Journal 3 Alec Soule

       My favorite chapter from The House on Mango Street is " Louie, His cousin and His Other Cousin". This is my favorite chapter because Louie stole a car and We already knew he stole a car before it was stated. The theme in this story is innocence. They put handcuffs on him and put him in the back of a cop car. The kids wave as he gets arrested and taken away, they have yet to learn about the trials of life.

       The language is at its best when Louis’s cousin realizes he’s been caught and tries to get away and crash the car,“Marin screamed and we ran down the block where the cop car’s siren spun a dizzy blue. The nose of that yellow Cadillac was all pleated like an alligator’s…”.

        A major role model in my adolescence would probably be my Spanish Teacher from high school who gave me a lot of advice for trails that he had experienced in his life, because he knew i would experience the same difficult trials in my life. I think i learned well from him because he was always herd when he spoke, but he never had to raise his voice for the class to listen.

Journal 3 by Bryant Shreve

Cisneros, Response

      My personal favorite chapter from The House on Mango Street is " Louie, His cousin and His Other Cousin". This is my favorite chapter because Louie stole the car and everyone else in the chapter had no clue.

 

      The theme of the story is youth and being clueless. At the end of the chapter it says " They put handcuffs on him and put him in the back of a cop car, and we all waved as they drove away". This shows that they don't know what is going on and to young to understand that he got in trouble.

 

      I believe the writing is at its best when the seats and the car are being described. A great quote from the book would be " The seats were big and soft like a sofa, and there were little white cat in the back window whose eyes lit up when the car stopped and turned".

 

 

Role Model Response

 

        One of the biggest influences on me in my life would have to be my best friend Aaron. Aaron always influenced me to do my best and to be a good person. Growing up Aaron would always stand up for kids being bullied and would always be kind to others. Being around him was like breathing in fresh air if you were down because he was positive and saw the best of every situation. Aaron influenced my behavior by being kind and respectful to people and seeing light in most things.

 

      

       

 

 

 

 

 





Journal 3 by Hunter Merchant

My personal favorite chapter from The House on Mango Street is “Louie, His Cousin, And His Other Cousin”. This story stands out to me because it’s a very relatable type of story/easy to understand. We already knew he stole a car before it was stated.

            The important theme in this story is innocence. The kids wave as he gets arrested and taken away, they have yet to learn about the real bad things in life. The language is at its best when Louis’s cousin realizes he’s been caught and tries to get away and crash the car: “Marin screamed and we ran down the block where the cop car’s siren spun a dizzy blue. The nose of that yellow Cadillac was all pleated like an alligator’s…”

            The person who had a big influence on me as a child was my then best friend, Abbie. We were young and I thought she was a great person but I was very naïve. She tried to teach me to be dumb because to her being smart “wasn’t very cute” (let’s just take the time to point out, some girls are very crazy in their way of thinking) and she believed having fun was doing slightly illegal things. It made me change my own way of thinking to be everything different than her. She enjoyed sneaking off her with her mom’s alcohol, failing school, and sneaking out at one in the morning. I enjoyed being an innocent naive kid.   

Journal #3 from Tony

Cisneros Response

                  

                 My favorite story or chapter from the first 34 pages that we have read is definitely the chapter, "Boys & Girls". This story in particular stands out to me because it shows us as readers how alone Esperanza feels, even though she has a lot of family members. Also, it shows how much she wants to have someone to be able to talk to and be able to connect with. The chapter just really stands out because it shows how big families can have their own little "cliques".

       

                The most important theme of this chapter are loneliness. This could be said because the chapter starts out with Esperanza explaining how her brothers are best friends and that her and Nenny cannot be best friends based on the fact that Nenny is her younger sister so she is her responsibility. So this in turn, makes Esperanza lonely, and makes her optimistic that someday she will have a best friend that she will be able to share jokes with and tell her deepest darkest secrets. 

                I personally think the writing is at its best at the end of the chapter after Esperanza has explained that she has had no true friends that understand her jokes or someone she can tell her deepest secrets to. It is only after all that when Esperanza says, "Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor." Do you truly understand her pain (Cisneros 9). I think this is where the writing is at it's best because the direct metaphor that Cisneros uses, puts a great picture in your mind by comparing Esperanza to a balloon that is tied to an anchor. When you read that metaphor you see just how lonely Esperanza really is. And in some cases, you can relate. There is always someone with younger or older siblings, who just gets left out because of the age difference. That is why I think that is where the writing was at it's best. 

