Semester TWO, Blog #13 (GOW Final Essay)

Option 3) Describe how the balance between specific stories about the Joad family and broader description of the migration of Dust Bowl farmers impacts the novel as a whole.

The Grapes of Wrath is a book that shows the side of the farmers that get kicked out of their homes. Once kicked out they hear of work in California so thousands head west. The book mostly stays on one family called the Joads, it seems they have the worst luck possible. The book does make you feel sorry for them and you do want to know what happens but something kills the mood. That thing is the “zoomed out” chapters, which talk about things and people as a whole no one specific. Some of these are about dust some about a turtle and others about cars salesmen’s thoughts as they sell cars. Of course these chapters foreshadow and symbolize however when it talks about these random events it gets boring and fast.

The first chapter of the book is about the great dust bowl and how it ruins the crops for the farmers. It does inform you about what is happening and you do feel sorry for them but a simple description would have been fine. The second chapter you meet the main character but it seems you follow someone else until the last couple pages. Once you get to the sixth chapter you learn the main story. You also meet the rest of the family and main characters. The sixth chapter, that’s almost one-third through the book.

The story on the family is good but with those random chapters it slows the book down. When it “zooms out” I tend to zone out. Some of these “zoomed out” chapters don’t even have full sentences or proper English. When reading a book you should be able to get into it and understand it. In this book as soon as it gets a little interesting another random chapter comes and you get bored and don’t want to read on again.

I think it did show you what happened and that it was to a wide range of people not just the Joads. However it makes the book way longer and it at least annoys me to almost stop from reading through the entire book. So it helps a little bit but I think it stops people from wanting to read the entire book. The impact is major, at least for some of my fellow classmates and I. It slows or can even stop people from reading this book. This book gave a lot of attention to the less fortunate during the great depression so it should be good if it is to give or gave sympathy.

Semester TWO, Blog #13 (GOW Final Essay)

Describe how the balance between specific stories about the Joad family and broader description of the migration of Dust Bowl farmers impacts the novel as a whole.

The Grapes of Wrath
To the Point?


The Grapes of Wrath is a book that shows the side of the farmers that get kicked out of their homes. Once kicked out they hear of work in California so thousands head west. The book mostly stays on one family called the Joads, it seems they have the worst luck possible. The book does make you feel sorry for them and you do want to know what happens but something kills the mood. That thing is the “zoomed out” chapters, which talk about things and people as a whole no one specific. Some of these are about dust some about a turtle and others about cars salesmen’s thoughts as they sell cars. Of course these chapters foreshadow and symbolize however when it talks about these random events it gets boring and fast.
The first chapter of the book is about the great dust bowl and how it ruins the crops for the farmers. It does inform you about what is happening and you do feel sorry for them but a simple description would have been fine. The second chapter you meet the main character but it seems you follow someone else until the last couple pages. Once you get to the sixth chapter you learn the main story. You also meet the rest of the family and main characters. The sixth chapter, that’s almost one-third through the book.
The story on the family is good but with those random chapters it slows the book down. When it “zooms out” I tend to zone out. Some of these “zoomed out” chapters don’t even have full sentences or proper English. When reading a book you should be able to get into it and understand it. In this book as soon as it gets a little interesting another random chapter comes and you get bored and don’t want to read on again.
I think it did show you what happened and that it was to a wide range of people not just the Joads. However it makes the book way longer and it at least annoys me to almost stop from reading through the entire book. So it helps a little bit but I think it stops people from wanting to read the entire book. The impact is major, at least for some of my fellow classmates and I. It slows or can even stop people from reading this book. This book gave a lot of attention to the less fortunate during the great depression so it should be good if it is to give or gave sympathy.

Semester TWO, Blog #12

What were "public works projects"? What famous ones were part of the New Deal? What public works projects would you recommend for our society today?


One of the "public works projects" was TVA the Tennessee Valley Association. It helped employ people and since it included having different things like power plants out their the utility got cheaper. Others were hospitals and dams too. They were also government funded and run by government.

Some stuff they can do these days are maybe add more wind generators out near Palm Springs and with a crew of people making them having a maintenance crew for the new ones as well. We also could have people fixing up California's roads like Obama said he would.

Semester TWO, Blog #10

I believe that it did help give sympathy to those people because the other side could now see the whole story not just their half. I also think you said it raised awarness for the "okies" for all around the country. Even the places not having people rush in or out of their state. When I read this book I feel sorry for them and think its ridiculous that people would arrest them for no reason when they are just trying to live. So if I feel that way I think it can make others that read the book. So yes.

Semester TWO, HONORS History Blog #1

Dear Barrack Obama,

It seems that you want change and the people want change however the congress isn’t letting too many of your bills pass. Here are some good ideas to possibly improve your success rate. If your not getting bills passed maybe work were it helps all people and it fits all points of view not just yours or a couple. Also See what all citizens want, make sure you get all points of view as well not just a couple.
When writing bills make sure it helps all people not just some because if it doesn’t help all, it might not pass when the congress looks over it. Also you seem to say you can do it and come up with these things before congress pass them. Maybe don’t act so blindly confident on acts and bills before there are passed. No one likes unfulfilled promises that happen over and over again.
Like Franklin Delano Roosevelt who went across country finding what all people needed from city folk to farmers. Giving electricity to those way out counties with farms, and different jobs for getting it out there. Look around go to the people and where they are and come up with what they need don’t just try to rearrange tax or come up with new Medicare plans. Franklin Delano Roosevelt also kept it confident but realistic don’t over embellish things before they are done.

Semester TWO, Blog #9

I like how we have had many options on what to write on and some time to decided what to write on as well. However I think we are not getting enough time working on ampersand in class work that has to be done for ampersand seems mostly done at home. The last 10 minutes of class isn't long enough to get a computer, turn it on, log on, then start typing I think we need at least 15 to twenty minutes.

Semester TWO, Blog #6

Tom Joad

"I killed a guy. Seven years. I'm sprung in four for keepin' my nose clean."

I'm guessing that he is not someone to mess with.

"That big old nose of yours been stickin' out eight miles ahead of your face."

He doesn't like nosey people or people that talk nonsense or repetitive talking.

"you're talkin' sense,.""Every' word you say is sense. But, Jesus, I hate to get pushed around! I lots rather take a sock at Willy"

He seems smart knows how to pick his fights and when to step down.

"An old turtle, Picked him up on the road. An old bulldozer. Thought I'd take 'im to my little brother. Kids like turtles."

He is thoughtfully of his family and seems to have respect not some mean psycho murderer that does it fun.