English

Rationale:              The original article (http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/11/23/over-a-thousand-african-migrants-arrive-in-italy-wednesday/) is a Breitbart article, about one thousand migrants arriving in Italy, and mentions it in context with the migrant crisis and how the more conservative/right-leaning parties sought to solve the crisis. Recently Breitbart has become rather famous (to be more precise, it’s more like infamous) for being part of the ‘alt-right’ media selection, especially since Steve Bannon was, and still is, heavily involved in it, in an executive role. The original article employs the use of bias by omission to a certain degree – the right-leaning political point of view on the issue is given far more text, and uses quotes from right-leaning politicians, whilst not having any quote from the other sides – not even the side that is actually governing the country nor the UN. Furthermore, a lot of the language carries bias, for example the ‘migrant’ word rath

Excerpt from “Daddy” (Sylvia Plath) 1 In the German tongue, in the Polish town   Scraped flat by the roller Of wars, wars, wars. But the name of the town is common.   5 My Polack friend Says there are a dozen or two.   So I never could tell where you   Put your foot, your root, I never could talk to you. 10 The tongue stuck in my jaw. It stuck in a barb wire snare.   Ich, ich, ich, ich, I could hardly speak. I thought every German was you.   15 And the language obscene An engine, an engine Chuffing me off like a Jew. A Jew to Dachau, Auschwitz, Belsen.   I began to talk like a Jew. 20 I think I may well be a Jew. The snows of the Tyrol, the clear beer of Vienna   Are not very pure or true. With my gipsy ancestress and my weird luck   And my Taroc pack and my Taroc pack 25 I may be a bit of a Jew. I have always been scared of you, With your Luftwaffe, your gobbledygoo.   And your neat mustache And your Aryan eye, bright blue. 30 Panzer-man, panze

From Runaway, the last part of the story: http://www.filedropper.com/iocpractice Apologies for the lack of embedding into the post, but Sound Cloud wasn't working, hopefully this works. Avoid clicking on the wrong download button.

Here are both of my Summer blog posts: 1: In Norway, I have visited a cultural history museum in Oslo, and viewed some of the Viking artefacts that they had. They reminded me of Things Fall Apart, specifically the traditional and cultural aspect of the book and Igbo people. Like the Igbo, the Vikings had their own religious faith, featuring famous gods such as Odin and Thor, their own cultural traditions associated with that faith. Furthermore, similarly to the Igbo, the Vikings ended up converting to Christianity. It makes me think that surely there must have been people similar to Okonkwo in views, who would have objected to the Christianisation of Norway. With Norway, Christianisation mainly started under the rule of St. Olav (ruled from 995-1000), with him destroying pagan temples and killing pagans who resisted. The process of Christianisation was continued by following monarchs. I believe that the concept of a radically changing culture and religion, with divisions in societ

Alice Munro’s short stories are usually about women and families from a suburban and or rural setting. She discusses topics such as gender roles and interpersonal relationships, usually from a woman’s perspective. What David Foster Wallace’s theory on education can do with this, is that it allows us, the reader, to adjust our perspective, to be sympathetic to the characters. Although I personally am not a girl growing up in a post-WWII Canadian small town, I can still relate to or at least empathise with the characters and their emotions that Munro has created. In Munro’s stories, her characters tend to have personal flaws or defy the tradition character ideals, for example the narrator in “Boys and Girls”, despite her desire to keep her role helping her father and dislike of the role women are designated for in her family, she ends up subconsciously transforming, until she starts to fit the mould of what her family and society says a woman should be. While we, the audience, may expec

" While Ngugi’s extract was used to practice the annotation and structuring of a Paper 1, the content and theme of the article can also be used to inform a deeper appreciation of Things Fall Apart In what ways does this text influence your understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart?"            Ngugi’s discussion on his native language, and how colonial policies influenced it and his way of life directly lead to familiar topics discussed or alluded to in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”. Within “Things Fall Apart”, Achebe utilises Igbo proverbs, songs, folktales, and integrates the Igbo language into the text (uses Igbo words in certain parts of the novel). Because of Ngugi’s text, an addition depth or motivation is added to the understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in “Things Fall Apart”. Ngugi mentions that his people’s “…appreciation of the suggestive magical power of language was reinforced by the

