Thornton Academy – AP Language 2018-2019 – Page 39 – News, notes and more than a few stories from our classroom.

December 4, 2018

IHOP obsession

Since I was a little girl I have always loved waffles and pancakes. It started with the normal Bisquick pancake on Sunday mornings but the day I tried my first Ihop pancake, my life changed. My love for the thick and fluffy pancakes stacked high on a warm plate or cream filled crepes topped with whipped cream became my comfort food. There was always a struggle as the closest one was in South Portland, until a couple months ago. When I first heard the news that an Ihop was opening so close to me, I was ecstatic. My love for Ihop waffles, pancakes, and crepes could finally be satisfied.

I went on the opening day and my mouth was so excited for the food. I tried the French style pancakes and when I saw the beautifully stacked pile of pancakes, my eyes became very happy with the yummy sight in from of them. I knew at that moment, I would be visiting a whole lot more than I wanted to admit.

I ended up going twice to three times a week in the beginning and it only got worse from there. The obsession really got bad when I went two times a day for four days in a row. At that point I had tried almost every pancake on the menu, every waffle offered, and most of the specialty items. I have spent hundreds of dollars on their delicious breakfast foods and my obsession with Ihop still remains.

I am happy to say I’ve got my love for their pancakes and such under control and go every once in a while, but my love for Ihop will never die. I’m still happy to go and eat my favorite comfort food any time someone offers or mentions it, but I don’t obsess as much as I did.

I love Ihop. B9C3C5A4-562D-4141-84A4-4A314D080905

December 4, 2018

Checkmates

I have been thinking about chess lately. Probably too much, considering I lack anything that could possibly be considered ‘skill’ in the game. Having developed an interest recently, I’ve realized there are quite a few lessons to be learned, all of which extend far past the checkered board.

The first is the power of underestimation. On a chessboard, the first row is entirely pawns: the little guys, only capable of moving forward and taking pieces in very blatant and easily avoided moves. As the smallest and weakest, the pawn is widely considered expendable, or, at the very least, inessential. However, very recently, I watched a friend take another friend’s queen, the most powerful player, with a simple pawn. Through a combination of determination, strategy, and patience, the ‘little guy’ defeated his formidable opponent. It might not have been the largest or most capable, but it affected the outcome of the match.

Secondly is the option of approaching a problem from another angle. The knight is the only chess piece capable of jumping over others, and it does so in the shape of an L. While another piece might be limited in its moves by the pieces surrounding it, the knight can simply jump over the problem, veering off the beaten path in the process. In order to reach the tight spaces that may lead to success, one must often seek action from a new perspective.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is a lesson of support. The king, while capable of traveling on his own, needs his fellow players—his checkmates, if you will—in order to survive and flourish on his board. Merely moving place to place, making limited progress in a lonely world, is not enough to succeed. It is not possible to win a game of chess, or a game of life, without support to guide and help you along the way.

So, though I am a very questionable player of the literal game, I have found chess to be a significantly rewarding exercise in the area of morals and principles. Maybe one day I’ll find the actual chess wisdom as well.

December 3, 2018December 6, 2018

Ao Dai

There are three distinguish regions in Vietnam: the North, the Middle, and the South. Due to our long history, going all the way back to the B.C. period, Vietnamese from different territories of the country usually come in conflicts. Our dialects, cuisines, and traditions are too distinctive from each other. When talking to my northern friends, I usually need to choose my words carefully in order to not deliver the wrong context to them. For instance, the word “váy” means skirt in the south and dress in the north. Another example would be the way we make Pho – our famous delicacy. In the south, we tend to add everything provided on the table into our bowl. However, northern peeps like to enjoy their Pho the way it is originally made. Differences aside, I believe that the one thing every Vietnamese could agree on is Áo Dài (or Long Shirt).

