Writing reflection

Ideas and Content

As a writer I am strong in writing clear topic sentences that make sence also being specefic in the topic the essay is about. For example in my Julius Ceasar essay "“I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (3.2 pg.130) This quote sets Brutus’s conflict; he had to betray his good friend for Rome" This is the first topic sentence of my essay and this sentence grasps the main idea of the whole story of what Brutus does. My weaknesses are making my writing make sense and include interesting and relevant details. Most the the time in my Alchemist essay I wasn't very clear in what I meant and the message I am trying to convey to the audience. The reader probably had to read it a few times to fully understand what I am trying to mean. Also I can tell details but they aren't very interesting.

Organiztaion

So far in my writing career I have been very good at my organization. This is one of my strongest strength in writing, I am very good in organizing the facts laying them out in order so they make sense. Also overall in my essay I am organized I have an introduction, 3 body paragraphs and a strong conclusion. My only worry in organization is getting a clear thesis statement.

Personal Growth

Overall I have a better grade in my most current essay. So I think that I have become a better writter over time. Everyday my vocabulary improves, and my word choice improves. After seeing the results I conclude that I am better working on my self than people helping, I don't need that much help in my essay I just need concentration the topic and studying the last night. I also agree I got a better grade because I really focused and payed attention in class on the Julius Ceasar unit.

SLR Reflection

For both essays I thought creatively, In both essays I had to think constantly about my topic, chosing my word choice and the organization. Just thinking a bit I and doing my essay won't get me my ideal grad. By thinking hard and applying the concepts I learned in class I can make an essay which not only has good organization but good word choice.

DId the ends justify the means?

“I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (3.2 pg.130) This quote sets Brutus’s conflict; he had to betray his good friend for Rome. Honor and patriotism is what motivates Brutus, he loves his country and that is why he lives, to fight for his country. He is a very honorable man he likes the honor he gets because he makes a lot more alliances and builds trust on people. Being patriotic Brutus does anything for the benefit of his country; he loves Rome and gets rid of anyone who might be danger for Rome.

If Brutus had no honor and reputation he would be like just all the other commoners who follow like sheep. Brutus is motivated a lot by this because it benefits him a lot, he gets the trust of people, and he gets recognition, a high rank, and gets to be one of the powerful people of Rome. Since Brutus targets for honor he behaves very serious when he comes to making decisions, because whatever he does there will be an outcome which can either ruin or increase his reputation. “Lets kill him boldly, not wrathfully; lets carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.” (2.1 pg. 74) This quote means that Brutus doesn’t want a murder he wants a sacrifice, he says this should be an honorable kill not some murder for the benefit of more power. This shows Brutus aiming for honor again; he thinks that by killing Ceasar, which is the right thing, he will gain more respect and honor for saving Rome from danger. “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe” (3.2 pg. 128) In this quote Brutus uses his honor to convince the people of why he did so. This ties in with his aim because he is using his rank to convince the commoners, and if they believe him he will just gain more honor. Overall as long as Brutus is honorable and has a high reputation the commoners will follow him for he is powerful, but another motivator that has helped him build up reputation is of being patriotic.

Being patriotic means to do everything good for the country, Brutus is very patriotic, he just betrayed his very good friend, Ceasar, just for the benefit of Rome, even if it comes to sacrificing himself he will do it. Brutus is motivated in this way because he loves his country and has a true Roman spirit. Being patriotic Brutus is very careful about who is the King and who might be the next danger, which sort of ties in to honor, because if he saves his country from some danger all the people will praise him more. “Not that I loved Ceasar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2 Pg.128) This quote indicates that Brutus didn’t love Ceasar less but he loved his Country more. This suggests that he is patriotic; he killed his dearest friend for the safety of Rome. “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did envy of great Ceasar; He only, in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them.” (5.5 pg. 218) This means that Brutus was the noblest one out of all the conspirators, he only killed him for the sake of Rome and for the good of everyone. This shows Brutus patriotic, because he really meant this from his heart, he only saw Ceasar as a threat to Rome, as the rest of conspirators really didn’t sacrifice him with honor, they did it for the benefit of themselves. After all Brutus is very honorable and loyal to his country, he will only do what is best for Rome and everyone.

Brutus’s conflict was to kill his friend, Ceasar, for Rome, but he never thought that Ceasar would be a danger, Cassius convinced Brutus to join the conspiracy. The only thing Brutus killed Ceasar for was for honor and his country, Rome, which makes him honorable and patriotic. This caused Brutus to behave very serous because before he was very friendly and supportive to Ceasar, he would make a huge mistake to killing Ceasar without any justification, without a justification to kill Ceasar the commoners would kill him and the conspirators thanks to Antony. Brutus achieved his goal but found out that Rome had gone mad after the death of Ceasar. I think he achieved his goal because the “sacrifice” was very well planned and it was kept a secret very well, they had to make sure that there were no weak links. He was motivated by his honor for his country, this makes him fight in battles, save lives. Another motivator is patriotism, he used to do things all the time for his country, this brought him high in power and brought people’s trust. He even set a goal to kill his best friend for the sake of his country. I don’t think the goal was very noble. Brutus blamed Ceasar of being ambitious. He wasn’t ambitious if he was he wouldn’t have turned down the crown 3 times.

