Masterpiece Reflection

Daniel Alvarez

Dr.Preston

Expos Comp & Writing

1 June 2014

Masterpiece Reflection

 A desk, book, a pen, a paper and a teacher standing in front of the class lecturing you on the lesson of the day. That is exactly what a traditional classroom looks like. Everything in today's society seems to evolve yet our classrooms maintain the same "old school" techniques. Pun intended. Luckily this class was a breath of fresh air. No books were handed out, and we had control of our class. It is called Open Source Learning. It's the evolution of our education. We learned new techniques, new ways to learn. Utilizing the internet and the rest of today's technology to expand our knowledge in today’s learning field.

     Opnsl is very independent. The class becomes less structured which in turn, can cause the students to feel a bit too much freedom. This is why it’s important for the teacher to trust his students. As well as the students earn their trust. Once the trust is built it is all smooth sailing.

     Throughout the year we were taught about expository writing and composition, but the great thing about opnsl is that we are not limited to that. We learned about life beyond the structured classroom, life beyond high school. Since day one we were lead up to the point of our masterpiece project. We were about to take the class into our own hands in order to teach about our interests and passion. Becoming a master at your topic takes time and work which is what helps you learn just how interested or in some cases, uninterested, you actually are.

     From day one I knew I wanted my project to be on cooking. I love it. It’s my greatest passion. The funny thing about presenting was the fact that I didn't get nervous at all speaking in front of the class because it was my field of knowledge. Normal classes force students to present on things that have no interest to them, incorporating their interests into that would greatly improve the outcomes. Presenting was exciting and rewarding. Being able to share my passion with others and imprinting the highlights of cooking on their minds was a great and satisfying feeling. This was by far the best way I have learned; teaching others about cooking taught me even more about it. Not only did I realize how much I know about it, I also realized that even after all the deep research and studying I am still eager to get out there and learn more about it.

     I think the unifying fact about our presentations is that we all learned more about ourselves then we did before. Whether we rediscovered our love for our masterpiece or found out that it wasn’t the route we wanted to take, we all learned something. Not forgetting to mention we all tested the limits of our work, seeing just how much we could challenge ourselves. In my opinion it paid off too, all the work opened up our eyes to realize that the future really isn't too far away. This class taught me so much about myself as well as the real world. Opnsl is definitely the most effective learning I had because to learn to teach and teach to learn.

Entry

Today was a long day. After writing the Should vs Must essay I had planned on coming home and working on my response essay. After I had gotten home I got a text from my mom telling me that my grandma was rushed to the ER because she had two blood clots, one in each lung. I got home not to long ago and sat down to write my response when I realized that the response that I was doing felt like I was writing about something that I really didn't care about. I intended to write about one of the options but it just wasn't feeling right. So this is me, writing about something that I do feel is worth writing about.

These past few months have been a challenge for my family. We found out my grandma has stage 4 lung cancer which had spread all over her body. Since then we have been on a never ending rollercoaster ride. Just two months ago my grandma was walking around, going to family birthday dinners and now she is confined to her bed and battles daily with aches and pains. The first month was probably the hardest because it was an adjustment. We hadn't ever gone through something like this before. She had been placed on tons of meds because one of the cancer masses was pushing so hard on her back that it fractured a disc.She started her chemo and of course she felt sick but we all assumed it was just part of the process. After she stopped eating and was vomiting continuously we all started to worry. She lost 17 pounds within a week and the doctor said if she continued to lose weight that he'd have to stop the chemo.

While all this was happening I would try to visit my grandma after school at least 3 or 4 times a week, asking friends to drop me off at her house or the hospital, where ever she was at the time. It was crazy seeing the shift of the dynamics at my grandparents house. My grandparents have been married for 50 years and they are as traditional as it gets, she does the house work while he goes to work and relaxes when he came home. Seeing my grandpa learn to wash clothes, cook his own food, and cater to my grandma was a change. He does whatever he can to make her happy or smile. Their love for each other is incredible and proves that love conquers all. As a week or two went by my grandma stopped going out to the living room and would remain in bed all day, my grandpa went out and bought her a brand new tv so she would be able to watch tv in HD.

