What is correct or true?

What is correct is true and what is true is correct. The definition of true is simply in accordance with fact or reality, exact or accurate. The meaning of correct is free from error, in accordance with truth or fact. What lead to this question, what is correct or true, was what is understanding? First you need to know what is true or correct to answer what understanding is. To answer any question whether it is chemistry, english, or even theatre one must know what is true from what is being asked. Not everything that is true or correct will come to you because the question might require background knowledge that obviously has to be true and once you find what is true or correct then you can move forward.

What is understanding?

Understanding is terms of a noun is the ability to comprehend something and the definition of understanding as an adjective is sympathetically being aware of someone else's feelings. The understanding as a noun deals with an educational matter, being able to comprehend or understand something you learned. The second definition of understanding as an adjective deals with a personal kind of understanding. Understanding is different for everyone not only the meaning of it but also because of how people understand things. When I say how people understand things I mean how some students or nonstudents learn hands-on, verbally, and both; like me. These are a few ways how people understand things whether it is learning how to drive or learning how to solve an equation. When learning how to drive the traditional way to learn is by taking driving school but on paper but then you also need to try hands on because hands-on is way different than learning it on paper. Solving an equation is done by explaining how to do it but then after the explanation one must try solving another equation themselves. Another way understanding can be  done is simply be done by taking notes and studying them after. No matter who you are there is never one way to comprehend something new. There are more questions that lead to what understanding is for example it can lead to you asking what is correct? but at the same time what is incorrect? In this case we are just simply talking about what is understanding? 

Do circumstances determine whether or not we should tell the truth?

Depending on what your situation or circumstance is when you should spill the beans. So yeah, circumstances do determine whether we should tell the truth. Knowing the exact definition of circumstance which is a fact or condition connected or relevant to an event or action helps me not only understand the question but also answer it too. Sometimes the truth isn't relevant to one circumstance because its irrelevant to that circumstance. If the truth is irrelevant to an event then that's when it determines whether you should come out with the truth. If the circumstance deals with the truth  then that's when that specific event determines whether the truth should be said. Circumstance depend on things within a person.
An example of when the truth becomes irrelevant to the event or action is when a girlfriend cheats on her boyfriend but she doesn't tell him and they break up for another reason then that's when the truth becomes irrelevant because they are no longer together and the truth won't even matter anymore. This is one example out of many. The circumstance is breaking up and that circumstance determined whether the girlfriend should tell the truth but the truth is irrelevant because the boyfriend won't even care anymore.
An example of when the truth is relevant to the event is when a student gets in trouble for cheating on a test and so does another student but only one gets caught. While the in kid is getting a lecture about cheating and what not and the other kid comes out with the truth then that's when the truth  becomes relevant because both kids were cheating on the test and one kid is already in trouble so it makes sense to come out with the truth when one kid is getting in trouble for the same thing. The circumstance is getting a lecture about cheating and the truth is that two kids were cheating. That right there tells the kid that he should come out with the truth bassd on the circumstance.

Interesting News

 Hospitals are like angels that were brought to us when we become very ill and we wouldn't expect very high expenses when getting treated but one hospital doesn't think it's appropriate to charge less money. This hospital is named Texas General Hospital in Grand Prairie. That hospital doesn't have a heart, people may be hurt but unfortunately people do not have the expenses to pay for their surgeries and apparently the Texas General Hospital in Grand Prairie do not think about that, they are just worried about the money signs.
 In my opinion this hospital compared to other hospitals are selfish because their bills is like paying your house bill and that just is not going to cut it for business,for their business. Paying for a hospital bill that is similar to what you pay for a house is outrageous, crazy, mind blown like all the synonyms for crazy is what that hospital is. Texas General Hospital should have super clean everything from bathrooms to rooms like every bit of the hospital should be clean and almost luxurious compared to other hospitals plus this hospital should be only placed in LA because the celebrities there are able to afford that kind of money for any kind of bill not for normal people for us.
 There is just no other word that I could say about this Hospital. Hospitals are saviors to people lives it could be from the happiest place or the saddest place one could be in but to have a large number placed on your bill is the most sadiest thing for me to hear and read especially coming from a hospital not to far away from my house. I definitely feel that the government should do something about that, put an end to the high bills that are not even worth it. I do feel sorry for those who attend that hospital looking for a solution and not knowing their bill is similar to paying for a house.

