In A Walk In the Woods, the author talked about all of these interesting facts and shocking things while telling his story about life on the trail. Some examples are 44-49 or 110-114. I think that I had a similar connection because through the research I did for MSB, I learned all kinds of new facts and some of them were shocking. Like the author, I knew about where I was talking about (he and the AT and me with the San Diego beaches) but through research and getting more involved (going to a Surfrider meeting, water testing, picking up trash on a boat) I gained a new awareness, concern and a type of respect for our beaches, and I think Bryson did the same.
Another connection that I had was through Bryson and Katzs actual journey they found all of these new places that they didnt know were a part of the trail. Throughout this project, I learned about all of these new beaches and coastal ecosystems that I didnt know were there. Just like how Bryson and Katz found the overly touristy national park (page 151), I found places like the river mouth, Imperial Beach, PB Point, etc.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Honors History- Personal Reflection
1. I think that my successes as an honors student were my essays in general, but in particular my first few history essays. I thought that my presidential endorsement was of my successes because I had never written anything like that and it was a challenge. In the end I think I made it sound good and like a real presidential endorsement. Another thing I consider a success was reading all of my honors literature books on time and writing good quality essays through the prompts. I didnt just write a book report, I gave background information on the story while still answering the prompt.
2. If I could do this semester over again, I would want to work on my thesis statements and make them more clear and concise. On the Gatsby essay, my thesis wasn't detailed enough and that is a problem I think I have had overall with thesis statements and essays this semester. Another thing I would do want to do over would be making sure that my essay stays on topic and connects back to my thesis. Sometimes I go off on tangents and they don't connect at all to the essay prompt or thesis statement.
3. My goals for honors next semester are to continue writing high quality essays, work on the things I would've done over again and improve my writing skills. To achieve my goals Im going to just keep doing what Im doing as far as essays go since my essays have all gotten pretty good scores. To work on my thesis statements and essay structure, I think its all about being more aware of your mistakes and what you can do to change them, and I am now. To improve my writing skills I will continue taking Randys feedback and learning new skills in his class. (:
4. I like how we get to chose our own literature for our honors books with some suggestions so I wouldn't pick anything in particular to do. For history, I would want to study about the Cold War since I just recently learned that it took part in the U.S. It is one of the wars I dont really know about, but everyone always makes references to it so it would be pretty cool to learn about it in depth.
2. If I could do this semester over again, I would want to work on my thesis statements and make them more clear and concise. On the Gatsby essay, my thesis wasn't detailed enough and that is a problem I think I have had overall with thesis statements and essays this semester. Another thing I would do want to do over would be making sure that my essay stays on topic and connects back to my thesis. Sometimes I go off on tangents and they don't connect at all to the essay prompt or thesis statement.
3. My goals for honors next semester are to continue writing high quality essays, work on the things I would've done over again and improve my writing skills. To achieve my goals Im going to just keep doing what Im doing as far as essays go since my essays have all gotten pretty good scores. To work on my thesis statements and essay structure, I think its all about being more aware of your mistakes and what you can do to change them, and I am now. To improve my writing skills I will continue taking Randys feedback and learning new skills in his class. (:
4. I like how we get to chose our own literature for our honors books with some suggestions so I wouldn't pick anything in particular to do. For history, I would want to study about the Cold War since I just recently learned that it took part in the U.S. It is one of the wars I dont really know about, but everyone always makes references to it so it would be pretty cool to learn about it in depth.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Walk in the Woods
A Walk in the Woods is a story of two un-expected men hiking the renowned Appalachian Trail and living in the wilderness. Brysons and Katz’s relationship changes from virtually strangers, who may have known each other in another life, to a close bond and deep understanding of each other because they were hiking together, the physical demands of hiking the trail, and being in the wilderness.
Throughout the story, their relationship changes from that friend from long ago to a close bond and a tight friendship. When Bryson first mentions Katz in the story, he says “We had remained friends in a kind of theoretical sense, but our paths had diverged wildly.” Katz had been a drug dealer while Bryson had made a family and been an author. They have unbelievable experiences which made their friendship become stronger. Things like Mary Ellen, the crazy hiker who latched onto them, Katz getting in trouble with someone’s husband, saving Bryson when he fell into the water and just experiencing the Appalachian Trail and the towns in between completely changes their relationship and makes them closer friends than ever.
When they begin their journey on the trail, they have a hard time getting started. Out of the two men, Bryson was more physically fit, but hiking the Appalachian Trail is no walk in the park. Bryson after the first day said “I shed my pack and slumped heavily against a tree, astounded by the scale of my tiredness.” Katz was nowhere to be seen, so Bryson “walked and walked, down the hill and through the endless groves of trees, back over ground that I had gratefully put behind me forever” to find him. Later on in the book, they improved their daily distances and Katz begins to really get into hiking on the trail. “Katz had accumulated a small, appreciative crowd and was demonstrating the use and theory of various straps and toggles on this backpack. Their relationship changes through Katz’s changed attitude about hiking the trail, and the two men’s perseverance to keep going once Katz got into the Appalachian Trail.
