Paraphrasing:
The check-list of text analyses is fundamental to be able to define texts. Without them we would not be able to do English, and still they are not enough. We also need literary theory as a complement since the check-list of texts does not focus on literary context and co-texts.
Barry studies the second line in Shakespeare’s sonnet and relates that to literature and language. He finds something strange about it and sees that the words come in atypical order.
When it comes to literature and gender we tend to ask if the writer is a man or a woman, (this in fact Barry find as a good question to ask) but in Shakespeare’s sonnet the gender is quite harsh.
Quotation
“…four major aspects of the relationship between literature and the world beyond, these being firstly, literature and history, secondly, literature and language, thirdly, literature and gender, and finally, literature and the psychoanalysis”
Review:
Tackling Textuality-with theory, by Peter Barry is about how to define and understand texts of different kinds. There are some guide-lines of what to look for and how to work with texts and he also gives some examples from Shakespeare’s sonnet and Adrienne Rich’s poem. Some parts of the text are rather difficult to both understand and follow as for example the sonnet where the text is written in English from the 17th century where words sometimes even had a different meaning than they have today. But also to be able to see the metaphors that are used and what we also are to look for in the text. At first sight the text was both quite boring and difficult but after reading the text for the twentieth time I could finally see things that Barry was pointing out, that is, to see examples of history, language, gender and psychoanalysis on the texts, even if I still found it insipid.
måndag 3 maj 2010
tisdag 20 april 2010
A summary of “Tackling Textuality – With Theory” a text written by Peter Barry
Teachers and literary critics need to define texts and tea-leaves. To be able to do that Peter Barry, the author of this text, gives us a check-list of the process when we deal with texts without any specific underlying theory.
We are to look for an overall structural pattern that provides a structural frame or backbone for the text. Is there any similarity beneath the apparent dissimilarity? Does the text that we read have a different content than it appears to have? That is, we need to distinguish between overt and covert content.
We need to know the difference between “meaning” and “significance”, where meaning is a part of the work something that is not changeable, and significance is unavoidably variable. Further on we want to find the genre or literary type of the text to be able to know how it affects the content of the work. We also look for metaphors when reading, especially poems. We read the surface of the work precisely, that means we recognise the importance of the exact literal words. There are different patterns in texts, both structural patterns, as mentioned above, but also micro-patterns such as series of words with the same tone or register, that we want to distinguish. Readers also identify stages and phases within a literary work, phases that are formally marked by for example books, chapters or verses. And last we need to be aware of that in different epochs of time the significance of words changes.
Peter Barry says that the check-list is something essential and that we can not do English without them, but nevertheless it is not enough. In addition to this we also need four major aspects of the relationship between literature and the world beyond; that is literature and history, literature and language, literature and gender and finally literature and psychoanalysis.
To clarify what he means, Peter Barry uses the Sonnet 73’ of William Shakespeare and “Transit”, a poem written by Adrienne Rich. Over and over he shows where he finds questions that we can resubmit to the check-list or to the four different relationships between the literature and the world outside.
And to explain; “why to do it?”, he gives two reasons; first, the complexities it gets itself constricted up in really are there, and second, trying to solve them is enlightening and sometimes even fun.
Keywords:
language
pattern
enlightening
distinguish
genre
metaphors
significance
We are to look for an overall structural pattern that provides a structural frame or backbone for the text. Is there any similarity beneath the apparent dissimilarity? Does the text that we read have a different content than it appears to have? That is, we need to distinguish between overt and covert content.
We need to know the difference between “meaning” and “significance”, where meaning is a part of the work something that is not changeable, and significance is unavoidably variable. Further on we want to find the genre or literary type of the text to be able to know how it affects the content of the work. We also look for metaphors when reading, especially poems. We read the surface of the work precisely, that means we recognise the importance of the exact literal words. There are different patterns in texts, both structural patterns, as mentioned above, but also micro-patterns such as series of words with the same tone or register, that we want to distinguish. Readers also identify stages and phases within a literary work, phases that are formally marked by for example books, chapters or verses. And last we need to be aware of that in different epochs of time the significance of words changes.
Peter Barry says that the check-list is something essential and that we can not do English without them, but nevertheless it is not enough. In addition to this we also need four major aspects of the relationship between literature and the world beyond; that is literature and history, literature and language, literature and gender and finally literature and psychoanalysis.
To clarify what he means, Peter Barry uses the Sonnet 73’ of William Shakespeare and “Transit”, a poem written by Adrienne Rich. Over and over he shows where he finds questions that we can resubmit to the check-list or to the four different relationships between the literature and the world outside.