Can books and stories about characters and events that are not real teach us anything useful?

There are so many things that can teach us something from movies to books to possibly cartoons,they can teach us something that will stick in our mind forvever or they can teach something we should never try. What we watch or read is not only entertainment but it could be something that could be beneficial some day. There are several things that can we learn from and that could be from anything.

I have definitely have my fare share with lessons that came from a movie and that movie was The Fault In Our Stars. This movie was awesome and it taught me to live life to the fullest or to live a day like it was my last day. It basically in end taught me how to life my life and to appreciate every bit of my life. I felt like I learned a lot about what I have in my life compared to people who live there life knowing they might  not survive one day. This movie takes my breath away and it gives me a glimpse of how people with cancer live.

Fahrenheit 451 is book about this man who reads books and enjoys them but as a firefighter he is not allowed to read books. This man for a living start fires rather than stoping the fires. This book like me is odd and that's because it's the opposite of what how we handle things here in the United States. This man hides the books that he reads at the top of his house and were he stores them is getting full. This book taught me to stand up for what I believe in even though it seems wrong to others and to embrace the oddness in me because odd is unique. Being odd will always be apart of me and I will always be proud of it.

I never thought a book would inspire me or speak to me in some kind of way. After writing this I realized that every little word or quote speaks to me and I catch myself adding my commentary after it is being said. I may have not said enough about this question but there is so much to say that I could not even explain it. My mind is just full of inspired qoutes from characters that came from books.

Reading Something Interesting

  As you know we have been working on our personal project and when I was was working on research I stunned upon something shocking. My personal project deals with domesticated violence but my main focus is the women who are being abused and what they go through.

  As I was reading I noticed that people or women stay in abusive relationships because it becomes complicated to leave and that people who haven't been through the same experience don't know how serious it can get. Experts say that the limitations of leaving can be both physical and psychological. Craig Malkin, a clinical psychologist states that "People wind up blaming themselves for the abusive behavior of their partners differently,maybe they won't be abused." When I was reading this I saw they had questions to ask yourself based on your relationship. This helps you know if you are in an abusive relationship or not. Reading this changes your views about grown men who disrespect women.
  When I was reading this that I found myself shocked. I was just suprised as to why people especially women want to stay and blame themselves in the end. No matter how many times I read this I still think to myself "why, why, why?". This makes me think less of women because we shouldn't rely on men nor do we need one to disrespect us because we are both more than that. I have heard that it's fact that women are stronger than men and that statement will remain true to my heart and soul. If I could I would tell women that we should feel beautiful in our skin and not let not let any man make us think any less of ourselves because we are strong. I will always believe that women should receive more credit than what we are given. Women have an important roll in this earth no matter what.

  All I want is for women to know and remember that they shouldn't blame themselves for what happened in their relationship. I understand how hard it is to leave the person that you love but a day above ground is a chance to find another fish in the sea. Relationships can be difficult for sure but if you find yourself blaming yourself then it's a sign to drop the relationship. Don't fall in love with a guy or girl who uses you as punching bag.

Ponderings of the teenage brain.

One thing that teenagers think about is Netflix or TV shows with drama or reality. This is coming from young teenagers  who watch TV shows that contain drama, suspense, and crazy fun nights. Some of the shows we watch are the total opposite of our life and sometimes it's fun to see what things are like when we can't experience them. TV shows are like books that we watch instead of read . Although it's fun to read about drama,comedy, and action it's more interesting to watch it because you can pause it or resume and that's one thing I would want in my is to pause or fast forward my life. To me TV shows seem like an adventure we wish as teenagers would love to experience since our life is the complete opposite from what we watch. I know that I definitely have TV shows that make me think of nothing else in my life, I just lay there and begin my escape as the ne episode begins.

The first out of many shows that distracts me from my life is Total Divas. My escape begins on Sunday from eight to nine pm. This show is based on WWE. It gives me a taste of wrestling careers, love drama,and grown up life drama and lessons. This show is different from my other shows because  it's cast uses wwe divas that create drama to the show. These girls keep it professional at their job but also outside of their job becuase they don't use their talent for the wrong things.

