EVERYONE HAS A STORY: Know Thyself, Understand Thy Neighbor

Communication break-down can occur at any time and in many different settings.
There's Group Project Anxiety: everyone has great ideas at discussion meetings, but you feel like the only one with a sense of urgency to get any actual work done.  There's Discussion Frustration: whenever you engage in a discussion with your group, you feel as if your thoughts and ideas are not valued or brushed aside with no regard to your feelings.  And finally, there is just sheer information overload: why is it that after a full day of school, you feel completely zapped of energy, consumed by an overwhelming need to be where people are not?

We all realize that we are social creatures.  We seek out and thrive within interpersonal relationships.

We long to be heard and appreciated, to create and explore.  This is probably not new information.  Rewarding as they may be, however, relationships of every type are complex and not without their difficulties.  People are different.  Where we come from, our experiences, our beliefs, and our DNA all go into who we are, how we see and interpret the world, and how we communicate.

Many corporations have invested large sums of money on consultants with one goal in mind:  to improve inter-office communication and efficiency.  Where do you begin?  The communicators, themselves!  Knowing who you are helps you to better understand how and why you communicate the way that you do.  Knowing who your co-workers are can help you better understand how to communicate with them more effectively and efficiently.

So, as Aristotle taught centuries ago, we will begin by seeking the wisdom that comes from knowing ourselves.  Here is a link to a personality inventory:  http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test  Once you complete the test, you can have your results emailed to yourself and you can read all about your personality type: how you relate to others, how others see you, how you work, etc.

The test takes about 20 minutes, but it provides a wealth of information as it analyzes four distinct areas of personality and then adds a fifth area that analyzes overall identity.  It is created from a combination of the infamous Myers/Briggs and Carl Jung's Theory of Psychological Types.  The four areas are explained as follows:

1.  Introversion vs Extroversion: (I vs. E) This is more than just "shy" vs. "outgoing."  In fact,

according to Jung, it is really not about that at all.  It has to do more with where you get your energy.  Do you find yourself getting energized when you are around others, or do you find that you need to be away from people to re-energize?
2.  Intuitive vs. Sensing: (N vs. S) Intuitives are creative, imaginative and curious individuals who are open-minded.  They tend to go with novelty over stability and see/feel possibilities.  They tend to have strong discernment in new situations.  Sensing or Observant individuals are practical, pragmatic and down to earth.  They tend to have strong habits and rather than going with their gut, they are more focused on what has happened or what is happening.

3.  Feeling vs. Thinking: (F vs. T) Feeling individuals are sensitive and emotionally expressive.  They are more empathetic and tend to be less competitive than T's.  They tend to focus on social harmony

and cooperation.   Thinkers focus on objectivity and rationality, prioritizing logic over emotion.  They tend to hide their feelings and value efficiency over cooperation.

4.  Judging vs. Perceiving or Prospecting: (J vs. P)  Judging personalities are decisive, thorough and highly organized.  They value clarity, predictability and closure preferring structure and planning to spontaneity.  Perceiving individuals are good at improvising and spotting opportunities.  They are flexible, relaxed, non-conformists who prefer to keep their options open.

Identity Variables of Assertive vs. Turbulent: (A vs. T)Assertive types are confident, self-assured and pretty resistant to stress.  They do not push themselves too hard.  The turbulent types are self-conscious and sensitive to stress. They are perfectionistic types who experience a wide array of emotions.

So, test away, and then....
1.  IDENTIFY YOUR FOUR LETTER PERSONALITY, then put a dash, and A OR T   http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
2.  COMMENT ON ANY SURPRISES OR EXPECTATIONS.
3.  NOW,  click this link, and find out if you are more left or right-brained, and let me know your results!  https://www.arealme.com/left-right-brain/en/
4.  Finally, for those who have not had Mr. Lin, here is a quiz to determine your Harry Potter House.  :)  https://www.gotoquiz.com/pottermore_sorting_quiz_all_possible_question

 For example:  I am an INFJ - T.   This was absolutely no surprise to me, but a big surprise to those who know me, as I come across as an extrovert (SO not true!)   I think this is because I am a people pleaser, a trait I am working hard on to mellow.  I am also a J, but BARELY.  I need to feel organized in my environment, but DO NOT open any of my desk drawers!  They show my true, mostly right-brained (although it is close!), messy creativity!  Finally, I am 84% House of Gryffindor.  Now, it's your turn!


