Week 5 Analysis: Literary Analysis of The Squatter and the Don

From the Squatter and the Don, The Don's View of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Don Mariano Alamar is a Mexican who owns land in Southern California, in San Diego to be exact. This story took place in 1872. White Americans are taking the lands that are owned by Mexicans in California. "'...Those two friends of squatters Matthews and Hagar, who were here last year to locate claims and went away, did not abandon their claims, but only went away to bring proselytes and their families, and a large invoice of them will arrive on tomorrow's steamer. The worst of it all is, that  among the newcomers is that terrible and most dangerous squatter William Darrell, who some years ago gave so much trouble to the Spanish people in Napa and Sonoma Counties, by locating claims there.'"(De Burton, 246).

There are laws to protect people's properties yet there are Mexicans still losing their properties in California. There are obviously loopholes in these laws. Don Mariano said, "'Yes, some sort of laws, which in my case seem more intended to help the law-breakers than to protect the law-abiding." (De Burton, 247). The Mexicans in California are being treated unfairly since they are losing their lands to Americans. It is interesting the lengths the Americans will go to take land from the Mexicans. They have planted acres of grain in a Mexican's land so that their cattle will eat the grass since there is no fence and then the Americans can make the Mexicans pay for damages. This is very sneaky on part of the American's but smart because they are getting what they want. Don Mariano is also smart because he has caught on to the trickery of the Americans.

Unfortunately, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had retroactive laws. Because of this the Mexicans left on California and the other states that America owned after The Mexican-American War are not protecting the Mexicans. "'Congress takes very good care not to enact retroactive laws for Americans...'"(De Burton, 248). Mexicans, in California are being discriminated against. American Citizens who have property in California automatically have a title. This is not how it turns out for the Mexicans in California.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I actually did not know much about the Mexican-American War but since I read this, I looked it up. It is horrible that there was and still is inequality in the world. It is also horrible that people can be greedy and that is why we have wars. 

De Burton, Maria Amparo Ruiz, "The Don's View of the Treaty of Hidalgo.", pgs. 244-253.

Reading Notes Week 5: Moxon's Master, Part B

'Roots of the eucalyptus will prolong themselves incredibly in search of moisture. A well-known horticulturist relates that one entered an old drain pipe and followed until it came to a break, where a section of the pipe had been removed to make way for a stone wall that had been built across its course. The root left the drain and followed the wall until it found an opening where a stone had fallen out. It crept through and following the other side of the wall back to the drain, entered the unexplored part and resumed its journey.'(Bierce, 236-237).

Bierce, Ambrose, "Moxon's Master", pgs. 235-243.

Reading Notes Week 5: De Burton, Part A

Don Mariano remembers feeling bitterness against Mexicans. He felt Mexico abandoned the Mexicans left in California after America won California, but then he realized that Mexico could not predict the future and how Americans would treat the Mexicans in California. "...I saw that Mexico did as much as could have been reasonably expected at the time (De Burton, 248). In the very preamble of the treaty the spirit of peace and friendship, which animated both nations, was carefully made manifest. How could Mexico have foreseen then that when scarcely half a dozen years should have elapsed the trusted conquerors would, 'In Congress Assembled,' pass laws which were to be retroactive upon defenseless, helpless, conquered people, in order to despoil them"

De Burton, Maria Amparo Ruiz, "The Don's View of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo", pgs. 244-248.

Week 4 Project Action Plan: Female Identity

I decided to do my Literary Analysis Project on a female character from at least two different texts. Two of the texts I have decided on are on, "About the House Girl" and "The Luck of Roaring Camp. The two character I will focus on are Ifapi and Cherokee Sal. I will discuss how the author of each of these stories feels about the character. I will discuss how two other characters from each story feels about the character. I will discuss how I feel about the character from each story. I will also discuss how each character feels about herself.

I will discuss the following Literary devices:

Characterization:
I will discuss the personalities of Ifapi and Cherokee Sal. For example, Ifapi is a shy girl and did not let herself be seen by the men who would visit her dad's house.

Protagonist:
Ifapi and Cherokee are the protagonist of their story, since they are both focused on.

