It has been 2 days since I came back home for the Chinese New Year holiday. So far, I have fun at home (like always) but my mind is still boggled with writing a thesis statement and finding 5 supporting details for my position paper. I don’t even know what stories, let alone what genre of literary texts that I want to do yet.
I really want to get the most out of those 30 percent allocated for the position paper. But God help me, I still could not figure out what story to do. Should I write about a poem? If I write about a poem, would there be enough points to talk about to fill in 3 to 4 pages? Or maybe I should write about a short story? How about a novel? Would it be hard to find those 5 supporting details for my thesis statement?
Hmm, I am going to bed now (that’s what I do when I have brain freeze), hoping that when I wake up tomorrow some angel of brilliant thesis statement maker would drop by in my dream and lend me a hand (or perhaps a thesis statement…)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
A GREAT INJUSTICE
Back in Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim, I had to learn Expository Writing. Before this, when I wanted to write something I just grabbed a pen pr paper, or sometimes my laptop and just pour everything that I had in my head. But things took on a different road when I was introduced to thesis statement and supporting details. I never knew that writing could be that complicated.
We had to write a position paper for EDU 3234 and now, I started to feel that writing is such a dread when I have to think of a thesis statement and supporting details. At first, I chose the story A Great Injustice by Heah Chwee Sian. I wanted to write about how social prejudice leads the main character, Ah Nya to abort her baby. I already came up with my first draft but I was disappointed when Mr Omid told me that I had to rephrase my thesis statement.
As of now, I am really truly clueless about how I will go about to write my position paper. I have no idea which text should I choose, let alone what topic I’ll be writing about. Hmm, I hope the holiday will bring me some idea on how to proceed with my position paper.
We had to write a position paper for EDU 3234 and now, I started to feel that writing is such a dread when I have to think of a thesis statement and supporting details. At first, I chose the story A Great Injustice by Heah Chwee Sian. I wanted to write about how social prejudice leads the main character, Ah Nya to abort her baby. I already came up with my first draft but I was disappointed when Mr Omid told me that I had to rephrase my thesis statement.
As of now, I am really truly clueless about how I will go about to write my position paper. I have no idea which text should I choose, let alone what topic I’ll be writing about. Hmm, I hope the holiday will bring me some idea on how to proceed with my position paper.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
SACRIFICE & LOVE II
It was a Saturday and I was in my room, with nothing to do (even though there is much I should be doing; assignments and of course, choosing a text and coming up with a thesis statement for my position paper). So, I try to go online and this time luck was on my side (the wi-fi connection at my hostel block is as inconstant as the petrol price in Malaysia; sometimes I can get online, sometimes I want to smash my laptop and you know why).
I did the usual, responding to forums and writing my blogs. Then I visited Dr Edwin’s blog and I just finished reading two short stories by Dr Edwin; The Kiss and Husband Material. Although I know these two short stories got nothing to do with the prescribed texts for EDU 3234 Readings and Project Work for Teaching Literature in ESL Contexts (which I should be blogging about), but still I would like to blog about the short story Husband Material as I find it interesting.
I try putting myself in Shanti’s shoes; how she is torn apart between social obligations to get married and her own feelings of love towards Indran. In fact, I pity Ravimama too, as he is in the same situation like Shanti, I think Ravimama is in love with Anand but coming from a traditional society, love like that is unheard of and frowned upon.
The situation in the story is complex. Living a life; even your own life in complicated when your life is not your own to live and enjoy. When every decision you make has to be referred to and approved by those people that you respected and called family. Look at Indran for instance, he loves Shanti but in the end since he is indebted to his relatives, he has to oblige and marry their daughter.
One lesson that can be learned from all this is, when you have no career and have to depend on others to make a living, that is when you have to submit to their whims and fancies. If only Indran were a professional with his own career and money, things might have been different for him and Shanti.
I pity Shanti, not only because my feminine side relates to her feelings of rejection by Indran but because I have heard and read many stories like hers before. Trust and love hurt when it is not repaid. Worse, when those trust and love went down the drain, unappreciated and thrown away like a withered rose that won’t bloom anymore.
I wonder whether what Shanti and Ravimama did is what you call love or sacrifice? Is it sacrifice when Shanti still waits and loves Indran even when he is already married and going to America with his wife to further his studies? Is it sacrifice when Indran pretends to be happy with his wife when his heart always belongs to Shanti? Is it sacrifice when Ravimama remains a bachelor even when he knows there is no way for him and Anand to be together?
