Archive for October, 2007

Ms. Sadie Green

Sadie Green is a classmate of mine and someone I have only spoken to once on the telephone.  She is my essay partner for my English class.  I do not know much about her, but after our conversation, she seems like a fantastic women with a very interesting life story, and I am excited to get to know her better.  She is the third child of nine and grew up in Garrison, MN near Mille Lacs Lake.  She seems to be very strong and full of great morals.

The questions that I plan on asking her are:

Who is the one person, past or present that you would like to meet and get to know better?

What gives you strength in your life and what helps to keep you going? 

What/Who inspired you to return to college/take courses?  What do you want to get out of college?

What one thing in life has changed significantly since you were my age?

Is there anything you wish you would have done when you were my age that you didn’t do?  Can you and would you like to do it now at your age?

My grandmother Bernice

My grandmother Benice was a very predictable person.  We always knew what color of tissues she would have set out, in her pockets and in her hands.  They were always the pink Kleenex brand.  She always had her strawberry Bubblelicious bubble gum.  Pink, of course.  She would chew bubble gum all day long.  Then, there was her pink, button-up sweater, which she wore most days, even in the summer.  Her rouge and lipstick were also very pink.  I never thought much about this nor have I ever asked her what her favorite color was.  I guess after a little reminder of the past, I have a pretty good guess that it must be pink. 

She has been gone now for almost 17 years.  We placed a pack of bubble gum and a few pink tissues in her casket the day of her funeral.  We wanted Grandma to be well stocked as she entered the gates.  She always had the “supplies” on hand when we needed them, so it was the least we could do for her. 

I am very happy to have had this assignment.  It not only gave me a few minutes to remember my grandmother Bernice, but to remember my other grandparents who have since passed as well.

The Truth about M&Ms

“They’re all related, and I value all of them, but clearly the student that I find most rewarding is the Peanut.”

I like this quote because it truly expresses the authors thoughts and hopes for each M&M/student.  The thoughts are expressed very well in each primary and secondary support paragraphs.  In the end, the Peanut is the favorite and I think that is the case in most of our lives.  We strive to be the best and expect the best from those we care about.

I think the thesis is: “In two years teaching composition at LSC, I have noticed certain classes of students emerge from the homogeneous masses of candy coated chocolate that face me every day.”  The supporting paragraphs really represent the thesis by explaining each kind of M&M and personality or class.  An example of support for the thesis is:  “The Krispie is one of those new M&M’s that I like very much, but I’m afraid they’re not going to last.”   What a great analogy…M&M’s and people.

The Purpose of Education

“Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.”  I don’t think enough peope believe this about education.  I know I didn’t when I first attended college eleven years ago.  I was going to college because it was what people did after high school.  Now that I am going to college for the third time in my life, I understand this statement and appreciate it a lot more.  I am a bit older now and I understand life a lot better.  If I want more in my life, it is up to me and my goals to accomplish this task.

 I believe the thesis is “As I engage in the so-called “bull sessions” around and about the school, I too often find that most college men have a misconception of the purpose of education.”  The author gives three different points of view of the purpose of education and supports his own point of veiw.  One example of support for the thesis is, “It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society:  The one is utility, and the other is culture.”  Here he is stating his own point of view of what the purpose of education is.

Societal Suicide

“The family, led by a married mother and father, is the best available structure for both child-rearing and cultural health.”  I used to be so afraid of gay people, I felt sorry for them because they wouldn’t have “natural” children, they wouldn’t have the normal American family.  They wouldn’t get to experience what I have been able to experience with my family.  Now, I am not afraid of them, I am however, uncomfortable around gays because it is not a way of life for me and I don’t understand it.  I do not feel sorry for them for reasons stated above because I now realize that everyone has their own desires and leading a gay lifestyle is appealing to some.  Even though I am not a supporter of a gay relationship, this quote upsets me because it may be naturally moral, but not everyone has the same morals.  There is really nothing we can do to stop the relationship.  Whether they are allowed to get married or not, they still will have feelings for one another and carry on in their relationship.

I do not support this quote, however it states a fact, but can also be argued which is what most of this essay is about.  In the end, it comes down to an opinion. 

I think the writer’s point is that the Federal Marriage Amendment needs to be passed or their will be chaos.  I don’t think he supports gay marriages or relationships at all.