All Things Must Come To An End

I was unprepared for, unaware of, and unexcited for the what awaited me  outside of the halls of Millbrook High School. I had no idea what the future was going to look like and to be completely honest I'm still more than a little afraid of what's ahead but over the course of my time in the IB program at Millbrook I learned one clear message. Just because something is hard, doesn't mean it isn't worth doing and just because something is scary doesn't mean you should turn your back on it. IB may have been difficult, frustrating, annoying, and sometimes terrifying but in the end I came out of it a stronger person. I came out of IB with a better sense of who I am and what I'm capable of. I came out of IB more aware of the world I live in, both the beautiful and the tragic parts of it.

I am ready for the Open Road:

"Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.



Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road. "

(Song of the Open Road)

IB showed me that we don't learn for the sake of learning, we don't learn history to regurgitate dates on a test, we don't study literature just to argue to someone in Zimbabwe why the curtains are blue. We learn so that someday we can go out in do great things with the knowledge we've been given. We learn so that we can reach out fullest potential. All of us have already done incredible things in the course of our high school careers but I'm certain that each of us will do much greater things, because of our time at Millbrook High School and I can't wait to celebrate them with you all.

-Dawson Lane

Freebie Part Two

Using my freebie

The American Dream

1. How would you describe the “American Dream?”

- For me the American Dream to me is the idea of becoming something more than what you started off with. This can be motivated fiscally, personally, or socially but ultimately the American Dream can be boiled down to the idea of progress and the pursuit of happiness (as defined by the individual).

2. What is your definition of wealth?

-To me wealth can be a lot of different thins, one of which is definitely the idea of fiscal wealth. However, I believe there are quite a few other types of wealth and to me they are more important than the idea of fiscal wealth (i.e. social wealth, or being surrounded by people who genuinely and truly care about you.) I also, believe that some people find wealth in altruistic pursuits and the memories and joy that come from these endeavors.

3. What are Americans’ attitudes toward wealth and poverty?

-Wealth in America is generally regarded as being tied to the size of one's bank account. This is an idea that is present in The Great Gatsby, as the idea of materialism is what defines the characters. As for poverty, here in America there is a widely held believe that a person can escape from poverty by working hard to improve one's situation (see Gatsby for an example of this idea.)

4. What is your attitude toward wealth and poverty?

-To me wealth is something that is accrued in part through fiscal means, but also through memories, friends, and family. As for poverty, I do not agree with the stigma that it is something that can be overcome by little more than hard work, due to the fact that people in intense poverty are put at a significant disadvantage through socioeconomic standards, and will often need outside assistance to get back on there feet.

Having examined the American Dream, it is clearly a large part of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and the problems with the American Dream are explored inside the novel. For instance, Gatsby possesses all the money anyone could ever need or want, yet he is left unfulfilled in his life due to not possessing Daisy. Ultimately, the novel is asserting that materialism and financial gain will result in a hollow life if not paired with success in relationships.

Lost In Translation

1. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
1. Minimal punctuation, establishes surrounding events before main subject
2. Chooses to call them "uneasy dreams" instead of nightmares, resulting in a visual that is less fearful and more uncomfortable. Also, gigantic insect implies a massive size, far larger than that of a human.
3. Linear, no punctuation
4. Very straightforward, with little figurative language 
2. Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.
1. Establishes identity, followed by circumstance. Seems to build towards the revelation of Gregory Samsa's circumstances.
2. Changes his name from Gregor to Gregory, resulting in the text possessing a more Anglo-Saxon feeling. Also, in calling Gregor a giant bug, there is a lot of room for interpretation as to the size of the insect.
3. Linear, minimal punctuation
4. Clear statement with little figurative language.
3.  When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.
1. Follows the same basic syntax as the others, building towards the revelation of his transformation.
2. The choice of the word enormous conjures up an image of something of monstrous proportions.
3. Linear, minimal punctuation
4. One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.
1. Chooses to establish the surrounding events, then the identity of the character, ending with the situation. Large usage of multiple clauses.
2. The term monstrous and vermin give no indication of size but instead conjure up grotesque images of terrifying creatures.
3. Heavy usage of punctuation to create an odd phrasing within the sentence.

How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning?

The different word choices within each selection define the impression the reader gets of the creature Samsa was transformed into. With selections 1 and 2 calling up ideas of a large beast, selection 3 creating the impression of some kind of giant that towers over its surroundings, and selection 4 giving no impressions on size, but instead on the grotesque appearance of the creature. Also, the varying usage of punctuation creates a sense of building anticipation in selections 1-3 but for section 4 it seems to follow more of a kind of chain of events.

Is one more effective than another? Why? 

I would argue that selection #3 is the most effective due to the impressions it leaves the reader with. Firstly, the image it creates of an enormous bug that towers over its surroundings is the most striking of all of the selections. Also, it maintains the linear nature of the selection (unlike selection #4) and preserves the original name of the character (unlike selection #2).

What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence? 

This exercise highlights how even though the same basic premise and themes can be maintained through slightly different translations, the ultimate effect on the reader changes heavily. This is illustrated in how the diction in selections 3 and 4 create a fearful tone by creating an image of a monster in the reader, selections 1 and 2 create one of passivity because of the underwhelming nature of the description of the creature.

IOC Practice Passage, Whoops!

IOC Practice

Criterion A: 7

I think I used the best quotes available inside of my selection and was also able to place the novel as well as justify my points in the framework of the novel as a whole.

Criterion B: 6

My analysis focused mostly on characterization as that was the primary literary technique inside of my selection. I had intended to discuss more such as dialogue and diction however I realized quickly that I did not have enough time to do so.

Criterion C: 4

For the most part I stuck to my "thesis" which I stated at the start of my IOC and I had a strong body however I did occasionally back peddle to a point that I had already concluded.

Criterion D: 5

I think I appropriate language and spoke clearly. However, there were a couple of occasions where I stumbled or misspoke that caused me to stumble a little bit, but these occurrences were infrequent.


(I didn't know how to upload the recording so I e-mailed it to you!!!)

What Should I Cover??

For my cover comparison I have chosen the two covers shown above. The covers both contain dark colors, for the effect of creating an eerie tone to match the novel's dark subject matter. These novels both also play on natural elements, with the first cover depicting a beach front and the second portraying the human anatomy with what appears to be trees in the background. The covers do differ in some areas most notably what themes they chose to capture. The first novel captures a serene beach front, a nod to the boat that Kathy and Ruth go to visit. The boat is a physical representation of lost things, which is in alignment to the title of the novel, Never Let Me Go. The second cover is much darker in nature choosing to portray the subject of cloning and donations. The two covers chose to focus on different subjects within the novel, the first on loss, and the second on the sci-fi aspects of the story.

1. The first cover makes me think of the word "distant" and creates a feeling that this takes place in a secluded place different and separate from the rest of the world. The second reminds me of the word "surgical" and reminds of me a drawing done by a freshman biology student.
5. The first cover would be made by someone who identifies with the emotional aspects of the novel and would be read by an older audience who appreciates these themes more deeply. The second would be made by someone fascinated with the ethics surrounding the cloning portion of the book and would be read by someone more interested in the dystopian aspect of the novel.