Assignment 11

1. I think that theme is extremely important in what you write. I don't necessarily think that before you write you need to sit down, establish a clear theme and take it from there, but the end product should convey a message. If a story is without theme, it seems relatively pointless. This doesn't mean that the theme has to be anything poignant or ground-breaking, just some sort of idea is relayed in the writing. As a writer, I don't think that you are writing to the best of your ability if your voice does not convey a theme. How clear this theme needs to be is up for debate. Books like The Great Gatsby have relatively clear and distinct themes. This book has stood the test of time because it's theme is relatable year after year. On the other hand, Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck does not have as clear of a theme. It does however, still have ingrained messages and is a very good read.

2. I think that two important elements must exist in order for a work of literature to stand the test of time. The first, I touched upon in the first question. This is a message that is clear and connects with people. The message itself must still connect to people years later, not just relate to a specific time period. I used the example of the Great Gatsby for this. The idea that wealth does not equate happiness weighs on people's minds today, just as much as it did when the book was written. Second. I think that the book must appeal to a wide range of people. This is not only thematically, but it must also be entertaining. Topics that appeal to many are love, romance, tragedy, war, deceit, murder etc.

3.This is a tough question that I can't say I ever thought about before. The idea of writing something that impacts people carries alot of pressure. I really like to write about love, not just romantically, but with friends, family etc. and I think that my ideas on love could connect with people. I would like to take a stab at a common idea in literature, movies etc. that love has to be over the top, fairy tale seeming, and overall, unrealistic, like some romantic comedy. Finding love in people can be through simple, everyday experiances, and this is what I would want to show. A movie that is a great example of this is Garden State. The two characters fall in love under rather dreary circumstances. Zach Braff's character returns home to attend his mother's funeral and falls in love with an oddball from a strange family. This is hardly a story book romance, but it touched alot of people. I would like to do something like this with my writing.

Assignment 10

1. Something in this world that truly concerns me is the issue of poverty. Money is just thrown around in many parts of the world, especially Edina where we live. People turn the other cheek to the terrible poverty around the world when it would be so easy to help. If people were to give a dollar a day, even less, poverty could see an end. In Ap econ, Mr. Szporn made an interesting point. People might say that the value of a life is priceless, that you couldn't pay them any amount of money to take a life. However, if this was true poverty and starvation wouldn't be such an issue because people would be doing more to help save countless lives lost. I think that poverty is so depressing and often seems far removed from every day life. If it were brought more to the forefront people might pay more attention, but it seems almost less painful to ignore it.

2. My mom's friend Trudey is a dynamic personality. She is practically part of the family. Some people might say that she is a little loopy. She talks to much, sometimes too blatantly, and tells crazy stories. Despite being a little odd, she is hilarious and well- rounded. She is full of random facts about a range of topics. She can rattle off information about horoscopes which, whether you buy into them or not, is fascinating to listen to. She can almost always guess what sign someone is based off of their personality. She is also really caring and genuinely nice. I have never met anyone quite like Trudey.

3. Alot of pieces of art inspire me. One that comes to mind right away is the song "One" by U2. People tease me for listening to U2, but I absolutely love their music and the messages that they carry. "One" is a particularly powerful song, and music video. Some lyrics include:
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to Carry each other
Carry each other

The song has really serious and all-encompassing implications. Looked at on a small scale, Bono sings of the impacts that relationships can have on happiness and life. On a global scale, there is the extremely valuable message of peace and love in the world. Everyday in the world, there is death, heartbreak, deceit, racism, prejudice etc. This song stresses that everyone benefits from love and appreciation of everyone. It would bring a better world. This powerful message moves me every time, and has brought me to tears. It inspires me to treat others well, be filled with love, live judgement free, and pray for a better, more cohesive world in the future.

assignment 9

1. I think happiness and contentness go hand in hand. If you can be content with yourself, the people around you, and the way that you pass your time this brings you endless satisfaction. I dont think that you should have impossible expectations. Little things can bring you cheer. If you have a life full of love, you are good to go.

2. I define happiness in my life as relaxing, interesting and stress-free. School, money, work etc. can be stressful and time consuming. I am most happy when I can pass the time with my friends joking, being lazy, and laughing. I love doing and learning new things and planning activities. This can be seeing an interesting movie, visiting a museum, or doing a project like making a blanket.

3. My friends bring me the greatest source of happiness. My friends are always there for me when I need them. Soemtimes I think that they know me better than I know myself. We laugh endlessly and die laughing just thinking of some of the things we have done. Laughter makes me happy.

4. I think that family can have the greatest impact on each other's happiness. We live in such close quarters and know each other so well. Because of this sometimes it is too easy to take your anger out on them and take them for granted. Sometimes I will be mean to my mom for no reason and this makes her sad. However, when family gets along it is one of the happiest things of all.

5. My greatest need in life is to be carefree and loved. This comes back to my friends once again. The best friends I can ask for not only love me but share with me a zest for life, adventure, and a "let it be" attitude. I am most happy during the summer because this provides the perfect opportunity to be almost always carefree. Responsibilities like school and homework fall away.

