5a Group #1

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~909 by: Percival Everett

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~This story is about how Los Angeles is all about area codes. Depending on what area code you live in, you are considered, rich, middle class, lower class, or poor. It also stereotypes you into urban or country. Everett lives in the 909 area code. He discusses taking his mule, Monk, up the mountains and looking over the beautiful landscape and lake.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"We say, 'This here is horsey area.' And we have signs that depict basketball-headed silhouette humans seated on silhouette horses. That means go slow." pg. 122

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~Reading this story, I couldn't help but imagine the rivalries of the different area codes. I can imagine the "rich" snubbing their noses up at the 909 people. Also, when Everett was describing riding his mule, it made me imagine all the times I have gone horseback riding.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~One thing that I did not know before reading this was that segregation was by area codes in L.A. I knew that they have very different areas of the city, but I never knew it came down to area codes.

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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~The Line, by: Ruben Martinez

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~This story is about the life and culture of the Mexico/California border. Martinez discusses a local park. He says it is completely deserted in in the daytime, but once the sun starts setting, hundreds of people come out for their chance to make it across the border. He compares it to a fiesta. Back when he was watching this, he said that the chances of getting across the border were more than 50%. And if you did not get across the first time, you would definitely get across the second time.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"And families, entire families, from grandmothers with crinkled faces and braided white hair down to wide-eyed tots in arms." pg. 127

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~Living in California, you can't go a day without hearing about immigration. So I guess this story reminded me of everyday life. This is a huge part of living in California, so it was nice being able to read a story from the "other" side of the line.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~One thing that I did not know before reading this was that the crossing of the border is kind of a big party. There is excitement and hope.

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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~Flirting with Urbanismo, by: Patt Morrison

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~Morrison also discusses Los Angeles. Like Everett, she discusses how different areas of L.A. tell you your income/social status. (She also discusses area codes). Morrison focuses on downtown L.A. She says that this has become a taboo place to live. Once you are close enough to walk anywhere (eg. grocery store or work), then you need to move. She says that people move way too often just because they do not want to be in downtown. She also talks about the different movies and T.V. shows that have been filmed in L.A.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"Downtown is the perfect plastic heart of a plastic city-- plastic in the meaning of changeable, moldable. Its blocks are the most versatile, and thus the most filmed in the world; it can play almost anything-- just as Angelenos can make themselves into what they wish to be." pg. 134

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This story made me think of all the movies that I've seen and realize how many have been filmed in L.A. I have been to L.A. many times, but I never realized how versatile the city really is. It makes me want to go back and experience the city all over again.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~Before reading this, I did not know that Seinfeld is actually filmed in Los Angeles and not in New York.

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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~Waters of Tranquility, by: Carolyn See

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~This story is about The Shrine Lake in Pacific Palisades. This shrine is dedicated to world peace. It has statues representing the major religions on the world. See talks about how this is one of her favorite places, and how it got her though her husbands illness. The fist time around the lake she would be furious, but after a couple of times around, she was calmed. She says that it is a big tourist spot.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"Unemployed dads shepherd their kids around the lake and around again. Tourists from Germany, France, Russia, Japan, and India clump around in raggedy groups taking pictures of each other." pg. 144

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This story made me think of my families and my travels to different countries. I have experienced many different cultures and religions, and it brought back all those memories, good and bad. I thought that this story was very interesting.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~Before reading this, I did not know that there was a shrine like this. I think that it is a great idea. It gives respect where respect is due, without offending anyone.

4c; refection on project 3 part 2

1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?

~The classmate I chose is Samantha. The category is 3b Beaches. The choice is Bodega Bay.

2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?

~Something similar that Samantha and I said about Bodega Bay is that it is cold there. I stated that people stereotype it as a warm beach because it is in California, and she said that Bodega Bay was colder than Seal Beach.

3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?

~Something different is that Samantha stated that Bodega Bay is a popular surfing place. I said nothing about surfing. I felt that Bodega Bay was more well known for their Salt Water Taffy. This is something that we did not agree on.

4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?

~Going into this, Samantha had certain ideas of what Bodega Bay was known for, and I had a completely different idea. Through this dialogue, I have learned that there are a lot of surfers in that area. I never knew that it was a good place to surf, but I did know about the Salt Water Taffy because it is a family tradition to get some Salt Water Taffy whenever we visit Bodega Bay. I'm glad that I chose to compare with Samantha because I learned a lot from her post.

4b; reflection from project 3

1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?

~The classmate I chose is Christina. The category is 3b World Cities. The city choice is Los Angeles.

2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?

~Both Christina and I said that Los Angeles has a stereotype for being upper end, and full of rich and famous people. We also both wrote that L.A. has a very bad air quality problem.

3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?

