We then reviewed the assigned exercises.
Homework recap: 1. WLTC 2J (respond in 1 typed page. Bring it to class.) Post WLTC 2J here as well.
2. WLTC 2K read the story and be prepared to answer the questions.
3. Also post your response to WLTC 2I here by Feb. 9. Bring to class electronically as well and I will post the images for you.
2. WLTC 2K read the story and be prepared to answer the questions.
3. Also post your response to WLTC 2I here by Feb. 9. Bring to class electronically as well and I will post the images for you.
4. WLTC 2L complete sometime this month and turn in as a paper copy. Post your essays here as well.
We read up to page 64 in Yummy.
Here is the link to the Times Magazine article on the author's website: http://gregneri.com/yummy.html
Next week we will look at types of arguments: claims of fact, claims of policy and claims of value, and the form these arguments can take.
Field Trip
I have more tickets left for the OM film screening Thursday, doors open at 4 p.m. Let me know if you want to attend. Call me (smile).
Adalie Villalobos
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Subliminal Messages
1.) In the first ad for Paul Mitchell hair products I see a family of three, a mother, father, their son, and dog. To begin, they all have long, healthy hair. There is flowing grass behind them that looks like hair which I am guessing is supposed to symbolize healthy flowing hair that the hair products will provide. What the ad is also supposed to urge viewers to do is help fight hunger worldwide and poverty. I have no clue to why this happy family is on the ad. A starving child or a child in need should be the picture in the ad, not a happy family who seem to have no worries at all. I definitely do not find the ad effective.
In the second ad for Guess clothing, there is a couple kissing and hugging on what looks like a moped. Guess is a popular, expensive clothing line that sells beautiful clothes. I think that what the advertisers are trying to go for is sexiness and they want viewers to want to be like them. Wearing Guess clothes will make you feel sexy and confident. Do I think that it is effective? No. I can barely see the clothing and I am focusing on their PDA. Of what I can see of the clothing, it is nice but I feel that the clothes are not being advertised.
2.) In this ad, Gatorade is advertising Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players of all time. I think what the advertisers are going for is making viewers believe that by drinking Gatorade, they will play just like him. Those who are huge fans of Michael Jordan will drink it because their idol is supposedly drinking it. Advertisers use people or things who are big at the moment and this is a picture of when Jordan was huge in the industry. The editor is implying that if Michael Jordan, a famous, amazing, basketball player is drinking Gatorade, why shouldn’t you?
Adalie Villalobos
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Grace Period
According to Wikipedia.com, “a grace period is a time past the deadline for an obligation during which a late penalty that would have been imposed is waived. Grace periods, which can range from a number of minutes to a number of days or longer, depending on the context, can apply in various situations, including arrival at a job, paying a bill, for meeting government or legal requirement, or in many other situations.” In the story, Baker makes the character seem as if he is alone and is unable to get a hold of anyone at a moment in need. In section 4 line 1, it says that he thinks that it is an aneurysm. Everything and everyone around him seems to be focused on something else and too busy to focus on him.
People who he tries to reach like his friend he cannot get through because instead of talking to his friend, he gets a busy signal. When he tries to reach the fire chief, he gets a busy signal as well. It is as if he is unimportant to those who he is in need of at the moment. A grace period can last from a couple of minutes to a couple of days. In the story, he seems to be going through this feeling for a couple of minutes because the story goes through every motion he is going through at the time. Anybody who is dying feels like they are on borrowed time. His grace period is expiring and fading away quickly. Grace period is like the window of opportunity that is shrinking, hence the character looking outside the window and seeing the light getting brighter. The light symbolizes death and the window he looks out of is the grace period, hence the name of the title.
Liliulachelle Finley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
7 February 2012
Grace Period
The short story, "Grace Period" by Will Baker, features a man home alone experiencing apocalyptical-like events during the middle of the day. A grace period for those who procrastinate may seem to them as a deadline they weren't ready, and where unforseen events take place that lead to something ominous.The title helps the reader come to a conclusion that the main character may be a procrastinator in life or doesn't really come to conclusions about things soon enough. For example, when the author writes that there is still "dust hanging through the driveway," which leads the reader to infer that the man has procrastinated on household chores. A series of apocalyptical events take place in the story that were unseen to the main character. First, he sees a "fluctuation of light...coming from behind the hills." This may remind the reader of images from movies, such as "Terminator" or "2012" that display a post-apocalyptic world or the end of the world in action. After calling trying numerous times to call several emergency hotlines, he experiences an "uninexplicable frantic whim" because all the lines for emergency help are "busy." The story ends with the sound of "Hard Day's Night" through the telephone "skip[ing], wobbl[ing] and skip[ping] again...," and that the light through the wind, most likely an explosion of fire, is "growing brighter and brighter...." The grace period for this procrastinator has not come in a form of finance but in the form of human life being taken away.
Tiffanya Richardson
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9 2012
WLTC 2J
Grace Period
I inferred from the reading that the title Grace Period refers to the moment just before you realize there is a drastic disaster taking place. It refers to the space in time when the actual state of things is unknown. The writer evoked fear without pointing out the exact facts of the matter. Baker developed the panic and anticipation that builds up over the course of a disaster taking place. A great fact to support this is that the character first thought, was that he was having an aneurysm. That shows the amount of uncertainty building up.
It began with the character noticing a slight change in atmosphere while he was doing everyday mundane choirs. His wife causally stepped out to make a quick trip to the mailbox when all of the sudden he gets a feeling that something isn’t right.
The story unravels from there, the build up is one of the main reasons I came to form that connotation of the title. The character begins to feel vibrations, or movement in the ground, hears dogs barking all across the neighborhood, tries to dial out but realizes main phone lines are busy, and then suddenly realizes his wife has not returned from the mailbox which seems to usually be a fairly short trip. The character glances out the window again and realizes its “snowing”, but in the previous sentences he explains how he notices flakes of ash.
This fact, along with the trembling from the ground, and the flash of bright lights led me to infer that the country was under some type of attack that involved bombs. The plant that answered the characters call also supports this fact, seeing that they were underground with no windows. Thus, I made the judgment that the grace period refers to that moment during a disaster where you may be one of the only survivors, yet still haven’t a clue about what is actually going on, where your wife or friends are, and left in a state of fear and panic.
