Transcript

J: across from the Christmas tree \/ yeah /\

B: no (.) from the bauble /\

J: yeah yeah ye:::ah /\ (.) but then you said go up/\

B: right \/ (1) kay \/ so then go four (.) thumb marks across \/ /

J: /yeah \/ but then/

B: /from the (.) from the bauble/

J: /yeah /\

B: and then four thumb marks/ up

J: /but that brings me to the Christmas/ tree /\

B: no it does not \/ no/ it doesn’t \/

J:/yes it does \/ /

B: /it gets me to the bottom of the Christmas tree \/

J: okay (.) fine /so just say the bottom

B: /okay/

J: /the bottom of the Christmas tree

 

 

This task was much harder than I expected, especially when trying to describe where each drawing was on the page and to describe exactly how I had drawn it. However, because of the way that Josie spoke back to me after I had given an instruction to get a further understanding and how we double checked with eachother to make sure the pictures were correct meant that they came out pretty accurate. Even though it was quite difficult to start off with, Josie managed to re-create a similar piece of paper as I had.

 

Back channel agreement was shown to be used quite regular throughout the transcript to show that we understood what was being told. There were times when describing the pictures whereabouts and appearance that I paused, this shows that I had to think about what I was saying in order to tell Josie the right thing. We both started to interupt and overlap eachother which could show that we got annoyed and frustrated that we couldn't see eachother.

Course Work - Opinion Article

Has the influence of today’s celebrities changed the way of society?

Are the celebrities to blame for the way that some teenagers feel that they must change the way that they are in order to fit into society?

Beth Thorne

The Guardian, Thursday 24 October 2013

Living in an era full of technology, we have more access to the media than ever before. But is all of this unlimited access to social networking sites, television programmes, magazines and many other media forms, brainwashing us all into what we think is what society wants us to be?

We are attacked by magazine covers shoving celebrity news in our faces every second of the day about their love lives and their drug and alcohol abuse, and if I’m completely honest with you I’d rather focus on my life (which is, at times, disastrous), rather than read about how celebrities can’t cope with the fame and the fortune and how it’s ruined what used to be their “perfect life” – when you perfectly know that they are loving every single second of the publicity and attention.

Is it just me, or are celebrities now-a-days getting more obsessed with sex, swearing and smoking? If you ask me, it’s the music business setting them all up to star spiralling out of control after their 21^st Birthday’s just like those of the past, *cough* Lindsay, Britney, Amanda, Paris *cough*. C’mon, who’ll be next then, Miley Cyrus? Who knows? Maybe it will be someone who isn’t in the public eye this time. It could be someone who looks up to one of these celebrities or maybe all of them and thinks its “cool” to take drugs and pose naked in photos and upload them to Twitter or Facebook. This actually brings me to the question, what are the effects of how celebrities act on the youth of today? 

Course Work - Travel Writing

When In Rome

Rome is a treasure trove of monuments and architecture with so much to take in and so many phenomenal views to gaze at while wandering through the city. While roaming through the ancient ruins, it’s incredible to imagine that this city was once at the centre of an enormous and highly cultured empire. With some of the most well-known and beautiful building constructions in the world – not forgetting the art, food, history and most of all, the culture – there  is no doubt that Rome will highly impress.

In the centre of Rome and at the end of the Aqua Virgo is where you’ll find the Fontana de Trevi, or in English, the Trevi Fountain. As Rudolph Wittkower once said, the historical monument was “late baroque classicism”, starring the stunning sculpture taking the spotlight and standing proud at the centre in the fountains façade, is the almighty sea God, Neptune, being pulled in a shell shaped chariot by two sea horses representing the changing nature of the sea as one shows the calmness while the other is showing fury. As well as Neptune, there are statues symbolising Abundance (on the left) and Salubrity (on the right), there is also Agrippa, the general who built the astounding aqueduct. No trip to Rome would be complete without tossing a coin over your shoulder; it’s said that this will bring good luck and a return to Rome. Visiting the fascinating landmark may just bring that magic to your trip.

