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I think the thing that has improved the most for my writing is that I'm better at writing a thesis and creating an argument. Before I just did a lot of summarazing or pointing out things that were already obvious and I think I've started doing that less and less. I think the most helpful strategies we did were group discussions. I helped give insights and different perspectives on things we never would have thought of on our own. Things would be said that either confirmed your previous thoughts or made you see things in a different light. I think blogging was also helpful because I got to express my ideas and what I was thinking.The easiest paper to write I think was the short story paper. We got to choose our own short story to write about so we could choose the one we liked the most and were most interested in. It's easier to write about something that you picked out yourself. I don't know if writing thesis statements counts as a lesson but I think it was the most beneficial to me.To have a good paper you need a good argument and thesis statement. I think I'm more prepared to write college-level papers because I think my grammar and other writing techniques have improved.I think I'm better at looking at things from many different angles and can interpret things better. This will help me come up with better arguments, ideas, and thesis statementes for my papers.

"Sexism"

The poeem that stuck out the most to me was sexism. I think there are some truths in it but yet is mostly sterotyped. A lot of times there are girls who do obsess over their boys and they make it seem like their boyfriend, husband, or friend with benefit rules their life. They let the guy choose if they are happy. They let guys get away with treating them badly when they shouldn't. They have no problem getting walked all over as long as in the end they have the boy. But in reality it's true for girls AND boys. I don't think you see it as much because guys are supposed to be strong and dominating like they are in charge. Their friends would make fun of them if they knew the girl wore the pants in the relationship. And the fact the writer says that it's the happiest moment in a woman's life makes me laugh. I know plenty of strong and independent women who do not need a man to make them happy.

I think it's funny how the writer describes guys. There are a lot of guys out their that are jerks and just think about sex but there is also a lot of sweethearts too. It's a proven fact that guys think about sex a lot....but that doesn't mean it's all they care about. And yeah, there are some guys who hit it and quit it sort to speak but there's also guys that find sex to be meaningful. Also, there are girls who like to do the same thing. The cherry on the top of this writing is the part where the guy pees outside...how masculine.

"The Flea"

I pretty much think this poem is about how a couple have premarital sex. They have sex and she gets pregnant and she's so ashamed she kills herself and thus kills the baby. The guy feels awful because it's all his fault he convinced her to have sex.

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,---Kind of like an introduction to the story...like in the Fresh Prince of Belair when he's like ok this is my story bout how my life got flipped turned upside down
How little that which thou deniest me is,--- A couple that doesn't deny each other anything and does whatever the other one wants except for having sex
Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee,---They had oral sex but don't go any farther
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;--- He wants there blood to mingle or in other words unite by having sexual intercourse
Thou know'st that this cannot be said ---She says no they can't have sex
A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead,---She refuses to have sex before marriage because she thinks it's a sin and doesn't want to lose her virginity
  Yet this enjoys before it woo,---He is trying to convince it's okay to have sex before marriage
  And pampered swells with one blood made of two,---He's telling her how it will make there relationship better and bring them closer because they are turning two into one.
  And this, alas, is more than we would do.---He finally convinces her to have sex with him
Oh stay, three lives in on flea spare---But OOPS now she's pregnant so thats where the third one comes from
Where we almost, nay more than married are.---He's kind of like uh-oh maybe we should have waited until marriage
This flea is you and I, and this---This is about him, her, and the baby
Our marriage bed and marriage temple is;---Marriage doesn't mean much now because they already are going to have a kid
Though parents grudge, and you, we are met---The parents are ashamed and mad that the girl got pregnant before marriage
And cloistered in these living walls of jet.---She was trapped in these walls of shame and anger
  Though use make you apt to kill me,---She's mad at him for convincing her to have sex and now wants to punish him
  Let not to that, self-murder added be,---She feels so ashamed that she kills herself while pregnant
  And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.---The sin of premarital sex killed the girl and baby and the guy is so struck with guilt he wishes he was dead as well
Cruel and sudden, hast thou since---He is pretty much expressing his grief over the loss of the two people he loved
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?---He discovered the girl and is holding her in his arms and so his hands are covered in so much blood and so they look purple
Wherein could this flea guilty be,---He feels guilty for the death of the baby and the girl
Except in that drop which it sucked from thee? This guilt is sucking the life out of him
Yet though triumph'st, and say'st that thou---He's talking about he triumphed in getting her to have sex
Find'st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;---But he feels like he lost because of all the horrible events
  'Tis true; then learn how false, fears be:
  Just so much honor, when thou yield'st to me,---He is describing how she gave him her honor or virginity
  Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.---But it was wasted on him because it caused the death of her and the baby and now he wants to kill himself