Tiffanya Richardson
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5/Critical Thinking
February 9, 2012
WLTC Exercise 2I
1) The advertisers for Paul Mitchell hair products use the visual image to show the importance of the family foundation. It speaks volumes that Paul Mitchell himself, is photographed in his own add. It shows that he supports and stands behind his own product. Is this his real family? The reader is not given that specific information, but one could infer that this is a happily married couple with a young active healthy son and a dog. They seem to be in great spirits, dressed well, hair flawless, dog well groomed and relaxed, in all a perfect all American family. It is also a nice touch that they are outside enjoying nature with no cares in the world. The image embodies stability and a bright future, although for who is not quite clear.
Overall, I find the add to be effective. Paul Mitchell is selling hair products, but more then that a lifestyle. By purchasing his products in his salons and schools, the customer is donating to causes like hunger, poverty, and protecting our planet’s water. Paul Mitchell, as indicated by the ad also considers his enterprise to be a system of “family” of hairdressers. His business seems to be about not only hair products, but styling, and educating future hairdressers. He’s also about donating to causes that support our globe, so the add represents his company well.
2) The Campbell soup advertisement stresses the freshness, and “goodness’” of the soup. Good meaning that the product uses real chicken and noodles, which would leave the consumer to infer that this is a fast but healthy meal that a parent could feed to their child. The image also implies that children will love the soup so much that it will put a smile on their faces. That Campbell soup actually creates joy. The child is well groomed smiling, and her soup is accompanied with an American favorite, peanut butter and jelly. A parent could infer that “good” parents can trust this product.
3) I choose a photo of presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The image implies that he is not a reliable source for information. The caption “Which page is he on today?” leaves the audience to infer that he switches up often, which is not a quality that the general public will be looking for in a president. The candidate looks lost in the photo, almost as if he has no idea about what is going on.
Amber Robbins
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 2, 2012
WTLC: excercise 2J
The calm, almost stand-still of motion before a coming storm or catastrophe is what “Grace Period” beautifully illustrates. The use of the second person point of view pulls the reader directly into the moment, evoking feelings of confusion, wonder, and fear to the fullest. The severe slow-motion quality, the description of how “for an instant everything stretched just slightly” is the distorted calm; the grace period. This single period of time, just moment in length yet stretched to feel like an eternity is the false moment of safety before havoc breaks loose. Within second the mood shifts from wonder to panic, “Highway patrol. Busy. 911. Busy.” The grace period is over and now the frantic, clawing fear has sunken in. Danger, destruction, or even death is now immanent. Working as a sort of moment in limbo, the grace period is that merciful nanosecond that keeps the danger at bay. The moment before death-- the last gasp of life in all of its wonder and beauty before the light is torn away and reality is plunged into darkness.
Ana Cristina Muro
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
Exercise 2J
Defining Grace Period
There are always different interpretations that can be made from titles of stories. It all depends on how the reader defines the story and how it relates to the title. This calls for judgments and inferences made based upon what is provided. Reading Grace Period by Will Baker can be confusing by what is going on. One has to pay close attention because once one is done reading the text, one might ask itself so what does this piece have to do with grace period? As the story describes what is going on, one can picture the descriptions. The meaning of the tittle is that there is always a time where something precious occurs that is extremely beautiful that even words are not enough to describe what is happening in front of one’s eyes. The author uses the definition of the words grace and period to be able to explain the chronicle events in the story.
The way the author uses the definition of grace in the story is by his explanations of the motion of the ground and the vibration the character feels. The author illustrates the elegance the golden sunlight is providing. The author also describes the light the character continues to see. At the end he finishes the story with the light growing brighter and brighter. The way the author uses the definition of period in the story is by the explanation on how the character tries to call different people at certain times and the lines are busy. Also the character keeps looking at the window to see what is coming. The times that the character looks out the window to see what is going on, shows that the character knows that what is happening does not happen very often.
The author uses the definitions of the words grace and period to tell a story which is very interesting way of writing. At first it might be confusing being able to understand the meaning of grace and period, and incorporating that into finding how the story ties back to the tittle is simple; one can see the outline of the form of the story. Grace is elegance, beauty of form, motion or action. While period is an interval in time that is meaningful just as the author describes it.
Kevin Ruma
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
Exercise 2I
1. In the Guess ad, the two people are sitting on some sort of vehicle kissing. Both look young and attractive. I believe the ad is suggesting that by wearing Guess clothing you can be young and attractive as well. You will be liked by the opposite sex and have a successful love life. When looking at the background of the photo, it appears that the two people are in another country. The vehicle they sit on as well as the rustic walls on the buildings suggest that they are in Europe. This could be a message that Guess is exotic or possibly that it is worn worldwide. I do not find the ad effective because I would not have known it was a Guess ad. I could tell the ad was for clothing but would not have known which company without knowing in advance.
2. After looking at the Bose ad I see that it is to show how good their headphones keep out sound. A man is rowing his boat and about to go over what looks like Niagara falls. Those waterfalls make tremendous amounts of noise do to the amount of water falling. The headphones work so well he is about to row himself over the edge because he is unaware there is a waterfall behind him. The ad is showing you how good the equipment is through humor. I find this method very effective and helps a person to remember an ad.
3. I looked at a photo that has been taken of President Obama appearing to be looking a girls butt. The editor picked this photo to try to show Obama in a bad light. It is unclear as to where Obama is actually looking, but the way the photo is taken makes it look clear cut. I believe the editor does not have a favorable opinion of Obama and is trying to get others to support his view of the president. The editor implies that Obama is unfaithful and checking out girl much younger than he.
Kevin Ruma
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9, 2012
Exercise 2J
A Grace Period Not So Graceful
The Grace period poem by Will Baker was confusing to me the first time I read it. After taking a few more looks I was able to formulate an idea as to what was actually going on. A grace period is a term usually used to designate the time allowed by banks or collection agencies after the deadline for someone to pay what they owe. Since this story mentions nothing about money I will reserve the term grace period to mean an amount of time between two events. The first thing I noticed was that the he man seems to be older by the fact that he knows his blood pressure is 80 over 135. Most young people do not know there blood pressure. He also states that he should have had a check up two months ago, which causes me to infer that he is older and has check ups regularly. I am pretty sure that the grace period that the title is talking about is the time spent before death. The man could possibly be the one dying because I believe he is older. When taking a second look, I notice all of the things that he notices going on in the atmosphere around him. He could be experiencing these as sensations before he will be dying. I do not think this is the case.
Animals thought to have an uncanny environmental awareness. The man mentions that his dog is under the porch whining, and later that all the dogs on the block are barking and making noise. Just after noticing his dog, he realizes he does not hear birds chirping. I assume that by mentioning this, he usually does here birds chirping outside his house. Another reason I do not believe that it is just the man that is dying is the fact that all of the phones are busy at once. Other people could be experience the same phenomenons that he is.
