Blog Post #9 Grammar Boot Camp: Reflection 1

When observing the trends in my grammar quizzes, I realize that I scored a 100% on the quizzes titled making subject and verb agreement, combining sentence using subordination, and choosing the correct form of the irregular verb. I received a 93% with the quiz titled Using correct capitalization and punctuation. Meanwhile, I received an 80% on the quizzes titled Finding verbs and subjects within simple sentence and Correcting fragments within simple sentences. Furthermore, I received a 67% with the quizzes titled Correcting Pronoun and Correcting Run-On.  My lowest score was a 60% on the quiz titled Correcting the Verb Form.

When looking at the results of my quiz I see that I demonstrate mastery with subject- verb agreement and subordination. With a little review, I can receive a 100% on finding the correct capitalization and punctuation. Meanwhile, I see that I have little holes in my knowledge with verbs and subject detection along with correcting fragments in the sentences. My main struggles lay with a couple of topics within the grammar unit of pronouns, run-on, and verb forms. When observing the topics I received a 67% or below, I find that main struggles rest with proper sentence structure. However, I am able to understand the parts of a sentence such as the subject and verb with mastery. I mainly have to improve with the sum of the parts.

I have learned that I need to figure out putting all the components of a sentence together; I hope to achieve this by slowly taking each part of a sentence and learning to put it all together. Along with looking back at mistakes and instructions from my teacher, I can improve my grammar quiz scores in order to reflect a 100% on all of them. In addition to taking these steps, I have an abundant amount of resources in the form of OWL Purdue which is a highly useful grammar tool that I have used in the past when writing papers for previous classes. These ideas will set me in the goal of achieving the 100% for each grammar quiz.  

 

Blog Post #8 Game Rules Sheet

Complete the following crossword puzzle. The first person to finish it CORRECTLY wins.

Why a crossword puzzle?

The main purpose of puzzles is to engage your brain in interactive problem-solving, reasoning, and logic while entertaining you at the same time.

Our roots were incorporated into a theme of tight rule with restricted control. It was questioned by an enlightened man who used reasoning and logic of why he thought things should change or be a certain way. We presented to the class a new way of thinking through our skit and through the teaching of our root words while also entertaining the audience with our performance and the game itself. In order to interpret these root words and how their meanings effect the words they are used in, you need logic and reasoning to “put together the puzzle”.

Blog Post #8 Storyboard

Blog Post #8 Roots Script

SCENE 1:

(Adviser and dictator are sitting within an office room, dictator is sitting while the adviser is standing)

Adviser: My Excellency, I have heard news that a man is questioning the validity of our regime.

Dictator: What is his name?

Adviser: They address him as the enlightened man.

Dictator: Enlightened man, eh? We’ll see if he’s enlightened when he’s constrained within the bars. Let’s see if he will be enlightened enough to break from his constraints I want you to arrest this man and execute him tomorrow.

Adviser: Yes, your excellency. Sir, does he frighten you?

Dictator: How dare you ask me that question. He exercises no rigor on me. This enlightened man will not correct me.

SCENE 2:

(Enlightened man is confronted by a guard)

Enlightened Man: Did the dictator send you out to arrest me? Why are you conforming to his ideologies? How are you able to manage the rigors of the taxes that he imposes on us?

Guard: These questions are the reasons leading to your arrest.

Enlightened Man: I ask these questions without fright that’s why I am enlightened.

SCENE 3:

(Dictator is walking outside with his adviser)

Dictator: Should I see this enlightened man in order to answer his questions?

Adviser: My excellency, the man has made his mistake by questioning authority, I believe that you do not have a need to answer his questions

Dictator: It is not for the sake answering, but for the sake of clarification. I want to correct this enlightened man’s ideologies in front of my whole nation.

Adviser: How will the whole nation know?

Dictator: I am going to televise this debate without any restrictions. Adviser, arrange for my accommodations in order to meet this enlightened man.

SCENE 4:

(Dictator is sitting with the enlightened man)

Dictator: How dare you question my regime?

Enlightened man: Well my questions simply illustrate the rigors of everyday life for the citizens of your stringent rule.

Dictator: My dear friend, have you heard of the theory of natural selection.

Enlightened man: You have restricted all sources of information, so how would I know?

Dictator: It means that nature chooses the fittest, and I am the fittest; therefore, I have absolute power to rule you and this society.

Enlightened Man: That is simply ridiculous, nature simply see’s you as frightened and vulnerable

Dictator: How dare you!

Enlightened man: Do you mind if we can go outside into natural scenery

SCENE 5:

(Enlightened Man and Dictator stand in front of a tree)

Enlightened Man: I believe that human nature is represented as leaves, therefore we are all leaves including me and you

Dicatator: Show me the biggest one.

Enlightened man: They are all the same size, nature did not chooses one leaf to dominate the rest, therefore no leaf has the right to create a regime.

