{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28199905","dateCreated":"1286565261","smartDate":"Oct 8, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"nikki-wiki","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/nikki-wiki","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28199905"},"dateDigested":1531973963,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Nikki Mora post","description":" I think that the most successful story was How it Feels to be Colored Me. This story really makes you feel many different things, which is a good thing. I could feel emotion in what Zora was saying and what made this a successful story in my point of view was that due to he sarcasm and her way of expressing herself I really understood what bothered her and what motivated her. Even though there were some parts that were hard to explain I thought that it was a very well written story and it had a lot going on which made it the most succcessful for me out of all the short stories we have read so far.
\n The least successful story for me was Tuesday Night. I enjoyed the beggining of the story because it had a lot of descripition and a lot going on. As the story continues and the narrator begins to reveal her true colors I started to dislike this story. The ending was what made me completely dislike the story. It was a very confusing ending. It said "I remember Henry saying to me, as a way of leading up to talking about divorce, that going to work one morning he had driven over a hill and had been astonished when at the top he saw a huge yellow tree, and realized for the first time that it was autumn." This doesn't really make sense to me which I thought was not a good ending for a story that started the way it did.
\n In these two stories we can see a couple of similarities. For example, both narrators are talking about themselves and their situations. They are both talking about problems they have in their lives. Even though they have similarities these stories differ a lot.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28204631","body":"Thanks Nicole,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286571581","smartDate":"Oct 8, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"28160607","dateCreated":"1286503184","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"jsutton26","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jsutton26","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222961183\/jsutton26-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28160607"},"dateDigested":1531973963,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"I see all you Asian when Godzilla is in town all yall screaming like GAYAKA GAYAKA","description":"From all the shorts stories the class has read, and from all the different behavior and purposes they have been written, my favorite by far is \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d. I preferred this story from all the other one for many reason. One of the main reasons were that it was well written, and compared to others straightforward and easy to comprehend This story most compared to many we have read in school is not as depressing as for example, \u201cCatcher in The Rye\u201d, \u201cThe Giver\u201d, or even \u201cOf Mice and Men\u201d. This story has a good, helpful moral. Another reason why I really preferred this story is because I could relate with the character. He was a African American teenager who wanted the respect from people. Many present day teenagers feel rejected by society in a way and try to find respect, and sometimes buying a gun to accomplish this respect. I believe this is the most successful short story read in class, and I wish to read other similar stories.
\nThe least successful short story that the class has read in the semester for me has been \u201cHow It Feels To Be Colored\u201d. This story really focuses on the ethnicities and in a way insults the races. In the beginning of the story it starts explaining how she was a black but no totally black because the also had Indian descendants. I believe this in a way insults the black ethnicity for the girl is stating that she is black but not 100% metaphorically explaining that she can\u2019t be referred as that low class. Another way that I believe Zora insults another ethnicity is when she is explaining that the white race has no rhythm, that they have no feel for the jazz. Another reason why I disliked \u201c How it Feels To Be Colored\u201d is the way it is written, it is really difficult to comprehend and to it confused me while reading.
\nThese two stories have many similarities and have many differences. One of the similarities are that both characters in the stories are African American with a different mentality of other African American teenagers. Both wanted to have respect in a way, in the story \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d, they character tried to find the respect by buying a gun. In the other hand, in the story \u201cHow It Feels To Be Colored\u201d, Zora tries to find respect intimidating the white race, staring at them from the porch making herself feel superior to them, or by just entering in their cabs or cars and ride with them.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28194833","body":"Jonathan,
\n
\nThanks for answering.
\n
\nI REALLY do not like your title. Many might find it rude. Don't do it again. This is homework, not a joke.
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286560265","smartDate":"Oct 8, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28195377","body":"sorry webster","dateCreated":"1286560606","smartDate":"Oct 8, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"jsutton26","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jsutton26","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222961183\/jsutton26-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"28089583","dateCreated":"1286405532","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"hansel.andrew","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/hansel.andrew","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28089583"},"dateDigested":1531973964,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"will's wiki","description":"My favorite short story so far this year has been "The Swimmer." The swimmer started out with a middle-aged man who goes across the county swimming in every pool. In this story there is no direct evidence in the text, but there are the some lines implying that he has been doing this for more than a short period of time, "Leaves were falling down around him and he smelled wood smoke on the wind. Who would be burning wood at this time of year?" He thought this because he started swimming when there were green leaves all around him. Clearly he'd been swimming throughout the season's change and he'd lost track of time. The swimmer had a slow rising action but as he goes from pool to pool the action continues to rise regularly. Netty keeps going to different pools and describes the people who own the house where each pool is located and how he knows them. I really liked the falling action because it was so sharp and unexpected. "He shouted, pounded on the door, tried to force it with his shoulder, and then, looking at the windows, saw that the place was empty." This line was the wake up sort-of flip-the-page-to-make-sure-there-isn't-any-more kind-of line, which is a cliff-hanger and a ending at the same time.