Epithet:
Cherokee Sal is a sinful woman, she was a coarse (improper).
Ifapi: "...she was a shy girl who hid herself when young men came to the house." (Karok, 40).
         "...he saw Ifapi covered with a heavy blanket..." (Karok, 45).

Tone:
I will do more research on finding different texts from these two stories that describe the tone. This will help me discover the author's view of the character.

Point of View:
I can discuss Patapir's point of view on Ifapi. For example, "Patapir continued to thin about her, wondering what she was like, wishing he might have a glimpse of her."(Karok, 41). In this quote it shows that Patapir does not know much about Ifapi. She is a mystery to him, and he wants to learn more about her.

I can discuss Sandy Tipton's view on Cherokee Sal. For example, "Sandy Tipton though it was 'rough on Sal'..."(Harte, 1). This shows that Sandy Tipton viewed Cherokee Sal as a human and he cared about her. So, he did not see her as all bad like the others.  

Harte, "The Luck of Roaring Camp".

Karok, "About the House Girl", pgs. 40-50.

Week 4 Analysis: Close Reading of Yellow Bird

 Thesis: Mexicans stand up against the racist Americans.


Joaquin Murieta was a Mexican man who left Mexico to experience life in California (Ridge, 163). He had a very pleasing exterior and was a good person despite all his sorrows, he was a very happy person. He attracted many people to his table and won their money with his gambling skills. When he lost his own money through gambling, he would accept it with good humor. His sky seemed clear and his prospects bright, but Fate was weaving her mysterious web around him, and fitting him to be by the force of circumstances what nature never intended to make him (Ridge, 166).

This piece of reading really interest me. The beginning of this story started off by saying a Mexican man left Mexico for California. This hooked me in. I wanted to know more so it inspired me to read more of it. I also know a little history on that California once belonged to Mexico, so this intrigued me even more. I like how the author was very colorful in his choice of words. Like when he wrote that "His sky seemed clear..."(Ridge, 166). this is a metaphor because the sky does not belong to him. Metaphors make reading less bland. I also like when the author wrote, "...Fate was weaving her mysterious web around him..."(Ridge, 166). This is another metaphor because it is not to be taken literally that a web is being woven around him. This just means that Fate is taking place in this person's life. Further along, "...and fitting him to be by the force of circumstances what nature never intended to make him." I can tell by this line that Joaquin Murieta was about to become a bad person. I think that he is about to revenge since he has been treated so badly. This is the climax because it is the turning point. Something different is about to take place.  

When I read this story, I thought the thesis was that a good person can go bad when he is treated unfairly. After focusing on this piece, I still stand by my original thought on what the thesis is. This thesis is leading to the bigger picture, the major theme which is that Mexicans stand up against the racist White people.

Ridge, Rollin John, ("From The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit", pgs. 163-170.

Reading Notes Week 4: Old Monterey, Part B

There is never a day in the year but tells of thy glory gone forever, And never a dusk that hovers near in the sea-shells pink of the sky, But we sit in the chill adobe shade with hearts that are past endeavor---While the mists unfurl like the gates of pearl, as we watch the daylight die.

It seems like someone is thinking of the past. This is all taking place at a beach in Monterey, California. The mists is spreading and the night has arrived.


Stoddard, "Old Monterey", pg.227.

Reading Notes Week 4: Yellow Bird, Part A

"John Rollin Ridge (Yellow Bird)"

Joaquin Murieta, the main character in this story was a Mexican man who left to experience life in California. He had a very pleasing exterior and was a great person, despite all his sorrows he was a very happy person. He attracted many persons to his table and won their money with his gambling skills. When he would lose his own money through gambling, he would accept it with good humor. His sky seemed clear and his prospects bright, but Fate was weaving her mysterious web around him, and fitting him to be by the force of circumstances what nature never intended to make him.

This piece really stood out to me. I can tell that something very bad was about to happen. The part on Joaquin Murieta becoming what nature never intended to make him. This shows that his character was about to change. Seems like he will become filled with darkness and revenge. I really enjoyed reading this story.

Ridge, "John Rollin Ridge (Yellow Bird)", pg. 166.

