Colonial America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Colonial America - Essay Example Each of these city-states or polis had its own customs, laws and way of life (Hornblower et al, 2004). Initially these city-states were ruled by a few wealthy men but gradually the administrative system became democratic. Athens was the largest city-state in Ancient Greece and its society was divided into the upper, middle and lower classes. However despite these differences ancient Greeks were bound by a common heritage and common language just like American people speak a common language. Greek citizens were trained in the arts, music, and they played games represented by the Olympics. There was a system of assemblies in which upper class citizens discussed issues of government and suggested changes, very much like the modern parliament. Ancient Rome was however ruled by an emperor and the Roman government balanced out political power between three different branches comprising of the Executive branch, the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch. The consuls who supervised the S enate and the army controlled the executive branch along with the mayors and tax collectors (Hornblower et al, 2004). Only adults were allowed to vote or elect rulers. The legislative branch consisted of 300 senate members who owned land and were elected by the consuls. The concept of senate members is still a part of the administrative system in America.

Observations of Fourth Grade Foreign Language Learning

Observations of Fourth Grade Foreign Language Learning 1.1. Background of the study The purpose of this study is to investigate fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context. In the process of learning, learners need experience as a result of what they have been involved in that learning. Experience is gained by direct involvement or participation of an event. As stated by Kellough (1998 : 280) when students are involved in direct experiences, they are using more of their sensory input channels, their learning modalities (i.e., auditory, visual, tactile, kinesthetic); and when all the senses are engaged, learning is most effective, meaningful and longest lasting. Moreover, in the context of learning English as foreign language, experience in using English is essential to achieve effective, meaningful, and longest lasting learning. As the results, learners are able to use the language for their daily communication. Experience will be better to gain when learning is done in early age. Curtain and Pesola (1988:3) stated that when language learning begins earlier, it can go on longer and provide more practice and experience, leading ultimately to greater fluency and effectiveness. This study was employed to pupils who have range age from 7 until 10 years old (concrete stages) (Curtain and Pesola, 1988). It is assumed that when they learn English from Primary School, they have more practice and experience. As supported by Curtain and Pesola (1988:3) the thinking skills of most children in elementary school foreign language programs are at the concrete stage, and experience plays a major role in all learning. However, children learning English as a foreign language in Indonesian elementary school context face many serious challenges. One challenge relates to lack of social uses of the English language real-life situations which would likely involve children in their daily life (CREST, 2002 :3). The pupils have experience in using English only from classroom context. They are lack to face real English communication. Moon (2001:14) added that in the foreign language situation, the pupils depend almost entirely on the school for input. Consequently, the English learning experience in classroom context is very essential to support pupils practice and communication simulation. For that reason, it is needed to conduct a study which is investigating whether learning experiences in our Primary School has accommodate pupils practice and simulation communication. The findings of this investigation are answered by describing learning experience from the classroom observation and categorizing data description. Learning experience is the experience in using language during the learning time, which is formulated in simulation and practices. The learning experience is developed by practice and communication simulation done by learners. By doing so, they will get a clear picture or discourse understanding about the use of language. The examples of practice and simulation communication are achieved from the physical activities (i.e., hands on experience), as cited by CREST (2002:3) children learn by way of physical activities (i.e., hands on experiences) in the context of doing things embedded in their daily lives, both individually and socially. From that hands on experience Moon (2000:6) also explained that the use of songs, rhymes, poems, drama and classroom routine all help to give children access to ready-made bits of language so they can begin to communicate. Curtain and Pesola (1988:xiv) assumed that successful language learning for children is organized in the term of concrete experienc e; considerable planning should go into the use of visual, props and realia, and hands-on activities. Concrete experience from the use of visual, props and realia and hands-on activities are able to lead pupils attain their language learning goals. Curtain and Pesola also gives example of concrete experience, those are song, rhymes, finger play, props and Concrete Materials (dialogs, role play, small-group or pair work). In addition from previous study conducted by Ririt (2004) said that various learning experiences in English program will be developed through various kinds of material, activities, such as song, stories, games, reading text, and media. It can be concluded that in this study by having practice (sing songs, do classroom routines, read text, play game) and communication simulation (dialog, role play), the pupils will be able to achieve the purpose of learning English as foreign language for young learner which is developing pupils communicative competence in language accompanying action in school context and developing pupils awareness of the importance of English in global community. It is stated on Standar Isi Kurikulum Muatan Lokal Bahasa Inggris Provinsi DKI Jakarta (2006). Mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggris di SD/MI bertujuan agar peserta didik memiliki kemampuan sebagai berikut: 1. Mengembangkan kompetensi berkomunikasi dalam bentuk lisan secara terbatas untuk mengiringi tindakan (language accompanying action) dalam konteks sekolah; 2. Memiliki kesadaraan tentang hakikat dan pentingnya Bahasa Inggris untuk menngkatkan daya saing bangsa dalam masyarakat global Standar Isi Kurikulum Muatan Lokal Bahasa Inggris Provinsi DKI Jakarta (2006) is a government policy which is listed the purpose of learning English for primary schools pupils in Jakarta. However, there are some problems about the implementation of learning experience that the pupils get from the learning. They have unvaried activities; make them bored and not interested to the learning, have the learning activities but does not give experience (it is not hands on activities); and misconception to teach grammatical than convey the meaning of language message to children. Retrieved information from http://www.businessballs.com/experiental learning.htm, there is mentioned the differences between experiential learning and conventional training and teaching. The differences are in how the learning process happens. The example of conventional training, the learning are usually presented by power point presentation, chalk-and-talk classes, reading, attending lectures, exam study, observation, planning and hypothesising, theoretical work, unreal role-play. In other hand, experiential learning presents by physical activity, games, and exercises, drama and role-play which beco mes real, actually doing the job or task, outward bound activities, teaching others, hobbies, pastimes, and passions. Based on the importance and problems of learning experience, and requirement of government policy, this study is conducted to examine the fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context. 1.2 Research Questions The research questions of this study are: What kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice and simulation? To what extend that learning experiences accommodate the pupils need? 1.3 Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to investigate fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context 1.4 Method of the study This study used a case study as its methodology. This study was carried out at four schools, SDN Cipinang Muara 14 Pagi East Jakarta, SDN Pisangan Timur 03 and 05 Pagi East Jakarta, SDN Pesanggrahan 06 Petang South Jakarta. The subjects of the study are fourth grader at each those schools. The research subject is pupils learning experiences in English classroom. This study used classroom observation and teacher interview to gain the data. Class observation is used to provide description of learning activities then to be analyzed into what learning experiences. Teacher interview is used as the additional data of what in teachers plan and how the implementation of learning experiences happen in the classroom. 1.5 Significance of the study This study is mainly to find out pupils learning experiences at Primary Schools. It gives a thick description of what kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired during the learning process of English. This result will be beneficial as an input to the English teacher, school and the researcher itself; it gives the recent data about pupils English learning experiences at four grade of primary school. Thus, it will be an input for those schools in developing their school curriculum and English Department of State University of Jakarta students who are interest in teaching English to young learner. CHAPTER 2 2.1. English Learning Experiences Experience as a result of learning process is a must. Madya, S et all. (2004) stated that experiences are paramount and activities is a must in learning process.The experience it self is gained by doing activity or letting the learners to practice doing it. From Webster dictionary, the definition of experience is practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity (Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experience). Pupils English learning experiences in the classroom context also can be achieved with direct participation during the learning process. During the learning process, pupils are given by teacher various learning activities which is contain various experiences. Then, as supported by Moon (2000:7) if pupils enjoy the learning activities, they will be more involved and this may increase their desire to continue. This is very positive for language learning, because if children want to continue with an activity for some time, it will give them more exposure to language input and more chance to practice the language. They will also develop more positive attitudes towards English, as they will associate it with something enjoyable and pleasing. Teaching English to the primary school students need varieties of activities. The teacher needs to plan a range of activities to avoid students getting bored. In Ferguson (2008:v) mentioned that research shows that games and activities provide a fun and interactive learning environment and promote effective language learning. When students are active, engaged, and enjoying themselves, their ability to learn and master new vocabulary and other linguistic functions is much higher than if they are simply learning by memorization or drills. Therefore, the activities which carried on experiential learning for young learner is hands on activity or physical activity. Moon (2000:8) gives example of physical activities such as making things, action songs, games, rhymes and drama provide excellent context for language learning. It is also supported by Curtain and Pesola (1988:199), they said, because children require hands-on learning experiences with concrete object, the elementary school foreign language classroom must have a wide variety of objects and material available, as many of them as possible from the target culture. Futhermore, Moon (2000:9) stated that childrens desire to communicate is very powerful and this carries over into foreign language learning. If they are engaged in an interesting activity, they will talk their heads off happily. This is very useful for language learning because it means that pupils will get plenty of practice in using the language. In this study, the practice and communication simulation that pupils use during the class is limited. Practices are singing songs, doing classroom routines, reading text, playing game, and simulation communications are dialog, role-play. Paul (2003)l mentioned some kinds of activities that can makes learning more meaningful, he stated that when playing, singing, and learning are integrated into total learning experience, the combination is very powerful. Children learn through first-hand (concrete) experiences, particularly through structured play as stated by Gipps (1994, p.26) cited in Brewster (2003). Pupils are expected to be facilitated by the teacher with concrete experiences. 