A Topic Proposal for The Handmaid's Tale

ENG 102
Topic Proposal
Jennifer McFarland

The Handmaid’s Tale
I really feel like I am going to lean towards Margaret Atwood’s feelings and perception of why she would write a story like this. Did maybe something go on in her life that inspired her to write the book? Did something or someone she knew help inspire her? These are just a couple of the questions I have had while I was reading the book. I would have to say my guiding question I am going to be asking myself is: What has inspired her, if anything, to write this book? I am going to take some time and read into her past and see if anything is there that shows. I want to look into the times of when this book took place and the events that were going on.
I am planning on looking into her biography and her back ground to see if any of the events in this book have anything to do with her. I would also like to look into the events, the historical back ground, when the events in this book occurred. This book is so detailed and emotional that this is why this book makes for such a great study.
I feel that if I research her back ground as well as the historical events that went on during this time will help me to better understand what is going on and why. I feel that this would help conclude and close any questions I have on the reading of this book. I had a good time reading it.

http://www.poemhunter.com/margaret-atwood/

Picture URL: http://schol.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-handmaids-tale-narrative-structure/

Thesis Statement

ENG 102
Thesis Statements
Tim O’Brien

Identify the weak thesis statement:

1.I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns with evolution in The Origin of the Species.

-Or-

3.Darwin’s concern with survival of the fittest in The Origin of the Species leads him to neglect a potentially conflicting aspect of his theory of evolution-survival as a matter of interdependence.

An important part of one’s college education is learning to better understand others’ points of view.

-Or-

4.Although an important part of one’s college education is learning to better understand others’ points of view a persistent danger is that the students will simply be required to substitute the teacher’s answers for the ones they grew up uncritically believing.

By inventing terms, such as “loose fit” and “relaxed fit”, the jean industry has attempted to normalize, even glorify, its product for an older and fatter generation.

-or-

2.The jeans industry targets its advertisements to appeal to young adults.

Othello is a play about love and jealousy.

-or-

5. Although Othello appears to attack jealousy, it also supports the skepticism of the jealous characters over the naïvete of the lovers.

The songs of the punk rock group Minor Threat relate to the Feelings of individuals who dare to be different. Their songs are just composed of pure emotion. Pure emotion is very important in music, because it serves as a vehicle to convey the important message of individuality. Minor Threat’s songs are meaningful to me because I can identify with them.
-or-
The punk rock group Minor Threat uses emotional lyrics to appeal to their target audience, which considers itself individualistic and therefore the lyrics must convey a message of individuality.


My Chosen Sentence: I chose the sentence; “I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns with evolution in The Origin of the Species.” Right away we already know what we are reading in your paper, so there is no need to explain what you are about to write about again. A thesis statement needs to have detail about the subject and an argument able theory to back it up. A thesis is the way to set up your paper to allow the reader an insight of your opinions as well as the facts that are in the story. This allows the reader to have their own judgments and then compare them to the writer’s.
My Thesis Statement: Among the many short stories that O’Brien gives us as readers, he shows you in mind and emotions what it is like out there fighting that war. Each page you read keeps you wanting more and at the same time you feel like you are on that battle field with him, you just want to put the book aside. He allows you to go into the depths of a true war story and truths behind each of these stories.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

Article Search

Library Article Search

.">Timmermen, John. "Tim O'Brien and the Art of the True War Story: "Night March" and "Speaking of Courage"." Hofstra University 46.1 (2000): pp 100-114. Web. 25 Oct 2010. .

This article is of good choice due to the critism and truthfulness in this war and the stories about it. This article is describing the many different angles of war. This article captures all the different angles wars is thought. It also captures the many perspectives people have on war not only from the outside, but from the inside looking out. I feel this article is full of good information about Tim O’Brien and his fictional/true war stories. It also introduces some of his other work that also pertains to war and the many emotions expressed. This article has allowed me to learn more about O’brien and why he writes the way he does and I believe it will help me in making my paper more informational. I found this article using JSTOR literary article search.


Smith, Jack. "The things he carries." Kalmback Publishing Company. Boston 2010 123.7: pg 16 5pp. Print.