The second TV show is called The Fosters,as some of you may know it starts at seven,ends at eight pm, and premiers on Monday. This show gives the audience all genres such as drama,mystery,and somewhat action. This show leaves me at the edge of my seat and leaves me asking questions at the end of the show plus I tend to add my commentary during the show. That's  why I love to watch The Fosters because I add my commentary even though no one cares,I ask questions ,and I am curious as what happens next. The drama to the show is different because two siblings that are sort of related fall in love knowing that it's wrong and that is not something you see everyday but, there is more that makes the show a brilliant idea.

As 15 or 16 year olds we at times think that things that happen on a TV screen are far more interesting than our life. When teenagers talk about TV shows they react as if it was an escape from their ordinary life. The pondering of the teenage brain is Netflix and TV shows filled with the opposite of what we experience each day.

Is knowledge of the past no longer useful for us today?

Is knowledge of the past no longer useful for us today?... Well I in my opinion I think 100% of your past knowledge helps you today but not just today but forever. There is so many things you are required to remember in Elementary, middle, and high school to help you prepare for college though college knowledge helps you for your career. If we didn't remember any of our past knowledge then we wouldn't be successful at all. The past knowledge we knew as middle schoolers was multiplying and dividing is  now helping us sophomores in algebra 2 and ,geometry and so much more. We should always be prepared for what comes next in school because we don't know if we need to remember it again. If our past knowledge isn't useful then education is useless. Some subjects are not necessary to learn to one but it may be useful to several fellow classmates. Knowledge especially past knowledge needs to be cherished because no matter what something of our knowledge will help us in future or present. We just never know when we will need that past knowledge to help through something.

Success & Happiness

Does success and happiness depend on the choices we make instead of the factors beyond our control? In my opinion i would have to say success is the main reason for why we make the choices we make. For example in order for us to choose a major we must be successful during college in order to make our choice into a dream, a real life dream. Not only is success the main reason why we makes choices but we should also be happy when and during this decision making because that choice we make has to make us happy otherwise there is not reason in making a decision that doesn't make us happy. An example of us being happy when making decision is like going to a singing competition, when the band members perform it makes them happy because they love what they are doing. I've always believed that confidence is key, so confidence should also be included in the factor that depends on the choices we make because along with being successful and happy with what ever choice, we should also be confident with what we do that makes us happy and successful. For example, actors in movies or tv shows must have confidence when they are fliming for a movie or tv show because it's their career, it's what makes them rich and famous. As for the last part of the question, the factors beyond our control is our choice and i feel that the three components, happiness, confidence, and success depends on not only  the choices we make but also the factors beyond our control because our choices don't have control over us,we have control of our choices.

Figurative Language Writing

 Picture yourself reading a poem and as you continue reading the poem you find yourself laughing,crying,and smiling.What do you think has happened? If you hadn't realized you connected to the poem and shared or expressed your emotions.Now ask yourself how does poetry share and connect us with the emotions and experiences we all have as humans? Katy Perry and Ernesto Santiago are people who can answer that question in their poem Firework and The Bird.This answer can specifically can be commented through experiences and emotions in a short story.
 
 Katy uses the first level of figurative language that compares things.However,the two main types that were being used were simile and allusion.For example,"Just own the night,Like the Fourth of July" was mainly an allusion with a mix of a simile because it or the Fourth of July is compared to a part in history with a person.The following quote is a simile,"Like a lightning bolt Your heart will glow" because Katy,the songwriter uses the word "like" in this stanza.


 Katy was not the only person who used some type of figurative language was used in Mr.Santiago's poem called The Bird. Like Katy, Ernesto also used a simile in the poem which reads"A traveler,with its red feathers,Exploded,into force,like An airborne ranger".This man uses personification because in the poem it talked about a human characteristic which can be spotted when he said"Limitless sky,A traveler"."worries what to eat"is imagery because we tend to taste what being consumed.
 
 The reader had not expected the speaker or writer to create deep thinking when publishing what seemed to be an ordinary poem.It is figurative language,in the end,that makes the poem more juicy and less simple. Throughout the poem,Katy along with Ernesto both effectively created these pieces through figurative language,simile,human characteristic,and more.

Commentary 2

 Each "if" is an if that I will wonder too like the similar if's in the poem. The title "if" seems mysterious but I like how it leaves you wondering what its going to be about. There are so many things you can "if" about so  thought the title was a creative yet mysterious touch to the poem. I thought that all these ifs are something that a teenager thought of and the author wrote them down in a poem. This poem yet deep and interesting at the same time. Normally I don't like poems but this poem caught my attention because after I read it I felt that I could relate to it.


