DUE FRIDAY 5/18 Apology Reading pp. 61-70

Made pitiful appeals to the jury with floods of tears, and had his infant children produces in court to excite the maximum of sympathy.

I highlighted this part, because this is when Meletus is saying that Socrates is trying to make the jury fell sorry for him, by crying and bringing his followers to support him. I think that this is an important fact, because this is a way that Meletus gets the jury to vote for him so that way Socrates can be executed.


At any rate the view is established that Socrates is different from the common run of mankind.

I also think that this part is one of the most important parts, because Meletus is showing how different Socrates is. And since Socrates is so different they think that he will destroy the good life that everyone has. Socrates was accused for going against what everyone else believed in, but is that a crime? Socrates had tried to make everyone think for themselves so they can have their own opinions of their own.

DUE THR 5/17 The Apology pp. 51-61

Tell me honestly, Meletus, is that your opinion of me? Do I believe in no god?

In your class decision Austin had pointed this part out. I also like this quote, because it appeals to religion. It also makes it obvious of who's talking to who.

DUE WED 5/16 The Apology pg. 39-50

I thought that it was peculiarly brazen of them to have the nerve to tell you this, only just before event s must prove them wrong, when it becomes obvious that I have not the slightest skill as a speaker -unless, of course, by a skillful speaker they mean one who speaks the truth.



I had chose this sentence, because it talks about how Socrates is saying that the orator will try to make us turn against Socrates. I think that this sentence would be good in a debate, because this tells us that the orators are doing this for sure to get Socrates executed.

4/25 Jigsaw Activity

1) Give a quick explanation of the topic and propose a debate resolution of the topic. (a couple of sentences)
The reason for giving a quick explanation of the topic and propose a debate reseolution of the topic is to get a general idea on what our question is for the debate. We write quick summeries so we won't have to write out the whole thing.

2) Explain why it is an important topic. How does it impact your constitutional rights?
I think that impacting our constitutional rights, and that just means that is one step closer for the government to hide everything from us and to think on our own.

3) Write one or two sentences that explain a good point made by the con side and one or two sentences that explain a good point made by the pro side (2-4 sentences total).
One good argument for the con side is that the government is trying to protect us from the harm. One good argument for the pro side is yah ok the government maybe trying to keep us from harm, but hiding the truth doesn't help us.

Question #3

3. Do you think Imus should be silenced? Why?
To me Imus should be silences, because if there are racial comments being made on the air that could end up getting him killed. He is saying all this stuff about colored people maybe, because a colored person may have hurt him in a way. But that also doesn't give him the right to say anything as racial as he has been. He may be saying all this about a dark skinned person, because one may have hurt him, but not all colored people are the same, so he shouldn't talking about all of us. Or even just that one person, because it's disrespectful.

NAACP

1. According to the NAACP, why should Imus be silenced?

According to NAACP Imus should be silenced, because getting rid of him "is a welcome first step in recovering this scourge from the airwaves" said the NAACP National Board of Directoers Chairman Julian Bond (http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2007-04-13-02).

2. According to Frank Rich, why should Imus not be silenced?

According to Frank Rich should be silenced, because "I didn't judge Imus to be a bigpot. perhaps I felt this way in a part beacuse Imus cehemently inveighed against racism in real life, most recently in decrying the politics ads in last year's senate campaign linking a black Tennesse congressman" (nytimes.com)

4/18 Plato Reading and Blog

My own question:

Why does Chryses try to make us think that it's not homer talking, but an aged priest who is talking???

I figured that I would post a question that I had instead of answering a question, so that way any questions that I have could be answered. My question could also be brought up in class.

3/27 Republic Assignment

The Republic, Part III Education, Section 1. pp. 67-76

1. Short Paragraph – Personal Reflection: Before reading the selection from Plato write at least one full paragraph on this question: Why do you think Plato (or anyone else) would want to censor Hesiod? Remember that Hesiod was the poet who wrote about the fight between the gods and the titans.


I think that someone might censor someone like Plato, because they might be afraid that someone writing about the fight between the gods and the titans might learn from there and start a war. People during this time would just start a war over what they think justice is to find out that there really isn't only one good definition that everyone agrees with. Starting a war over one difinition isn't the war to live in a society.

3. Short Answers – Text based questions. Answer both questions

a. What are Homer and Hesiod guilty of?

Homer and Hesiod are guilty of Misrepresenting the nature of gods and heroes.

And

b. What are the two main characteristics of “god” and what are the laws/principles of story telling based on those characteristics?


