Masterpiece Archive

Vanessa Padilla

Teacher David Preston

AP English

1 June 2014

          Masterpiece Archive        

               When beginning Open Source Learning, I didn't know what to expect.  I thought it would be like any other classroom, but boy was I wrong.  As students, we were immediately treated as colleagues. I myself and many others as well, worked much throughout the year and earned a level of trust with our teacher you wouldn't see in any ordinary English classroom.  As students, we were a body of individuals searching for answers.  All of us had much freedom in the classroom that we did not take advantage of, but only used to our advantage. And with that, I believe we obtained much information to carry with us after high school. Unlike other classrooms, we didn't learn literature, it was embedded in us.

           Beginning my senior year, I didn't really know what i wanted to do after High School.  It wasn't until I began this course that I realized my passion for baking.  But I learned it wasn't baking I was passionate about, it was putting a smile on a child's face with that first bite. I have decided to go to  school to become a Pastry Chef. Not only myself but many others discovered their passions this past school year.  People like Lesther Venezuela and Miranda Nilo are examples of "Passion".  Both had a passion for compassion and helping others in the community. They put together Project Humanity and gave less fortunate children a gift for Christmas.  Not only that but they did a lot of charity work in our community.  Madison Hill found her passion for art.  As a child she admired a book and developed a skill.  She now creates murals and is getting her name out there.  And then there is Ian Stellar, Shane Hunter, and Mia Levy.  These three dedicated their senior year to school spirit, little did they know they started a legacy that will carry on through out Ernest Righetti High School for many years I hope.  As you can see, our class grew not only as a class but as individuals. And that makes me laugh a little, because majority of adults underestimate the impact a teenager can have on the world.  And when you think about it, passion is something many of us lack, but have in common.

            During these Masterpiece presentations all I could think about was how much we all grew. Not only inside but our skills as far as speech, writing, and technique.  Throughout the year we did many exercises that challenged our skills as writers.  We have come a long way from where we were. I personally have become a much better writer and speaker.  I know I have expanded much further than i was expecting too. We grew in confidence as a class. In the classroom it was a safe space.  All of our ideas and thoughts were accounted for and in my opinion, it was one of the main reasons for our individual growth.

               Out of the many pieces of literature we analyzed this year, the one I connected with the most was Macbeth. Specifically Macbeth himself. Shocking I know.  Macbeth was really the tragedy of the play.  He begins as an honest and truthful man but his descent into murder proved that aspiration and desire can ruin even the purest of people.  I think many of us teenagers can connect with that specifically. As children we are all pure, as we grow into adulthood, that pureness is not taken away but given away little by little due to the situations and events we are exposed to.  From our first curse word to our first 'stretched truth' or lie, ambition for life is what we crave. And ultimately the result. "When life gives you lemons you make lemonade", but in words of my own, the kind of lemonade you decide to make is entirely up to you. 

            So now the questions remain...Have I completed the hero's journey?  Am I a hero?  The answer is no.  My journey is not complete.  There are many steps I will be and am taking to make my passion a dream come true. So i cant really answer that.  And no I am not a hero, I am an individual with heroic characteristics. My goal was to figure out what it is I wanted to do with my life by the end of this year. And i did. It took trial and error but I figured it out and I will stop at nothing to do what I love.  I conquered the obstacle of uncertainty and turned into confidence.  I went from knowledgeable to enlightened.  And if that isn't heroic, then i don't know what is in this little thing we call life.

 

My Senior Project

Pastry Passion 

This is a video i put together showing what i am striving to do after high school. Enjoy.

THE CROSSROAD BETWEEN SHOULD AND MUST

Relating to Crossroads, I find myself heading more towards must. I hardly ever do what others want to do when it comes to myself. I do what makes me happy, not what pleases others.I tend to not pay much attention to what others think of me. I see it as you either accept me as i am or we have no reason to be so close. Although that doesnt mean i just give those who look down on my for whatever reason, the cold shoulder. I choose where i end up. I have the authority to let others influence me. Better yet, i have the power to choose who i let influence me.

