As I was reading the interpretation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and “Visual Methodologies” in Research Methods, a connection was obvious for me through the use of semiological analysis, as Gillian Rose defined it “a semiological analysis entails the deployment of a highly refined set of concepts that produce detailed accounts claiming to describe the exact ways in which the meanings of an image are produced through that image”. (74)  and the method used in the modern English translation. Starting from a very general and important word to understand Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which is (moral) and then relate it to Gawain’s virtue signs of the pentangles “franchise, fellowship, cleanness, courtesy, pity” (770) to complete the image.

Also, Gillian Rose illustrated that “signs are complex, however. Any one sign may have several different meanings and can be doing several things at once, so in analysis the same sign has to be described using several of these terms. Which I connected it to the sign of the folded glove and the pennies that are inside it show complexity and have some different meanings that might be linked to the five wounds, some ritual and the five psalms.

Works Cited

Green, Richard. “Gawain’s Five Fingers.” English Language Notes, pp. 14-18.

Griffin, Gabriele. Research Methods for English Studies. Edinburgh UP, 2014.

Morgan, Gerald. “The Significance of the Pentangle Symbolism in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”.” The Modern Language Review, vol. 74, no. 4, 1979, p. 769.

My father was working in ABEGS (Arab Bureau of Education for The Gulf States), and when there were additional copies in the bureau, he comes back home carrying a box full of educational books for us to read. So this is how I started reading, I was 8 years old at that time, and I still have those little books in my cabinet back home, they remind me of these beautiful days when I have nothing to worry about and all I was thinking about is which book to pick from that brown big box.

As I grew up and became a teenager, I used to read romantic some of Ahlam Mosteghanemi novels in Arabic. In college, we worked on a novel by the French author Honoré de Balzac (Eugénie Grandet), we read it and analyzed it. It was for me the real start because it was a great novel by a very famous and talented author in French which is my second language.

Now, I like to read Marcel Khalife and Nizar Qabbani poetry in my free time. They are amazing and touch my heart in each time I read them. Also, I’m taking, for this fall semester, a “Shakespeare text and performance” course and I’m reading and interpreting his plays for the first time.

I sometimes go to the university library or to a book store and I enjoy both, in Saudi Arabia we have Jarir, it is a huge book store with so many sections and some chairs and tables for the public (kids and grownups) to read.

I have a problem with concentration, when I’m reading, I got distracted by everything and it keeps away from staying focused for a long time. However, I do not have a technique to stay focused but I force myself to read even though it takes me really long time to finish my work.

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“A warning to college profs from a high school teacher” by Kenneth Bernstein discusses the educational issues in America. He is a former high school teacher writing to college professor’s. He is apologizing for not being able to provide the incoming class with enough preparation and knowledge needed for college classes. Kenneth Bernstein uses persuasive techniques in order to persuade his audience about his argument that standardized test are delaying student’s preparation from high school to college.

Bernstein informs the audience about the reality of the No Child Left Behind program and how it is hindering the learning experience. According to Bernstein, “America’s public schools have been operating under pressure” (6). High school teachers are now given the orders to prepare the students for passing the exams. This restricts the teachers from actually taking the time to teach important curriculum.

The audience of this article would be college professors and others involved in the education system. The style that Bernstein uses is professional as well as sympathetic. He uses his own experience in order to connect with the audience. He included important departments and statistics that provide convincing evidence that relate to his argument.

Overall this article provided evidence that Bernstein used persuasive techniques that compliment his main ideas and arguments.

Work Cited

Strauss, Valerie. “ A warning to college profs from a high school teacher”. The Washington Post, 9, February 2013

This article goes over the “No Child Left Behind Act”  that was created eleven years ago and reviews the effects and controversy that came along with it. The act made sure that under-privileged students got the top quality education and rights as other students in school. The problems that schools and country’s now had to deal with is that students were being taught to only pass standardized test, and while putting all their focus on test they weren’t really comprehending the material. This put a dent in the education system.

This author also mentions how ill prepared students are because of this issue, in terms of college. When students come to a university with low critical thinking skill professors are really let down, but how can students be at the top level is they  were never taught to think further than the tests and exams that are in front of them. Now it seems like teachers teach only to prepares students for the next test and not for the long run, which hurts the students academically because they are not getting the proper schooling.

Lastly, teachers have to be more motivated and focused on improving the skills and education of the students, they need to be willing to teach more than what’s on the test. Educators have to really push their students to think harder and to improve in all areas so they can be better equipped for college or the real world. As soon educators start to get the big picture  and go into the right direction, schools will make giant leaps forward and help better each student that walks through their doors.

The article “Dont Blame the Eater” is an article written by  David Zinczenko on November 23, 2002. The article was written to educate the public on the reasons for rising child obesity rates. He himself was child during the 1980’s, before consumers were more health conscious,  and ate fast food amost three meals a day. By his teenage years he found himself at 212 pounds and wanted to make a change. Eventuallyhe joined the navy reserves and  learned how to take care of his body and lost the weight.

Zinczenko opens the article informing the reader on the court case of children suing McDonalds for their own weight gain. The author sympathizes with these children by explaining how its difficult to know what one is consuming in fast food due to the lack of nutritional facts on fast food packages. The author exlpains that in the 80’s, child diabetes was mainly caused by genetics, now rates of child obesity hve skyrocketed due to fast food chains. The fast foods these children are eating are sold without warning lables and are filled with health hazards. Zinczenko leaves the reader with a possible solution, to find healthier alternatives to these delicious fat traps, ad to limit consuming fast food to at least onece a day.

My Favorite Dishes

1. Pad Thai
2. Vietnamese Pho
3. Lasagna

My Favorite Fruits

• Oranges
• Red Grapes
• Pomegranate

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My Favorite Clothing Stores

1. Zara
2. H&M
3. Banana Republic

My Favorite Clothing Items

• Skirts
• One Pieces
• High Waisted Jeans

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