Áo Dài was inspired by the Nguyen era. During the time, both men and women had to wear trousers and a buttoned-down gown to court. As years went by, artisans redesigned the costume into a more fitted version. This new version was especially favored by women in the modern society. For men, the apparel would be made looser with thicker material. Áo Dài always comes in two pieces, a silk tunic and a pair of trousers. For important events, like weddings, people would wear a headband with the same color as their Áo Dài as an accessory.

This traditional garment is such an important part of the Vietnamese life, especially for women. Áo Dài could be seen everywhere in the country, from public high schools to private ceremonies. I still remember how excited my cousin was when she finally got to wear her Áo Dài to school. With her hair down and her beaming smile, she became the most beautiful girl in my eyes. I was 10 years old then. The image of a high school girl wearing white Áo Dài has inspired many artists, from singers to painters. As an international student, the only thing I could do is to bring my garment with me and wear it on special occasions. For instance, the annual International Fair at my school. Wearing it to event like that would help spread the beauty of my country and showcase my pride in my heritage.

December 3, 2018

David Grann Writing Styles

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Many writers often have a specific trait that separates them from other writers. Whether that be similar themes in writing, or use of certain rhetorical devices, writers can have a style or trait that is specific to them alone. A writer’s style of writing can create connections between their pieces of writing. An example of this is in three of David Grann’s nonfiction stories, A Trial by Fire, Yankee Comandante, and The Lost City of Z, where similarities can provide a connection between the stories.
In these three nonfiction stories, there is a common theme of mystery. In A Trial by Fire, there is the mystery on whether Cameron Todd Willingham is innocent or guilty. There was no way to truly see how the fire started, leaving it as a mystery. In Yankee Comandante, the mystery is true allegiance of William Alexander Morgan. The Cubans question whether Morgan is working for Fidel Castro, or if he is secretly a double agent for the United States. In The Lost City of Z, there are multiple mysteries. There is the mystery on whether the city of Z is real, and there is the mystery on what happened to Percy Fawcett.
Another common theme of David Grann’s three stories are death. In each story, at least one death occurs. In A Trial by Fire, four deaths occur. They are the deaths of Willingham’s three children in the fire and Willingham himself. In Yankee Comandante, William Alexander Morgan was killed by Fidel Castro’s firing squad. In The Lost City of Z, there are the deaths of the people searching for Percy Fawcett and the death of Fawcett himself.
In writing, stories can be similar if they are written by the same author. David Grann’s writing in these three stories all have similar themes because of the author they are written by.

December 3, 2018

Trial by Fire

In Trial by Fire, by David Grann, there were many major ideas connected to the story that are used by the writer to illustrate the theme of this article. More specifically, arson investigations and parenting played a big role throughout.
A major idea connected to the story is the idea of arson investigations. Arson investigations were what led to the accusation that Willingham started the fire that killed his three children because the investigators found evidence that the fire could have only been started by human hands. The investigation led the witnesses and others to believe that Willingham purposely started the fire to rid of his three children because of the evidence and the way he was acting during the fire. The arson investigations were used by the writer to illustrate the theme of the article because the investigations were pieces of evidence supporting the belief that Willingham is guilty.
The idea of parenting, and being good at it, was also an important aspect to the story and how the writer illustrated the theme of the article. Throughout the story, many people, such has Stacy, her children’s babysitter, and Willingham’s parents, argued that Willingham was innocent because he was such a good parent. Although he had hit Stacy in the past, Willingham claimed that fatherhood had changed him. Yet, some said it was all just an act. The conflicting beliefs paint the picture even clearer, they help to illustrate the theme of false accusations within the justice system.
In conclusion, Trial by Fire displayed many key concepts and major ideas to help the reader form opinions, understand many themes about the justice system, behavior, and evidence, and learn about a true story.

December 3, 2018December 3, 2018

Glitches in Legal Systems

Trial by Fire, although an article specifically about Cameron Todd Willingham’s case, serves as a window that puts on display the social and criminal injustices that defendants face. In particular, cases involving murder crimes are the ones that require the most difficult decisions, and receive the biggest number of adverse responses and reactions; Willingham’s case is no exception. When the people of Texas heard about a man who murdered his three daughters by arson there was an immediate wave of shock from citizens; why would a man kill his own children? By analyzing Willingham’s case more closely, people of Texas began to realize that there are no solid pieces of evidence, backed by witnesses and/or scientific basis, that point to Willingham being guilty. With Willingham having faced possible injustice, the real investigation begins.

