Me Talk Pretty One Day

How did Sedaris take a potentially boring experience, auditing a beginner’s language class, and turn it into a humorous essay? An interviewer once wrote that Sedaris’s signature is “deadpan” humor. What is dead pan humor? Identify- and characterize the effectiveness of examples of it in “me Talk pretty one day.”

Sedaris turned a boring experience into something the reader can relate to. Many people have gone through similar experiences in which they have been extremely confused and frustrated. Being in a beginner’s language class, Sedaris should not have been so confused. He was able to turn his frustration into a humorous event. Not only does he point out his flaws, he shares his classmate’s flaws. The reader will often take pleasure in the misfortune of others.
Deadpan humor is when someone says something funny without meaning to be funny. They do not change their tone or expression. They simply tell things straightforwardly and as they are. Deadpan humor is similar to dry humor.
We get a sense of this humor when he repeats what the teacher’s announcements were. Instead of just telling us that he could only understand half of what the teacher says, he uses a quote to show exactly what her voice sounded like, “If you have not meimslsxp or lgpdmurct by this time, then you should not be in this room.” Another example of deadpan humor is when Sedaris justifies himself after making a mistake in class. Many people already know learning a new language can be difficult, but Sedaris provides examples on why it is challenging. He uses humor to get his message across, “Why refer to Lady Crack Pipe or Good Sir Dishrag when these things could never live up to all that their sex implied?”

Describe how Sedaris reveals parts of himself throughout the story. By the end we know a fair amount about the speaker, how do we gain this knowledge?

Sedaris slowly reveals parts of himself throughout the story. He uses events and other’s actions to reveal information about himself. He starts off by giving background information about himself such as his age and the reason for moving to Paris. Being in the same situation as others, Sedaris often compares himself, “As an added discomfort, they were all young, attractive, and well dressed, causing me to feel not unlike Pa Kettle trapped backstage after a fashion show.” Sedaris used the context of the story to show his likes and dislikes. Instead of just stating the questions his teacher asked, he gives his exact response. Sedaris also shares how he felt emotionally in his class, “Call me sensitive, but I couldn’t help but take it personally.” When the speaker concludes with what he learned from the class, we know he is hopefully and gained confidence in his abilities. However, his last sentence, “I know the thing that you speak exact now. Talk me more, you, plus, please, plus.” shows that he is still not perfect and always learning.

Being Impatient

Whenever I get annoyed or irritated my mother always tells me that patience is a virtue. I never understood what this meant until recently. I was always too concerned with my own needs, and I put myself ahead of others. I am always in a rush and I hate to waste time. I am extremely impatient. I never thought this was a bad thing, until I realized that through always being in a rush you miss out on the simple pleasures in life. Good things come to those who wait.

Every summer my family spends the months of July and August at our family’s beach cottage in Gloucester. It is always fun, but sometimes it can be hard living with two dogs and twelve other people (sometimes more.) Everyone will be ready to go to the beach, except for that one person. I never understood why it took them so long to get ready, especially since they woke up two hours before me. I know there are some things you cannot control like when high tide is. It is always frustrating though, when everyone is eager to jump off the rocks, but you can only do so at high tide. Even though it can be annoying, I know that tomorrow is another day and will bring new opportunities. On rainy days our family always plays old board games and watches movies. My cousins and I always get frustrated when we play Scrabble with our grandmother. We can never understand why it takes her twice as long as us to spell a simple word. Even though it was annoying, we were spending precious time with our grandmother.

It is always interesting to watch so many people in one house get ready to go out. For example, whenever we go to church in the morning, you have to wait an hour just to get into the bathroom. When we go out to dinner you have to wait forever just to take a shower. Once you get to the restaurant, the food always takes a long time to get ready, since there are so many of us. All you want is your food and it seems like something small to get upset over.

Summers are filled with the best family memories. I realized that by being impatient with others, I was missing out on the fun things that happened. Even though driving around for two hours looking for a place to park seemed like wasted time, it was time spent with family. If I am irritable and grouchy and always in a rush I can never enjoy myself. It is important not to take for granted what is in front of you. When I rush others, I am annoying them and I am indicating that my needs are more important than theirs. I regret all those times where I made them hurry. Wasting energy through complaining got me nowhere. I know I need to relax, stay calm, and go with the flow. There is no use rushing things, everything will turn out alright. My grandmother always says “this too shall pass,” and the next day is always better.

Shooting an Elephant

1.) How is this a story about two disparate major themes? How are these themes intertwined?