I think the grace period that Baker was talking about is the time between the beginning of time and the end of the world. I believe the author is trying to convey that the end of the world is happening. Elemental changes like the weather going from sunny to snowing, animals acting oddly, and that it seems everybody is worried, brings me to the conclusion that the world is coming to an end. The ending of the short story also taps into my personal view, which has been influenced by movies, of how the world ends. I imagine is as everything changing quickly, people freaking out, and a bright light getting larger and larger until going black.
Ana Cristina Muro
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
Exercise 2I
1. The ad for Guess clothing is more convincing because the company is trying to sell their cloths. In the photograph the man’s jacket looks very sexy. The way that the lady is on top of the man can imply that if you buy their clothing that could be you. You can have any woman on top of your legs kissing you because you would be very cool wearing that fancy cloth line. I find the ad somewhat effective because there are people that think that way and if they see such picture they believe if they were wearing those cloths they would be looking nice especially if they have a motorcycle too.
2. (3) http://www.politifake.org/what-a-difference-obamalaise-politics-11325.html
This picture shows that the people before would fight for their country and try to support it. But now that is not the case, people are now protesting wanting everything when before they gave everything for their country. This ad was created for others to see the generation of today.
Jerald M. Appling
ReplyDeleteProfessor Wanda Sabir
English 5 Critical Thinking
February 9, 2012
Grace Period Judgment
The meaning of the title ‘Grace Period’ by Will Baker references stillness in time. The story feels like the retelling of an event to a friend. In what could be the beginning of a major earthquake, the narrator details every small nuance of his experience. The reader notes many references to time. The text “…where your wife pulled out a few minutes ago…” is one example of the amount of time that has passed. The author follows up on the same reference when he questions why his wife has yet to return. “Where is your wife, she should have the mail by now?” The aforementioned statement suggests that his wife was on a short errand. Due to the detail of the story, the reader begins to feel the stillness of the setting. In the beginning, the narrator slowly transitions from one thought to the next in hopes of determining what is causing the change in the atmosphere. The narrator turns off electric hedge trimmers, pays close attention to his heartbeat, his dog and the dogs in the neighborhood. The story volleys back and forth between references of stillness and references of time. The suggestion of a “faint shimmering” leads the reader to believe that the narrator must remain still and silent to feel the shimmering. While waiting on hold to reach his father-in-law, a Geologist, the narrator makes another reference to time by suggesting that only one line of lyrics in a famous Beatles song has passed before the sound skips. The phrase grace period in and of itself is a reference to time. The title of this story is more about stillness in time.
Jules Misiluti
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9, 2012
Grace Period
Exercise 2J
There are so many ways one can interpret Grace period. At first I had a hard time trying to understand the reading, I decided to reread it over to try fully understand it. From my understanding, the meaning of the title is based on all of the events and having limited time. In a lot of the situations in the reading, there is a build up from the start to end. You notice in the start of the story its just basically talking about a man doing his house hold chores . Towards the end the person goes into panic mode because all the people they are trying to get a hold of cannot be reached. In events like this when you need answers to see whats going on you tend to panic even more. Which leads me to believe that the the title is really based on time, seeing that some feel they cannot accomplish all they have to do in a day. When disasters happen your time is shortened and the clock keeps ticking, its you against time. In the state of panic your time is limited you fear the unknown, this is what scares people the most.
Saba Ghanem
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5/Critical Thinking
February 9, 2012
WLTC Exercise 2I
1) Paul Mitchell. Not knowing who’s Paul Mitchell, when I first saw the ad I thought about life insurance. The ad shows a happy family in a calm, relaxing grassy setting. The man and woman are eyeing each other, happy to be together, and the boy is resting on his mom, with Paul Mitchell holding the dog. The ad gives out an atmosphere of warmth, family, love and nature. To the audience, buying their products or giving to the organization would create such an image of a happy family. Perhaps a portion of their profits goes to help those in need, like fighting poverty and hunger, and safeguarding our water and helping children in need. I think the ad is effective in portraying a setting of warmth and happiness, which might get people to respond to that feeling and “be kind”, as the ad implies, in order for us to create change and build a better future.
2)I looked at the archives out of curiosity, and I found an ad from the 1960’s for a hair magazine. The ad shows a wig flying away from a man’s head, and between the hair and the bald head are the following words “gone with the wind”. Next to the hair are two leaves in the air to show the hair flying away. On the bottom of the poster, in bold it writes “don’t let this happen to you”. I found it humorous and that caught my interest of the ad. I think it tells viewers especially men to take care of their hair before they start to go bald. I think it’s effective because it targets the right audience by using humor to grab their attention and makes them think, “I don’t want this to happen to me”, so they will look into the magazine and read about products that stop hair loss, and prevent them from losing their hair early on.
3)An article published by the NYT on the deaths of children in Afghanistan due to the cold and shortage of supplies. It shows an 8th old baby lying on top of his teddy bear blanket, dead, due to the cold, standing around him seems to be his mom looking at him and his grandmother, and his 10 year old sitting by him, sad. The setting is in their house, which seems to be made out of mud, and it’s a poor family. It might be an image taken before the burial of the baby. Reading the article, the writer referred to certain organizations who think that the death of these babies is not due to shortage of supplies and should not blame international negligence of these families that fled the war. I think the image gives an emotional reaction to the reader to see that indeed these families are being neglected and this is a baby we can visually see is dead.
Saba Ghanem
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9, 2012
Grace Period
The story written by Will Baker, is of a man trying to figure out what’s happening around him in the time he has left. The term grace period refers to the time between something happening and action taken; and I think that refers to the man reacting to the environmental changes around him before being affected himself. At first everything is fine, his wife leaves the house to get the mail, he’s trimming the yard, the weather is sunny and beautiful as he refers to a regular blue sky. But then an awkward feeling takes him when he begins to notice changes from that calm atmosphere to one that looks suspicious. But he doubts it as he says, he begins to turn on the trimmer again; but then feels a vibration of the ground under his feet. When I read this I thought of an earthquake. The dog has begun to react by hiding under the porch, the birds have fled. His wife is gone. He then sees light appearing from the hills, which might indicate an explosion of some kind. The blood pressure given, shows the man to be of an older age and might have a problem with his blood pressure, for him to easily remember. Or it might indicate his blood pressure rising in response to him being anxious in trying to figure out what’s happening around him. His neighbors are also responding to these events but he’s still in the yard on his own with the scared dog. Trying to figure out what’s going on he goes back to the house to call up people who might give him an answer to what’s happening; but no one can be reached. The changes of the atmosphere increase as the sky brightens. He begins to see ashes. This to me indicates a volcano has just erupted. Especially because he turns to his father in law who is a geology professor. Not able to reach him, he reaches “physical plant”, and since they are underground they don’t know what’s happening with the sky. But I wonder if they felt the trembling of the ground as he did. He calls his father in law again but this time with much faster speed, which indicates frustration and worry on his part. During the song playing, it begins to skip and wobble, which indicates that the phone lines have been affected and the change in the atmosphere is getting closer to his house as the brightness increases. At this point, we are left to wonder if he is still alive or not. The following incidents all happened within that grace period between change happening and him reacting before being affected by that change.