Macbeth Act I Notes

-Irish invaded Scotland, leader Macdonwald

-Macbeth killed Macdonwald

-Duncan says thane of Cawdor be put to death and Macbeth will be the new thane

-Macbeth and Banquo come across the witches who address Macbeth as "thane of Cawdor" and say that Macbeth will be king one day and Banquo will not but his children will sit upon the throne

-Ross tells Macbeth the king has made him thane of Cawdor and Macbeth is impressed the witches prophecies came true

-Duncan says Cawdor died nobly, repenting free of his sins

-Duncan says Macbeth is now heir to the throne and Macbeth notes to himself that Malcom is in the way

-Macbeth goes to tell the news to his wife

-Macbeth's wife receives a letter of Macbeth's great news and she plans to tell him to do whatever it takes to make it happen 

-Lady Macbeth says she will put her femininity aside so she can "get bloody" to seize crown

-Macbeth tells her Duncan plans to leave the following day but Lady Macbeth says he won't live to see the day 

-Duncan comes to visit Macbeth

-Macbeth contemplates about assassinating Duncan and says he would only do it for his own ambition 

-Macbeth goes over why he shouldn't kill Duncan= he's a good ruler and well admired so he decides not to do it

-Lady Macbeth is angry an says to do it and stop being a coward

-as long as they are bold they will be successful

-Lady Macbeth will give Duncan's chamberlains wine while Duncan is asleep to make them drunk and then Macbeth and her will go in and kill him Duncan in his sleep

-smear his blood on the chamberlains so it looks like they did it

-Macbeth agrees and says he hopes she gives birth to sons and no daughters cuz of her plan 

10 Questions

1. Is this the job that you always wanted?
2. Do you have any tips for time management?
3. How did you create a network of people that are reliable?
4. Is this the type of job you love coming to everyday?
5. Are there any special skills that you need to get this job?
6. Did you ever change your major in college?
7. How do you balance work and a social life?
8. Do you have any contacts that I could use for my career?
9. Do you ever get really stressed out?
10. How do you manage stress?

Resource of the Day #4

My last two resources are my mom and my grandma. Both of these women have grwat skills when it comes to baking and cooking from scratch. Most likely they will both help me perfect and develope recipies.

Resource of the Day #3

http://www.wilton.com/cupcakes/

this is a website that gives many pointers on baking and decorating

Resource of the Day #2

My second resource is actually right here on campus. She works in the administrations office. She has been baking for 20 years and has a history to make great wedding cakes. She is someone who can taste test for me and give me pointers and how to's.

Resource of the Day #1

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Culinary-Portfolio

This is a very basic step by step how to on how to create a culinary portfolio

Super 5

I have been introduced to a women here on campus named rosey who has been baking for 20 years today. She has much experience and is someone i will be going to through out these last few weeks we have.

My Team

I plan to make a video as in my masterpiece. My filmers will be Miranda Nilo and Lesther Venezuela. I will be doing an editorial on baking and later video taping the delivery of bakes goods and how they bring a sense of comfort.

Launch

The purpose of my masterpiece is to show the world how passionate about baking. Not only that but to show people the time energy and hard work it takes to make just one batch of cupcakes. This is something i plan to make a career out of and with this i plan to create a portfolio. I also plan to bake goods and deliver them to local fire departments, police departments, and shelters.

Brave New World Essay

Topic: Describe the elements of our  real time world that you think related or doesn't relate to Huxley's Brave New World

In Adolf Huxley's novel Brave New World, many similarities and differences are made clear and distinct. Many of which are already in effect today as we speak. One of the similarities between Brave New World and our world today is how we rank and rate people in our society. A way the two differ would be the scientific level and how our governments use it.

Both worlds as you begin to see place a high regaurding upon how society and its people are looked at and ranked. Although our real time world does not go to some of the many extremes as brave new world, we do have many similarities. Take a step back and look at how we in todays world look at people. We have wealthy, middle class, and low class. In brave new world, people are ranked by value to society. Both similar yet different. In any society ofcoarse it is not fair to place a higher regaurding on people because of how much they make or their value to the world. That would be like cutting everyone who works in the fields here in town because they come from a lower class. Yet what people fail to realize is that without them no store in town would have fresh goods. In brave new world this is sadly the case, but from birth you are destined.

A difference we have compared to Brave New World is how our government is run. In Brave New World the Henry Ford is looked at as a god for many reasons. As you get into the novel you begin to see how much he really resembles how their society is made. Scientifically each society is advanced. But compared to Brave New World, we don't use science to make a perfect society. We use it to help society, not destroy it. n brave new world unknowingly is society being destroyed. But you do begin to see that through out the novel.

BOB 1

My blog is up to date so I would say a 8 at it's best.
At it's worst I would say 6 because I could make it more original in a sense and fun.

