Masque of the Red Death Paper

Masque of the Red Death

                In the story “Masque of the Red Death”, by Edgar Allan Poe, the color violet has a symbolic meaning beyond the story. The meaning of the color goes beyond the story to explain a stage in a person’s life.  In Poe’s story, there were seven rooms in the hallway. Each room was a different color to symbolize a different stage in a person’s life. The first room was the color blue to symbolize new life. The second room was the color purple to symbolize youth. The third room was green to symbolize being energetic. The fourth room was the color orange to represent the middle of a person’s life. The fifth color was white to represent aging and wisdom. The sixth color was violet to represent pain, royalty, and a start to the end of life. The seventh color was black to represent death and the end of life. Focusing on the color violet, the color means the start to the end of life.  

            The violet room was the second to last room in the castle and was close to the black room. In the last room in the story, the black and red room, there was an ebony clock. The ebony clock rung once every hour.  Every person in the story stopped what they were doing when the clock rang. The reason for this was that every time the clock rang, the clock was symbolizing that there was less and less time for the people to live. The ebony clock basically represents the clock of a person’s life and how much life that a person has left to live. If the clock had colors on the face of the clock the colors would be in order, blue first. Purple would be the second color. Orange would be the forth color. The fifth color would be white. Violet is the sixth color on the ebony clock. Black is the seventh and final color on the ebony clock at the end of the hall in the castle. Violet symbolizes a late time in a person’s life a time from 61 years old to 85 years old. The color violet symbolizes a start of decline in life. The violet room was th second to lat room in the west end of the castle. The color, violet, also symbolizes a fragileness and people who are older get fragile. The color violet is also associated with royalty. People who are from royalty are very much respected. Also older people are respected, so that makes them like royalty.

            This color relates to my life in a few ways. First, the color violet represents older people. It represents a close to the end of life. The color violet is a mix between two colors, purple and red. The color red represents death and the end of life so, when it is mixed with purple, it represents the closeness to the end.  This color relates to my life because I have a lot of people in my family who know a lot because they are close to the end of their lives. They can pass on their knowledge of life to me.  This is how the color violet relates to me.

Book Adevrtisement

"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is an odd but interesting tile for a book. The book was written by John Boyne. This book is about a young boy, named Bruno, that stumbles upon a fence that separates a Jewish concentration camp from his outside world. Bruno meets a young boy, who lives on the inside of the camp and the boy tells Bruno what it is like in the camp and how bad the concentration camp treats Jewish people. People should read this book because it is very moving and emotional. People want to read this book because it is very accurate about what happened  in the Holocaust and it is a must read for anyone who is interested in history.

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O'Henry Research

O'Henry's real name was William Sydney Porter.
He was born and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Only attended school untill age 15 and dropped out to work at his uncle's store
 O. Henry was charged with embezzling funds from the First National Bank of Austin in Texas in 1896
While in prison he started to write Short stories.
When he was released from prison, O. Henry moved to New York City in 1901
 He published over 500 short stories
One of O. Henry’s most famous stories was “The Gift of the Magi”`
He was considered one of the best story writers of his time
He died in the year 1910

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 

 http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/05745504-9DBA-4DAA-96FD-FBBF16A7DC17/0/williamsydneyporterportrait.jpg

Egar Allan Poe questions

1. Edgar Allan poe was born January 9, 1809 in Boston. He died on October 7, 1849.
2. When he was young both of Edgar's parents didn't raise him.
3. Poe called Virginia his hime state.
4. The famous military academy West Point expelled Poe.
5. He married Virginia Clemm who was thirteen.
6. I think he is a little to old to be married to Virginia because she was so young.
7. The Raven was published in January of 1845
8. "Murders in the Rue Morgue" was the first of his detective stories.
9. "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat" were written in late 1843 published in 1845.
10. "The Tell-Tale Heart" was about a man bieng tortured and slowly killed. In "The Black Cat" a man thinks his cat knows about him murdering someone so he tries to kill the cat.
http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php

http://medchrome.com/extras/stories/berenice-by-edgar-allan-poe/



I haven't read many of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. From what I have read his stories are very creepy and they usually end wih death. He has very strong emotions attached to his stories. I really havenn't had any personal experiences with his stories.