Topic Research Week 3

My topic of choice is to focus on a female character from a fiction story and to discuss the authors attitude towards her, my view of her, another two characters of her, and more. I am thinking to write on "About the House Girl" and "The Luck of Roaring Camp" since we have to write on two stories. Elements that can be discussed are characterization (For example, personality of Ifapi and Cherokee Sal), protagonist (For example, Ifapi and Cherokee Sal are both protagonist of the stories), I will also use epithets to describe more on these two females. From "About the House Girl" I can write about Patapir's point of view on Ifapi and the point of view from the two unnamed females in the story on Ifapi. From "The Luck of Roaring Camp" I can write about Sandy Tipton and Kentuck's point of view on Cherokee Sal. I will also write about how both Ifapi and Cherokee Sal view themselves.

Feedback Strategies Week 3:Popova

Presence, Not Praise: How to Cultivate a Healthy Relationship with Achievement

Studies have shown that praising a child for being clever does not do good for his or her self-esteem. Often a child will react to praise by quitting. This is interesting to me because I have learned that positive reinforcement is a good thing. I thought that rewarding others for good behavior would help them grow and continue to do good. This article also says that a child might simply repeat the same work and draw the same thing over and over again because that child may feel it is useless to draw something new since he or she always gets praised for drawing the same thing. I can see how this can happen. I see that a child may not be motivated to try something new if that child is not being challenged to do something different.

Written in the article is also that parents are trying so hard to be different from how their parents were that they are giving empty praise to their children which is just as bad as giving out thoughtless criticism. This makes me think that there is no perfect way to be a parent. Your damn if you do and your damned if you don't. I think that parenting may have to be different for every individual child. Children do not all learn the same so maybe one child needs to be treated differently than how his sibling is treated. Parents can try different parenting techniques with their children and see which technique is the best for each child.

In this article Grosz thinks that presence helps to build a child's confidence by indicating that the child is worthy of the observer's thoughts and attention. I completely agree with this. Children need to feel like they matter. They need attention and nurturing. I think if the child does not get this then he or she may begin to act out for attention and then this cycle may continue which is not good.

Personally, I think it is always great to give positive feedback, but then again, every individual is different, so you just have to read other people's body language. Some people do not like negative feedback and might be extra sensitive and there is nothing wrong with that. So, I would say give feedback in a way that the person who is receiving feedback will be comfortable with. I also think that the person giving feedback should also get feedback on how they give feedback from the receiver.


Popova, "Presence, Not Praise: How to Cultivate a Healthy Relationship with Achievement".

Week 3 Analysis: Literary Analysis of The Luck of Roaring Camp

"The Luck of Roaring Camp"

Character:
This story began with talking about a character named Cherokee Sal. In the way she is described she is not the most popular. She is the only woman in Roaring Camp. She has a bad reputation and people should stay away from her for their own good.


Literary Terms:
Protagonist: Cherokee Sal I believe is the protagonist of the story because she is not well liked.
Epithet: The epithet used to describe Cherokee Sal is sinful woman.
Epithet: Another word to describe Cherokee Sal was that she was a coarse, which means she was improper.

Theme:
A theme in this story, which I think is a major theme is of Cherokee Sal's sufferings. Cherokee is living in a time a lot different than we have now. How Cherokee is looked at by males is the typical double standards that females still face. Even though Cherokee is looked down on by the males of her camp, she has sympathy from a character named Sandy. In spite of the hate towards her, Cherokee Sal gave birth to a baby

Context:
My personal experience of learning about Native Americans help me to understand, describe and analyze this story. Also learning things in life help me to interpret this story. For example, I know what the word sinful means. This helped me to realize that they are describing the character Cherokee as a bad person. Also reading the bible has helped me to analyze Cherokee. Since she was described to be a sinful woman, this reminded me of the story of Adam and Eve. Since Adam and Eve were sinners.
The characters in this story are Native American. There are elements that inform us this. First of all, the title of the story is "The Luck of Roaring Camp". The word camp lets us know that this story may have to do with Native Americans. Also, the first character that is focused on is named Cherokee. I already know that Cherokee is a Native American name.

Harte, "The Luck of Roaring Camp".