Not only does the Italian Capital have the Trevi Fountain to offer, but other astonishing buildings that are a must see when in Rome, such as the colosseum, Castel Sant’ and what I think is the most impressive of Rome’s surviving buildings, the Pantheon, dating back to over 2000 years ago and sits in Piazza della Rotonda. Taking a stroll around the inside, it’s difficult to take your eyes off of the beautiful interior and structure of the dome making it hard to believe how long ago it was actually built. Still lined with the original Roman bronze, it creates the main source of light for the whole building adding amazement to the whole building as the earth turns and the light flows around the whole of the interior giving awareness of the magnificence and splendour of the entire architecture.

Bibliography

http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/trevi.htm

http://www.hoteldesartistes.com/rome-travel-guide/2012/06/ten-reasons-why-visit-rome/

http://www.insidersabroad.com/italy/blogs/tourist-blog/posts/a-guide-to-the-trevi-fountain-rome

http://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0703/bcover.html

http://www.rome.info/pantheon/

Technology Blog Article Opening

thegardian


TECHNOLOGY BLOG

 
Twitter: is it worth the tweet?

 
How could a 140-character update lead to the anti-social world we live in today?

 
Beth Thorne

theguardian.com, Monday 13 October 2013

 

With over 100 million active users, Twitter has become one of the biggest social networking sites in the world. It enables people to post or “tweet” their thoughts and actions at that very moment, as well as following various celebrities to keep up to date with the latest in their life styles.

Accessibility to the site may be the cause of why Twitter is so popular. Signing up is an extremely easy process where anyone can sign up and start “tweeting” immediately, as well as following anyone who’s tweets catch your eye. Unlike Facebook, where you would have to wait for your friend to accept your friend request to contact them and access their page, you can just click follow and be updated by their tweets immediately. Twitter apps have also made it even easier to view your friend’s tweets by making the site accessible via mobile phone.

An article by S Johnson from TIME magazine has stated, “Why does the world need this?” and how he doesn’t understand how “alerting [people] about [their] choice of breakfast cereal” is amusing. Many people would agree with this as if “50% of these 100 million users log in everyday” and are writing about their choice of breakfast that morning, it could get quite boring in years to come.

Travel Writing

When In Rome

Rome is a treasure trove of monuments and architecture making my first time visiting Rome extraordinary! There was just so much to take in and the views were phenomenal. Wandering through the ancient ruins (which was the initial reason for why I so desperately wanted to go there); it's incredible to imagine that this city was once at the centre of an enormous and highly cultured empire.

My favourite part of the whole trip would have had to be visiting the Trevi Fountain. I had always wanted to see it after seeing it feature in the film ‘Roman Holiday’ so when I heard I was going to Rome; I almost hit the roof with excitement. The sculptures of Greek Gods and Goddess’ are situated all around the fountain and are truly breathtaking, there’s no question for why this beautiful aqueduct, dating back to 19 BC, is remarkably famous. However, no trip to the Trevi Fountain is complete without tossing a coin over your shoulder, it’s said that this will bring good luck and your return to Rome, which is unquestionably on my to-do list. The fascinating landmark undoubtedly brought some magic to the trip.

Not only does the Eternal City have the Trevi Fountain to offer, but other astonishing buildings that are a must see when in Rome, such as the colosseum, Castel Sant’ Angelo and probably the most impressive of Rome’s surviving buildings, the Pantheon, dating back to over 2000 years ago. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the beautiful interior and structure of the dome, making it hard to believe how long ago it was built.

I have no doubt that I will be returning to Rome as I think there is so much more to see and discover. Everything about my visit to the Italian Capital was delightful, even walking (or in my case, getting lost) in a maze of hidden back streets.

Article

Too Much Talking Not Enough Walking

I still find it difficult to understand why the middle of the corridor is the best place to start to converse

Beth Thorne

The Guardian, Monday 7 October 2013

 

Since when was the corridor used for an area for a group of people gawping at the latest gossip that had darted around the classroom the day before? Well, surprisingly, it’s not. I do not understand the urgency of needing to tell your peers right there and then the latest in current affairs while everyone around you have to weave and dodge their way around like a cat trying to escape the next door neighbour’s dog. It’s just unnecessary.

