Friday, February 29, 2008

Service Learning '08

This year for service learning, for the individual service, I'm thinking about doing something that deals with animals or nature. For school wide I'm not yet sure but the recycling service seems pretty interesting since I like help protecting the environment. Also, the tutoring service also, since everyone seemed to like it a lot last year, I may give it a shot. I have a couple ideas for independent service and they are again as said above, helping out the envrionment with something that pertains to nature, and doing something benefiting animals.

Although, I have several ideas for my service learning project, Morgan just came to my attention that I can do what she did last year with the Committee of Seventy organization. I've already signed up at their website and I'm waiting for an email back to get training and see where that takes me. It all seems interesting and I'm excited to do it!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Bloom's Taxonomy Anyone ?

Knowledge:
Why were Bigger and Gus arguing in the pool room?
-Bigger and Gus were arguing in the pool room because Bigger knew Gus was afraid to rob Mr. Blum because he was a white man. Gus also knew that Bigger was afraid and was picking on him to cover up his cowardliness.

Comprehension:
What do you think would have happened if Bigger and his friends would have gone through with the robbery of Blum?
-I believe if Bigger and his gang were went through with the robbery, they would have got caught and the book would be swaying in a whole direction or them in jail or something similar.

Application:
If you have the chance, what question would you ask Mary about Bigger?
-If I had the chance, I'd ask Mary what she thought about Bigger. Also, I'd ask her why were her and her family different from most white people who reacted in a negative manner toward black people.

Analysis:
What do you think would have happened if Bigger did not kill Mary?
-If Bigger did not kill Mary, things would be a lot better for him. The book would probably become a bit boring, but with the way Bigger acted, something else could have led to him getting in trouble.

Synthesis:
Design a time machine to take you back to Mary's death. If you were him what would you have done if you were in his shoes in that situation?
If I was to travel back in time and stand in Bigger's shoes as him at the time he kills Mary I would do everything differently.
Because I knew Mary was drunk I would not take advantage of her like Bigger does. I'd act professional and reluctant to pick her up myself and carry her up stairs, but I do it overall. Also, while I gently put Mary in her bed and Mrs. Dalton was to walk in, I'd tell her the honest truth, that Mary was so drunken that she could not walk and I had to carry her upstairs and I was just doing my job, while trying not to get in trouble.
In conclusion, if I was in Bigger's when he killed Mary I'd do things differently. AS said above, I'd bring her upstairs and if caught, I'd tell the honest truth that I was just doing my job and I was trying to prevent any trouble.

Evaluation:
What do you think about Thomas family? Do you think they live and act like most black people in Chicago in the 1930s?
I think that Bigger's family acts and lives like most black people during that time period.
I believe this because in the book it's stated that the black belt is where all the black people because white people won't rent to the black people. Therefore, they are forced to live in the small, rat infested, homes. I also believe because they are looked upon as an inferior race, they are forced not to say anything bout it and just accept the situation. For this reason, I believe Bigger Thomas reacts scared and shyly when meeting the Dalton's for the first time.
In conclusion, I do believe the Thomas family acts like most black people in Chicago at that time because of how the white man sees them. They are just forced to accept the situation because of how society looks upon them.












Monday, February 25, 2008

NDH Reflection

For NHD this year I wrote a Historical Paper on Woodstock '69. This was my second year doing a paper, so I knew exactly what was expected and how to handle myself while conducting my research and writing my paper. However, I honestly believe that last year, my paper on Hall & Oates was way better.
The overall turnout of my paper was just okay. For me the length could have been longer, and I could have used more of my opinions toward the festival than facts for just about everything (even though that did make my primary source list long).
I believe the hardest part of writing any paper, is taking all the information and research you have and organizing it into a paper. During workshops, I became frustrated sometimes because I was still in the process of orgainizing what I had instead of actually typing my paper.
When I finally finished my paper, I had a total of 2,479 words, almost meeting the maximum and about 11 pages including the interview.
For me, this year the best part of my NHD experience in writing a paper was the interview I conducted with Terry, the owner/creator of the amazing site www.woodstock69.com
She helped me out a lot and my interest for the event grew as you told me of her experience and what the youth in her time stood for.
Throughout this whole experience I learned so much I would never have thought that would have happened at a concert. Now I realize how legendary and successful the event is and why up to this day is still talked about and completely legendary.
I would never forget this project because it was interesting and a project I recommend to anyone whose interesting in learning about Woodstock and the 70's era in general.
After all, Woodstock lives on!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Char Notes:


Chapter 4 (24-28) "I Aint Neva Scared!"
Summary
This chapter is about Bigger and Gus arguing with going through the robbery at Blum's. They argue for a while showing that they aren't afraid of one another but definitely afraid of robbing a white man. Bigger picks on Gus because he reveals his fears by admitting it, but Bigger hides his by the toughness of the streets.
Analysis
I believe Richard Wright wrote this part to show how young black males act when "the streets" are apart of their upbringing. He portrays this in Bigger, by showing that black males were supposed to act tough even if they were scared of a situation.

Chapter 9 (66-70) "After All, I'm On Your Side."
Summary
This chapter is about Bigger's encounter with Mary during his first day of driving her. He is told that she has to be driven to the University and picked up there. However, in the midst of driving her, she tells him to loosen up with her and turn the car around. From there, she goes to pick up her friend Jan, an invites him in the car with them. They both become friendly with Bigger and shows him not every white person is cruel and out to get black people. Jan then begins to drive while he questions Bigger, and they later go get a bite to eat.
Analysis
I think Richard Wright wrote this part to show, as I said before not all white people are cruel and they do think of black folks as equals, however some colored people take it the wrong way and are a bit scared to become comfortable with them.

Chapter 11 (82-85) "Accidental Death?"
Summary
This chapter is about Bigger accidentally killing Mary in order to keep her out of trouble and keep his job. He brings her upstairs, because she is unable to walk on her own, then violates her by feeling her up until Mrs. Dalton (who is blind) enters the room. When she call for Mary, Bigger puts the pillow in her mouth so she can't make any noise. Mary fights back until she can't breathe anymore, because she was over powered by Bigger's strength.
Analysis
Richard Wright, does this to give the book some intensity. He shows how some people would react in the heat of the moment, and how far some people would go to protect themselves. Also, he puts this part in the book to show how possibly some black men felt toward white women in that era, also how people are taken advantage of when drunk!

Friday, February 1, 2008

"Reluctantly"


Reluctantly; describes disinclination toward something.
Synonyms; unwilling, disinclined.
Antonyms; willing
Ex. The child was reluctant to take a bath.