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood. Thesis Statement: Things Fall Apart features a more 'Ibo' understanding of gender roles, stating the importance of women; having different, but prominent roles in Ibo society. The character of Okonkwo demonstrates how the idea of masculinity can drive some to hate any type of femininity, however, the book also addresses how femininity and masculinity and often social constructs, using the characters of Ezinma and Nwoye. Topic Statements:  Things Fall Apart addresses the roles and importance women have in Ibo society, by having certain female characters in positions of influence, such as Chielo (a priestess) and Agbala (the Oracle of the hills) Okonkwo is shown throughout the book to dislike ideas associated with femininity in the Ibo culture, such as being title-less  or weak, due to his insecurities stemming from his fear of becoming like his father.

Prompt: With reference to Things Fall Apart, show how sub-plots or secondary characters contribute to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the work as a whole. Individual Points:        The conflict of religion, showcased in the latter part of the story, is exercised mainly through secondary characters and subplots. For example, Nwoye’s decision to convert, Enoch killing the sacred python, and the whole subplot of the church and the village         Ikemefuna as a secondary character, his killing showcases Okonkwo’s devotion to his culture; he puts his personal feelings aside. Also, his killing puts a strain on Okonkwo’s and Nwoye’s relationship. Furthermore, Ikemefuna, an innocent in the conflict, is killed for a crime he had no part in. This showcases the harsher side of Ibo culture         Ekwefi and her daughter Ezinma: their subplot, involving the idea of Ogbanje children. This subplot showcases yet another aspect of Ibo culture and religion. Various ideas on

           Taking the cultural context of Things Fall Apart into account, there are a few reasons for why Achebe would characterise Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype. The character of Okonkwo could be an allegory for the Ibo people as a whole, for example, since throughout the story we see various parallels between Okonkwo’s situation and the situation of the Ibo people and culture. In Part One of the book, both Okonkwo and the Ibo people are well established; Okonkwo has wealth, family, and stability, and the Ibo society is functioning as it has been in the years before. However, in Part Two, we see this begin to unravel, as Okonkwo is exiled, and the colonisers begin to arrive, introducing Christianity, slaughtering a village; bringing great change, and shaking up the cultural stability. At the end of Part Three, we see the full breakdown of both Okonkwo and the old Ibo culture. Okonkwo, of course, kills a court messenger, and then kills himself when his fellow Ibo won’t join

Note: Written from a non-Ibo person perspective, however the person has knowledge of what the Ibo culture is and what their achievements are and is speaking on behalf of it at the Royal Colonial Institute’s annual dinner. Set in the Late Victorian era, as the assignment suggests. Words in-between this: [ ], are explanations of phrases, and would not be said in the actual speech.             Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal Colonial Institute. As you all know, this is a time of great change in this world. In the span of 100 years we’ve gone from walking on foot and horseback, to being able to get to Edinburgh from London in only 8½ hours whilst sitting, in relative comfort. Despite losing America a century ago, the British Empire has grown immensely since then, acquiring massive territories in Africa. Truly, the Sun never sets on the British Empire. But despite your dominance and hegemony over the world, the human cost of the colonies that form your overseas empire has be

             Personally, for me, the most meaningful takeaway was the portrayal of Africans in general, on the world stage up to that time. European writers had mostly characterised Africans as being ‘savages’ and often portrayed Europeans as a ‘civilising’ force. Most notably as an example, is Joseph Konrad’s “Heart of Darkness”, which is described as racist, according to Achebe, in an essay he wrote. After learning more about the context of "Things Fall Apart", it seems to have gotten more weight. It’s not just a look back into the past, but rather some of the first steps to getting back a culture, and taking charge of the way that culture is presented. “ Even after the slave trade was abolished, in the nineteenth century, something like this literature continued, to serve the new imperialistic needs of Europe in relation to Africa.” (note that ‘this literature’ refers to works such as “Heart of Darkness”). What this quote means, is that there seems to have been this

               Extract from We Shall Fight on the Beaches- Winston Churchill [1] We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against British subjects who may become a danger or a nuisance should the war be transported to the United Kingdom. I know there are a great many people affected by the orders which we have made who are the passionate enemies of Nazi Germany. I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do. If parachute landings were attempted and fierce fighting attendant upon them followed, these unfortunate people would be far better out of the way, for their own sakes as well as for ours. There is, however, another class, for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us the powers to put down Fifth Column activities with a strong hand, and

