Category: English

Romantic Comedy or Fantasy?

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Overview of the Unit

In previous units, the focus was mostly on printed texts and their analysis. However, in this unit, we learned how to analyze visual texts. In the very beginning, we familiarized ourselves to cinematic terms. Prior to the summative, practice was given through watching short clips from different movies. The analysis of Edward Scissorhands prepared me for analyzing To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on my own. The summative was a compare and contrast essay between the two films.

Major Challenges and Gains

One of the major challenges in this summative was writing a structured essay that clearly conveys information while being as concise as possible. I found the thesis the hardest to craft. However, after understanding the purpose of the essay, I can more easily include necessary elements and complete my essay with a clear demonstration of my knowledge and words.

Unit Reflection

Succeeding Failure

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This unit focuses on beliefs in life. To start, we were given many free writing prompts in order to help us develop beliefs. Our summative was to write about our own belief statement through an anecdote. I chose to talk about diligence and perseverance and why they are important.

This I Believe Video

This I Believe Essay

Unit Reflection

The Immortal Cells: HeLa

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During this unit, I read The Immortal Life of Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I annotated the book, which prepared me for my group discussions, one-pagers, TIEAs, and verbal analysis. These activities allowed me to further understand the book.

Group Discussion

TIEA

Blogs On ILOHL

  1. Wait—So What Do We Do?
  2. To Protect Or Not To Protect One’s Privacy?

Verbal Analysis

Unit Reflection

Wait—So What Do We Do?

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For most high school students, the next level of education is college/university. When I was younger, I always thought that to get into a good school, I have to maintain my grades above an A-. I had little knowledge on standardized tests such as SATs and ACTs, and the actual college application process. As I entered high school, I realized that colleges want someone who is well-rounded—someone who excels in many different aspects of one’s life. Suddenly, grades were no longer as important. Colleges want us, want me, to have a enjoyable high school experience, in which I can show my personal growth. I began to join clubs such as student council, World Scholars, Model United Nations, and our school newspaper (KASPER). This realization of my misunderstanding broaden my perspective on not only my future but also my life now.

A simple misunderstanding can lead to major impact on one’s life. For example, if I did not correct my misunderstanding, I would have placed more energy on getting grades rather than giving myself space to grow. The consequences of misunderstanding can be seen in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

When Deborah told Skloot not to include a specific word in the book, Skloot said she would not and smiled.

“‘I won’t,’ I said, and then I made a mistake. I smiled. Not because I thought it was funny, but because I thought it was sweet that she was protective of her sister” (283).

Deborah must have thought that Skloot was smiling to cover up a lie.

“‘You’re lying,’ Deborah yelled, flipping off my tape recorder and clenching her fists” (283).

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Deborah was extremely angry as she has trust issues due to past conflicts with White doctors of Johns Hopkins.

“‘Who sent you? Who’s paying you?’ she yelled, her hand still holding me against the wall. ‘Who paid for this room?’ (283).

This situation turned violent as Deborah pushed Skloot against the wall. It was after explaining everything, Deborah understood why Skloot was smiling and both sides forgave each other.

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Citation

  1. Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York, Random House, 2010.

To Protect Or Not To Protect One’s Privacy?

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Throughout the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Skloot compares the ethical sacrifices that the doctors made with the impressive progression in medicine. Henrietta Lacks was a black woman who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins. During the first treatment, Dr. Lawrence Wharton Jr. did something before the treatment that would be condemned in modern medicine.

“Microscope Lens.” “Microscope” by Brenda via flickr / ©All rights reserved

“But first—though no one had told Henrietta that TeLinde was collecting samples or asked if she wanted to be a donor—Wharton picked up a sharp knife and shaved two dim-sized pieces of tissue from Henrietta’s cervix…” (33).

This was done due to Dr. George Gey’s goal was to somehow grow immortal cells. He was another doctor at Johns Hopkins and often non consensually took biopsies of patients, violating hundreds of privacy. The two pieces of tissues were later transported to Dr. Gey’s lab, where the later named HeLa cells grew immortally. This event led to a big conflict: to protect or not to protect one’s privacy?

Another incident involved Chester Southam, who was a virologist, wanted to understand what would happen when HeLa cells are injected into humans. The way Southam conducted this experiment was problematic.

“[Southam] repeated this process with about a dozen other cancer patients. He told them he was testing their immune systems; he said nothing about injecting them with someone else’s malignant cells” (128).

“Needles.” “syringes” by Reneek_ via flickr / ©All rights reserved

Southam did not inform his patients properly, violating their privacy and bodies. Imagine being injected with malignant cells thinking that they are for your immune systems.

Informed consent is essential in medical practices. Martin Salgo was not informed of any risks of his procedure.

