Reflection

I definitely think I have grown as a student because now I think more creatively and openly thanks to this class which I think prepares me for the rest of my schooling and for the rest of my life.



1.  Which essay did you feel was the most difficult to write?  Why?
The most difficult essay for me to write was the argumentative because I can't automatically think of "H.E.L.P" on the spot when I am thinking under pressure. But that is just me.


2.  Which essay did you find the easiest?  What made it easy?
The easiest essay for me was the synthesis essay. Mostly because I learned how to analyze sources efficiently in a short amount of time and organize them into a certain structure!

3.  What novel/book did you enjoy the most?  Why?
I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby most mainly because I saw the movie so I related all the glamour of the movie to the same moments in the book.


4.  What novel/book did you enjoy the least?
I enjoyed In Cold Blood the least because it went by very slowly for me and I just was not engaged at all.


5.  Anything you would like for me to know?
That you will definitely be remembered as one of my favorite teachers! Thanks for everything!

the things I carry

The men in Tim O' Brien's, "The Things They Carried" carried many things with them. Whether it was physical or emotional, just like everyone else, they had baggage which made them who they are.

A physical item that I have with me at all times is my iPhone™. Whether it is to communicate, cure boredom, keep a schedule with reminders and help with school work I can't leave my house without it. If I didn't have my iPhone™ I would be so lost and unorganized. I wouldn't be able to make plans, remember plans, or have knowledge (the internet) at my constant disposal. Along with my music and social media I would go crazy without my phone.

My inspiration is my brother. He is about 30, married and living in Austin but he is still my best friend and the person I go to for everything. I admire him for his attitude on life and his confidence in the kind of person he is. Without him I would not be the person I am today because he has taught me to view life with an open mind.

The dreams and goals that I carry for my future are to be happy and be surrounded by positive people who I love. I think that is the key to a successful life. Surrounding yourself with positive energy gives you a vibe that will show through everything you do.

In my own eyes I see myself as imaginative, humorous and reliable. The person I want to be has of those traits, but I would be a better person by becoming more patient and compassionate with people different than me. Other people view me as comical, sarcastic and the person they have to give up shotgun for because her long legs don't agree with the back seat. My outgoing personality has allowed me to create special bonds with people that I wouldn't have otherwise.

My childhood memories have molded me in who I am today. Growing up with older siblings forced me to try to be funnier and more outgoing.

I'm not used to writing so much about myself so it was hard sharing so much. The difference between our surface personality and our true personality is often misinterpreted and this blog post shows it. This establishes an understanding of the things everyone carries, just like in the book.

Third Option

   As a Greek-Bulgarian child who has lived in the United States since I was only one year old, establishing my own character while still holding onto my parents' roots has been an intense part of my life that has made me the person I am today.

   Establishing your own identity is key in today's society. Whether you are a rebellious teenager or a settled adult, people are always going on journeys to self discovery. Luckily, I have been to Bulgaria multiple times as a child and as a teenager where I visited my Greek grandmother. My traveling along with customs we keep up with such as the "Greek Easter" help me stay in touch with my roots.
   On the other hand; I don't have an accent, I eat "Easy Mac" on the daily, I have an American flag hanging in my room and I talk to my family in English. All of these characteristics that define me as my own person may seem to be of minor importance but they are the little things that set me apart from the rest of my family.

   I think kids of foreign parents try the hardest to set themselves apart of their familial ties because they want to conform to the normalities of where they live while still being able to talk about their ancestral roots. It is sad to see how some people completely cut off all ties to their parents' backgrounds in order to mesh with their society, while others can keep a balance. In conclusion, the third option is one that proves a person's independence without abandoning ones ties to their ancestral culture.

5 Things

   Edgar Allen Poe is a mastermind when it comes to creating horror stories. He keeps readers scared and interested at the same time due to his ingenious techniques of captivating an audience. As the father to the "haunted house" referring to his work would be beneficial in writing a successful horror story.