LIT TERMS #6

simile: literary technique to describe things in comparison using like or as
 

soliloquy: a speech given by one character to oneself
 

spiritual: a higher or “other” feeling giving that goes beyond  ones senses
 

speaker: who is telling the text, who is auditing the story
 

stereotype: a label or category given to a person based on common trends that may or may not be relevant to race and preference.
 

stream of consciousness: Performative utterance. A way of writing without a filter about what is going on in one’s mind.
 

structure: how the story is set up.
 

style: the technique to how an author writes
 

subordination: to place in a lower rank
 

surrealism: create potential of the unconscious mind
 

suspension of disbelief: human interest and truth blended into truth
 

symbol: something that refers to a bigger meaning
 

synesthesia: a senses impression
 

synecdoche: part is made to represent a whole
 

syntax: how a sentence is written to create a deeper meaning
 

theme: what is a common occurring subject that comes up
 

thesis: a sentence or two that describes the summarizes the selection
 

tone: the voice in which an author is writing in.
 

tongue in cheek: not meaning what is written
 

tragedy: dramatic type of event that shocks both audience and characters in story
understatement: stating something that doesn’t add up to the full potential of a subject
 

vernacular: the spoken language
 

voice: who is speaking and what are they trying to say
 

zeitgeist: spirit or mood of a period through beliefs and ideas

HAFTA/WANNA

MY LIFE DURING HIGH SCHOOL VS. LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Similarities:

• still learning 
• still responsible for your own learning 

Differences: 

• more independence 
• friends change
• begin a new chapter in which you can create and write on your own in your life

I don't believe there is a great difference here. I can understand the job and independence. But ultimately your still going about your day going to school and working. It wont really be different aside from your own personal growth in your own life. I don't think people will magically transform the day of or after graduation. They will carry their habits of mind/word/deed with them. I believe they will gradually change and improve as they mature. But again, that change is up to you. For me i put what needs to be done first, the most important things. Only after that is completed i move on to other things that i want to do like watch TV or hang out with a group of friends. My expectations for myself are to make a difference everyday in this world. And for me personally i try to keep a positive mind set. Positivity is greater. The expectations for the world around me...well, the world is what weve made of it. And in my own personal opinion, its in quite chaos. I feel like we live in a world thats lost touch with the reality of where our roots begun. And people forget how to respect other peoples and their ways of living. Not only that, but we forget how to respect people around us. So my expectations of the world are kind of lost. Because we are lost. But thats my own opinion. 

LAUNCH/DRAFT

• What am i passionate about? What do i want to do? 

Well i like to draw and i love music. These are things i do to relieve stress and or enjoy myself.

• How can i use the tools from last semester? 

Well the Internet has a lot to offer. I can use it to help me get an idea of what to do in my masterpiece to collaborate these two things.

• What will i need to do in order to "feel the awesomeness with no regrets" by June? 

Well i feel I'm just going to have to absorb and understand as much information as i can in the time we have left. Relating it to my own life helps alot. But who said theres a limit on learning to begin with?

• What will impress/convince others (both in my life in my field)?

Well these are things i do for ME so i dont feel they should have to impress anyone. These are my get aways from reality and in a way my own world of creativity.

• How will i move beyond 'What if' and take this idea --> reality? 

I can experiment with what i think works best to combine these categories and share my ideas with others in a sense. Its what works for  me. The only reality in this is how it helps me personally and how i can help others in this area to express my way of things.

• Who will be the peers, public, and experts in my personal learning network?

Dr. Preston, my friends who support me 100%, and myself.

LIT TERMS #5

parallelism: adds a balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs

parody:a humorous imitation of a serious piece
of writing

pathos: invoking a feeling of pity or compassion


pedantry: slavish attention to rules


personification: the attribution of human nature or character to animals or inanimate objects

plot: story line, the plan scheme

poignant: strong in mental appeal

point of view: the way the author speaks


postmodernism:a time when developments in the arts and literature took place in the 1970's in reaction to modernism


prose: the ordinary from of spoken or written language without metrical structure in poetry of verse

protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine


pun: humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning


purpose: the reason for which something happens


realism: interest of concern for the actual or real


refrain: to abstain from impulse to or do something 

requiem: Roman Catholic Church, the mass celebrated for the repose of the sous of the dead

resolution: a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting by formal organization 