Jerald M. Appling
ReplyDeleteProfessor Wanda Sabir
English 5 Critical Thinking
February 9, 2012
John Paul Mitchell's Systematic Appeal
The advertisers are using the image of John Paul Mitchell and what seems to be his family in an underdeveloped landscape that could possibly represent an area of the world where children are in need. I don’t find the ad effective because no children in need are depicted. The only people visible are wealthy people in a non-descript landscape that could very well be here in the US. This ad doesn't inspire me to help needy children nor does it inspire me to purchase Paul Mitchell products.
Ronald Parker
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Subliminal Messages
Analyzing the Guess clothing Ad they are using their image to show a guy and a girl face to face kissing eachother. I feel they are using a guy and a girl to symbolize Guess clothing is sexy. Sexy in a way showing it can get you that person of the opposite sex, which can leadto sexual intercourse. Having the motorcycle shows this couple was on the travel or enjoying nature and decided to take a breakto enjoy eachother. Both parties probably thinking eachother look good in clothes but knowing it would be even better with them off and thats exactly what they are leading to.
I find this advertisement very effective being that since it is displaying sex it will make people do the same. By it only being white people in the picture this is for the white audience. Going to the mall, school and anywhere else that is all I see wearing this clothing too, whites. Everyone that wears this also has their own style, which brings out their individual sexiness. I think if they had other races in the picture the audience will be more diverse. But untill then it will only be whites.
Ronald Parker
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Defining Grace Period
There are always different interpretations that can be made from titles of stories. It all depends on how the reader defines the story and how it relates to the title. This calls for judgments and inferences made based upon what is provided. Reading Grace Period by Will Baker can be confusing by what is going on. One has to pay close attention because once one is done reading the text, one might ask itself so what does this piece have to do with grace period? As the story describes what is going on, one can picture the descriptions. The meaning of the tittle is that there is always a time where something precious occurs that is extremely beautiful that even words are not enough to describe what is happening in front of one’s eyes. The author uses the definition of the words grace and period to be able to explain the chronicle events in the story.
The way the author uses the definition of grace in the story is by his explanations of the motion of the ground and the vibration the character feels. The author illustrates the elegance the golden sunlight is providing. The author also describes the light the character continues to see. At the end he finishes the story with the light growing brighter and brighter. The way the author uses the definition of period in the story is by the explanation on how the character tries to call different people at certain times and the lines are busy. Also the character keeps looking at the window to see what is coming. The times that the character looks out the window to see what is going on, shows that the character knows that what is happening does not happen very often.
The author uses the definitions of the words grace and period to tell a story which is very interesting way of writing. At first it might be confusing being able to understand the meaning of grace and period, and incorporating that into finding how the story ties back to the tittle is simple; one can see the outline of the form of the story. Grace is elegance, beauty of form, motion or action. While period is an interval in time that is meaningful just as the author describes it.
Ronald Parker
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Exercise 2I
The photograph that I chose was of two football players Eli Manning and Justin Tuck both celebrating after a football game. The editor chose a photo of both an offensive player and defensive after winning the superbowl. I believe he chose players from both sides of the ball to tell one side or person can not do it alone. It will always take a team effort in order to have a victory. He is also implying that victory brings about a lot of happiness. This was also the biggest event this weekend that pasted by, thats also why I feel it was chosen.
Jerald M. Appling
ReplyDeleteProfessor Wanda Sabir
English 5 Critical Thinking
February 9, 2012
Inferences & Judgments, 5 for 5
Inferences
~…the mothers of Chicago's South Side brought their children to a vigil for a dead boy they had never met. They wanted their kids to see the scrawny corpse in the loose tan suit lying in a coffin.
~Parents hoped to haunt their children; maybe fear would keep them safe.
~Police descended on the gang, and Yummy became a liability.
~His odds of reaching the age of 12 dropped sharply when he fell in with the local Black Disciples gang.
~"If it was just an initiation ceremony, he'd do it from a car. But to go right up to the victims, that means he was trying to collect some points and get some rank or maybe a nice little cash bonus." George Knox, a gang researcher at Chicago State University
Judgments
~"Considering all the tragedy they come across in their jobs, reporters have to develop tough skins to survive." –Editor
~"I still couldn't decide which was more appalling: the child's life or the child's death." –Reporter Jon Hull
~"...someone should have been there for him..." –Grandmother
~"Nobody didn't like that boy. Nobody gonna miss him," -Morris Anderson
~The mayor of Chicago admitted that Yummy had slipped through the cracks.
Evelyn Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2012
Inferences and Judgements
“Considering all the tragedy they come across in their jobs, reporters have to develop tough skins to survive. “ –Editor
“Police descended on the gang, and Yummy became a liability.”
"I still couldn't decide which was more appalling: the child's life or the child's death." –Reporter Jon Hull
“The mayor of Chicago admitted that Yummy had slipped through the cracks.”- Nancy R. Gibbs
“His odds of reaching the age of 12 dropped sharply when he fell in with the local Black Disciples gang.”
Daniela Debergue
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2012
Exercise 2J
When I read Grace Period, it struck me as a piece of fiction depicting the very moments before the end of the world or some huge disaster from an old man’s point of view. The first sign of trouble is when the man notices that his dog is underneath the porch whimpering. Animals have a sixth sense that allows them to sense trouble, and the narrator's dog is definitely scared of something. Then, the fact that all of the neighborhood dogs started barking and the birds stopped singing at the same time as the narrator became aware of the changes in the atmosphere tells the reader that what was going on was not just in the narrator’s imagination, and that there is real trouble at hand. Also, when the narrator calls all of the emergency numbers, they are all busy. This means tons of other people were also calling out for an explanation of what was going on. Lastly, at the end of the story, the music on the telephone while the narrator is on hold starts skipping, hinting to the reader that the telephone lines have been tampered with or shut down, which often means trouble.
