Crucible Post 1

In the Puritan society represented in the book, The Crucible, the power in the small town begins in the hands of Reverend Samuel Parris. The power lies with Parris because the town of Salem revolves around their religion, and with their strong beliefs in God and evil brings with it the loss of the townspeople’s common sense. Although the power seems to rely with Parris and his beliefs in the beginning of act one, it had actually shifted altogether by act two. Ironically, the power in their society shifted to those who had the least amount of actual rights, the children. With the adults heightened superstition, and the use of the children’s lies and playing, they had managed to convince the adults that witchcraft was real and living in their small town. Although they merely were playing with the townsfolk, these children managed to accuse and persecute different people of performing or harming them with witchcraft. The major shift of power over the townsfolk went from relying on Parris and his beliefs, to listening to the children and their stories.

Sinners Follow Up Post

When John Edwards delivered his sermon in 1741 his compelling speech caused a compelling religious movement. Because they were under the belief that they could not save themselves, His descriptions of hell and the wrath of god caused the poor townsfolk to be cast in pure helplessness. Although I believe society today would not be as moved by Edward's speech as the townspeople of 1741, I do believe that his profound ideas could bring some emotion out of modern day society. Edward's sermon described new ideas in the regard of God. Today, and probably what the poor townsfolk thought before the sermon, God is regarded as an all knowing creator, one who loves and cares for his creations and bathes in goodness and glory. Edwards described God as one who hates and loathes the sight of his poor creations, who dreams and wants to kill them. To someone who is under the impression that God loved them, and learned that he actually despised them would be revolutionary in the thinking of a good Christian and must have blown their minds. To someone hearing this sermon in modern day society may also be surprised or even frightened.  Especially later, when they hear that they are walking blindly over a plane with holes in it, and that at any moment they could fall in and go to hell. Or that God is standing over you, waiting to send an arrow straight through their heads. And although Edward's sermon was compelling in the 1700s, today it can be taken in at a much lower level, but can still leave a paranoia or sense of helplessness in the modern-day reader.

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

The video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, describes the sermon delivered by John Edwards on July 8^th 1741. This sermon is described as “The most famous sermon ever preached on American soil,” and is remembered as a compelling speech that started a religious movement. The sermon caused people to tremble in fear of the mighty god through Edward's use of fantastic imagery and descriptions. According to the video, the fear that the sermon put on the towns people, compared to modern day society, showed that the people were much more taken aback by his amazing story telling. Even though modern day society had a lesser reaction to the sermon, they would still be taken aback by his amazing imagery that could not even compare to movies and special effects. The sermon is described as an amazing piece of literature that put a town and its people in fear, a fear that still is in effect in modern day society.

After watching the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, and hearing how it brought a large fear in many people, I began to think that what Edwards had spoken had to be very compelling. His use of imagery and storytelling must have been very remarkable. His use of religion and wrath of God is what must have driven people to such fears. Although I have not heard the sermon yet myself I picture Edwards’s description of Hell, and telling the honest God worshiping townsfolk that they would burn in misery. The fact that God was their almighty savior must have made Edwards’s speech astonishing. By making their savior their worst nightmare, Edwards’s brought fear to the people by telling them that they would feel the wrath of their almighty God. I believe that John Edwards’s, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, will be a well described story of what would happen if you went to burn in Hell.

 

Descriptive Post

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIlH_Ozm0MweazE41srCHeBzaEIUw0cbA8w5T7klyUn9xkabVyFoYuMXRMp_ljlABuu08An4UqeZDL1PpukRCpEiji4NGBqUo4PzZ8jdu-cTT1Oi3zynw-eUbnYHa-ZXH7goPPvqJf2o/s1600/Amazing+architecture+photos+4.jpg

 This picture shows a city at dusk. The section of the city it shows, is a freeway ramp system. The freeway curves around the picture, showing about five different levels of the ramps. The picture is of  night street lights affects. And show streaks of light that traced where cars had been driving all night. The only color in the picture besides the blue of the twilight comes from these rays that ride along the ramps. The colors differ from red, to green, to yellow, to white.






 

Honors American Literature Class Expectations

Expectations of an Honors American Literature Student

            While English classes at Grosse Pointe South High School can be high on stress levels and expectations, Mr. Provenzano’s Honors American Literature class, although also high in expectations, has a more creative atmosphere that can help a South Student better achieve their highest potential without heightened stress levels.

