Why Must Composition Exist

Im an English Major, which I think most people know by now. However, it seems as if the rollercoaster that is my compostion class has not only gone down the tracks, but its fallen off, crashed, and burned. It may just be the class I dislike . I don't have  a favorite class , but I don't really dislike the others either. So to say I dislike it is a big statement.  In high school, english was the only class that fired me up. My entire soul went into those papers, but now its like I'm just fufilling a requirement. My passion seems to be trapped inside myself. Without a channel to pour it into ,  there is nothing academically that makes me happy nowadays.  That tends to stress me out which is not having a good effect on the rest of my classes or my stress level. Then again, all I ever seem to think about recently is my stress level. It could be due to psychology and the health chapter  which says that stress can cause chronic diseases. I really hate being stressed and I don't want my health to plunge to the earth so I have to figure out something soon. The silver lining is that the semester will be over in less than two months. However, I still have Composition II; my greatest wish is that it will be the inspiring class I long for right now.

Compositon Finally Blew My Mind

I love writing, but my composition class seemed to get into a bit of routine that was boring me greatly.  Vocabulary quizzes, assign the essay,  talk about it,  vocabulary quizzes, rough draft, vocabulary quizzes, final draft, and oh yeah vocabulary quizzes.  I was thinking that it may be one of the most unmotivating courses I had ever taken, until Friday.  The class started out like any typical lesson. Then the professor moved on and said that he would assign some homework. "Don't worry, this is fun homework". Most of the class agreed outloud, "There was no such thing" and that his statement was an "oximoron".  He showed us a painting online called "The Ambassadors".  He explained a little of what was in the painting. Pointing out things we may not notice if we don't observe it carefully. For the most part, he wanted us to discuss the things we saw. Then he said he wanted us to type up an email explaining what message or meaning the artist was trying to get across. What was the author trying to say to anyone who saw the painting.  At first glance you see two differently dressed guys. They stand relaxed against a shelf which oddly enough has many objects cluttering it. For those who look but never necessarily see the painting may wonder why its so special.  It has a powerful message, which leaves me wondering how many more paintings have hidden meanings that have been overlooked.

I may not be right but here is what I submitted to my professor what I thought it meant:

   Two men stand in relaxed positon on a shelves with many objects. The man on the left appears pompus and wealthy in his extravagant clothes. While the man on the right appears more reserved, in fact he looks like a clergman. I believe they could be considered ambassadors of who the majority of people were in that time period. Either devoutly religous or secular and more intrested in the luxuries of life. The botom shelf has things associated with music, travel, and exploration. Yet, if its on the bottom shelf it could be interpreted that it has been left there to be forgotten. What you notice more than the other objects is what rests on the top shelf. Because it is placed on top of a very beautiful rug, it catches you attention. The artist could have done this because he wanted it to catch your attention before the bottom shelf in order to emphasize its importance.

         On the top shelf are things assoctiated with astronomy. Both shelves have globes but the one on the bottom is an actual map; the one on top is adorned with constilations. It could be infered that the world once focused on travel but now shifts its focus on the astronomy, which could also be infered as everything in and beyond the heavens. However, not necessarily focus on the heavens in relation to religon. You really have to study the painting in order to notice the crucifix behind the curtain on the top left. Its almost completely covered, like its something to be hidden. These ambassadors - the representatives of people are shifting their focus from one interest to another. All the while placing religous interests aside and hidden away. 

        The skewed object in the center of the floor of the painting is a skull; they are usually associated wih death. I believe it is there to symbolize that the objects that associate with the interests of the people are the cause of the death of religon. These objects placed in the center are one of the main focuses of the painting. They are also the main focus of the people which causes them to forget their focus on religon.

If you would like to see the painting, here is the link

"The Ambassador"

Later I  will post the real meaning which will be given to us on Monday.

Sadly The Break Was Useless

Okay so its monday and I'm usually sleepy on mondays but, never this exhausted and brain - dead. I went home early afternoon on Wedensday expecting to have fun with the family. Yes, Idreaded the essay I had to start and finish but I had 4 days!?? Well when I got home I actually had to chores to do and dinner to cook almost everyday.  Friday night I had to make a powerpoint for mother of  pictures she's taken the last hundred years.  Also baby my sister  who's fifteen but still "the baby of the family". Saturday I had to go to the bank to fix a few problems - it took forever. Then I had to stay for the family gathering that started about four hours later than planned. The only time I had to work on my essay was between 10pm and however long I managedto stay up that night. Sunday, I didn't get to come back to campus  until 6pm.  I knew I had to be home, but sometimes family can be a bit more tiring then school. There used to telling you what to do. So when it comes time for you to visit they demand  you follow their schedule. I love my family but they should understand that  I dont livethere anymore. I have bigger responsibilities now that will definetly make or break my future. So now hear I am on Monday - brain dead and as useful as a pencil without an eraser.

Our Midterm

At first glance the midterm seemed time consuming but managable. On Wednesday, I started working on it. I was right that it was time consuming but, managable? I don't think I could say it was that easy. I looked at my notes over and it seemed that I was staring at a black hole. My mind was working against me; it wouldn't help me make connections between what I wanted to say and the text. By Friday afternoon things looked up a bit but I still only had one question completed and the rest sort of planned out. The great yet funny thing was, I utilized the dialogue method to share ideas with Myeshia Friday night. Soon we found that our conversation had helped us add more to what we had or something we were missing. In the end I loved it. A good writing challange, especially analyzing text makes me feel alive. Though at times it can make me feel like the dumbest person alive; when I finally get an idea and others that pop from that I can smile. The only bad thing is, if I don't type or write it as soon as I think it, its gone. While a new idea springs out to take its place faster than you can say TLU.

Saturday afternoon we continued discussing and helping each other, we practically got everything done. All I had left to do was polish it all up; my answers seem to be the best of my ability, but there is always the fear of "are they good enough?". I'm not a hundred percent anxious but I wonder what Professor Barry will think as she reads my answers. Actually I'm a bit more curious at what everyone else wrote. I really liked Myeshia's ideas because they were so different than mine, and I know everyone else has at least one just like that. My only regret is that it seems like I cannot find any lyrics that help with my "message". Well above all I hope for the best and if not please, Professor Barry, don't tell me how bad it was.

Banking and Dialogue Method?

The dialogue method verses the banking method? I don't think I could choose which way I would prefer learning, because I feel they are both necessary in learning.  After listening to the discussion in class this past week I am actually thinking about it today. The way I see it, the dialogue method is a way for the teacher and student to be open-minded yet learning from each other. Without communication the student does not truly learn. The banking method is simply the teacher depositing ideas and strategies into the student's mind. Then they expect the student to just regurgitate everything that has been taught. The dialogue method may seem to be the better way to conduct a classroom environment, but for some areas of learning there seems to be no other way. Take the core subjects for example; the height of potential for a student in English would be limited by the banking method. How can you expect someone to analyze text for themselves if you close their minds? Closing their minds by not conversing with the students to open the door of new ideas that even the teacher wouldn't have thought of because interpretations of text and writing are individualistic.  Yet, for math and history I believe the dialogue method wouldn't make much of a difference.  Some math problems could be solved a few different ways.  Ultimately you stick to the way you were first taught to solve it. History is irrefutable; you have dates, places, people all combined into a never ending story that you have to remember.  Using the dialogue method, as I see it would not really benefit the students, nor would it harm them. Both of these combined in your education could give you the benefit of "both worlds". Shaping the way of learning for the better.