Collage reflection-Part 2

Thinking Creatively-
Some of the creative things I did in constructing my collage is that many of the photos are on tilts. On my six word memoir the paper isn't neatly cut with cisors I cut it by hand to give it an effect to that it stands out. I also put the story of these boys in a "s" shape.

Reason Critically-
I used text and pictures in a way to show the lost boys story, it shows how they felt, what they went through. Especially the top row is where I show the situation they're in. Along with the words to support the picture. For example I put forced under a black and white position. That shows the critical situation they are in, they now are homeless and they were forced to migrate.

Live Ethicaly-
I believe that my collage shows emotion. I think my collage demonstrates empathy because when the black and white photos are shown it shows no color, no happiness, no freedom, and also cpmlimented with the words it makes you feel sorry for them.

Cast away from home

Sudan is one of the hard hit places where there are a lot of conflicts, people ruling over and also facing the civil war. The Dinka tribe is the most hard hit tribes of all in that area. They were forced to migrate from their tribe base, all the parents died and all the children had to make it on their own. After being forced to move out of their tribe they had to cross a river, thousands of children died by drowning, being caught by aligators or by being shot at from both sides. The lucky ones who survived lived in a refugee camp safe from the enemies till now. After a few years some of the Dinka boys chose to migrate to America, there were alot of stereo types, some of the boys thought that Heuston, Texas would be like heaven, the best place to live, others thought that by themselves they wouldn't be able to live, they needed their friends and family to be with them.

Peter who lives in Kansas faced racism from the people with lighter skin. They were judged by stereo types. Example: When Peter was working at Walmart he heard his boss say that he should work outside since all the Africans work outside in the hot sun. Another conflict Peter is facing is culture, he felt a bit left out when he was with the Church group, he sat all the way at the back, he didn't sing along with them, he had different values and he was unfamiliar with theirs.

2. Peter didn't go to some place where people from the Dinka Tribe or with similar beliefs could go and regularly prey and feel accepted again. Peter tried to adapt to being christian because all his friend were and he thought he would be more accepted by people. Peter realized that you can't just immediately become Christian, he needs to learn the values, beliefs which unfortunately no one is teaching him. He tried to go to Church with his friend and also went to a place where a Christian group would regroup and practice their values.

Shakespear, to be or not to be, acted

Context: In passage Brutus is thinking of how Ceasar may make an impact in the Roman Government and what might happen to himself. He sees Ceasar as a dangerous serpent. Brutus must kill him inside his shell, if he doesn't it will grow out of it's shell and be very lethal. Also he says how Ceasar has used other people to climb up the ladder of power, and once he is on top he turns his back on the other people who helped him get there,

Significance: The significance of this passage is that brutus is thinking all these things. Brutus use to be loyal and trustworthy to Ceasar, but now he is seeing Ceasar not as a friend but as a serpent. A deadly creature who's nature is to kill and conquer. Therefore leading Brutus and the other conspirators to kill Ceasar before he is crowned.

Passage taken from Act 2 scene 1 line 10-34

Passage:
Brutus: It must be by his death; and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder,
And that carves wary walking. Crown him?-that?
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
Th'abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Ceasar,
I have not known when his affections swa'd
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees.
By which he did ascend. So Ceasar may;
Then lest he may, prevent. And since quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg,
Which hatch'd would, as his kin, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

School of Athens

School of Athens

How can art be a mirror of society?

"the school of Athens" painting and many other paintings show society within, therefore art can be a mirror of society. The School of Athens shows society because he painted many important people, and brought so many people in one painting including, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Raphael and many others. The two ost important in this painting are Plato and Arisotle because of the linear perspective (the lines). They show, mathematicians, scientists and philosiphers. Another reason is because this painting embraces you in the Catholic world during the high Renaissance time period. He shows the greatest minds of all time in the Renaissance. In this painting there are experiments, teachings, discussions going on and writing. There are both male and female teachers teaching, this shows that the knowledge was high level. These are the key facts that are put into play to show that this painting reflects society.

If I were to be someody in the painting "School of Athens" by Raphael I would be the man holding a book in the lower left of the painting. I would be this person because he probably is wearing what everyones else is wearing, This gives a image on him that he fits in with the crowd not only because of his clothing, but because he is near the crowd and is having a conversation. The book in his hand signifies knowledge, that he knows how to write and read, which also gives a good reputation to his family. His expression makes him excited and happy, also because of the bright warm colors he is wearing. I am cheerful, happy and can read and write, I have knowledge and that is why that this character best describes me.

Historical Knowledge 4 Task E

Leornado Da Vinci could be characterized as a true Renaissance man by being independent, hard working and determination. Independence is a huge trait for the Renaissance because if they weren't independent and didn't see for themselves they would have just relied on the ancient manuscripts which was mostly inaccurate. If Da Vinci didn't take a risk to use a different formula for making paint he would have sill remained average, nothing outstanding. Hard working is the way the Renaissance went with, if they work hard they will get good results, if they didn't put enough effort into their work it could have also been inaccurate. If Da Vinci didn't put enough work in his art he wouldn't have succeeded. Finally Determination, the Renaissance must have did tests over and over to make sure that their results are accurate. If some one was inventing something they should stick to their invention until it works. If Da Vinci hadn't been so hopeless he would have been an amazing man, in the exhibit I learned that Da Vinci wasn't always a successful and patient guy, he would only finish something if he had the time the patience or if he was being paid enough to do it. These are the traits that would characterize a Renaissance man.

By Leornado Da Vinci