Jamie Carney
English Composition I Sabintino Magnini So This is Christmas My Christmases as a child goes as follows; As we turn onto the retired community of twin homes we see Babcia and Pop-pop standing on the sidewalk in front of their house. Before we even make it to the driveway my younger brother and I’s grandparents come up to the side window. “Merry Christmas Carney family!” They shout, and continue to sing “We wish you a merry Christmas” completely off key. My father tries and fails to temporarily shoo them off as we try go to park in the driveway. The old timers continue to ramble on as they usher us out of the car and into their large twin home that would make the pope shed a tear. In the foyer alone was crosses, figurines, paintings, quotes, a decorative rug featuring saints and angels. As we are enveloped by the much needed warmth from the winter air some Frank Sinatra Christmas tune can be heard from the dining room. We are greeted a second time with enough hugs and kisses to kill a horse followed by more singing and rambling. All the while one of the three the cuckoo clocks go off on the wall beside the entrance, The perfect symbol for my grandparents crazy character. Despite my grandparents house being where the majority of our Christmas was spent, it was just one of the stops we made on Christmas. My brother and I were always spoiled on this holiday as we essentially had four Christmases: On Christmas eve we went to our Aunt's Christmas party and got a present, on Christmas morning we woke up at our moms and opened our presents. After having our fill of the presents from our mother and grandmother we were off to our dads to receive more, and finally we were off to Babcia's house to receive even more presents from them. Obviously, one can already see why this is my favorite holiday. Still, I did not have a metric crap ton of presents. My father and grandparents were sensible enough though to split our presents between them; One big present from our father (not including candy and stocking stuffers), and two or three small presents from Babcia and Pop pop. I loved sitting under that freaky white tree and opening gifts while my family watched. I specifically remember one year where Babcia and Pop-pop gave me what was probably my favorite Christmas presents ever. One time I remember I found a round gift haphazardly wrapped in red foil under the albino tree with my name on it. At first I thought it was a soccer ball or something of that nature, however upon further inspection I found there was a large round hole at the top. If memory serves, Inside were about one hundred mini medieval soldiers. Fifty of the soldiers wore black and the other fifty wore red. There was a swordsman, a guy on a horse with a spear, archers, a soldier holding a mace catapults two kings and two towers-- All perfect victims for my red toy dragon sitting at home; the villains always prevailed in my games as a child. For the first time since I became a tom-boy, I almost shrieked. My brother and I played until our three cousins arrived and moved the operation to down to the basement where the playroom was located. Jojo was the oldest and really mature for her young age, however that opinion was only held by me. The second youngest is and most rambunctious was Malery. She was three or four years younger than her sister and admittedly could have used a riddlin once and awhile. Last but not least was Stephen, the two year old I had only ever seen twice. Though we only saw each other once a year, there was no awkwardness between us and we immediately began playing and talking as if we saw each other everyday. There wasn't much for us to do so we mostly played with legos, dominos, and played role playing games. Meanwhile the adults talked over coffee and prepared dinner. Despite all the fun we had as children in our own little romper room, dinner was undeniably the main event. The time where the adult and children's party merged together to enjoy the remainder of the holiday as a family. Every year a buffet fit for a king lay on the long dining room table. Turkey, pork, steak, and Bobcia’s famous mash potatoes, are simply a few of the items made for the Carney and Bevelacqua families to enjoy. Considering that there were ten people however, Babcia and pop-pop certainly made sure that everyone had their fill. We all talked and while we stuffed our faces with food. Personally, the desert that followed was always my favorite. The final course was a Christmas birthday cake . My Bobica and Pop pop are very religious people, so in order to keep Christ in Christmas, they made him a cake. Most years it was a round Vanilla cake with butterscotch icing and only occasionally was it chocolate with Vanilla icing. Each year, came with a different design or look making the words “Happy Birthday Jesus” on the top of the cake the only consistency. Us children were able to have two pieces each since the adults seldom had any cake. While enjoying my cake and cups of coffee I had the privilege of listening to my grandparents overly cheesy fart jokes and stories. However they also gave us some insightful words and meaningful chats, at least what I thought was meaningful at that age, looking back on it now it seems like random old timer rants but honestly they could have said literally anything and I would have thought it was the most intelligent thing I had ever heard. something our parents seldom did with us. After the holy cake we were to spend the rest of the evening listening to Pop -pop play the piano. It was at this time that Mallory and Jojo would dance and sing along with the music. Being small children most of their dancing was playful and silly causing the room to erupt in laughter. My father soon joined in on the acoustic guitar if not finding a way to take over completely. It would take long though for Pop-pop to grab a guitar himself and have a musical battle. When the music and dancing stopped we prepared to make our exit with the usual hugs and kisses goodbye our Grandparents could not let us leave without giving us one of their signature marble-balls. Each year they had a different marble-like design with different sizes. It seemed a little strange to have another gift after presents have already been revealed or why they had so many to hand to us in the first place. Yet every time we came over the family received these interesting little marbles of unknown origin. We ushered out the door with enough hugs and kisses to choke a horse. Our loving grandparents