The hardest thing about this battle is that their are good days and bad days. Dont get me wrong, im thankful for the good days, but at some point the good days give you hope only to be followed by the eerie reminder of the cancer inside her. Last week had been going good, she even considered going out to dinner for my grandpas 75th birthday. ( it was a big deal because she doesnt like going out in public because of the affects chemo had on her body) So yesterday when my grandpa birthday came along she had been having a bad day. Her breathing seemed short and she seemed to struggle. We brought my grandpa a steak dinner and he ate it in the kitchen while she was asleep in her bed. It was heartbreaking to see him eat alone. We sang happy birthday, ate cake yet the fact that my grandma wasn't truly there was in the back front of everyone's minds.

So today she was scheduled for an appointment to see how the chemo had been working. After her scan her doctor sent her to the ER. They found two clots in her lungs. One is blocking 2/3 of her artery making it hard to breathe. She was put into the critical care unit and was put on blood thinners in order to help dissolve the blood. All you can do at the hospital is wait. Waiting is hell. You are left wondering of the outcome, and hoping for the best. She was tired all day and seemed weak but I continued to remain hopeful. Visiting hours were over so we came home. Going home when a loved one is in the hospital isn't great. You're still "waiting" your just not confined to the visiting area. About an hour ago we were told that she had to be taken off the blood thinners because she was passing blood. Back to square one, waiting.

To be blunt, this situation is crap. It seems like every time we hope for good news we get bad news. Remaining positive throughout this whole situation hasn't been easy by any means but I do my best to keep a smile on my face for my mom and family members that aren't in good spirits. I guess what keeps me going is that I look at my grandmas life and its inspiring. She found true love, started a family that has expanded and grown, and she grew old with her husband. She has lived a great life and I can see it in her eyes that she loved her life and is content with it. Her strength give me hope, its keeps me going in hope that other people will see me still smiling and realize that even though things get rough it doesn't mean we need to stop being happy. Coping with the fact that she wont be here much longer is hard, but I want her to see me happy during this time. I want her last moment with me to be a positive experience not me being sad and negative.

I know this was way off topic, and its not much of a response. But I felt like it was more worth writing than a response on an article that I cant relate to at the moment. In this moment this is what matter to me. Writing this didn't seem like homework because it something that I am passionate about, something that I care about. I guess you can say this entry was my "Hack This Course" moment.

Is there an expert in the house?!

Successful people in my field is something that I look up to. While we are going through this senior masterpiece project I want to keep an "expert" in my field as motivation and an example to follow. What does an expert in culinary arts look like? I think that to be an expert in the culinary arts you must have made a name for yourself. You need to have done something or developed a style that is your style. Most experts would probably have to have a well paying job and should either be a sous, head or executive chef. I dont necessarily think that they need to have their own restaurant but i do think that they should be cooking at a restaurant with good reviews.

10 questions

1. What is you're biggest piece of advice for me?
2. If you could change one thing that you did what would it be, and  why?
3. What do I need to do to reach your level?
4. What kept you determined?
5. Some people say culinary school is a waster, what is your opinion?
6. What traits do you look for when hiring?
7. How do you manage your time?
8. What are your favorite things about you job?
9. What are your least favorite?
10. How can I improve my plan?

Fiction Analysis: Hunger Games

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.).  Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
The story begins on the day of the reaping. Katiniss' sister is chosen to be district 12's tribute but instead of her going Katniss volunteers as tribute in order to take her place. She gets sent to the capitol where they test her skills and they have the opening ceremonies. Once the gammes begin Katniss must fight to be the last man standing, until they say two people may win if they are from the same tribute. Both people from district 12 win and become as the "star-crossed lovers" The capitol sees Katniss as someone who is defiant and she has to do damage control when she gets back home.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
I think that the theme of the novel is that good people get put into bad situations, but we all need to make the best of every situation. Every person has what it takes to survive anything that they are put up against, they just need to have the power and will to go up against it.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The authors tone seems ominous right of the bat. When I was reading the story I felt like I could feel the darkness of the situation just by the ay she wrote.

