Group 1 Readings: Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, and Mackey
Reading 1: "The Big Valley"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the first story is “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax (pages 17 - 27).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
The story “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax tells the reader several interesting accounts of his family's history, which includes the author's life growing up near Forkner Avenue in Fresno, California, and his father and grandfather's efforts during their agricultural years and ascendancies. Arax continues on to elaborate on the plights of agronomists, past and present, and how the once fig farms and vineyards of his predecessors have given away and became commercial establishments and shopping outlets.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite quote in the story occurs on page 25, and says the riddle of selling sun-dried grapes “was no more complicated than getting every woman in China to place a single raisin in her pot of rice.” I thought this was a particularly neat quotation, and it is actually a quote within the story, and was originally adduced by William Saroyan. I thought it was a worthy quotation that epitomizes the adversities that farmers and agriculturalists face today.
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
This story made me think of the inevitable preponderance of modern day corporations and how they are affecting those individuals who make a living off agricultural means. The lack of subsidies, funding, and support of these agricultural practices may ultimately lead to the demise of modern day farming.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I didn't know that Tulare, California, was home to the biggest farm equipment show in the world. I thought this a rather interesting and fascinating fact.
Reading 2: "Transients in Paradise"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the second story is “Transients in Paradise,” by Aimee Liu (pages 29 - 35).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
This reading by Aimee Liu provides a more realistic interpretation of the demographics and denizens that comprise Beverly Hills, California. When people think of Beverly Hills, they will be compelled to cerebrate the pervasive fashion, designer goods, theatrical stars, and mansions. In a sense this is true, though not entirely. As Aimee Liu mentions, many fail to take into any type of recognition the “transients” that occupy the city, and this oversight culminates into a division of fear and desire.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite quotation was “we are all transients of one kind or another. On our way into or out of wealth, into or out of sanity, beauty, love, health, or death.” I found this to be very true and appropriate statement for this story.
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
While reading, this story made me think of all of the different cities throughout the world that project a similar false image as Beverly Hills supposedly does.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I didn't know that poverty was a serious problem in Beverly Hills. Perhaps it is the transients that come into the city to work the jobs no one else will pursue, but in either case I was surprised.
Reading 3: "Showing Off the Owens"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the third story is “Showing Off the Owens,” by T. Jefferson Parker (pages 37 - 43).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
T. Jefferson Parker's story tells of a fishing trip that he made with an acquaintance, Brian Wiprud, along the River Owens which lies along the “white Sierra Nevada.” Several days are passed along this river while they try and succeed in catching rainbow trout – of sizes from six to ten inches according to Jefferson Parker's attestations – while enjoying time doing so in general.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite sentence, which I thought to be quite humorous, was the one made concerning the nature of “In-N-Out Burger.” Jefferson Parker's friend, Wiprud, mentions how the 'out' of In-N-Out Burger “kind of worries me.”
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
While not an avid fisher myself, I don't possess to many personal accounts or experiences in which to relate. If I were to relate this story, I would probably invoke an instance where I had the pleasure of sharing my hobby or interest with someone who was enthusiastic about something as I was.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
Before reading this anecdote, I wasn't aware that collared lizards possessed the ability to swim in
Reading 4: "The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the fourth and final story that was required for group one was “The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak,” written by Mary Mackey (Page 45 – 49.)
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
This short story tells of the American River Parkway in Sacramento County, and how it acts as an excellent intermediary between the life at the university where Mackey teaches and the perpetual sounds of traffic and rush hour. The account starts out with Mackey deceiving a group of waterfowl, and then goes on to talk about the wide variety of culture that occurs in this county of California. The ethnic groups include Hmong Vietnamese, Russians, Samoans, and African-Brazilians. Overall, Mackey makes the American River Parkway seem like a very inviting and pleasant place to visit.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
This story was probably my favorite out of the group of selected readings. I found this account to be both humorous and amusing. The quote that I particularly like describes the ducks reasons for not reacting to the presence of a creeping, but not completely covert human in their water habitat. “The mallards do not notice my approach. They never do. Perhaps ducks are nearsighted, perhaps they have a limited ability to sort out foreground and background, perhaps they are too busy dunking under to grab a beak-full of duckweed, or perhaps they just don't give a damn,” (pages 45 and 46.)
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
This type of seclusion, away from the bustle and tumultuous habits of humanity, reminded me of the type of seclusion that I enjoy immensely at the mountain cemetery in the town of Sonoma. The peaceful settings of the American River Parkway seemed to have much in common with my favorite retreat.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I lived in Yolo County for a year of my life and I was never aware of the tremendous Russian population around the Sacramento area. As mentioned above, Mackey also discusses other ethnic groups in the immediate area.
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