And to explain; “why to do it?”, he gives two reasons; first, the complexities it gets itself constricted up in really are there, and second, trying to solve them is enlightening and sometimes even fun.
Keywords:
language
pattern
enlightening
distinguish
genre
metaphors
significance
måndag 29 mars 2010
Motivate children with grades at an early age
A couple of weeks ago it suddenly occurred to me why some of our students did not put any effort in the classes they had in Swedish/English, a subject they take instead of a third language. It was not because the teachers were bad they said, or the classes were dull. The only reason for not putting any attempt in the subject was because they did not achieve any grades. Now, does not this speak a clear language? The students want grades otherwise achievement is pointless.
Due to the government shift in 2006, the Centre-Right Alliance has introduced some changes in the society. One of these is that pupils will start receiving grades already in 6th grade instead of in 8th grade. This is something that goes along with other European countries which already give grades in school at early age. I believe this is also one of the reasons why pupils from other European countries accomplish better at school than Swedish pupils do.
Some might say that children are not ready to get grades in primary school since they are too young and that they should have the possibility to be children while still being young. But that does not mean we are to give the grades at the age of eight. At the age of twelve children have gone to school for eight years, by that time they should differ playing from learning and they need to learn to take some own responsibility.
Since I work with students in the 7th-9th grade, I often see pupils who start their 7th grade playing around for a year because they know they will not get any grades until 8th grade. In other words they are wasting a year in junior high school because they do not take school seriously. Then suddenly they realize that they only have two years left before they really need the grades to continue to a chosen high school after junior high. If you ask me, I do believe it is very important we start grading pupils earlier at school. It is obvious that grades are pupils’ motivation, without them they will not know why to achieve.
I actually heard a colleague of mine who said we should not have any grades in Physical Education since then our pupils would not compete with each other during class. I feel the total opposite for many reasons but one is that; in that case the majority of the class would probably not even come to class since there is nothing to receive. The ones already exercising during spare time would rather spend more time on the certain sport they practise and those who do not exercise at all, they would not come since they do not like recreation and what is the point coming to class if they will not even receive any grades in the subject? Competition among pupils is something we need to work on daily but still they need to learn that they are not in school to have fun during PE, it is an educating subject like the others. To grade that certain subject is as fundamental as to teach children the importance of going to school. And to motivate them even more I think it is good to grade them from early age.
Finally, why do I think we should grade our pupils at an early age? Well, grading at an early age will indicate the importance of why children actually go to school. It will give them an opportunity to take responsibility of their learning but also give them motivation why to work hard at school.
Due to the government shift in 2006, the Centre-Right Alliance has introduced some changes in the society. One of these is that pupils will start receiving grades already in 6th grade instead of in 8th grade. This is something that goes along with other European countries which already give grades in school at early age. I believe this is also one of the reasons why pupils from other European countries accomplish better at school than Swedish pupils do.
Some might say that children are not ready to get grades in primary school since they are too young and that they should have the possibility to be children while still being young. But that does not mean we are to give the grades at the age of eight. At the age of twelve children have gone to school for eight years, by that time they should differ playing from learning and they need to learn to take some own responsibility.
Since I work with students in the 7th-9th grade, I often see pupils who start their 7th grade playing around for a year because they know they will not get any grades until 8th grade. In other words they are wasting a year in junior high school because they do not take school seriously. Then suddenly they realize that they only have two years left before they really need the grades to continue to a chosen high school after junior high. If you ask me, I do believe it is very important we start grading pupils earlier at school. It is obvious that grades are pupils’ motivation, without them they will not know why to achieve.
I actually heard a colleague of mine who said we should not have any grades in Physical Education since then our pupils would not compete with each other during class. I feel the total opposite for many reasons but one is that; in that case the majority of the class would probably not even come to class since there is nothing to receive. The ones already exercising during spare time would rather spend more time on the certain sport they practise and those who do not exercise at all, they would not come since they do not like recreation and what is the point coming to class if they will not even receive any grades in the subject? Competition among pupils is something we need to work on daily but still they need to learn that they are not in school to have fun during PE, it is an educating subject like the others. To grade that certain subject is as fundamental as to teach children the importance of going to school. And to motivate them even more I think it is good to grade them from early age.