tredge out into the cold with us and walk us to our car they continue to talk to us as we pull our and scream goodbye as we drive way. As we were walking out the door, the cuckoo clock sung on the wall. Another quirky yet lovable Christmas evening with Babcia and Pop-pop. About eight years ago, My grandparents moved to from there home of Pennsylvania to Florida. Though they are not deceased it is more than likely that I won't see them in person again, and I certainly will never spend another holiday with them again. My insane father has had a lifetime hate for them, despite all the holidays and good times we had there, that I am sure the poor souls aren't even aware of. We went down to visit them once and my father assured my brother and I that we will never visit again. The only one who was miserable the entire time was my father and honestly there was no reason for it. Of course this also means I won't be seeing my cousins anytime soon, in fact they don't contact our grandparents anymore; they simply disappeared into obscurity. I do not blame them for moving. Due to Bobcia’s arthritis she could not stay in the cold and changing climate and still be able to move. However Babcia and Pop were an influence on our lives; They helped raise us after my mother and father got divorced and they helped my father in financial hardship. They came over at least once a month bearing a box of knew Dr. Seuss, coloring books, and good happiness into a gloomy home. Though the holidays were when I spent the most time with them this hiraeth is not about the holidays but about the family that I grew up with. Not a day goes by that I don't miss them. Despite the odds, I hope to be able to see them once more in my lifetime.
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Jamie Carney
English Composition I Sabatino Magnini 9:35 4/27/17 A student's way of learning is based heavily on their mindset. Two popular mindsets most students have when facing education is a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that you can train your brain the way to can train your muscles, through hard work and effort you can develope more intelligence. A fixed mindset is the exact opposite of that, people with this mindset believe that intelligence is a trait that cannot be changed no matter how hard you work or try to learn. You are either have it or you do not. However a growth mindset has been scientifically proven to lead to academic success for many, myself included. As someone who has had both a fixed and a growth mindset in my life I can personally attest to this claim and know which one got me good grades at the end of high school. Let me explain. The ideologies of a growth mindset has become increasingly popular among teachers, parents, and students alike and this is not without reason. has been proven that students with a growth mindset are more likely to succeed with a growth mindset than a fixed one. In fact, those who have developed a fixed mindset are almost bound to fail. In a comparison between these opposed mindsets the growth vs. fixed mindset on youtube by @visalus explains the supportive ideologies of a growth mindset and the damaging ideologies of a fixed mindset. A growth mind set While those with a fixed mindset embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as a path to mastery, learn from criticism, learn from the success of others, and as a result, reach higher levels of achievement. While a fixed mindset avoids challenges, gives up when set back, see effort as fruitless or even damaging, ignore useful feedback, feels threatened from the success of others and results in the underachievement of their capabilities.(0:10) Scientific evidence supports these statements. In a TED talk hosted by Stanford University psychology professor Carol Dweck, the founder of these two mindsets, recalls a study she did on how children cope with difficulty; “ From their more fixed mindset perspective…after a failure, they looked for someone who did worse than they did so they could feel really good about themselves. And in study after study, they have run from difficulty. Scientists measured the electrical activity from the brains students confronted an error. On the left, you see the fixed-mindset students. There's hardly any activity. They run from the error. They don't engage with it. But on the right, you have the students with the growth mindset, the idea that abilities can be developed. They engage deeply. Their brain is on fire.” (Carol Dweck, TED talk, 1:58). This proves that the main goals of the fixed student is to only look smart for others rather than be smart for themselves. When faced with error and difficulty they panic and do not engage, causing less electrical activity. The electrical activity in students who engaged in thought instead of running away they engage their critical thinking to overcome the challenge to improve. (Dweck) I personally have had to overcome my own challenges to succeed. In high school, I believed that if I did not do well I was a complete failure. It only took a few C’s on some of my assignments for class for me to shut down completely. I figured if wasn't smart enough to do the work in the first place my grade will suffer whether I do the assignment or not so why go through the trouble? Eventually my mind became set on the idea that I was stupid so that I did a half-ass job on everything, didn't hand in certain assignments and honestly didn't give one single frick about school. This all changed when in my junior and senior year I realized I needed to get good grades to get a good job. I also wanted to feel good about myself and, despite my negative image of myself, felt that if I actually tried my best on everything I could succeed. So I decided to test this theory. I rewired my brain to say “ok I'm not stupid, I just don't try” I worked hard I studied for every test, used my time wisely, handed in every assignment, and put my all into everything I did. My hard work paid off and for my final to years of high school I remained in the A and B range. In my final year of highschool I graduated with honor roll. Without noticing, I was actually doing something called neuroplasticity, which literally means the rewiring of your brain. In the youtube video “Neuroplasticity” by sentis, The narrator explains how our brains are adaptable. Our brains are filled with millions of pathways that line up when we feel think or do something. Roads well traveled consist of our habits, and the more the pathway