Dictator: Guard’s I want him constrained in his cell

SCENE 6:

(Adviser and Enlightened man are within a cell)

Adviser: You have corrected my visions about this regime, please take this key and escape this prison before your execution tomorrow morning.

Enlightened Man: I will leave now and come back to save you all from these restrictions and lead you to a more free society

Adviser: I hope the future will hold so

Blog Post #8 PowerPoint Presentation

Blog Post #6 Pan's Labyrinth Mis En Scene Analysis

Setting:

The setting makes a transition from a very dark labyrinth into a golden palace setting. The labyrinth carried many black shades within mainly to represent the foreshadowing of death. Meanwhile, the golden palace carried a golden feel to it. This brings in the lightness of Ofelia’s death. This palace carried a light autumn feel to it in order to represent a heaven like structure after Ofelia’s death. The high chairs in which the queen and king sit on represent the high heavens above.

Costume:

In the dark section of the scene, Mercedes carries dirty make-up along with a messy hairstyle. This alone shows the intensity of the war in between Captain Vidal and the troops. Along with men in the background of the scene, they wore black clothing in order to notify the presence of a death within their surroundings. Ofelia carried a light colored shirt for a possible foreshadowing of reaching a more heavenly place. Within this heavenly environment, Ofelia is seen wearing a golden dress mixed with slight doses of bright yellow. Meanwhile, both the mother and father share a fair complexion in order to a give heaven-like feel. They also wore golden clothes in order to signify heaven.

Facial Expression:

Ofelia when dying shows the mixture of pain along with a sense of relief. This sense of relief arises from being scarificed in order to reach her kingdom. To her this is freedom. When reaching the kingdom, she shows a facial expression of surprise which slowly turns into acceptance. Meanwhile, the mother and father both share a smile to represent their happiness upon seeing their daughter. On the other hand, Mercedes is seen crying due to the fact that Ofelia has left the world. Therefore, this scene carries dynamic emotions.

Lighting:

The lighting in the initial scenes shows a darkness with the moon as the only light source. The dark lighting was mainly used in order to signal the appearance of death. The lighting transitions from a dark black to a golden color in order to show the act of Ofelia entering into the heavens. The lighting of the palace is pitch bright mainly carrying a golden feel to it. This symbolizes a sense of freedom for Ofelia who has initially loomed in a dark world.

Camera Angle:

During the death of Ofelia the camera angle is at a lower position in order to depict the bleeding hand of Ofelia which shows her slow transition into the kingdom. Meanwhile, the fantasy scenes had a mixture of shoulder shots and close up shots. They mainly utilized these camera angles in order to show the detail within the kingdom. Also, the close-up shots help to depict the sentiment between the parents and their daughter.  