This is an article about an interview on Tim O’Brien’s life and why he writes his novels the way he does. He talks about how war is to him and the many different details that are involved. A lot of it is back talking about the Vietnam war and the events that took place around that time. I found my article on the Proquest search. I like this search engine because there articles updated on the search regularly and gives good information. I believe this article will help in my paper as well as give me a better understanding of who Tim O’Brien is and his thoughts.

Midterm Letter

Midterm Letter
ENG 102
Oct 17, 2010



Dear Laura Darrow,



My experience in English 102 so far has been an interesting ride. I have learned a great deal of new ways of studying, reading, and handling information. I have felt like my biggest challenge in this class has been literary analysis. This is a whole new experience for me. My biggest success in this class has been the feeling of wanting to keep giving my best at my assignments. I have enjoyed reading the books.


While spending this time reading the stories of war, I have a different respect for those who have fought for our country. These books have given me a greater understanding of war and what is involved in it. The stories were dramatic and vivid. I felt like they were in the same room with me. This is my first time trying literary analysis; all my other English classes have only been research and summarizing. This has been a very enjoyable, educational class.


Some of my goals are to improve my ability in literary analysis, my reading ability, and my efforts in my assignments. I would like to go above and beyond what my norm is. I want to set a goal of a better grade letter and push myself to do my best and beyond. I have always had a little trouble in English and I want to have more confidence in the papers I write.



Sincerely Yours,

Jennifer McFarland

Summary vs. Anaylsis

Summary vs. Analysis Blog Post
“On The Rainy River” by Tim O’Brien

Summary- “On the Rainy River” started out with Tim talking about himself being a twenty-one year old in 1968 just graduated college and had a full ride scholarship to a University when they were drafting men for war and he receives his letter. He spoke of his family, his life, and his job. The day that he got his draft letter, he went into a downward mind spiral of his life and how he was not ready to go to war. He spends a few days contemplating running to the Canada border so he doesn’t have to go to war, but he doesn’t want to hurt his family either. A couple of days go by and he spends some time talking about his job at the pig plant. He goes into great detail of his emotions and thoughts towards war and his life he is trying to live.
He then suddenly gets a weird feeling in his stomach, leaves his job, packs his bags, and drives towards Canada. He spends a couple days driving then comes to some cabins and decides to stop there. He meets a man that runs the place that has a silent, but comforting array about him. He spends the next six days with this man at the cabins and while going through the roller coaster of emotions and thoughts about his home and the war, he is pondering the thoughts of the man at the cabins. He wanders each day if the man knows why he is there or what he is really doing. He has thoughts of why the man is so quite in his routine. At the end of his six days the gentleman takes him out on the lake for some fishing, but takes him about twenty miles from the border and he then goes into a mind spin about his life and everyone in it and what he needs to do to make his life right.
Analysis- “On the Rainy River” Tim O’Brien has the biggest decision to make in his life. He is completely opposed to the war and doesn’t want to go, but he also doesn’t want to feel the shame from his family and friends. He takes himself on a mind journey of what he needs to do in his life. The guilt that O’Brien has became heavy on his shoulders and he has to decide. In the end of the story though it leads the reader to an openness of questions to what he feels. The reader is lost in to his thoughts of doing the right thing. In the lines “He was a witness, like God, or like the gods, who look on in absolute silence as we live our lives, as we make our choices or fail to make them.”(O’Brien 57), O’Brien is stating that we as people are watching as if we know what to do, but don’t react to it. He makes his decision to do off to the war.
http://www.lzsally.com/popage.html

Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"

Response to Tim O’Brien
“The Things They Carried”