*Images by:  Kim Anderson Photography,  All rights reserved.

WORDS TO THE WISE: Sage Advice from the Class of 2019 to a NEW Generation of IB Language and Literature Scholars

Well, it is hard to believe, but we are almost to the close of another year at Odyssey.  Soon, we will be blowing a kiss and waving a tearful farewell to the Class of 2019.  As we gear up for a summer assessment for year 2 OR our very first year of DP Language and Literature, they will be zipping up their gowns, donning their cords, and looking forward to the next phase of their exciting life journey: college, career, military service...wherever their dreams take them...

This is a tough goodbye for me.  Not only is one of my own children among this group, but also,

many of them were in my very first 5th-grade class at Odyssey.   I had the honor and privilege of teaching them Language and Literature (and, for one year, History) in 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, and 12th grade!   They have, no doubt, learned a great deal over these past four-plus years; not just academically, mind you, but also in the realms of life skills, cultivating and nurturing relationships, and through both their trials and tribulations.

It is for this reason that great reflection is in order; reflection that can help our next generation of upperclassmen--juniors and seniors--as they navigate through similar waters and build upon their knowledge as IB scholars.   So, here it is, advice from your seniors to you:  those who have successfully reached the summit of IB Language and Literature in the DP program will give you pieces of the map and a compass to guide YOU on your journey.  They have officially and successfully finished both years of study, so really take their words to heart!  And to you seniors who are quoted here, please know that I have learned just as much, if not more, from working with you as you did in this classroom.  I don't know what I will do without you after all these years, but I am ALWAYS and FOREVER in your corner, cheering you on, through all of life's challenges and celebrations!  LOTS of love, gratitude, prayer and pride to YOU from me!

Buckle up, here we go...

Do your best to turn your work in on time, it’s easy to fall behind or get overwhelmed.

You may not always like your FOA group, but just listen and try to work together as a team.

Use critical friends, they honestly see the flaws you can’t.

Ask for help when you need it! Don’t be embarrassed, your teachers are literally there to help

you with whatever you may need, even if it seems stupid!

Keep your notebooks from both years. YOU WILL NEED THEM! and....Oh my God, do the blog! Set a reminder for blogs, they really impact your grade and you will forget.

Be creative and have fun with the Written Task 1’s!

Actually take the time to read the books and texts...you might be surprised at how much you enjoy them!

Don’t be afraid to voice your ideas

Go to the plays, they are great and SO worth your time

If you’re sick, facetime someone in the class

If you aren’t enjoying the class, THEN YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

Listen to every lecture with curiosity. View them as your chance to learn something new or to reflect on how it pertains to your prior knowledge. Soak up all of that information! -Grace Bronder

Enjoy the moment. High school goes by very quickly, so, take time to live in the present or else you’ll miss it.

Keep up with the reading assignments. It will help you with your assessments and your DP exam. However, if you have trouble reading quickly, find an audiobook and listen along as you annotate the novel.

Have a supportive friend group - Kassie

If I’ve learned anything today, it’s that anything is possible and you should always follow your dreams. - Thomas Cooke

Don’t put off your written task, the critical friends really helps and as much as you can bring to it, it will help your grade out. Mrs. Caraway appreciates it when you type up your papers in Times New Roman, pt. 12 font.

Stay attentive. The most regretful thing you could do is not to pay attention in class. Year 2 is incredibly fun and interesting. The topics that we talk about are things you bring home and talk about with anyone that just so happens to be next to you. So, do take my advice and pay attention.

Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say....and don't overthink things TOO much.

Always show up!!!!! Don’t wait until the last minute to do your Written Tasks you will instantly regret it… Trust me. Don’t be afraid to be outspoken. Pay attention to the outcomes for each part. Invest time into the books you read, you’ll like them more and won’t feel like written tasks are a drag.

I HIGHLY recommend actually buying the physical books, versus online! It’s so much easier to follow along, and remember valuable quotes if you have the book in your hand.