Monsoon Pandey
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
Feb 9, 2011
English 5
Free Write
1. Judgment: “And it's just heartbreaking to talk to 10- and 11-year-olds who don't expect to live past 19”
2. Judgment: "Nobody didn't like that boy. Nobody gonna miss him" -Morris Anderson
3. Inference: Before they grow up, these children can become walking weapons
4. Judgment: "What you've got here is a kid who was made and turned into a sociopath by the time he was three years old." –Yummy’s mother
5. Judgment: “They are dirty and noisy, and they are ruining the neighborhood" –Neighbors
6. Judgment: “Police descended on the gang, and Yummy became a liability.”
Aaron Villanueva
ReplyDeleteProf. Wanda Sabir
Feb. 9, 2012
English 5
2I:
1. Guess Clothing:
In the Guess Clothing Advertisement, I see that wearing Guess clothing psychologically makes people buy their products or accessories. Because of the attractiveness of the models in the advertisement, it creates this illusion for people to want to buy their products. The truth is, they do not need the clothes that they see on the advertisement. Just because you see two couples together wearing nice apparel, it does not mean wearing those apparels will give you the same desire. Also wearing attractive clothing does not make someone attractive all the time. Smart people would try on the clothing before they buy the clothing.
2. McDonalds: Mocha Ad
This advertisement is very tempting. Just by looking at the advertisement, you can see that this icy beverage is tempting. Because of the chocolate goodness, it can appeal to many chocolate lovers. I also am analyzing that this advertisement must be up on billboards during a warm season. The wording as well causes people to over think about how good this product might be. My conclusion to this is that people will want to try to see if this mocha is creamy, dreamy, icy, and Chocolaty.
Shayne Keator
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2012
Exercise 2i
1. In the first advertisement, the athlete standing on one foot is imitating the Christ Redeemer, a statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Perhaps, the control that this person is exhibiting is relative to the power of Christ. The fact that the athlete is elevated also gives the sense that the player is on top of the world because of the service provided by Pirelli. The advertisement might be effective for those who are religious.
Again, this ad suggests that the executive is on top of the world because of the service provided by Chubb. He is looking down on the people who don’t have the insurance provided by Chubb. The advertisement is less effective than the Pirelli advertisement because it doesn’t have a hidden moral that it is trying to push.
2. http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ This website uses graphic images of animals being tortured. The images are very persuasive that we should protect animals from suffering.
William Everett
ReplyDeleteMs. Sabir
English 5
2/8/2012
Exercise 2j
Grace Period by Will Baker is about a man who is not in the best of shape. He has wife who remains and many other friends and contacts that remain nameless throughout the story. This is because they are unable to help him with what he is going through. In fact the only person who can help is, “Doctor Abendsachs” and the protagonist was unable to reach him or her. The protagonist needed to get a hold of the doctor, so that he could find some way of stop bleeding because he believes he’s had aneurysm. The cause of his aneurysm is apparent when we are told that he has high blood pressure “135 over 80” and he hasn’t had check up in “two months”.¬¬¬¬¬¬
In short the protagonist of the story has passed his metaphorical “Grace Period” he was due for a checkup “two months ago” and it was time for him pay up. I find the story to be saddening for two reasons. The first being that it seems as if these consequences are too severe for his actions, just because he was unable to keep his blood pressure low, his life is taken away from him, which is a punishment that hardly fits the crime. What was also depressing was in the end it didn’t matter who he knew, in the end no one was there to help him out, not even his wife.
Aaron Villanueva
ReplyDeleteProf. Wanda Sabir
English 5
Feb. 8, 2012
WLTC 2J: Grace Period is a Peaceful Time
Because of the descriptive writing and the feeling that one develops from reading, the title “grace period” means peaceful moments. Since there were many moments in the writing that author puts imagery of a sense of panicking, “grace period” is the time in the writing where the reader does not need to panic. “Grace period” is the moment in the writing when the reader has their time of peace.
“Grace period” by Will Baker, puts images in the reader’s mind of what happens in troubling moments. The reader then panics but for a short while they find peace. In the first paragraph, it starts off with having a peaceful vision then it has a little of intensity and after it returns to a peaceful moment as it states, “It feels as if for an instant everything stretched just slightly, a few millimeters, then contracted again”. Everything seems as if it “stretched” for “a few millimeters” meaning for a quick second everything was at peace. The problem with this moment of peace is that it is not permanent. It is only temporary. It causes the reader to have more of the temporary moment since the reader becomes cautions with their surroundings. This means that the “grace period” for the first paragraph would be the “stretch”.
Will Baker again continues with the description for the reader to be cautions with the surroundings. In the third paragraph, the reader suddenly feels a charge or vibration everything around the reader inflates as it states, “Again and more strongly you have the absurd sense that everything inflates for a moment, then shrinks”. This shows that there are many metaphors of this “grace period” in Will Baker’s writing. This time the “grace period” or the peace at the moment of the paragraph would be the “inflation”. Since again it is only for a small amount of time, it is the “grace period”.
Since most of the peaceful moments in the writing were only a small amount of time, it is the “grace period”. The interesting thing about the grace period is that these are the parts when the reader doesn’t seem to be cognizant but relaxed questioning about what is going on. Since I find the reader to be relaxed or not to seem as if they are panicking at that certain moment, those certain moments are the “grace periods”. The “grace periods” in the writing are the peaceful moments.
Monsoon Pandey
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 8,2012
Exercise 2J
Grace Period
I think the title kind of is talking about the whole story. The beginning of the story, where he is using the electric hedge trimmer is when he dies. Everything after that is kind of unusual and in slow motion for him, which is the grace period of his life. Meaning that he was due then but he got some extra time where he sees the changes in the atmosphere and sky getting brighter. The fact that he was unable to reach everyone, even 911 and bunch of other deputies shows that he has lost contact with people. The dog keeps on backing and is most likely barking at him. At the end, he points out that the sky keeps getting brighter and brighter. I’m assuming that it will continue getting brighter and he will eventually die when there is nothing by brightness around him.