Marriage and love, rejection and acceptance, social acceptability and individual choices; those are intriguing concepts that bug my mind. I wonder how are we, as future teachers going to teach all these in our literature class…
P/S: If you want to read the short story, please follow this link http://edwinvethamani.com/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=27
I did the usual, responding to forums and writing my blogs. Then I visited Dr Edwin’s blog and I just finished reading two short stories by Dr Edwin; The Kiss and Husband Material. Although I know these two short stories got nothing to do with the prescribed texts for EDU 3234 Readings and Project Work for Teaching Literature in ESL Contexts (which I should be blogging about), but still I would like to blog about the short story Husband Material as I find it interesting.
I try putting myself in Shanti’s shoes; how she is torn apart between social obligations to get married and her own feelings of love towards Indran. In fact, I pity Ravimama too, as he is in the same situation like Shanti, I think Ravimama is in love with Anand but coming from a traditional society, love like that is unheard of and frowned upon.
The situation in the story is complex. Living a life; even your own life in complicated when your life is not your own to live and enjoy. When every decision you make has to be referred to and approved by those people that you respected and called family. Look at Indran for instance, he loves Shanti but in the end since he is indebted to his relatives, he has to oblige and marry their daughter.
One lesson that can be learned from all this is, when you have no career and have to depend on others to make a living, that is when you have to submit to their whims and fancies. If only Indran were a professional with his own career and money, things might have been different for him and Shanti.
I pity Shanti, not only because my feminine side relates to her feelings of rejection by Indran but because I have heard and read many stories like hers before. Trust and love hurt when it is not repaid. Worse, when those trust and love went down the drain, unappreciated and thrown away like a withered rose that won’t bloom anymore.
I wonder whether what Shanti and Ravimama did is what you call love or sacrifice? Is it sacrifice when Shanti still waits and loves Indran even when he is already married and going to America with his wife to further his studies? Is it sacrifice when Indran pretends to be happy with his wife when his heart always belongs to Shanti? Is it sacrifice when Ravimama remains a bachelor even when he knows there is no way for him and Anand to be together?
Marriage and love, rejection and acceptance, social acceptability and individual choices; those are intriguing concepts that bug my mind. I wonder how are we, as future teachers going to teach all these in our literature class…
P/S: If you want to read the short story, please follow this link http://edwinvethamani.com/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=27
SACRIFICE & LOVE
After learning The Mahabharata the other day, I was looking for the answer to Dr Edwin’s question; what is the difference between sacrifice and love? I think it would be easier to talk about love first. So, here it is.
I spent my night looking at a poster of the theater “Passion” directed by Joe Hasham which shows a picture of a man and a woman, both of them eyes closed probably lost in the land of lust and of course, passion. I asked myself, is this love? I never knew what love means, romantic love that is, until I was 21. That is when I was first defeated by the power of love. Although I do think that love nowadays is really, really over-rated, but still I hope there is love out there that requires sacrifice. To me, I think that loving someone is not necessarily means to have someone. Loving someone is when you are happy when he is happy, and you are contented when he gets what he wants. Sounds stupid? I think so too, because as human beings, I think it is quite impossible to be that selfless.
As for me, love and sacrifice intertwined. When you love someone, you are willing to give and do everything for him. You put his needs and desires above yourself. His happiness means more than your own. The number one priority in your life is not yourself but him. In a cliché kind of way, he is the last person you think of when you go to bed at night and he is the first person that you think of when you wake up in the morning. All day long, you think about him and wonder what he is doing and whether he is thinking of you too. Although sometimes this feeling and sacrifice are not mutual, but who can help it when you become that “stupid” and willing to give your all even at the expense of your own bliss?
Even though what I have written above is in the context of romantic love; but it can also be applied to Devavrata’s actions to his father, Shantanu. Devavrata obligingly assumes “a fate worse than death”, which is to be sonless in order for his father to marry Satyavati. Devavrata put his father’s happiness above himself and that I think is the best manifestation of sacrifice; when you are willing to be selfless and put the person that you love above everything else, even your own life. It takes a lot of courage to do that, especially in the world that we are living right now; where love and sacrifice has lost their meanings and values.