New Blog Subject

Quarter two is about to start. Along with the new quarter, I am going to make a few changes to my blog. First, My blog is going to have a more specific task and not be so broad. Instead of random posts about nothing specific, I will blog about Edgar Allan Poe and Shakesphere ( not sure on the spelling but you get the point). In english class we now have reading time on Fridays. Also, you miht have noiced the new background. I think it fits better. I also have another blog for human geography. The URL is http://jcblogging18.blogspot.com/. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Peer Pressure Research Paper

Peer Pressure

            Peer pressure has been a very controversial topic over the recent years. Over the years the media has transformed this issue into a topic that is discussed almost every day. A lot of people are sometimes misinformed about peer pressure because as always the media twists the facts just enough to make people believe what the media wants them to. The media has gotten people to believe that peer pressure is all bad and that only certain people deal with it. These statements are only half true. Peer pressure can be used positively or negatively depending on what the situation is.

            Most people don’t know exactly what peer pressure entails. This is how it can be easy for someone’s idea of peer pressure to convince people what they think it is and not the true definition. Peer pressure is when a person feels pressured to do something, act a certain way to fit into a certain group of people. A fact most people don’t know is that peer pressure effects all ages including adults. For example, adults will dress a certain way so they will feel like they fit into a group. Most peer pressure occurs when people are trying to impress their friends.     “Peer pressure occurs when an individual experiences implied or expressed persuasion to adopt similar values, beliefs, and goals, or to participate in the same activities as those in the peer group.” (World of Health)

      Some people don’t know how peer pressure effects people. The effect of peer pressure varies with age. Peer pressure effects all ages but it peaks during teenage years. The reason it peaks during teenage years is because people are very socially active at that time in their life. Peer pressure is not avoidable because everyone experiences it in their lifetime. Peer pressure can only be resisted. Peer pressure resistance declines as people are in their teenage years. Peer pressure also effect genders differently.  “Peer pressure is associated in adolescents of all ethnic and racial backgrounds with at-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, truancy, drug use, sexual activity, fighting, shoplifting, and daredevil stunts.” (World of Health)

            Peer pressure can be used in a positive way. It all depends on how it is being used. If a group gets good grades people in the group will want to get good grades. Hygiene can also be a positive way. If people in a group have good hygiene then others will keep themselves healthy. A person needs to hang out with the right people to make peer pressure positive. In some states justice systems are using teen jury’s to try to use peer pressure positively. They feel that if a teen is judged by people their age they will be more embarrassed about what they did. They are trying to make the defendant not want to have to face a teen jury again. “Teens who succumb to that pressure, for example, are often portrayed in the media as more likely to experiment with illegal drugs, consume alcohol, break the law or engage in other risky behavior” (Teen Courts)

            A popular belief is peer pressure leads to drugs smoking and other bad things. Many teens have fallen into drugs and smoking because they were pressured to by their peers. This all depends on who the teens hang out with. Teens need to have good, positive friends to not fall into this kind of pressure. Teens should choose their friends wisely to make sure they are not negatively influenced. Also teens should try to work on resisting negative peer pressure and not resisting positive peer pressure. 

            Another popular belief is peer pressure makes people do things that they don't want to do. Teens don’t have to do what their friends tell them to do. They can find new friends if they are being pressured too much. No one can make them do something they don’t want to do. It is the teen’s choice to act a certain way. "There is emerging evidence that a youth's social network may be uniquely relevant and influential” (Friends can).

            Peer pressure can be used in a positive way if used properly. Teens must know what the difference between good and bad peer pressure. They also must have a good influence from friends. The effects of peer pressure vary from person to person. The media is incorrect to label peer pressure as bad because it can be used positively. Peer pressure can’t be used in a negative way if teens are aware of the surrounding situations.  

           

  Sources Used:

"Friends can feast on each other's company." USA Today [Magazine] May 2010: 9. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.

"Peer pressure." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.

"Teen Courts." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 10  Mar. 2006. Web. 22 Sept. 2010.

research article 3

                                          Article 3

“Peer pressure occurs when an individual experiences implied or expressed persuasion to adopt similar values, beliefs, and goals, or to participate in the same activities as those in the peer group.”

Peer pressure effects all ages. No one is immune.

Peer pressure resistance declines as children get older. Peaks before  adulthood

People are pressured by their peers  and the groups people are in

If peers slack then the person will be pressured to slack to fit in with the group.

If peers performs well then the person will be pressured to perform well

“Peer pressure is associated in adolescents of all ethnic and racial backgrounds with at-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, truancy, drug use, sexual activity, fighting, shoplifting, and daredevil stunts.”

peer pressure also influences expected gender roles

Physical appearance is important to young people so they try to look good. If group looks good the people in the group will be pressured to look good.