"I never want to have kids," I say.
"I might. If  I didnt live here," says Gale.
"But you do," I say, irritarted.

"Everythings still and quiet. Then, almost eerily, the mockingjays take up my song"

"For a moment I sit there watching tears drip down on her face. Rue's cannon fires.I lean forward and press my lips against her temple. Slowly, as if not to wake her up, I lay her head back on the ground and release her hand."

CHARACTERIZATION 
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization.  Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
Two examples of indirect characterization are when Primm and Katniss are talking and Primm says that Katniss look beautiful and she replies with "and nothing like myself" this showed us that Katniss feels like she is trapped and constrained into being something that shes not. Another example is how we find out that Katniss is very motherly and nurturing. We find this out by her interactions with both Primm and Rue.
Two examplse of direct characterization are when they describe they physical features of both Gale and Katniss in the begining of the book. 
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.
I think that Katniss is very static, she doesn't change all too much. The situations she is put in change, but she never changes as a person and always stays true to herself. She is also very round and seems to be fully developed in the story.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction. 
Yes. After reading the book you feel like you know Katniss. The author did such a good job at the characterizing her. You feel for her, everything she went through want fair and at the end of the book you come away hoping she is safe.

New Blog

So first off I just started my food blog on tumblr. Please go check it out. I hope to update it pretty often so keep checking back at it. Im open to suggestions about it! please leave me any suggestions that you have about it. heres the link:  http://cyberkitchen.tumblr.com/

Resource and 5 Vocab words

My next resource is a blog that has been very succesful. http://acozykitchen.com the reason I chose it as a resource is because it has been around for awhile and has become very succesful. I remember when I was younger I would go on a website called stumble upon which would take you to randomn websites based on your interests, hobbies, etc.. Now that I want to start my own blog it would be perfect for me to use as a reference/example.

Vocabulary

1.html: Hypertext Markup Language, a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, color, graphic, and hyperlink effects on World Wide Web pages.

2.froth: a mass of small bubbles in liquid caused by agitation, fermentation, etc.; foam.

3.emulsion:a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.

4. Dredge:sprinkle (food) with a powdered substance, typically flour or sugar.

5. Starch:an odorless tasteless white substance occurring widely in plant tissue and obtained chiefly from cereals and potatoes. It is a polysaccharide that functions as a carbohydrate store and is an important constituent of the human diet

Vocab 1

 Inevitably: sure to occur, happen, or come; unalterable

Turbot: a European flatfish, Psetta maxima, having a diamond-shaped body: valued as a food fish.

Salsify: Tragopogon porrifolius, whose root has an oyster-like flavor and is used as a culinary vegetable.

Curing: To preserve (meat, for example), as by salting, smoking, or aging.

Gastronomic: the art or science of good eating 

Stagiaire(Stagiaires): An internship is a method of on-the-job training for white-collar and professional careers.

Honing: sharpen with a whetstone.

Polyglot:knowing or using several  languages.

Pare: To remove the outermost skin of a fruit or vegetable.

Launch

So this is my launch. Im not exactly sure where Im launching to, or how long I will be going, but this is me launching. For this project I wanted to use the same method we have been using all year, a blog, but this time around the blog will be all about my interest and passion for cooking and becoming a chef. I have created a blog, and once I work out all the kinks and have it set up to my liking (should be done sometime this week) I will begin to post various things about my passion. I want it to serve as almost a journal for me. I want to teach, but at the same time I want to learn from others. I want it to be a two way street. My main goal for this blog is to get the readers to be able to post just as much as I do on the blog. It can also begin to serve as a learning network for other people like me, we can all learn off eachother, forming new ideas and thoughts based off of one another. I want their to be tabs for kitchen vocabulary terms and their meanings, conversions, recipes, in season produce, etc. Hopefully this blog can become a site that keeps readers coming back.

