Rhiannon Pinson

This week I chose Growth Mindset challenge 3. One post that stood out to me, said: "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done" I've always believed that in order to grow you have to step out of your comfort zone in order to learn something new.  This was a reminder of that.  Another posts talked about just taking advantage of any opportunity that comes along to test yourself and potentially find new interests or ideas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Scott_Fitzgerald https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beautiful_and_Damned https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Side_of_Paradise https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Scribner%27s_Sons

I was getting back on track to where I wanted to be and ended up sick this whole week which set me behind.  I am confident that by the end of the semester I will be where I want to be.  Hoping to use Spring Break to take a breath and catch up/get ahead now that midterms are over.

I was sick this whole week so it was a little rough for me.  I fell behind with readings and blog posts but will use the time over spring break to get back on track. 

9)  The biggest aspect outside of school where I apply growth Mindset concepts is at work. Without continually going outside of my comfort zone to learn new things, I would become stagnant which isn’t not something I want to do. Without continuing to further my own knowledge, I would not be able to teach others anything new. Having a plan and executing it to the best of my abilities helps me stay focused on what I’m trying to accomplish and why.

     I still find navigating through all the different sites a little frustrating because different pieces of information are all in different places. A lot of the bigger projects or assignments don’t sync with Canvas and show on the “to-do” list so it takes some extra work to keep everything organized and finish on time. Having the extra credit available is helpful.  English has always been my strongest subject yet I seem to be struggling with this subject the most this semester.      Just staying organized will help with the rest of the semester as well as taking advantage of any and all extra credit available to make up for missing assignments or missed opportunities.

This week was a rough week for me with several large assignments due for other classes, just coming back from vacation and an extraordinarily busy week at work. Trying not to get overwhelmed and to just keep going.

Getting back on track. Have several essays to work on this week so I’m trying to get some of the smaller tasks, readings and extra credit pieces done earlier in the week to allow for more time to work on the essays when we get back from vacation this weekend.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannery_Row_(novel) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannery_Row_(film) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Thursday

Dreams and Awakenings Carmel “el puerto perdido” the lost coast by Sebastian Vizcaino 1603 Robinson Jeffers-beginning of California literature “Frank Norris saw the wheat and the octopus as complex metaphors for the struggles transforming California into a Darwinian new world” 394 “Saw physical California and he geographic Wedt as the last site for American dreams of eternal renewal and progress” 394 As early as the Civil War Northern and Southern California has become opposites; northern primarily Democratic, pro labor, and Catholic, Southern mostly Republican and pro business, and Protestant  Los Angelas considered by some to be fake and full of people looking to make quick money or perfect for cults  Socially and economically devastated by The Great Depression until the mobilization of WWII John Steinbeck became an international figure for The Graoes of Wrath also won him a Nobel peace prize 25 years later

 How did the reading go for you this week? What struck you the most in this week's reading? Were there ideas you struggled with?     Readings this week were interesting. I remember reading The Wizard of Oz to my daughter when she was younger and we both love Wicked now so reading about Baum was fun. I enjoyed reading about Langston Hughes as well. I had heard the name before but didn’t know anything about him.    Where did you do your best writing this week — in this class? In another class?  Have you discovered some good strategies for helping yourself focus on writing for this class?    My favorite writing this week was actually for my Theatre class regarding the connection of hip hop and Shakespeare.  Did you read something excellent written by someone else in the class? What made it stand out to you?       I read several posts from classmates this week and commented on several either for project plan...

L Frank Baum 1856-1919 1906 published 6 books including the Wizard of Oz launched unsuccessful film company, failed in 1915 was never able to move past being the creator of Dorothy and Oz still considered the first American fairy tale  "I've always been told it's foolish to borrow trouble" 353 Langston Hughes 1902-1967 Harlem renaissance "The Weary Blues" one of the most notable writers in 20th century Wrote "Hollywood Mammy" after first African American (Hattie McDaniel) won an academy award-community angered that it was for a stereotypical role brings awareness to her playing a role as an ignorant woman playing into common stereotypes when in her off time she reads Hemingway and others, is educated etc. and well versed Critiques what some are willing to do for money despite how it may hurt their community or their call for equal rights and representation

This week I had 2 exams and 2 essays due in other classes so I primarily focused on those and fit in smaller projects around them.  Working full time on top of the 5 classes I'm taking is getting somewhat overwhelming so I'm trying to just take it all in stride and focus on one thing at a time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Atherton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherton_House https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San_Francisco_earthquake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_mining

Gertrude Atherton 1857-1948 Wrote 50 books between 1888 and 1946 18 volume chronicle of Northern California life from 1840 to WWII best works were novels hat captured privileged and middle class life in SF in 1890-1910 San Francisco "a fool's paradise' The Californians ch 6 "It was the first time she had seen poverty; she had barely heard of its existence; it had never occurred to her that great romanticists condescended to borrow from life."  314 "Even in that awful moment, it was her father she feared, not the law" 315 "The sergeant recognized the great I AM of the American maiden; he also recognized her social altitude." "She hated her father and she hated life with an intensity which added to her misery, and she decided that she had made her last confession to any one but the priest, who always forgave her," 320 Edith Maud Eaton "Sui Sin Far" 1865-1914 1890-1914 articles and stories in national magazi...

For this week's Growth Mindset Theory challenge, I chose to pick a quote, motto or mantra. This quote is from one of my favorite shows and reminds us to live every day to the fullest, seize our moments and choose our own destiny without allowing our past or fears to stand in our way.

