Branded ; chunk 1

In the non-fiction book, Branded written by Alissa Quart argues that generation Y are easily influenced by big businesses to purchase and advertise their products. Some companies that get the attetion from the generation Y are: magazines, clothing brands, catalogs, and etc. Teenagers are easy targets, they become the big businesses main focus. Lately they have been focusing more on the "tweens" rather than the adults with the money. Since teenagers are so easily influenced, cooperations advertise to them more. Some cooperations even turn to their consumers for more advice on how to attract more of the consumer's peers. Companies are looking to teenagers for advise on how to advertise more or appeal more to the the teenager's peer. This special job has a name to it. Its called trend spotter. A trend spotter goes out, and look for what teenagers want, what their wearing, and etc. These trend spotters are "special." They are treated like celebrities because they have the dream job and all the connections. Along with the trend spotters, there has to be a parent involve right? Parents are involved in this too. Some parents feel guilty that they work long hours in a day and no time to spend with their children, they spend money on them. Whatever the kid wants, the parent is willing to give them becasue the guilt they feel. Parents are trying to be "hip" and "funky" like how their kids are so they can have a stronger bond with their child.


clarification: Who do you think it should be blamed for the eruption of teenagers ? the parents? or the CEO ?

application: Why do you think people want to be so "cool" that they are willing to go bankrupt for?

Precis #2 ; Sayonara, Prada

In Alexandra Harney's article, Sayonara, Prada, the author explains why the women in Japan, have lost interest for their lust in luxary. Back then in Japan, women you to turn to prostitution just to fulfill their need for luxary, and now in Japan, the percantage of luxary items being bought has fallen. It seems as if the Japanese women have lost their interests in luxary. In the article, Harney gives her reasons why she feels the Japanese women have lost their interests. Her purpose is to show that the one country that lived for luxary, has now took it's turn, because of economic issues. It shows that even the people who love clothes and jewelery have to make sacrifices. And its like now, “it’s not about how much money you have, it’s about expressing your own personal style.” says one Japanese consumer. She seems to have an audience that loves shopping, but have fincial problems.


clarification: Is this "move" happening only in Japan? Are women in Japan the only one's turning away from luxary?
application: Have you ever have to sacrifice something that was important to you?

Precis #1 l Prophet Without Honor

In Andrew Gumbel's article Prophet Without Honor he shows that there is still polygamists are still praticing the act of polygamy and it is a natural act. In a remote fundamentalist Mormon community on the border of Utah and Arizona where polygamy is being openly practiced. Gumbel first uses an anecdote of a man named Bruce Wisen, and how Wisen was a polygamists and still is suffering from charges he has been convicted of. His purpose was to show us that polygamy, althugh is illegal, is still being praticed and sometimes polygamy is not always what the young girl wants. Some yung girls who are forced to marry at a young age do not want to follow the footsteps of their peers, but they can not speak up about the forced/ arranged marriage.


clarification: These people who pratice polygamy are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, correct?
application: If you saw a young lady who was being forced into getting married to a man that was twice her age, what would you do?