            Like any other English class, a student is expected to follow customary rules and expectations. Being respectful to the teacher, and to others, is a given expectation for any English class. As well as being respectful, participation would also be expected. The more that a student participates in projects and writing, the better progress the student would be making in class. A student who is respectful and doesn’t distract the class will be more likely to participate and make honest progress. This contrasts from a student who is a constant distraction, and would ultimately deplete the progress of other students as well as their own, and get that student on the teacher’s bad side. Ultimately these two expectations will allow for a friendly relationship with the teacher. Other expectations need to be met in order to get good grades and be a good writer.

            As well as respect, and participation, there are other actions that will help a student reach the highest expectations of the class. Any paper or project requires a good effort and hard work, without it, none of the work will ever reach the students highest potential. Having good grades is anyone’s goal in high school, as well as something the teacher expects you to aim for. If a student never worked hard or put in a good effort into their work they would never get good grades. When working hard and making progress in their writing style, a student will advance further and further towards their full potential. The closer they get to their highest potential the better the grades will be on their work. If a student reaches expectations on respect, participation, hard work, and good grades they will be on their teacher’s good side and will be considered a good writer. After becoming a good writer who works hard and is reaching their highest potential, there is one last expectation that a teacher has to make a student’s writing the best it can be.

            Even though Mr. Provenzano’s English class has high expectations, the creative atmosphere allows for a more relaxed environment. Something required of any creative class, is to work thoughtfully. Hard work and good grades can make good writing, but will never make an amazing project or paper. Any project needs to have a creative touch of the student in it. And with a creative atmosphere like Mr. Provenzano’s class, the writing and creativity will take some stress off of the pressure of a project. With a creative atmosphere in a class room projects and expectations become more relaxed. When a student has fun with a project, it allows work to be better thought out and prepared, opposed to a student who stressed over a paper and wrote it without a creative touch. With all of the elements of these expectations put together, a student will reach their highest potential and get good grades as well as be a good student.

            Mr. Provenzano’s Honors American Literature class, although high in expectations, has a creative atmosphere that can help a South Student better achieve their highest potential without heightened stress levels.

About Me

My name is Grace Martinez, and I am a student at Grosse Pointe South High School. I am a Varsity Cheerleader for our Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils! And I am participating in South's Pep Assembly at the end of this month. I have been a cheerleader since the beginning of last years basketball season, and plan to continue with the sport until my senior year. I have all honors classes and am in ceramics III. I love art, and love participating in South's art department! The teachers are awesome, and I hope that by the time I am a senior I will achieve the honor of the gold key for my work. I love Grosse Pointe South High School, and I hope that the academics and the hard working teachers will leave an influence on me in the future.

My ethnic background is Hispanic and Northern European. My family on my father's side descends from Colombia, Spain, and Mexico. On my mother's side my family descends from Scotland, Ireland, The United Kingdom, and France. While my background is mixed my real lifestyle is all American. After my grandparents on the Martinez side immigrated from South America, they picked up and all American lifestyle after being drawn by the "American Dream". By all American I mean living Solidly in the middle class, watching  TV, spending time with friends, and being influenced by the American culture. Most of my immediate family lives near me, and I am fortunate to see them often. Even though I have immediate family that I see ever so often, it is the people who made me that brought me under the "All American" influence.


My parents had me on August 15th 1996. I was the first child out of  two that they would ever conceive. All my life I have lived in the middle and upper-middle class. I have one sibling, who is attending Brownell Middle School as an eight grader with the name of Gabriel. Gabriel was born eighteen months after me, and we have been close siblings ever since. After our parents divorce in 2008, we left our small private school in Detroit when our mother moved to Grosse Pointe to be a part of the academically excellent school system.Our parents have joint custody over the both of us but we stay with our mother during the week to go to school. At my father's house we have a total of four pets, three cats and a dog. At my mother's we just have two cats. Sometimes I feel like a crazy cat family. But my brother's and my life are very happy! All because of the great friends that we have!

Moving to the GP in 2008 was very hard. But by the time I was in Eight grade I had a great group of friends! Now as a sophomore, I am realizing that the friends I have now I will remember forever! The school experience I am having is a very bright one! I love spending time with my friends, completing long projects, and practicing artwork in my ceramics class! I love Grosse Pointe South High School, and I hope that the academics, the friends, the experience, and the hard working teachers will leave an influence on me in the future. 

Grace Martinez