Author David Grann uses Willingham to offer insight on the glitches within the justice system. The criminal justice system has a goal of identifying and catching unlawful people to inflict some form of punishment upon them. Clearly the justice system does not have intentions to punish innocent people, but many innocent people do face punishments. The system has a flaw; when there is not a lot of evidence, when there aren’t many witnesses, or when the jury disagrees with the judge’s decision, the defendant tends to get the raw end of the deal. Willingham pleads innocent to the charges and he maintains this plea throughout the entirety of his trial. But because Willingham lacked witnesses and evidence, when a jailhouse informant said Willingham confessed to the crime, he was found guilty. The criminal justice system is not the only system that contains flaws. The death penalty can be quite dangerous as well. Not only is the death penalty very permanent, meaning once someone is killed they can’t be brought back versus jail time can be cut short quite easily, the penalty is easily considered ethically and morally wrong. Any criminal is subject to jail time, but why should they face death? The death penalty is wrong because it not only kills innocent people who are convicted of crimes they did not commit, the penalty also plays God. What gives a person or a group of people the right to decide whether someone should live or die? The justice system and the death penalty go hand in hand with each other; the two systems have already resulted in many wrong doings and will only to continue to result in more until the glitches are sorted out.

December 3, 2018

Trial By Fire

Cole Paulin
Mrs. Durkee
AP Language and Composition
27 November 18
The two main themes that intertwined with each other throughout the short story were scientific evidence and the death penalty. The author, David Gramm, hoped for his audience to think more about the cons of the death penalty and the lack of reliability that surrounds scientific evidence.
The death penalty has been a highly controversial idea for a long time and Gramm gives his readers a nonfictional example of someone who wrongfully lost his life because of the death penalty. He frequently uses pathos in the form of Willingham’s fatherly love in order to present a mental dilemma for his audience. The reader’s mind is now telling them that he is guilty because of the initial scientific evidence, but their hearts want to believe that Willingham is innocent because of his kind nature. Once we are emotionally connected to Willingham, Gramm makes an extremely smart move that makes the death penalty seem like the worst thing imaginable. He introduces new evidence that another arson investigator gathered, and he claimed that the fire was accidental and that Willingham was going to be “executed based on ‘junk science’”. The murder of an innocent man proves that the death penalty can be carried out prematurely. Laws need to be in place to be sure these kind of events will not happen again.
The second aspect that Gramm wants his readers to evaluate is the intense value that the jury puts on scientific evidence. Science changes each and every day and we are always finding new evidence and refuting previous facts. With an ever changing field, our society puts too much value in scientific evidence. To add on to that, some scientists are way more qualified than others, and Willingham got caught with a mediocre arson investigator. One imbecile made an error that costed an innocent man his life. Why was there never a second opinion before his death? Putting a man to death based on one person’s evaluation does not sound like a secure justice system. By the time he got a second opinion, his life was already decided. There should’ve been a second opinion before he was even convicted. Gramm wants us to hold off on pointing the finger until there are multiple people saying the same thing, not one person’s opinion.

December 3, 2018

Blog 1

Recently, I started helping out in my community by volunteering for the Red Cross. Originally, I wanted to start just to have something extra for my college application that my peers may not. Now while that was my preliminary motivation to start, the experience has changed me as a person over these past few weeks. It’s been so amazing to hear all of these donors stories, what their motivations are for coming here every 56 days. I myself have also started donating. To me, it’s a small sacrifice, but for someone else it’s a huge gift. This experience has helped me see the need for volunteers in our community. I love to volunteer now because I get to know the donors and the phlebotomists.