Role Model Response

              

               The person that had a substantial influence on me at a young age would have to be my Cousin Darian. Darian had a substantial influence on me because at the time he was like my older brother. I had a younger brother, but he was just too little at the time to like and do the same things as me, so I was always with Darian. We were practically inseparable. I remember at times my mom asking me "Are you ever going to come back home?" or "Should I just let Darian live with us?". He truly was my best friend.

           Now Darian, Darian is the one who influenced me to play football in high school, run track, and listen to the music that I did at the time. And I would definitely say that these influences affected my behavior and habits in a good way. Those influences were some sort of live saver for me when I was younger because I often found myself hanging around the wrong crowd at a young age and would often get in trouble with the law for vandalism and fighting. I even spent the weekend in a local Juvenile Detention Center for domestic violence and resisting arrest. But because I looked up to Darian, I often stopped hanging around the wrong crowds and cleaned up my act because I wanted to be a successful football like my older cousin.

          I say all of these things in past tense because as of 2017, my "older brother" or "role model" is still my main influence, but not for the same reason. Darian has been arrested twice, has struggled with drugs, and broken the bond that we had shared for our whole lives. I now use his influence on what not to do. I use him as a driving force in my life, as what not to turn into. Darian was such a vibrant person to be around. He always had a smile on his face and was the type of person you aspired to be. Now he is the exact opposite. His presence in a room makes you uncomfortable and forces you to hide your belongings. He is a role model to me still, but for all the wrong reasons.

Journal Post 3 from Dallas

Cisneros Response

My favorite chapter in this book so far has to be Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin. In this chapter, we meet Louie and his family. We learn that Louie is friends with Esperanza’s brother and he is “the oldest in a family of little sisters.” We learn that he has two cousins, one named Marin, who sells Avon and lives with the family. His other cousin, we don’t learn his name but Esperanza says “we only saw him once, but it was important.”

Louie’s cousin drove up to Louie’s house in a yellow Cadillac. The kids all came out and were so amazed by all the features of the Cadillac, that they asked for rides. As they were driving around they start to hear police sirens that grew louder and louder as the second’s pass. Louie’s cousin lets out all the kids and proceeds to floor the car in the direction away from the sirens. With the police gaining on him Louie tries to make a left turn and crashes into a lamppost. The last we see of Louie’s cousin is when Cisneros writes “They put handcuffs on him and put him in the backseat of the cop car, and we all wave as they drove away.”

This story stands out to me the most because it’s so comical. It’s one of those stories that when you finish reading it, you say to yourself “I could see that happening.” I believe, that the writing is at its best when Louie’s cousin crashes the Cadillac into the lamppost. Cisneros writes “Marin screamed and we ran down the block to where the cop car’s siren spun a dizzy blue. The nose of that yellow Cadillac was all pleated like an alligator’s.”

            One theme that is important in this story is, innocence. The children had no idea that the car was stolen. Even though, there were signs that led them to this even before the cops came closing in. They asked questions as to where he got the car to little or no avail from Louie’s cousin. Cisneros takes it upon herself to point out that they asked where he go the car twice in the same paragraph.

Story of a Local Role Model

           

            When I was a kid and even a little past my teenage years I always looked up to my cousin, Paul. He and I were raised as brothers. We were always together growing up which was important to me since he is 2 years older than I am. He had a big shadow. I remember as a kid trying to get his approval on everything I did. “Hey Paul, do you think this is cool?”

We are both huge competitors and have always been involved in sports. When we were on our high schools wrestling team we would always try to motivate the other. I remember right after Thanksgiving dinner every year we would always run for miles to make sure we weren’t “overweight” for our next tournament.

            Paul is a bit out there. He is very much an extrovert. I see it as a blessing and curse because he wound up getting us into bad situations when we were younger. On the other hand the stories we have now are great.

When Paul joined the Army at 17, I wanted to follow him. When he left for Iraq a few months before I would ship out. I was wishing I could go with him. I remember him telling me about his fears about what was soon to be his reality. A few months later by the grace of god we got to come home for Christmas. I remember stepping off the plane and receiving a handshake and hug from him and telling me that he was proud of me.

            As we got older and started having kids. We vowed to have our kids grow up the same way we did. As brothers.