“He went under anesthesia for what he thought was a routine procedure and woke up permanently paralyzed from the waist down” (132).

This did not only violate Martin’s privacy as a person, but also put him at such a dangerous risk. Doctors treated patients as

“MacBook Air.” “Computer” by Rustam Gulov via flickr / ©All rights reserved

Privacy being ignored for one’s own benefits occurs frequently. Most of the times, news would report a celebrity’s social media being hacked. Even Mark Zuckerberg’s own Facebook page was hacked. These hackers disregard the privacy of the original owners of the accounts often for the fun. Other time, professional hackers do earn money from hacking intothe accounts and obtaining private information. This modern example of ignoring other people’s privacy also shows how different periods of time can affect the same kind of situation.

Citation

  1. Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York, Random House, 2010.
  2. Null. “7 Times Celebs’ Facebook, Twitter Accounts Got HACKED!” Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan, 26 Nov. 2016, www.cosmopolitan.in/celebrity/features/a9638/7-times-celebs-facebook-twitter-accounts-got-hacked.

The Art of Poetry

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Throughout this unit, I learned a lot about poetry through the reading Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, the analysis of poems, and the writing of my own poems. While reading the novel made out of poems, I used sticky notes to write down any thoughts on the content, structure, and other literary devices I felt were important. After reading the book, I had to pick and read a poem from the novel and analyze it. Our class was also assigned into three different groups to discuss about the book as a whole. This allowed me to engage with my peers more personally. With analyzing other poems, I became more sensitive and aware of the author’s specific choices. Comparing and contrasting different poems show how each poem is unique, which means that different authors have different ways of communicating their own thoughts. When I wrote my own poems, I really had to search within myself and find what was important to me. It gave me time to reflect on my life and how I’ve changed.

Dramatic Reading — “Let Me Explain” By Elizabeth Acevedo

Compare and Contrast TIEA

My Poems


Poem Annotations

Dramatic Witches

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What Did I Do During This Unit?

During this unit, I read The Crucible and learned about the witch trials and their consequences in Salem. Throughout the book, I had to annotate the text and recognize the importance of certain details. After reading the play, I practiced writing several blog posts and TIEAs to show my understanding of the text. Not only did I learn about the historic events of witchcraft, but also how to perform in front of an audience and communicate what I want to convey.

Dramatic Reading

TIEA

Reflection

Summative Blog Post

I wrote about John Proctor’s character arc.

Journey to the Other Side

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John Proctor is well known for his wisdom and moral correctness. However, when he commits adultery with his former maid Abigail, his reputation begins to crumble. Proctor’s wife Elizabeth suspected this and proceeded to fire her. Although Elizabeth and John may still be in marriage, tension does not dissolve.

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Compensation

PROCTOR: If the crop is good I’ll buy George Jacobs’ heifer. How would that please you?

ELIZABETH: Aye, it would.

PROCTOR: I mean to please you, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: I know it, John (48).

Proctor is determined to win Elizabeth’s heart back. He hopes to please his wife and show her that he is a good person. Due to his previous action, he has made detrimental harm to their relationship. Proctor seeks for confirmation and approval from his wife in order to heal himself. He is disgusted by his own hypocritical actions as he does not and will never be able to live up to his words. Despite all the attempts to make her happy, Proctor feels Elizabeth’s reluctance to forgive him.

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Frustration

When Proctor accidentally mentions that he was alone with Abigail after already saying that he wasn’t, Elizabeth grows suspicious of her husband. Proctor’s anger begins to grow as he expects that Abigail should have already pardoned about all of his previous actions.

ELIZABETH: You were alone with her?

PROCTOR: For a moment alone, aye.

ELIZABETH: Why, then, it is not as you told me.

PROCTOR: For a moment, I say. The others come in soon after.

ELIZABETH: Do as you wish, then.

PROCTOR: Woman. I’ll not have your suspicion any more (51).

Proctor only cares about his own feelings as he does not consider the amount of trust Elizabeth has lost for him. He does not understand that Elizabeth still being married to him is a large step of recovery. When Proctor does not get what he desires, which is approval in this case, he throws the blame on his wife.

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Confession

Knowing that he has sinned and that the guilt will always be present, Proctor accepts himself and his actions. He states to Elizabeth, “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man” (126). He now understands that he has done something that is wrong. He does not try to seek for approval from Elizabeth, but rather tells her that what he has done was unforgivable. He does not expect anything from Elizabeth anymore.

