly reinstate his name in the village. Clearly Okonkwo values his standing in the village since this trait is a large separator from his father’s reputation of apathy.   

            Okonkwo’s compulsion to maintain his social power plays a major role in his inflexibility to adapt to the colonization of white missionaries. Unwilling to relent his standing as an Igbo warrior in order to make compromises to peacefully coexist, Okonkwo reacts defensively and proposes the formation of a war committee. Out of rage, Okonkwo even murders a white messenger. He is so blinded by his need for power that he does not recognize the harm he is inflicting upon his community.

            Additionally, it is interesting to note that women enjoy considerably less prerogatives in regards to social status.  Okonkwo yelled at his oldest wife, "Do what you are told , woman.  When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?"  Ndichie or "elders" are the most respected Umuofians.  This statement implies that no woman has the right to be considered one of the elders.  An interesting concept is the distinction between male and female actions.  For example, there is a distinct difference between a male and female crime.  It could be argued that male crimes are much more severe in nature, possibly planned crimes; whereas female crimes are inadvertent, and possibly less severe.Therefore, according to a traditional Igbo social hierarchy, women are inherently placed below men.