~Christina wrote that part of her stereotype for L.A is lots of skinny, tall, blond girls in huge houses. The looks of people never crossed my mind when I was writing my stereotypes. I focused mostly on ideals than actual looks of the area. Also she found that L.A. is the largest city in California and I never ran across that in my research.

4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?

~I would relate this to Freire's ideas on dialogue because I learned many things from Christina's post that I did learn while researching it for myself. One example is "L.A. was founded in 1781, and became part of Mexico until 1848 when America took it back in the Mexican-America War." I did not know this. Another thing that I did not know was that L.A. is the biggest city in California. I thought that it would be on the top 5 cities, but I did not know it was on the top of the list.

4a Group #1

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The Big Valley, by Mark Arax

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~This reading was about Arax growing up in the San Joaquin Valley. His father used to be a fig farmer but Arax did not carry on that tradition after his father left the farming business. As industrialism spread through the valley, he got swept up into that urban lifestyle. He talks about going on road trips as an adult with his family and listening to the truckers and wishing that he would have never let that old farming tradition go. He has settled for a little garden in his back yard.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~My favorite quote is "Summer here isn't measured by the calendar but by the pick and pull and squeeze and crush of the unbroken harvest." pg. 20

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This reading made me think of old time farming. I have been to the San Joaquin Valley and I have seen how industrialized it has gotten. At the same time though, it has that old time charm. There is just something about seeing the fruits of the land that makes you feel comfortable and happy. This reading was my favorite this week.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~One thing that I learned was that when planting the land, you want to have the lightest possible tractor as to not compact the earth. I learned this on pages 23-24.


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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~Transients in Paradise, by Aimee Liu

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~Liu wrote about her experiences living in Beverly Hills. She talks about how there is more to life than fame and fortune. She discusses a funeral she attended saying that people were too wrapped up in themselves and their looks to even care that that person had died or to give that person respect. Even though the city is shallow, she also makes the argument that it is very beautiful, mostly because there are no blemishes inside the city (eg. no garbage dumps, sky rises, slums, or cemeteries).

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"And there you have the essential current between desire and fear. Desire is merely the version that says, I want and am taking mine - and better me or us than them or you. While inverse, better him or her or them than us, is simple code of fear." pg. 33

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This reading made me think of how caught up we can get in our own lives. When we get so wrapped up in the things that will make us happy, no matter what it does to anyone else, we are missing the big picture. Life isn't just about me and my needs, it is about all of us and all our needs.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~One thing that I did not know before reading this was that Beverly Hills does not have a garbage dump or cemetery. The city does not want a blemish on their appearance, so they toss reality to the surrounding cities so that they can remain in their fantasy.

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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~Showing off the Owens, by T. Jefferson Parker

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~This reading is about Parker taking his friend to California's Lower Owens River. His friend is an avid angler and has been to many places to fish and has caught many different types of fish. His friend is a bit disappointed with the size of the fish they will be catching (Rainbow Trout under 12") But once he sees the river, he is bit by the fly fishing "bug". Parker discusses that once you have been fly fishing, you will never stop thinking about it. It keeps nagging on you to go out fishing again and again. Parker says that he loves this fly fishing "bug".

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"I thought of something director Robert Altman recently said: 'I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there.'"
pg. 40

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This reading made me think of all the times I have been fishing with my father and grandparents. My whole family loves to go fishing so I can kind of relate to that fishing "bug". I have never been fly fishing, but I know that I would never pass up a chance to go out on the lake and cast my line.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~Before reading this, I did not know that the movie, A River Runs Through It, caused a jump in the amount of people interested in fly fishing. I learned this on page 39.

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1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

~The Distant Cataract About Which we do not Speak, by Mary Mackey

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

~Mackey writes about the inland city of Sacramento. She begins by sharing her experiences with the wildlife in the American River Parkway. This river runs right through the city, but you can hardly tell because of the way it is situated, it feels like it is the middle of nowhere. She then goes on to discuss the many religious ceremonies that take place on the river. (eg. baptisms, sacrifices, and family gatherings) She calls this the "spiritual heart of the river". Even though the city is so diverse, everyone is connected by the river in some way.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

~"This is a town where if you float in a canoe or sit in an island below the levees you cannot see houses (except in a few places where, alas, the zoning restrictions are being violated). This is a town where some state employees kayak to work; where, no matter how hot it gets, you can get goose bumps and blue lips just by going for a swim." pg.48

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

~This reading made me think of all the times I have been to Sacramento and how I have never seen this side of the city. While reading, it made me feel like I had been left out of an important secret of the city. It makes me want to drive to Sacramento and experience the river for myself.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

~Before reading this, I did not know that Japanese priests put lanterns on the water to honor the deceased from Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. They originally did this to honor those lost at sea. I learned this on page 49.