Reading Notes Week 3: Whitfield, Part B

His dearest friend, or direst foe, Seeks out the brave or faithful few. Who, to themselves and Maker true, Dare, in the name and fear of God, To spread the living truth abroad! Armed with the same sustaining power, Against adversity's dark hour, and from the deep deceitful guile Which lurks in pleasure's hollow smile, or from the false and fitful beam That marks ambition's meteor fire. Or from the dark and lurid gleam Revealing passion's daily ire. His steadfast soul fearing no harm, But trusting in the aid of Heaven...



Whitfield, "Self-Reliance", pgs. 1-2.

Reading Notes Week 3: Harte, Part A

"The Luck of Roaring Camp"

The name of a woman was frequently repeated. Cherokee Sal was the name that was frequently repeated. She was a coarse, and it is to be feared, a very sinful woman. At the time she was the only woman in Roaring Camp. She was lying in sore extremity when what she needed was the ministration of her own sex. She was suffering a martyrdom hard enough to bear even when veiled by sympathizing womanhood. The first curse came to her in that original isolation which must have made the punishment of that first transgression so dreadful.

Deaths were by no means uncommon in Roaring Camp, but a birth was a new thing. Cherokee Sal was sinking fast. The only other being of Cherokee Sal's sex and maternal condition in the settlement was an ass. Cherokee Sal had such rude sepulture. There was a formal meeting to discuss what should be done with her infant. There was talk about sending the infant for adoption to another camp named Red Dog, which was 40 miles away, but it was shot down.


Harte, "The Luck of Roaring Camp".

Feedback thoughts

Feedback can be very helpful. We are not all good at the same thing and getting feedback from others can help us. It is always great to get second, third or even more opinions. Looking back at my time in college I have dealt with a lot of feedback, especially in my English classes. Usually I would receive feedback on the essays I had to write. One of the most productive feedback that I can think of was when I was taking what I think was College Composition English. I was writing a lot of run-ons on sentences in my essays so when I got my graded essay back, I was able to make adjustments and learn from my mistakes. A negative feedback that I received I believe was also on an essay I had to write for an English class. That time I was very discouraged because I felt my essay made sense. According to the tutor who edited it said most of it did not make sense. So, basically, she wanted me to start from scratch on that essay. I was very discouraged. I think that time I got opinions from another two tutors and their feedback was not as bad. I followed my gut because I felt like my essay did make sense for the most part. I either received an A or a B on that essay. So, sometimes people do not give you the best feedback, so you must also learn to trust your own opinion.

In other personal areas of my life feedback has taught me to be more open minded. Feedback has taught me to not dive in head first into a situation if I am not sure. It has taught me to not force things and if I cannot accept them then I need to get out if that situation if I can. It has taught me to not only focus on the present but to think about all the possible scenarios that can happen in the future.

Topic Brainstorm

I am interested in the topic on comparing and contrasting elements of two different texts. I would like to explore the similarities and differences between two characters or examine how one theme is handled in similar and dissimilar ways in two different texts. I think this will be fun to do because I think even though I can be writing about two characters from two different texts, these characters can have a lot of similarities. This is a writing I can see myself enjoying and being able to do. The previous knowledge I have on this is that I have use metaphors in writings before. I think metaphors are basically comparing. Through this writing I would like to focus and analyze what two characters have in common. I would like to brush up on my comparing skills. The strengths I can bring to this topic is to find many comparisons between two texts.


I am also interested in the topic on writing on a female character from a fiction story. This topic interests me because I am a female and I would like to learn things about another female. I may find we have similarities or maybe more differences. The previous knowledge I have on writing on female was writing on the character Katniss Everdeen from the book The Hunger Games. From this topic I would like to learn from this topic is maybe on how different a female was in a different time. The strengths I can bring to this writing would be to write about my personal opinions on this particular female.

The next topic I am interested in is to write about the cultural behavior in a specific time and place. I would like to write about this so I can learn about a different culture. So, I can learn something new. I do not recall having any previous knowledge on writing on this topic. The strengths I can bring to this assignment are my curiosity to learn about a different culture.

Finally, the fourth topic I am interested in is on writing on how a setting influences character development. This topic interest me because it will help me to analyze a story. I think I may have had experience in writing about a novel's setting when I wrote about The Hunger Games. It has been a while since I have written that, so I vaguely remember. I would like to learn on that topic specifically, on how the setting influences character development. The strengths I can bring to this topic is that I am a very observant person and I think this will help me write on this topic. I will be able to pay attention to the setting and on how the setting connects to the character.

