How to Write An Essay

I think I am okay at writing essays. I try, sometimes more than others, but I never fall too far. In writing essays it is really important to be able to have good commentary about your thesis. Without commentary, it is impossible to convince anyone of anything. To have good commentary, you have to make sure that you are not just talking on and on about your quote or restating the same thing again and again. Give the reader something new to think about. Surprise them with your insight and new ideas that they would have never thought of before. Be original.

When writing essays, my biggest problem is not repetitively using words or phrases. Once I come up with a term I think fits the essay, it is nearly impossible for me to resist. For instance, my essay on Romeo and Juliet is on the symbol of masks and how they help support love. It seems as if mask is the only word that can be used to describe the situation. It seems to fit perfectly, but I have to resist using it. It is so hard.

Summer Reading List

So many books to read, so little time. For sure this summer I am going to be reading books that I have already read, but there are hopefully going to be some new ones. Here are some books I am going to read:

I am determined to finally finish all the books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams. I have read at least three of them and have tried to finish the series for a long time, but I never have. In the first one, Earth is destroyed by to build a galactic freeway, which isn't actually required anymore now that The Heart of Gold has been built, a spaceship that runs on probability. Arthur Dent was plucked off Earth right before it was destroyed and now travels through space with his friend Ford Prefect, who isn't really from Earth after all, but instead is a researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the revised addition).

The second book that I want to read doesn't come out until August 24th, but I think it still counts as summer reading. It is Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. It is the final book in an amazing series that starts with The Hunger Games. It takes place in a futuristic world in which two kids from each of the 12 Districts must fight to the death each year for the entertainment of those in the Capital as a reminder to those in the Districts of what happens when you rebel against the Capital. I have been waiting for this book to come out since I finished the last one, which was approximately one day after it came out. I can't wait until it comes out!

Fate of Birth

Seeing how I am completely unable to remember dreams, let alone act to prevent them from coming true, it seems wisest to write this week about my birth sign and how it relates to me. In Romeo and Juliet the characters believe very strongly in fate and destiny, as well as the importance of dreams. Romeo almost refuses to go to the party where he first meets Juliet because he had a dream where he went and ended up dieing because of it. It is believed that the day and time of your birth has everything to do with who you will be in life and what sort of person you will be.

Apparently the astrological sign Cancer (June 22-July 22) is the Crab and a water sign and is one of the four cardinal signs. Cancer is the fourth sign in the zodiac. People with the sign Cancer are known collect sentimental items from the past, as well as being good with money and taking the long-term view, and to skirt around problems until it is absolutely essential to face them. We are usually attracted to team sports, as well as water sports (sailing!!!). We are also supposed to be creative (I wouldn't call myself creative...). Our colors are white, silver, and pale yellow. I totally agree with the collecting sentimental items and the skirting around problems, but I am not so sure about the money and long term goal part. I think everyone could see part of themselves in any of the zodiac signs, but it is impossible for it to be entirely correct about you. You have to take these with a grain of salt and realize that it doesn't have to be you.

Culture Shock- West Side Story

The classic Romeo and Juliet reference. West Side Story. Two kids, one Hispanic and one Italian, meet and fall in love, but it's not destined to be. Their parents don't want them to be together so they are forced to go behind their parents' backs. It sound very familiar, doesn't it? Where have I hear this before? Maybe it's that book we read in class that seems to be popping up everywhere. Everyone references the forbidden love and tragic death. You can't turn without seeing it, but it seems like West Side Story is one of the references that everyone knows and talks about in reference to Romeo and Juliet. This is the new take on a classic tale that never seems to get old. It is the revival of Shakespeare. It will not go away.

Great Expectations Skits!

Next week we are doing skits from Great Expectations. Here are my top three choices for scenes for skits:

• The first time Pip goes to see Miss Havisham. It is when Pip first gets told that Miss Havisham's heart is broken and his first impression of Estella. It should include Pip telling Miss Havisham what he thinks of Estella. I think this would be good for a skit because it introduces the characters well and gives you an impression on what they are like.
• Pip walking down the street in his village when he goes back to see Miss Havisham and keeps running into Trabb's boy. It is so amusing as well as shows how much Pip has changed since he was last in the country.
• Pip's first visit with the Pocket family. Everyone is so scattered and completely different from what he is used to, along with being his first real encounter with higher raised people. It would be an amusing scene to watch, that's for sure.
  

More Questions

One of the things that confused me about this week's reading was why Pip went to ask Miss Havisham to help Hebert. Pip says "Miss Havisham, if you could spare the money to do my friend Herbert a lasting service in life, but which from the nature of the case must be done without his knowledge, I could show you how" (387). I understand that Pip wants someone to keep helping out Herbert, but why should he have to ask Miss Havisham and not someone else that would be more willing to help him? Miss Havisham obviously has shown no interest in Herbert, so why now?

Question About Chapter 27

In chapter 27 of Great Expectations, Pip talks about the Avenger.

I had got on so fast of late that I had even started a boy in boots- top boots- in bondage and slavery to whom I might be said to pass my days. For, after I had made this monster (out of the refuse of my washerwoman's family) and had clothed him with a blue coat, canary waistcoat, white cravat, creamy breeches, and the boots already mentioned, I had to find him a little to do and a great deal to eat; and with both of these horrible requirements he haunted my existence. (233)

I understand that this was discussed in class on Monday, but since I wasn't there, I have no idea what it is talking about. It mentions how it is a slave to him and how he has clothed it. Could someone please explain to me who exactly the Avenger is and why it is mentioned in context with Joe's visit to Pip in London.