The two main characteristics of "god" are 1) Gods acts were good and just, and those being punished had benefitted from it.2)It is impossible for a god to wish himself to change.
4. Compare what you wrote in your personal reflection above (#1) with what Plato wrote. How close were you to what Plato wrote?

While reading this part I was kind of confused and I didn't really see exactlly what Plato wrote.

Fahrenheit 451 pages 154 - 165

A question I have had is what is up with the war. Did Bradbury add that because he wrote the book during a war?

What does Montag mean when he says, “And when they ask us what we are doing, you can say, we’re remembering”? Why is this quote important?

I'm not exactly sure what the quote means, but I think it means that Montag is trying to find out what he's doing with his life.

Fahrenheit 451 pages 138 - 154

2. How has Montag changed from the beginning of the novel to this part? In writing about this you might want to notice that the environment has changed from the city to nature. Is this a coincidence or is the author trying to say something by contrasting the city to nature in relation to the ways Montag has changed.

I think that Montag has changed a lot during the course of the book so far. Like in the beginning he didn’t care what he was doing as long as he did his job; which is burn books. But ever since he saw that he burned a woman while she was holding a book he kept thinking “why would anyone sacrifice their life in order to save a book?” I think the change of scenery is very important to understand the changes that Guy has gone through because in the city he was trapped, he was following everyone else and did not realize the “real” world.

Fahrenheit 451 pages 138 - 154

2. How has Montag changed from the beginning of the novel to this part? In writing about this you might want to notice that the environment has changed from the city to nature. Is this a coincidence or is the author trying to say something by contrasting the city to nature in relation to the ways Montag has changed.

I think that Montag has changed a lot during the course of the book so far. Like in the beginning he didn’t care what he was doing as long as he did his job; which is burn books. But ever since he saw that he burned a woman while she was holding a book he kept thinking “why would anyone sacrifice their life in order to save a book?” I think the change of scenery is very important to understand the changes that Guy has gone through because in the city he was trapped, he was following everyone else and did not realize the “real” world.

Fahrenhiet 451 pages 125 - 137

Explain what you find interesting or exciting in this part of the book.

I relized that Montag was finaly makes a choose on what he wants to do with his life.

Fahrenheit 451 pages 110 - 125

1. Summarize what happened in one or two sentences.

This part/section was really interesting. Captain Beatty finally discovers that Guy had books and they get called to burn his house. When they finally get there, Guy notices he was called to burn his own house. So he takes the flamethrower and directs it towards Beatty and burns him. After that Guy is being chased by the mechanical hound. Montag gets bitten and then he kills the hound.

2. On your blog, copy down one sentence from this reading selection that strikes you as particularly descriptive. Which of the 5 senses does it appeal to? What verbs, adjectives, or figurative language are used and why are they effective in describing a certain action, person, or thing?

The part I liked is located near the bottom of page 117. It goes like “The house fell in red coals and black ash. It bedded itself down in sleepy pink-gray cinders and a smoke plume blew over it, rising and waving slowly back and forth in the sky” (Bradbury 117). I liked this because it shows the house being burned to nothing and how its smoke looks it is waving when it says “moving back and forth”. I think this appeals mostly to the sight but I am sure that if someone was actually there they would smell the smoke.

Farenhiet 451 pages 91 - 110

1.) Give a very short (1-3 sentence) summary of the two main scenes in this section. The first scene was at home in the living room and the second scene was in the fire house with Beatty.

a.) The first scene took place at the house. Basically what happened here was Guy Montag came inside the house and saw the women having a discussion. Then they all started talking. A few minutes later Montag takes out a poetry book and reads out loud.
b.) In the second scene Montag goes to the fire house and meets up with Beatty. There they talk. After a while they get called to burn down a house.

Q.) Find a sentence or two that has strong adjectives and/or verbs. Quote the book and explain why these are strong descriptive words and why they are effective. How do they appeal to the senses? What mental images do they invoke?

a.) The quote I chose from the book is when Montag is in the room and reading a passage from the book. It goes like “The room was blazing hot, he was all fire, he was all coldness; they sat in the middle of an empty desert with three chairs and him standing there…”. I chose this quote because I like the imagery used in here. It feels like I am actually there, under pressure, and having a hard time. I like when they use “blazing hot” in the beginning and near the end they also mention a desert which fits in because a desert is really hot.

Fahrenheit 451 pages 81- 90

1.) Write a question. What are you confused about?
I am confused about the plan/ idea that Faber had. Are they really going to do it since Guy was all over doing it.