Finally, why do I think we should grade our pupils at an early age? Well, grading at an early age will indicate the importance of why children actually go to school. It will give them an opportunity to take responsibility of their learning but also give them motivation why to work hard at school.
fredag 12 mars 2010
A Christmas gift 2010 is to be announced
Imagine thousands of nails pressed against your bare back when you are lying on the floor. It is a slight feeling of heat, almost like burning that whizzes through your body. Slowly the pesty sense disappears before the feeling of relaxation and calmness spreads in you body. It is a sensation that every centimetre of your back has awakened and each single part of your muscles is working and the microcirculation is on-stream. Despite of the short feeling of pain this is actually one of my best buys ever and it is simply because of that I am announcing the bed of nails also called the spike mat to be the Christmas present of the year 2010. I know many people have it already but I wish every one could experience what the spike mat can offer in a stressed world like ours.
Every year we spend tremendous amounts of money on expensive health treatments as massage, acupuncture, zone therapy and so forth. These usually cost quite a lot of money and to receive any effects of them you either need to go there regularly or at least have several treatments in a short time. This is not only expensive, they also consume a lot of time, time that in our modern life is very precious. So when the spike mat was introduced on the market I realized that it was an alternative to all those treatments. First of all it is cheap. Secondly it is very easy to use and easy to bring. Thirdly you have it at home and you can use it at any time and for as long as it suits you.
Indians have been using the spike mat for thousands of years for different relaxation exercises. The outcome of those exercises is pain relief and an activation of the body’s own production of endorphins which give a sense of physical well-being. This must indicate that people have been and still are satisfied with the spike mat.
Some might say that it is only a new thing to have in our materialistic world and that the effects of the mat do not replace treatments you get from a masseur. I do agree on the fact that we buy a lot of things, things that we mostly do not even need. But still I claim that this fad deserves to be emphasized because it does something good for your health. And maybe that is true that the effects from the mat are not the same as from a masseur but many people today cannot even afford to buy health treatments and therefore I believe this is a good alternative.
A gizmo or not, but the spike mat is something everyone deserve to have. It has healing and releasing effect of physical and mental blockage; it reduces muscle tension and decreases anxieties, it raises pain threshold and increases our sexual desire. That is why I also think it deserves to be the Christmas gift of the year 2010.
fredag 19 februari 2010
Why does consumption increase even in a recession?
In the summer 2007 we experienced a new global financial crisis. Many economists consider this to be the worst since 1929. This had drastic impact on families in the USA when they lost all their assets and some were even forced to leave their homes. In Sweden it did not have such an enormous afflict as the crisis had in USA but it forced companies to shut down and therefore also caused unemployment. Two and a half year later, the financial crisis still has an effect on us but in spite of the recession the consumption continues to increase. Why is that?
Among many reasons low taxes could actually be one of reasons for the increasing consumption. In 2006 we had an election. The New Moderate Party won over The Social Party and one of their election promises was to lower the taxes. The outcome of that gave us more money to spend than we actually had had before, which had a positive impact on the consumption even in a recession.
Another reason could be that during the same year as we were hit by the global financial crisis, the banks started lower the economic rent. This, together with the fact that the households until now had been doing historic great savings which they now reduced, helped the consumption to grow even stronger.
However to find the answer and the main reason to the fact that consumption is increasing we need to see how our society works today. No matter if we are struck by a financial crisis or reminded of the global warming and the causes to that, which indeed has to do with supplies and demands in the world, we are living in a world of consumption. The production gets more global and today it is easier to buy things especially when you have access to internet. The competitions between the producers lower the prices which embolden us to buy even more. Daily we are influenced and showered with information, advertisements, commercial from mass medium. We encourage buying new things, sometimes even things that we already have, only to have a new model or for the reason that we need more than one of this certain product. Consumption is essential for us, it gives employment and it generates money. Either we like this development or not we have to continue consuming to be able to survive.
In the summer 2007 we experienced a new global financial crisis. Many economists consider this to be the worst since 1929. This had drastic impact on families in the USA when they lost all their assets and some were even forced to leave their homes. In Sweden it did not have such an enormous afflict as the crisis had in USA but it forced companies to shut down and therefore also caused unemployment. Two and a half year later, the financial crisis still has an effect on us but in spite of the recession the consumption continues to increase. Why is that?
Among many reasons low taxes could actually be one of reasons for the increasing consumption. In 2006 we had an election. The New Moderate Party won over The Social Party and one of their election promises was to lower the taxes. The outcome of that gave us more money to spend than we actually had had before, which had a positive impact on the consumption even in a recession.
Another reason could be that during the same year as we were hit by the global financial crisis, the banks started lower the economic rent. This, together with the fact that the households until now had been doing historic great savings which they now reduced, helped the consumption to grow even stronger.