Now that I have had the opportunity to read about war, my perspective is completely different. I have always stayed away from war stories because I don’t want to know what war is really about. I have a great deal of respect for all the men and women that go out there to defend our country. After reading the stories, I have a much better understand mentally and visually about what they have to go through each day and night. It’s like it is never ending for them when on the war front. In the story “They Things They Carried”, by Tim O’Brien, the emotions were so real to me that it gave me chills. The bond that these men seem to have grown together is unimaginable to us unless you are there with them. Even though Lieutenant Cross is so in love with this girl Martha, he still has to manage to stay strong and steady for his men. The description of all the items that they carried with them seemed to be never ending as well. To get through each day it seems like they have to put their emotions aside while in battle because that might cause them their life. When one of the men was describing how he cut off the boys dead finger, I couldn’t fathom why someone would do that and have no remorse, but after reading what they are all going through and seeing how tough it is for them when one of their men falls right in front of them, I could understand why. I do believe that it is a good thing that these men and women are willing to go out there and fight for us and their country, because I think if they wouldn’t then we wouldn’t have the freedom we have today. In this chapter, they didn’t only describe what they were carrying, but deeply expressed how their feelings were and how they carried them as well. This was a great way to get the book going and wanting you to read more.
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-11/news/vw-490_1_war-stories

Sean Huze's "The Sand Storm"

Sean Huze “The Sand Storm” Response
While reading “The Sand Storm”, I cannot believe the amount of emotion I felt. I cannot imagine, if I had such strong emotions come out, how strong these men’s emotions were during their time there. As I read along, I was able to vividly picture what was going on. I really felt like I lost myself in his descriptive scenes. I have multiple friends that have been overseas to fight in the war and the amount of worry and sadness I have is so deep, but I just try and remind myself they are doing it for their country and are proud to be there for their country. It was wonderful to hear of all the different thoughts and feelings of how the war was perceived to them.
Throughout the play there was a couple of different scenes where the men were describing their thoughts on killing and some more gruesome than others. In the play where CPL WATERS states, “I never took my eyes off of him the whole time I ate. The more he wept and pleaded, the more I enjoyed my meal” (pg. 9). He is showing how he has no regret or sadness to allow this man to suffer as he is dying. I truly believe everyone has a different mindset on when it comes to death and how they handle it. My thoughts about when you take that oath to join the military, you have to have the strength to be put through anything.
For these men that have been on the battle field the life that lay ahead of them will never be the same. This play has definitely given a better understanding of what is going on with the men that have had to go through the tragedy of death and their fallen soldiers to protect our country. In the play they talk about the men’s empty shells, well when the men come out the war zone and back into reality, they are not really ever leaving the zone. They are living the rest of their lives with the visuals and stories of the tragedies that they have just faced.
Works Cited
The Sandstorm: Stories From The Front. By Sean Huze. Directed by David Fofi. The Elephant Asylum Theater, Los Angeles. 29 April 2005.


http://www.alternet.org/world/20358/

Responding to a Poem

Responding to a Poem

I had a great time reading through all the poems and trying to understand each and every one of them, but I have to say that the two poems that stood out for me would have to be: “Photograph from September 11” by Winslawa Szymborska, and “The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window” by Joy Harjo.

               In the poem, “Photograph of September 11” by Winslawa Szymborska, in a whole I believe she is stating that this day will always be a day of remembrance and mourning for all those we lost in those tragic crashes. This is emphasized in her last three lines of the poem where she states, “I can only do two things for them-- describe this flight and not add a last line” (lines 17-19). I really feel that this statement shows how much we will never forget that day and how that day will forever live in our minds and hearts. The other part of the poem that caught my eye was “each is still complete, with a particular face and blood well hidden” (lines 7-9). Here I can remember that morning waking up to walk out in the living room to my mother crying so much and her in complete shock. I still remember the look on her face. At first not realizing what was happening, but then coming to notice that the television screen was showing all those people that were stuck and in the process of being murdered. I stood there watching as people were throwing themselves out windows anyway possible hoping that this might save them. I also remember watching all those other people on the streets just not knowing what to do because of the shock that they were experiencing. http://www.serendipity.li/wot/aa11.html Here is some evidence that hasn't been let out and been looked over.



