Writing Reflection

Ideas and Content:
In my essay's my writing demonstrates appropriate idea's and Content, because I used relevant information an evidence that supports my ideas. And also my writing usually makes sense in flows. I also have a topic sentence that describes the topics that I am going to talk about in my paragraph. Usually I explained the quotations I used and I connect them back to the main idea of my essay. For example in my Alchemist essay when I was talking about how Santino dreams about staying more than leaving, I explained the relevancy of the quote and how it connected to the main topic of the paragraph: love. Also in my Julius Caesar essay when I explained how Brutus loves honor more than death, I first explained the meaning of the quote and how is characterized Brutus as a honorable man and and how it connects back to the main topic of my paragraph, honor. I could improve my writing by trying to connect my quotes and their significance back to the main idea of the essay.


Organization :

In my Julius Caesar essay, my organization was okay throughout the whole essay. I began with an hook, “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” and I also had clear thesis statement, In Julius Caesar Brutus is portrayed as a very noble man, and his honor and patriotism is what drove him to assassinate Caesar. My body paragraphs started with clear topic sentences and I mostly established the context before inserting a quotation. However I had a lot of run-on sentences and maybe introduced to many ideas in one paragraph. My conclusion was not very good, because I was rushed through it and I did not wrap things up clearly, In my alchemist essay, I did begin with an interesting quote that set the scene and my thesis statement was clear and strong ' All most all of my paragraphs began with clear topic sentences and I always establish the context before introducing a quotation. I believe that my conclusion was much stronger than my Julius Caesar essay.

Personal Growth:

I did not see much improvement in my essay, instead the quality of my writing decreased compared to my Alchemist essay. This could be because of the limited time we had and the pressure to finish in one class period may have rushed me. Also we were not able to draft our essay and get help from the teachers which is a big aspect since I improve most by drafting and re-drafting.

SLR:

The SLR I chose for my essays was reason critically because I had to reason critically and choose quotations that supported my idea's as well as being able to explain my quotes and connect them to the main idea. Also I had to reason critically and consider my time so i knew how much time i should spend on each paragraph in order to develop it fully and have enough time to finish my whole essay. Finally in my conclusion I was required to reason critically and decide whether the ends justified the mean.

Brutus, a True Hero

“It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” (p.62) This quote from Julius Caesar shows Brutus’s main conflict with himself, because it portrays how he wants to do the right thing and stay true to himself, as well as be honorable and loyal to Rome. Brutus, a very honorable man believes that Caesar’s ambition and growing power is turning him into a tyrant, and he could be a serious threat to Rome. This conflict is what drives Brutus to act as he did and assassinate Brutus. In Julius Caesar Brutus is portrayed as a very noble man, and his honor and patriotism is what drove him to assassinate Caesar.

Brutus’s great nobility and honor, lead him into believing that Caesar was ambitious and resulting in him assassinating Caesar. Brutus has always strongly believed in honor and he was willing to do anything for his honor. He believed that trusting your honor was more important that doing the smartest act or choosing the act that best appealed to him. Brutus, was willing to sacrifice what he wanted to do, in order to be an honorable man and e looked upon everything and every one indifferently. His honor influenced him greatly in assassinating Caesar because he saw Caesar as a dear friend and although he did not what to take part in assassinating Caesar he, acted upon his honor and the good of Rome. His inner conflict about killing Caesar is evident in the quote, where Brutus is talking to Cassius about how he fears that Caesar is getting to powerful: “ If it augh toward the general good, set honor in one eye, and death i’ th’ other, and I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so speed me as I love the name of honor more that I fear death.”(p.32, lines 84-88) The quote means that if Brutus had to choose between honor and death he would look at both indifferently because he loves honor more than he fears death This n shows how Brutus values honor, and that he is willing to die in the name of his honor, and because of this he is motivated to do what he thinks is the honorable act, killing Caesar, not what he personally wants to do. Also Brutus believes that what he is doing is an honorable act because it is for the welfare of Rome. In act 2 scene 1, when Brutus as the conspirators are gathered he shows how he believes there cause is honorable and noble in the quote: “To think that our cause is or our performance did need and oath; when every drop of blood that every roman bears, and nobly bears, is guilty of bastardy,”(p.72, lines 135-138) This quote shows that Brutus believes how there cause is so honorable that they don’t need any oath or promise to seal it. This shows how again Brutus’s honor is motivating him to do what is the best for Rome and the people no matter if it is against his personal will. Because of his great honor, Brutus if motivated to do what he believes is the most honorable act no matter how much it is against his personal will.