\n My least favorite story so far this semester is "How it Feels to be Colored Me." In this story, the narrator wouldn't stop lagging-on the story. For the most part I like literature, however, when a story seems to have no falling action or a very small incline for the rising action I become bored and move on. To be honest I fell asleep when the girl said "Music. The great blobs of purple and red emotion have not touched him. He has only heard what I felt." This statement is arrogant because she is judging her so called "friend" and saying that she is much deeper than him because she's black and she can feel jazz music better than white people. She's not inside of his head so she shouldn't be judging him. Also, I totally disliked the analogy of the brown bag at the end. The writer says that we are all full of "miscellany" such as length's of string, broken glass, etc." In essence, she's saying that we're all full of worthless junk and I feel like she's generalizing all of humanity.
\n One similarity of "How it Feels to be Colored Me" and "The Swimmer" is that the rising action in both stories is unbelievably slow. Another similarity is that the stories are both about one self absorbed person. For example, Netty swims in all of his neighbor's swimming pool's regardless of how they feel about it. Zora relates everyone to how it makes her feel. For example, she says "Beside that water of the Hudson, I feel my race." These two stories were different in the way that they were written. The Swimmer has a slow rising action but falling action is short and abrupt. The other story, "How it feels to be Colored Me," just didn't really end. The rising action dragged on and then there was no conclusive falling action. Another way that these stories are different is that "The Swimmer" is written in the second person and "How it Feel to be Colored Me" is written in the first person. This let's us get into Zora's mind more than we would have otherwise. It also us to see her more clearly than we see Netty.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28150351","body":"Will,
\n
\nThis is great. You really thought this through and your original thinking shows. I appreciate that you used the short story diagram from which to construct your arguments. Furthermore, your strong opinions were lucidly and forthrightly shown.
\n
\nGood stuff,
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286492776","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"28040903","dateCreated":"1286335054","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"cfgonzalez94","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/cfgonzalez94","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28040903"},"dateDigested":1531973964,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Why did the chicken cross the road?","description":"The most successful story that we have read so far is \u201cThe Man Who was Almost a Man\u201d. I consider the motivations of Dave, the main character, to show more than just a simple urge for respect and becoming a man. The gun that Dave wants is not just a simple weapon, but instead, it represents an embodiment of all that Dave can be. With the gun, Dave can go pass his limitations and demand respect from those who think he is just a little kid, even though he is wrapped around a seventeen year-old image. The death of Jenny, the mule, was not just any death. It represented the death of all of Dave\u2019s dreams and hopes for respect and authority. We can perceive complexity fusing at the same time with simplicity making the story seems less than what it actually holds between the lines.
\nThe least successful story would be \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d. This story tries too hard to illustrate a man who faces bankruptcy, loneliness, and denial in an overly complicated manner. This leaves audiences with too many loose ends and too much room for speculation, and in such ambiguity, the true essence of the story is lost between opinions and interpretations. Imagery serves as a powerful tool in the story, but its hidden message might be too overly complicated for the reader to fully acknowledge it and fully enjoy the story in its entirety.