Act 3 Scene 3 SICINIUS For that he has,                                                       1 As much as in him lies, from time to time Envied against the people, seeking means To pluck away their power, as now at last Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers                       5 That do distribute it; in the name o' the people And in the power of us the tribunes, we, Even from this instant, banish him our city, In peril of precipitation From off the rock Tarpeian never more                       10 To enter our Rome gates: i' the people's name, I say it shall be so. Citizens It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away: He's banish'd, and it shall be so. COMINIUS Hear me, my masters, and my common friends,--   15 SICINIUS He's sentenced; no more hearing. COMINIUS Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show for Rome Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country&#

Shakespeare develops the theme of power in the play, mainly with the characters of Coriolanus, Volumnia, Aufidius, Menenius, and the Tribunes as representative of different forms of power. The titular character, Coriolanus, is a man from an older form of power, the absolute kind, where rulers did not have to answer to the commoners. He approaches politics the same way he approaches military matters: speaks his mind/heart (i.e. insulting the commoners, but it’s what he genuinely thinks of them), being true to himself, and insulting those he regards as enemies or against Rome (in battle this is the Volsces, but he believes that giving the plebeians a voice is a bad idea). In military, he is successful, because military power is absolute, obey or die type of deal, at least in that time; however, politics requires a surgical approach, and careful consideration of what to say, which the other characters mentioned can do better. Menenius acts as a foil to Coriolanus’ skills, because while h

               One of  Act one’s main purposes, in terms of the characterisation of Coriolanus is to showcase the aspects of Coriolanus’ personality and the context that it brings up. Shakespeare portrays Coriolanus as a decisive and effective battlefield commander in the battle scenes, by having Coriolanus give rising and encouraging speeches, “Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof [strong] than shields” -Act 1 Scene 4, lines 33-34 and in lines 58, where Coriolanus calls on his men to follow him. The fact that Coriolanus is able to capture Corioles and hold his own against Aufidius is contextual proof of his skill as both soldier and commander. Shakespeare also details both the inner and physical strength of Coriolanus, through quotes such as: “The blood I drop is rather physical Than dangerous to me.” -Act 1 Scene 5, lines 20-21 and “…why cease you till you are so?” (context is Coriolanus is asking if they have captured the area yet) Act 1 scene 6

2. “I imagine them hearing spoken English as the oppressor’s language, yet I imagine them also realizing that this language would need to be possessed, taken, claimed as a space of resistance. I imagine that the moment they realized the oppressor’s language, seized and spoken by the tongues of the colonized, could be a space of bonding was joyous.” The text I’m analysing through the selected Bell Hooks’ quotation is in an academic paper-style format, on the topic of “Variation and Change in English” http://eprints.aston.ac.uk/439/1/studying_language_2a.pdf Pages 3-4, Section 1.2.2: “1.2.2 The Ebonics Debate  In December 1996 the Oakland School District Board in the American State of California passed a resolution which gave official recognition to Ebonics, a separate language and distinct from English. Ebonics is a compound word made up of from the two words ‘Ebony’ meaning black and ‘phonics’ meaning sound, As a consequence, schools in the Oakland District were requ

In class we had to do a podcast about an endangered language. My group, Lingo-radio, featuring Azim, Seo Jung, and myself, did a podcast on Romansch, one of the four official languages of Switzerland. We went for a conversational/natural type of podcast, and based our dialogue on bullet-points, rather than a strict script. Here is the file:

Percentage of people who said they could speak Irish (Gaelic or Irish Gaelic), in 2011             As you many know, Ireland was under the rule of Britain for centuries, only gaining independence in the early 20 th century. However, by then Irish (also known as Gaelic, or Irish Gaelic) had declined in usage, with only 15% percent speaking it by the time they gained their independence. Even today, Irish as a language is still less commonly used than English, despite the Irish government making large efforts to promote its usage, such as, historically, requiring those who worked in the civil service, such as postal workers, tax collectors, and more (this was later changed). The history between Ireland and the UK has been quite tense, with the centuries of English and British rule, with them discouraging the usage of Irish, and the whole situation with independence and the status of Northern Ireland.                         Nowadays, there seems to be much more reduced animosity