2.2. English for Forth Graders The characteristic of young learner based on CREST (2002:3) children have their own world, which is far different from that of adults. The pupil is not the mini adult. They have their own way to learn. As stated also in CREST (2002:5), the characteristics of children are: Children learn naturally Children know a lot about literacy before schooling All children can learn Children learn best when learning is kept whole, meaningful, interesting, and functional. Children learn best when they make their own choices Children learn best as a community of learners in a non-competitive environment Children learn best by talking and doing in a social context. Curtain and Pesola (1988:67) explained those children ages 8 to 10 is named Intermediate Students. This intermediate students is categorized to grades 3, 4, and 5. Children at this age are at a maximum of openness to people and situations different from their own experience. For these students, a global emphasis is extremely important, because it gives them an opportunity to work with information from all parts of the world. As intermediate develop the cognitive characteristics of the concrete operations stage, they begin to understand cause and effect. Students in intermediate grades can work well in groups. They can begin a more systematic approach to language learning, but they continue to need first-hand, concrete experiences as starting point and continue to benefit from learning that is embedded in context. Moon (2000:7) defines that children are naturally curious and active. They eagerly explore their environment and interact with people, which helps them to construct their un derstanding of the world they live in. An important way in which they do this is through physical activity and experiencing things at first hand. Children love discovering things and because they respond well to being asked to use their imagination, they may well be involved in puzzle-like activities, in making things, in drawing things, in playing games, in conducting physical movement (Harmer, 2001, p.38) 2.3. Related Researches on the English Learning Experiences There is a study about learning experience, which has done by Kartika, Jatu (2007). Her study entitled Supporting Basic Literacy through English Learning Experiences is focus on students basic literacy through learning experiences. The study was done in SDN Tegallega 1 and 2 Bogor. The result of her study is students have been involved in English learning experiences in the context of executing classroom assignments but have not yet fully supported the students basic literacy. Her classroom observation data showed that students were mostly engaged in language pronunciation activity during the English and very limited learning activities were pursued to develop students self-awareness in employing English to be socially literate. Her finding from the data interview and questionnaire showed that students felt bored to be engaged in unvaried activities and felt difficult to memorize English word. The previous study conducted by Ririt (2004) entitled Fifth Grade students preferences towards English Learning at Labschool Elementary School founds that various learning experiences in English program will be developed through various kinds of material, activities, such as song, stories, games, reading text, and media. Another study, which carried out, by Astriani R. F (2006) notes that in her survey titled The English Vocabulary size of elementary school students in Jakarta, the score of average vocabulary size of the students is 477 words out of 1000 words. She is recommended that the teachers in elementary school should emphasized teaching and learning English in vocabulary and they also apply creative teaching and learning techniques such as singing, drawing, telling stories, and mentioning something through games so that the pupils will feel happy when they are learning English. Yeni (2009) in her research entitled Using Games to increase students participation in Listening Activity at SDN Pisangan Timur 11 shows that games; missing lyric, word race, Simon say, whats the number and song puzzle can be used to increase students participation. It also reports that there was significant improvement to the students participation in listening activities. Students were actively involved in listening activity. The students are interested in following the game and feel enjoy confident in participating activities. 2.4. Conceptual Framework The purpose of the study is to get factual data and information of pupils learning experiences in English classroom context by using describing, categorizing and analyzing classroom observation. The researcher decided to conduct the study on fourth grade because English is introduced in Primary School started from fourth grade of primary school. The study is also meant to see whether pupils have various kinds of learning experiences during the learning process. Learning experience can be developed by practice and simulation communication. If the pupils have experience in practice and simulation, it is assumed that they have meaningful, effective and longest lasting learning experience. 2.5. Definition of Terms Learning experience is the experience in using language during the learning time, which is formulated in simulation and practices. The learning experience is developed by practice and communication simulation done by learners. Practice means sing songs, do classroom routines, read text, play game and communication simulation here and communication simulation means dialog, role-play. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY This chapter describes how this study is carried out. It covers the design of the study, the subjects of the study, instrument of the study, data collection procedures, and data interpretation. 3. 1. The Design of the Study This study is conducted through a case study in order to find in depth (1) what kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice and simulation (2) To what extend that learning experiences accommodate the pupils need. The data is picked up through classroom observation and interview. 3.2 Research Setting 3. 2. 1 Time and place of the Study This study was carried out from March up to April 2009 in four primary schools. They are SD Negeri Pisangan Timur 03 and 05 pagi, East Jakarta; SD Negeri Cipinang Muara 14, East Jakarta; and SD Negeri Pesanggrahan 06 Petang, South Jakarta. 3. 2. 2 Subject of the Study The subjects of this research are the fourth graders from four schools in Jakarta. Their experiences during the English class were be observed and recorded. 3. 3 Data Collection Method For the first research question What kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice? The data was gathered by observing and recording the pupils and teachers interaction during their English class. After observing and recording, the visual data was transcribed. The data transcriptions were described as data description. Afterward the data was be classified by bolding the description, it was be reduced based on the needs of the study and will be put in the table because of the amount of data collected during the classroom observation. Next, the data reduced will be put in the table which is categorized based on the synthesis which was mention in the conceptual framework. The categorization was made in order to answer the research question. Second research question, to what extend that learning experience accommodate the pupils need? is answered by analysing the data categorization. Besides, the interview is also used to support the information of learning experience in the data analysing. It is open-ended interview and it is done after the class ended and recorded. 3. 4. Data Interpretation The data from the recorded classroom observation was analyzed from transcribing and categorizing learning experience data. The information of pupils learning experience also gathered from data interview. The data obtained in this study were mainly descriptive data, which had been narrated by using a procedure, proposed by Woods (1996: 27); and Bailey (1996) described as follow: Data Labeling The data were classified by bolding the description related to the focus of the study. Data Reducing The observation data were reduced based on the needs of the study and was put in the table because of the amount of data collected during the classroom observation. Data Categorizing The data reduced will be categorized based on the synthesis, which was mention in the conceptual framework. The categorization was made in order to answer the research question. CHAPTER IV Data Description and Research Findings This chapter presented data description and interpretation to lead the discussion in the research findings. The data description of this study is based on classroom observations. A. Data description A.1 Classroom Observations Data The factual data of pupils learning experiences in this study was obtained from classroom observations. The interaction between teacher and pupils from four schools observation is described in the following data description. CASE A 1. Observation on March 7th, 2009 The observation was carried on Saturday, on 06.30 to 07.40 a.m. The pupils started the class by saying Good Morning to reply teachers greeting. The pupils also said I am fine, thank you. And you? when the teacher asked them How are you?. At that time, it was the first time of observation, so the teacher introduced the observers before starting the lesson. While the teacher was introduced the observers, one of the pupils was coming late. With automatically the teacher and the pupils greeted the late boy by saying Good Morning. The pupils were asked to recall their memorization about the previous lesson. A pupil mentioned the previous lesson was question but another pupil mention public sign. Pupils were experienced to recall the information that they have studied before. Pupils were experienced to count number of their classmates. Each pupil was experienced to count one until thirty two. They counted the amount of pupils that come in the class. There were 32 pupils and 5 were absent. After all pupils are ready, they were experienced to read the picture on the whiteboard. The pupils tried to recollect their previous memory about public sign. They pay attention to the picture then mentioned the function of those public sign picture. Pupils were experienced to answer teacher question by mentioning that Cross Park sign mean you cannot park here, stripe sign mean you do not enter, turn left, turn right, go straight. Then, the pupils were asked to use their hand in giving direction of left and right sign. The pupils were experience to act out the teacher instruction by using their hands. They seemed able to differentiate right sign and left with enjoyable. Next, the pupils guessed the second pictured drawn by the teacher on the whiteboard. They mentioned it was a picture of lampu lalulintas. Pupils were experience translating word into English with teacher scaffolding. Then they have to repeat words written in whiteboard in order get the right pronunciation. Pupils were experience to pronounce traffic light, red, yellow and green. The pupils also were experience to mention the meaning of each traffic light lamp colour. They were able to identify meaning of the green lamp for go, yellow lamp for be careful and red lamp for stop. After mentioning the meaning, the pupils were experience to pronounce the words such as stop, be careful and go by repeating their teacher. Then pupils were reminded by their teacher, the expression for borrowing something from friends. They were experience to mention the expression for borrowing by saying May I borrow your †¦. The pupils also were experience to practice the conversation in simple dialogue. They practiced in pairs. After practicing the conversation, the pupils were noisy. The teacher engaged the pupils to sing happy song in order to get pupils silent. Pupils were experience in English to sing Happy song, please silent. That time, pupils have a small test. Before starting the test, a pupil cleaned the whiteboard in responding teacher instruction. Pupils were experience in English to act out teacher instruction such as Clean the board please; Listen to me please; Sit down please; Silent please. They were experience in English to do the teacher instructions. Afterwards, the pupils were experience in English to answer the written test. They matched part A into part B. Finishing done the test, the pupils were experience to check the answer test with a whole class. The pupils were given chance to come forward to write the answers on the whiteboard. Most pupils were enthusiastic to come forward. They raised hand and the teacher selected them. While a pupils writing on the whiteboard, the others pupils sing a song Que Sera Sera. Pupils were experience in English to sing a song. In the end of the class, pupils were experience in English to mention what they have learnt on that day. Pupils simulated again the conversation of borrowing things from friends. After that, teacher closed the class by singing Happy song, good bye 2. Observation on March 14th, 2009 The observation was held on Saturday from 06.30 to 7.40. The class was opened by pupils greeting. Pupils were experienced to greet the teacher by saying Good Morning. Also replied greeting How are you? by saying Im fine. Thank You. And You?. Before the class starting, their sitting places were arranged. They have to sit on their own chair to avoid much tease between them. The pupils were experience in English to mention previous study such as public sign, stripe sign, do not enter, no smoking, push, pull, exit, enter, turn right, turn left. Then, they asked to pay attention to the picture shown by the teacher. The pupils were experience to guess the picture and to conclude the picture. The picture was not clear enough to be seen from the back class, so some pupils come forward to look at the picture. They were ordered to sit, the teacher said Sit down please then the pupils sat on their chair. The pupils were experience to do the instruction in English. After the pupils settled