ANNOTATE YOUR BOOK. Mark where the quotes are with something so you won't be digging for them for the summative, or as Mrs. Caraway calls it: The Great Quote Hunt of 2019.

Do your share on the FOA or you’ll be hated by groupmates forever. Just put in some effort.

This course has taught me how to look at the plots and characters included in these pieces of literature in many different ways, and has taught me the importance of stepping outside of myself to analyze a situation.  I have found a love for tearing apart texts and trying to understand what the author is telling me, the reader, through going through the list of important stylistic elements. Because of this, I am now able to understand the importance of identifying the author’s intentions, but also how these intentions affect the reader and his or her interpretation of the text. 

Don’t panic about the IOC, it’s not as bad as you think!

Try to keep your notebook organized, you will get a lot of excerpts and papers you could use for the test or other things in class.

If you plan to go on a field trip, or miss class for ANY reason, talk to her first.

If you are planning Senior Ditch Day, or know when it is going to happen, TELL HER. She won't be mad if you give her a week's notice, so she can plan your class accordingly. EVERYTHING she plans in this class is honestly and totally FOR YOU!!

Be nice to each other and maintain a positive environment!!! Mean people make high school sad :(

HAVE A FANTASTIC YEAR!! You will LOVE this class...I guarantee, it will be a favorite. Mrs. Caraway is passionate about the literature and the language. You will get so much out of it if you put in the time and energy, I promise. :)

Okay, now it's time to reflect and respond!

Future Year 2 scholars: What piece of advice above really resonates with you? What advice or words of reflection would you like to add?

Year 1 Scholars: WELCOME!! What words of advice do you find most helpful? The most interesting? What do you see as your greatest challenges and fears, AND your greatest source of anticipation and excitement? Why are you here, and what do you hope to get out of this course?

HUMOR, HOMAGE, AND HUMILIATION: Explaining and Differentiating Between Literary Intentions

Ever since Alanis Morissette released her song "Ironic," people have started buzzing about the true

meaning of certain literary terms and whether or not they are truly being used properly in context.
Irony confuses, and like the two p's and satire, which will be addressed momentarily, it depends somewhat on the intention of the writer or speaker.

Irony requires an opposing meaning between what's said and what's intended.  Stop.  Think about that for a long moment.  Even the definition is somewhat head-scratching, so if you often find yourself confused by irony, you're in excellent company.  One of the confounding factors of irony isn't just that its definition is a bit, well, complex, but also the sheer number of possibilities for correct usage.  It's bad enough that irony is hard to grasp but now add to that fact that there are, in fact, a multitude of definitions for different forms of irony, including verbal, dramatic, and cosmic. The sheer plethora of ways ironic can be used meaningfully suggests that is something of a "catch-all" for a situation that seems odd, upsetting or amusing.  Enter Ms. Morissette...

If it rains on your wedding day, that may be seen as a coincidence, but not irony.  However, if you moved your wedding to an indoor venue because the forecast predicted rain, but the day turned out to be sunny, and then the sprinkler system at your venue malfunctioned and doused the ceremony with water, so you all get wet, after all, THAT'S ironic.  If you win the lottery and drop dead before claiming the money, that is simply good luck followed by bad luck.  If you meet the man of your dreams and then meet his beautiful wife, that's just a bummer.  But if, then, a song called "Ironic" contains no irony, is that in and of itself ironic?  Nope...not really.  It may just be an example of ignorance.  It depends on the creator's intent.  So if Alanis purposely wrote a song about irony with no ironic content at all, is THAT ironic?  We are getting closer...

Here are six ways to look at Irony:

1.  VERBAL IRONY:  when a speaker or writer is intentionally using words that literally convey the opposite of their true beliefs, generally for the purpose of "cosmic" emphasis (sarcasm).  In fact, there is a strong overlap between sarcasm and comic irony.  Example:  Saying "Oh, that's just fantastic," when the situation is really poor.  OR Dimmesdale's sermons about how sinful he is, and how he deserves disgust resulting in the congregation loving him and following him even more.