Have you ever needed to get to somewhere in such a hurry (well I don’t know who hasn’t), whether that was an important meeting, appointment, lesson, and it seems like everyone has decided to have a sit down with a cup of coffee and have a chat with their “bff” right in front of you? Well yes, this seems to happening on more than the odd one occasion. Even to the extent of being everyday and it’s really not applicable in my eyes.

Not to say that there is any problem with having a catch up or a gossip, but is it really the most appropriate place, in the middle of a narrow path, in the way of people, busy people (well, normally busy people)? Don’t get me wrong, I love to have a (normally mind numbing) conversation with someone, but I tend not to make life difficult by going somewhere out of people’s way. I’m sure many others should agree.

Moving on, another situation linking to this subject (and equally nauseating), would be the slow walker. Why, oh why do people walk infuriatingly slowly, again normally they’re found traipsing right in the middle of the corridor. If this was the Savannah, they’d be the Giselle getting their legs ripped off by a heard of lions.

Well, I’m pretty sure many of you are in agreement with me here but if you’re not, well, it may be time for me to put back on the lead.

My Monologue

The style model I used was a monologue from ‘The Fantasticks’ called ‘Don't Let Me Be Normal’.

http://www.stageagent.com/Shows/MonologuesView/1014

Set in the American West. Two neighbouring fathers trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud. The fathers hire travelling actors to stage a mock abduction, so that Matt can heroically seem to save Luisa, ending the supposed feud. When the children discover the deception, they reject the arranged love match and separate.

MATT: Oh god. Please, please, please don’t let this be happening. I had her. I had her so close and now everything’s gone. She’s gone. She was so special. But in a good way. A marvellous way. So much that it made me feel strange to the point where I didn’t even know where my mind wandered too. (Pause.) She spoke to animals sometimes, and it was really quite strange but then when I think about it (subtle smile), it was rather funny. There was always something quite…different about her. (Pause.) Everyday she would be different, interesting. I could never tell whether she was putting on an act or whether she was true and it still frustrates me because I think I really do like her. (Deep breath.) Still like her. Still want to be with her. Quite a lot actually. But my father. Her father. Our fathers. Why? It was all so stupid and pointless. I HATE how they tried to fix something that wasn’t already broken. Something that really could have gone somewhere, but no, not anymore, it’s ruined. I feel like such a fool. I trusted him, who wouldn’t trust their own father, your own flesh and blood? He said, ‘it wasn’t supposed to end that way, Matt, you were supposed to be happy’, ‘I hope you’re proud of yourself, Dad, you’ve taken the only thing I care about away from me’, I said – a bit dramatic I suppose but I wanted him to feel the same pain I did, losing someone you truly cared about. (Long pause.) Her hair had a shade of deep blue when the sun hit it. I remember when she asked me to brush her hair that one time because it made her more relaxed. She told me how she usually brushed it two hundred times exactly every morning to make sure there was absolutely no knots or tangles left. (Subtle smile.) I can’t remember how many times I had brushed through it though – to tell you the truth, I lost count. (Laughter.) She used to get in such states some nights where she would cry and cry…About the silliest things too, but I guess that was all part of how unusual she really was. She said she didn’t mind getting her makeup down her face either because she liked the taste of her tears, she’d always say ‘I cry till the tears come down and I can taste them. I love to taste my tears.’ It was the most peculiar thing. ‘Please god, please, don’t let me be normal!’ was what she'd say, pretty much every night. I miss that about her. Never wanted to fit in with everyone else around here, you know, us normal folk. (Pause.) I still wonder whether she still thinks of me from time to time. (Long pause. Deep breath.) Probably not.

Monologue Analysis

THE CHOCOLATE AFFAIR - A monologue from the play by Stephanie Alison Walker

BEVERLY: I can't take it anymore!!