Rhiannon Pinson English 205 March 10, 2019 Project 1 Submission In reading “The Squatter and the Don” we get a first-hand look at history through the eyes of someone experiencing the injustices of racism and broken promises from the United States.   Through her experience and writing, we can better learn from the mistakes in our past and better ourselves for the future.                 At the age of 16, Maria and her mother are moved to Monterey, California after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1869.   When this treaty was signed, all citizens were given the option for citizenship to the United States of to Mexico.   Those who chose the United States were moved farther North to Monterey and its surrounding areas.   Maria and her mother were some of the 480 Baja Californians that were relocated as a condition of this Treaty.   The Treaty guaranteed all citizens a fair re...

Wikipedia Trail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Guadalupe_Hidalgo Signed February 2, 1848 property rights of Mexican citizens not honored https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_War_of_Independence:  Ended the rule of Spain in 1821  September 16 is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry_of_Dolores Cry of Delores, Catholic priest rang the bell at his church as a "call to arms", this sparked the war that led to Mexican Independence Every year, on the eve of this Independence celebration, the President of Mexico rings this same bell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Independence_of_the_Mexican_Empire Document that declared the Mexican empire was independent from the Spanish empire Three copies were made, one was destroyed in a fire in 1909, the other two are currently in museums in Mexico 

How did the reading go for you this week? What struck you the most in this week's reading? Were there ideas you struggled with?       I enjoyed reading the piece written by John Muir.  I grew up in Martinez so his house and a park he discovered and named was never far away.  I had always known how much he enjoyed traveling and discovering natural masterpieces but had yet to read any of his written work around his experiences.     Where did you do your best writing this week — in this class? In another class?  Have you discovered some good strategies for helping yourself focus on writing for this class?      The best thing to do in order to keep up in this class I believe is to get ahead.  Since the information is available early, it only makes sense not to wait until the last minute including some of the extra credit pieces that can be completed during the week.      Did you read something excellent w...

Every day we are faced with challenges, big and small.  It is how we face these challenges that ultimately decides who we are.

This week I planned out my assignments a little more to coincide with exams and large projects in other classes. I wanted to make sure I gave myself enough time to take advantage of available extra credit as well to help catch up on a few previous missing assignments. Despite some technical issues this week, everything is on track, all assignments completed and up to date on announcements.

     Josiah Royce wrote about the early settlements of California and the atmosphere within the built up cities. He speaks of the structure of businesses and working men within these cities. What drives them, their vices, their motivations and their downfalls. We get a glimpse into the lives of early California settlers and the San Francisco area before it became the area we know and love today.      John Muir writes more about the landscapes and the beauty of untouched nature. Lands that have been previously undiscovered like Yosemite Valley. His many journeys throughout the country undoubtedly left their mark, but the Sierras also left their mark on him. He says the Sierras should be known as the “mountains of light.” He says that every rock in Yosemite seemed to glow. His connection to nature clearly drove him to continue exploring so that he may appreciate more of the lands untouched by men.      George Sterling also seemed connected wi...

John Muir 1838-1914 naturalist and conservationist, pioneer voice for wilderness preservation 1867 made famous journey from Indiana to Florida coast "A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf" (1916) 1892 cofounded the Sierra Club significant influence on US environmental policy "The Mountains of California" "The Yosemite From The Mountains of California: "Then it seemed to me the Sierra should be called not Nevada, or Snowy Range, but the Range of Light" (299) "Every rock seems to glow with life"(300) "The history of the last Sierra eruption is also preserved in the traditions of the Pitt River Indians.  They tel of a fearful time of darkness, when the sky was black with ashes and smoke that threatened every living thing with death, and that when at length the sun appeared once more it was red like blood' (304) George Sterling 1869-1926 "Beyond the Breakers"  significant force in "Seacoast of Bohemia...

Reading A, Week 6 Josiah Royce 1855-1916 Received PhD from Johns Hopkins University at 23  taught at UC Berkeley 1879-1882 Among the first historians in California to examine both national and state history from 1846-1856  exposed deceit and betrayal in the founding of California controversial a he suggested the betrayal of Californians revealed cultural weaknesses and threatened future development From California: A Study of American Character "In the strict sense, we Americans have seldom been conquerors; and early California shows us our nation in this somewhat rare character (279)." "The prejudices, the enmities, and the mistakes of that unhappy time bore rich fruit in the sequel, determining to a great extent the future relations of the new comers and the natives; and these relations in their turn determined, in no small degree, both the happiness and the moral welfare of the new comers themselves (280)." real motives and methods of an under...

How did the reading go for you this week? What struck you the most in this week's reading? Were there ideas you struggled with?       Readings went well for me this week.  I struggled with the reading regarding Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton only because the content I found to be incredibly frustrating and sad for those involved.  The "land commissions" established to determine land titles which essentially allowed rightfully owned land to be stolen was heartbreaking and a theme that we see repeated throughout history and continue to see today in some ways without the commissions. Where did you do your best writing this week — in this class? In another class?  Have you discovered some good strategies for helping yourself focus on writing for this class?     The best strategy I can use right now is to take advantage of my days off of work to do my readings and posts.  Allowing myself more time away from work is giving me more much needed s...

Falling behind but finally have a day off of work and am planning on using the time to catch up and get back on track.  I will be utilizing the option to do extra credit in the coming weeks to help make up for the pieces I am missing.