\nBoth stories share a concept of becoming. We see that Dave is trying to become a man, to gain respect and authority and lose his image of little boy who can\u2019t take care of himself yet. Dave wants to become a man and he is willing to go to the extremes to show that he is ready to take on the responsibilities of adults. Even though he is seventeen, he has nothing to show for it, and therefore, he is becoming all that he can be. Neddy is becoming the man that he had come to neglect. Through his journey, Neddy becomes the man with no family, no money, and no house. Through his swimming, he comes face to face with reality and he must stop being in denial and deal with what his life has come to be. Neddy became this man who was beaten by life and has nothing left.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28058069","body":"Very good work here, Carlos,
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286376714","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28157591","body":"there was a hot chick at the other side","dateCreated":"1286499966","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"jsutton26","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jsutton26","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222961183\/jsutton26-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"28038295","dateCreated":"1286330957","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"mekster","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/mekster","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222961126\/mekster-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/28038295"},"dateDigested":1531973965,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"EL PAPI VUBSTAH","description":"When we compare all the short stories that we have read in the first semester, in my opinion \u201cThe Man who was almost A Man,\u201d is my favorite or most successful one. The story is easy to understand and is easy to comprehend the message of the author. The story really caught my attention because I like books, or stories in where there is \u201cviolence\u201d so to speak, and there is a resolution. It reminds of a novel I read last year, \u201c Of Mice and Men.\u201d This particular short story was stimulating because usually with teenagers, violence and death are exciting factors in a book. When Dave kills the poor mule and then repents his actions, it gives me chills, and makes me think about what happens next and how the problem would be solved. In these short stories, I like it when they go into the protagonists\u2019 mind and show us why they did such things, for example with Dave. The constant years of being inferior and being trapped within the body of a seventeen year old with the mentality of a kid was the spark that kindled the fire within Dave, which ultimately killed poor, innocent jenny.
\nOn the other hand, \u201cDaisy Miller\u201d was my least favorite short story. The story wasn\u2019t linear which made it hard to follow at times. It is the kind of story that we are already used to. A man who meets a woman, falls in love, the woman plays with him and eventually due to the woman\u2019s misbehavior, karma catches up to her and something ruins what would seem to be a perfect relationship. It seemed just plain boring and there was not much focus on the characters themselves, rather than in the time they lived in and in the society they were surrounded by.
\nIn the bigger picture, both stories follow a plot centered around or about personal gain. Winterbourne wanted to have a relationship with the girl to make his life interesting, and Dave wanted to become a man by buying a gun and being able to shoot it to earn respect from others around him. It seems that in indirect ways, both men are trying to prove something to themselves. PAZ Y AMOR","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28057981","body":"Jaime,
\n
\nWell written, but I would like more of an elaboration on the similarities or dissimilarities between the two stories. That part seems a bit under-done.
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286376594","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"27985443","dateCreated":"1286251695","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"arifishman95","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/arifishman95","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/27985443"},"dateDigested":1531973965,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"ari fishman","description":"When comparing all the short stories we ha2ve read, it could be said that \u201cA Good Man is Hard to Find\u201d is the most successful. This short story is written in a very linear form that eventually makes it easier for the reader to understand it. Furthermore, this story gives the space for the reader to interpret its ending; achieving a deeper relation between the reader, what it is said and the unknown. Also, I think this story doesn\u2019t include stupid and boring details. Instead, it is very concise and to the point, making the reader fully interested and aware throughout the whole story. Finally, the characters in the story, are common in most of present day society (criminals, a traveling family, an old, nostalgic grandmother), making the reader relate to the story without mattering his or her age. Not only this, but also, the fact that a much larger picture is portrayed underneath the literal story. For example, when we have a woman filled with sin at the beginning of the story, finding grace and redemption at the end and at the hour of her death.
\nThe worst story would be \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d. The story lacks any sort of development or climatic conclusion of whatever it is that happens in the story. A man swimming across the county while facing his own suppressed problems just seems to be boring. Even though credit must be given to the thoughtful use of imagery in this story, which depicts a man who is facing a psychological breakdown, the short story lacks any sort of intensity. Finally, it is demonstrated that this short story is the most unsuccessfully developed since dullness has a pressing force upon the reader throughout. It is not the fact that the story is not any good or does take advantage of its use of imagery, but it is the fact that its pacing is too slow and it leads to a unsatisfactory resolution.
\nWhen looking at both short stories, there is a presence of a psychological development from both parts. A development that leads to a greater revelation of truth followed by an immediate consequence of death or decadence. In \u201cA Good Man is Hard to Find\u201d, the grandmother begins as a selfish, nosy character but as the story progresses, the grandmother proceeds into a moment of clarity and grace based on understanding, sympathy and love, even towards a criminal who is about to take her life. On the other hand, we have \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d who swims across the county and at each pool, encountering his own past. At the beginning, the man begins his journey happy and unaware, but as he moves forward, he remembers his bankruptcy, his mistress, his own life crumbling by the decisions he had chose to ignore and that eventually left him home alone. This man evolves from a character filled with strength and determination to a hopeless, worthless man with nothing to strive for. Even though I dislike \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d and prefer \u201cA Good Man Is Hard to Find\u201d, both stories share a deeper core based on the character evolution for better or for worse.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"27985501","body":""When comparing all the short stories we have read"","dateCreated":"1286251822","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"arifishman95","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/arifishman95","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28005169","body":"Good Ari,
\n
\nQuestions...