However to find the answer and the main reason to the fact that consumption is increasing we need to see how our society works today. No matter if we are struck by a financial crisis or reminded of the global warming and the causes to that, which indeed has to do with supplies and demands in the world, we are living in a world of consumption. The production gets more global and today it is easier to buy things especially when you have access to internet. The competitions between the producers lower the prices which embolden us to buy even more. Daily we are influenced and showered with information, advertisements, commercial from mass medium. We encourage buying new things, sometimes even things that we already have, only to have a new model or for the reason that we need more than one of this certain product. Consumption is essential for us, it gives employment and it generates money. Either we like this development or not we have to continue consuming to be able to survive.
söndag 7 februari 2010
Formal and informal writing
Assignment 1
Define the term of style in context of writing:
Depending on whom your receiver is and what your intentions are with a text or letter that you are writing, the structure of it is important. The first thing you see, before reading the letter is the disposition and then, even more significant the contents of it.
Formal text:
With European leaders meeting in Brussels today for the first time since the botched Copenhagen climate summit in December 2009, Greenpeace calls on heads of state and government to shape an ambitious and influential EU position for the next round of international climate negotiations. This would enable Europe to regain its leadership in the struggle against climate change.
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/eu-should-reclaim-climate-leadership-11-02-10
Formal texts contain:
The writing is objective and impersonal; it includes explanations and analysis and has often longer sentences.
Informal text:
In the last week, two well-known travelers-movie director Kevin Smith and New York Times columnist David Pogue-have used Twitter to tell the world about their bad flying experiences. Pogue was rebuked by a tall passenger seated behind him. Smith was ejected from a plane for being fat. Thanks to their popularity-Smith has more than 1.6 million Twitter followers, and Pogue has more than 1.3 million-the two men have stirred up plenty of debate over the incidents. Their juxtaposition raises an interesting question: Do we treat excessive length and width differently? If so, is that unfair?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/humannature/archive/2010/02/19/fat-height-and-air-travel.aspx
Informal texts contain:
Short sentences, personal examples, emotional language, written for pleasure
Two texts of my own:
Informal:
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,
You made it to the top final! Congratulations! Now it is only ten competitors left and you are one of them. About the final competition you will be contacted ahead of time but if you are a lost ball in the high weeds, you can always contact us. So put your poker face on and get prepared for the finals otherwise, let us know if you are not willing to participate!
Regards, John Mills
Formal:
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,
We have the honor to inform you that you are one out of ten who has made it to the final. The final competition will be held on March 10 in Stockholm and you will be informed concerning the details about the arrangement a week ahead. If you have any questions please contact the headquarter as soon as possible.
If you of any reason do not have the intention of not participating in the final competition, please inform us as soon as possible.
Best regards, John Mills
Define the term of style in context of writing:
Depending on whom your receiver is and what your intentions are with a text or letter that you are writing, the structure of it is important. The first thing you see, before reading the letter is the disposition and then, even more significant the contents of it.
Formal text:
With European leaders meeting in Brussels today for the first time since the botched Copenhagen climate summit in December 2009, Greenpeace calls on heads of state and government to shape an ambitious and influential EU position for the next round of international climate negotiations. This would enable Europe to regain its leadership in the struggle against climate change.
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/eu-should-reclaim-climate-leadership-11-02-10
Formal texts contain:
The writing is objective and impersonal; it includes explanations and analysis and has often longer sentences.
Informal text:
In the last week, two well-known travelers-movie director Kevin Smith and New York Times columnist David Pogue-have used Twitter to tell the world about their bad flying experiences. Pogue was rebuked by a tall passenger seated behind him. Smith was ejected from a plane for being fat. Thanks to their popularity-Smith has more than 1.6 million Twitter followers, and Pogue has more than 1.3 million-the two men have stirred up plenty of debate over the incidents. Their juxtaposition raises an interesting question: Do we treat excessive length and width differently? If so, is that unfair?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/humannature/archive/2010/02/19/fat-height-and-air-travel.aspx
Informal texts contain:
Short sentences, personal examples, emotional language, written for pleasure
Two texts of my own:
Informal:
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,
You made it to the top final! Congratulations! Now it is only ten competitors left and you are one of them. About the final competition you will be contacted ahead of time but if you are a lost ball in the high weeds, you can always contact us. So put your poker face on and get prepared for the finals otherwise, let us know if you are not willing to participate!
Regards, John Mills
Formal:
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,
We have the honor to inform you that you are one out of ten who has made it to the final. The final competition will be held on March 10 in Stockholm and you will be informed concerning the details about the arrangement a week ahead. If you have any questions please contact the headquarter as soon as possible.
If you of any reason do not have the intention of not participating in the final competition, please inform us as soon as possible.
Best regards, John Mills
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