down, the pupils were asked to conlude the pictures theme. They were experience to conclude the theme pictures by saying it is about Hobby. The teacher wrote some words on the whiteboard, the pupils were experience to repeat and to read aloud words such as watching, playing soccer, swimming, traveling, sleeping, reading books. Every word they were repeated and read, they were experience to gesticulate it. They act as they were playing soccer, swimming, traveling, sleeping, reading books and cooking. The pupils seemed enjoy the activites. Next sequence, the pupils were asked about their hobby. They were experience in English answering teachers question What is your hobby? by saying My hobby is †¦... Then, the teacher asked the pupils to ask her hobby. The pupils were experience in English to question the teacher by saying What is your hobby?. After that the pupils were explained about the difference of his and her. They were given the example question in distinguishing his or her. The pupils were experience to pronounce his and her. Subsequently, the pupils were experience to do questioning and answering to their friend about hobby. They practiced how to ask their friends hobby use English. The pupils were experience to practice conversation in a simple dialog and to note it in their workbook. Pupils were experience in English do the task in written. In the closure time, the pupils were experience to write home work in their workbook do the same task. They have to question their families hobby. Teacher closed the class by saying Good bye. 3. Observation on April 18th, 2009 The observation was done every Saturday, at 06.30 to 7.30 a.m because the English class is every Saturday. Pupils started the class by praying and then greeting the teacher. They were experience greeting the teacher by saying Good Morning. Next, the pupils were asked to guess the picture that be drawn by the teacher on whiteboard. They were experience to identify the picture by saying Radio and Television. After that, they have to pay attention to what teachers was done. The pupils were supposed to guess the teachers act. They were experience to conclude the word from teachers action. The pupils said Lamp when the teacher turn off and turn on the lamp. The pupils were experienced repeating the teacher by saying Radio, TV, and lamp. From the three pictures, the pupils asked to guess what the key word for those things is. The pupils have the right answered which is electronic. The core activities of that day, pupils were experience to practice turn on and off the lamp, turn on and turn off the tv, play and eject the cassette from the radio. The pupils followed step by step the teachers instruction like turn on the tv please, turn on the lamp please, turn off the lamp please. In practicing play and eject the radio, the pupils were experience to identify the button in the radio. They have known which play button, stop button, rewind button, fast forward button are. They also were experience to mention each button function. Finally, they were experience to write the right procedure of playing the cassette in their workbook. The pupils have to arrange the sentences into good order. While the pupils writing the task, some pupils were chosen randomly to come forward in front of the class. They practiced press the buttons from the button pictures on the whiteboard. Before the class was dismissed, pupils were asked to conclude what they have learned on that day. The class were closed by the teacher saying Good bye and pupils were experiences in English replaying say Good bye. CASE B 4. Observation on March 3rd, 2009 The observation was conducted on Tuesday afternoon at 12.30 to 13.40. The pupils replied teachers greeting by saying Good Morning. Afterwards, they sang a song titled Happy song but with a little different melodies. The pupils recalled their experience in previous meeting by mentioning the English of lemari with cupboard. The class started with guessing the English of thing that teachers point out. The teachers pointed out two cupboards, and the pupils mentioned it by saying These are cupboards. Some pupils seemed still confused the diffrence of these are and this. Then they listened to teacher explanation about the difference of the these and this. The pupils were experience to read aloud This is a cupboard; These are books; That is a chair; Those are chairs Finally, the pupils were experience to do the exercise fill in with this, these, that or those. They did the task in an exercise paper. While pupils were answering the questions, they were checked for the absent. After finish an swer the exercise, the key answer be written on the whiteboard. They were experience to write the answer on the whiteboard. Teacher checked pupils answer on the board. The pupils checked their friends work or peer correction. Teacher closed the class by submitting pupils paper. 5. Observation on March 10th, 2009 The pupils started the class by saying Good Afternoon to the teache Observations of Fourth Grade Foreign Language Learning Observations of Fourth Grade Foreign Language Learning 1.1. Background of the study The purpose of this study is to investigate fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context. In the process of learning, learners need experience as a result of what they have been involved in that learning. Experience is gained by direct involvement or participation of an event. As stated by Kellough (1998 : 280) when students are involved in direct experiences, they are using more of their sensory input channels, their learning modalities (i.e., auditory, visual, tactile, kinesthetic); and when all the senses are engaged, learning is most effective, meaningful and longest lasting. Moreover, in the context of learning English as foreign language, experience in using English is essential to achieve effective, meaningful, and longest lasting learning. As the results, learners are able to use the language for their daily communication. Experience will be better to gain when learning is done in early age. Curtain and Pesola (1988:3) stated that when language learning begins earlier, it can go on longer and provide more practice and experience, leading ultimately to greater fluency and effectiveness. This study was employed to pupils who have range age from 7 until 10 years old (concrete stages) (Curtain and Pesola, 1988). It is assumed that when they learn English from Primary School, they have more practice and experience. As supported by Curtain and Pesola (1988:3) the thinking skills of most children in elementary school foreign language programs are at the concrete stage, and experience plays a major role in all learning. However, children learning English as a foreign language in Indonesian elementary school context face many serious challenges. One challenge relates to lack of social uses of the English language real-life situations which would likely involve children in their daily life (CREST, 2002 :3). The pupils have experience in using English only from classroom context. They are lack to face real English communication. Moon (2001:14) added that in the foreign language situation, the pupils depend almost entirely on the school for input. Consequently, the English learning experience in classroom context is very essential to support pupils practice and communication simulation. For that reason, it is needed to conduct a study which is investigating whether learning experiences in our Primary School has accommodate pupils practice and simulation communication. The findings of this investigation are answered by describing learning experience from the classroom observation and categorizing data description. Learning experience is the experience in using language during the learning time, which is formulated in simulation and practices. The learning experience is developed by practice and communication simulation done by learners. By doing so, they will get a clear picture or discourse understanding about the use of language. The examples of practice and simulation communication are achieved from the physical activities (i.e., hands on experience), as cited by CREST (2002:3) children learn by way of physical activities (i.e., hands on experiences) in the context of doing things embedded in their daily lives, both individually and socially. From that hands on experience Moon (2000:6) also explained that the use of songs, rhymes, poems, drama and classroom routine all help to give children access to ready-made bits of language so they can begin to communicate. Curtain and Pesola (1988:xiv) assumed that successful language learning for children is organized in the term of concrete experienc e; considerable planning should go into the use of visual, props and realia, and hands-on activities. Concrete experience from the use of visual, props and realia and hands-on activities are able to lead pupils attain their language learning goals. Curtain and Pesola also gives example of concrete experience, those are song, rhymes, finger play, props and Concrete Materials (dialogs, role play, small-group or pair work). In addition from previous study conducted by Ririt (2004) said that various learning experiences in English program will be developed through various kinds of material, activities, such as song, stories, games, reading text, and media. It can be concluded that in this study by having practice (sing songs, do classroom routines, read text, play game) and communication simulation (dialog, role play), the pupils will be able to achieve the purpose of learning English as foreign language for young learner which is developing pupils communicative competence in language accompanying action in school context and developing pupils awareness of the importance of English in global community. It is stated on Standar Isi Kurikulum Muatan Lokal Bahasa Inggris Provinsi DKI Jakarta (2006). Mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggris di SD/MI bertujuan agar peserta didik memiliki kemampuan sebagai berikut: 1. Mengembangkan kompetensi berkomunikasi dalam bentuk lisan secara terbatas untuk mengiringi tindakan (language accompanying action) dalam konteks sekolah; 2. Memiliki kesadaraan tentang hakikat dan pentingnya Bahasa Inggris untuk menngkatkan daya saing bangsa dalam masyarakat global Standar Isi Kurikulum Muatan Lokal Bahasa Inggris Provinsi DKI Jakarta (2006) is a government policy which is listed the purpose of learning English for primary schools pupils in Jakarta. However, there are some problems about the implementation of learning experience that the pupils get from the learning. They have unvaried activities; make them bored and not interested to the learning, have the learning activities but does not give experience (it is not hands on activities); and misconception to teach grammatical than convey the meaning of language message to children. Retrieved information from http://www.businessballs.com/experiental learning.htm, there is mentioned the differences between experiential learning and conventional training and teaching. The differences are in how the learning process happens. The example of conventional training, the learning are usually presented by power point presentation, chalk-and-talk classes, reading, attending lectures, exam study, observation, planning and hypothesising, theoretical work, unreal role-play. In other hand, experiential learning presents by physical activity, games, and exercises, drama and role-play which beco mes real, actually doing the job or task, outward bound activities, teaching others, hobbies, pastimes, and passions. Based on the importance and problems of learning experience, and requirement of government policy, this study is conducted to examine the fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context. 1.2 Research Questions The research questions of this study are: What kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice and simulation? To what extend that learning experiences accommodate the pupils need? 1.3 Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to investigate fourth graders learning experiences in using English as foreign language during the learning process in classroom context 1.4 Method of the study This study used a case study as its methodology. This study was carried out at four schools, SDN Cipinang Muara 14 Pagi East Jakarta, SDN Pisangan Timur 03 and 05 Pagi East Jakarta, SDN Pesanggrahan 06 Petang South Jakarta. The subjects of the study are fourth grader at each those schools. The research subject is pupils learning experiences in English classroom. This study used classroom observation and teacher interview to gain the data. Class observation is used to provide description of learning activities then to be analyzed into what learning experiences. Teacher interview is used as the additional data of what in teachers plan and how the implementation of learning experiences happen in the classroom. 