Goodall's Plagiarism

I have now realized the downfalls of plagiarism. First, you can always get caught, no matter how much you try to cover it up. Second, don't lie about something someone said, because people talk and figure information out. Lastly, just say something in your own words, because it's so much easier to just say it your way than say it the same way an author did, and get in trouble for it. After seeing how much Jane Goodall did and her co-author, I will never plagiaries.
Many of the places that Goodall was caught for her copying was word-for-word. Also, when Goodall said that she interviewed some of the people in her book, many people said that after asking the people who she claims to have interviewed said that they didn't recall of ever even talking to her before in their lives. I personally don't think that this was all Goodall's fault, but the faults of some of her co-authors and publishers. It was not Goodall's main job to cite a detailed bibliography. I think this is a mishap on her co-author's part, since she was probably the main person with the writing expertise. She should have seen and realized that Goodall didn't properly cite her information from websites, or write the information in her own words even. I do think that people should be punished for this, but not Goodall.

Portfolio Writing

Looking back at my writing over the past year has really opened up my eyes of how much I have learned this year in English. Seeing my writing from the beginning of the year, I realize many little things that I had missed, or how many comma splices I may have had! With the year almost over, I feel I have almost accomplished all of my goals for the year.
After looking at comments from Dr. deGravelles and my peers, I have reminisced in past papers, and remembered how much fun it was to write some of them (even though I may not have thought that at the time). I have also decided that I will look over my first writing piece, my Literacy Narrative, because I like the feeling of writing in first person, with my own experiences. Writing about my personal experiences from english will help in the future when I end up writing more personal experiences. I would like to focus my revising on 3 main things. First, I will attempt to bring the audience with me when writing this. I noticed a lot when we were writing drafts that Dr. deGravelles always made that an important factor for this kind of writing. I see now why she said that so much, since it will help my audience to see what I was going through in this event. Next, I would like to work on my sentence fluency, because after re-reading this paper, I have many awkwardly worded, or cut off sentences that need much more life to them, instead of just "I had to write this paper and I can't think of anything else to write". Lastly, I would like to work on my wording throughout the paper, since I know that I can use better words than some I had used. I felt like an immature writer when using some of the same words I did in 6th grade in my new writing.
I hope that I will immensely improve this paper, because it was by far my favorite of my papers, and also helped me through my journey as an english student this year.

Nervous Conditions- Chapter 10

Now, after finished reading the book, I have realized many things. I love these books that add mystery too it. I also like at the end how she describes "setting down the story", because even though it is her story, the way she describes re-living her story when writing this story like she is reading a story. She has to put down the story because she has lived a very emotional and epic life, that has many ups and downs. Something that I found interesting about her character Tambu is how she was always a strong wall when it came to all these tear-jerking scenes. In most stories, or even in real life for example, most girls would probably have some time in the story where they have either a big mental breakdown, or just have a cry-fest. Even though, unlike other girls, I do also think that Tambu was unaware always of what was really going on. For example, when Nyasha was going on her "diet", Tambu never thought anything of it but as a diet for her cousin to go on to slim her body. When she was really becoming anorexic and having a fatal eating disorder. Tambu was always lost in her studies that she never really knew what was going on, or how it was happening.
Even though the story is over, it mentioned how this was only the beginning on the last page, so it sounds like there is still much more to tell than just her younger life. I have also heard that there is a series of these books, which I will keep a lookout on, and maybe even start reading one in the near future. This book was very different reading for me, because usually in english class we read more Shakespearian stories like Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth (just like we will next quarter), but this book was unlike any other being that it was full of much more intense, and also modern information. It dealt with the troubles that many black people had to face in that time period of segregation, it dealt with many family troubles (husband-wife unevenness, eating disorders, relationship troubles) that not many books talk about. It was personal enough to make us feel like we knew everything about that family, or like what we talk about in class, bringing us to the scene. I hope I will find books more like this in the future, and to hopefully read the sequel soon!