2.  SITUATIONAL IRONY:  A sharp divergence between expectations or perceptions and reality.  Expectations, of course, often differ from results, but to rise to the state of irony, the gulf between them should be vast and the contrast sharp.  (See the wedding example above with Ms. Morissette's song breakdown).

3.  DRAMATIC IRONY:  Perhaps the easiest to understand as its use is so specialized.  The device in which the reader or audience is tipped off to a crucial fact still unknown to one or more of the characters.  Example:  The audience and friar know that Juliet isn't really dead, but Romeo doesn't.

4.  COSMIC IRONY:  Not very often used.  It denotes the idea that the fates are against us, if not indifferent to us, and that our struggles are the result of higher forces amusing themselves at our expense.  Example:  The owner declared of the Titanic, "God, Himself, cannot sink this ship."  Well, you can infer the rest.

5.  HISTORICAL IRONY:  Some things become ironic with time.  If the passage of years creates an amusing juxtaposition between a historical event or claim and what has happened since to contradict it.  Example:  Isn't it ironic that the inventor of the machine gun thought his new weapon would end all war?"  Answer:  YES! It is, in fact, historically ironic. :)

6.  SOCRATIC IRONY:  The pretense of ignorance used to draw an opponent into slipping up or revealing flaws in their argument.  Example:  She used socratic questioning in order to enable him to realize the holes in his emphatic argument.

How's that for confusing?  If that isn't enough, irony is only one way to bring in humor or thought-provoking elements in literature.  There are also parody, pastiche, and satire....Buckle up, here we go!

PARODY:  An imitative work created to mock, comment on or trivialize an original work, its subject author, style or some other target, by means of imitation. Example:  The movie "Airplane" is a parody of 1970's disaster movies.  Example #2: Most everything created by Weird Al Yankovic.

PASTICHE:  A work of visual art, literature, or music that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists.  Unlike parody, the intention of pastiche is to celebrate rather than mock. Example:  Many modern artists seek to produce works of impressionism in homage to Renoir and Monet, who are very much beloved.

SATIRE:  A genre of literature and art in which the vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations or society, itself, into improvement.  Although funny, its intention is to shame or offer constructive social criticism.  Examples:  The Daily Show, most political cartoons

Just for fun, the definition of cynicism, or cynical, is an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest.  It is a form of skepticism that often leads to the production of satire.

There you have it!  Here's to understanding the various ways authors, speakers, poets and artists humor us, pay homage to us, and humiliate us in all sorts of creative and confounding ways!

I have attached the Morissette song for you to evaluate, armed with your new knowledge of irony.  I have also attached two very funny little videos for your enjoyment.  Reply with the following:

1.  Did you find any examples of true irony in the Morissette song?  Give me an example of irony in something you have heard or read.  What type of irony is it?  Why?


2. What are each of the funny little videos an example of and why?

3.  Which of the previous definitions confused you the most?  What literary device do you find most confusing?

Alanis Morissette:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc
Tim Hawkins Video #1:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5R8gSgedh4
Tim Hawkins Video #2:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0

WHERE THERE'S A WILL...

To read Shakespeare, or not to read Shakespeare, that is the question.   This week, the junior class of IB Language and Literature, year 1 have taken on the challenge and begun our exploration of one of my favorite of his comedies, The Taming of the Shrew.   Senior class, many of you are experiencing a revisit to your notes on Taming of the Shrew as you prepare for your final IOCs.  Overwhelmed yet?  Fear not, my dear scholars.  It’s time to screw your courage to the sticking place, take out your pencil and highlighters, and get ready to read, mark, prepare, and (for the junior class, at least,) perform!

Truth will out, Shakespeare’s titles may be found all over the required reading lists in just about every American high school.   If you major in English, you will also be required to join we few, we happy few, we band of brothers who have taken an entire year-long course just focused on studying the great bard and his works.  For those who love his writing and the English language in general, there can never be too much of a good thing when it comes to Shakespeare.