Week 2 Analysis: Close Reading of The Creation

My Thesis: This is how the Earth was created and there are good and bad on this Earth, but we have a higher power.




Earthmaker made creatures two by two. He made two creatures at a time that were the same color but did not look identical. Earthmaker told off all the lands and then he counted them. He gave to the lands the creatures he had made. He said, “‘this place will have this creature. Each one of you will have a place to be. These creatures will keep growing and growing while many winters come and many mornings dawn. They will grow and grow until the winters pass and the mornings pass. When they are done growing, they will be born. Then they will have young, both female and male, and when these are grown, they will also have young, both female and male, and when these are grown, they will also have young, and when many winters have gone by, there will be many creatures.’”(qtd.in Maidu 29).


Earthmaker gave all the creatures names and named all the places that each creature will have. Each creature will speak differently. When many winters have gone by the grown creatures will be born as human beings.


Earthmaker named all the countries. He then made two people and then two more. He kept count of them. He assigned each human a country. When a several winters pass, they will be grown. When they are grown then other humans will be born. Then different kinds of food will be grown. Then when more humans are born, they will be clever enough to survive. He said that they will not push other humans from out of their country. Each human will have a different name. The cycle of growing and having children continues. There then will be enough humans on Earth. Humans will then be able to go to a different country and know the name of it. Humans will be able to communicate and know where the country another human went to is by its name. Meadowlark was the first being created and the first being to travel across the meadows.


Earthmaker said that if things are not just right in this country, he shall make them right. Before Earthmaker said this Coyote said, “‘this earth is going to shift...it will be an unstable world…’” (qtd.in Maidu 34). Earthmaker shut Coyote down and stayed positive by singing.




Maidu, “The Creation.” The Literature of California: Writings from the Golden State, edited by Jack Hicks, James D. Houston, Maxine Hong Kingston and Al Young, University of California Press, 2000.pgs. 23-35.

Reading Notes Week2: Karok, Part B

Patapir had never known any woman. Ifapi lived far upriver with her father in a village of Merip.  Ifapi would stay home all day.Ifapi was a shy girl who hid herself from young men when they would visit. Ifapi went to live with her aunt who lived alone. When others would ask Ifapi's aunt about her she would answer that Ifapi was not well. Patapir would ask his mom about Ifapi. Patapir went to visit Ifapi's aunt and there he seen her. He approached Ifapi.

Karok, "About the House Girl," pgs. 40-45.  

Reading Notes Week 2: Maidu, Part A

Earthmaker made creatures two by two. He made two creatures at a time that were the same color but did not look identical. Earthmaker told off all the lands and then he counted them. He gave to the lands the creatures he had made. He said: "'this place will have this creature. Each one of you will have a place to be. These Creatures will keep growing and growing while many winters come and many mornings dawn. They will grow and grow until the winters pass and the mornings pass. When they are done growing, they will be born. Then they will have young, both female and male, and when these are grown, they will also have young, both female and male, and when these are grown, they will also have young, and when many winters have gone by there will be many creatures.'"

Earthmaker gave all the creatures names and named all the places that each creature will have. Each creature will speak differently. When many winters have gone by the grown creatures will be born as human beings.

Earthmaker named all the countries. He then made two people and then two more. He kept count of them. He assigned each human a country. When a several winters pass they will be grown. When they are grown then other humans will be born. Then different kinds of foods will be grown. Then when more humans are born, they will be clever enough to survive. He said that they will not push other humans from out of their country. Each human will have a different name. The cycle of growing and having children continues. There then will be enough humans on Earth. Humans will then be able to go to a different country and know the name of it. Humans will be able to communicate and know where the country another human went to is by its name. Meadowlark was the first being created and the first being to travel across the meadows.

Maidu, "The Creation", pgs. 28-34.