I'm up every day at five. Every day. Up at five, go for a jog, take a shower, wake Sally, cook breakfast—something healthy—egg whites, flax, kale, organic coffee, sprouted wheat. Sit down with Dave and Sally for breakfast. Eat a tiny portion. Be sure to leave some on the plate. Always leave some on the plate.

Get dressed. Something feminine, flattering. Kiss Dave goodbye. Make sure to give him a little something worth coming back home to.

Check on Sally. Comb her hair. Pack her lunch. Wait with her for the bus. Hug her goodbye. Make sure that hug lasts all day long...that she feels your arms around her even at recess when the mean kids pick on her because their moms don't hug them enough. Then let go. Watch her walk away, board the bus.

Choke back your tears. Taste the salt slide down the back of your throat. Go back inside. Check yourself in the mirror. Ugh. Turn around. Turn back hoping to see someone else. Cross through the kitchen. Pause. Feel the quiet of the empty house. No one watching. What can you eat? Open the pantry, look inside. Grab the jar of peanut butter. Unscrew the lid. Take a whiff. Stick your finger in the jar of peanut butter. Lick it off. Feel someone watching you. Shit. Turn around to face them. No one's there. Put the peanut butter away. Wash your hands, careful to remove any trace of peanut butter. Reapply lipstick. Head out the door. To work. Again.

This isn't fun anymore. There's something wrong with me.



Although I don't really know anything about this monologue from the play 'The Chocolate Affair', I found that the techniques used in the text were interesting as it explains more about her feelings and emotions. The character in this monoloque, Beverly, mainly speaks in short sentences, which could show how she feels her life is just one giant list of things she has to do in the same routine every single day. This is also shown as the writer uses asyndetic listing where it makes it seem like her life is just one long list of chores, "Up at 5, go for a job, take a shower, wake sally, cook breakfast...". Different types of puntuation has also been used to show the character's thoughts, "cook breakfast—something healthy—egg whites". Dashes are used here instead of brackets, this could be because when brackets are used, it shows that what is said within the brackets aren't necessarily needed or said. Also, because this is a dramatic monologue, brackets are usually used to show stage directions.

The monologue is written in an informal manner and in first person. This is because the character is talking to herself, because of this, the writer has used high frequency lexis to show a more casual approach to the character. The monologue would relate to a target audience of middle aged women who understand the lists of things to do in a single morning and the every day routine that you would suddenly fall in to due to children, husbands and the temptations of having a quick treat without anyone finding out, in this case, a jar of peanut butter. Relating back to my point about how the whole structure of the monologue is like a long list of duties and how the sentences are mostly very short, there isn't a high level of detail. This makes it seem like every sentence is just another boring step in her morning routine.

Blog Analysis

http://www.everywhereist.com/

This blogger uses humour throughout the text to engage the audience. This is important as it keeps the reader amused and interested and not get bored of reading large amounts of text. The humour in this blog also makes it easier for the blogger to get her point across of how she felt about a certain situation, "I didn't recognise my own bedroom. Oy." Using the word, "oy", could perhaps show how confused she felt at the time or the disbelief that she couldn't even recognise her bedroom.
The blogger writes in a semi-informal manner and uses contractions such as, 'I'd' and 'It's', adds more a relationship between the blogger and her readers. Also, she uses synthetic personification to create a more personal bond with her readers.
The 'everywhereist', makes the text seem much more casual by using dashes, "the mundane routine of the everyday - the one that...", which makes it more approachable by a younger target audience. However, the blogger has also used colons to make it slightly more formal for an older audience, "Let me tell you: having piles of fresh clothes...". Also using a vast amount of exclamation marks in her blog posts shows the enthusiasm and excitement of travelling around the world and as it suggests in the name, travelling everywhere!

Analysis Homework

Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys

Have you got colour in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the type that sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you're in deep?
I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
Cause there's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep
Spilling drinks on my settee

(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways
(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you'd stay
(Baby we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day

Crawling back to you

Ever thought of calling when you've had a few?
Cause I always do
Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I've thought it through

Crawling back to you

So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart's still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down and pucker up
I'm sorry to interrupt it's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you
I don't know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to

(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways
(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you'd stay
(Baby we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day

Crawling back to you

Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? (calling when you've had a few)
'Cause I always do ('cause I always do)
Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new?
Now I've thought it through

Crawling back to you

(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways
(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you'd stay
(Baby we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day

(Do I wanna know?)
Too busy being yours to fall
(Sad to see you go)
Ever thought of calling darling?
(Do I wanna know)
Do you want me crawling back to you?