2.) A. According to Faber, “three things are missing” from the popular media (like the “parlor games) of his society. Write what they are and explain what he means.
The three things they mention are:

Quality of Information: I think what this is talking about is the information and overall quality of the book. Like if it is good everyone will want to read it. He mentions that books have certain features so I think that’s what it means.

Leisure to Digest: I think this means that people have the freedom to obtain ideas. Like the freedom to read books and have opinions.

The right to carry out actions based on what we learn from the interaction of the first two: I think this one means that everyone has the right to express what they think about the ideas being expressed even if the actions cause commotion. (I am not so sure about this one).

Personal Reflection 3/2

I never really had a time when my pride had over powered me, because even though I think that I had alot of pride while doing something or I think that I did good on something I always think that I can do better then what I actually did.

Iliad Assignment 2/28

Why does Agamemnon need Achilles in this war, I thought Agamemnon was better?

Agamemnon need Achilles in his war, because he's to afraid to lose the war. In my opinion the only thing that he is thinging about is wining the war and not about Achilles.

Emotion: During the reading Achilles tells Agamemnon that he should fight in the war himself, if Agamemnon is so better than Achilles he should do it.

Ethics: During the reading Phoenix wants Achilles to go to battle because it would do better for everyone.

Reason: During the reading Achilles tells his people that they will not fight because its foolish to listen to their commanders.

Iliad Assignment 2/27

Who do you think is more selfish Agamemnon or Achilles?

I think that Agamemnon is more selfish, because he trys to make sure that everyone does exactly what he says.


Appeal to reason, Emotion, and Ethics: “That’s no lie, old man-a full account you give of all my acts of madness. Mad, blind I was! Not even I would deny it. Why look, that man is worth an entire army, the fighter Zeus holds dear with all his heart.” Pg. 255 # 137

Iliad Reflection

If you were an ancient Greek, which of the following statements would you agree with?
A) Achilles’ rage is justified and I support his decision not to fight, even if it means the Greeks might lose lots of men, or even the war itself.
Or
B) Agamemnon is the commander, as such he is in the right, and I support his decision to ask for Achilles’ war prize Briseis – even if it means that Achilles will sit out the war.

If I was an ancient Greek The statement that I would agree more with would be A. I think that losing a war can't be that bad, becuase them losing the war means that all the Greeks would have to combine as one. That means that there may not be a war between Greeks, becuase they would have to either fight as one group or not fight at all in war.

Disagreements &/or fight

I don't really remember anytime that I said somthing while fighting or disagreeing with a friend. When I get into an argument with a friend I always make sure that I think about what I say before I say it. I always try to watch what I was so later in life I don't regreat it.

Commenting

Hi everyone please comment on one of my pieces on my profile. Here is the link to the piece: http://bdaviswantssuggestions.blogspot.com/2007/01/im-fed-up.html

My Rage – Cause

I was angry when I was little and my mom had to work. Because my mom had to work I had to take care of my little brother, little sister, and me. What made me angry was the fact that since my mom had to work I had to do everything around the house. I felt like I was Matilda. In the movie Matilda she had to take care of herself while her mom, dad, and her older brother when out to work and school. The only difference between Matilda and me is that I had to take care of two younger kids and she only had to take care of herself. I had to wash, clean and make food. I had to do everything. The thing that also makes me mad is parents making us do more then we can handle. Just pushing me more then I can handle just makes me not want to do anything and to forget about everything except school.

2/7 Descriptive Writing

In the story Fahrenheit 451 in the middle of the story I (Montag) was reported to a house and to find out it was my house that I had to burn down. It was unbelievable that I had to burn down my own house. This wasn’t the thing that I wanted to and now I’m thinking that why am I burning down someone elses’ house. I am starting to relize what I'm doing, and I going to try to change the way that I am. How knew that out of all houses my house had to be the one to be burnt down for me to relize that what I'm doing is wrong.

Fahrenheit 451 pg. 71-80

What does Montag mean when he says that books "point, one way or another, to Clarisse?"
That means that the help them in a way or give the firefighters a reason to burn down his house.

sieve- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sieve
The link above takes you to the direct definition of the word sieve.

Farenheit 451 pg. 41-68

Is it better to be ignorant and happy OR is it better to be aware, educated and disturbed at the world?