is used the more accessible and easier it is for our brains to connect with. When we learn or think about something differently, our brain creates a new pathway. The more we use this new way of thinking or doing, the stronger the pathway becomes making it more accessible and making the old way of thinking less accessible. (0:37) Meaning that I did not lack the intelligence to complete my work, I lacked the confidence and the drive. I never asked questions, I never studied, and avoided homework all because I was fixed to believe that I simply wasn't smart enough to do well. To create a new pathway, I seeked out tutoring, guidance from my teachers and family, and created new ways of studying. By actually putting the effort into my work I lost connection with the old pathway and made a new one. (sentis) While I was able to change my academic outcome by converting to a growth mindset, there are a number of other factors that could have affected my resolve and may very well affect others.The educational system and also have a roll. Educators control the curriculum, how it is taught, how students are treated and create the overall learning environment. While many schools base their teaching methods off of a growth mindset, many teachers misuse its principals. It is all easy to have the students take the blame for their performance and not the educators or parents themselves. In the perils of a growth mindset by book writer Alfie Kohn, he explains the flaws of the educational system; “ the problem with sweeping, generic claims about the power of attitudes or beliefs isn’t just a risk of overstating the benefits but also a tendency to divert attention from the nature of the tasks themselves:...Dweck is a research psychologist, not an educator, so her inattention to the particulars of classroom assignments is understandable. Unfortunately, even some people who are educators would rather convince students they need to adopt a more positive attitude than address the quality of the curriculum (what the students are being taught) or the pedagogy (how they’re being taught it).... she has never criticized a fix-the-kid, ignore-the-structure mentality or raised concerns about the “bunch o’ facts” traditionalism in schools…. It isn’t entirely coincidental that someone who is basically telling us that attitudes matter more than structures, or that persistence is a good in itself, has also bought into a conservative social critique. But why have so many educators who don’t share that sensibility endorsed a focus on mindset (or grit)...it’s a willingness to go beyond individual attitudes, to realize that no mindset is a magic elixir that can dissolve the toxicity of structural arrangements. Until those arrangements have been changed, mindset will get you only so far.” (Khon) I have to say I agree with about eighty percent of this argument. In the end teachers are the ones who decide what is being taught, how assignments are graded, and what should be expected of the student. They use this power to control students to blame them for their faulty performance instead of helping them when they struggle. It is surely a fine way to take the focus off the structural system of school and put all the blame on the student. He made a makes a great point, our system is indeed flawed in some ways. However many of his claims against Dweck are a misinterpretations of a growth mindset that Dweck points out herself. The article Teachers, Parents Often Misuse Growth Mindset Research, Carol Dweck Says, "You can't just declare that you have a growth mindset...Growth mindset is hard. Many educators are trying to skip the journey." Dweck cited a recent Stanford Ph.D. thesis by Kathy Liu Sun, now a professor at Santa Clara University, which found that students continued to have fixed-mindset thoughts in math class when their teachers mouthed growth mindset phrases but didn't change their teaching practices.” (Dweck) Back to Kohn's article, one of the biggest flaws in his argument is he never comes up with a resolution. He whines about the system and only points out what's wrong with at Dweck's theory... He gives us no means to cope with these flaws in the educational system. Complaining will only get you so far though. we can complain and whine all we want to but it will never have a resolve. So in the meantime while Khon waits, what is the student to do while they are waiting for the system to fix itself? Students still need to succeed regardless of a faulty system and Carol Dweck is the only one giving them a possible path to success. The growth mindset is all about learning to gain results, applying effort, hard work and learning will allow students to succeed. It may not be a magic elixir, But at least Dweck can realize the problem and know how to fix it. Clearly a growth and a fixed mindset are the yin and yang of mindsets; A growth mindset is the belief that through hard work and effort you can develope more intelligence. And fixed mindsets believe that intelligence is a trait that cannot be changed no matter how hard you work or try to learn. You are either have it with or you do not. However the growth mind set has been scientifically proven to lead to academic success for many, including myself. As someone who has had both a fixed and a growth mindset in my life I can attest to this claim and know which one helped me be the student that I am today. I hope this paper proves that through hard work, critical thinking, and effort that any level of intelligence is achievable. Works Cited https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/11/23/teachers-parents-often-misuse-growth-mindset-research-carol-dweck-says https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELpfYCZa87g https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en http://www.salon.com/2015/08/16/the_education_fad_thats_hurting_our_kids_what_you_need_to_know_about_growth_mindset_theory_and_the_harmful_lessons_it_imparts/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpkjT9m2Oo
-- Subgenre: Memoir- this is the most prominent theme because the episode is a documentary about Mallmann’s life. He tells the audience his personal experiences and how they shaped him into the man he is today. -- Primary Purpose: To Entertain- This episode more than meets this purpose. The best example of this is at the end of the documentary when Mallmann was standing at the edge of the fire alone with his back to the camera staring into the mountain side. This was symbolic of his nomadic lifestyle.