restatement: to state again, make a point 

rhetoric: in writing or speech, the undue use of exaggeration of display 

rhetorical question: a question that could be answered in more ways than one, true or not


rising action: a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest 

romanticism: usually initial or capital letter, the romantic style or movement in literature and art resulting from classicalism


satire: the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like in exposing or denouncing 

scansion: the metrical analysis of verse 

setting: the time and place and location of which a story takes place 

LITERATURE ANALYSIS #4

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

1. The story is set in England like most dickens novels. Thomas Gradgrind is a rich retired merchant who lives in the industrial city of Coketown. You learn he has two children, Louisa and Tom. He doesnt really let them be children like they should when it comes to imagination. Later on when finding a school, Thomas takes in a student names Sissy Jupe when he hears her father passed. In this novel, you see all three children into adulthood with conflict at edge. This story does take place partly during the industrial revolution. It affects everyone. I believe the authors purpose was to convey how hard times were during the Industrial Revolution from different points of views. From the poor class to the wealthy class.

2. I think the theme of this novel is really just how to go about life without being selfish when going through obstacles that cause you to convey your options. Good or bad.

3. I think the tone of the story is being anxious and stressed in hard situations. In life everything will not be so easy. You go through obstacles.

• Thomas Grind takes in Sissy-Jupe knowing that he would be raising another child apart from his own 
• Due to Louisa's confession of not loving her husband anymore, It causes Gradgrind to question his own philosophy
• Josiah Bounderby is reunited with Mrs. Pegler who turns out to be his mother whom he thought he lost as a child 

4. Literary Elements:

Symbolism

• Workers who work in the industrial factories are referred to as "the hands". 
• The book title itself is a symbolic mean of the story referring to the industrial revolution as being a tough time for most.
• When Louisa is first introduced in the story, the narrator explains that "fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow" simbolized the inner thoughts and fancies she created in her mind because of the loneliness.
• The fires in the factories just represent the destruction being done to the workers as they work many hours a day with little pay. How they suffer. 
• The smoke that comes out of the fires represent the blindness factory owners have to the exhaustion and cruelty they put the workers through. Like Bounderby. He was so blinded by the money he was making that he didnt see how bad he was to the people. 

Internal Conflict/External Conflict

• Thomas Gradgrind questions his own philosophy of rationalism, self interest, and fact. As problems with his children surface, he questions himself often through out the story.
• External conflict happens with Thomas as well. He gets himself into workers personal ordeals at the factory. This is ironic because he cant deal with himself quite yet or the kids. 

Foreshadowing

• When the robber escapes and flees England, Josiah Bounderby is determined to finding him. His associate calls in Mrs. Pelger who we had already learned had relations with him through Mrs. Sparsit.She turns out to be his mother. 
• Louisa and Josiah marry earlier in the book. He is a rich factory owner and accountant. Infers Louisas need for the wealthy life style in reflection of the man who raised her, Thomas. The marriage in the end turns into turmoil and eventually they split up.

Character vs Character

• Before Louisa marries Josiah Bounderby, Thomas warns her as to what shes getting into. That does cause conflict between the two and Louisa was blinded by the money. But she later learns that true love is the foundation of a happy marriage. 

Characterization 

1. Direct characterization would be Thoman Gradgrind. Dickens is very descriptive on allowing you to see where this man came from and where he as now. For example, his philosophy on life. Indirect characterization would be Tom and Louisa. The author only shows what the two think internaly and how they not being able to express their imagination growing up affected them but they never really told Thomas.

2. I think the authors syntax changes. Each character represents a different piece of Thomas Gradgrind. He really emphasizes how thomas gradgrinds philosophy affected everyone who was involved directly in his life. In otherwords, he emphasized how man can get to caught up with the morals of society. 

3. The protagonist, Thomas Gradgrind i believe is very static and flat in the beggining of the story. He is a man who cant be told his way of life or thinking or raising his children is wrong. Later on in the story i think he turns more dynamic and round due to him seeing how he affected the lives of the children he raised. Learning that he was wrong. 

4. Reading the book i felt like i knew Louisa. As a child she was taught not to have an imagination and growing up that caused her to be lonley and bitter. Because of the lonleyness she married the first man who came her way. Later that marriage ends. She struggles with not knowing how to express her thoughts or "imagination" as an adult. But learning that Thomas was wrong was about his way of life she opens his eyes. And that allows her to finally open up.  