In my opinion it is better to be ignorant and happy, because you don't worry about what people think. I agree with what Olivia said "I think that it is better to be ignorant and happy because then you don't worry about anything. The problem with this is that eventually people are going to become unhappy and want to know things.", but in a way i kind of disagree, because if your ignorant you won't have to worry about anything. But I don't think that just because people become unhappy they would just start to want to learn thinks, because now if people find something that makes them unhappy they will just find something else that makes them happy and or feel better. In the eyes of Captain Beatty's he trys to make his point by trying to convince everyone that books and ideas are rubbish and should be incinerated (incinerated means to burn or reduce to ashes). Even though that he trys to make everyone belive what he belives there are still people that want to read books and don't want to burn them so they would rather die inside thier house wit the books burning.

Fahrenheit 451 pg. 21-40

1) Montag compares Mildred (his wife) to Clarisse and says that Clarisse seems older. In what way does Clarisse act more mature and WHY do you think she is more mature? Why does Bradbury (the author) make the contrast between the two?

Montag says that Clarisse seems older, because she talks and acts likes she's mature.

2) How are the people in the novel – both children and adults - similar and/or different from people today?

The adults and children in the story are the same as the children and adult today because some of them have the urge to read, and no one can stop them.

Dread/Fear Paragraph

I woke up and the morning was gray it wasn't as crazy as normal. It was quiet, and mysterious. I was kinda confused then again I had looked and the time that was stirring me straight in the face with the numbers bloody red. The time was 6:40. I leaped out of bed and had to make sure that everyone else was awake like a rooster in the early morning. To find out everyone was asleep; so i rapidly woke everyone up and jumped up a scurried to get ready. Once everyone was up and ready to go leave everyone ran so fast like a roadrunner and jumped like a kangaroo into the car and hurry and drove off. First we had to take a journey to a specialer middle school that was down a hill but not around the corner. Then we had to drive backwards to another school with little rats running around trying to get some breakfast. Then we were finally off on the long freeway that seems like we were driving to another country. But sooner then I knew it I was at a place that I see almost all week. I see this place five times a week and I don't have to see it for two days of that week. It was my school, where there are random, fun, and interesting people. Yet I know that I want to go home i can't but I know that the day is going to be the same.

Fahrenheit 451 pg. 3-21

The first couple of chapters confused me because it kept switching between the two people and it started to confuse me. The other part that confused was the author had just started to add in "the guy" and that was kinda random. The question that brought up was where did the guy come from?

1) Even before Montag and his wife Mildred talk to one another we know that they are alienated (distant) from one another. How does the author convey this?

I have no idea how the author convey this because the story is confusing me.

Love

Love is something between two people,
Love is something strong,
Love can't be bought,
But love can be given and taken away,
Love is strong,

Love is strong enough to hurt someone,
Love is strong,
Love is what you fell for someone,
Love is a strong word.

People say that hate is a srtong word but so is love, but people throught it around like it's nothing.

Don't You Wish?

Do you wish that we never met?

adao you wish that we never talked?

What do you wish?

I wish that we could be together

I even wish that we could be friends that talk, hang out, or anything as long as I'm wish you.

Do you wish the same?

Maybe not, but I really do.

Do you wish anything about me?

Do you wish that I would leave you alone?

Or to even stop thinking about you?

I bet you don't even wish anything but that's not my fault.

What do you wish?

I'm lying to myself

Why am I lying to myself saying that I don't love you even like you anymore?

So why do I lie to myself, do I really love you that much to stop loving you at all, or am I saying that so I won't be in pain anymore.

That I wonder why I still love you that much at all. Answer me this why do guys like some pretty girl that can get any guy that they can easyly Cheat on you?

I'm lying to myself I'm lying to everyone else saying that i don't love you but I really
do so tell me...........

Wwhy am I lying to myself?

Why?

Why on earth would you make me think that you like me
like hugging me, and holding me. If you knew that I
liked you why would you flirt with another girl inf front of me?
Why?
That's not fair what did I do to you to deserve all this from you.
Now I know that no guy like you isn't worst crying over or to even fight over.
I know that it's not worth being stressed over some guy when you can find another one
even better that treats you right.

Why whould you do this to me i'm tired of going through this wit you.
So i might as well just get over you so that way I can stop hurting, and get on with my life.
I can always find someone else.
Why?

You Turned Me Down

I had gave you my heart, but you didn't take it how could

you turn me down od well it's your lost your messing out

on something good you always look for the ones the girls that can

break your heart you never look for the girls that love you

for who you really are. But that's your fault.

You look for the worst times to ask me out even if I had

asked you out first, but no you turned me down your lost

even though I like you I hate you now.

You turned me down.

I finally opened my eyes

I finally know that you don't like me the way that i like
you, but that's okay cause i have moved on.

It's your fault that you turned me down!!