revision paragraph truth be told

     In my essay, I demonstrated effective style and stated a clear thesis. I was able to have my own ideas and apply quotes from the prompt to support them. In revising, however, I found that I had not only several grammatical agreement issues, but also the structure of several important sentences did not present the correct idea I had intended in a very clear way. I have done my best to correct these issues and hopefully it has become a better paper.

Truth Be Told

Mrs. Robinson

AP Language and Composition

 

     It is a true story. Thus is the claim of memoirists, published and non-published, all across the world. What differs perhaps is how true this, “true story,” really is, and how much leniency an author should have and still be published under the genre non-fiction. The commitment made to presenting truth is a solemn one, but in artistic works such as memoirs, minor details may be added or changed in order to communicate the author’s greater purpose—to not only inform his or her readers, but to inspire them.

     There is a slight difference between pure, factual nonfiction and a text that is, in addition, called true art (Source A). This difference lies in the author’s motives behind the piece. Cold, Hard facts—as presented in a daily newspaper article (Source C)—can be transformed into a beautiful art piece when woven together with new ideas. An idea amongst reliable facts renders fresh and new notions on the subject while being guided by the credentials and solidity of main facts structuring the setting and events.

     All arts have some initializing factors to spark their inspiration. Artists are given the privilege of an artistic license to utilize, when they deem necessary, to deliver a “central message” (Source B). James Fray, an ex-alcoholic, wrote a best-selling memoir of his rehabilitation experience: A Million Little Pieces.

     He was criticized for embellishing certain facts of his experience, and therefore distorting the overall truth of his work. In Frey’s view however, a “memoir allows the writer to work from memory instead of from a strict […] standard,” (Source B). Memoirs are the recollections of the writer—they have the power and discernment to choose whatever elements to the story that will best deliver their material point. Hopefully it is a story that will cause each reader to understand and apply the central message its author meant to reveal.

     Deep controversy lies in the extent that an author may embellish on the facts of an event. Many stand steadily by the goal of getting every little detail put into place exactly right, good or bad,. As “New Yorker” reporter Hugh Hewitt put it, “At the New Yorker we are committed to getting everything right,” (Source C). This is a noble goal for a person in his occupation. It is a one thing to inform, however, and it is another to take information to the next level and inspire. This creates two different kinds of truths: a factual, literal truth meant for reporters and newsmen in for the whole story and a deeper inner truth, not all presented in plain language, but in a metaphorical sense that leads the public readers into contemplation and thought of how to apply it to their own lives.

     The commitment of a memoirist to truth is almost entirely within his or her own decision. As artists, the primary purpose is to inspire and invoke emotion and revelation. As factual reporters, their role is to tell a story. In a world of not only black and while, not only tangible facts or only interlocking emotion should not the truth be defined through all of these elements? When all the aspects of an occurrence are combined—literal and metaphorical—is the only time we may as a universal people, establish an absolute truth.

Commentary On Mark Twain’s “Corn-Pone Opinions”

In Mark Twain’s Corn Pone Opinions, he elaborately discusses a flaw in American society: that American citizens seek their own self approval through other peopl’s opinions on how well they conform to society. This is indeed an issue to be adressed. Ideals of American culture, being founded from individuality and the uniqueness and power of the common man, are put on trial, it would seem, by the natural human instinct to conform to whatever the rest of the crowd is doing. In this argument, Mark Twain makes a distinct shift from the personal pronoun, “I” to a more collective, inclusive pronoun, “we.” This plays on the very flaw he has identified in his readers in rallying them behind his cause- as a group. In an underlying way, he is contradicting himself.

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,
I know that you love me and want what is best for me. I have always been your little girl, and always will be in some way no matter how old and grown up i get. Now though, as im sure you have noticed, I am getting closer and closer to striking out into the world on my own. I am starting my own life. If I have my own life then should i not then be able to have my choice as to where it begins? You have always said that life only starts in college. I am asking you to allow me to make that choice for myself. I know you will initially give me options that you have screned and approved yourself, and i respect and hold your opinions i very high esteem, but I would also like the liberty and honor of your serious examination of schools that I choose for myself. You have taught me so much. I would like to put it to use; to prove to you the world and myself that I can survive on my own as a result of your constant love prayers and discipline. You and Mom are such great successes. I can do it too. I love you and thank you for listening.