Nervous Conditions- Chapter 9

This chapter in Nervous Conditions has really opened my eyes a lot to everyday problems in the world, and how to face them. I've almost forgot one of the worst things going on during this time period; the civil rights movement. Tambu in this chapter is so excited to be going to Sacred Heart, but soon is segregated into black and white classrooms. I know that this was a typical thing going on during this time, but every time I read or see a video or something about this, it makes me wonder what people used to think. Why would someone think something bad of someone of color without even knowing them? Why didn't more people try to stop this in earlier times (besides the well known people like Harriet Tubman or Rosa Parks)? This theme kept revolving in my throughout the chapter.
I also saw the passage on page 184 (we read in class) when Maiguru is talking about the terms of "loose" and "decent" and how women could never win no matter what they did. I completely agree with Maiguru in this case because she is making a very good point. She makes her own money and could make it on her own, but Babamukuru is the only one who gets to see the money in the family, and is also the only one who controls what they do with all this money. It mentioned earlier in the book how they have 2 cars, yet Maiguru doesn't drive either of them. Why? Because Babamukuru doesn't allow her to. Back to what I said in the last chapter, Babamukuru has so much good in him, but he just keeps taking steps back instead of dealing with them.

Nervous Conditions-Chapter 8

This chapter really got me a little confused, and also more glued into my book. First, I'm wondering what Maiguru is going to with Babamukuru and Nyasha, because I know that she was about to go way crazier than she actually was. I think it's good that she left the house for like 5 or 6 days because she really needed to cool down after holding all that tension in from the family over the last few months. I don't think its healthy that she holds things in, but it's also very risky to go and talk to Babamukuru about it, because she knows that no matter what he will always come out on top over her, and treat her lower.
Tambu hasn't caused all this tension throughout the house, but also isn't just a witness. We just never knew how much drama was in Babamukuru's family until we go and witness it ourselves. I guess that this tension has always been there, but it does seem like since Tambu has shown up, that it's gotten much worse. I do think there is still hope for Babamukuru too, since he is letting Lucia go to school at the mission. He is presently taking like 3 steps forward, when earlier he took 5 steps back. I am afraid that something will happen since this good thing has happened now. I know that Babamukuru is a good person, but he needs to work on it.

Nervous Conditions- Chapter 7

I never knew that there could be this much tension and drama in just one family. Seeing the many struggles now that Tambu's family has to face ever since Tambu has left the homestead is stomach turning. It is unbearable some of the things that we now know Tambu had to do on a regular basis. For example, when she had to clean the bathroom, she never mentioned earlier in the book, but it was one of the less fun jobs that she had on her list. I noticed that she mentioned that it looked like no one had cleaned it since she had left for the mission, which it probably wasn't. The family is 24/7 dependent on the kids, because 1)Tambu's mother starts getting sick and becomes helpless (which is all really made up) and 2) they know that they can't do the entire jobs by themselves. In Tambu's case, her dad is a very lazy, bad father that isn't even grateful for everything his children do for him, while her mother is trying to protect them, but while living in fear of her husband.

Overall, I think that Tambu is becoming such a dynamic character in this book. She isn't being like her brother by losing all her culture, but still is growing from what she once was in Rhodesia. Instead of being a poor african girl, she is becoming a well educated young lady in England!

Nervous Conditions-Chapter 6

After reading this chapter, I couldn't stop reading the book! Even though most of the chapter was full with a lot of violence, it made my eyes glued to the book where I couldn't stop reading! 

Even though this chapter was so riveting, I also changed my look on Babamukuru. I used to look at him as such a loving, giving man who wanted the best for his family. Now I look at him an evil, violent man. I never thought about it, but now that this event has happened, it makes sense to think that Babamukuru only thinks about appearance. It would explain why he got so mad at Nyasha, or why he let Tambu and her family live in his house in Rhodesia. He just wants to look good in front of people, and doesn't want his family to be known as the dirt poor people. I feel as though there is good and bad in all of it. It's good that he cares for how people may look at him and his family, but also bad that he just wants them to be known as not poor. Tambu also realizes, just like in our quiz that we took, that men are dominant over women. We learned in chapter 7 that just like Babamukuru, Maiguru gets a paycheck. I'm sure she works just as hard in her job, but doesn't even see her pay. It goes straight to Babamukuru, and she doesn't even have a say what the money will go for. I think that this is an uneven male dominant society, just like how the women at the homestead aren't aloud to say much in conversations. I think that this needs to end, and that Tambu has to do something about it soon before it gets worse. 