Jamie Carney
Sabintino Magnini English Composition I Due: Draft 1 due by 11:59pm on 3/23 I See Malcolm Crowe The 1999 film The Sixth Sense produced and written by M. Night Shyamalan follows a revered and troubled social worker in his endeavor to help an equally troubled child. After receiving an award for his outstanding psychiatric work with children, Dr. Malcolm Crowe Finds Vincent Grey, a former patient suffering from hallucinations, in his bathroom and accuses the doctor of failing him before pointing the gun at himself and committing suicide. A year later, he encounters nine year old Cole Sear, his newest patient with similar issues to Vincent Dr Malcolm sees Cole as redemption for his failure; a second chance to save the patient he could not before. However, it is not mere hallucinations causing Cole's unusual behavior, but something much darker. Crowe comes to realize a terrifying truth about the boy; He can see dead people. In the end, it turns out in a twist ending that Dr. Crow is one of these dead people and is unaware until the end of the film. It sent shock waves through audiences as Crowe played his role as a seemingly living character and was completely unexpected. Or was it? I believe Cole knew Malcolm was dead. There are many events that go unnoticed and overlooked by the first time viewer that are obvious to an experienced one. Some specific scenes that prove this are The church scene, the hospital scene, and when Dr Malcolm tells Cole he can no longer help. Cole’s and Crowe's first encounter is rather strange. At 11:34 in The Sixth Sense, we see Dr Malcolm sitting on a bench across from Cole’s school. When malcolm looks down cole has gone of the screen and is quickly walking away, he looks at malcolm and begins to run as if he is afraid of him. Dr. malcolm then proceeds to chase him to the church where they talk for the first time. Cole, obviously afraid of the doctor, hides behind the pews and puts his soilders up as if to protect him. Cole very obviously fears malcolm in this scene. Scared to see a ghost when he walked out from school, he speed walks at the sight of him and begins to run when he chases him. Of course, anyone would be suspicious of a tall man in a trench coat pursuing them, however, the fact that Cole is so quick to leave before Malcom even gets up proves that there is another reason behind his fear. When Malcolm was peacefully sitting on that bench, there was no reason for Cole to be afraid. This is explained when the chase ends at the church, where we learn later that being in an enclosed area shrouded in religious items is his personal safe haven from the bad spirits, which is why he ran there the when Crowe was chasing him. Cole: “D...De profundis clamo ad te domine. It's called "Latin." Malcom: “All your soldiers speak Latin?” Cole: “No……. Are you a good doctor?” Malcolm: “Well, I used to be. I won an award once from the mayor…” Cole: “I'm gonna see you again, right?” Malcom: “ If that's okay with you.” (13:10 - 14:50 The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan). Cole: “Tell me the story about why you're sad.” Malcolm: “You think I'm sad? What makes you think that?” Cole: “Your eyes told me.” Malcolm “Once upon a time, there was this person named Malcolm.He worked with children.He loved it. He loved it more than anything else.And then one night,he found out that...he made a mistake with one of them. He couldn't help that one.And he can't stop thinking about it. He can't forget. Ever since then, things have been different. He's not the same person that he used to be. And his wife...doesn't like the person that he's become. They barely speak anymore. They're like strangers..” Cole: “ I am ready to tell you my secret” (48:00 The Sixth Sense M. Night Shyamalan) It is at this moment that roles in Crowes and Cole's relationship switch-- Cole beings to help Malcolm. When Crow confesses this Cole immediately this scene cole realizes that Crow is looking for resolution through being his doctor. Cole knows that the only way Malcolm can move on is if he can through helping him and he knows the only way he can do that is by telling him that he can see dead people. Despite this evidence, there are some that argue against this theory: and that is completely understandable. It is never openly said in the film that Cole knows Dr Malcolm is dead and it is not detectable when watching the film for the first time. In complete honesty, I didn't buy this at all when I first saw the movie. Until I saw it a second time of course. Looking back at the movie knowing that Crowe is a ghost and recognizing cues that there is a spirit in the scene, you notice some things you didn't before. Take one of my previous examples, When Cole runs into the church when Malcolm chased him. We know that now that cole ran into the church to get away from Malcolm because we find out later that he hides behind religious