             My second choice “The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window”, by Joy Harjo stood out to me because in more way than one I can relate to this poem. I have unfortunately been in many of these situations where I have felt that maybe it would be better to end my life instead of letting myself go through the abuse I was going through. Each and every time thought my kids have always been a big part of my strength. The one sentence that stands alone in this poem, “she thinks she will be set free” (line 7), has a lot of meaning behind it because all of us woman that have been in abusive relationships should be able to relate to this poem and this sentence mainly. This sentence to me is stating that she is thinking in her mind that if she just decides to let go of the wall that she can be set free of all the abuse and the sad days of heartache, but in all reality is it really going to set her free of her problems. She has to think of her children and of her family, as she is doing throughout the poem. In another part of the poem the woman is describing that it is her choice, her decision in the end. “But she is the woman hanging from the 13th floor window, and she knows she is hanging by her own fingers, her own skin, her own thread of indecision” (lines 46-48). I believe woman that are put in these situations lose a part of themselves and don’t know how to gain it back, but I also believe you just got to stand strong as an abusive woman and know that everything will be alright in the long run.

Works Cited:
Wislawa Szymborska, “Photograph from September 11” from Monologue of a Dog. Copyright © 2005 by Wislawa Szymborska. Reprinted with permission of Harcourt, Inc
"The Woman Hanging From The Thirteenth Floor Window" from She Had Some Horses by Joy Harjo. Copyright © 2006 by Joy Harjo. Reprinted by permission of Thunder's Mouth Press.

http://media.cnsnews.com/resources/67561.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/2123529886_ca38825404.jpg

Sam Hammil Response

Sam Hammil Response
I was deeply saddened to read this writing by Sam Hammil, but realizing that all his words are sadly true in our society today is even more saddening to me. His first sentence grabbed me strong: “And yet we go on living closed lives, pretending we are not each personally responsible for the deaths we buy and sell. We go on living our sheltered lives among the potted plants and automobiles and advertising slogans. We don’t want to know what the world is like; we can’t bear very much reality.” (Hammil) Here Hammil is practically saying that we don’t care about our society and that we may be contributing to the deaths around us.
We as humans walk out into the world everyday not taking into consideration all the horrible things people go through daily. Many of society today doesn’t see that usually how we are raised and put in certain situations, is how we are going to be when we become older. Hammil states many real life situations to help us better understand that most rapist, killers, and violent people don’t just become this overnight and have usually had some past that can relate to what is going on. When children are being raised in an abusive household, many people don’t realize that those past situations have helped contribute to their violent behavior. Most women are raised to be hand and foot for their man and if they do not obey then their man feels it be right to abuse her till she gets things done right. Most of these incidents are brought back to the western days when the men thought it was alright to slap their women around a bit to teach them a thing or two. When men are beings raised they are taught to be tough and learn how to stand on their own two feet.
Many battered women in society today feel or think they cannot get out of the situation for many reasons. Reasons could be because they are too scared or they feel that they can’t survive without him or no matter what he will just keep coming back around and she will have no choice. With all the media and advertisements out today are no help when it comes to showing people the positive of our societies to becoming better. Society has also show how hard it is for them to change ways because that is what they are use to.

A couple of the poems from the poetry of witness that we are reading can relate well to Hammil’s writings. The poem “Rite of Passage” states how the older boy can beat up the younger boy because of their upbringing. The poem “The women hanging from the thirteenth floor window” is talking about a woman in a battered relationship and how jumping out the window could set her free. We as a society need to be more strong and knowledgeable of what is going on around us.

                                                               http://media.photobucket.com/group/image/battered%20women%20and%20children/J16OTAQIHO/ProtectOurChildren.jpg
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=2883

Introductory Video ENG 102

Nabokov's Good Reader and Good Writer

http://www.helium.com/items/651032-good-readers-and-good-writers-an-essay-by-vladmir-nabokov
Nabokov’s Good Reader and Good Writer
I believe Nabokov thinks a good reader is made up of many different things. A good reader has an open imagination, a great memory, a dictionary to have on hand to better understand words, and some artistic sense helps along the way. I agree strongly on his thoughts of a good reader. A good reader to me is someone that has the willingness to go back and read something twice to get a complete understanding of what has just been read. He also states in his writings that students lean on emotional identification, action, and social-economic or historical angle. I too believe these are strong points in making a good reader. I believe myself to be a good reader, but I am still in the learning process of being a better reader. I really think there are many things you can learn along the way to make yourself the best reader you can be. Each and every person takes different approaches to learning different things when reading. While reading a novel I carefully take my time through the text and if I need to I go back through and reread the page.