Blog Post #6 Pan's Labyrinth Chart

The Hero's Journey	Explanation	Example from Pan’s Labyrinth:
I: Departure (The protagonist is separated from the known and steps into the unknown.)
Home Culture	The protagonist has a "home," a place that s/he thinks is normal, familiar, and common to others in his/her culture.	-        Ofelia looks at the statue and seems to get acquainted with its structure
Call to Adventure from the Ordinary World	A normal occurrence motivates the protagonist to acknowledge an unknown aspect of his/her world, feel a restlessness with the constraints of his/her life, or find a new world that s/he was not aware existed.	-        Ofelia see’s a flying bug when observing the statue, in addition, Ofelia sees the bug following her to Captain Vidal’s house
Refusal of the Call; Arrival of the Mentor	The protagonist chooses not to move forward in life because s/he chooses to not give up his/her position, power, ideals, goals, or responsibilities; the refusal is often based on his/her fear of the unknown and comfort in the familiar. Usually secondary characters support the protagonist's refusal.	-        Ofelia does not accept Captain Vidal as her father, therefore she refuses to move from the past like her mother Carmen -        Ofelia also refuses to give up her obsession with fairytales
Supernatural Aid (Can be the Mentor)	The inexperienced protagonist is provided a supernatural, guiding, and/or guarding character, or an instrumental item (sword, encouragement, etc.) to assist his/her step forward into the unknown.	-        Ofelia has two supernatural mentors one serves to be the fairy who guides her into the Labyrinth -        Another mentor is seen to be the Faun who assigns her tasks in order for Ofelia to return to the kingdom
Crossing the First Threshold to enter the Special World.	The protagonist moves out of his/her comfort zone and walks alone. S/he is confronted with an obstacle that must be overcome before s/he can fully enter the dangers of the unknown journey.	-        Ofelia crosses her comfort zone when she must remove a key within a toad as part of the Faun’s first task
II: Initiation (By crossing the threshold, the protagonist's world is changed forever. A mental journey merges with the physical journey to result in a spiritual revelation of purpose and self.)
Road of Trials	The protagonist is tested and found vulnerable, but the outcome reveals a part of him/her that s/he did not know existed. The assistance given the protagonist under the "Supernatural Aid" section of "Departure" begins to come into play in the story, and s/he is not expected to face the trials alone.	-        Ofelia finds herself to be lonely when she is unable to be along with her mother -        In this particular moment, Ofelia see’s her imagination sore as she imagines the Faun being in her room at certain times
Meeting a Soul Mate (mother-figure)	The protagonist meets an ideal (in ancient myths a goddess; in modern stories a soul mate) and sees the possibilities of his/her journey. This supernatural, human, or symbolic ideal encourages him/her forward.	-        Ofelia meets Mercedes, a rebel informant -        Mercedes is a character that encourages Ofelia to follow her imaginations -        In addition, Ofelia also protects Mercedes’s true identity from Captain Vidal
Overcoming Temptation (father-figure)	Someone or something tries to destroy the journey itself. Often the destroyer has been sent by a larger evil to stop the protagonist. The protagonist is often misled, but eventually overcomes his lack of knowledge, prejudices, and fears as s/he grows in the acceptance of his/her role as hero.	-        Ofelia during the second task finds herself tempted to eat the grapes despite the presence of a Cyclops like monster -        This causes for the fairies to be eaten - Also, Ofelia must be careful of Captain Vidal's action
Approaching the Inmost Cave & The Ordeal	The protagonist, having made the adjustment to the Special World, now goes on to seek its heart.  They pass into an intermediate region between the border, and the very center of the Hero’s Journey.  As the hero near the gates of a citadel deep within the Special World, they may take time to make plans, do reconnaissance on the army, reorganize or thin out the group, fortify and arm themselves, and have a last laugh before entering.   During the Ordeal itself, the hero will enter into the “belly of the whale”, and then die so they can be reborn. The hero will face his greatest fears, the failure of an enterprise, the end of a relationship, the death of an old personality.	-        Ofelia will face the death of her mother which was the greatest failure to Ofelia by far -        Captain Vidal found Ofelia’s mandrakes root and threw them into the fire, Ofelia was unable to protect her mother as well as finish the Faun’s second task
The Ultimate Goal: Reward (Treasure)	The protagonist becomes self-assured and often receives physical gifts and/or emotional rewards. Since personal limitations are broken, the protagonist can see the big picture not only in relation to him/herself but also in relation to others. The protagonist understands how the ultimate goal can be accomplished and the mission completed.	-        When the Faun returns to Ofelia’s bedroom, he allows her to receive another chance to finish her tasks before the full moon -        Ofelia then realizes the she is very desperate to reach the kingdom in order to lead a peaceful life
III: Return (Through the protagonist's ultimate sacrifice of self, s/he walks in an enlightened state.)
Refusing to Return	Although seldom a true refusal, the protagonist, who should return "home" with his/her powers, ability, or wisdom, remains isolated and often faces a death of sorts. Sometimes s/he prefers to live in the enlightenment than return to a "home" that might not accept the ultimate gift.	-        The death of Ofelia’s mother sparked a sort of discouragement within Ofelia to use her attempts to return to the kingdom -        She believes that further carrying these tasks would harm the ones she cares about
The Chase	The protagonist flees toward safety to thwart the attempts to take back the treasure, power, ability, or wisdom. Because the protagonist has changed, the chase characterizes his/her courage and confidence.	-        Ofelia initially flees with Mercedes from Captain Vidal however this attempt fails -        On the second attempt Ofelia flees with her baby brother from Captain Vidal
The Rescue	The protagonist is unable to save him/herself. Others help him/her return "home," which may deflate his/her ego, but since s/he sees the entirety of the mission, s/he understands the importance of what is accomplished.	- Ofelia is saved by the Spanish Rebels when they massacre Captain Vidal's house
Crossing the Return Threshold	The protagonist must face the evil or its leader and the realization that home is no longer a place but a state of being. Those in his/her past may not accept his/her new ability, power, or wisdom and may test it as a final trial to the protagonist.	-        Ofelia in order to finish the Faun’s third task must confront Captain Vidal himself -        Ofelia realizes the after her mother’s death and Mercedes fled, she does not have anyone to care for her therefore she takes desperate steps to get back to the kingdom
Master of Two Worlds	The protagonist has the ability, power, or wisdom without limitations to relax in whatever world (physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) s/he finds him/herself. S/he can adjust to who s/he was in the past and who s/he might be in the future.	-        When Ofelia arrives at the kingdom she sees her dead father and mother back alive -        This shows that the kingdom carries its own components of imagination and realism
Freedom (Often the theme of the quest)	The protagonist is able to combine the workings of unenlightened (old) and enlightened (new) societies into one world, the world where the protagonist now resides. S/he understands that his/her old self had to "die" in order for the new way of life to begin. S/he no longer fears change because s/he has learned to live in the moment regardless of what that means.	-        Ofelia’s kingdom is all she imagined while reading her fairytales -        This shows that the Ofelia has reached her final place of solitude which is within her imagination