Launch

So this is my launch. Im not exactly sure where Im launching to, or how long I will be going, but this is me launching. For this project I wanted to use the same method we have been using all year, a blog, but this time around the blog will be all about my interest and passion for cooking and becoming a chef. I have created a blog, and once I work out all the kinks and have it set up to my liking (should be done sometime this week) I will begin to post various things about my passion. I want it to serve as almost a journal for me. I want to teach, but at the same time I want to learn from others. I want it to be a two way street. My main goal for this blog is to get the readers to be able to post just as much as I do on the blog. It can also begin to serve as a learning network for other people like me, we can all learn off eachother, forming new ideas and thoughts based off of one another. I want their to be tabs for kitchen vocabulary terms and their meanings, conversions, recipes, in season produce, etc. Hopefully this blog can become a site that keeps readers coming back.

LITERARY ANALYSIS

Topics/Events

1. (A) the book is about a group of Navy SEALS that go on a mission that ends with only one of them surviving. Throughout the book we see the violence they endured and the struggles that they had to go through. The book ends with only one man surviving. We see each SEAL die and it is a very sad and emotionally charged story. It is written by the sole survivor and we get first hand accounts of what happened. The author of the story is good at connecting you to the story.

    (B) the main message of the book seems to be that life is taken for granted. We live in a country freely. Not thinking about what people go through for us to have our freedom. People die for our freedom. We forget that.

2. I think the main reason that the book was written was in order to honor the authors fallen soldiers, his squad. He loved his men. They trusted each other with their lives. Cherish the moments you have now. We got to see what SEALS are challenged with. It gave us a glimpse into a life I can't imagine living. It put things into perspective.

3. I had been hearing many people talking about how amazing the movie was so I figured the book would be just as good if not better. I love history and war stories so the book automatically appealed to me. I think the fact that the characters were introduced so quickly and directly kept me reading. I felt like they were relateable and it kept me connected to the story. 

4. I found the book to be very realistic and very true. It was written in a first hand account. Everything was raw and real. You imagine as a fictional storyline but then you remember it actually happened to someone and you're left shocked that these things truly happen. It's crazy to imagine someone that you know having to be put throught that, it's unimaginable. 

People

1. Clearly the author was emotionally connected to all the characters. He loved his squad. He only talked good about them. The way he spoke about them showed just how much he cared. He wrote the book to honor his fallen soldiers. The authors tone seemed to remain the same, he was always thankful for life. It was almost like the book was written to show appreciation to his squad. 

2. Mike Murphy was in his twenties. He was a hockey player and was known to be a smartass. Yet he was respectful and determined as well. He loved to read and was very intelligent. 

Matthew Axelson aka Axe was "six feet four inches with piercing blue eyes and curly hair" he was smart, professional, athletic, and one of those people that was good at anything they tried. He had a rough side when he was at battle but his family and friends at home only knew the calm cheerful side of him.

3. I think that the main reason that I wrote about these two people from the book was because when I first read the book i was able to imagine them. They just seemed so relateable. Someone that I could hangout with. When you read a book and are able to imagine knowing the person it makes the book so much more appealing and keeps you coming back to read.

4. In the first chapter of the book we are introduced to the squad. He describes and lists both physical and personal qualities of all his squad members. "six feet four inches with piercing blue eyes and curly hair" this was and example of the direct charachterization. When describing one of the men he used a story of their swim test to  indirectly show the determination of one of the guys. He also would bring up physical qualities. He told us about how they would grow beards to look less American, which would indirectly tell us that they were going to to whatever was necessary to survive.

5. When the author would talk about the characters he would seem to love to talk about them. He would ramble on about certaint characteristics of each individual and he seemed happier. He would talk about good memories he had with the men, whether it'd be staying up all night laughing because they couldn't get sleep or growing up with his brothers best friend and now serving in war with him. It almost seemed like he liked to brag about his squad and show them off.