Lit Term #4

interior monologue: a piece of writing expressing a characters inner thoughts

inversion: reversal of the normal order of words


juxtaposition: the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect


lyric: of poetry, expressing the writers emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms


magic(al) realism: a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise realistic environment


metaphor (extended, controlling, & mixed): a figure of speech in which a thing is representative or symbolic of something else



metonymy: rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it


modernism: a movement toward modifying traditional beliefs in accordance with modern ideas


monologue: a long speech by one actor in a play or movie


mood: the atmosphere or pervading tone of something such as a piece of literature


motif: a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition


myth: traditional stories or legends


narrative: a spoken or written account of connected events, a story


narrator: a person who narrates a narrative


naturalism: a style and theory of representation based on the accurate depiction of detail


novelette/novella: a short novel, one that is light and romantic or sentimental in character


omniscient point of view: someone with the view of knowing everything


onomatopoeia: the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named


oxymoron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction


pacing: a horse gate used in horse races


parable: a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson (jesus)


paradox: a statement that contradicts itself yet might be true 

Lit Term #3

exposition: a description and explaination of an idea or theory

expressionism: a style of painting, music and drama in which the writer seeks to express emotional 
experience rather than impressions of the external world

fable: short story with animals hat convey morals

fallacy: a mistaken belief based in an unsound argument

falling action: event leading to the recolution

farce: a comic using horseplay and crude characterization

figurative language: describing something and comparing it to something else

flashback: a sudden vivid memory from the past

foil: to prevent from succeeding

folk tale: a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.

foreshadowing: a warning or indication of a future event

free verse: poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter

genre: a category of artistic composition

gothic tale: a genre of literature that combines horror and romance

hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not to be taken literally

imagery: visually descriptive literary language

implication: a conclusion that can be drawn from something

incongruity: the quality or state of being strange because of not agreeing with what is usual or 
expected

inference: a conclusion reached based on reasoning and evidence

irony: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Lit Terms #2

circumlocution: the use of many words where fewer would do 
classicism: adherence to recognize standards or forms of craftsmanship
cliche: a well known phrase uses over generations
climax: the turning point in a story
colloquialism: a word or phrase that is not formal or literary
comedy: professional entertainment of jokes and statistical sketches
conflict: a serious disagreement or argument
connotation: an idea that a word invokes in addition to it's original meaning
contrast: the state if being strikingly different from someone else
denotation: the literal meaning of a word in contrast to the feelings a word suggests
denouement: final part in a play, movie or narrative in which everything ties together

dialect: a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a certain region
dialectics: the art of investigating the truth or opinions
dichotomy: a division between two things that are represented as being opposed
diction: the choice and use of words or phrases in writing
didactic: intended to teach about moral structure as a motive
dogmatic: inclined to lay down principles as true
elegy: a poem of serious reflection
epic: a long poem narrating the legendary and heroic figures of past
epigram: a short poem expressing an idea in a clever or witty way
epitaph: a phrase or statment coming from a person who has passed
epithet: descriptive phrase expressing quality characteristic of a person or thing
euphemism: indirect word or expression meant to be harsh
evocative: bring strong memories or images to the mind

HACKING MY EDUCATION

This semester I've come to realize my  focus has been on the wrong things. I know I can pass a class with a good grade but I was missing the big picture. During first semester I knew I would be attend Allan Hancock College and later transfer, but all the talk about big universities got me thinking about scholarships. Yes a junior college doesn't cost as much as a four year but it is still money I don't nessicarily have. Therefore my main goal is to yes pass this class. But also get scholarship money to help May off my future schooling. As I was in this thought process, I came to realize "woah, this is our last semester". Like every other senior. I had a plan to become a registered nurse but as I thought about it, I realized it wasn't something I really wanted to do. I pondered through careers and other places of work and couldn't decide. I'm currently looking into psychology. Is it a for sure thing? No. And I'm having trouble deciding what I want to do. And it worries me. So another goal I have is to ultimately have an idea of what career path I want to go down. Things I'm interested in I know I can't make a living off of. And my biggest thing is to have a love and passion for what I do. Culinary arts is another things im interested in. A dream I have is to open a bakery.

To accomplish these goals I plan to keep looking into scholarships and jobs. Hopefully,
,with the help of my teacher Dr.Preston, I'll figure all of these things out. I just need to keep my head up and look for open doors.