Melvin Herring
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2012
Inferences and Judgements
1. People used yummy’s story to scare their kids straight.
2. This article is aimed at young black men.
3. Yummy wouldn’t have been doing the things he does, if his family life was better.
4. Kids in Yummy’s “hood” accepted death at a early age.
5. The “cracks” yummy slipped though were the cracks of a broken society and government.
6. Yummy was one of many young gang members in his city.
7. The major had to add more attention after this event took place.
8. Yummy was “emotionally flooded” (time magazine P 12).
9. The Hardaway brothers “took out Yummy” in order to impress gang leaders.
10. Yummy was a good kid, with a hard like.
Liliulachelle Finley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2012
Exercise 2I
1. In the Pirelli ad, the caption at the bottom of the add says, "Power is nothing without control." Ronaldo, being one of the top soccer players in the world, can be seen as a powerful figure in soccer who has control. This is the reason why he is in his soccer uniform. Truly, if he were just in his regular everyday clothes, the ad wouldn't be as appealing and effective. The Guess clothing one illustrates a woman and man kissing on a mo-ped. The message that they look like they are trying to send her is that Guess clothing is sexy and interesting, like spontaneous love, i.e. kissing on a mo-ped in daylight, in public. This ad is effective because people want a moment like this and would think that wearing something expensive, like Guess, will win attention.
2. The ad that I chose was an Absolute
Vodka ad that states on the bottom, "Absolut Marilyn," referring to the famous model, actress and number one sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe. It sends a message that if one drinks Absolut, they will feel just like the star Marilyn and that they will feel sexier. I feel that this ad is really only effective for women because Marilyn Monroe is a woman.
3. A news photo I chose was from a Michael Phelps Weed Scandal article titled, "Michael Phelps Pot-Smoking Pic Grips World." The picture provided is of Michael Phelps smoking from a bong and has writing on it saying, "What a dope." This is absolute judgment because one can say that he is dumb for smoking weed when he is an athlete and seen as a role model. The editor evidently disagrees with Michael Phelp's actions and doesn't seem to be forgiving, especially with the photo. What he is implying is that Michael Phelps is a dumb person who doesn't think before he acts and feels that just because he is a famous athlete elite, he can do whatever he wants.
Amber Robbins
ReplyDeleteProffesor Sabir
English 5
February 9, 2012
WLTC: exercises 2I
1. Rather than simply taking a photo of a model standing against a blank background in Guess clothing, this ad chose to add in much more detail. First of all, there are two models in the picture, also, they happen to be male and female, attractive, and as it so happens, they are kissing. This image is trying to convey that if you were to wear this clothing you may do something flirty and fun, spontaneous such as kissing someone on the back of a mo-ped out in public. Honestly i do not think that this ad is effective, in a way I am almost insulted because of how obviously it is playing on the vanity of people. This is trying to say that if you wear Guess you may find romance--materialism at its finest. Also, I have to admit that I am more distracted by the romance of the scene and trying to see where this is taking place than the actual clothing itself, which there isn’t even a good look at in the first place.
2. I chose to analyze an Internet ad for the Candies brand clothing carried by Kohl’s department stores. In this ad, Vanessa Hudgens is featured wearing the Candies clothes, with a big smile on her face and a quote saying “Candie’s girls know a good pair of heels can take you anywhere.” This ad is working on two fronts. First of all the use of Vanessa Hudgens is very obvious because this is playing on the fact that many people, especially young women have seen her in various movies. This is making the assumption that if we see her in the clothes, that we are going to want to be just like Vanessa and wear them to, after all, if she likes them shouldn't I? This brand has also employed the use of Britney Spears to push the clothing. Another premise being used is that wearing certain clothes can get a person places. So in this picture, a nice pair of heels can set you on a spontaneous, fun, vacation. Overall I personally would not wear the clothing on the basis of it being Vanessa Hudgens, however, this is presenting the clothes in a very direct way, so to an extent the ad is successful.
Vincent Corral Jr.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
2 February 2012
Exercise 2I
1) In the Paul Mitchell ad is suggesting that with advertising a photo of himself with his assumed to be wife and son that family ties relate to the system of hair dressers and products he sells. He is making this statement that when you purchase or become an associate to his company, you are advocating the fight against world hunger, poverty, safeguarding the earth’s resources, and giving hope to children in need. The ad uses a serene setting with the family lounging on a meadow to attract readers that Paul Mitchell is a kind and gentle human being and is family oriented. I honestly think this ad seems a bit artificial and that he could have used a different setting and figures to promote the fight against problems of the world. There could have been more persuasive ways to do so.
In the guess ad, it obviously is trying to sell sex. Looking at this ad, it seems if I had bought Guess clothing, my sex life might be enhanced if not my sex appeal. As provocative as the ad is, it catches anyone’s attention because of the personal display of affection. Both men and women are driven by sexual ads and if it helps enhance the chances of being able to look like the two models in the ad, people will pay money for it. I believe this ad definitely works, for those who don’t look beyond the reasoning, and are hypnotized by its sexual attraction.
2)The ad I chose was Old Spice advertising a famale model eating ice cream.
This ad is clearly sexually provocative. Old Spice uses a female model licking ice cream off of a cone which portrays an oral sexual gesture. Not only does the picture give a statement, the explanation of the description entails sexual ideas. The words “Keep it Clean,” describe indirectly for men to proactively keep their private parts clean so they may also feel and have the same sensation as being licked like a female model licking an ice cream cone.
Thanhhuong Nguyen
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
09 February 2012
Exercise 2I
In picture 1, I think the advertisement want to say that if you wear Paul Mitchell hair product, then you’re going to have a happy family like these people in here. I think this ad can be effective and not. The reason why it can be effective is because their happiness in this picture attracts the audience. The reason why it can’t be is because the buyer doesn’t know them so they don’t care about them.
In picture 2, I think this advertisement want to say that Guess clothing is attractive and it makes the opposite sex want to make love to you. I think is ad is effective because it makes the buyer think as if it will happen to them if they wear it and also, if they buy it, the opposite sex will be attract to them.
Xinia Sanchez
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9 2012
WLTC
Exercise 2I
1) When analyzing the Paul Mitchell Ad I was a little bit confused in the beginning. I know that Paul Mitchell is a famous person due to his hair products. So when I saw the Ad I was a little bit confused because he sitting down with a family and on a peaceful grass land. But than I started thinking that maybe he is trying to portray happiness and that all of his families hair looks good. Which can lead to a good day out at the park with the family. The Ad is also using a very peaceful scenic view to relax the viewer. Which can also estimate an atmosphere to the viewer that by buying his products you will feel at peace and also feel loved. The Ad is effective in portraying a very peaceful scenario. With the change and build a better future to me is not very effective because it doesn't show that this is the future that those kids in need may have.