6. I think that the protagonist is probably more dynamic than he is static. He goes through a lot of personal and emotional changes through the story. He has to go from depending on his team to then depending only on himself, then he has to depend on what looks like the enemy but are really good people. I think that he is also a round character. He went into the SEALS knowing what he was getting into so I think that he had already been fully developed and a man and a character.

7. Yes. The book totally had made me feel like I met the characters. The author did such a good job at using imagery and he used so many details to both directly and indirectly evolve he character into a person. The story was so good and really was one of the best at characterization.

Style

1. It's hard. He used some of both. He used some symbolism like the paint swatch but he would also use a journalistic style. He would tell the story exactly how it was when he was there so it gave it a journalistic feel. I think I'd say it was more journalistic that it was fictitious.

2. Again I'd have to say both. He used a lot of lengthy descriptions but he would also use dialogue. He was very good at getting lots of imagery and details in. The story had a way of pulling you in and creating pictures in your mind.

3. He used a lot of imagery and charged language 

4. The author was just trying to get his story out the entire time I think he was doing it to honor them. It was like he would push tons of his focus into them. He made them out to be heros. He also was positive at the end when he was being helped by the community that was revolting against the enemies.

5. He mostly offered memories or stories about his and their lives. He didn't really offer too much articles or any of that. I don't think it would have made much difference. To me a fiction book doesn't really need to have evidence because it doesn't have any affect on the story.

Enduring memory

 I think that one of the biggest thing I will take away from this book is the fact that we need to give more respect and appreciation to the men and women's that serve our country and fight for our freedom. We have one or two days a year where we pay homage to the people but after reading this book they deserve so much more. They face things that I could never imagine or even bare to think of. We need to make it so that our vets don't end up on the streets like so many do. They deserve so much more that what most get and end up with.

HAFTA/WANNA

    I think that there is many similarities between life during and kife after highschool. But at the same time it is a whole different spectrum when you really think about it. In highschool we are constantly working for the goal of going off to college or a better education while after highschool you try to find the better job and earn a new promtion. We are also surrounded by people in school that we may or may not get along with but we need to learn to cope with them in order to stay out of trouble. In jobs after highschool you will need to do the same thing as well. Highschool seems to be like a testing ground for real life after school. We are put into situations that happen in post school life but in highschool we have the chance to make mistakes with less reprocussions then we would if we had to deal with it in real life. 

Profile in Courage

    The movie we watched in class today caught my attention roght when it started. The movie opens with a guy struggling to get ready because his legs are paralyzed. It then shows the same guy working on his wheelchair. Its puts in to perspective that other people have struggles that we cant even begin to imagine. After that scene it cuts to a scene of other men that have the same issue as he does. Then they show all the men at a gym playing wheelchair rugby. We learn that the star player of the USA team was getting older so he didn't make the team. He was angry that he didnt make the team so he picked up and moved to Canada to coach their team. The two teams finally come face to face when they play eachother. Canada won and USA had lost for the first time in years.

    The beginning of the movie has a lot of meaning to it. Firstly I think that it is amazing that these people all have been somehow been paralyzed and theystill don't let  that stop them from anything. Not only do they accomplish all these things they also practice to become the best that they can. It also shows us the other side. The former USA player, Canada's coach, shows us how hard rejection is. In any athletes life at somepoint they become too old to play. When this happened to him he took it as though it was his handicap that was the reason. It shows how its always gonna affect them

Profile in Courage

    The movie we watched in class today caught my attention roght when it started. The movie opens with a guy struggling to get ready because his legs are paralyzed. It then shows the same guy working on his wheelchair. Its puts in to perspective that other people have struggles that we cant even begin to imagine. After that scene it cuts to a scene of other men that have the same issue as he does. Then they show all the men at a gym playing wheelchair rugby. We learn that the star player of the USA team was getting older so he didn't make the team. He was angry that he didnt make the team so he picked up and moved to Canada to coach their team. The two teams finally come face to face when they play eachother. Canada won and USA had lost for the first time in years.