Journal 3 Richard

Cisneros Response

My favorite chapter in this book is Louie, his cousin & his other cousin. in this chapter one of Louies cousins came into the neighborhood driving a big yellow Cadillac with white walls. After honking a few times a lot of people ran to look at the exotic car. Amazed everyone asked if they could go for a ride. Esperanza, Louie and all his sisters crammed into the car and drove around the neighborhood. As they were driving they suddenly heard sirens in the distance, getting louder and louder. Louies cousin stops the car and tells everyone to get out of the car. As soon as they all got out the police came around the corner chasing after the Cadillac. Due to the alleys being to skinny Louies cousin crashes into a light pole. He was then handcuffed and put in the back seat of a cop car while everyone waved goodbye.

One of the main themes in this chapter is to stay out of crime. When living in a bad neighborhood it is very easy to get pulled into crime. Especially when living the low income lifestyle. It doesn't give teens much to loose. In this chapter the writing is at its best when the author describes the interior of the Cadillac. Cisneros writes "The seats were big and soft like a sofa." What we don't realize is that for these kids seeing an exotic car like that and being able to go for a drive is a dream come true for them. They all know that their parents would never be able to afford something like that. Which is why they were astonished to see the vehicle.

Story of a Local Role Model

When I was in middle school I met Ethan. He was a big plus sized fellow like me and we had many classes together. We also both played the same position in football. Ethan had a very competitive personality. Sometimes he made the simplest things into a competition without you even knowing it. For example during lunch he always tried to be the first to finish his food and wouldn't even say a word about it. I once called him out about it and he pretended like he had no idea what I was talking about. But after a while all of our friends started to notice it.

It got to the point where it was irritating me every test, assignment, sprint, and practice he had to be the best. Eventually I got fed up with it and I did everything I could to beat him. I started doing all my homework and studied for tests, and I was always a few points behind or a few ahead of him. I noticed that he started trying harder because he noticed I was getting just as good as him. Even in football I made sure I always beat him in sprints no matter how tired was. It got to the point where he would go on the scout team and line up rite over me just to see who is stronger and faster off the ball.

Realizing later on that competing in everything wasn't doing any good. We stopped being friends and teammates and became opponents. I knew there was nothing I could do about it, that's just his personality. I did learn a lot from him because I achieved many things and improved in many ways. But I also realized that making everything a competition isn't the best thing to do. But competing and trying to be the best in things that are important to you, will make you achieve great things.

Journal 3 From Kai

Cisneros Response

     My favorite chapter so far has to be Gil's Furniture Bought & Sold. In this chapter we are introduced to the local junk store. Esperanza and Nenny scour the place browsing and generally wasting time. An old man watches them in case they actually want to buy something or to dissuade them for stealing. He is personified only by the golden glint in the glasses he wears shining through the darkness. The neighborhood is poor. The man doesn't even turn on the lights unless he knows there will be paying customers.

     Esperanza tries to rationalize her subtle embarrassment at Nenny. Nenny actually talks to the quiet old man. She asks questions and is generally acting more mature. After Esperanza comes to the conclusion that Nenny is just more stupid than she is, Nenny discovers an old music box. Now Esperanza starts to show her immature side by hoping it is a pretty box and failing at keeping her curiosity under check. She feels she cannot allow herself to show interest in something someone younger than her likes.

     The writing becomes the best when the music box is opened. Cisneros writes: "It's like all of a sudden he let go a million moths all over the dusty furniture and swan-neck shadows and in our bones." The simile doesn't need to be literally understood. It is a feeling describing to the best of her ability how deep, eerie, and influential the music has on her. She is barely able to steer herself away from the box still intent on keeping herself away from what seems like a childish toy to her. Nenny, on the other hand, is convinced. She must have the box. She is reaching for all her money as she asks how much the box costs. Both children are hit by the reply as the man closes the lid he tells them, "This? This ain't for sale."

     One of the themes I feel stands out in the story is generation gap. Esperanza has always had a self-imposed restriction on herself by trying to appear more mature for Nenny's benefit. They are not too far apart in age and the idea of maturity to Esperanza is limited in knowledge so she tries to prove maturity the only way she can by not appearing interested in anything she does. No matter how pretty the music box sounds, Esperanza just cannot bring herself to like it because Nenny does. It becomes a baby toy to her. The shock comes when the man, who would sell anything, announces that the item is not for sale. What is suddenly so special about the box? As an adult reader, we can place a deeper meaning on the music box that the kids could not at the time.