1.5 Significance of the study This study is mainly to find out pupils learning experiences at Primary Schools. It gives a thick description of what kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired during the learning process of English. This result will be beneficial as an input to the English teacher, school and the researcher itself; it gives the recent data about pupils English learning experiences at four grade of primary school. Thus, it will be an input for those schools in developing their school curriculum and English Department of State University of Jakarta students who are interest in teaching English to young learner. CHAPTER 2 2.1. English Learning Experiences Experience as a result of learning process is a must. Madya, S et all. (2004) stated that experiences are paramount and activities is a must in learning process.The experience it self is gained by doing activity or letting the learners to practice doing it. From Webster dictionary, the definition of experience is practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity (Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experience). Pupils English learning experiences in the classroom context also can be achieved with direct participation during the learning process. During the learning process, pupils are given by teacher various learning activities which is contain various experiences. Then, as supported by Moon (2000:7) if pupils enjoy the learning activities, they will be more involved and this may increase their desire to continue. This is very positive for language learning, because if children want to continue with an activity for some time, it will give them more exposure to language input and more chance to practice the language. They will also develop more positive attitudes towards English, as they will associate it with something enjoyable and pleasing. Teaching English to the primary school students need varieties of activities. The teacher needs to plan a range of activities to avoid students getting bored. In Ferguson (2008:v) mentioned that research shows that games and activities provide a fun and interactive learning environment and promote effective language learning. When students are active, engaged, and enjoying themselves, their ability to learn and master new vocabulary and other linguistic functions is much higher than if they are simply learning by memorization or drills. Therefore, the activities which carried on experiential learning for young learner is hands on activity or physical activity. Moon (2000:8) gives example of physical activities such as making things, action songs, games, rhymes and drama provide excellent context for language learning. It is also supported by Curtain and Pesola (1988:199), they said, because children require hands-on learning experiences with concrete object, the elementary school foreign language classroom must have a wide variety of objects and material available, as many of them as possible from the target culture. Futhermore, Moon (2000:9) stated that childrens desire to communicate is very powerful and this carries over into foreign language learning. If they are engaged in an interesting activity, they will talk their heads off happily. This is very useful for language learning because it means that pupils will get plenty of practice in using the language. In this study, the practice and communication simulation that pupils use during the class is limited. Practices are singing songs, doing classroom routines, reading text, playing game, and simulation communications are dialog, role-play. Paul (2003)l mentioned some kinds of activities that can makes learning more meaningful, he stated that when playing, singing, and learning are integrated into total learning experience, the combination is very powerful. Children learn through first-hand (concrete) experiences, particularly through structured play as stated by Gipps (1994, p.26) cited in Brewster (2003). Pupils are expected to be facilitated by the teacher with concrete experiences. 2.2. English for Forth Graders The characteristic of young learner based on CREST (2002:3) children have their own world, which is far different from that of adults. The pupil is not the mini adult. They have their own way to learn. As stated also in CREST (2002:5), the characteristics of children are: Children learn naturally Children know a lot about literacy before schooling All children can learn Children learn best when learning is kept whole, meaningful, interesting, and functional. Children learn best when they make their own choices Children learn best as a community of learners in a non-competitive environment Children learn best by talking and doing in a social context. Curtain and Pesola (1988:67) explained those children ages 8 to 10 is named Intermediate Students. This intermediate students is categorized to grades 3, 4, and 5. Children at this age are at a maximum of openness to people and situations different from their own experience. For these students, a global emphasis is extremely important, because it gives them an opportunity to work with information from all parts of the world. As intermediate develop the cognitive characteristics of the concrete operations stage, they begin to understand cause and effect. Students in intermediate grades can work well in groups. They can begin a more systematic approach to language learning, but they continue to need first-hand, concrete experiences as starting point and continue to benefit from learning that is embedded in context. Moon (2000:7) defines that children are naturally curious and active. They eagerly explore their environment and interact with people, which helps them to construct their un derstanding of the world they live in. An important way in which they do this is through physical activity and experiencing things at first hand. Children love discovering things and because they respond well to being asked to use their imagination, they may well be involved in puzzle-like activities, in making things, in drawing things, in playing games, in conducting physical movement (Harmer, 2001, p.38) 2.3. Related Researches on the English Learning Experiences There is a study about learning experience, which has done by Kartika, Jatu (2007). Her study entitled Supporting Basic Literacy through English Learning Experiences is focus on students basic literacy through learning experiences. The study was done in SDN Tegallega 1 and 2 Bogor. The result of her study is students have been involved in English learning experiences in the context of executing classroom assignments but have not yet fully supported the students basic literacy. Her classroom observation data showed that students were mostly engaged in language pronunciation activity during the English and very limited learning activities were pursued to develop students self-awareness in employing English to be socially literate. Her finding from the data interview and questionnaire showed that students felt bored to be engaged in unvaried activities and felt difficult to memorize English word. The previous study conducted by Ririt (2004) entitled Fifth Grade students preferences towards English Learning at Labschool Elementary School founds that various learning experiences in English program will be developed through various kinds of material, activities, such as song, stories, games, reading text, and media. Another study, which carried out, by Astriani R. F (2006) notes that in her survey titled The English Vocabulary size of elementary school students in Jakarta, the score of average vocabulary size of the students is 477 words out of 1000 words. She is recommended that the teachers in elementary school should emphasized teaching and learning English in vocabulary and they also apply creative teaching and learning techniques such as singing, drawing, telling stories, and mentioning something through games so that the pupils will feel happy when they are learning English. Yeni (2009) in her research entitled Using Games to increase students participation in Listening Activity at SDN Pisangan Timur 11 shows that games; missing lyric, word race, Simon say, whats the number and song puzzle can be used to increase students participation. It also reports that there was significant improvement to the students participation in listening activities. Students were actively involved in listening activity. The students are interested in following the game and feel enjoy confident in participating activities. 2.4. Conceptual Framework The purpose of the study is to get factual data and information of pupils learning experiences in English classroom context by using describing, categorizing and analyzing classroom observation. The researcher decided to conduct the study on fourth grade because English is introduced in Primary School started from fourth grade of primary school. The study is also meant to see whether pupils have various kinds of learning experiences during the learning process. Learning experience can be developed by practice and simulation communication. If the pupils have experience in practice and simulation, it is assumed that they have meaningful, effective and longest lasting learning experience. 2.5. Definition of Terms Learning experience is the experience in using language during the learning time, which is formulated in simulation and practices. The learning experience is developed by practice and communication simulation done by learners. Practice means sing songs, do classroom routines, read text, play game and communication simulation here and communication simulation means dialog, role-play. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY This chapter describes how this study is carried out. It covers the design of the study, the subjects of the study, instrument of the study, data collection procedures, and data interpretation. 3. 1. The Design of the Study This study is conducted through a case study in order to find in depth (1) what kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice and simulation (2) To what extend that learning experiences accommodate the pupils need. The data is picked up through classroom observation and interview. 3.2 Research Setting 3. 2. 1 Time and place of the Study This study was carried out from March up to April 2009 in four primary schools. They are SD Negeri Pisangan Timur 03 and 05 pagi, East Jakarta; SD Negeri Cipinang Muara 14, East Jakarta; and SD Negeri Pesanggrahan 06 Petang, South Jakarta. 3. 2. 2 Subject of the Study The subjects of this research are the fourth graders from four schools in Jakarta. Their experiences during the English class were be observed and recorded. 3. 3 Data Collection Method For the first research question What kinds of learning experiences that pupils acquired to support their English practice? The data was gathered by observing and recording the pupils and teachers interaction during their English class. After observing and recording, the visual data was transcribed. The data transcriptions were described as data description. Afterward the data was be classified by bolding the description, it was be reduced based on the needs of the study and will be put in the table because of the amount of data collected during the classroom observation. Next, the data reduced will be put in the table which is categorized based on the synthesis which was mention in the conceptual framework. The categorization was made in order to answer the research question. Second research question, to what extend that learning experience accommodate the pupils need? is answered by analysing the data categorization. Besides, the interview is also used to support the information of learning experience in the data analysing. It is open-ended interview and it is done after the class ended and recorded. 3. 4. Data Interpretation The data from the recorded classroom observation was analyzed from transcribing and categorizing learning experience data. The information of pupils learning experience also gathered from data interview. The data obtained in this study were mainly descriptive data, which had been narrated by using a procedure, proposed by Woods (1996: 27); and Bailey (1996) described as follow: Data Labeling The data were classified by bolding the description related to the focus of the study. Data Reducing The observation data were reduced based on the needs of the study and was put in the table because of the amount of data collected during the classroom observation. Data Categorizing The data reduced will be categorized based on the synthesis, which was mention in the conceptual framework. The categorization was made in order to answer the research question. CHAPTER IV Data Description and Research Findings This chapter presented data description and interpretation to lead the discussion in the research findings. The data description of this study is based on classroom observations. A. Data description A.1 Classroom Observations Data The factual data of pupils learning experiences in this study was obtained from classroom observations. The interaction between teacher and pupils from four schools observation is described in the following data description. CASE A 1. Observation on March 7th, 2009 The observation was carried on Saturday, on 06.30 to 07.40 a.m. The pupils started the class by saying Good Morning to reply teachers greeting. The pupils also said I am fine, thank you. And you? when the teacher asked them How are you?. At that time, it was the first time of observation, so the teacher introduced the observers before starting the lesson. While the teacher was introduced the observers, one of the pupils was coming late. With automatically the teacher and the pupils greeted the late boy by saying Good Morning. The pupils were asked to recall their memorization about the previous lesson. A pupil mentioned the previous lesson was question but another pupil mention public sign. Pupils were experienced to recall the information that they have studied before. Pupils were experienced to count number of their classmates. Each pupil was experienced to count one until thirty two. They counted the amount of pupils that come in the class. There were 32 pupils and 5 were absent. After all pupils are ready, they were experienced to read the picture on the whiteboard. The pupils tried to recollect their previous memory about public sign. They pay attention to the picture then mentioned the function of those public sign picture. Pupils were experienced to answer teacher question by mentioning that Cross Park sign mean you cannot park here, stripe sign mean you do not enter, turn