 The theme to me is the Ifs that deal with a different aspect of life that young teenagers think about as they get older. The first stanza I paraphrased it so that it could say what happens if you can keep your head up, if you can trust yourself, if you can wait, and not get tired of it. The second stanza is the ifs to your dream and your thought but also bearing the truth. The third stanza paraphrased it to say the two main ifs which are making a heap of all your winning and force your heart. The fourth stanza I thought it could say the Ifs of the friends, men you in the end.


The most obvious pattern in "If" is the topic organization in all the stanzas. The effect it might create is the organization of the ifs  since there are different major themes in each stanzas. The major themes Kipling addresses are waiting and trusting in lines one through five, ten through fifteen are about dreams, thoughts, and truth then lines seventeen through twenty-four are about winnings and heart. Lastly the major themes in lines twenty-five through thirty-two are men,(un)forgiveness and friends.


In the end this poem built up a great story that had a mysterious title to it so I liked a lot. This poem seems like something that I could read over and over again which is the first for me. I still love the title "If" because its mysterious and creative.

Commentary 1

The poem "Ain't I a Woman" was very interesting to read and I would think that it sounded like a Hip-Hop poetry. I liked this poem, it made me feel something though not just feel something but dream something as I fell asleep. "Ain't I Women"  made me think if Cinderella and Rosa Parks. You might wonder why Cinderella why her? Well it was her because she was slave but not really she just did a lot of things on her own and stood up for herself. I thought of Rosa Parks because she also stood up for the things she believed in and for the truth but instead of a fairytale like Cinderella it was real, it was real life.

When TP-CASTT the poem the first thing that had to was consider the title and I thought that it was going to be about women in general but then I had to examine the title again so I thought women having the same rights as men do. The theme of this poem in my own words is women work hard as men do therefore women should have the same rights men did or do. The "man" can be her husband or her father, stepdad possibly.Each line spoke to me because it was so deep and it all made sense to me. The first part, lines one through eight I paraphrased it and in the end I came up with women should be taken care of we/they are women. Then in the second stanza I thought that maybe she has done a lot one her own, without a man by her side. In the fourth stanza I paraphrased it and the result was children make you feel like a slave and you cry out for your mom's help along Jesus's help too. The following stanza I came up with just because Christ was not women does not deal with the fact that women should have less rights and that women are powerful. The "calling to action" the author put forth all women to embrace if the world is to be turned "right side up again" is making a scene like a Rosa Parks or a woman voting for president.

The other famous moment that the author is alluding is Rosa Parks scene. The question about line 12 is that it could mean that men do not always have to lead women because women are capable of doing certain things without a male's help. In line six the author is alluding that obstacles in life when she or he talks about "Or over mud puddles". In order for me to answer the question about line 10 I had to check out the definition of plowed because it was the first time I ever heard that word. These questions had me flipping the page to check line in each stanza so that I could answer the question.

Social Imaginiation

I do agree that we all have social imagination because I would say that, that's how dreams are started and ended because of social imagination. Inventing our visions is where imagination comes from. Imagination comes from inspiration of the things we are sourrounded by school, the streets, our neighborhood ,and work.  All those things come from society which help us create or invet our visions.

Future, Past, Present.

People say that the truth comes out some how whether its soon or years, months even days later.  If you keep a secret then the it can come out in the future just by holding it inside for a long time. The  truth eats you up and in the future it can eat you up because it could become a dark secret. 

As for the present lets just say you can't keep the secret inside its like you don't want to hide anything,  you want to remain an open book, remain trustworthy, and not a liar. The truth has to come out as sooner than later. Additionally, you don't want the ones that involve the secret to get hurt all because of you not speaking soon  enough.

The past... Well you make mistakes in the past and you don't necessarily want to make them again so want to be able to be forgiven, you want to erase those bad sins away; wash away the past. The main way to regain trust is to start by telling the truth so that others know that you are loyal again. Beginning to tell the truth after one has messed up is almost like getting a fresh start in life. 