A British police officer in Moulmein in Lower Burma, expresses how easy it is to give into peer pressure and his dislike of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant.” Through being an officer, he is required to support the oppressive imperial power. This is unfortunate for him because he is strongly against it, “I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing... I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British." In attempt to gain respect from the Burmese he is pressured into doing what they want him to, "I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward, irresistibly."
These themes are intertwined when a problem arises. The officer must decide whether or not to kill an elephant. The law required all unruly elephants to be shot; however, this elephant was tamed and actually very calm. The officer knew he should not have shot it, but he felt pressure from the crowd to kill it. Through killing the elephant he was hoping to avoid looking like a fool and meet the people from Burma’s expectations.
By giving into peer pressure, the police officer was unable to make his own choices. Without imperialism the officer would not have been in the position to shoot the elephant. By doing what the people wanted, the officer hoped it would demonstrate his concern for them. Killing the elephant showed the officer’s hatred of imperialism and how bad he wanted respect from the Burmese.

2.) What tactics does Orwell employ when revealing unflattering aspects of himself?

Orwell reveals the unflattering aspects of himself through describing the moral process he went through before making his decisions. He committed several of his actions knowing they were wrong. All he wanted was to be respected and admired for his actions. No one should ever worry about what others think about them, because it will change who you are, “He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.” Orwell concludes with stating, “I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.” Through acknowledging his mistakes and explaing his choices, Orwell was able to reveal the unflattering aspects of himself.

10 Easy Lessons to Being Popular

10 Easy Lessons to Being Popular

1.) Most importantly be yourself! Do not try to be someone you are not just to impress others. Nobody likes a person who is “fake”

2.) Be outgoing and confident in yourself. Do not be afraid to try something new. Always be comfortable with who you are and do whatever makes you happy.

3.) Dress nicely and appropriately, but try to look beautiful without looking like you tried too hard.

4.) Get involved with clubs, sports, and other activities. Work hard and try to excel at them. Once you accomplish this, try to share your talents with others.

5.) Make sure to always smile and have a positive attitude. Be friendly to everyone you meet. Give compliments when they are true and do not be afraid to talk to new people.

6.) Never judge or talk about someone behind their back. Do not act like you are better then someone, because you are not. Always remember if you don't have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.

7.) Study and work hard in school. You want to get a good education so you can go to college and be successful in the future.

8.) Have a good sense of humor and try to make the people around you feel good. If you like to have fun and you are energetic and enthusiastic people will want to be with you.

9.) Stay close with you true friends. They will always be there to support and encourage you.

10.) Do not try to be popular. If someone does not like you for who you are then they are not worth you time. You do not have to be best friends with everyone, but you have to respect everyone.

School Uniforms

Wouldn’t it be nice to get up in the morning and not have to worry about what you are going to wear that day? Should friendships be based on what brand of clothes people wear, or loyalty, trust, and respect? School uniforms can easily solve the little problems we face every day. The benefits of school uniforms are endless; you simply cannot go wrong with wearing a uniform. Having worn a school uniform my whole life, I believe students should not be given the option to wear whatever they want to school. Uniforms create equality, they save families money, they save students time, and they prepare students for the future.
The greatest benefit of a uniform is its ability to create a sense of unity and impartiality in a community. Through wearing a uniform, students do not have the pressures of wearing designer clothes or items they cannot afford. When all students are dressed the same, they are less likely to be judge or criticized by their classmates and teachers. Uniforms serve as a way to bring people together. Although there will always be cliques in high schools, uniforms do an excellent job of helping to eliminate them. Students are more likely to get to know their classmates better when they wear uniforms.
A popular concern parents have about uniforms is that they are too expensive and they are not able to afford them. This however, is definitely not true. An average girl at Trinity Catholic High School in Newton, Massachusetts will spend approximately $236 on her uniform, whereas the average boy will only spend about $216 on his uniform. From JB Edwards, a uniform skirt only costs $38 and a pair of pants for the boys only costs $30. Both prices are lower than a pair of jeans would cost. According to a recent poll from The Washington Post, the average American will spend $540, on back to school clothes and shoes. Unlike certain pairs of jeans and shirts, uniforms are easy to wash and never go out of style. Uniforms are great for families. Especially, since uniforms rarely change, one sibling can pass their uniform down to the next sibling. This reduces stress in families because it allows them to save money, and put it to better use.
High School can be a demanding time for many people. One thing everyone should not have to worry about is what they are wearing. By spending too much time shopping for new clothes or debating about what to wear in the morning, students are wasting time in which they could be studying or sleeping. Once in school, students will spend their time looking around the classroom to see what each other is wearing, instead of paying attention to the teacher. This causes low self-esteem issues and people feeling pressure to fit in. School is not a fashion show; it is a place to get an education.
The goal of most schools is to give their students an education that will prepare them for the future. Through enforcing a dress code, schools are getting their students ready for the real world. Many professions require workers to wear a uniform. Therefore, schools want students to be aware that they will not always be able to wear what they want. Children who wear school uniforms always look presentable and are well-behaved. Studies show that students in uniforms actually perform better on exams than students without a dress code.
A common complaint about uniforms is that they are uncomfortable and unflattering. However, if a student is wearing the same thing they would wear to bed, they are not going to be able to focus. A student is only expected to wear it for six hours a day, five days a week; they should be able to handle it. Children are more appreciative of getting new clothes when they wear a uniform. When students are dressed up they will often feel the need to perform better. When you wear a uniform you are representing your school. Many people will show you more respect, then they would someone not in a uniform. A dress code is a form of discipline and teaches students obedience and control.
It is argued that students express themselves through what they wear. However, if a student is being judged, they will usually just wear what everyone else is wearing in order to fit in. Children should not need to express themselves through their clothing in school. They can express themselves on the weekends, after school, and in the summer. In many cases, the way students express themselves is distracting towards the other students. What makes a person special and unique is their personality, not their clothing.
Our society has created an environment in which people feel pressured to wear the latest trends. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford these expensive items, and as a result children are teased, insulted, or excluded by their classmates. Not only do school uniforms prevent bullying, but they also save time, which is extremely valuable. Uniforms do not make it hard for people to express themselves; they allow people to show their creativity in different ways. When everyone is dressed the same, the people with the most confidence, poise, and elegance stand out, not the ones with the most money. Others are going to admire and respect them because of the way they present themselves, and not by what they are wearing.