Emma

Diagnostic Evaluation- AP Language

On the past diagnostic test I noticed that I became confused when I did not understand the meanings of certain words in the context they were given. It seemed that my interpretations of what the author’s purpose was something very different from what it actually was. This semester I would like to explore more of the most effective ways to relate main points in non-fiction writing and how to pick and the meanings and goals behind someone else’s text. The composition and structure of a document is crucial to the impression of the audience it attracts. Therefore because of the many diverse people groups in the world that may need to hear and understand the same message it is important to have the ability to shape a document in a way each audience can understand. These manners and forms of writing are defined and utilized through certain vocabulary choices and diction, tone and voice of the narrator or author, and the organization of the key points depending on the predisposition beliefs of the audience. Personally I can identify strengths and weaknesses in all these areas and I am looking forward to improving in them. (194)

Irony of a Living Paradox

Lost happiness is a pleasant state

When the falsehood of a smile surrenders

to the harmonious misery.

Thus is truth.

Pretend- you are fake.

Act- reveal nothing.

Attention consumes their ignorance

while composition makes turmoil.

How much, then, may an

archaic smile reveal?

a mask is soon to be peeled.

I Have a Rendezvous With Death:Poetry Analysis

Emma Riegert

American Literature

Mrs. Robinson

19 December, 2008

Poetry Analysis:

“I Have a Rendezvous with Death”~ by Alan Seeger

 

In, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death,” Alan Seeger uses diction, repetition, personification and even rhyme scheme to relate to his reader that, though inevitable and unpredictable, death is not something to be feared, but to calmly be accepted and perhaps anticipated.

The rhyme scheme throughout the three stanzas of the poem is somewhat uniform and standard. This makes the reading flow smoothly attributing to a calm tone to the entire piece. This reflects that the author is not particularly alarmed by his subject matter, in this case death, and suggests that his reader need not be either.

In, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death,” death is personified as the subject of the piece. He is mentioned in line nine as “take[ing] my hand [the narrator’s] hand.” The whole idea of a, “rendezvous” is based around the narrator meeting this personage of death as if he were to meet any other man. Spring also is given a degree of human characteristics. In nature, it is something waited for and looked forward to. Ironically, the narrator states, “When Spring comes back with rustling shade… I have a rendezvous with death (lines 5-7).” This is ironic because of the generalized natures of death and spring creating sharp contrasts between the unexpected, abrupt end of a life, or “disputable barricade,” and a period of green, new life budding. That death would be known to come in the midst of such a lively time as spring raises the question that perhaps the end of life is not quite as foreboding to the author as might be expected. Once again a description of spring’s beauty is related to this meeting with death: “I have a rendezvous with Death; When Spring brings back blue days and fair (lines 7-8).”

Diction is strongly used here in order to manipulate the connotations of the reader and to stir contradicting meanings. This creates almost a paradoxical literal tone within the calming auditory sound of the rhyme scheme: yet again demonstrating calm peace along side of a generally unpleasant situation. An example would be the reoccurring line, “I have a rendezvous with Death.” The word, “rendezvous” is more of a friendly term where a person would arrange to meet someone out of free will; perhaps even in reference to two lovers meeting. In contrast, death is the great unknown for all of mankind to fear. Essentially, the narrator of the poem has willingly arranged to meet with the foreboding thing that is known to be death. Why would he take such action unless he had reason to believe it was not as fearful an action to take as so many believe? The repetition of this line states and restates these questions and keeps the idea fresh in his audience’s mind. Yet again, Seeger also continues to relate this line with, “Spring,” creating even more contrasts and irony, as described in the above.

In his final stanza, Seeger sums up his point by describing a, “blissful sleep,” God knows ‘twere better… Where love throbs out…. Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath where hushed awakenings are dear (lines 17-19).” Diction in these lines in words such a pulse, breath, and awakenings give the reader a vision of an afterlife- perhaps in the biblical heaven of God. Afterwards, however, the tone of the once again line, “I have a rendezvous with death,” is preceded with the coordinative conjunction, “but,” showing some degree of remorse or doubt. A different view of afterlife is then described when Seeger states that his “rendezvous” will occur, “At midnight in some flaming town (lines 20-21).” The last lines following turn the tone from the former hope of an anticipated rendezvous to a sense of obligation and duty to perform the inevitable: “When Spring trips north again this year, and I to my pledged word an true, I shall not fail this rendezvous (lines 22-24).” Unlike in the beginning of the poem, when the time of the rendezvous was “disputed (line 2),” the narrator names a specific detailed time at which he expects to meet death: at “midnight in some flaming town (line 21).”  This implies that though “God [knew] ‘twere better” to meet in the place of “blissful sleep” or heaven, he has made his choice according to his actions and intends to keep his, “pledged word” and follow through with his “rendezvous.”

The image of hope given to the narrator is given in the last stanza’s description of heaven parallels with the joyous re-birth and awakenings of spring. The “flaming town” of hell continues the immortal connotation and meaning of death as something to fear. In this poem, however, Alan Seeger presents the two in such a way as to encourage his audience to accept the life and joys offered in the afterlife “God knew ‘twere better” and so then not be obligated to an unwelcomed rendezvous.