    The beginning of the movie has a lot of meaning to it. Firstly I think that it is amazing that these people all have been somehow been paralyzed and theystill don't let  that stop them from anything. Not only do they accomplish all these things they also practice to become the best that they can. It also shows us the other side. The former USA player, Canada's coach, shows us how hard rejection is. In any athletes life at somepoint they become too old to play. When this happened to him he took it as though it was his handicap that was the reason. It shows how its always gonna affect them

Vocab

adumbrate- to foreshadow vaguely.

apotheosis-  elevate to divine status

ascetic- practicing strict as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline

bauble- a small ornament (trinket)

beguile- to lead by deception

burgeon-  to send forth new growth

complement-  something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect 

contumacious-  stubbornly disobedient

curmudgeon- a , ill-tempered, and usually old man

didactic- designed or intended to teach

My Choice

     In life we are encountered with choices on a daily bases. Whether it be a little choice or a life impacting choice, we make decisions everyday. 

     One of the hardest decisions I have been involved with was deciding to put down my dog. She was a dog that I had had as long as I could remember. She was only 6 when we found out that she had very bad arthritis. Some of her joints would get so bad that she would have to walk on only her two front paws. The hard part was that she didn't seem like she was in pain, but we knew she was. When she got worse we knew that we were going to have to make some sort of decision. 

    Either we would have to keep buying her medicine and hope that it would contiue tobease the pain, or we would have to have her put down. It was hard on our whole family. We treat are dogs like they are  our family. When we were asked the decision I think we all kinda knew what was best but no one wanted to say it. If we continued to give her the medicine it would only help the pain, not get rid of it. We all knew that she was in pain and that she was constantly uncomfortable. We all decided that we would have her put down. Even though we all wanted to keep her alive as long as we could we knew that that wasnt fairnto her.

      Making choices like that never gets easier.  It makes you think. You have to put careful consideration into all the different aspects and possible outcomes. At the end of the day avoiding hard decisions is inevitable. Life is about making decisions. It is part of growing up and helps build maturity. Choices will always come up.

The Choice

1. What is the "choice" referred to in the title?
The choice that is being referred to in the title is the choice that five year old Rebecca must make. Whether to take her "poison" or not. 

2. Is it a real choice?  Why/why not?  What is the alternative?

Thats a hard question. It is a choice. Its not really her choice. Her parents are the ones making the medical decisons. Rebeccas choice is whether she takes it herself, or has its shoved down her throat.

3. Why does the author use the word poison in the first line?

To get his point across. The word poison makes more of a point than medicine. Medicine seems like a cure. This isnt. This kills cells. Good and bad cells. It is poison. 

4. The author's daughter wants to play with a toy that is intended for older kids.  Why?  Do you agree with her?  
She wants to play with these toys because she feels that she wont live to be an older kid. Yes and no. I know that if I was in her position I would be thinking the same thing, but if I was her parents Im not sure I would want her to play with these toys because then thats almost like validating her idea.

5. If you thought you might not live to the age of 30 what would you want to do right now?
I would want to travel. Live life to the fullest woth no regrets and no fears. We take things for granted unless we are reminded not to, or have a reason not to. We should live life to the fullest everyday rather  than only when reminded by a person ir story.

6. Under what circumstances does it make sense to endure discomfort--or even force it on a loved one-- in service to a greater/more important cause?
For me itd be a very circumstancial decision. I honestly wouldnt be able to decide unless I was actually put in a position. The only time i think it is ok is is it is 100% the right decision ans the choice that would lead to better health or stability

7. Is suffering a necessary condition of life and love?
Yes. To me I think we all need to suffer at one point in our lives in order to put things into perspective. I know that I take things for granted. Yet for some reason it never sets into my mond. But I think that once you go through something like that you have better views on the value of life. 

8. Most readers don't share the author's circumstances, but we feel an emotional response to his words.  Why?

I dont want to say its relateable because I feel like thats the wrong usage. We all know a five year old. We all know how most five year olds are care free. So to here about the things this chd worries about and has to endure is devastating.