Does untangling his semantical spider web have you up and arms?  When handed one of his plays, do you mourn and lament: “Woe is me?”  Well, my dear scholars here is the long and short of it:  his entire body of work together is like a precious stone set in the silver sea.  It is the stuff dreams are made of, for the primrose path that winds through and connects all great literature begins with the Bible, and all the works of Shakespeare.  Knowing these works puts you in the happy place of being able to sift through the rich literary allusions that sparkle like little gems of wisdom in classic and modern works, alike.  They are the keys to realizing that through this world of rich rhetoric may be madness, there is a method in it.

Thereby hangs a tale.  Reading Shakespeare, however, is not enough. You must experience it, as the playwright, himself, intended.  Sigh with the star-crossed lovers, feel the love and angst of Romeo and weep with his Lady Juliet; plot with Lady Macbeth to build a kingdom for her husband, stand amidst the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and hair-splicing sharp wit that can be found in Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew.  When a Shakespearean play is opened, the game is afoot, and the drama must be set properly where it belongs:  ON THE STAGE!

There are, as in everything, the naysayers who believe the world’s obsession with the great bard of Stratford Upon Avon is much ado about nothing, but I say to all of them, the more fool you!  When it comes to Shakespeare, I wear my heart upon my sleeve; his words, his characters, his themes are like good deeds that shine in a naughty world; and, as good luck would have it, I get to read and act out these words along with you over the next five weeks, and with my Will Power Troupe after school, as well. 

If it is true what the bard says that brevity is the soul of wit, well then, I guess that this blog may be a sorry sight.   But when writing anything to honor William Shakespeare, it is important to take great care, and choose the words very carefully, so that age will not wither it, nor custom stale its infinite variety.   Putting it simply, the be all and end all is this: 

All the World’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players:  They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts. 

The play’s the thing…and the thing is life!

Juniors, enjoy these two articles about Shakespeare in today’s world.  I have also included two videos that show how Shakespeare continues to inspire children of today.  Seniors, will you please take this time to reflect on your experience with Shakespeare, especially Taming of the Shrew, and those who traveled with Will Power, or have been a part of Will Power, we would like to hear your reflections on the bard (and your favorites!) as well!   I look forward to your reflections!

(PS:  Hidden within this blog are twenty eight Shakespearean sayings.  Can you find them all?)

Articles:

http://www.utsa.edu/ovations/vol8/story/shakespeare.html

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/phrases-sayings-shakespeare.html

Videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ6ACZYTCVU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDk92VewRQA

TO A GREAT MIND, NOTHING IS LITTLE: A Celebration of the Detective Genre (for Juniors Only)

There are, of note, four distinct varieties of what we call "Pop-Culture" or light novels or and the detective story.  These types may overlap somewhat in content from time to time, but although they may borrow devices, themes or appeals from one another, they follow the stylistic guidelines of and evolve within their own genre boundaries.

stories:  The romance novel, the adventure novel, the mystery novel

Of these four kinds of literary and screen entertainments, the detective story is the youngest and most complicated; the most difficult in construction and the most distinct.  It may seem, in one sense, to be an offshoot of the mystery novel, but upon closer inspection, this relationship is far more distant than the average reader imagines.  In order to understand the uniqueness of the detective story, we must first think like the protagonist detective, him or herself:  we must endeavor to determine the peculiar appeal of this genre to all classes of people...

It has been asserted that the answer is that the detective story belongs more to the category of riddles than mysteries: it is, when written well, a complicated and extended puzzle cast in fictional form, and resembles in structure and mechanism the cross-word puzzle. Think about it:  in each, there is a problem to be solved, and the solution depends entirely on the mental process of the reader or observer; the analysis and fitting together of apparently unrelated parts, and in some measure, educated guessing.  Each is supplied with a series of overlapping clues to guide the solver, and when these clues are snapped firmly into place, a solution may be achieved, and all the little details weave together nicely into a complete, interrelated and closely knitted fabric.

There is no more stimulating activity than that of the mind, and no more exciting adventure than that of the intellect.  Human beings enjoy solving riddles and puzzles; they have throughout the ages. Because of this, the detective story has set its own standards, drawn its own rules, and advanced in its form and technique.  Its style is direct, simple, smooth and unencumbered rather than being one replete with descriptive passages, metaphors, and word pictures.  The skill of a detective story's craftsmanship is revealed in the way all the clues: characterization, syntax, diction, and plot fit together and somehow manage to reveal all for the reader and observer to discover.  There is a strict ethical course of conduct that must be followed by the detective novelist:  he/she must NEVER once deliberately fool the reader; he/she must succeed by ingenuity, alone.