icons and symbols for protection. Another scene that requires a prior viewing of the film to really understand is the scene in which Crowe tells Cole he can no longer be his doctor. The following piece of Dialogue is interesting in that it proves just how much Cole is willing to help Malcolm. Malcolm: “ I'm going to transfer you. I know two psychologists.” Cole “Don't fail me. Don't give up. You're the only one who can help me, I know it. Malcolm: “I can't help you. You...Someone else can help you.” Cole: “You believe me, right? Dr. Crowe, you believe my secret, right?” Malcolm: “I don't know how to answer that Cole.” Cole: “How can you help me...if you don't believe me? Some magic's real” As explained before, Cole realizes that the only way to help Malcolm is that he stays Crowes patient, which is why he begs him to be his doctor. Cole need to get him to believe him or else he cannot help cole-- nor can cole help the doctor. Without knowing that in the end both characters ended up saving each other, there is no possible way to understand this argument. Cole knew Malcolm was dead. There are many events that go unnoticed and overlooked by the first time viewer that are obvious to an experienced one. Some specific scenes that prove this are The church scene, the hospital scene, and when Dr Malcolm tells Cole he can no longer help. These are only a few scenes that convey that Cole knew a long that Malcolm is a ghost. I encourage the reader to do a close inspection of the movie and these particular scenes and look at the way Cole acts towards Crowe throughout the movie.
Why does Cole suddenly decide to help the spirits that tormented him? Did the spirits really ever carry any ill will towards him? What caused The doctor to believe Coles secret? Why does he decide to help Cole afterwards? Why didnt cole realize that Malcolm was a ghost? Did he realize at the end of the film without openly saying it and if so, what social cues did Cole portray to lead you to believe this? Were there any specific scenes in the movie that indicated that Crowe was a spirit before the ending? Explore scenes where he was talking to his wife and other scenes where he was seemed to interact with people other than cole. (his wife's boyfriend, cole's mom in the beginning etc.) Who benefited more from the relationship? Dr. Crowe or malcolm? Why?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167404/
The 1999 film The Sixth Sense produced by M. Night Shyamalan follows a revered and troubled social worker in his endeavor to help an equally troubled child. After receiving an award for his outstanding psychiatric work with children, Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) Finds Vincent grey, a former patient suffering from hallucinations, in his bathroom and accuses the doctor of failing him before pointing the gun at himself and committing suicide. A year later, he encounters nine year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), his newest patient with similar issues to Vincent Dr Malcolm sees Cole as redemption for his failure; a second chance to save the patient he could not before. However, it is not mere hallucinations causing Cole's unusual behavior, but something much darker. Crowe comes to realize a terrifying truth about the boy; He can see the dead. I personally enjoyed the film. The twist ending caught me completely off guard and changed my view of the entire movie. Quotes: (all of the following quotes were taken from this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167404/quotes ) Cole: Tell me the story about why you're sad. Malcolm Crowe: You think I'm sad? [Cole nods] Malcolm Crowe: What makes you think that? Cole Sear: Your eyes told me. Once upon a time there was this person named Malcolm. He worked with children. He loved it. He loved it more than anything else. And then one night, he found out that he made a mistake with one of them. He couldn't help that one. And he can't stop thinking about it, he can't forget. Ever since then, things have been different. He's not the same person that he used to be. And his wife doesn't like the person that he's become. They barely speak anymore, they're like strangers. And then one day Malcolm meets this wonderful little boy, a really cool little boy. Reminds him a lot of the other one. And Malcolm decides to try and help this new boy. 'Cause he feels that if he can help this new boy, it would be like helping that other one too.” Cole Sear: How does the story end? Malcolm Crowe: I don't know. Malcolm: I think I can go now. Just needed to do a couple of things. I needed to help someone; I think I did. And I needed to tell you something: You were never second, ever. I love you. You sleep now. Everything will be different in the morning.” Anna Crowe: [in her sleep] “Good night, Malcolm…” Malcolm Crowe: “Goodnight, sweetheart.” |
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