In this song by the Arctic Monkeys, there are a few language techniques that are used throughout the lyrics that I found interesting. Rhetorical questions are used frequently throughout the lyrics, “Do I wanna know?”, “So have you got the guts?”, this is used to emphasise the feelings and thoughts towards the person that this song was written about and to stimulate a response but does not necessarily impose an answer. I think that this could be because the writer of this song would prefer for the person that this is aimed at to think about how he’s feeling as the answer is quite obvious.

In the lyrics an idiom has been used, “Are there some aces up your sleeve?”. This has been used because the writer feels like the person who it has been aimed at may have an advantage that no other knows about and may come as a surprise to some. This could portray how the song writer thinks that some people are a mystery.

Elisions are used, such as “wanna”, “sorta” and “summat”, which reduces the formality of the language giving a much more informal approach and to also improve the flow of the sentence. As well as this, contractions have been used throughout the text, “can’t”, “you've”, “I've”, which is also used for the same reasons and so the syllables can flow much easier to the rhythm of the song. Also, the words “baby” and "darling" have been used which gives the song a slight hint of an intimate register which makes it more familiar between who’s singing the song and who the song is being sung about.

Delirious in Devotion

Delirious in Devotion

I glimpse and behold in your pupils so profound

I embrace you further and further every second that vigorously goes past

You leave me to implore when you depart

Hailing your name numerously in a structure of one after the other

Such a whimsical concept that I must make an elaborate effort to justify

My sentiment and satisfaction is what should be criticised

Indeed, as things go I understand that I may not recognise

Just how ones affection can accomplish something that no other human being could achieve

My appearance is ever so out of one’s mind

Your devotedness has made me appear berserk

My presence is bizarre without delay

The contact you and I both have seems to have my presentation awfully ludicrous

I am waiting in anticipation for you to contact me

Expecting you to rescue me from harm and danger due to the touching of our lips as a sign of love

My appearance is ever so out of one’s mind

As I converse with my acquaintances in hush tones

“Who on earth do you believe you are?” Take a glance at what you have made of me

Wearing tennis foot wear, no need for me to purchase a new ensemble

You won’t be attending and there is no other to impress

It must be the way that you apprehend what I thought I understood

It is the beat that my heart skips when I am accompanied by you

Alas, I still find it difficult to comprehend

Just how much your affection can achieve what no other has been able to

My appearance is ever so out of one’s mind

Your devotedness has made me appear berserk

My presence is bizarre without delay

The contact you and I both have seems to have my presentation awfully ludicrous

I am waiting in anticipation for you to contact me

Expecting you to rescue me from harm and danger due to the touching of our lips as a sign of love

My appearance is ever so out of one’s mind

(Crazy in Love – Beyoncé)

Armstrong and Miller

In the video, “Armstrong and Miller RAF pilots 'D-Day'”, the two main characters (Armstrong and Miller) use speech in a different register to what would be expected by where it’s set; during the war, black and white picture, etc. In fact, the register used is the complete opposite as you would expect the two characters to speak in a formal language, whereas they’re talking in a colloquial language in this video which would most commonly be used my teenagers.  Armstrong and Miller use slang and everyday modern language, such as ‘lush’, ‘aint’ and ‘blud’, which is interesting as it contrasts to their very posh and stereotypical British accents. What’s interesting about this video, is that when you think of a black and white production, you wouldn’t associate the language to be spoken in this way, as colloquial register was rarely used in this time of day (developed later on).

The characters use fillers, such as ‘like’, in a colloquial register that is used as well as a range of high-frequency lexis. Also, back channel agreement is used, words such as, ‘yeah’ and ‘mmm’ when communicating with eachother.