Blog Entry #19 - Vocabulary - Drumbeats and Bullets by Jim Murphy & The Drummer boy of Shiloh by Ray Bradbury

Blog Entry #18 - Propaganda Poster Assignment

Blog Entry #17 - Vocabulary Assignment

Observation is essential in any science experiment, helping students to understand the concepts and find the answer for the purpose.

In Social Studies class yesterday, Mr. Blake emphasized that he was proud of us because we successfully captured the message of an extremely difficult article, with many big words, by reading the first eight or nine paragraphs. 

    You guys ARE great!

As a reaction to the publication of Animal Farm: A Fairy Story by George Orwell in 1945, it arose quite some controversies because some supposed it was too obviously offending the Soviet Union.   

Anyone who has high self esteem should be able to define himself/herself as a confident individual who accepts own weaknesses and therefore sets up goals to improve successfully.

In account of believing that all men are equal, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tersely delivered a deeply moving speech about how he envisioned America could be and should be.

The hamlet’s kids were riveted after Brad mischievously boasted his sophisticated skills of how to throw a ball correctly in the wanted direction. He smiled slyly with a fussy expression, swinging the ball a few times before flinging the ball straight into Ms. Margaret’s windows, creating a breach. 

The guards always keep vigil over the President, making it hard for the terrorists to assassinate him.    

Blog Entry #16 - Camp Harmony from Nisei Daughter (by Monica Sone) - Literary Focus

6. Analyze Sone says the camp "was hopefully called Camp Harmony." Do you think the name is appropriate, or is it ironic? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

        Harmony - noun (pl harmonies) a state of agreement or of living together in peace: We need to live more in harmony with our environment.

       In my opinion, I reckon Sone is being ironic when saying the camp "was hopefully called Camp Harmony". After observing the surrounding areas, she recognizes that they locate near the baseball field and the racetracks - which can be referred as the camp of army barracks. 

                                                         

Those images of baseball field and racetracks, or even the words army barracks, often infer to harsh, strict trainings. Probably she is crediting that the interned Japanese Americans will be doing harsh trainings, and that she hopes she can make it through peacefully. Likewise, another example that proves the name of the camp is ironic is, "Throughout the barracks, there was a medley of creaking cots, whimpering infants, and explosive night coughs." (pg.519) or "All through the night I heard people getting up, dragging cots around" - when there are multiple leaks dropping from the roof - (pg.520). 

The examples above confirm that the camp is not pleasant, or to put it differently, is NOT in harmony; but rather an uncomfortable living condition. And above all this, how can it be a "Camp of Harmony" when people are not comfortable living there? Isn't harmony supposed to be a state of an agreement - which means both sides are meant to contentedly follow? This isn't an agreement, because Sone and other Japanese Americans are not considered involved to decide – which also means it is NOT “Camp Harmony” at all.