\n
\n1)'Furthermore, this story gives the space for the reader to interpret its ending; achieving a deeper relation between the reader, what it is said and the unknown.' Can you embellish this a little more?
\n
\n2)'...making the reader relate to the story without mattering his or her age.' Sorry, what is 'mattering'?
\n
\n3) What is the difference between 'climatic' and 'climactic'?
\n
\nOtherwise, this is well-reasoned and clever, especially the last paragraph.
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286295127","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28106287","body":"
\n1)'Furthermore, this story gives the space for the reader to interpret its ending; achieving a deeper relation between: the reader, what it is said and the unknown.
\nre: ari fishman
\ndavidgarethw Yesterday 10:12 am
\n
\nGood Ari,
\n
\nQuestions...
\n
\n1)'Furthermore, this story gives the space for the reader to interpret its ending; achieving a deeper relation between the reader, what it is said and the unknown.' Can you embellish this a little more?
\n
\n2)"...making the reader relate to the story without giving importance to his\/her age."
\n3) Climatic: Of or relating to climate.
\n Climactic:Relating to or constituting a climax.","dateCreated":"1286425628","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"arifishman95","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/arifishman95","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28124483","body":"Great Ari,
\n
\nAs I said in class your corrections of #3 and #2 are great, just embellish a bit more on #1 again.
\n
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286467398","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28155537","body":"1)Furthermore, this story gives the space for the reader to interpret its ending; making him\/her create a deeper relation between what it is said and the unknown (the ending); unifying both elements; and making him\/her feel more involucrated in the story. This allows the reader to be part of the story by not only making him have a good understanding of it, but by letting him use his\/her imagination for a creation of the unknown ending.","dateCreated":"1286498240","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"arifishman95","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/arifishman95","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28194707","body":"Perfect Ari,
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286560176","smartDate":"Oct 8, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"27983539","dateCreated":"1286247011","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"AmandaTrejos","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/AmandaTrejos","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/27983539"},"dateDigested":1531973966,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"amanda trejos","description":" \u201cA good man is a hard to find\u201d is a great and interesting story. This story has lots of action and exciting events that leave you perplexed and wordless. This intense suspense and drama that occurs during the story qualifies it to be a very successful story. The plot and the ending are very surprising since it is never expected for such a horrible and terrible thing to happen. It is highly unexpected for such regular and innocent family going to encounter with such an evil and dangerous man and cause them such harm.
\n
\n\u201cHow it feels to be colored me\u201d is a very easy going and relaxed story. Nothing very important happens and not much action takes place. This makes it one of the least successful out of all stories. It talks about a black girls life meanwhile living around white people. It is a good story, but I as a reader didn\u2019t find it quite as fascinating. Zora tells us how she had never felt black since the day she moved to Jacksonville, and how her life turned around completely. Since the day she moved she felt different or maybe distinct form everyone else, \u201cI was not Zora of Orange County any more, I was now a little colored girl\u201d (pg 983). This is mainly the sequence in which the story continues. Zora talks about her personal experiences and her life.
\n
\nMeanwhile comparing \u201cA good man is hard to find\u201d and \u201cHow it feels to be colored me\u201d one discovers that in \u201cA good man is hard to find\u201d a lot more action takes place. One part of the story that makes it successful is when the Misfit approached the family and threatens with murder. At the end of the story the setting tenses and all of the family is dead within a few minutes, \u201cThe Misfit sprang back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three time through the chest\u201d (pg 10). As one can see, this story is much more entertaining","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28004795","body":"Great Amanda,
\n
\nA couple of things...
\n
\n1) How do we capitalize and punctuate short story titles?
\n
\n2) You say that '['A Good Man is Hard to Find'] has lots of action and exciting events that leave you perplexed and wordless.' Any examples you would like to identify?
\n
\n3) What is missing here? 'It talks about a black girls life...'