Poetry

Poetry to me is like any other kind of writing. Either I love it or hate it. There is some poetry that rocks my socks and other that bores me to death. My favorite kind of poetry is rhyming poetry. I know that poetry obviously doesn't have to rhyme but I love to rhyme. I would say that I'm a master rhymer lol. Rhyming poetry is so catchy! One of my favorite poets is Shel Silverstein and I would alway check out his books of poetry from the library as a kid. They were super funny. When it comes to my favorite poem however it's something a little more serious. My favorite poem is i carry your heart with me by E.E. Cummings. The first time I heard it was during the movie In Her Shoes and the one girl reads it at her sister's wedding. I think I love it so much because it describes the relationship I have with my two sisters. I think it's hard to determine what a poem is. It can funny, sad, empowering. All it has to do is mean something for somebody.

Repentance

I'm writing my paper over how it's never too late to repent. I personally believe that you have time to repent until your last dying breath. The best evidence I've found so far is the part we read in class on Wednesday. It's when the old man comes in and urges Faustus to repent. At first, Faustus is hesitant to repent because he doesn't believe there is any point but then he finally does. Then Mephistopholis comes back in and is furious and Faustus has to cut his arm and make a whole new deal in his blood. This to me shows that his repenting works. He had saved himself from eternal damnation. If it hadn't worked then he wouldn't have had to sign an agreement reconfirming his deal with Lucifer. I think Faustus only does it because he is afraid of Mephistophilis because he threatens him. I guess I would rather have Mephistophilis rip me apart and have eternal life then succumb to Mephistophilis threat and have eternal death. In the end he pretty much sells his soul for nothing because he doesn't really do anything great with magic.

Making Fun of the Plot

My favorite scenes we read were the ones that made fun of the plot. I think it's hilarious the requests Robin and Ralph make. They want mistresses, free drinks, and to not have to feed their horses hay. When the vitner doesn't give them what they want they threaten him with some curse that involves tickling. I don't know about you but I hate to be tickled so that one would get me! When Mephistophilis shows up he turns one into a dog and the other into an ape and they get excited about it. This shows us how ridiculous Faustus looks. He's asking for stupid stuff and doing childish things. It's hard to take him serious when he's throwing meat at the Pope. The fact he's invisible when he does it shows us he's not as great and honored as he wants to be. Plus, he probably wouldn't do that when he's visible which means he shouldn't be doing it at all. Then he has Mephistophilis give the knight horns. It's hard to figure out what to take seriously anymore because everything looks like a joke. He's abusing his power and it will be hard for him to maintain any kind of authority. The thing that stuck out the most is when he was supposed to bring back Alexander the Great. What happens is that spirits in the form of Alexandar the Great come which means it's not really Alexandar the Great. This means Faustus can't really bring back the dead. He also shouldn't be messing with spirits because they could be evil. But I guess somebody who sells his sould to the devil really doesn't worry about something like that.

Dr.Faustus- Good Angel and Evil Angel

The part that stuck out most to me is at the beginning of scene 5. Faustus is struggling with his choices and which path he is going to take. He's trying to convince himself he that he doesn't need God. Should he turn to God? Should he turn to Lucifer? I think everybody has to make this choice- the choice between good and evil.This part reminds me of the cartoons where a devil and angel are sitting on a characters shoulder trying to get them to choose their side. The Good Angel encourages Faustus to turn to God so that he can go to Heaven someday and that he needs to stop with magic. The Evil Angel mocks Heaven saying there is no such thing and that he should turn to devil so that he can have wealth and honor. At this point, Faustus continues to go down the evil path choosing riches, women, and everything else he desires. Later on he will probably continue with this struggle between good and evil. It's a hard choice between getting what you want and doing what is right. I think it's strange that Faustus says that he neither believes in Heaven or hell comparing them to old wive's tales. How can he not believe when he's talking to angels and devils? Even his devil servant, Mephistophiles, tells him there is a Heaven and  a hell. I think Faustus's greed for power has already effected his thinking and has made him believe he is all powerful. How far will he go to be in control? It's already mentioned offering the blood of babies as a sacrifice.