   Five key components in Poe's work include imagery, symbolism, suspense, a perverted back story and characters with a deep and twisted background. Imagery gives the reader an idea of the setting, symbolism hints at alternate meaning which lead to foreshadow, suspense sets the tone, the back story and the characters give an extra hint of creepy. However, two things I would do differently would be to go into deeper explanation of the ending and make it more clear whether the story is a hallucination or reality.


   In order to write a successful horror story I would use many of Poe's key horror strategies. When using imagery I would create a setting with a constant gloom over it to give the readers an idea of an eerie sadness. Suspense ties into the setting of a story by creating a tone of impending doom. Symbolism is a primary factor in creating the ultimate nightmare. Often times symbolism is used to allude to an alternative meaning. For example, when using a forest or woods as a symbol it typically relates to depression and sadness. In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Poe hints at the issue of incest. This creates a psychologically insane factor of the story, aka the perverted backstory. And this all ties into the twisted back story of the characters. The imagery, suspense, symbolism and back story are what create the characters. In order to have a successful nightmare of a horror story, intricately twisted characters must be added to keep the story going.

   In conclusion, I would turn to Edgar Allen Poe's writing strategies as guidelines when writing a horror story because after all, he is the father of hauntings.

Finding Faults

   The U.S and it's political scrutiny has always been in the lime light due to faults of our leaders and in order for faults to be found, there needs to be a seeker. This leads to the separation of the people due to difference of opinion, which in this case is political parties. Parties that are on a mission not to right the wrongs of the government, but to gain satisfaction that they got their point across. These points were spread across through fallacies such as stacking the deck, ad hominem and so on. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama are still torn apart due to these points, and the accusations will never end.

   MLK's mission was to help create equality among all races in the United States. People would attack his character by racially speaking against him and his beliefs since the thought of integration was unheard of. Along with using the fallacy of a slippery slope by claiming that segregation could lead to African Americans taking over the world. MLK was assassinated for his beliefs, further proving my claim that the people will go to great lengths to enforce their points. No matter what the cost, if the leader's beliefs do not coincide with the publics, fault will be found.

   Being the first African American president, Obama is the target of blame. Factors such as his race and his health care plan have been targeted as a weakness of his and a strength of his opposers. The result of the people's unhappiness with the current president has led to division in the nation far beyond the category of parties. 

   In conclusion; accusations, faults and blames will continue to run through the threads of our country. There is no escaping unhappiness with the current system and running to a common ground for salvation. Let the present and past leaders of this country be proof that there is no winning without someone losing to restore balance to this divided country.

The Original Anti-Hero

   Dexter is a dark show about a forensic blood spatter analyst who kills criminals who have evaded the justice system. Dexter is an anti-hero because he takes danger off of the street making him a hero, but he since he does it through murder, that puts a cynical twist on his character.

   Ichabod Crane falls under the category of anti-hero as well. The story starts off with Crane as a beloved school teacher who is praised by the people of his town, until he is soon to be truly discovered by readers as a greedy and manipulative man trying to marry Katrina Van Tassel for his own personal gain.

   Both anti-hero have characteristics of dark minds, manipulation and being with a woman for the wrong reasons. Ichabod Crane was one for witchcraft; eerie situations did not bother him. Along with Dexter who strategically kills criminals and then covers up the evidence. The manipulative sides of both characters reveal how cynical they really are. Dexter lures his victims into a trap so he can kill them, while Crane plans out his successful and comfortable future with Katrina as long as he gets her father's money. And finally being with their significant others for the wrong reason. Dexter was almost programmed to have no emotions, leaving his girlfriend as a cover up for his double life. Whereas Ichabod Crane is trying to use Katrina Von Tassel to secure his future as a rich landowner.

   In the end, both anti-heroes have the same motives. Dexter's being to kill for personal gain and personal fill with a girlfriend as a cover- up. And Ichabod Crane's purpose to win over the heart of Katrina Von Tassel for her inheritance, using his innocent popularity throughout the town as a secret disguise. Leaving both characters to lead dark and mysterious lives.