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286294792","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"27980945","dateCreated":"1286243458","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"dmarin464","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/dmarin464","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1225941095\/dmarin464-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/27980945"},"dateDigested":1531973966,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Short Story Review Analysis","description":"In a close debate between \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d, \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and \u201cDaisy Miller: A Study\u201d, I would have to say that \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d was, for me, the most successful story by reaching out to me because it was very easy to read and was very coherent. The plot is very simple to comprehend yet after Dave shoots Jenny the mule; it leaves a lot of interpretation about consequence and suspension. When Dave is suspected for the murder and jumps on the train to leave home, it creates the suspension that makes the reader really wonder what happens to Dave when he leaves. Out of all the short stories that we\u2019ve read, Dave is of the closest age, which makes it easier for me, and presumably the students, to relate to the story. Dave really wanting a gun and not fully aware of the consequences reminds me of the typical teenager that desires all sort of new toys and gadgets even though they\u2019re not fully capable of understanding the potential of danger or usage of them. For example, owning a BB gun sounds like a great idea and a lot of fun for me, but once I shoot someone in the eye or straight in the back of the head won\u2019t be so much fun after all. This story is quite entertaining and opens up a good discussion over Dave\u2019s crime into killing Jenny.
\n
\nHowever, the most unsuccessful story I\u2019ve read was Virginia Woolf\u2019s \u201cThe New Dress\u201d, which to me was more unsuccessful than \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d, that was in consideration and next in the list. \u201cThe New Dress\u201d is a boring and jumpy short story about a fifty-year-old self-centered woman who is facing her middle age crisis and is trouble by her life and her dependence on other people\u2019s opinion on her and her dress. Not quite the hook I would find in my current age to be interested in. Also, the message wasn\u2019t as clearly interpreted in \u201cThe New Dress\u201d than in \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d. \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d is simple, clear, entertaining, and easier to relate to at my current age, while \u201cThe New Dress\u201d is a long, tedious story that goes on about the self-centeredness of a woman and her dress. It was harder to keep interest in the \u201cThe New Dress\u201d then \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and its monotonous description of the depressed and dependent woman trying to seek approval was unsuccessful to keep me interested in the story than \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d.
\n
\nComparing both short stories, \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d is a much more entertaining, simple, and successful story to read than \u201cThe New Dress.\u201d It was easier to relate to and it kindled a provoking discussion and interpretation of Dave\u2019s consequence in killing Jenny and his action of leaving his home. It also puts into question the roles of Mr. Joe selling the gun to Dave and his mother who physically gave him the money to buy it. However, in \u201cThe New Dress\u201d, the short story is depressing and dull to read and enjoy for me. The story\u2019s stimuli aren\u2019t as glossy or outstanding as \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and it just doesn\u2019t keep my interest hooked into the plot of the story.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28004553","body":"Daniel,
\n
\nGood and well thought out; your ideas are sound and reasoned. Now, let's try to clean it up a little...
\n
\n1) The first line you mention a 'debate between' the three short stories. Is 'debate' really the most appropriate verb here? Did the short stories discuss themselves with each other and then reach a conclusion?
\n
\n2) I would like you to remove all of the first and second-person pronouns in this response.
\n
\n3) '\u201cThe New Dress\u201d is a boring and jumpy short story...' Alright then, could you provide some examples or evidence to support this feeling?
\n
\n4) Could you improve this clunky sentence? 'Also, the message wasn\u2019t as clearly interpreted in \u201cThe New Dress\u201d than in \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find.\u201d'
\n
\n5) Please look up and provide us with a quick understanding of the difference between 'than' and 'then'.
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286294547","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28031181","body":"1)Haha I guess not. A more suitable word would be \u201cconsideration\u201d.
\n
\n2)Alright done.
\n
\n3)Embedded into the new version.
\n
\n4)I decided to take that sentence out. After consideration, I myself don\u2019t quite know what I was saying.
\n
\n5)Than: introducing the second element in a comparison
\n Then: in that case; therefore
\n
\nIn a close consideration between \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d, \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and \u201cDaisy Miller: A Study\u201d, \u201cA Man Who Was Almost A Man\u201d was the most successful story by reaching out to the reader because it was very easy to read and was very coherent. The plot is very simple to comprehend yet after Dave shoots Jenny the mule; it leaves a lot of interpretation about consequence and suspension. When Dave is suspected for the murder and jumps on the train to leave home, it creates the suspension that makes the reader really wonder what happens to Dave when he leaves. Out of all the short stories that we\u2019ve read, Dave is of the closest age, which makes it easier for me, and presumably the students, to relate to the story. Dave really wanting a gun and not fully aware of the consequences reminds me of the typical teenager that desires all sort of new toys and gadgets even though they\u2019re not fully capable of understanding the potential of danger or usage of them. For example, owning a BB gun sounds like a great idea and a lot of fun for me, but once I shoot someone in the eye or straight in the back of the head won\u2019t be so much fun after all. This story is quite entertaining and opens up a good discussion over Dave\u2019s crime into killing Jenny.
