Joseph McCarthy was born in a Catholic family in 1908 as the fifth of nine children. At age 14 McCarthy dropped out of school, but returned when he was 20 years old in 1928. He then attended Marquette University and received a degree in law. Although was a Democrat n his early years McCarthy switched to the Republican party after a failed election as district attorney. McCarthy served as a circuit court judge until serving as a marine from 1942-1945 in World War II. McCarthy became a senator in 1946 after he returned from the war. In 1950 McCarthy claimed that 205 communists had infiltrated the U.S State Department. He then spent his whole career trying to prove that communists were everywhere in the US. Joseph used they people of America's fear of communists to stay elected and promote more fear of the US government and communists being everywhere around them. 

   This past week was interesting. I really enjoyed brainstorming ideas and coming up with a plot line for act IV of A Raisin in the Sun. I didn't expect it to be enjoyable but it really surprised me and as one of the few times I actually enjoyed narrative writing. Friday I also enjoyed watching Kaila's film. It is really exciting that she was involved  in something like that.I wouldn't mind doing something like that myself. Overall, this week in 8th period honors American Lit. was enjoyable as always.

A Raisin in the Sun-Act IV

Scene one

One month later.

    At curtain it opens up to outside the YOUNGER’S old apartment. MAMA is gazing at the place she and her husband raised a family and in turn her son began raising his family.  This was where all if her memories of her husband lay and it was time to say goodbye. She slowly walked up the stairs and stood in front of the door she had walked through so many times before.

JOHNSON   Lena? What are you doing back over here?

MAMA (exasperated) Just saying my last good bye

JOHNSON  Oh well I understand you and Walter did raise your whole family here. I wonder how he would feel about y’all moving to Clybourne Park.

MAMA He always wanted the best for his family.

JOHNSON (with doubt) I'm sure he did, but do you think he would want y'all over there getting bombed?

MAMA (tiredly) I am sure he would want what was best.

JOHNSON (alluding to) I would sure love to see the new house one day

MAMA (not quite smugly)  I'm sure you would.

(Mama starts to slowly walk away)

JOHNSON I surely would

MAMA (trying to get away smoothly) Well I am going to get myself back to Clybourne Park.

JOHNSON Alright then Lena, make sure you have me over sometime

(Mama still walking slowly backward edging closely to the stairs)

MAMA (distantly) Alright

(MAMA moves backwards again only to stumble and fall down the stairs. Her old frail bones cracking as her body tumbled down the stairs. As she rolled off the last step her body fell slump against the pavement.)

Curtain

Scene Two

 It is the following week. Everyone at the YOUNGER house is in a desolate mood. TRAVIS, WALTER, RUTH, and BENEATHA are all sitting in there sunny living room.

RUTH (sitting next to WALTER with her hand on his) She had a wonderful life and she got her dream house - (gesturing around her).

WALTER ( distantly) Yeah she did. (With new confidence) I am the head of this house now so that means some things are about to change around here.

BENEATHA (stubbornly) Just because Mama is gone doesn't mean that you are in charge

WALTER (sternly) How are you going to run this family? You gonna quit school and stop messing around with all this African crap and get a job?

BENEATHA I was just saying that you don't get to be the head of this family just because you say so.

WALTER Are you gonna do it?

BENEATHA We can all do it.

RUTH We just all need to calm down and maybe wait awhile before we talk about this. We just buried Lena just let the air clear.

WALTER I am going to do what I have to.

Curtain

Scene Three

 That night WALTER goes and meets with ISAIAH JOHNSON, who unbeknownst to most is a dangerous drug lord.

WALTER Isaiah I really appreciate you speaking with me

ISAIAH  Its no problem Walter. I understand that the loss of your mother is taking a toll on the family.

WALTER Well I was just wondering if I could work for you

ISAIAH Are you sure you want to do that. Once you start I won’t let you go easy. I know you are a strong man that is willing to do for his family.

WALTER I will do anything to become the man I need to be.

