Final Essay

Final Essay

5/9/13

Well, I didn't do so well on my research paper. I only got a 74% on it and was hoping for at least a B, especially since I put a lot of time and effort into it. Guess it could have been worse for my first one. I hope I do better on my movie but I'm not sure about that. I really had a hard time with it and had to redo it 5 times to try and get it right. I'm excited for this weekend. I'm taking the hubby to Rockfest in Kansas City as a surprise. He knows we are going to KC but doesn't know why, just thinks it's for me to goof around. Then we have to drive back when it's over and go to Sedalia on Sunday. A LOT of driving but I think I'll have Dallynn or Jake drive to Sedalia so we don't have to do the driving. We probably won't get home until around 3am on Sunday and that's going to be rough for us that goes to bed early. The concert better be worth it! I'm also surprising him with meeting up with the best friend and her family in KC. That will be fun with all of us going and rocking our faces off!! hahaha

The American Red Cross Movie

4/23/13 Practice Video

Free Write 4/4/13

My world isn't going to come crashing down on me after all.  Will isn't going to be laid off from his job.  He is able to go get a special FCC license and that saves his job.  Even tho that isn't in his contract that he has to have it but they are making him.  Oh well... We are going to TN on the 19th for his class.  It's costing quite a bit of money but it's saving his job and that's worth it.  We are going to be an hour from Nashville yee haw!  I hate country music but I'm sure I'll find other things to do while he is in class.  I don't know why he wants me to go but I will be the supportive little wife.  haha  Now maybe I'll quit worrying about that part of my life.   I will go back to worrying about my grades.  At least this class is still an A.  My algebra class is a B and that stinks.  Me and the tests just aren't seeing eye to eye.

Free-Write 4/2/13

Well let's see...I have an A in this class and a B in Algebra, not too bad.  I'm not sure how I'm going to 'rock' this research paper out but I'll do my best.  Really stressed about Will's job.  I hope he can get the license he needs to keep his job and not be laid off.  I don't understand why they can't go by seniority so he would be safe and not on the top of the lay-off list without that license.  Guess we will have to wait and see what happens and maybe his boss will give him some insight today.  If he gets to take a class for the license, we will be going to TN to do it. I didn't plan on going but he wants me to so we will drive there and it will cost us a lot less money than him flying to CA. 

Gonna be a grandma again.  This will make number three.  I kind of wish that Dallynn would have waited until Ayden was in school to have the 3rd one but it's not my decision. Oh well, the more the merrier. 

These free-writes are fun except I don't have much to write about.  My life is pretty boring and mundane; wonder if that's spelled correctly?  I guess my calm life is pretty good since I don't have drama and caos in it.  What picture will I put on this? 

Free Write 3/26/13

Well, I worked on my Summaries then posted them to the wrong section.  I feel like such a goof.  I don't cut corners, I work hard on my papers, then when I think they are completed and I did everything right I posted them to the wrong Blog.  Ugh!!!  Then I think I was supposed to double space and didn't.  I just want to scream.  Wonder if I can chalk it off to old age?  Maybe I'm getting senile in my old age!

The Warsaw Ghetto Film

Angela Gossett
Mr. Neuburger
English Comp 102-117
March 26, 2013

The Warsaw Ghetto
A Film Unfinished

This short 90 minute film epitomizes the horrors that Jews faced daily in the Warsaw Ghetto.  The film was hidden away and was never intended for viewing.  One can see that it is a film based on the mockery of the innocent and the poor.  The people of the Ghetto lived a daily hell.  The Ghetto was surrounded by barbed wire over brick walls and housed hundreds of thousands of Jewish people.  The Nazi's left people to die from starvation, diseases, and even sent them to an extermination camp, Treblinka.  The first extermination of Jews totaled around 300,000.  A crew of German soldiers was sent to Warsaw to film the life of a Jew.  It was a propaganda film to discredit Jews by showing their life wasn't as bad as they stated it was.  The German's filmed a circumcision ceremony, a burial service, actors dining on lavish meals at a restaurant, dinner parties, and even dancing.  One survivor stated as she watched the film that Jewish people do not bury their dead in coffins as the film showed.  Also filmed was extreme poverty and people lying dead on the sidewalks and in the streets.  Jewish people died because of malnourishment.  Their hair was falling out and they were skin and bones. People would come and pick up the corpses and throw them in a wagon and take them to a trench that was used for disposing of them.  They would throw them down a wooden shoot and pile them on top of each other and walk over the corpses to stack the bodies. After so many were in the trench, they would cover the bodies with paper and throw dirt over the top of them.  At the cemetery, there would be 40 to 50 corpses at a time that still had to be buried.  One of the comments from a survivor was, "We became indifferent to the suffering of others".  After 30 days of filming, the cameramen packed up and left.  The Warsaw Ghetto was full of innocent people left to die either by starvation or at the hands of evil people. 