left, turn right, go straight. Then, the pupils were asked to use their hand in giving direction of left and right sign. The pupils were experience to act out the teacher instruction by using their hands. They seemed able to differentiate right sign and left with enjoyable. Next, the pupils guessed the second pictured drawn by the teacher on the whiteboard. They mentioned it was a picture of lampu lalulintas. Pupils were experience translating word into English with teacher scaffolding. Then they have to repeat words written in whiteboard in order get the right pronunciation. Pupils were experience to pronounce traffic light, red, yellow and green. The pupils also were experience to mention the meaning of each traffic light lamp colour. They were able to identify meaning of the green lamp for go, yellow lamp for be careful and red lamp for stop. After mentioning the meaning, the pupils were experience to pronounce the words such as stop, be careful and go by repeating their teacher. Then pupils were reminded by their teacher, the expression for borrowing something from friends. They were experience to mention the expression for borrowing by saying May I borrow your †¦. The pupils also were experience to practice the conversation in simple dialogue. They practiced in pairs. After practicing the conversation, the pupils were noisy. The teacher engaged the pupils to sing happy song in order to get pupils silent. Pupils were experience in English to sing Happy song, please silent. That time, pupils have a small test. Before starting the test, a pupil cleaned the whiteboard in responding teacher instruction. Pupils were experience in English to act out teacher instruction such as Clean the board please; Listen to me please; Sit down please; Silent please. They were experience in English to do the teacher instructions. Afterwards, the pupils were experience in English to answer the written test. They matched part A into part B. Finishing done the test, the pupils were experience to check the answer test with a whole class. The pupils were given chance to come forward to write the answers on the whiteboard. Most pupils were enthusiastic to come forward. They raised hand and the teacher selected them. While a pupils writing on the whiteboard, the others pupils sing a song Que Sera Sera. Pupils were experience in English to sing a song. In the end of the class, pupils were experience in English to mention what they have learnt on that day. Pupils simulated again the conversation of borrowing things from friends. After that, teacher closed the class by singing Happy song, good bye 2. Observation on March 14th, 2009 The observation was held on Saturday from 06.30 to 7.40. The class was opened by pupils greeting. Pupils were experienced to greet the teacher by saying Good Morning. Also replied greeting How are you? by saying Im fine. Thank You. And You?. Before the class starting, their sitting places were arranged. They have to sit on their own chair to avoid much tease between them. The pupils were experience in English to mention previous study such as public sign, stripe sign, do not enter, no smoking, push, pull, exit, enter, turn right, turn left. Then, they asked to pay attention to the picture shown by the teacher. The pupils were experience to guess the picture and to conclude the picture. The picture was not clear enough to be seen from the back class, so some pupils come forward to look at the picture. They were ordered to sit, the teacher said Sit down please then the pupils sat on their chair. The pupils were experience to do the instruction in English. After the pupils settled down, the pupils were asked to conlude the pictures theme. They were experience to conclude the theme pictures by saying it is about Hobby. The teacher wrote some words on the whiteboard, the pupils were experience to repeat and to read aloud words such as watching, playing soccer, swimming, traveling, sleeping, reading books. Every word they were repeated and read, they were experience to gesticulate it. They act as they were playing soccer, swimming, traveling, sleeping, reading books and cooking. The pupils seemed enjoy the activites. Next sequence, the pupils were asked about their hobby. They were experience in English answering teachers question What is your hobby? by saying My hobby is †¦... Then, the teacher asked the pupils to ask her hobby. The pupils were experience in English to question the teacher by saying What is your hobby?. After that the pupils were explained about the difference of his and her. They were given the example question in distinguishing his or her. The pupils were experience to pronounce his and her. Subsequently, the pupils were experience to do questioning and answering to their friend about hobby. They practiced how to ask their friends hobby use English. The pupils were experience to practice conversation in a simple dialog and to note it in their workbook. Pupils were experience in English do the task in written. In the closure time, the pupils were experience to write home work in their workbook do the same task. They have to question their families hobby. Teacher closed the class by saying Good bye. 3. Observation on April 18th, 2009 The observation was done every Saturday, at 06.30 to 7.30 a.m because the English class is every Saturday. Pupils started the class by praying and then greeting the teacher. They were experience greeting the teacher by saying Good Morning. Next, the pupils were asked to guess the picture that be drawn by the teacher on whiteboard. They were experience to identify the picture by saying Radio and Television. After that, they have to pay attention to what teachers was done. The pupils were supposed to guess the teachers act. They were experience to conclude the word from teachers action. The pupils said Lamp when the teacher turn off and turn on the lamp. The pupils were experienced repeating the teacher by saying Radio, TV, and lamp. From the three pictures, the pupils asked to guess what the key word for those things is. The pupils have the right answered which is electronic. The core activities of that day, pupils were experience to practice turn on and off the lamp, turn on and turn off the tv, play and eject the cassette from the radio. The pupils followed step by step the teachers instruction like turn on the tv please, turn on the lamp please, turn off the lamp please. In practicing play and eject the radio, the pupils were experience to identify the button in the radio. They have known which play button, stop button, rewind button, fast forward button are. They also were experience to mention each button function. Finally, they were experience to write the right procedure of playing the cassette in their workbook. The pupils have to arrange the sentences into good order. While the pupils writing the task, some pupils were chosen randomly to come forward in front of the class. They practiced press the buttons from the button pictures on the whiteboard. Before the class was dismissed, pupils were asked to conclude what they have learned on that day. The class were closed by the teacher saying Good bye and pupils were experiences in English replaying say Good bye. CASE B 4. Observation on March 3rd, 2009 The observation was conducted on Tuesday afternoon at 12.30 to 13.40. The pupils replied teachers greeting by saying Good Morning. Afterwards, they sang a song titled Happy song but with a little different melodies. The pupils recalled their experience in previous meeting by mentioning the English of lemari with cupboard. The class started with guessing the English of thing that teachers point out. The teachers pointed out two cupboards, and the pupils mentioned it by saying These are cupboards. Some pupils seemed still confused the diffrence of these are and this. Then they listened to teacher explanation about the difference of the these and this. The pupils were experience to read aloud This is a cupboard; These are books; That is a chair; Those are chairs Finally, the pupils were experience to do the exercise fill in with this, these, that or those. They did the task in an exercise paper. While pupils were answering the questions, they were checked for the absent. After finish an swer the exercise, the key answer be written on the whiteboard. They were experience to write the answer on the whiteboard. Teacher checked pupils answer on the board. The pupils checked their friends work or peer correction. Teacher closed the class by submitting pupils paper. 5. Observation on March 10th, 2009 The pupils started the class by saying Good Afternoon to the teache

Parent-Child Relationship Essay -- Self Esteem, Struggle for Control

Parents play a major role in the development and the life of a child. According to the Encyclopedia of Psychology, parenting practises is universal because of three common goals: ensuring children's health and safety, preparing children for life as productive adults and transmitting cultural values. Although, the modern days inventions as well as peers pressures are affecting children's behavior,however parents that are not overly controlling can use these traits to develop their children for the good. Perhaps this is why Amy Tan's story, â€Å"Two Kinds,† is so interesting. This story helps us to better understand relationships between parents and children by showing us how parents struggles for control with their children, why parents fight child for control, and why parents cannot control their children , but can only guide them. To begin with, â€Å"Two Kinds,† helps us to better understand relationships between parents and children by showing us how parents struggles for control with their children. First, Amy Tan, a second -generation Chinese describes parents and children using power and control to get their needs and wants met. She demonstrates that as children grow, they try to gain power in order to get control over their lives. For example in the story her mother believed that she could be anything in America. Consequently, she wanted her to become a prodigy. Amy would take tests from her mother every night. However, she was frustrated with every test and the drive inside her began to vanish as she decided to be disobedient to her mother. â€Å"And then I saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of me because I had never seen that face before. I looked at my reflection, blinking so I could see more clearly. The girl staring b... ...hild development may help parents give children choices to help parents give children choices to help them develop their guidelines as they matures. However, parents need to take responsibility for the choices they make. Excessive control is not a forced decision. With the adequate public information and dedication, parents can guide their children to become productive citizens. When a parent confront an obstinate child, all it takes is for her not to take it personally, or overreact by saying abusive things, giving her severe punishments or physically hurting the child. Work Cited Tan, Amy. â€Å"Two Kinds.† Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 687-695. print. Kazdin, Alan E., Phd. Encyclopedia of Psychology, Volume 8, March 2000. Parent-Child Relationship Essay -- Self Esteem, Struggle for Control Parents play a major role in the development and the life of a child. According to the Encyclopedia of Psychology, parenting practises is universal because of three common goals: ensuring children's health and safety, preparing children for life as productive adults and transmitting cultural values. Although, the modern days inventions as well as peers pressures are affecting children's behavior,however parents that are not overly controlling can use these traits to develop their children for the good. Perhaps this is why Amy Tan's story, â€Å"Two Kinds,† is so interesting. This story helps us to better understand relationships between parents and children by showing us how parents struggles for control with their children, why parents fight child for control, and why parents cannot control their children , but can only guide them. To begin with, â€Å"Two Kinds,† helps us to better understand relationships between parents and children by showing us how parents struggles for control with their children. First, Amy Tan, a second -generation Chinese describes parents and children using power and control to get their needs and wants met. She demonstrates that as children grow, they try to gain power in order to get control over their lives. For example in the story her mother believed that she could be anything in America. Consequently, she wanted her to become a prodigy. Amy would take tests from her mother every night. However, she was frustrated with every test and the drive inside her began to vanish as she decided to be disobedient to her mother. â€Å"And then I saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of me because I had never seen that face before. I looked at my reflection, blinking so I could see more clearly. The girl staring b... ...hild development may help parents give children choices to help parents give children choices to help them develop their guidelines as they matures. However, parents need to take responsibility for the choices they make. Excessive control is not a forced decision. With the adequate public information and dedication, parents can guide their children to become productive citizens. When a parent confront an obstinate child, all it takes is for her not to take it personally, or overreact by saying abusive things, giving her severe punishments or physically hurting the child. Work Cited Tan, Amy. â€Å"Two Kinds.† Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 687-695. print. Kazdin, Alan E., Phd. Encyclopedia of Psychology, Volume 8, March 2000.