Curtain

     This week in American Literature II there was an interesting class. Our class, although always interesting had a lot of fun this week. As a class we are learning more about what to expect from each other and everyone's various personalities. Reading A Raisin in the Sun was very entertaining to the whold class. The vatious people that portrayed the characters were sometimes a perfect fit and sometimes not so much. Either way it was still a fun class to be in. This week American Lit II was still not a dreaded class to go to and still holds my highest regards for the class.

Lesson: Redundancy
Jaunai Parson


THE FACTS: Redundancy, defined in the dictionary as the "superfluous repetition or overlapping of words"

WHY IT'S CONFUSING: This is confusing beacause when you pay  an excessive amount of attention to unnecessary details. Focus on the substance of what you're trying to say through writing.

HOW TO REMEMBER: The best way to remember is to just give the most clear and concise details when writing.

Review orally in class:
1. 12 midnight
2. each and every
3. The sky was blue.

Try these on your own, then ask the teacher or a friend to review:
1. There were three astronauts on every Apollo moon mission
2. All things being equal, the leaders of the Students Union Association will consider the argument, and make their final decision by vote on Wednesday next week at an open meeting.

3. "Above all, there is, of course, absolutely no need indeed to decorate your sentence with words and phrases of emphasis if, without them, the sentence undeniably is indeed equally capable of stressing your point."

Finally, try these for homework.
1. She got up each and every day and went to the most expensive store.

2. Each day I have juice
3.The trees in the forest created a cover of shrubbery

Citation:  http://www.gradesaver.com/writing-help/removing-redundancy-writing-clearly-and-concisely/

September 3, 2013


My neighborhood

     This morning when I woke, the day was already off to a beautiful start. The trees were billowing in the wind. The sun was shining and it started out to be a wonderful day. I decided to go exploring around the city. I came across a neighborhood called Beverly.

     Beverly seemed very calm and serene. There were beautiful houses everywhere both extravagant and simple. All with manicured lawns and greenery. The streets were clean and clear except for a child running through. The streets are lined with cars of people that don't have monetary worries. There are sleek cars as well as family oriented mini vans. The bikes and children roaming the street signify the security and safety that come along with living in this neighborhood.

     The community seems like a good place for families to settle down and raise their families. I see many schools as I pass through. The children seem joyous as if they know that they are able to be happy and free. They have minimal worries to burden them and they know that everything is going to be alright. Throughout the neighborhood mothers push their children in strollers and ones that are able to walk do. They go for ice cream in a place that everyone knows to be the best you can get anywhere, but can only get there. Life is joyous and the people were content with their lives.

     The streets are very quaint and almost like a small community of friends and families that just want to live there life and be happy. As I was passing through the street with the amazing ice cream I see an old friend, Hannah.

       "Hi Hannah, what are you doing over this way?"

       "I live in Beverly"

       "Really? I never knew that."

       "Yeah I have lived here all my life."

       "Wow. What is it like living here?"

        "It is fun. There is always something going on in the community. Everyone knows everyone so there always someone to talk to. It is really laid back place to live most times people wear sweat pants, yoga pants, or just jeans and a t-shirt."

      "It sounds like a really nice place to live."

      "It is. Well I will see you later."

      "Bye."

     "See you."

     I kept on walking after I finished my conversation with Hannah just wandering through. I saw what seemed like a great community filled with great people, with exceptions, and a great place to live. I figured this neighborhood was one I wouldn't mind living in.

 

Weekly Review #1

   This week in 8th period honors American Lit I learned a little about Mr. Rehak and his styles of teaching. I believe I have a lot more to learn about him and what he expects of us as students. I have also gotten to know the class more as a whole. There are some interesting people in it I would say, but they all seem intelligent. This class being the last class of the day there are some very unique conversations and responses, but this is one class do not dread going to. Overall, I would say Ioved the class so far, but who knows what is to become of it. At least I know my grammar will improve greatly.