Story of a Local Role Model

     I was a lazy school kid. I got though school by acing tests. I never did the homework assignments or actively participated in class. Unless Michael was there. Michael had to be the most annoying creature I have ever met. He wasn't a smart kid, but was extremely smug. He thought he was better than everyone for no particular reason. He was my polar opposite. He did all the work, but tested poorly. Somehow, we'd end up with the same grade. Since I was considered a smart kid, he assumed he was just as smart and used me as a prop. 

     Every time we had the same class together he'd make sure to sit close to me like we were friends, compatriots, peers, equal. I knew better. Whenever he came into the classroom he would quickly scan the class, lock eyes with me, and put on this knowing, smug grin. I wanted to toss him right out the nearest window. My gut would fall to my knees and I'd seethe. He was not as smart as I was. It became my goal in life to show him the error of his ways. Like a switch had been flipped, I began raising my hand to every question asked. I completed every bit of homework. I rocked.

     I never did actually brag like my inner thoughts wanted to. I had a report card full of straight As and could have laughed in his dumb face, but never did. I realized after getting my accolades that even if I did show him he wasn't as smart as he claims that I would have to concede that is was him I owed for the grades I got. I could never bring myself to admit that. Also, if anyone ever told him this, I'd deny it publicly.

Journal 2 from Richard

Hi everyone my name is Richard Kuts and I am 19 years old. A fun fact about me is that I speak Russian. I was also born in California and moved to Ohio when I was about 5 years old. I really like to go fishing, and I also love weightlifting. In middle school I decided to play football and I continued playing through high school. My major is radiologic science and therapy.

In the book The House on Mango Street I thought the writing was at its best when she was describing the house on mango street. "its a small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath." I've noticed the author has a very unique way of describing things and it really helps the reader create a detailed image in their head. It also makes you want to keep reading because it makes you feel like your watching a movie and not just reading another page in a book.

Journal Two from Tony

Journal Two

        

          My name is Anthony Watson, but I prefer to go by Tony. I graduated from Wynford High School in 2016. While in high school, I played football and I ran track. I graduated from Wynford with about 60 other seniors and a few of them attend here at Ohio State Marion Campus as well. I am a Biology Major and I plan on going into Nuclear Medicine at The University of Findlay in a few years. A fun fact about me is that I ran at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium last spring and helped my track team win a gold medal in the one hundred meter relay and a silver in the two hundred meter relay.

        So far, the book, The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros stands out as a book that describes a child's perspective of moving around and living below the poverty line. A theme that stands out in this novel so far is the theme of self worth or self recognition. The first few chapters are Esperanza explaining where she lives and her current situation. The last chapter that we read in class has Esperanza explaining that she wishes she has a different name and that she is determined to do something with her life. Personally, I feel the writing is at its best when Esperanza is describing her family and using metaphors. The metaphors really brought my attention to the novel and made me want to see more of the metaphors that I've never seen before.

Me, My brother, and two of my buds after winning a gold medal this spring.

        

Journal Two from Steve Ritter

Hello, my name is Steve Ritter.

Some of my favorite things include: writing emotional poems, binge watching anime, and gaming to my heart's content. I like hiking, English, and the culinary arts. one fun fact about me is that I love anime.

In the House on Mango Street, I believe that the writing was the best when she was talking about moving around. I thought this was the best because I too moved around a lot as a child, mainly due to my parents job locations and our house being foreclosed. That is why I thought this part was the best. 

Journal Two-Hunter

Hi, my name is Hunter Merchant and i'm 18 years old from Marion, Ohio, one of the only girls in the class. I enjoy traveling, baking, and my dog (Elizabeth). My favorite color is blue all though I wear a lot of red. I also enjoy watching basketball with my older brother, Troy, although he roots for the Cavs and i'm a hardcore Golden State Warriors fan. I believe in being very open about myself so fun fact: I'm gay and have had a girlfriend of over 2 years, don't confuse my friendly personality with flirting. I hope to one day become a preschool teacher somewhere that is not Ohio! 

At the campus bookstore where I slave my life away for money

My fur baby, Liz.

In The House on Mango Street the theme that stood out to me the most is that Esperanza, while sharing her great grandmother's name, refuses to become another "window woman". She may not share how she will make herself into a better individual that her grandmother couldn't be but she's not becoming a window woman. I feel the writing is at it's best so far in the first chapter, The House on Mango street, because the author is throwing so many different literary techniques at us but still keeping the writing child like, almost like Esperanza, while poor, has yet to be tainted by the adult world. 