Their relationship also changes through their attitudes on the wilderness and from being dependant on shelters and towns to being willing to pitch a tent in the open land. As they were first beginning their journey, they usually made their stops when they reached a shelter on the trail. “Dusk was settling in when we reached Birch Spring Gap Shelter”. On the last night of their first big journey, they get so irritated by ignorant hikers that stayed in the shelter that they were in that Katz said “Pitch my tent in the clearing. You coming?” The two hiking companions had an understanding of each other and had the same annoyances with the noisy ingnorant hikers on the trail. They had become nearly professional at living on the trail and stregthened their bond. Their relationship changed as their outlooks on the wilderness and living in the woods did.
Bryson and Katz go through a lot together and their relationship changes all throughout the story because of all of their experiences. A friendship bond was re-built from their adventure and the understanding that they sub-consciously had was very strong, they didn’t always need to be talking. Hiking the trail together gave them a shared perseverance and intense but positive experience. Bryson and Katz both changed while on the trail together and that was another factor that built up their relationship. Both also connected with the wilderness and the experience of outdoor living. A hiking partner that wasn’t expected ended up making the trip. Bryson, after the first adventure tried to go out hiking said “The view from the top was gorgeously panoramic, but it still didn’t feel right without Katz” Bryson and Katz’s relationship altered greatly, but was made nothing but stronger through the many factors on the trail.
Throughout the story, their relationship changes from that friend from long ago to a close bond and a tight friendship. When Bryson first mentions Katz in the story, he says “We had remained friends in a kind of theoretical sense, but our paths had diverged wildly.” Katz had been a drug dealer while Bryson had made a family and been an author. They have unbelievable experiences which made their friendship become stronger. Things like Mary Ellen, the crazy hiker who latched onto them, Katz getting in trouble with someone’s husband, saving Bryson when he fell into the water and just experiencing the Appalachian Trail and the towns in between completely changes their relationship and makes them closer friends than ever.
When they begin their journey on the trail, they have a hard time getting started. Out of the two men, Bryson was more physically fit, but hiking the Appalachian Trail is no walk in the park. Bryson after the first day said “I shed my pack and slumped heavily against a tree, astounded by the scale of my tiredness.” Katz was nowhere to be seen, so Bryson “walked and walked, down the hill and through the endless groves of trees, back over ground that I had gratefully put behind me forever” to find him. Later on in the book, they improved their daily distances and Katz begins to really get into hiking on the trail. “Katz had accumulated a small, appreciative crowd and was demonstrating the use and theory of various straps and toggles on this backpack. Their relationship changes through Katz’s changed attitude about hiking the trail, and the two men’s perseverance to keep going once Katz got into the Appalachian Trail.
Their relationship also changes through their attitudes on the wilderness and from being dependant on shelters and towns to being willing to pitch a tent in the open land. As they were first beginning their journey, they usually made their stops when they reached a shelter on the trail. “Dusk was settling in when we reached Birch Spring Gap Shelter”. On the last night of their first big journey, they get so irritated by ignorant hikers that stayed in the shelter that they were in that Katz said “Pitch my tent in the clearing. You coming?” The two hiking companions had an understanding of each other and had the same annoyances with the noisy ingnorant hikers on the trail. They had become nearly professional at living on the trail and stregthened their bond. Their relationship changed as their outlooks on the wilderness and living in the woods did.
Bryson and Katz go through a lot together and their relationship changes all throughout the story because of all of their experiences. A friendship bond was re-built from their adventure and the understanding that they sub-consciously had was very strong, they didn’t always need to be talking. Hiking the trail together gave them a shared perseverance and intense but positive experience. Bryson and Katz both changed while on the trail together and that was another factor that built up their relationship. Both also connected with the wilderness and the experience of outdoor living. A hiking partner that wasn’t expected ended up making the trip. Bryson, after the first adventure tried to go out hiking said “The view from the top was gorgeously panoramic, but it still didn’t feel right without Katz” Bryson and Katz’s relationship altered greatly, but was made nothing but stronger through the many factors on the trail.
Friday, December 4, 2009
A Walk In The Woods
2. I think that Bryson does these shifts in tone and subject because they make the book seem more real and more like a conversation. You actually get to connect with what he felt on the trail that was all real, and it didnt seem like a boring non fiction story. I really liked the ease less transition he would make from talking about funny things happening on the trail to statistics and history. This information wouldnt have been interesting alone, but Bryson writes like hes still having a conversation with you and it makes the information that much more real and serious.It was extremely effective in communicating his messages about the environment and the AT trail.
3. The relationship between Bryson and Katz starts out as a really awkward and poor one. Katz is just the fat guy who would be the extra baggage on the trail. You can tell they start to bond as soon as they get on the trail and they both learn that they threw away a lot of food. Their relationship completely transforms from two awkward friends who barely knew each other anymore to companions on the trail. Words didnt always need to be shared between them, because they connected on a mental level, knowing how tired the other was or how excited they were to get to a town. Even by the end of part one, the lazy Katz gets excited about hiking with Bryson.
3. The relationship between Bryson and Katz starts out as a really awkward and poor one. Katz is just the fat guy who would be the extra baggage on the trail. You can tell they start to bond as soon as they get on the trail and they both learn that they threw away a lot of food. Their relationship completely transforms from two awkward friends who barely knew each other anymore to companions on the trail. Words didnt always need to be shared between them, because they connected on a mental level, knowing how tired the other was or how excited they were to get to a town. Even by the end of part one, the lazy Katz gets excited about hiking with Bryson.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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