pgs 300 - 410 #3

In the last chunk, Miles Corwin does a marvelous job at ending the book and updating us on how the students success has overcome the society that they live in. Through all the things the students had individually went through they all come together at graduation. But we all know that it was hard to get there in the first place. Ms.Little has been mia right before the AP exams letting down the students leaving Miles Corwin, a newspaper reporter and author of the book, filling into her spot. With so many different substitute teachers that do not know what they are teaching and have no clue what Hamlet is, leave the students unprepared and several students leave the class. "Whats the whole point of us coming" says one student speaking about Ms.Littles unexpected absenses due to adminstrations reasons. The students are lost and several of them walk out of class or dont even show up. Its all going down hill. No one visits Olivia in jail, Braxton is thinking about moving to a different high school, and now Ms.Little is leaving the students stranded and not fully completing her job. But there can be some relief, Braxton is thinking of asking Ms.Moultrie, whom never taught an AP class before, has rwo other honor classes, her own buisness she runs, 5 kids, and a husband, she is willing to sacrifice her time for the students she love so much "like her own blood." Her rules may be the opposite of Little's teaching skills and what Little hates most, they have no other choice.
But to many of the students suprise just three weeks before the AP exam, Little returns but students think that she is to late. She rushes through the poetry section and most of the students feel highly unprepared. When the AP exam arrives there are more distractionsthan ever. Some students ease through it but the rest were being interupted byt the outside world; two guls fighting outside loudly, the intercom constantly making announcements, and a boy videotaping the students taking the test. Little is outragedand tries to get the best testing environment her students needs and deserves. Meanwhile its its all bad news for Olivia. Turns out that Olivia can not go to college and Babson College ( her first choice of college) had rejected her because of her criminal files. Olivia was highly upset "my life is over" she said in jail. She has nothing.
While back at school prom and graduation are the next two big events. Everyone looks elegant and beautiful even the school's jock who always where shorts and sweatshirts. The students at prom want to spend time with Ms.Little. Several students ask her if she will be returning back to Crenshaw and she replies that she has been looking elsewhere because Crenshaw is "racist." This means, Moultrie would have to teach the Ap english class next year. Finals are up and like every year Little writes a farewell letter, but this year, it has a more effect in her and her students; writing short stories about each student in her farewell letter touching everyone in the class emotionally. Then the students share their testimonies on how they feel about Little abd how much she has impacted their lives. Everyone share their stories that it is not enough time to work on their finals, which Little had decided that there would not be no finals.When the bell rings, the students all line up to hug Little , and leaving the classroom all going to go their seperate ways in life.



clarification; Why has not anyone been visiting Olvia while in jail?

application : Does your environment help you build yourself up or down? Do you downgrade yourself because you come from a low part of town? or do you over come all the stereotypical views?

application: "The whole worlds going to be judging you, not just byu the content of your character, but by the color of your skin" - Ms.Moultrie. Do you think this is true? Do you think peoploe now a days still judge people based on their skin color? Yes or No? specify.

application: if you were in Little's situation with all the threats and verbal abuse, would you return back to Crenshaw?

blog entry #2 :: pg 201-300

Education is stressed throughout pages 201-300. Alot of things have been happening at Crenshaw's Gifted Program. Olivia still struggles coming to school on time, Toya trying to find a school for teenage mothers, Ms.Little still feeling assaulted by the "racism" the staff gives to her, Curt awaiting his acceptance letter from Standford, and danielle and her father"s bond. All the students that attend Crenshaw"s gifted program are all alike in one way: education. Through all the obstacles they face throughout thier lives, they have one main priority which is education. They believe that through education they can get out the hood and actually achieve somrthing far better than what they're parents had given them. Take for example Toya. Toya is a very bright girl who all of a sudden returned to Crenshaw with a 10 day old baby, an unexpected birth that shocked everyone especially braxton. But Toya didnt quit there and she was not about to become a statistic. She did everything she could do to gain her education to get her and her new born baby out the struggle without the help of her aunt. Toya and the rest of the students all have this urge to suceed in life so they can become better.



clarification: who is tommie smith? and why is he important?
application : Do you think that your future depends on how your parents raise you? Why? or why not ?
application: if you were in olivia's shoes and was in jail would you give up on school? or just keep going?

And Still We Rise ( post #1 pgs 101-200 )

What comes to mind when you hear South Central in LA ? Crenshaw High School ? Most likely you would be thinking pregnant teenagers , gang banging, and drive by shooting every day , probably people fearing for their lives every day and afraid of coming out the house. But what people dont see are the determined, dedicated, and intelligent scholars there are in the "ghetto." America sees South Central to be a place of unreliable , no future people. But in Miles Corwin's book, "And Still We Rise" shows the life of the 12 gifted talented minority students who struggle everyday in life and still be able to maintain a 4.0 GPA and get accepted in the top UC's over white students. Corwin mainly focuses on the students and not the teachers. He focuses on obstacles the students must face just to graduate school. The students goes through family issues, financial issues, and social issues. And Corwin follows the life of the 12 students lives and tell their miracoulous stories.


Discussion Questions:
Clarification: Do you think teachers affect their students more than their parents?
Application : How does the media make the minority community looks affect the opinions of other people?