\n
\nHowever, the most unsuccessful story was Virginia Woolf\u2019s \u201cThe New Dress\u201d, which was more unsuccessful than \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d, that was in consideration and next in the list. \u201cThe New Dress\u201d is a boring and jumpy short story about a fifty-year-old self-centered woman who is facing her middle age crisis and is trouble by her life and her dependence on other people\u2019s opinion on her and her dress. Not quite the hook one would find in their teenage years to be interested in. An instance is how the story begins. It starts with, \u201cMabel had her first serious suspicion that something was wrong as she took her cloak off and Mrs. Barnet, while handing her the mirror and touching the brushes and thus drawing her attention, perhaps rather markedly, to all the appliances for tidying and improving hair, complexion, clothes, which existed on the dressing table, confirmed the suspicion\u2013\u2013that it was not right, not quite right, which growing stronger as she greeted Clarissa Dalloway, she went straight to the far end of the room, to a shaded corner where a looking-glass hung and looked.\u201d The first sentence is runny and boring, with not an interesting hook. \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d is simple, clear, entertaining, and easier to relate to at my current age, while \u201cThe New Dress\u201d is a long, tedious story that goes on about the self-centeredness of a woman and her dress. It was harder to keep interest in the \u201cThe New Dress\u201d than \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and its monotonous description of the depressed and dependent woman trying to seek approval was unsuccessful to keep one interested in the story than \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d.
\n
\nComparing both short stories, \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d is a much more entertaining, simple, and successful story to read than \u201cThe New Dress.\u201d It is easier to relate to and it kindled a provoking discussion and interpretation of Dave\u2019s consequence in killing Jenny and his action of leaving his home. It also puts into question the roles of Mr. Joe selling the gun to Dave and his mother who physically gave him the money to buy it. However, in \u201cThe New Dress\u201d, the short story is depressing and dull to read and enjoy. The story\u2019s stimuli aren\u2019t as glossy or outstanding as \u201cA Good Man Is Hard To Find\u201d, and it just doesn\u2019t keep one\u2019s interest hooked into the plot of the story.","dateCreated":"1286323540","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"dmarin464","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/dmarin464","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1225941095\/dmarin464-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28057765","body":"Perfect Daniel,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286376402","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"27973289","dateCreated":"1286235891","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"ereiche","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/ereiche","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1226183145\/ereiche-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/27973289"},"dateDigested":1531973966,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Erik Reiche","description":"Every short story read in class has been written in different ways and for different purposes. However, when compared, \u201cA Man who was Almost a Man\u201d is clearly the most successful short story read so far. This story is well written and contains a good helpful message. It also leaves many parts of the plot out which makes the reader create his own inferences and in a way makes him analyze the characters in a deeper way. This story\u2019s incredible way of being written, its message and its facility to relate to the main character make a really successful short story.
\n
\nEven though most of the shorts stories read in class are totally different and can\u2019t be compared correctly, \u201cTuesday Nights\u201d is the most unsuccessful short story yet. This story has no helpful message and is written in a really confusing way, which makes the point of the whole story really unclear. Its dairy-like way of being written makes this story lack a concrete point and makes the reader loose interest easily. \u201cTuesday Nights\u201d also doesn\u2019t have a big impact on the reader.
\n
\nOne of the key components that make \u201cA Man who was almost a Man\u201d successful is that unlike from \u201cTuesday Nights\u201d, the main character of this story, Dave Saunders, is really easy to relate to. As a teenager who by many circumstances had to mature a lot and faster tan normal, it is extremely easy to relate to the main character. Dave Saunders has been written in such way that he can be easily substituted by anyone. Dave fantasizes about the benefits of adulthood but doesn\u2019t understand the obligations that come with more independence. Even thought most teenagers do not try to solve this conflict by buying a gun, most of them experience this issue at some point in their life. Some of them have a harder time overcoming it, but this issue is always present. On the other hand, the narrator and main character of \u201cTuesday Nights\u201d is an emotionable unstable, insecure, middle-aged woman who is recently divorced and is now struggling with her \u201cnew\u201d relationship. This type of character and conflicts are some that are extremely difficult to be related or to understand. Feeling related to a main character is one of the key components that affect whether a story is successful or not.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"28003783","body":"Good Erik,
\n
\nA couple of things...