I spent my night looking at a poster of the theater “Passion” directed by Joe Hasham which shows a picture of a man and a woman, both of them eyes closed probably lost in the land of lust and of course, passion. I asked myself, is this love? I never knew what love means, romantic love that is, until I was 21. That is when I was first defeated by the power of love. Although I do think that love nowadays is really, really over-rated, but still I hope there is love out there that requires sacrifice. To me, I think that loving someone is not necessarily means to have someone. Loving someone is when you are happy when he is happy, and you are contented when he gets what he wants. Sounds stupid? I think so too, because as human beings, I think it is quite impossible to be that selfless.
As for me, love and sacrifice intertwined. When you love someone, you are willing to give and do everything for him. You put his needs and desires above yourself. His happiness means more than your own. The number one priority in your life is not yourself but him. In a cliché kind of way, he is the last person you think of when you go to bed at night and he is the first person that you think of when you wake up in the morning. All day long, you think about him and wonder what he is doing and whether he is thinking of you too. Although sometimes this feeling and sacrifice are not mutual, but who can help it when you become that “stupid” and willing to give your all even at the expense of your own bliss?
Even though what I have written above is in the context of romantic love; but it can also be applied to Devavrata’s actions to his father, Shantanu. Devavrata obligingly assumes “a fate worse than death”, which is to be sonless in order for his father to marry Satyavati. Devavrata put his father’s happiness above himself and that I think is the best manifestation of sacrifice; when you are willing to be selfless and put the person that you love above everything else, even your own life. It takes a lot of courage to do that, especially in the world that we are living right now; where love and sacrifice has lost their meanings and values.
Monday, January 12, 2009
THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING
Today I finally learned thoroughly about the three stories that Dr Edwin had assigned us to read last week. First, let’s talk about Ovid’s Daedalus and Icarus. I got the painting wrong, which is such a shame because before this, I was contemplating of printing the right one which is Brueghel’s painting, Landscape With The Fall of Icarus. Nonetheless, I found out that the story or rather the character, Icarus symbolizes the fall of a free spirit that once soared the sky. Although the wings was supposed to be wings of freedom but in the end it becomes Icarus’s wings of death.
Next, is the story The Son of The Turtle Spirit. Dr Edwin gives us something to ponder over. Even though the son is obedient, following his mother’s instruction without questioning her, he is doing it at the expense of deceiving other people. So, what is the real moral behind the story?
Lastly, The Mahabharata where Dr Edwin asked us the same question that I recalled he asked during our last course with him, which is The Teaching of Drama. The question is “What is the difference between love and sacrifice?”Well, for me when you love someone, you want him to be happy and have everything that he wishes for. That includes sacrificing what you have for him. Yes, love is stupid in a certain sense and yes, it has make me melancholic over and over again. But seeing the fact that love has been the most favourite theme of all time, I figured that is must have significance in our lives as human beings. With that note, I end my posting this time with one confession; even though I look like a tough cookie, but inside I am a sucker for love :P
Next, is the story The Son of The Turtle Spirit. Dr Edwin gives us something to ponder over. Even though the son is obedient, following his mother’s instruction without questioning her, he is doing it at the expense of deceiving other people. So, what is the real moral behind the story?
Lastly, The Mahabharata where Dr Edwin asked us the same question that I recalled he asked during our last course with him, which is The Teaching of Drama. The question is “What is the difference between love and sacrifice?”Well, for me when you love someone, you want him to be happy and have everything that he wishes for. That includes sacrificing what you have for him. Yes, love is stupid in a certain sense and yes, it has make me melancholic over and over again. But seeing the fact that love has been the most favourite theme of all time, I figured that is must have significance in our lives as human beings. With that note, I end my posting this time with one confession; even though I look like a tough cookie, but inside I am a sucker for love :P
THESIS STATEMENT AND THE LIKES...
The first class with Mr Omid Akbari was scary as it dumped me with the gravity of what is expected out of my position paper and of course, the research paper. It took me back to my semester at Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim, where I studied Expository Writing where I became sicken at the mention of thesis statement and supporting details. Now, the nightmare haunts me back….
I started to realize that thesis statement could make or break your whole paper. A thesis statement should be simple, yet at the same time it should sum up the whole paper. Hmm, sounds puzzling enough?