Harrison Bergeron Essay

Response Essay

“Harrison Bergeron”

            In Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” tells of a life where everyone is equal.  After reading the essay, one can only conclude too much government control actually destroys freedoms.  In fact, there are no longer pretty, athletic, or smart people.  Masks and weights cover up people’s bodies, hiding whatever special features one may have.  Vonnegut explains, “They weren’t only equal before God and the law.  They were equal every which way” (293).  Even intelligence is no longer allowed to be exhibited.  Smart people wear a mental handicap radio in their ears tuned to a government transmitter and every twenty seconds, sharp noises would sound, thus keeping people from “…taking unfair advantage of their brains” (294).  Average intelligence people can only think in short spurts.  Going against the laws is punishable by fines, prison, and even death at the hands of agents who is with the Handicapper General.  In conclusion, the pursuit of true equality destroys freedoms.  (170 Words)

Vonnegut Jr., Kurt. "Harrison Bergeron." Power of Language; Language of Power: A Collection of Readings. 2nd ed. Boston: Pierson Learning Solutions, 2011 293-299. Print. Custom Edition for Ozarks Technical Community College.

Edith Coliver Summary

Summary

Edith Coliver

Edith Coliver was born July 26, 1922 in Karlsruhe, Germany.  She was the oldest of two brothers and came from an upper middle class family.  Her father was a banker.  She attended public school until 1937 then was kicked out of school for being Jewish so parents sent her to England.  In June 1938 they left to go to the United States, spending four weeks in New York.  She stayed up all night on the ship so she could be the first to see the Statue of Liberty. Coliver's family then ended up in San Francisco where she graduated from George Washington High School.  After going to Berkley for college, she applied to the War Department to be a German Interpreter. Whereas Coliver participated in the hearings and interpreted throughout the trials.  Hitler committed suicide the day before Germany surrendered to the alley. Hitler's #2 man, Guerin also swallowed poison to commit suicide and to keep himself from being hung the following day.  The extent of the Extermination Camps was new to Coliver.  She felt very lucky to have gotten out when she did and was ashamed of being German.  Over 40,000 people died after liberation because of being starved and the medical problems it caused. The German's attitude was very unique during the trial.  The soldiers thought they should be shot by a firing squad instead of hung and would say things like, "I'm just a little guy" not taking any blame for what they did to the Jews.  Coliver was married for 31 years to Norman and they had 2 daughters, one an architect and the other an attorney.  She retired in 1992 from the Asia Foundation where she worked for 40 years. "I had the courage of my conviction, " is how she was able to be a public speaker.   (306 words)

"See the smoke coming out of the smoke stacks if you lived anywhere close and the smell, so we never believed the German's didn't know."

"I had the courage of my conviction." 

 

    

 

 

 

Joseph Morton Summary

Summary

Joseph Morton

Born Joseph Morkkwitz on July 11, 1924 in Lodz, Poland.  He was the oldest child having five brothers and one sister.  His father was a tailor and his mother a homemaker.  Morton went to school until the 7th grade.  The war started in September 1939.  Two days later, the German's marched in.  His father was in the Polish Army and was captured in Russia as a prisoner but was later released.  Jewish people was made to wear yellow bands on their arms to show they were a Jew then a yellow star on the front and back of their uniform.  "In 1940 they enclosed the Ghetto and that's when the real problems started."  As a result, starvation, people dying from hunger, and always living in fear.  The German's guarded borders and there was no leaving the Ghetto's.  When the Ghetto was enclosed, the whole family was together. The Warsaw uprising began and German's came in with trucks, took belongings and closed the Ghetto in 1944 then loading the Jews onto cattle trains to be taken to Auschwitz.  There would be 50-60 people standing in the trains with no food other than what one brought with him.  They would be on the trains for two or three days but didn't know where they were going.  Once they were in Auschwitz, the German's split the family up.  Morton, his father, brother, and cousin was sent to work and the rest of his family was killed.  They worked to build barracks underground.  As a result to the horrible conditions, Morton became ill with Typhus, being hungry, and losing so much weight so he was sent to the sick camp by train.  The American Army came and liberated the Jews and Morton was taken to a hospital for being so sick where he reconnected with his father and brother.  They left the hospital by jumping a fence and went to Canada.  In 1949 he registered to come to the U.S. and went to Chicago.  (330 words)

"In 1940 they enclosed the Ghetto and that's when the real problems started."