2) The Ad that I chose to analyze is a beer ad. The name of the beer that is being advertise is called stampede light plus. In the ad there is a beautiful woman who most people would recognize because she is a famous singer named Jessica Simpson. The Ad is portraying an image that says if you drink this beer you will look sexy and feel sexy because it is a light beer and doesn’t have many calories. The singer in the ad looks fit. Also the caption on the bottom says that she works out and likes to take care of herself but when she wants to have a good time and still stay fit she chooses stampede light plus. Which according to the ad is a smart decision. This ad might be effective to woman who consider their weight when they want to have a good time and stay fit at the same time.
3) The news photo that I chose is of a sports figure, his name is Jeremy Lin and he is a basketball player. In the photo the slogan on the top says that Lin’s success surprise everyone. This led me to believe that he wasn’t a very good player before but that on this particular game he played really good and everyone was surprise to see that he is actually a very good player. The editor probably chose this particular photo to show his success because in the photo you can see that he is concentrating really hard on the game. Also there is people in the background that are cheering for the game, but there is one person that is looking at Lin and cheering him on.
Xinia Sanchez
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
02/09/12
WLTC
Exercise 2J
In the story Grace Period by Will Baker I believe that the meaning of the title is a time in between the end of something. For instance the author starts describing the start of his day. In the story it states that the atmosphere is different than other days but the sunlight is still golden. The man in the story is trying to figure out what he is feeling and if it is connected to what is going on around him. He feels that the ground is shaking. Maybe an earthquake he thinks or maybe he is having an aneurysm. The title Grace Period can refer to a time or a moment when he knows that he should have gone to the doctors and had his checkup 2 months ago but didn’t so know he is dealing with the consequences of his actions.
Grace Period for instance can also have the meaning that since he knows the world or his life is ending he is taking his time to figure out what is really going on either with him or with what’s going on around him. For example when he hears the two dogs crying, he knows that something is wrong. So instead of hurrying inside the house and calling someone who can help him figure out what is going on he takes his time. When he calls the first number and there is no answer he doesn’t panic he just tries another number, and another number, etc. Until he reaches the plants number but still takes his time to find out if they know something.
The title might also be define in two different forms. For instance we can define the terms separately. Firs with grace, which is how the stories begins before the man realizes that something is wrong. He introduces the scenery very calmly and after it leads into the term period. Which most of the time refers to time. So the grace of what the man is feeling in the beginning than comes tie together to time and how the grace period is over and something bad is on its way. The title can have different meanings, depending on what the author was feeling at the time.
Ronald Parker
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5 11-12:15pm
February 8, 2012
Defining Grace Period
Whenever reading something either from a book, article or even hearing it from a person’s mouth there are many interpretations that can be made. Even if reading a title you can also say interpretations can be made. This is when we have to go a step further and begin to make our own personal judgment or an inference. After reading “Grace Period” by Will Baker had me a bit confused on what it really meant so I had to read it numerous times and also ask for advice. From my own experience I just thought grace period was a time that you were waiting for something to occur and being it had the word grace in it I assumed it will be for something good. I think the meaning of the title is something good is going to occur and in the persons eyes they are waiting for it to happen. The author shows the reason for him using grace period is to show the chronicle events occurring in the story.
The way the author uses the definition of grace in the story is by his explanations of the motion of the ground and the vibration the character feels. The author illustrates the strength the golden sunlight is providing. He also describes the light the character continues to see. At the end he finishes the story with the light growing brighter and brighter. The way the author uses the definition of period in the story is by the explanation on how the character tries to get into contact with probably family or friends but no one seems to have the time to pick up. Also the character keeps looking at the window assuming something or someone is going to come. The times that the character looks out the window told me the character knows what’s going on and usually we don’t see people like that unless they are psychic.
The author uses the definitions of the words grace and period to tell a story which is very interesting way of writing.at first it was a bit confusing until reading it over and understanding the that grace and period should be separate and by looking back at the title it is simply a matter of putting it together. Usually when people are on the verge of dying they say they can see the light and the closer it gets the closer they are coming to death. Grace is elegance, beauty of form, motion or action. While period is an interval in time that is meaningful just as the author describes it. With knowing that my eyes opened up and I understand what it is saying completely.
Abigail Boggs-Moura
ReplyDeleteEnglish 5
Professor Sabir
9 February 2012
Assignment 2I
1. When you initially look at this Guess ad, it is made up of symbols that the audience cant resist. Both the man and the woman are positioned and dressed to target the audience’s socialization of what beauty and happiness is. We are taught in our society, from a young age, that to be happy you must be skinny, well dressed and wealthy. Additionally, for women this ad plays on another component of our socialization, that we must be thin and beautiful so that we can get a good looking man which is what life for women should be all about. Thus, for most consumers who are not critically looking at advertisements this ad is successful. It plays on those hopes, dreams and goals for both men and women so that people will look to Guess and believe that to achieve those things in life, one must buy the brand.
2. The second ad I choose to analyze is a Nike ad with the catch phrase “just do it” that they are so popular for. However, instead of this ad like so many Nike advertisements choosing a famous athlete to be in motion, looking irresistible and wearing Nike, they decided to go another route. This ad instead tries to target and their insecurities and parts of their bodies that perhaps are uncomfortable with in order to promote “girl power”. The image is a woman, in a small sports bra and tiny booty shorts or even underwear and Nike shoes on. There’s text next to her that reads, “My butt is big and round like the letter C and ten thousand lunges has made it rounder but not smaller and that’s just fine. It’s a space heater for my side of the bed. It’s my ambassador to those who walk behind me. It’s a border collie that herds skinny women away from the best deals at clothing sales. My butt is big and that’s just fine and those who scorn it are invited to kiss it. Just do it.” While Nike attempts to strengthen women by making them proud of their butt or their hips that are often targeted as spots of fixing, it further objectifies them and is designed for men to enjoy women’s bodies as a product or thing. Additionally, while the ad is affective for most likely many men and women, it continues the notion that women can only be validated if they are almost naked.
http://blogs.cofc.edu/thelilitheffect/2011/02/14/nike-just-do-it-their-way/
Edwin Peabody
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
A grace period is a time past the deadline for an obligation during which a late penalty that would have been imposed is waived. Grace periods can range from a number of minutes to a number of days or longer depending on the context. In the story Grace Period, the man has a bad aneurysm. He is stuck in a life or death situation and is alone scared. He mentions, that he should have gotten a check up mouths ago but now it is too late.