Now, I haven’t always been this outspoken about volunteering. Just last year, I thought it would be crazy to try to volunteer with my course load. But, after trying it for myself and getting the experience, I can say truthfully that it will be one of the most fufilling activities of your week. It’s really easy to sign up, and you can volunteer as little as once a month (but of course I do a little more than that). If you’re not all about blood and needles, there’s tons of other places to volunteer, from food kitchens to animal shelters. I think everyone should challenge themselves to find a place to volunteer that fits them, give it a try, and see how you feel after. I guarantee you’ll feel satisfied with yourself!

people taking groupie near bridge — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

December 3, 2018December 3, 2018

David Grann

Writers take on many different voices when fabricating stories, but no matter how diverse the range of stories they tell, the writer can often be identified by rhetoric elements that link their work back to them. This “common theme” that the writer uses throughout their work can be composed of many different elements and the application looks different from writer to writer. David Grann is an example of a writer with a consistent style that can easily be identified throughout his work. When compared, his writings Trial by Fire, Yankee Comandante, and The Lost City of Z, are all similar in composition despite telling very different stories and they can be identified as Grann’s work due to his nontraditional style of writing nonfiction.

One element of writing that can be seen throughout all three of these pieces is David Grann’s successful characterization. He breathes life into the people he describes on the page by analyzing their thoughts and illustrating their perspectives to the reader. His effort and ability to immerse himself in the shoes of these people allows for him to stray from the more traditional style of nonfiction writing and instead, retell the story scene by scene with regards to the emotions and thoughts of the people who were involved.

Furthermore, Grann is able to maximize the effect of this technique of storytelling through the use of dialogue. Each of these three stories feature vivid conversations that enrich the writing and add to its authenticity. Dialogue allows for readers to connect with the characters Grann describes and it creates dynamic interactions that aid in retelling events. For example, Grann uses dialogue to flush out Morgan’s personality in Yankee Comandante, notably at the scene of his death where his final spoken words were “I kneel for no man.” Grann also uses dialogue in Trial by Fire to convey the hysterical emotion of Todd Willingham as he repeats over and over that his babies are still trapped inside the burning house. These same techniques can be seen throughout The Lost City of Z.

December 3, 2018December 3, 2018

David Grann’s Style

FE41C2EF-6488-46FF-BE9A-88B3493242FE David Grann is an American journalist, who has written multiple short stories and a few books. Three of his famous pieces, Trial by Fire, The Yankee Comandante, and The Lost City of Z explore the journey of three different men. These are all nonfiction. Trial by Fire and The Yankee Comandante are political stories, while The Lost City of Z is a story of obsession.
In Trial by Fire, Grann exposes Texas’s wrongful conviction and murder of Cameron Todd Willingham. Willingham was said to had murdered his daughters by setting fire to his home, yet further scientific research proved him innocent. In The Yankee Comandante, William Alexander Morgan’s story is told. Morgan married a rebel, Olga Rodriguez and went to Cuba to fight in the Cuban Revolution with Fidel Castro. Castro believed Morgan was conspiring against him and had him murdered. The man William Alexander Morgan thought to be a friend, was responsible for his murder. Trial by Fire and The Yankee Comandante both exemplify the power government holds.
The Lost City of Z is a story of Percy Harrison Fawcett’s journey to the Amazon in search of the city of Z. As Fawcett ages, his desire to find Z grows. Multiple trips to the jungle and on his last trip, Fawcett decided to bring his son and his son’s friend along. This is possibly Fawcett’s last journey. His obsession led to his disappearance. People are clueless if he is alive or not, yet many have gone in search for Fawcett and end up dead. Fawcett pays the ultimate price in exploration for the city of Z. The Lost City of Z is a story of dangerous obsessions.
David Grann writes many nonfiction pieces and within each nonfiction story is his extensive research. Although, Grann often writes of personal stories and does provide factual evidence. I don’t believe if these were left anonymous I’d assume they’re the same author. Trial by Fire and The Yankee Comandante have similar themes, while The Lost City of Z carries a whole different theme.