Self-Esteem

Having a good self-esteem is not something you can teach a person. Self-esteem is simply when a person has pride and respect for themselves. People with self-esteem have probably been blessed with many opportunities and chances to succeed. They have been rewarded, admired, and given compliments their whole lives.
Self-esteem is often mistaken for self-confidence. Excessive self-confidence makes a person appear cocky or conceited. Those who have self-esteem will often feel good about themselves and have an easier time dealing with challenges. Those people are often pleased with themselves, and do not let the opinions or commits of others affect them. However, people with low self-esteems are usually intimidated and give up easily. Although Lauren Slater points out that people with low self-esteems do fine in life, “In fact they may do better, because they often try harder” is not always the case. If a person thinks negatively of themselves, they will be unwilling to try something new because they fear rejection or they fear meeting others expectations.
Even if self-esteem is overrated or too few people know how to be humble, self esteem allows people to reach their full potential. People who have respect for themselves will be willing to try new things and be optimistic. Having a high self-esteem is a positive attribute of a person, especially because many people are often put down and told they will never be good enough. Everyone should work towards self-esteem because in the end it will provide us with happiness and a great sense of accomplishment.

Caesar Essay

Should Caesar believe Calphurnia, his loving devoted wife, or Decius, an evil conspirator? Calphurnia had a vision that Caesar would die if he went to Senate. Contrary to Calphurnia’s dream, Decius promised Caesar the crown if he went to Senate. All Calphurnia had to support her argument was her appeal to pathos and her fear for Caesar’s life. She spoke from her heart, but lacked logic in her dream. Decius took advantage of her vision and knew that Caesar would not turn anything down that promised wealth, power, and success. Decius was able to persuade Caesar with tempting lies and evil tactics.
Calphurnia used vivid detail and made strong appeals to pathos and ethos to support her argument. Calphurnia’s ethos was established by her simply being the wife of Caesar, one of the greatest men in Rome. She hoped to capture Caesar’s attention by warning him of the horrors she saw in her dreams. For example she tells us, “A lioness hath whelped in the streets, and graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the cloud” (Shakespeare 5-7). Caesar was influenced by Calphurnia’s dream, but it was not enough to make Caesar stay home. Calphurnia concluded her argument to Caesar by stating, “Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth today. Call it my fear”(29-30). Unfortunately, Calphurnia’s appeal to ethos was not able to affect Caesar. Being married to an over confident person, Calphurnia should have known that Caesar would not believe her. He had very few fears; he especially did not fear his death because he knew the god’s had control over it.
Caesar was too sure of himself, and as a result Decius took advantage of his arrogance. Decius’s motivation for getting Caesar to go to Senate was based on his ethos. He was a member of a group of conspirators, whose plan was to kill Caesar at Senate. Decius was able to manipulate Caesar by turning everything in his wife’s dream into a positive: “This dream is all amiss interpreted; it was a vision fair and fortunat”(45-46). Decius used logos here because he wanted to acknowledge the dream, but he then wanted to use his reasoning to explain why her vision was false. Often times people who are sure of themselves, such as Caesar, only hear what they want to hear. Decius concluded his argument explaining to Caesar, “And know it now, the Senate have concluded to give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come, their minds may change”(56-58). The promises of wealth and success were all Decius needed, in order to influence Caesar.
Both arguments were strong, but in this case, Decius knew Caesar better. Calphurnia and Decius each had a close relationship with Caesar, and they were both equally capable of persuading Caesar. Caesar was neither fearful nor emotional, and as a result, Calphurnia’s emotional argument had little effect on him. Decius was sure that Caesar would not turn down anything that would make him prosperous or greater than the others. Decius was correct, and in the end believing Decius’s lies would cost Caesar his life.