Notes on American Literature Essay

Important figures:  ·Sir Walter Raleigh ? traveler, Elizabeth’s I lover, poet, soldier, died in Tower of London. A famous English writer, poet, courtier and explorer. He was responsible for establishing the second English colony in the New World (after Newfoundland was established by Sir Humphrey Gilbert nearly one year previously, August 5 1583) on June 4, 1584, at Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina. When the third attempt at settlement failed, the ultimate fate of the colonists was never authoritatively ascertained.  ·John Winthrop ? governor of Massachusetts. led a group of English Puritans to the New World, joined the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629 and was elected their first governor on April 8, 1630. Between 1639 and 1648 he was voted out of governorship and re-elected a total of 12 times. Although Winthrop was a respected political figure, he was criticized for his obstinacy (stubborn) regarding the formation of a general assembly in 1634. Calvin’s influence:  ·theory of predestination, limited redemption  ·self trials to find destiny  ·the only hope was faith in God.  ·God’s goodwill ? irresistible grace  ·faith makes everyone good but good deeds without faith don’t work  ·one should follow their destiny, ex. become a farmer, following destiny will make you successful, (wealthy) but you shouldn’t don’t spend money, invest it!  ·the holy act of making money for God Puritans were waiting for signs, they read ? books to read’ (the Bible), interpreted it, interpreted history in their own, Puritan way. Anything could be a sign (weather conditions, Indian attacks, diseases, famine, etc. ). Puritan faith:  ·grim, no paintings, no music  ·sermons were extremely important as they interpreted the Bible Michael Wigglesworth: (1631-1705)  ·wrote The Day of Doom (1662) – his poem represents puritan thought of the time. Many of the puritans memorized it and used it to get people back into the church. They used it to teach children and lingering adults. This was the first â€Å"best seller†, even though this term wasn’t used yet. It describes the Day of Judgment and the sentencing to punishment in hell of sinners and of infants who died before baptism. Samuel Danforth: (1626-1674)  ·In 1670, he was invited to give the annual election sermon to the General Assembly, which was afterwards printed as A Brief Recognition of New-England’s Errand into the Wilderness (about turning nature into civilization) and is regarded as one of the finest examples of the â€Å"jeremiad† form  ·jeremiad sermons – explained things form the Bible, created context, it said that future is glorious because we can be better, improve ourselves History interpretations: Cotton Mather: (1663-1728).  ·Magnalia Christi Americana (about religious development of Massachusetts, and other nearby colonies in New England from 1620 to 1698); the English title was The Ecclesiastical History of New England (1702)  ·he also wrote descriptions of the Salem Witch Trials, in which he criticizes some of the methods of the court and attempts to distance himself from the event; account of the escape Hannah Dustan, one of the most famous to captivity narrative scholars; his complete â€Å"catalogus† of all the students that graduated from Harvard College, and story of the founding of Harvard College itself; and his assertions that Puritan slaveholders should do more to convert their slaves to Christianity  ·made a heritage, typological approach 08. 10. 2007 Religious texts: – sermons ? instruments of communication between the minister and the people – theological thesis – chronicles (historical) Mary Rowlandson (1635-7 ? 1678)  ·She was a colonial American woman, who wrote a vivid description of the seven weeks and five days she spent living with Native Americans. Her short book,  ·A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson (1682), is considered a seminal work in the American literary genre of captivity narratives. The first phase of heroic period ? first 30 years, after that a serious problem occurred? experience of conversion, but not everyone did it so what to do with their children? 1662 ? Halfway Covenant (by Senate in Boston) ? salvation is heredity even if they didn’t experienced it. 17th century was more flexible what led to great religious revival in the US, literary phenomenon, outburst of religious emotions ?  thus texts. George Whitefield ? a rhetorician, preacher, appealed to American people, triggered religious revival. The Great Awakening: (1735 ? 1750)  ·paradoxical movement, they considered themselves as only true Puritans but they were considered almost heretical movement, their enthusiasm had negative connotations, people thought they should be more rational  ·leaders: Jonathan Edwards who wrote a fire-and-brimstone sermon entitled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741), he believed in Protestant dogma, he wanted people to experience real conversion, was against formal  sermons, he had a hypnotic way of teaching, appealing to emotions, he was forced to move and live in wilderness, died of smallpox. He was an active philosopher, tried to combine old religion with Locke’s new approach to religion.  ·the movement (the Great Awakening) was the last significant moment to regain control by Puritans Edwards vs. Franklin ? they lived in the same time, enlightenment competing with the old heritage Franklin was born in Boston and he wanted to move to Philadelphia ? city of enlightenment, Quakers, city owned by William Penn. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)  ·Autobiography (written in 1771 – 1790) -Learning model behavior, proposed model human being, he would respond to the beauty of the world, and nature as a living presence of God, story of narrator’s progress from Boston to Philadelphia, devoted himself to common good, he made success count most (financial in your own eyes and prestige in others’ eyes) -12 commandments, it’s good to imitate Jesus and Socrates (although Socrates was a pagan and a suicider)  ·Poor Richard’s Almanac -was a yearly almanack published by Benjamin Franklin, who adopted the pseudonym of â€Å"Poor Richard† or â€Å"Richard Saunders† for this purpose. The publication appeared continuously from 1732 to 1758. It was a best seller for a pamphlet published in the American colonies; print runs reached 10,000 per year. Franklin, the American inventor, statesman, and publisher, achieved success with Poor Richard’s Almanack. Almanacks were very popular books in colonial America, with people in the colonies using them for the mixture of seasonal weather forecasts, practical household hints, puzzles, and other amusements they offered. Poor Richard’s Almanack was popular for all of these reasons, and also for its extensive use of wordplay, with many examples derived from the work surviving in the contemporary American vernacular. Addressed to farmers (almanacs), useful information about farming, weather, astronomy, moral advice, many proverbs, (for example â€Å"God helps those who help themselves† what is opposite to Puritan philosophy), Do good papers, colonies literature. Franklin developed practical procedure of self improvement day by day and step by step to be thoroughly rational human being. political literature ? debate between Federalists and anti-Federalists Americans identified with Ancient Rome, that’s why the Declaration was born. The creators were educated, they read Greek, Roman works, developed sense of public virtue, conflict with the British Crown. Locke, Milton ? inspired colonies to develop ideology to sewer the ties with the Crown + â€Å"no taxation without representation† Thomas Paine (1737-1809)  ·in 1774 ? came to America as an old man, in 1776 he published Common sense, an anti-British book about Britain illegal financial abuse, appealed to Americans self-confidence, enough to be independent, to shape their destiny by determination, stamina, brains etc. The document denounced British rule and, through its immense popularity, contributed to stimulating the American Revolution. Hartford Wits (also called the Connecticut Wits) A group of American writers centered around Yale University and flourished in the 1780s and 1790s. Mostly graduates of Yale, they were conservative federalists who attacked their political opponents with satirical verse. Members included Joel Barlow, Timothy Dwight IV, David Humphreys, John Trumbull, Lemuel Hopkins, Richard Alsop, and Theodore Dwight. Works produced by the group include: The Anarchiad (published in the New Haven Gazette from 1786? 1787) The Political Greenhouse (Connecticut Courant, 1799) The Echo (American Mercury, 1791? 1805) John Trumbull (1756-1843)  ·believed in poetics, aesthetics, heroic couplet, satire. Member of a group of artists who painted important American historical events, Trumbull had an insider’s view of the War, serving as a colonel in the Continental Army and aide to Gen. Washington in the American Revolution  ·The Progress of Dullness (1772-1773) – n attack in three poems on educational methods of his time (three parts: 1. adventures of Tom Brainless, sent to college, he learns â€Å"the art of preaching,†; 2. Dick Hairbrain, a town fop, the son of a wealthy farmer, ridiculous in dress, empty of knowledge, but profound in swearing and cheap infidelity; 3. Miss Harriet Simper, slender female education, formerly in vogue, and the life of the coquette) Timothy Dwight (1752-1817)  ·continued Wigglesworth tradition  ·The Conquest of Canaan (pub. 1785) ? ambitious epic in eleven books, about George Washington & war of independence  ·Greenfield Hill (1794) – descriptive poem about small New England town, turned by Dwight into ideal place to live, with common wellbeing, where people take care of education, etc. It’s also a historical poem, about Peacock (Indian tribe) war and massacre of Indians  ·Travels in New England and New York (1820-1822) – huge publication, sort of a tourist guide, covers areas of Southern New England. He loved the place and wanted to commemorate it. Joel Barlow (1754-1812)  ·graduate of Yale, he died in Zarnowiec in Poland of pneumonia while he was on his journey to the Emperor in France  ·Poem, Spoken at the Public Commencement at Yale College (1781) ? becoming American diplomat Barlow witnessed French return to France after the war;  ·The Vision of Columbus (1787)? poem about future glory of America, Columbus visited by an Angel in prison (like in Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius where the author is visited by incarnation of philosophy; parallel of Columbus)  ·1807 ? Barlow changed his religious, political option, became enthusiast of the French Revolution;  ·1st American poem ? Barlow’s first attempt Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)  ·black slave woman from Senegambia, purchased by Boston Whitley (sort of philanthropist). She managed to learn English, extremely gifted girl, learnt to read (Milton, Homer), write. She was allowed to study, learn Latin. She started to write good poetry, praised by George Washington, but Jefferson didn’t like her poetry ? point of controversy. She expressed sort of gratitude, makes references to Greek poetry, ancient Rome, neo-classical poetry, giving a testimony that she decided to adopt, make her way to elite, in England she was a well known poet. She died young. 