Accepting—Connection

From the comic book, American Born Chinese, Chinese-immigrant Jin Wang struggles to be accepted in his American community. When Jin first came to the US, he was bullied for being different—for being Asian. One day, another Chinese immigrant Wei-chen arrived in his classroom. He tries to please his White classmates by bullying Wei-chen just like how Jin himself was treated. He becomes frustrated when a girl he liked, who is Amelia, did not like him back because of his nationality. It was considered lowly of Amelia to be spending time with Jin. He then starts to become more like a “White” person, starting with his hairstyle. His relationships with his close friends also changed as he became a totally different person. Towards the end of the book, Jin confesses that sacrificing all of his relationships to build another with a stranger was not worth it. His realization allowed him to reconstruct his relationships for the better.

Citations

  1. Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, Penguin Group, 2003.
  2. Yang, Gene. American Born Chinese. New York: Square Fish, 2006. Print.

Hypocrisy—The Crucible and Native American Treaties

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John Proctor—The Crucible

Proctor has been described as having “a sharp and biting way with hypocrites” (19). However, he has gradually become one himself.

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ABIGAIL: Give me a word, John. A soft word.

PROCTOR: No, no, Abby. That’s done with.

ABIGAIL: You come five mile to see a silly girl fly? I know you better.

PROCTOR: I come to see what mischief your uncle’s brewin’ now. Put it out of mind, Abby (21).

Proctor is married to Elizabeth and have three children. While Proctor believes that everyone should remain faithful, he himself has not been faithful to his wife and has been conducting adultery with Abigail. Abigail continues to seek for Proctor’s attention even though Proctor is trying to put an end to the relationship.

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HALE: You have said that twice, sir.

PROCTOR: Aye.

ELIZABETH: Adultery, John (64).

When Hale went to Proctor and Elizabeth’s house to interrogate them about witchcraft, Proctor was asked to recite the ten commandments. Ironically, Proctor forgot the commandment on adultery. Even though he is viewed as a wise and knowledgeable man, he does not remember the most basic principles of his community.

The US Government—The Native American Treaties

When the US government decided to expand their territory, they began to make treaties with the Native American tribes. They were infamous for wording treaties in misleading manners in order to receive the signatures of the Native Americans.

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An example is in Article Four of the Treaty with the Delawares.

The mode of such trials to be hereafter fixed by the wise men of the United States in Congress assembled, with the assistance of such deputies of the Delaware nation, as may be appointed to act in concert with them in adjusting this matter to their mutual liking (Treaty With the Delawares : 1778).

Although this part of the treaty states that the Delawares will be able to assist in trials, the main decisions were still made by the US Congress. The wording of this deceived the Delawares into signing this treaty as they thought they would be able to contribute and be represented. In reality, the Congress does not have to accept the Delawares’ help or ideas.

Citations

1. Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, Penguin Group, 2003.

2. “Treaty With the Delawares : 1778.” Yale Law School, n.d., https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/del1778.asp.

The Crucible and the French Revolutionary War

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How is Arthur Miller’s The Crucible related to the French Revolutionary War?

The Crucible is a story that revolves around deception among the community and a person initiating chains of undesired consequences. Similarly, the French Revolutionary War also depicts a community of accusations and a revolutionary that causes the deaths of thousands.

Below are three different ways the two events are related.

1. Accusations

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BETTY: I saw Martha Bellows with the Devil!

ABIGAIL: I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil!

It can be seen that Betty and Abigail are accusing others of conjuring the Devil. Accusations were thrown around during the Revolutionary War about those who might be against the revolution. Most of the time, blaming is used as a scapegoat to protect oneself. This, however, cost a lot of people’s lives.

2. Absurd Punishments

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MARY WARREN: Goody Osburn—will hang!

PROCTOR: Hang! Hang, y’ say?

MARRY WARREN: Aye

Mary Warren is telling John Proctor that people will be hanged if people do not admit or confess their doings with the Devil. This is an extreme consequence for a relatively small wrongdoing. In 1790s France, if one is found or accused of being against the revolution, one would be guillotined. Simply doing something different than the rest of the people in both settings would result in deadly and unreasonable punishments.

3. Manipulation and Control

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ABIGAIL: The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don’t, don’t—!

HALE: I see nothing, Your Honor!

DANFORTH: Do you confess this power! Speak!

ABIGAIL: She’s going to come down! She walking the beam!

Abigail is pretending that Mary has transformed into a diabolical bird. This was all orchestrated by Abigail to protect herself and to turn the blame on John Proctor and Mary Warren. Her manipulation eventually succeeds and is now safe from being hanged. Instead, John Proctor is going to be prisoned. This situation can be connected to how Robespierre, the revolutionary, took control of everything and began to kill whoever does not agree with him. By doing so, he was protecting his own opinions and ideas.

Citations

1. Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, Penguin Group, 2003.

2. “French Revolution.” History.com, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution.