Just a few more weeks

My goal for this upcoming week is to finish my video on femalestereotypes, which I am going to use in my presentation. It will contain pictures of celebrities who either have been stereotyped or represent a female stereotype. Also, facts about stereotyping in literature vs. the media will be presented as well. I want to teach the class about female stereotypes, where they exsit, and why they do as well. I will be briefly discussing the books I have read, Daisy Miller by Henry James, a few snipets of Washington Sqaure, and Breakfast at Tiffanies. Other previous readings that contributed to my research was Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Along with my video, I will explain my 4th quarter project and do a sample activity with the class. I really hope my presentation goes over well.

I will also continue working on my project...

One part down...two more to go

Now I have a few weeks to focus on my project and my presentation. I have started to create an outline for the project...like what items I want to put into my curriculum plan. My goal is to complete everything as soon as possible...so the rest of the year can be a breeze. My presentation is going to be on June 4th - I am gonig to use one of the worksheets my class would do to show the kids what I have been working on. I hope to get the class into a big discussion about women sterotypes and get their views on the subject.

Finally handing it in....

I want to finish the paper by tuesday afternoon because it is due by friday.
I have to complete the final body paragrah and conclusion.
After the paper is due, I want to start finalizing the calendar for my year long curriculum plan for my final project.

A few more weeks left...

This week for class I continued to research women in literature and the media. There are a lot of interesting sources about the portrayal of women. For the research paper, I have begun to formulate my ideas coherently in bullet type statements, which will later be incorporated into my opening and body paragraphs. I want to have a rough draft finished by the weekend. I hope to finish the paper early next week. Also, I continued to read my book – I am half way done – it is very interesting; the character of Daisy Miller seems to be a typical, flirtatious, young woman. I hope to finish this portion of the book by the weekend and begin Washington Square by Henry James. This is a similar story but at the same time it has a much different twist.

Still reading =[

This week my goal is to finish my current novel Daisy Miller and Washington Square. They are two separate stories with two different characters whose personalities are complete opposites. This is an important piece that completes the curriculum cause it is a great comparison of two different types of women. This will be a good platform for my research project along with many other sources about stereotypes in literature and the media. I also plan to start brainstorming ideas for my creative project – the basics mostly. I have created a calendar for the entire school year – which is also a good basis for the project. Also, I found out that there is a movie made based on Daisy Miller.

And the final quarter begins...

As the final quarter begins, I have chosen to do my final project on the portrayal of women in literature verses women in the media – focusing on the stereotypes women are associated with. This topic is very interesting to me because as the time change, so does the way women are presented. My project idea is to use this theme as the “theme of the year” for the English class and create a whole curriculum based off of it. There will be at least two novels and one play that connect to this theme, plus a lot of criticism and other information to discuss. Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Copete is one of the novels I have chosen to use because it shows a woman in a more promiscuous and negative manner. Compared to television shows like Judge Judy and Grey’s Anatomy [to an extent] women are portrayed as stronger more successful characters. The media has portrayed women if different ways throughout the years. Questia is a great source for criticism on this subject; I have looked and researched the subject and found great sources. My overall project will include activities, worksheets, slideshows, reading material, and paragraphs explaining why I chose to include everything in the portfolio.

A Six Week Recap = ]

Since this is the final blog of this marking period, that is being graded anyway, I would like to comment on all three books that I have read within the last six weeks.

First, The Sunflower, by Simon Wiesenthal was a very interesting novel on the subject of Wiesenthal’s horrifying experience in the Holocaust. He is confronted with a life altering decision of forgiveness. Similarly, the issue of forgiveness is relevant in today’s society because people constantly make mistakes which require forgiveness. Whether or not a person forgives is entirely up to them and the circumstances of the situation. This book not only was an unforgettable tale but also it was series of interesting responses to the story. The responses in the book were filled with supportive statements and negative feedback. Overall, I would recommend this book in total to anyone who is interested in the Holocaust or just about life decisions.

The second book I read was The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C Boyle. This book was a page turner as you journeyed with Candido and his wife America across the border into California. Yet the book only begins to get exciting when his “life” crashes into an upper-class white man’s car. From then on, both lives are intertwined until the final scene where even the most hateful thoughts for a person could be put a side. This book has tremendous relevance to the present day because illegal Mexican immigration is still a major issue. The final project I am going to complete is a research essay on Mexican immigration – which will include all the facts one needs to be savvy in this area. I recommend this book to students who enjoy reading. Although the book is a little long, it is a page turner so do not worry!

The final novel I will comment on is Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. This is a unique novel that entwines recipes and cooking into the daily life of the protagonist Tita. This is an original writing structure that I was impressed with. Not only did the recipes begin each chapter, but also they were woven into the chapter’s events. This book is an original but can be considered similar to some classics that we have read. The piece writing I am finishing at the moment is a further analysis of this book compared to Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Both have many similarities but I am not going into detail otherwise it will ruin the essay. I recommend this book to girls who want to read a very good novel that has an ending you will NEVER expect.

The next blogs on my readings will commence at the beginning of the final marking period. Till then I hope you enjoy my future blogs about topics that interest me.

Food Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Immediately after reading page one of Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, I could rest into the book was completed. The storyline creates the readers never-ending hate for Tita’s mother, Mama Elena, and the long-lasting love for Tita herself. Essentially, the feelings one has after reading the book can be compared to the feelings one has when they watch a movie; the constant roller coaster of emotions as one learns that Tita the tragic hero of the novel must perish in the end. The aggression is created from the tradition that the La De Garza family has in place; the fact that the youngest daughter must stay to tend to her mother and can not marry is UNBELIEVABLE! This tradition disturbs me greatly. How can a mother deprive her daughter of marriage? Of having children? If any family actually abides by this tradition they are very cruel people. Each female has the same right to marry as the next; it is up to the daughter and her relationship to her mother which decides whether or not she tends to her mother when she is dying. Seriously, what was Mama Elena’s issue with Tita?

On a different note, let’s discuss a component of the novel that is also very interesting: the theme choice. The themes of passion and deception are woven throughout the novel. Pedro and Tita are in deep love but they are forbidden to be together. Is this not like Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare just in Mexico? “Two star crossed lovers” who can not share their ever lasting love! Not only does the passion have similar parallels, but also the outcome could have been nothing different. Pedro had to die and Tita had to commit suicide to be with him; this is different of the legendary romance but is strangely related. Other themes of the novel include: friendship, betrayal and risk. But the overall theme that engulfs the entire novel is cooking. Recipes flow in and out of the chapters; they are part of Tita’s life and Esperenza’s. Cooking was the only escape Tita had to ride herself of the negative air her mother had about her. When the fire of the stove was snuffed out, so was Tita’s life.

Little did I know they made this book into a movie. According to the website Rotten Tomatoes many people enjoyed the film. There is both positive and negative feedback of the film. I am interested in seeing the movie and how it parallels to the book. One of scenes that sadden the heart is the wedding of Pedro and Tita's Sister. One knows how sad Tita is when she sees them walk down the aisle. It is a touching scene, and so I added it to this week's blog.

I am debating about writing a research paper on the subject of Mexican immigration in America – this theme stems from the previous novel I read, The Tortilla Curtain by T.C Boyle or possibly writing an analysis of this book. The topic I would write about is vague right now so I will have to think.