"Why do you think you survived?  By luck, strictly luck."   

3/5/2013

Well what all has happened since the last time I wrote, hmmm... My daughter called me yesterday and we are expecting grandchild number 3. I'm so excited that our little family unit is going to be a bigger unit. Since Samantha's death, our family has suffered so much and feels so little that having 3 little ones will sure be a blessing. I love being a grandma and want to have another grandson due to the 5 year old granddaughter is a complete handful. They both are but it seems that she is more so than he is. My daughter says there will be no more after this so I'm hoping for twins. That's probably not going to happen but a grandma can hope. I want 4 grandchildren total or 5 would be awesome but my daughter says they can't afford that many so 3 is all I'm getting. Work is going ok, glad the boss is back. Nothing to write about there. Nothing going on at home. Nothing going on much at school. Im a very boring person or rather, I just have a very boring life. My friend is coming up from Texas this weekend. This is before she moves back to Oregon at the end of the month. I'm really going to miss her but she is exhausting at times. I know she means well but wants all of my attention all of the time and that is exhausting. I'll be glad to see her since its been several months and hope she gets to stay til Monday but then I'll be ready for her to go home. That sounds awful of me but that's how I feel. What picture do I need to put on here? Let's find one of a baby toy.

2/19/2013 Free Write

Well, lets talk about my weekend. It was not great. I started having pancreas pains and had to go to the ER on Sunday for pain and naseau medicine. I really thought the pancreatitis flare-ups was over and that I was done with them. I know they are better than they used to be and I should be greatful that it's been almost 2 years since a hospital stay but this illness has taken so much from me. So after getting the pain and naseau medicine I end up with a migraine. That lasted most of yesterday and when it finally eased, I was able to work on my homework. I got what I needed to do done. Christian came by and brought 3 puppies for me to see. I don't know if I want one or not. They are going to give me one free but it's one of the runts and Im not sure I want a runt. They are super cute and sweet but I don't know if they will grow to be big like their parents which is what i want. I also need to decide if I want to deal with house-breaking. Kyia and Oliver are done and I dont have to worry about them chewing things up either. They are out of that stage, a new puppy would go through messing in the house and chewing on things.

Happy Valentine's Day

What do I want to chat about today? How about the guilt of not studying for my Algebra quiz last night long enough? I couldn't help it. I was too tired after working out at the gym and I have to go to a tutor for the Algebraic sentences that we are doing now because I just don't understand what I'm supposed to do. Yesterday was a very busy day. I had to go to therapy at 7am then I had to go to work, then to Joplin and to the gym. A very busy day for me. I did however get to spend the afternoon with my best friend since we went to Joplin together for work and had lunch there. It was nice, we don't get to spend enough time together. Wonder if the husband is going to send me flowers today? I dont care if he doesn't but I'm still wondering. We are going to make a Thanksgiving dinner tonight for our Valentine meal. I keep going back and correcting my typing errors even though we are supposed to just type away and not worry about the errors. Guess the more we free write the better we will become. Research papers was just thrown out there in class today. Ugh!!! I hope that is something I can master.

On Dumpster Diving - 02/12/13

Angela Gossett Response Essay #1 by

Free Write 2-12-13

I am so happy! I got a 47 out of 50 on my paper. I know that the instructor helped me with it but I feel I learned a lot from his help and think I will be able to do the next one more on my own. Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it. I just dont want bad weatherr to come in on us tonight. I have to go to my therapy appointment in the morning so the weather has to be nice to me so I wont be so scared to drive in it. I haven't been to therapy in almost 2 months and I feel it. I feel like a big load is on my shoulders and once I go to therepy, it's lifted. Dr Halloway is a wonderful therapist. Most people are happy about their cars, their money, clothes, things of that nature. Me, I'm happy about my therapist, how strange is that? She has kept me from going insane. She has kept me from falling off the deep end since losing Samantha. I can't believe her birthday is in a few months and she would have been 20. Almost losing her 4 years ago still feels like yesterday to me. It feels like I haven't hugged her in forever but the accident seems like it was just days ago. She's so beautiful and had so much to offer this ugly world. I wish I would have had more children. Dallynn is all alone and I hate that for her. The two of them were so close.