\n
\n1) When you say about 'The Man Who Was Almost a Man' that 'This story is well written and contains a good helpful message,' could you provide examples of why you think that it is well written? Explain what you mean by 'a good helpful message'?
\n
\n2) I am not so sure what you mean here: '...its facility to relate to the main character make a really successful short story.' I think that the word 'facility' throws me off a bit.
\n
\n3) 'This story ["Tuesday Night"] has no helpful message and is written in a really confusing way...' Alright then, could you give us some examples please of the confusing style?
\n
\n4) 'Its dairy-like way of being written...' Dairy? Like a cow?
\n
\n5)Please look up and write down the difference between 'loose' and 'lose'.
\n
\n6) Where is the mistake here: '...most of them experience this issue at some point in their life.'
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286294039","smartDate":"Oct 5, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28105199","body":"1. \u201cA good man is hard to find\u201d has a really good message. A really good message is one that makes an impact in our lives or changes the way we see or approach life or an element of it. In this case, this short story helps us understand that the inevitable change from a child to an adult happens slowly and should be taken this way, instead of in a rushed and desesperated way.
\n2. \u201cIts easily-made connection with the main character makes this story a really successful one. \u201c
\n3. The narrator talks about one event and all of a sudden jumps to another one that has no connection at all. \u201cI decided that it would be depressing\u2026 Joanna sleeps at her father\u2019s apartment\u2026\u201d(pg342) in this case, the narrator goes from talking about her, to talking about her daughter with no transition or relation between the two.
\n4. \u201cDiary-like\u201d
\n5. Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place
\nLose: be deprived of or cease to have or retain
\n6. \u2026Most Teenagers experience this issue at some point\u2026","dateCreated":"1286422849","smartDate":"Oct 6, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"ereiche","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/ereiche","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1226183145\/ereiche-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"28124297","body":"Great Erik,
\n
\nThanks for putting in the extra work.
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286467155","smartDate":"Oct 7, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"27947425","dateCreated":"1286208155","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"melafavini","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/melafavini","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/davidgarethw-books-b.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/27947425"},"dateDigested":1531973967,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"melanie favini response","description":" The most successful short story we have read is "The Man Who Was Almost a Man". This is because it was a pretty entertaining story and easy to understand. We as teenagers, may also relate to this story because when we want something, we do whatever we want to achieve it, just like Dave wanted his gun. It was also pretty successful because we have discussed it in class a lot and the students really do understand the conflict of a story and it\u2019s characters. This story is also a little mysterious because we don\u2019t really know how the mule got shot. It was more of interpreting the climax and since we don\u2019t know who killed the mule, everyone has different perceptions.
\n
\n The most unsuccessful story we have read is \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d. This is because it was really confusing, personally, I didn\u2019t really understand it\u2019s plot and it was kind of a more challenging story for everyone. The story was very repetitive, it didn\u2019t have a lot of conflicts, it was just an old man trying to swim. The story was also boring and it didn\u2019t have much of an importance or a good moral of a story. Also, a story which can relate to you is more fun to read than a story you don\u2019t really understand it\u2019s purpose.
\n
\n Both \u201cThe Man Who Was Almost a Man" and \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d have something in common. The main character in both stories wants to achieve something. In \u201cThe Man Who Was Almost a Man", Dave wants a gun really bad because it makes him feel like a man. \u201cBut Ma, Ah wans a gun.\u201d (p.1116). In the other hand, \u201cThe Swimmer\u201d has Neddy Merrill who is a middle-aged man who wants to \u201cswim the county\u201d. Here we can see how in both stories the main character wants to achieve something.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"27965371","body":"Great Melanie,
\n
\nThis was clearly written and well-thought out. Simple and to the point.
\n
\nThanks,
\n
\nWebster","dateCreated":"1286226655","smartDate":"Oct 4, 2010","userCreated":{"username":"davidgarethw","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/davidgarethw","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}