Reading Notes Week 2 General Introduction, Part A

California was once known as a little-known province of Mexico, far from the centers of trade and government. Baja California is not a Spanish word. Gold was discovered in California in 1848. The Gold Rush was to become California's formative event, economically, politically, symbolically, mythologically. California is really the Land of Two Promises, where fertile possibilities and the potential for disaster coexist in the elements themselves. California is a type of borderland where the continent meets the sea, where Asia meets America, where cultures and subcultures touch, collide, ignite, and sometimes intermingle. For a century and a half writers have been drawn to California by the action, or by the climate, or by the movies or a campus job. 


Editors: John Hicks, James D. Houston, Maxine Hong Kingston, Al Young. "General Introduction" pgs. 1-13.

Time Strategies

In order for me to make the most use of my time for all my classes this semester I realize I have to pay better attention to the due dates. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to do two of the extra credit options for week 1. I was thinking that everything for week 1 would be due on Tuesday February 5 or one Wednesday the latest. I realized that I was putting most of my attention on another class that I am taking because I have to read about six chapters for it and I did not realize that the assignment for those six chapters are not due until the third week. I need to pay better attention.

For this class I will definitely do at least one of the extra credit assignments from now on. I will also try and work ahead if I have the time. I will check the course Wiki page as a reminder on the assignments that I need to get done.

Technology and Blogs

This is the first time I have ever blogged, and we are doing a lot of blogs for week 1. I am actually looking forward to creating a website because I do not think I have ever done that. I hope it will not be too complicated. I have already bookmarked the course Wiki page that way I can see the assignments that are due easily in one page. It has taken me some adjustments to get to this point in the assignments for week 1. This means I am learning. I have used Google Docs in the past, but I am rusty.

Growth Mindset

I really enjoyed watching the two videos on Carol Dweck. I do believe in the growth mindset theory. I think that the more an individual thinks and learns about new ideas that their mind will get stronger. This will make the individual want to learn more. Just like exercise for the body can make our muscles stronger, learning new information can make our minds stronger. I also agree with Carol Dweck in that it does not matter the situation that an individual grew up in, anyone can learn if they put in the effort. I like how she said that challenge should be looked at as a good thing and that if things are too easy then that means you are not learning.

I personally think I have a growth mindset when it has to do with school. I try my best to learn. I notice that at times I need to give myself a break if I have wasted too much time trying to understand a school subject, but I am just not understanding it. I would say that I do enjoy a challenge when it is about school. I look forward to learning more about the growth mindset theory this semester. I am looking forward to this class because so far I am having fun with it and at the same time learning new things.

Introduction: My College Journey

     Hello all, my name is Laura. I have already completed my AST degree in Business Administration at Los Medanos College, but I am taking this class because I need it for a four-year college. College has been rough for me. I have taken time off and I did not complete it as fast as I would like to, but here I am again taking another class at Los Medanos College. My favorite class that I have taken at Los Medanos College was Music-15 which is Basic Music. I really enjoyed that class because I learned a lot about the notes in music. The teacher I had for that class was very nice as well. It was just an overall easy and fun class, that I learned a lot from. I would have to say that my biggest accomplishment was to attain my AST degree in Business Administration, here at Los Medanos College. It took me a while, but I kept pushing through. I am really into 90's rap music, but I listen to all kinds of music. I think that 90's rap music has a lot more substance than rap music of today. It seems like they all talk about money and girls in rap music today. I like to listen to music with deeper lyrics. I can also relate to some of the old school rap songs.
     If my best friend described me, I would think she would say that I am, first of all picky. She would say that I like rap music. That I like In N Out Burger. She would say that I am loyal. She would say that I am a good student. She would say that I like to watch the show Intervention. That I am misunderstood and can be sensitive at times. That I like the outdoors.

Favorite Place

    One of my favorite places is the peninsula, specifically the San Mateo Bridge. Even though I rarely drive on that bridge, I really do enjoy driving on it. I think it has one of the best views. I can see the ocean and I can see what I think is San Francisco from a distance. It is really nice to have a view of nature. Usually when I do drive on that bridge, it is on a sunny day with the blue sky. It really makes me feel at peace. History on the San Mateo Bridge

Week 1 California Literature

    Hello all, I have no experience is creating a blog but this is it. It does not seem as complicated as I initially thought but it did take me some time to get to this page here. I hope this semester goes smooth for all of us and that we learn a lot. Moving along, I just clicked on the spell checker and nothing happened? Also, I do not know how the labels will work?