15. 10. 2007 Michel Guillaume (also known as Hector Saint John de Crevecoeur) (1735? 1813)  ·French-American writer, fought on the French side in the French and Indian War, then moved to New York State, becoming a naturalized citizen. After travels through various colonies, he settled on a farm in Orange Co, New York.  ·wrote a number of essays and books which portrayed life in the New World  ·Letters from an American Farmer (1784) where he describes conditions on the frontier, says that in America men are free, it’s a beautiful, natural country of liberty. Sketches of the 18th century America ? slaves, animals, community, style of slavery practice in the South, American farmers are not happy because of the lies of Independence. Early American novels had to compete with a large amount of English novels. They were also fiction and lies. SENTIMENTAL NOVELS William Hill Brown (1765-1793)  ·The Power of Sympathy (1789) ? first American novel written by first American novelist. Controversial for its time, displays the themes of seduction, betrayal, and incest. It’s a moral novel written in letters. It’s against immoral behavior, sort of educational guide against seduction. Plot: written in correspondence: several letters between friends and lovers. two young people fall in love, but in fact they’re brother and sister. They woman kills herself because she had fallen in love with her own brother and then the man devastated commits suicide. Susanna Haswell Rowson (1762-1824)  ·Charlotte Temple (1791) – first American bestseller ? seduced young lady gives a birth to a child, Lucy, then dies. Successful novel but Susanna didn’t make money for it as the novel was published illegally. It is characterized by emphatic moralism and melodramatic language, the idea that women should take care of each other. Written to protect young women from the pain of social rejection, includes theme of seduction and betrayal. Samuel Richardson (1689-1761)  ·Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady (1748) – epistolary novel, tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family. It is commonly cited as the longest novel in the English language. Clarissa is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has become very wealthy only in recent years and is now eager to become part of the aristocracy. Her relatives attempt to force her to marry a rich but heartless man against her will and, more importantly, against her own sense of virtue. Desperate to remain free, she is tricked by a young gentleman of her acquaintance, Lovelace, into escaping with him. However, she refuses to marry him, longing ? unusual for a girl in her time ? to live by herself in peace. Lovelace, in the meantime, has been trying to arrange a fake marriage all along, and considers it a sport to add Clarissa to his long list of conquests. However, as he is more and more impressed by Clarissa, he finds it difficult to keep convincing himself that truly virtuous women do not exist. The continuous pressure he finds himself under, combined with his growing passion for Clarissa, drives him to extremes and eventually he rapes her. Clarissa manages to escape from him, but becomes dangerously ill. When she dies, however, it is in the full consciousness of her own virtue, and  trusting in a better life after death. Lovelace, tormented by what he has done but still unable to change, dies in a duel with Clarissa’s cousin. Clarissa’s relatives finally realise the misery they have caused, but discover that they are too late and Clarissa has already died.  ·Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740) is an epistolary novel. It tells the story of a maid named Pamela whose master, Mr. B. , makes unwanted advances towards her. She rejects him continually, and her virtue is eventually rewarded when he shows his sincerity by proposing an equitable marriage to her. In the second part of the novel, Pamela attempts to accommodate herself to upper-class society and to build a successful relationship with him. The story was widely mocked at the time for its perceived licentiousness and it inspired Henry Fielding (among many others) to write two parodies: Shamela (1741), about Pamela’s true identity; and Joseph Andrews (1742), about Pamela’s brother. Hannah Webster Foster (1758-1840)  ·The Coquett,; or, The History of Eliza Wharton (1797) is an epistolary novel. Published anonymously until 1866, 26 years after Webster’s death. It was one of the best-selling novels of its time. The novel is a fictionalized account of the story of Elizabeth Wharton, the daughter of a clergyman who died after giving birth to a stillborn, illegitimate child at a roadside tavern. Writers and preachers of the day blamed her demise on the fact that she read romance novels, which gave her improper ideas and turned her into a coquette. Foster responded with The Coquette, which provided a more sympathetic portrayal of Wharton and described the difficulties faced by middle-class women. Tabitha Tenney (1762-1837)  ·Female Quixotism (1801) ? the heroine goes mad, she has a strange idea of love (all men are the heroes of romances). She had some candidates but she doesn’t like them. The book is rather a parody. The woman can’t get married, she makes wrong choices, rejects good man and accepts the dishonest ones. HORROR STORIES ? THE GOTHIC NOVEL Ann Radcliffe (1764 – 1823)  ·pioneer of the gothic novel. English writer.  ·The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) – follows the fortunes of Emily St. Aubert who suffers, among other misadventures, the death of her father, supernatural terrors in a gloomy castle, and the machinations of an Italian brigand. Often cited as the archetypal Gothic novel, Charles B. Brown (1771 – 1810).  ·he wanted to be professional writer but people didn’t want to read him. He quitted and became a political writer. He was the first American gothic writer.  ·Wieland, or, the Transformation (1798) ? Theodore Wieland is master of a landed estate, which he has inherited from his father, an immigrant from Germany. Wieland Senior was a man of strange inclinations who, having built a temple on a hillock in the grounds, devoted to his own idiosyncratic religion, later dies mysteriously of spontaneous combustion (samospalenie). Wieland inherits his father’s god-fearing disposition. However the rural idyll he shares with his wife, children, sister and best friend is shattered when he becomes prey to the trickery of Carwin: a mysterious ventriloquist (brzuchomowca) who has moved to the area after leading an undercover life of deception in Europe. Under the influence of religious mania and Carwin’s trickery Wieland kills his wife and children as a demonstration of his obedience to a ‘divine voice’. In court he expresses no remorse for his deeds and later escapes from prison to attempt the life of his sister, before being stopped in his tracks by the command of a final ‘divine voice’, which in reality emanates from Carwin. Wieland then commits suicide. The story is told as a first person narrative by Wieland’s sister Clara. As the story proceeds her initial calm and rational disposition is sorely tried by the uncanny and bloody events of the story, which reduces her, by the end, to a state of near mania. Her relations with the deceiver Carwin are ambiguous, veering between attraction and repulsion as the story unfolds. Apparently the novel was based on the true story of a multiple murder which took place at Tomhannock, New York in 1781.  ·Ormond; or, the Secret Witness (1799) ?  about lady who kills her seducer with a penknife. The novel engages with many of the period’s popular debates about women’s education, marriage, and the morality of violence, while the plot revolves around the Gothic themes of seduction, murder, incest, impersonation, romance and disease. Set in post-revolutionary Philadelphia, Ormond examines the prospects of the struggling nation by tracing the experiences of Constantia, a young virtuous republican who struggles to survive when her father’s business is ruined by a confidence man, and her friends and neighbors are killed by a yellow fever epidemic.  ·Arthur Mervyn (1799) – Arthur Mervyn suffers form yellow fever, discovered by Dr. Stevens who invites him home. Mr. Wortley comes over to Dr. Stevens, recognizes Arthur Mervyn, and reacts with extreme displeasure. Dr. Stevens demands an explanation. Mervyn begins to tell his story. This is the frame, nearly three quarters of the book bring Mervyn’s adventures up to this moment in time.  ·Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker (1799) – The story of a young man who sleepwalks each night and is a threat to himself and others, unable to control his baser passions. Set outside Philadelphia in 1787, the book is a metaphor for the founding of a new nation, but can be read on a literal level as an American â€Å"Gothic† novel. Placed in the middle of wilderness. Young man wakes up in a dark hotel room, he doesn’t know how he got there, he has a tomahawk. Kills a panther and eats it raw. Eventually returns home. Isaac Mitchell (1835-1893)  ·Alonzo and Melissa (1804) ? gothic castle on Long Island. Explanation that the castle was built by Puritans. ADVENTURE NOVELS Royall Tyler (1757-1826)  ·The Algerine Captive (1797) – about a Harvard-educated American schoolteacher turned doctor, who was captured by Barbary (the Algerians) pirates in 1788 and sold into slavery in the City of Algiers. Description of conditions in which black slaves were kept on ships. At the end the character returns to USA.  ·The Contrast (1790) – is an American play in the tradition of the English Restoration comedies of the seventeenth century; it takes its cue from Sheridan’s The School for Scandal, a British comedy of manners that had revived that tradition a decade before. Royall uses the form to satirize Americans who follow British fashions and indulge in ‘British vices’. Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748-1816)  ·Modern Chivalry: Containing the Adventures of Captain John Farrago and Teague O’Regan, His servant (1792) is a rambling, satirical American novel. The book is arguably the first important work of fiction about the American frontier and called â€Å"to the West what Don Quixote was to Europe†. â€Å"a more thoroughly American book than any written before 1833. † The model of modern chivalry was Don Quixote – they travel all over US. Cultural change was in Boston or around Boston in 18th century. New cultural force ? Unitarianism. Dutch Bishop, rejected the dogma of the predestination, unificated the Great Trinity to one God Father. Unitarians believed that people can improve themselves without grace of God. New, much more optimistic model of human being began. Sermons ? people should show likeness to God by practicing virtues, trying to be good. Henry Ware – educated at Harvard College, Professor at Harvard, precipitating a controversy between Unitarians and more conservative Calvinists. He took part in the formation of the Harvard Divinity School and the establishment of Unitarianism there in the following decades, publishing his debates with eminent Calvinists in the 1820s. William Emerson – In 1804, Emerson founded the Anthology Club, a Boston literary society, and wrote articles for the club’s The Monthly Anthology. This publication was the forerunner of the North American Review, America’s leading literary journal, and the Club’s reading room led to the founding in 1807 of the Boston Athenaeum. Joseph Stevens Buckminster – Upon his graduation, he became minister of the Brattle Street Church in Boston, and quickly launched an almost legendary career of eloquent preaching, biblical scholarship, and literary production which set the tone for the pattern of the minister as a man of letters. In 1801 he traveled to Europe and returned with books. He was the most brilliant member of the Anthology Club, an early editor of the Monthly Anthology, and in 1811 was appointed Dexter Lecturer at Harvard where he occupied the first Chair in Scripture. Buckminster’s influence on his contemporaries was striking. His mastery of the emerging New Criticism from German Biblical scholars led to his rational investigation of the Bible, subjecting its text to the same scrupulous scholarly investigation given other texts from antiquity. Founded in Boston in 1815, The North American Review (NAR) was the first literary magazine in the United States, and was published continually until 1940, when publication was suspended due to World War II. The Review’s first editor, William Tudor (1779-1830), and other founders had been members of Boston’s Anthology Club, and launched The North American Review to foster a genuine American culture. In its first few years it was published poetry, fiction, and miscellaneous essays on a bi-monthly schedule, but in 1818 it became a quarterly with more focused contents intent on improving society and on elevating culture. The Review promoted the improvement of public education and administration, with reforms in secondary schools, sound professional training of doctors and lawyers, rehabilitation of prisoners at the state penitentiary, and government by educated experts. Its editors and contributors included such literary and political New Englanders as John Adams, George Bancroft, Nathaniel Bowditch, William Cullen Bryant, Lewis Cass, Edward T. Channing, Caleb Cushing, Richard Henry Dana, Alexander Hill Everett, Edward Everett, Jared Sparks, George Ticknor, Gulian C. Verplanck, Daniel Webster. 22. 10. 2007 Norton Anthology ? early times, complaining about American literature, being poor, inferior to British, what should be done to improve Madame de Stael (1766-1817)  ·quickly translated into English, pub. in New York; as a French-speaking Swiss author living in Paris and abroad. She influenced literary tastes in Europe at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries Walter Cherning ? in North American review, tried to apply Madame’s ideas to American context The Analectic ? literary magazine There was no a really popular, one author in American unknown for Europe (in literature) until Irving. Washington Irving (1783 – 1859)  ·One of the first noted American authors to be highly acclaimed in Europe during his life time, Irving was a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction. He wrote numerous short stories, biographies, histories, and tales of his travels. His characters Ichabod Crane and Rip van Winkle are now icons of popular American culture, and many of Irving’s works have inspired adaptations to the stage and film.  ·Washington, while born sickly, was a mischievous and adventuresome young man, sneaking out at night to attend plays and frustrating his pious parents, especially his father. He roamed the city and environs, dreaming of far-off places–dreams that were partly fueled by one of his favourite books, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Travelling would become a life-long passion. Although he was not an avid student, he studied law and became a clerk.  ·Suffering from ill-health off and on for many years, in 1804 Irving set sail from New York Harbour, the first of many trips abroad: he was going to a spa in Bordeaux, France to treat a lung ailment. He learned French, made many friends, travelled through Europe. In 1806 he returned to America.  ·with his brother William and James Kirke Paulding created a semi-monthly periodical World of New York to compete with the more sombre news publications of the day. While it was short-lived The Salmagundi Paper; or, the Whim-Whams and Opinions of Laucelot Langstaff, Esq. And Others. (1809) was met with great success. The Jonathan Swift-like satire and tongue-in-cheek pokes at politics, culture, and society was â€Å"to instruct the young, reform the old, correct the town, and castigate the age. †  ·The Salmagundi Papers (1809) – satirical work by Washington Irving (under the pen name Diedrich Kinckerbocker), with the title being derived from the dish. The work is nowadays remembered especially for first popularizing the sobriquet Gotham for New York City.  ·In a similar vein Irving composed his first novel, Knickerbocker’s History of New York (1809). A burlesque and comprehensive weaving of fact and fiction, his â€Å"History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty† is narrated by Diedrich Knickerbocker and won Irving much acclaim at home and abroad.  ·Irving’s short stories, first printed in America under his pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon between the years 1819-20 were collected in The Crayon Papers and The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon. They contain two of Irvings’ most famous tales: Rip van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. These stories were wildly popular in America and soon too in Europe.  ·His next novel was Bracebridge Hall, or, The Humorists, A Medley (1822). Published under the pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon, centers on an English manor, its inhabitants, and the tales they tell. Interspersed with witty, evocative sketches of country life among the English nobility is the well-known tale â€Å"The Stout Gentleman† and stories based on English, French, and Spanish folklore, vividly recounted with Irving’s inimitable blend of elegance and colloquial dash. They include Dolph Heyliger the story of a New Yorker who encounters a haunted house, ghosts, and a buried treasure.  ·It was followed by Tales of a Traveller (1824), which Irving considered one of his finer works. A last experiment with fiction before he turned to the writing of history, biography, and adaptation of folktales. Arranged in four sections, the miscellany of short fiction reveals elements of comedy and melodrama new to Irving’s work. The first three groups of stories have a European background, while the final five stories, supposedly â€Å"found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker,† are set in New York and feature pirates and buried treasure.  ·In 1826 Irving moved to Madrid, Spain, where he set to writing his highly lauded The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (1828), Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (1829), and Tales of the Alhambra (1832) – rich compendium of tales, deftly interwoven with historical accounts and picturesque sketches, was assembled from Spanish and Moorish folklore, history, guidebooks, and anecdotes of Irving’s experiences among the local residents. The forty-nine pieces range from stories based on Granada’s colorful history to graceful vignettes of its contemporary scene, from romantic descriptions of the local architecture and terrain to medieval tales of the supernatural.  ·Astoria: Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains (1836). â€Å"†¦. I have felt anxious to get at the details of their adventurous expeditions among the savage tribes that peopled the depths of the wilderness. † It explores Irving’s impressions from travels in Canada and America as guest of John Jacob Astor’s Northwest Fur Company. Irving expresses his sympathy to the displaced, and dispossessed ‘savage’ Native American Peoples in such stories as â€Å"Philip of Pokanoket†, â€Å"Traits of Indian Character†, and â€Å"Origin of the White, the Red, and the Black Men†. first American Literary Account of the Wild West, surprised that his view is different from Ch. Browning’s (who portrayed the Westerners as wild animals). Irving portrays them as human, describes buffalo hunting (exaggerated a bit as he describes himself hunting). Counts as the earliest literary description of the West.  ·The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (1837) – Drawing on Bonneville’s own journals, Washington Irving chronicles the exploits and adventures of Captain James Bonneville, one of the earliest explorers of the American West, detailing his various journeys with mountain man Joseph Rutherford Walker; their discovery of Yosemite, Walker Pass, and the Bonneville Salt Flats; and life among the Native Americans and trappers of the West.  ·Irving’s last finished work, something he had been working on for many years but kept putting aside for other more pressing projects is his Life of George Washington (1859).  ·The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820) – The story is set circa 1790 in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, New York, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. It tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a lanky schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with Abraham â€Å"Brom Bones† Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, only daughter of a wealthy farmer. As Crane leaves a party at the Van Tassel home on an autumn night, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, supposedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who lost his head to a cannonball during â€Å"some nameless battle† of the American Revolutionary War and who â€Å"rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head. † Crane disappears from town, leaving Katrina to marry Brom Bones, who was â€Å"to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related. †  ·Rip Van Winkle (1819) – The story of Rip Van Winkle is set in the years immediately before (the early to mid-1770s) and after the American Revolutionary War (the early to mid-1790s). Rip Van Winkle, a villager of Dutch descent, lives in a nice village at the foot of New York’s Catskill Mountains. An amiable man whose home and farm suffer from his lazy neglect, he is loved by all but his wife. One autumn day he escapes his naggi.