As we are learning now, Edgar Allan Poe was the undisputed "Father" of the Detective Story, literally creating the template for all the detective fiction to follow.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, himself once said that "Poe was a model for all time."  In just three of his stories, Poe created the amateur detective (C. Auguste Dupin) and his narrator friend, the locked-room mystery, the eccentric amateur sleuth outwitting the police force, the "catalogue of minutia," the interview of the witnesses, the solving of a cold case that stumped the police, scattering of false clues by the murderer, and the concept of "ratiocination" (later explained by Sherlock Holmes as "observation and deduction.")  Other stories by Poe presented the notion of cryptic ciphers, surveillance, and the least-likely person theme (in one case, the narrator, himself is the murderer!)

Poe also began the tradition embraced by connoisseurs of crime fiction: "The Rules of the Game."

These rules state, among other things:
1.  The detective story must play fair (revealing all clues to the reader)
2.  The detective story must be readable.
Therefore, the true detective story, according to Poe, is like a game of chess played by the author and reader--an interaction in which clues are cleverly dropped, often in the disguise of underplayed narration, for the astute reader to catch and assemble.

All good detective stories have had for their protagonist a character of attractiveness and interest, of high and fascinating attainments, a man or woman at once human and unusual, colorful and gifted.   Many authors of the detective story, including Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, write their stories backward, just to be sure to adhere to the rules of the game.  This way, they begin at the answer and are sure to sprinkle the clues appropriately in the story, down to the beginning.  It is what I like to call "unravel writing," writing that assures that the path will lead the reader to the correct deduction IF he/she has paid close attention.

Poe's stories led to the development of such popular characters like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot,  Nancy Drew, and Miss Marple.  More modern greats like Columbo, Magnum P.I., and Detective Briscoe, Goren, and Eames from the infamous (and my personal favorite) Law and Order began to populate our television sets. Movies have also been made, such as Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr., often adding in elements of humor, adventure and sometimes even romance to twist and turn the story even a bit further.  But the primary elements of interest remain the same.

Crime has always exerted a profound fascination over humanity, and the more serious the crime (a la Criminal Minds, HBO's True Detective or such macabre movie stories such as The Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs from the Hannibal Lecter series) the greater the appeal.  Murder, it appears, gives an added zest to the solution of the problem, and seems to render the satisfaction of the solution just so much the greater.  The reader or viewer feels no doubt that his/her efforts have achieved something worthwhile after the amount of mental energy he/she has had to expend.

Below, I have attached links to some of my favorite detectives set in scenes from their series and movies throughout the years.  Take a look: I hope you enjoy them, and I hope that you will share which ones you enjoyed the most and then share some of your favorites, too!  As the great Detective Holmes once said:  "My mind rebels at stagnation; give me work!  Give me problems!"  

I've always loved a good intrigue...and as we continue our study of Poe, I hope you do, too!

Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xYoMiTvcAA

Columbo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To2gyaczP9g

Magnum PI   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgXhiOpeQ

Sherlock Holmes #1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hjPxUfV32Q

 Sherlock Holmes #2  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1OYiPa-eLg

Law and Order, Criminal Intent  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fc2Ddoln4

Shawn Spencer, from Psych  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krWONONSN78

AND we cannot neglect the Ladies!

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aEqGHISwqk

THE PRICE OF SHAME: What it Means to Wear the Scarlet Letter in Today's Virtual World (Seniors Only)

Reading the Scarlet Letter is something high school English teachers have insisted upon for years.  It's a classic.  Its author is said to have forged a glittering path for great American literature.  It is a culturally significant work to which many sayings, subsequent works of literature, and films have alluded.  This is all true.  As we read a work like this, it is easy to get caught up and tangled in the older more eloquent language and the extremely religious lifestyle and culture of American Puritans.  As we read Hester's story, we shake our heads in disbelief.  Who could imagine a society in which personal private decisions are against the law, and punishable in a very public way?