 

I Have a Rendezvous With Death- Alan Seeger

 

 

I have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
And apple-blossoms fill the air—
I have a rendezvous with Death	5
When Spring brings back blue days and fair.
It may be he shall take my hand
And lead me into his dark land
And close my eyes and quench my breath—
It may be I shall pass him still.	10
I have a rendezvous with Death
On some scarred slope of battered hill,
When Spring comes round again this year
And the first meadow-flowers appear.
God knows ’twere better to be deep	15
Pillowed in silk and scented down,
Where love throbs out in blissful sleep,
Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,
Where hushed awakenings are dear…
But I’ve a rendezvous with Death	20
At midnight in some flaming town,
When Spring trips north again this year,
And I to my pledged word am true,
I shall not fail that rendezvous.

 

Baby Gap:First Steps of The Human

Emma Riegert

American Literature

Mrs. Robinson

19 November 2008

Baby Gap:

First Steps of the Human

 

An elaborate lace of capillaries weaves a protective sphere around the most mysterious miracle known to man. Tiny thump and gush thump and gush resonates through microscopic sound waves. The dark red heart, five weeks old, is now too small for anything but the most advanced technology to see, yet it functions perfectly. This is real. This is life. These first few weeks are crucial to who a person will be for the rest of his life. Every decision made by mothers, both daily and long term, have lasting affects on the growth and livelihood of her child. This vital development of people’s personalities begins in the very nature of a beginning: the womb.

Every person has specific characteristics that distinguish them from their peers and other people around them. These traits are physical, mental and emotional. Many are decided at the very second of conception. Hair and eye color, facial features, gender, and even certain unique aspects of the personality are decided and begin to establish themselves

 soon as chromosomes from both parents unite (Mayo Clinic Staff). A baby’s state of situational awareness takes affect perhaps much earlier than most people may think. In the fifth week of pregnancy (three weeks after conception) a heartbeat can be detected. In order for the heart to be beating of course, the brain must not only be in existence, but also of such a state as to order and regulate these and similar actions. When the heart begins to beat, the first stages in the development of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column are already well under-way (figure 1). By the tenth week, the brain is producing close to 250,000 new neurons or more every minute (Mayo Clinic Staff). Should this same brain not be aware of all actions taken for or against its well-being?

The use and abuse of both legal and illegal drugs during pregnancy is the leading cause for birth defects in the western world (CDC). Illegal drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, have the same effect on a baby as they do on the mother. This is called NAS or Neo-natal Abstinence Syndrome. Symptoms include weakness, muscle tension, trembling, drowsiness, and even hallucinations throughout infancy and often further into life. This extensive use of any drug causes slower development of the brain (Schneiderman). Obviously, if the mother is not healthy from the use of these drugs before her pregnancy her child would already be at risk. This risk would continue thoughout not only her pregnancy period but often also follow the child after birth and for the rest of his or her life. That risk is exponentially increased if the drug use continues through the gestation period. This is the most delicate stage of life for her baby. Regrettable side-effects result by any abuse of substances, regardless if they are legally approved.

Legal substances like tobacco, alcohol and even simple over the counter or prescription drugs potentially have drastic influence on particularly the mental development of a zygote or fetus (figure 2). “FAS [Fetal Alcohol Syndrome] is now recognized as the leading cause of mental retardation in the western world,” says researcher Donna Burgess of Phi Delta Kappa researchers group (Burgess). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome’s effects may not always be as extreme as full mental retardation, but many learning disabilities and challenges often arise later in life as a child progresses in school and subject matter becomes increasingly more difficult and demanding. This is evidence of the lasting effect of drug use during pregnancy. The postpartum environment is nearly as important as the environment prior to the birth. Smoking in particular is a major threat to the health of a newborn infant. Even fathers affect this aspect of their children’s growth. Second-hand smoke is the culprit responsible for many lung diseases such as asthma. Studies show that babies whose fathers smoke are more likely to have a lung disease or even some form of a spinal defect.

The mental stability of parents may also take a heavy toll their baby. Postpartum depression is a form of depression that has symptoms considered normal for perhaps the first hours or days after a mother gives birth. However, 10% to 20% of these cases lapse into a more dangerous, extended case of this disease (Gaschler). Young mothers are mostly susceptible to this. The depression causes them to withdraw, also causing withdrawal symptoms in the newborn, challenging the vital maternal bonding process. Symptom results can be so severe as to cause either of the victims to stop eating or stop responding in a healthy way to each other or anyone else (Gaschler).