Free Post- High School

This weekend has been very busy! With sports, homework, and family time, I have barely had time to do anything! I am very nervous that the third quarter is already ending! It's crazy to think that I am almost done with my freshman year. I know that I need to work hard for the next quarter for good grades, and a good GPA. I have realized this year that I need to work much harder to get the grades that I want, even though last year I could fool around, and still get pretty average grades. Now, it was a slap in the face knowing that I will have more late night homework sessions and studying, less friendship gatherings on the weekends, and much more sports related work. After putting it all together, and going through it, I know that it can be very hectic! I am fearful that next year I will be even more stressed with a bigger workload, because many upper-classman have described freshman year as just the beginning. I know that I will sooner or later have to figure out to organize myself better, and to stop procrastinated like I'm well known for.

Tambu's Expectations

Tambu goes through a lot of change in chapter 7, not in one way, but many ways. She has realized how different her life is on the homestead than the mission, how much her family depended on her throughout the years that she was there, and also saw and found out many more things than she knew before.

When thinking about it, it's very logical the way that Tambu is acting; since she is in a new environment, she is going to be acting differently. She realizes little things like talking in her shona language to her mother, or even that she needs to act more intelligent at the mission than when she did at home, or she may even dress differently. The first thing that I thought about after thinking about how much Tambu had changed, and when she changed, was eating at a fancy restaurant. I thought how first obvious thing was you wear fancier clothes, and may act more sophisticated (appropriate language, table manners, etc). I know that when I was younger, if I had ever gone to a fancy restaurant, that I would always act differently than I may have done around my family every night. I would be more courteous of manners, or even make sure that I always talked loud and clear so that the waiter/waitress could hear me. 

The ways that Tambu are acting in the book, some are obvious and are non-thinkable, but others that she has to think about, like the hierarchy of the family (who washes hands first, etc). She knows that she has to know what to do, and always act right when doing so.

Character View- Maiguru

I'm sure not many people are going to choose Maiguru, because Nyasha and Tambu have much more of a stance than her, but Maiguru has such a huge part of this book that many people don't notice. She goes through such much confusion, hatred, and tension throughout the book, and she really knows how to hold it in. When reading about how we found out Maiguru has a masters degree, and gets a paycheck just like Babamukuru, it hit me that if I were her, I would feel so un-appreciated. She does just as much for the family as Babamukuru, gets no thanks, and also doesn't even see her paycheck. She never says anything, or even fusses about it. She just knows how to keep it in, and what to always do. Also when Babamukuru and Nyasha got into that fight, she was so frightened, but also had to step up as the adult and try to stop it. I know that if I were in that situation, I would be so scared I would probably start freaking out, and go blank to the thought of doing anything. Maiguru is a big inspiration in this book to Tambu also, as Tambu can look up to her when working hard to get her education. She will know that it is possible to get an education and succeed in life, even if she wasn't a boy. I also have a feeling that in the future, Maiguru will do something very big, and that it will open the eyes of some of the other characters in the book. I'm not sure what it would be, but knowing characteristics of her, she seems like the strong, independent woman that also knows what to do, and how to handle it.

Nervous Conditions- Part 1 Reflection

This has been one of the most different books I have ever read in my life. It is very interesting and keeps me reading, but it also goes into detail so much, that it will take as much as 10 pages to explain something. I know in Chapters 1-3, it was hard to stay interested because all she did was mention her brothers death for 50 pages!
Many events leading up to chapter 7 always kept my jaw dropping, from the event with Nahmo dying, to Babamukuru and Nyasha, it always kept me surprised and even more interested in the book than I already was. I hope to soon see what else happens, and how it will affect the characters and the story as a whole!

I also know that during these 2 weeks of reading part 1, I procrastinated multiple times. The time flew by, but my work never did. I planned on doing so much for my first C layer. But it never went as well as planned. There were points of confusion, and I also procrastinated to get help for those answers to questions (like on Friday). I plan in the future to get my work done as soon as I can. I can't always do it as soon as possible, because I need to read a lot, and also get work done at the same time. I will hopefully get better at that, and get my work done as soon as I can..