Adultery, while a breach of the marriage contract, is not a legal matter anymore.  It is not against the law to be punishable by prison time and social ostracization.  But we are very naive if we believe that private decisions and actions/behaviors go unpunished in today's society.  We are even more naive if we believe that sins like promiscuity or adultery do not face heavy social penalties despite the fact that they are not within arm's reach of the law.

If Hester Prynne were alive and real today, she may not have spent three months in a physical jail cell, but in many ways, I am sure it would have felt like that.  There are no more town center platforms complete with hanging scaffolds and stocks, but social media has raised public humiliation to an all time new high and extended the critical stares and pointing fingers out and beyond the town walls.

So, while we may not be able to imagine living in a society that can legally have a person shunned and socially banned for scandalous decisions, the effect is ultimately the same:  the one charged with the sin and convicted on Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat is still left with a very clear message that he or she is social pariah.

I find it quite appropriate that we are reading  Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter through the season of Lent in preparation for Easter and the advent of spring.  Many of us will be observing Lent, a time when we reflect on our significance, the preciousness of life, and the grace of redemption.  The season of spring, itself, likewise, is often seen as a time of renewal and growth. This is what Hester Prynne sought in the sunlit forest.  It is what many people today seek in the warmth of a smile, a kind word, a forgiving heart or a compassionate ear.

In the following TED Talk, Monica Lewinsky, a woman all too familiar with living in the spotlight of technologically advanced shaming, shares a little bit of her personal story of what it is like to be branded with the scarlet A, and explains why she has chosen this time in her  life to stand up and do something about it.  The biggest message?  The price of shame since Hester's time has escalated, and sometimes it is ultimately too high for the victim to pay.   Watch the video and then comment on two things:  what spoke to you the loudest and what YOU will personally do to change our shame culture today.

We live in interesting times.  We feel more sophisticated, yet our own petty and cruel natures still surface in even more deadly ways. We feel more accepting of different beliefs and lifestyles, yet have the ability to smear a man's or woman's reputation irreparably with the click of the mouse.  We shake our heads at racism, sexism, and discrimination and then turn to our friends and share  malicious gossip about someone else, all the time telling ourselves, "I may make mistakes, but I would NEVER do what she did!"  So, that begs the question then:  what do we do?

When gossip is shared in the hallways, walk away.  Don't take part in it or even give it your listening ear.  If someone is being bullied or whispered about, stand up for him or her rather than remaining silent. And, if someone is being ostracized or shamed online, reach out to the victim and counter it with a word of encouragement and then report it.  Brene Brown, psychologist and expert on shame, tells us that "shame cannot survive empathy."  The price of public shaming can ultimately be death: emotional and, if it gets too hard to bear, physical.  The weapon we need to fight this deadly poison is compassion.

Make sure your arsenals are full.

https://www.ted.com/talks/monica_lewinsky_the_price_of_shame?language=en

THERE, THEIR, THEY'RE: Comforting grammar anxiety in a "syntaxed" world...

There are many quite unflattering names to describe those individuals for whom proper grammar and syntax is extremely important:  The Grammar Hammer, Grammar Nazi,  OCGD's (obsessive compulsive grammar disorder), and Grammar Police are only a few examples.

I guess it makes sense that our current culture would refer to these grammar gurus in a negative way.  After all, we live in a high-tech, speed-of-light, word-counting world, and these detail crazies are annoying. We don't have time to write out the whole words. And that extra button to capitalize the personal I?  Well, it can be a personal pain that interrupts the texting flow.  Numbers have started to find their way into our words:  l8r, m8, let's go sk8ing, for the sake of time and a strange sort of cleverness I don't fully understand.  As far as capital letters to begin our sentences or put nouns in their "proper place?" (only the true grammar nerds will get that one) That is almost a dead art.

Believe it or not, I was your age once.  I remember believing that it was more about the creativity and "word painting" ability as a writer than where the commas and semi-colons belonged.  I wanted my writing to move people, to make readers fall in love with my characters and sit on the edge of their seats with my masterful conflict weaving; I wanted to make them see something differently, or maybe even REALLY see something for the first time.   Punctuation?  That was cute, too, but not as important as style.  Much to my chagrin, Marina High School's Honors English III teacher, Mr. Hole, had a very different point of view...

