Guess who spent the entire weekend writing a 10-page book review on the Salem Witch Trials that's due Monday? I'm 6 pages down and have 4 more to go. This is the first time in. . . forever that I've had too much information and no idea how to incorporate it. It's all actually pretty interesting, really. Who would have thought that all of that nonsense that occurred in 17th century New England could all be seen as a testament to how little rights women had during those years?
I really need this paper to be flawless...or at least appear to be flawless because I don't think I'm doing so good in this class. And that's strange! History was my thing...well, not my thing, but it was always easy for me. I can't believe I'm not doing so well.
I guess I can blame it on circumstance. Tests are..basically the only grade in this glass. He talks, we listen and take notes, we take exam at the end of the unit. And it seemed as though every time I had a test, something would come up. First time, like always, I'm not sure of how the teacher tests us -- so failing or not doing so well is a given pretty much with me if I don't know the material. But in this class, it wasn't that I didn't know the material, it was that I was definitely not used to his style of teaching so I didn't know how to take notes! And not to mention my brother bringing my nephew over for me to watch before class so I was late and I didn't have time to go over the crap notes that I already had. I took the test, thought I passed....but I didn't. Well, I barely passed it. And by barely I mean...barely.
Then there was the second exam. It began great! I knew how to take the notes, I knew what keywords to listen for, I thought I'd ace this next exam. Then...I got sick. The last time I was that sick, I ended up in the hospital going under the knife. I was so out of it that week that I remember irrationally thinking "Oh my god! Do I need to get my appendix removed....again!?" I missed an entire week. A WEEK! A week of him talking, a week of notes I'll never get. I missed it. And when I came back and sat down, he placed a piece of paper on my desk and I literally shouted "WHAT THE HOLY HELL IS THIS!?"
"This" was test No. 2. And That....I failed.
So I really need to step it up these last two tests and with this paper. Because if I fail one more test..just one, I'm either going to give up and quit or sleep with the teacher. And. Let. Me. Tell. You. Something: I am not above giving up the goodies to make an A! Even a B. Hell, really, I'd settle for a C. I've been doing so good since I got back in school in 2008, I don't need to fail a class.
So, doing this assignment (as well as the whole....you know, trying to pass) has put a halt on my writing. But worry not! The semester is almost over.
But I can't concentrate! Every time I try to think of what should happen next, I end up coming up with ideas that should happen in the future. And in great detail too! But me being me, I forget to write them down, so when it comes to actually putting those ideas into writing, I'd....forget...everything...
I find myself constantly thinking about it, even when I should have been thinking about this paper. I think it's safe to say that unlike my past projects, I don't think I'm giving up on this one when I approach a wall. I'll see that it gets done...but it won't be anywhere near done until after this semester is over.
Stay tuned! My next one will actually involve some more information about what I've been working on. I was going to talk about it tonight, but I left my notebook in my bag (which is about 4 feet away from me) and I am NOT going to get up and get it. What is this, a gym?
OOOH salem witch trials! I did a paper on that too. :) but mine was more on the idea that whenever women used to push for a voice we were considered "posessed." Even in Biblical times the only women who were allowed to have a voice were the women who could tell the future. If they had any impact it was usually because they were marrid to a king or someone whos title put them over a large group. So what happens when women want to talk again? The colonies state that these women of the Bible were manipulators and therefore these women should be stopped before they manipulate someone else. I would say more but I'm worried that someone will tie me up and throw me in water and see if I float.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Quaker women were allowed to be preachers, but in Puritan society women who wanted to preach were considered witches. It's all basically sexism and evidence that women had no rights.
ReplyDeleteSure, there were a few men who were considered witches, but all of these men were somehow associated with accused witches. And men who confessed were called liars.
Also, women who were accused: sometimes they were just angry. Unsatisfied with things (Like being angry because the man you loved was with someone else. Seriously) and, although EVERY one had the ability to be angry, certain women (poor, middle-aged or old, single, widowed) were seen as witches.
It's all strange.