Oedipus Rex

Does the scene take place in a church or a big celebration in a altar? Does Oedipus care about the children that are in a sorrowful prayer? I am guessing that the Priests along with the children believe that Oedipus can help save their city. I think Oedipus should help the priest and the children because Oedipus seems to be a powerful man and it would be the right thing to do. At first I  thought he was jerk but then I continued to read and realized that Oedipus is good man. What does Creon mean when he says "for it is murder's guilt that holds our city in destructive storm? I don't get it, is murder the problem? So just by banishing murder will help save their city. Once they find out who murdered Laius, they will declare banishment of murder? This story about Oedipus Rex is interesting and some of these scenarios remind me of what I have been learning in my World History class. These people in the story stand up for what they believe in and they have a bad temper in a way and these characters that show it are Oedipus and Teiresias. I noticed that the two main characters of course, Oedipus and Teiresias. The way the story was arranged made it too awkward, and the fact that he had children with his mother was very disturbing for me! I wonder how Jocasta felt about the whole situation when it was all played out. I wonder how she felt when she realized she married her own son? That is just abnormal for me and for others. Did Jocasta even care that is was her son? How would you tell your kids that your mom is my mom and we made babies? I feel that he should be executed for that,well the both of them. Although that situation is disturbing the whole story is entertaining because it's a weird story to hear and its not usual but that is what leaves me on the edge of my seat.

Exit Ticket: Social Satire

Fitzgerald uses youth to make fun of them by well, using youth to be the joke because young people are easier to trigger than old folks reason being, we are never satisfied. The fact that he includes that there are mountains made out of diamonds is how he, Fitzgerald is using wealth to create humor.

Great Gatsby Movie Reflection

 Discuss the controversial portrayal of women in the movie/novel?

   The scenes in the movie in regards to the females or specifically Daisy is not how things are today its actually way different than what is being portrayed in the movie. Reason being, today women do not think that a man cheating on them is normal nor okay to do but, in the movie The Great Gatsby Daisy didn't think that Tom cheating on her was the wrong thing to do. Basically in today's society women want respect in their  relationship and don't want to be treated or considered as fools though, in this film Daisy told Nick that "a girl being a fool is the best thing that she can be, a beautiful little fool." Daisy didn't have a problem with that only because she acted like a fool throughout the entire movie. Women are labeled as fools in the Great Gatsby one of them being Daisy.

Truthfully, no woman should be labeling themselves as a fool unless they actually act as a fool. It seemed as if Daisy was encouraged to be a fool because she like the men in the movie was being a player. In the film Daisy was originally in love with Gatsby but eventually married Tom for the money that he consumed. In the beginning the relationship between Tom and Daisy had its awe moments but then escalated into something more serious. The relationship escalated because Daisy found out that Gatsby was still alive and had lived near her for five years keeping in my that Daisy still loved Tom. Then her love for Gatsby came back when she spent time with him multiple times eventually her love was open to two men, Gatsby and Tom. Finally the point where she made herself seem like a fool was when she went back fourth confessing or showing her love and affection to whom she claimed to love. Daisy went though a lot of trouble because she acted like a fool, a fool that ended up staying with Tom since Gatsby, her first soul-mate passed away. All in all she proved that she and the female characters in the movie were fools. The controversial portrayal of women in The Great Gatsby was that they grow up to be the best thing they can ever be, a beautiful fool.

American's Story

This poem does not tell a lie! The whole poem has true facts because things have changed, good and bad. This reading reminded me that not only are we sometimes selfish today but back then people were a bit selfish and crucial to one another based on skin color compared to how the society is today.
Sure we have more laws today but back then citizens were more rude to others based on their race and today some Americans are not at all like that.

Independent Practice

Living in the 1920s in New York we would meet different people at any place which would make us all socially active people. Since we were rich we went to parties, wore fancy clothing ,and did fancy activities. Because people were rich in New York it made it sound like the city that never slept since there was always something going on at night and in the evening. The 1920s is basically like living in a relaxed and fun world. The 1920s were relaxed times because we partied, never slept, and we wouldn't have to worry about a thing in that time frame. The reason that living in the New York during the 1920s were fun was because it was a place where you can make your dreams come true and drove fancy cars.

Paradox Purpose

Personally I think the purpose of this paradox that Martel purposely put in the novel and film was to show the two sides of a person or in this case Pi. Not only that but the purpose was to have something symbolize the dangerous or wild side of Pi. By including this paradox in the story it all ties up to Martel's purpose of Life of Pi which is storytelling, giving us some meaning and religion, teach us something (goal/purpose)