During her pregnancy and motherhood, the best thing for a woman to do is stay healthy. Stop smoking or drinking, and convince other people in the immediate atmosphere of the baby to do the same. Take a recommended vitamin or mineral supplement along with a balanced, nutritious diet (figure 3). Proteins are the basic building block of all human cells, and are then essential to the growth of the ever multiplying cells creating a fetus. It is recommended to eat at least 100 grams of protein each day. A lack of proteins results in an abnormally small fetus and low birth rate (“What to Expect”). An average of 2,300 calories should also be consumed every day: 2,000 for the mother and 300 for the growing child. These provide the amount of energy needed for the rapid growth of the fetus and the energy that it takes away from the mother. Sufficient sources of vitamin C, vitamin A and Calcium contribute to the development of strong, healthy bones, teeth, skin and muscle tissue. Iron works to build up a full blood supply, aiding the core of the skeletal and circulatory systems within the bone marrow, or “blood factories” of the body.

Figure 3

 

An active lifestyle and exercise are important to keep the blood flow and condition of the mother in shape and functioning fully to the advantage of the new life within her, while of course keeping track of a substantial amount of sleep for the both of them. No active lifestyle is complete or well rounded without an adequate amount of sleep. Adults should on average get at least 6 hours of sleep. This is not enough to support the energy levels a mother needs to keep her baby healthy while it still is within her body. In later years, toddlers require a minimum of nine hours in addition to a short nap generally in the middle of the day or mid morning (Schneiderman). They must be able to maintain an energetic, inquisitive lifestyle as they become acclimated and learn about the world they live in. These small children are fully developed physically, learning new concepts and perceiving new things every day. In contrast, the whole and complete body image and set of systems of a fetus are still to be finished, yet while the tiny brain is simultaneously becoming consciously aware of the sounds and movements occurring twenty-four hours per day and an adequate amount of sleep is absolutely necessary for the process to continue successfully.

 The developmental rate of the psychological processes of an unborn child is astounding. Theresa Johnson, doctor of obstetrics and gynecology at Carteret General Hospital, states that the first four weeks of pregnancy, a time when a mother may not even know she is pregnant, is a crucial period for the nervous system’s establishment. Even this early, a brain and spinal columns are, though primitive, functioning efficiently given all is healthy and well with the woman. For this reason, any woman trying to conceive should be aware of the dangers and risks of drinking, smoking, unhealthy eating and lack of exercise or sleep. She should also consider taking supplements to provide for extra minerals that may be needed.

Any deficiency in the much needed vitamins and minerals for a baby could very possibly interfere with the nature of the child’s nervous system at its roots, therefore causing major or minor issues in his or her learning and further mental abilities. Depending on diagnosis, these problems arise immediately or further into life. Many of these cases are the result of careless behavior and decisions just before or in the first few weeks following conception. Every action counts. Every meal, every decision counts. To have a healthy baby, the mother has to be healthy. Following the basic advice of a doctor is generally a good guideline to stay on that track, but it is vital that she take whatever precautions necessary to assure her own continued health, and then the baby will follow suit.

These facts are undisputed; therefore there is no reason not to believe that at every stage of gestation and development, whether zygote, fetus, infant, toddler, or grown adult, there is a real person in question with a real purpose and passion for life (figure 4). This is a life. Should we then not strive to nourish and protect it? We have no right to decide the success of any person, and no choice but to rejoice in the miracle this life poses and take whatever steps possible to help establish and, if necessary, defend it.

The mother is the most vital sustainer in the health and growth of her child. It is crucial that she take every action and precaution to better enforce the

safe and healthy growth of her baby. It is the parents’ and all of humanity’s responsibility to assure the most favorable environment for the children and to each other, and not do anything that could jeopardize that status.

Child of Fear

Child of fear

quaking- shivering in the shadows

amidst the towering obstacles of success and fame

she huddles in the alleyways of fraud and deception

That fraud

That fraud of corrupt masses soaring to the rooftops of the

never-ending rise in power

soon in truth to plumit down to the dumpsters and

scrapings on which he was founded.

Knots

Green emerald, radiant life

A woven circlet surrounding,

yet divided

in tangled knots.

These are dark:

Weaving, intertwining;

knots.

Where light none can penetrate

’til the strands unfurl- knots

Beyond the tangles

none but love’s eyes see through.

Light continues, past the blurred,

the frayed

knots.

The length of green extensive,

the most so transparent

but only to the lovers eye

slowly knots uncurl-

ever so gently

are nevermore: knots.

Transparencies pierce on,

past the woven threads:

Interlocking; ever strengthening

A fabricade tapestry

constructed facade

only free with the lovers eye.

When clean it is clear

but complicated constructs more:

Knots.

These are dark:

Weaving, intertwining;

knots.