I just hope lady luck and lady-good-idea-for-a-thesis-statement is on my side this time around, as I look for topic to write for my position paper and research paper.
I started to realize that thesis statement could make or break your whole paper. A thesis statement should be simple, yet at the same time it should sum up the whole paper. Hmm, sounds puzzling enough?
I just hope lady luck and lady-good-idea-for-a-thesis-statement is on my side this time around, as I look for topic to write for my position paper and research paper.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
BLEEDING LOVE
In our last class, Dr Edwin has instructed us to read 3 stories from the handbook for EDU 3234. The Son of The Turtle-Spirit, The Mahabharata, and Pyramus and Thisbe.
I didn’t quiet understand nor like the first story as it’s too much of a fairytale to me. I mean, I like some of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales as the story could be really twisted and cruel at times. Nevertheless, there are always some lessons and values to be learned at the end of the story. However, for The Son of The Turtle Spirit, I couldn’t see the message behind the story except one; always listen to your mother (the maiden’s mother is the smart one as she asks the maiden to sew the thread to know the origin of the young man), and two; be confident in your true ability (although everybody thought that the son of the turtle-spirit couldn’t dive into the river and put the bones inside the dragon’s mouth, still he succeeded as he believes in himself).
For the second story, The Mahabharata, I think the message is quite clear; sometimes, you have to sacrifice for other people’s happiness, especially your loved ones. Devavrata chose the most terrible oath to be sonless so that her father can marry Satyavati. That is a big oath, if you ask me as it is a very big price to pay for somebody else’s bliss.
The last story that I read is heart-wrenching yet it is my most favourite stories of all three. When I read it, it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, where two lovers ended up being dead over some misunderstanding. Weird, why do we like to hurt so much over love? Love, love, love. An issue that has been repeated over and over again by writers ever since the beginning of time. In the story, it tells about the forbidden love between Pyramus and Thisbe, so they decided to run away and live together. Unfortunately, they both ended up dead together due to some misunderstanding. Sad, sad story but still I like the melancholic and romantic air that surrounds the story. I am not a soppy person myself, but this story is something that I would definitely read for the second time. One memorable quote from the story is “Love made her bold”. True enough, love can make people do crazy things.
I didn’t quiet understand nor like the first story as it’s too much of a fairytale to me. I mean, I like some of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales as the story could be really twisted and cruel at times. Nevertheless, there are always some lessons and values to be learned at the end of the story. However, for The Son of The Turtle Spirit, I couldn’t see the message behind the story except one; always listen to your mother (the maiden’s mother is the smart one as she asks the maiden to sew the thread to know the origin of the young man), and two; be confident in your true ability (although everybody thought that the son of the turtle-spirit couldn’t dive into the river and put the bones inside the dragon’s mouth, still he succeeded as he believes in himself).
For the second story, The Mahabharata, I think the message is quite clear; sometimes, you have to sacrifice for other people’s happiness, especially your loved ones. Devavrata chose the most terrible oath to be sonless so that her father can marry Satyavati. That is a big oath, if you ask me as it is a very big price to pay for somebody else’s bliss.
The last story that I read is heart-wrenching yet it is my most favourite stories of all three. When I read it, it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, where two lovers ended up being dead over some misunderstanding. Weird, why do we like to hurt so much over love? Love, love, love. An issue that has been repeated over and over again by writers ever since the beginning of time. In the story, it tells about the forbidden love between Pyramus and Thisbe, so they decided to run away and live together. Unfortunately, they both ended up dead together due to some misunderstanding. Sad, sad story but still I like the melancholic and romantic air that surrounds the story. I am not a soppy person myself, but this story is something that I would definitely read for the second time. One memorable quote from the story is “Love made her bold”. True enough, love can make people do crazy things.
THE ART OF GOOGLING
The other day, I went to a cyber café to google something about Fall of Icarus. Dr Edwin asked us to find out a painting and also a poem about it. I googled the painting first, and there were quite a few versions of the paintings. How to know which is the right one? So, I googled the painting once again, this time in wikipedia. And I saved the correct one.
Next, I look for the poem. Once again, many versions of the poems. So, what do I do? Once again, wikipedia is the answer. And, once again wikipedia saved the day.
If there is one true virtual saviour for students who are unsure about the materials that has to be googled, I would certainly say wikipedia is the answer. It saves me a lot of time and it is easy to use.