The first piece of writing I ever turned in to him was a narrative.  I was very proud of that narrative and expected to receive some encouraging comments of recognition when it was returned.  Instead, my paper floated back to me in a river of red ink. I was crushed, and if I am completely honest, I was also indignant... and a little bitter.

For a while, I was afraid to write for Mr. Hole.  I experienced blocks that I had never known as a writer.  I was convinced my past glowing reports were all just a sham, and now that I had entered the world of REAL writers, well, I just plain wasn't one.  I went to see him during office hours every time we had a paper due, brimming with all sorts of insecure questions.  I would write, rewrite, throw away, and write again before I would show anything to him.   Then, one day, he said this to me, and it really changed everything:  "Kristin, you are a great writer. You are creative, and I can tell you have a genuine love of words and storytelling.  You must believe you are an artist.  But what good will any of that do you if people cannot clearly see the vision you have poured out on the page?"

It stuck.  I even wrote it down to remind myself of that.  What good, indeed?  Furthermore, what if a poorly placed comma or missing semi-colon placed my work in a negative light for an intelligent, syntax-savvy reader?  This was a necessary, humbling experience that not only made me a better, more effective writer, but it also made me realize how complex the process of creating communication really was...and you know what?  It SHOULD be!  Communicating effectively deserves our time and close attention!  Words are extremely powerful!  We have certainly explored that notion quite a bit this year.  But that power is quickly drained in untrained hands.  Nathaniel Hawthorne said it best: "Words: so innocent and powerless as they are standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows well how to combine them."

So, why should you care?  Well, for one, like it or not, the professional world cares.  According to  an article in Forbes Magazine (dated March 11, 2013),  "....good grammar is a fairly accurate predictor of professional success."  Apparently, there are studies to prove it.

1.  Professionals with fewer grammar errors in their profiles had achieved higher positions.  The profiles of those who'd failed to achieve director-level positions within the first ten years of their careers made almost three times as many grammatical errors as their director-level colleagues.

2.  Fewer grammar errors correlate with more promotions.  Professionals with six to nine promotions made 45% fewer grammatical errors than those who'd been promoted 1-4 times.

In the article, Forbes interviewed iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens, who maintained that grammar skills typically indicate positive workplace traits, including but not limited to attention to detail, critical thinking , and intellectual aptitude.

You don't need to be a Forbes editor or a Fortune 500 CEO to know that you only get one chance to make a first impression.  In our tech-savvy world, most communication is now written and sent via email or text messaging. When face time technology is used, grammar and syntax skills still come through in verbal communication: "With whom shall I conference on this topic?" vs. "Who do I follow up with?"  OR  "Where shall we meet on Friday?"  vs. "Where do you wanna meet up at this Friday?"

I'll admit that last so-called sentence I just typed made me CRINGE!  Yuck!  As picky as I have become about grammar now, years after high school,  I still do not profess to be perfect or even nearly so when it comes to English grammar and syntax, but I do strongly believe in its great significance.  As you revise and edit your essays in this class and future ones, please take the time to consult grammar and syntax resources, such as the classic Elements of Style book that graced many an English major's personal libraries.  It is time very well spent, as it makes such a difference in how others perceive you as a communicator!  We may be moving from the calligraphy pen to the stylus, but that just means communication is more readily available and easy to access.  Now, more than ever, it is important to be an excellent, effective communicator... literally!

Please take a moment to enjoy these humorous blog commentaries through the links below.  They really make grammar fun and a bit hilarious, too!  The first one about the "alot" is one of my favorites, and it will certainly give you a much needed comic relief, but on another level, it will also show you how seriously the Grammar Hammers of the world take this issue.  Hey, let's be honest, you should probably take it seriously, too, because according to Forbes, these Grammar Nazi, OCGD, Grammar Police will most likely be your employers and promoters someday!

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

Enjoy reading the blog posts on these links and comment on your favorite!  Then, confess:  What is your biggest grammar or editing challenge?  How do you plan to tackle it this spring?