Journal 2 from Kai

Hello everyone! My name is Simon Gill, but everyone calls me Kai. I'm was born and raised in Alabama and have since forsaken my roots to live north of the Mason-Dixon line. I have been married for about 12 years and live with her and daughter in Powell. I generally prefer my dinners under florescent lighting and don't like beaches... or long walks! While my major focus of study is CSE, I do have a love for comedy and voice acting. If you aren't laughing, you aren't living!

Kai and family at Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The small chapters and fluid language in The House on Mango street keeps the story moving. It flows fluidly and remains so fresh that I have a hard time realizing I've read too far into it. One can easily read the book cover to cover without it ever getting stale. The best part I find is the setup. When she talks about the nun asking her where she lived you already know enough in the first few pages about the little girl and her situation that you can feel the condemnation in the nun's voice. It was just one word, an italicized "there?", but you can easily visualize what the nun is referencing. The word is laced with the mixed feeling of pity, dread, and disgust. Immediately you come to the same realization as the child that there is now shame in something you had not thought about before. Shame from knowing that what you have isn't good enough. It will become a driving force to better yourself.

Journal Two from Dallas Finley

Hello class this is Dallas Finley. I am originally from Monroe, Ohio a small town about an hour north of Cincinnati. I enlisted into the United States Army at 17 as a Military Police Officer. I spent most of my 5-year career at Fort Bliss, TX. I am 23 and am happily married to my wife of 3 years (4 years in April).I have a 1-year-old son named Maddox. My family is everything to me. I absolutely love sports. I am a huge sports fan and a bit of a history buff.

In The House On Mango Street what stood out to me the most is the constant moving to different places that Esperanza expresses. I to moved around a lot when I was younger and have also been on the receiving end of the question --You live there? I believe the writing is at its best is when Esperanza describes her mother’s hair. The number of similes used in just this small paragraph is astonishing.

My family.
(Photo bomb by Maddox)

Journal Two from Alec

Journal Two

     Hello fellow bloggers. My name is Alec Soule, I am 19 years old, and i have red hair if anyone didn't notice. I was born in California and still travel there every summer and Christmas break to visit my father. I enjoy playing soccer, golf, football, and basketball. I also like first person shooter games. The most unique thing that I enjoy doing is making pottery.

    I enjoyed the childlike wonder that seemed to describe Esperanza's life and how different this story could be if told from the view of papa or mama. I think the writing is at its best in Cisneros' metaphors that actually made me imagine what she says like an image in in front of me.

SPRING BREAK
(In Cancun)

Journal Two By Bryant

Journal 2

Hi, my name is Bryant Shreve and I am 20 years old and from Marysville, Ohio. Somethings I enjoy in life are working out and playing sports. Throughout high school I competed in weight lifted and played football. Another hobby of mine I love to travel. My goal is to travel to many different places and see the world through others eyes.

In The House on Mango Street I believe the writing was best when she was talking about moving around. I thought this was the best writing because I myself could relate to it. When I was a single child I lived with a single mother and we moved around a lot due to the lack of money. This is why I thought it was the best part.

Welcome to our Blog!

Hello students,and welcome to our Blog.

Our goal today is to become members, write our first post, and learn to respond to others on this blog.  Basically this first post will help us get to know each other, and begin a good habit to use blog writing and its features.

Here's the prompt, and you'll also find this information and more on the handout I give to you in class.

JOURNAL TWO

--For your first post on our blog, write a paragraph where you introduce yourself, tell us some things that help us know you more, and share a fun fact about you.  Also, please post a simple photo of yourself, so we can always come back to this and associate your name with your face and introduction.  Again, the blog will just be for our class and I will adjust the privacy and search settings.

--In the next paragraph, respond to the reading in The House on Mango Street so far.  What theme or idea stood out to you in these first chapters?  Where did you feel the writing as at its best?  Share your observations.

--When you are finished, publish your post, and then read other posts on the blog and write Comments to two other people in the class.  Try to respond to something specific, or add to or connect to something that has been written.  This isn’t Facebook where you just Like things or put smiley faces.  In blogging, try to actually have a little conversation through the use of your Comments.

My wife Irene and I in the Florida everglades last year.