Assignment 8

1. A day in the life of Katie Thibeau
2. The importance of friends
3. The bell- haiku poem
4. short story #1- Bittersweet Farewell
5. short story #2- Twisted Love
6. My dad and I (inspired by an in-class prompt)

Assignment 7

1. I like writing the daily prompts because I like variety. Each prompt is different and requires a different thought process. Some of the prompts brought up special memories I hadn't thought about for a long time.

2. I usually don't like writing short stories but I really liked the first one that I wrote this quarter. I was inspired by some real life experiances. I think I did a good job taking those experiences and making a story of it. I liked having freedom of topic. I was very surprised to find myself writing such a dark story but I think it was effective in its dramatics.

3. I have found that I like writing either way. I can be inspired by something in direction or when I am given freedom. I think that if you like writing you can find something to write about in any situation.

4. I would really like to write movie/ music/ book reviews. I think that reviews are fun to write because you get to express a personal opinion and hopefully they are helpful to others who read them. Reviews have alot of use in the real world and are practical.

Assignment 6- fear

Fear Questions:
1. Do you like to be scared? Why or why not? In what settings are you okay with being frightened?
I like to be scared, but only when I know that I am not in actual danger. I really love scary stories, horror movies and haunted houses. On the other hand things like roller coasters, attackers, and things that put me in physical danger, I don't like. It is fun to be scared and explore the twisted paths that the human mind can take and the way the mind can play tricks on you, in safety!!

2. What scares you? Are there things you fear? Are there things in our world you consider horrific? These do not have to be about ghosts or monsters. (One of Stephen King's bestselling horror novels was about a dog.) Perhaps you are afraid to ski or afraid of snakes. Maybe you hate being alone in your house at night. Maybe you are afraid of big cities. Where do your fears come from? Are you more scared by blood and guts terror or by subtle the possibility of something horrible happening?
I don't get scared easily or by rare things like shark attacks. However, I fear things that would hurt me most in the long run and are more likely, such as losing a family member, getting in a car crash or contracting a terminal illness. I think the most horrific thing that can happen to anyone is the loss of a loved one. Whether they die or you lose who they were to drugs, etc. this is a heart breaking situation. Cruel and despicable things like rape, murder and torture are horrific, as well as war and how it tears people apart. As far as scary movies, the more creative the scarier. The gore doesn't need to be over the top as long as the idea is twisted. The character must be extraordinarly deranged, or maybe just really spooky, like a witch or a creature. A movie liek The Saw is frightening because it contains blood and gore, but the plot is creative in the way that the killer sets up his traps and victims. You are on the edge of your seat.

3. What, in your opinion, is a good definition for madness? What would a person have to do to be considered "mad" by you?
To be considered "mad" to me you would have to do something that seems inhuman and heartless. This means that any sane human would have the emotional capacity and moral compass to prevent them from carrying out such mad acts. Serial killers, rapists, terrorists... they are mad because they harm other people (and the victim's families) in ways not deserved. You are mad if you aren't guilt ridden or aware of the horrible things you are doing. When your thoughts and actions are possessed by things unthinkable to most humans, you are mad.

4. Poe writes about a man driven to madness. What drives people to madness today in your opinion? How does someone go from seemingly normal to insane (at least temporarily)?
I think that people go insane or mad when they themselves are hurting so badly it seems unbearable. This may be caused by the loss of a family member, anger at the world, a broken heart etc. The person is so misreable that this turns into bitterness, evil thoughts and eventually evil or mad actions carried out. It can be a single moment or event, or it can be a long time of misery and pain slowing evolving into madness. That is what happened to the man in the "Black Cat". He was so unhappy that overtime he became more short tempered, evil and eventually came to resent the thing he used to love most (his cat). People are driven to madness because feeling angry is less searing and not as hard to face as depression and misery.

ASSIGNMENT 5

1. Original opener- This has to be it. Rock bottom. I am hurting so bad and I hutr people so bad. I had an effect on my family that I could have never forseen. It would be nice to keep telling myself what all the counslelors (namely Carrie) and motivational speakers would repeat over and over, "This is not your fault. Addiction is a disease, like cancer, it is a disease." But it isn't. Drugs are not cancer. There is a big glaring difference. Drugs you choose, consciously. For whatever reason, I chose to do drugs. Reasons that seemed fine at the time, even logical, have since been lost in the mess that I have created.

2. Sweat beads were dripping down my face. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably. In an instant, I felt vomit fill my throat and I ran to the bathroom.

3. Wall to wall, stacks of clothing, paper, and boxes filled the tiny apartment. A family of mice nested in the corner. The stench of garbage filled the air. The resident of this filthy hole had been to distracted to tend to the place in a very long time.

4. I forced my self up from my solitary position on the couch when the doorbell rang. I was torn between locking my self in the closet and opening the door and embracing the person behind it. Butterflies filled my stomach and I took a step towards the door. The closet can wait, I wanted to see my dealer and I needed my drugs.

5. Sara had always been the odd one in the family. She was never quite as tall, or quite as thin. Her hair was a mousy brown, while her parents and siblings had sunny blonde hair. They were all beautiful, social and confident. Sara was none of these things.