Worried

I'm really worried about turning in my papers. I got a zero on the last on the summary I turned in and I thought I wrote better than that. I know it was only 10 points but that is 10 points i really need. Dropped my grade down to a low B. I hope I do better on this next one. I've been practicing a little on Twitter but still not sure about the #. Guess I will get that figured out. I'm tired today. I didn't sleep well last night, crazy crazy dreams. I probably stressed myself out too much over homework since that's what I worked on both Tuesday and Wednesday night and without a break until it was time to eat then go to bed. I have a meeting today at the office and I do not want to do it. I can't design handouts so I don't know why i even offered to do that with Chad. i have enough work of my own to do without adding to my plate. I'll give it my best shot and maaybe this meeting will be more productive than it was last time. Tomorrow is a work day so we will be moving file cabinets and arranging other things in the closet. Boy do I have a boring life. Im supposed to write about things but there isn't much to write about. My computer keeps flashing.

Writing Groove

Writing to get back in the groove of things. What shall I write about this morning? Maybe I should write about the weather that is worrying me and if I'm going to have to pull extra shifts at the Red Cross if we have to put up a shelter. My dogs are home so if the weather comes, I hope it waits until I'm out of class. I feel behind since I missed last Thursday but I'm sure I'll catch up. I've been practicing on Twitter so hopefully I've got that down. I just have to follow my classmates and not sure how to do that. I have to stop worrying about feeling like I don't belong in this class. I think it's just because it's been so long since I've been in school and also since I took English Comp I. I keep doubting myself and that is really upsetting me because I have no reason to doubt my abilities. I will pass this class one way or another.

Angela Gossett - Intro

Hi!  I am a mother of 2 daughters and I have 2 grandchildren, 2 & 4 years old.  My children and grandchildren are my world.  I am married to a super great man that adores me and the kids too and would do anything for us and has always been that way.  I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and fish.  I work full time.  My position is very interesting.  I serve through AmeriCorps at the Red Cross.  I am a Volunteer Engagement Specialist and what that means is I get to interact with all the Volunteers that come in to the Red Cross.  I do everything from speaking to them about different trainings available, teaching them 1st Aid/CPR/AED, to entering them into our computer system at the office, and much, much more. 

It has been a very, very long time since I've been in school and it's been a really long time since I was in English Comp I so Comp II is going to be a little difficult for me, especially in the beginning. I want a college degree before I'm 50, which is a number that's right around the corner.  There have only been a few members of my family that graduated High School and even fewer from college.  I can only think of 2 so that makes me want this even more.  I'm also hoping it shows other family members and my friends that it doesn't matter how long you've been out of school or how old you are a college degree is within reach.

Thanks for reading my blog and good luck this semester!

Free Write 1/15/13

I'm a nervous wreck.  Sitting in class with a bunch of younger kids, younger than my daughter and it's been a very long time since I was in class or since I had English Comp 1.  I hope I can do this and I hope to excel at it but I just don't know.  Most everything I will do in this class will be on the computer and I already looked like an idiot by not being able to sign in.  Ugh!!  We are now writing a Free write blog about whatever and I am still ful of nerves.  This will pass I'm sure but until then I feel like I could puke!  The instructor seems pretty cool so that helps.  I thought I lost my blog, another screeen popped up and my heart and stomach sank!  I can do this, I can do this, I just have to keep telling myself this over and over and it will sink in.  I feel like an idiot writing about this but this is what'ss on the top of my head.  Whatever happened to the day of pen and paper?  I love the computer but to check emails, facebook to write papers but i still favor old school pen and paper.  God, I am old, lol.  I will get used to thjis and will be flying trhough it by the time we get into mid semester ofr sooner. I sure wish I had a cup of coffee a vanilla latte from starbucks would be wonderful.  Maybe Thursday I will be able to pick one up before class we will see.  I'm sitting next to a very beautiful young lady with the most gorgeous hair.  I would love to have hair as long and as beautiful as hers.  She seems really nice so I hope to keep sitting by her and we be English buddies , lol.  I am not sure what else I am supposed to write about, the teacher just has us typing away and I don't know where the stopping point is.  Oh it's now!