"Peer pressure." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.

research article 1

                                                                   Peer pressure notes

Peer pressure can effect teens in a positive or negative way.

Youth Courts are an issue of using peer pressure to judge teens.

Youth courts are when juvenile offenders commit a crime but it isn’t a serious crime.

The point of teen courts is to use peer pressure in a positive way to try to reduce juvenile crime.

There are some who think that if the jury are teens, then the offenders will be more intimidated by teens their age and will think twice about commiting another crime

Others say that the offenders will not take the court seriously if the jury is teens.

Some think that peer pressure can be used in a positive way.

Peer pressure has been stereotyped and most people think it is not good for teens.

“Teens who succumb to that pressure, for example, are often portrayed in the media as more likely to experiment with illegal drugs, consume alcohol, break the law or engage in other risky behavior”

Peer pressure can be used in a way to help people

English Research Questions

How does peer pressure effect teens?

Is it good or bad?

What can peer pressure include?

Research

Book: Anything but Ordinary

Topic: Peer Pressure

Search Terms:

1.      Peer pressure in young people

2.      Risk behavior

3.      Peer pressure management

4.      Peer pressure at school

5.      Peer pressure not in school

6.      Effects of peer pressure

7.      Handling peer pressure

Peer Pressure

          I am researching peer pressure in teens. It relates to the book I read over the summer because Winifred changed her personality to impress her friends. She did some things that she wouldn't do otherwise like treating Bernie like he did't exist. Peer pressure is common in many teens in school, at home, and in sports. Some effects can be positive or negative depending on what the person is pressured to do. An example of a good thing comming from peer pressure is kids taking better care of themselves. A possible negative example is cheating on a test.  It is related to my life because with starting highschool there is going to be some peer presure so i have to larn how to deal with it.  

picture from http://www.atschool.net/images08/pics/index.jpg


text info from

 "Peer Pressure." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/friends/peer_pressure.html>.

Website

my unique profile

3 September 2010




My Unique Profile

I am Andrew Jefferson, and I attend John Carroll High School. Last year I attended St. Margaret Middle School. I like to hang out with my friends . I play football for the John Carroll team. My goal this year for school is to keep up with school and to stay organized. I have two parents and a sister named Emily. I have a pet dog named Holly. This is my first year playing football, and I am enjoying it a lot. I play half back on offense and cornerback on defense. I hope this school year will be an enjoyable one.

Pen Pal Novel Letter

Dear Bernie,


My name is Andrew, and I read about your troubles and trying to get Winifred back in Anything but Ordinary by Valerie Hobbs. I live in  Maryland. There were a lot of things I did over the summer. For example, I went on vacation to Ocean City, Maryland. I also went to football practice over the summer, too. That was a very tiring two weeks. To the right is a picture of my helmet.

The book that you were in was okay. It wasn’t a chore to read, but sometimes it was boring because nothing really happened in a lot of chapters, and it seemed repetitive. I liked the storyline though because it was a good story. I didn’t think you handled it well when your mom died. You had to take care of your dad but you focused too much on that, and you let your schoolwork slip and that’s what started your whole problem with Winifred.

I thought the author’s writing style was different than most books because there were a lot of events in the beginning and not many in the middle. The middle of the book made it seem like the story wasn’t going anywhere. There weren’t many events until almost the very end of the book. The story was odd because you couldn’t tell the story was wrapping up until the last fifteen pages and then the ending wasn’t really any good. The book ended by you and Winifred agreeing to try dating again after college.

It was a major turning point when you realized Winifred was out of your life when she went to college without you. You realized that you blew your chance when she went to college because you might not see her again that made you want to go after her. You went to the length of saving up you money, so you could drive across the country to visit her in college.

The issue in this story is to not give up and slack off because it could change your future. Seniors in high school really need to learn this because they tend to slack off in the last part of the year. If they do they could lose scholarships or the chance to go to the college of their choice which could ultimately change the job they get or change their future. I can raise awareness of this issue by telling people to read this book. I could also just tell people what happens in this book. This book will make me more aware of what carelessness can do to you.

I want to give you my advice on Winifred. She is a nice, smart girl, and she seems perfect for you so try to not mess up your relationship with her because you know how hard it was to get her back. I want to wish you the best of luck with her, and I hope to hear back from you.

Sincerely,



Andrew