I believe that is a reason why the story is titled grace period. He has waited too long to attempt to fix the health problem and now it is finally attacking his body. The man is dying. He is basically living his last few moments in a scary panic. Toward the middle of the story in section six the man begins to make a number of phone calls but never seems to reach the person he is trying to contact. All he gets is busy signals. He begins to ask him self, what is going on with the atmosphere. This is when he begins to feel alone and scared. In the end of the story, he even tries to reach his father in law but cant get through.
He decides to call his father in law for the second time and he finally gets a little sign of hope. This time he gets a recorder saying that all operators are busy and the first available operator will answer his call. I believe this was a grace period for him. Just to hear another person voice on the other line was better than only getting busy signal or no answer at all.
Edwin Peabody
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
In the Paul Mitchell hair product advertisement, the advertisers are using the visual image to make their audience believe that they have the best product. In the image, everyone appears to be happy and living a wonderful ferry tail life. The man is married to beautiful women and together they have a handsome son. Lets not for got about the family dog, which is also a beautiful animal. The advertiser is inferring that by using this product, it will make you happy and give you a wonderful family. Everyone in the image also appears to have nice long healthy hair, which is a characteristic that many people would love to have. Toward the bottom of the image in the right corner there is a tube of Paul Mitchell hair product with a beautiful white bird sitting on top of it. Birds don’t often get that close to people, so this bird must either really trust these people or must be crazy enough to take a risk and put its self in harms way just to sit on the hair product. The ad is very affective because it is very manipulative.
In the Guess advertisement, the man and the women in the image appear to be very happy and have a special sexual bond toward each other. They are both very young and attractive people. The advertiser wants to make the audience believe hat by wearing the Guess clothing brand, it will make you look sexy and give you a young, hip, vibe. The couple in the image also appears to be on a scooter, which is also very cool looking. Scooters are not the safest of transportation, so by having the image of the scooter, it makes the audience believe that the Guess clothing makes the couple live for the moment. The couple doesn’t worry about safety. The audience believes that because of the Clothing, the couple is able to live an exciting life of love, which makes the ad is very affective.
Edwin Peabody
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
After reading the story Hostess I was able to develop a number of inferences about the narrator of the story. Throughout the story, the narrator’s actions made me believe that she was a very caring, and sensitive women. She appeared to be very understanding and strong when dealing with problems. She also seemed well experienced with remaining calm when dealing with dramatic situations. The narrator is just an all around a great person and very positive individual.
In the story the narrator’s friend Meg is having trouble in her relationship. Meg’s significant other has betrayed her trust causing her to feel the hurt and pain of being cheated on in a way. Meg deals with this problem by drinking her sorrows away at the house warming party, making, herself sick. The narrator, being such a good friend, helps Meg by taking care of her. The action that the narrator has taken is very caring and nice of her. She didn’t have to help Meg but she decided to do so out of the kindness of her heart.
The narrator also does really well during dramatic situations. During the house warming party, R.L showed up wanting to speak to Meg. The narrator appeared to be very upset with R.L because of what he did to Meg, but she did not get involved in their relationship. She simply let R.L know that she was upset with him but then lead him to Meg so that they could talk alone in private.
Toward the end of the story the narrator receives a troubling call from an unknown person. The woman on the other end of the phone tells the narrator that her sister Beatrice has died. The narrator doesn’t panic but instead she consoles the unknown women, telling her that she is there for her. The action of the narrator staying on the phone and listing to women who she doesn’t even know talk about her dead sister shows how much of a loving person the narrator is. Also for the narrator to be able to speak about a situation like this one makes the narrator a very understanding and caring person.
Abigail Boggs-Moura
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2012
Grace Period
When one first comes upon the term "Grace Period" to me the idea of allowing someone to get a head start pops in my head. To me, it refers to a period of time in which either you allow someone a head start, or referring to a loan, where they do not accrue interest. However, during the story the authors definition differs that my previous definition. The main character is very sick and as a result of not getting checked sooner, is most likely going to die. With this premise, it seems as though the author used grace period and named the piece Grace Period because this is what he had. Now knowing he was going to most likely die and that is what is considered the grace period. He has time to reflect on what his life was like and making amends with all the unfinished business in his life,even if he doesn't necessarily do that in the story.
Maya Dobjensky
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
Februay 9 2012
2J
The short story “Grace Period” by Will Baker is about a man confronting an apocalyptic catastrophe of an unknown origin. The author suggests that the disaster stems from a nuclear explosion, hinted by the shifting in the atmosphere, but nothing is determined for sure. The story follows the few fleeting seconds of panic in which the main character realizes that something terrible has occurred. The term grace period is used when a deadline or expiration date is extended to compensate someone who hasn’t met it. It’s usually applied to deadlines used with money, business, school, or other formal settings in which certain things are expected from certain people by designated due dates. A person given a grace period is lucky enough to receive a second chance at fulfilling an important task. This title is poignantly befitting for its story. It expresses the few moments between the realization of impending end and the moment in which the end finally comes. Will Baker implies that the main character is given a grace period just by getting to live those last few instants of his life.
Maya Dobjensky
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
12 February 2012
2I
a.) In this Paul Mitchell ad, the viewer is not sold the idea of hair. While Paul Mitchell is a company that sells hair products, there is no real captivating image of hair to make one believe that the ad could be for a hair product. Instead of hair, the ad focuses on Paul Mitchell himself, with his beautiful young trophy wife and their apparent child and dog sitting in a field (the dog has the nicest hair out of the four of them). The family looks happy, wealthy, beautiful, White, and in a state of luxury. The viewer is therefore sold the character and idea of Paul Mitchell himself being a name brand rather than his product working well on hair. One may infer that if one buys this product, one will in turn become beautiful, White, wealthy, luxurious and happy.
b.) In this ad by Guess, the idea of coolness and sex appeal is being sold rather than the clothing. Two models, a White female and a White male, are seen kissing, their legs entwined, on a motorcycle. The ad does emphasize the legs of the models, and the jeans worn by those legs. It does this through the hetero-normative image of sexuality. When a viewer sees this ad, they are likely to associate the company with the sexual feelings the image may induce. Therefore, one learns to connect Guess clothing with sex. Also, the male model exhibits a sort of bad-boy coolness by sporting dark sunglasses, long hair, and holding a girl on his lap while he rests on his motorcycle. Someone who views this ad may incorrectly infer that if they buy Guess jeans they will be cool and therefore have lots of sex with beautiful people.