And, one more thing that Dr Edwin asked us to google is about Ovid and Pygmalion. And guess what saved the day once (or maybe twice, or should I say thrice?) is yes, you guess it, wikipedia!
Ok, enough about wikipedia already. I found out that the painting Fall of Icarus is a picture of two men who seems to have wings falling from the sky. Sure enough, the painting reflects the title. Later, when I read the handbook, there is a story written by Ovid, which is Daedalus and Icarus. Icarus fly too close to the sun so the wax that binds his wings together melted and he fell down to earth. Tsk,tsk…I wonder what is the message of the story. Don’t get too close to danger? Is the sun a danger? Maybe yes, sun can give you skin cancer if you sunbathed too much. Hmm, either way, I will wait for Dr Edwin to discuss the story so that I can understand it better.
Next, I look for the poem. Once again, many versions of the poems. So, what do I do? Once again, wikipedia is the answer. And, once again wikipedia saved the day.
If there is one true virtual saviour for students who are unsure about the materials that has to be googled, I would certainly say wikipedia is the answer. It saves me a lot of time and it is easy to use.
And, one more thing that Dr Edwin asked us to google is about Ovid and Pygmalion. And guess what saved the day once (or maybe twice, or should I say thrice?) is yes, you guess it, wikipedia!
Ok, enough about wikipedia already. I found out that the painting Fall of Icarus is a picture of two men who seems to have wings falling from the sky. Sure enough, the painting reflects the title. Later, when I read the handbook, there is a story written by Ovid, which is Daedalus and Icarus. Icarus fly too close to the sun so the wax that binds his wings together melted and he fell down to earth. Tsk,tsk…I wonder what is the message of the story. Don’t get too close to danger? Is the sun a danger? Maybe yes, sun can give you skin cancer if you sunbathed too much. Hmm, either way, I will wait for Dr Edwin to discuss the story so that I can understand it better.
Monday, January 5, 2009
MY FIRST TIME
Literature has always been my passion for the past four and a half years (ever since I started to know that literature is fun and not some depressing story about “The Pearl of The World”). So, every time I had to study a subject which has something to do with literature, I always expect a time in class filled with fun and new reflection on all things connected to life.
During my first class for EDU 3234, Readings & Project Work For Teaching Literature in ESL Contexts, I was expecting the same thing; whole loads of discussion on literary aspects and critical analysis of the literary works. I got what I expected but with a little extra surprise; which is writing a position paper and a research paper.
Back in Johor Bahru, where I studied in a teachers’ training institute, I was taught to write critically and creatively. How to be analytical yet open to interpretation of a particular piece of subject. Now, I think that I have to utilize my knowledge and understanding so that I will be able to not just write a paper, may it be position paper or a research paper; but able to do an organized research and clear outline of my assignments.
Other that those two assignments that I have to submit, Dr Edwin has given us a handbook which contains other forms of literature works aside from poems, dramas, short stories and novels. He asked us to read three tales from the book; The Son of The Turtle-Spirit, The Mahabharata, and Ovid’s Metamorphosis. We have to google information on Ovid and Pygmalion, plus Dr Edwin asked us to find a picture and a poem related to Fall of Icarus. Although I have no idea about tales, I am looking forward to know and learn more about it!
During my first class for EDU 3234, Readings & Project Work For Teaching Literature in ESL Contexts, I was expecting the same thing; whole loads of discussion on literary aspects and critical analysis of the literary works. I got what I expected but with a little extra surprise; which is writing a position paper and a research paper.
Back in Johor Bahru, where I studied in a teachers’ training institute, I was taught to write critically and creatively. How to be analytical yet open to interpretation of a particular piece of subject. Now, I think that I have to utilize my knowledge and understanding so that I will be able to not just write a paper, may it be position paper or a research paper; but able to do an organized research and clear outline of my assignments.
Other that those two assignments that I have to submit, Dr Edwin has given us a handbook which contains other forms of literature works aside from poems, dramas, short stories and novels. He asked us to read three tales from the book; The Son of The Turtle-Spirit, The Mahabharata, and Ovid’s Metamorphosis. We have to google information on Ovid and Pygmalion, plus Dr Edwin asked us to find a picture and a poem related to Fall of Icarus. Although I have no idea about tales, I am looking forward to know and learn more about it!
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