Assignment 4b: Reflection

1. Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about your same essays and briefly compare/contrast their choices and ideas versus what you said.

Rhianon and I were both placed in group two and were given the same short stories to analyze by the authors Tobar, Steinbeck, Humes, and Warshaw.

In the first story, Ode to CalTrans, Rhianon and I both thought about our own freeway, highway 101. I thought of a near-accident my best friend almost got into and Rhianon commented on the highway’s increased traffic over the years. Although we both veered in different directions with our thoughts, our main focus was on a highway that we regularly travel.

In the second story, Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home, by Thomas Steinbeck, Rhianon learned about the local legends of beings called “Dark Watchers”. Although I learned about the origin of California’s name, I too, was unaware of these mythical creatures before reading this story. It is interesting to think that such creatures may exist in our own state. It reminds me of a horror movie and honestly makes Big Sur lose its appeal to me.

Rhianon’s summary of the third story, The Last Little Beach Town, by Edward Humes, does not address the fact that Seal Beach is one of the last original beach towns left in Southern California. I made sure to include that fact in my summary because I believe it is a main point that Humes is trying to convey to his readers. Although Rhianon does make sure to discuss Seal Beach’s preserved size and charm, she does not stress just how rare this town’s personality is today, considering its location.

The last story, Surfacing, by Matt Warshaw, both Rhianon and I picked the same sentence as our favorite quote: “In the late eighties, a surf magazine writer theorized that the essential requirement for big wave riding is not courage, or daring, or fitness, but a placid imagination.” I picked this sentence because it is a valid point that I did not really consider before reading this story. I feel that one cannot begin to understand the mindset a surfer needs until they experience big wave surfing for themselves. Until then, it is quotes like these that remind us just how much courage and power is required in the sport of surfing.

Rhianon's Blog: http://rhianonlarson.blogspot.com/2009/04/4a-group-2.html


2. Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a different set of essays and tell us one thing you learned per author presented.

I looked at Lori’s summaries of stories by Firoozeh Dumas, Devorah Major, Michael Chabon, and Kathi Kamen Goldmark.
From the story Bienvenidos a Newport, I learned that Newport is a “planned community” that requires manicured lawns, closed garage doors, and specific trash cans in order to maintain a clean and spotless appearance.
After reading Lori’s summary of Cotton Candy Mirrors, I learned that beach carnivals were a very fun and inexpensive form of entertainment for beach town residents many years ago.
In the story Berkeley, I learned that Berkeley’s population really escalated in 1906-1907 after the great earthquake. Many of San Francisco residents began to move to this town because of the damage that had been done.
In the last story, California Honky Tonk, I didn’t know that women entertainers often have a difficult time dealing with different types of harassment both on and off stage.

Lori's Blog: http://racer-humanities7.blogspot.com/2009/04/4a-group-3.html

3. Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.

For my second set of stories, I reviewed Monica’s summaries of stories by Arax, Liu, Jefferson-Parker, and Mary Mackey.
From the story The Big Valley I learned that there is seven million acres of farmland between Bakersfield and Redding!
Monica’s summary of Transients in Paradise taught me that there are no hospitals in Beverly Hills and despite all its glamour and the stressed importance of image there are still homeless people who roam the streets.
In the third story, Showing Off the Owens, I discovered that the Owens River is a hot spot for fly-fishing.
From the story The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak, I learned that some people in Sacramento actually kayak to work and I also learned that there are seventy-five thousand Russians living in Sacramento County.

Monica's Blog: http://ass4a.blogspot.com/