Brutus’s patriotism and love for Rome is what motivated him into assassinating Caesar, in order to free the people of Rome. Because Brutus has an honorable trait he loves his country Rome and all of the people so he is willing to do anything for the general good of Rome. Because of the letters Brutus got supposedly from the people of Rome telling him to act and that the had had enough of Caesars tyranny, he acted upon his patriotism and assassinated Caesar. His love for Rome and patriotism is illustrated in this quote which is after Brutus assassinated Caesar and is trying to explain to Anthony that what they did what out of there patriotism. “Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome- as fire drives our fire, so pity pity –“(p.118 lines 169- 171). The meaning of this quote is that Brutus and the conspirators did not kill Caesar for there own personal gain, but because they saw how Caesars ambition and tyranny was effecting the people of Rome and that they did if for the general good of Rome. Brutus’s patriotism is shown through this quote because he believes that what they did was for the good of Rome, and he had no personal grudge against Caesar. Later on in the play Brutus went farther on to explain his actions to the people of Rome, his motivators, and to justify what he did. When Brutus went into the capital after he assassinated Caesar he stood up in front of the angry people of Rome and justified his actions. “If then that friend demanded why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (p.128, lines 19-21) Here, Brutus is saying that killing Caesar was not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. This quote proves Brutus’s patriotism and love for Rome because he is admitting it to the people of Rome, and that what he did was because he loved Rome. Brutus’s love for Rome and patriotism is evident through out the play, by his actions and thoughts.

In Julius Caesar Brutus a very noble man showed his inner conflict because he wanted to be honorable and a patriot of Rome and do the honorable thing, which he believed was killing Caesar, which was against his personal feelings towards him. His two main motivator, honor and patriotism, drove him to assassinating Caesar. Brutus believed strongly in his honor and he tried to do the noble act, instead of what he personally believed. And his love for Rome and patriotism drove him to believe that Caesars ambition was affecting Rome negatively, so he acted and assassinated Caesar. However he did not achieve his goal, because his goal was to bring freedom and peace to the Rome, but by killing Caesar he broke havoc and mayhem between Rome because all the people dearly loved Caesar. However, without judging the outcome Brutus’s goal was worthy and noble because he truly did believe that he was doing the right act, and he did act upon his honor, and patriotism.

The Journey of the Lost Boys

Thinking Creatively:

I think that one of the creative elements in my collage is my Gilo river because instead of making in blue, I used a brown fabric which showed it was a river of darkness and the stick figures and streaks of red show all the people who died while crossing the river. Another creative aspect of my collage is the red string which connects the lost boy journey. Because the sting is red, it shows all the blood and the loves that were lost during the lost boys journey and although they managed to go to America, all the loss and blood was still with them.

Reason Critically:

The images and text I used in my collage were chosen out carefully and put in places purposefully to show the flight of the lost boys as well at the problems they faced. For example some of the images I used were of fire and men with guns and I placed them at the beginning of my collage to show how it all began and the attack on the village. Also I used images that showed education and the US at the end of my collage to show the boys' flight to America and their new beginning. Some of the words I used were: lost, hope and change and i reasoned critically and placed them in places which matched the images, and the lost boy's journey.

Communicate Effectively:

My collage shows each of the different stages of the lost boys flight. I first start with the attack on their village by using images of fire and guns. Then the second part portrays there journey to Ethiopia and the troubles they faced as well all the people lost while crossing the Gilo river. The next section reflects the lost boys life at the Kenyan refugee camp and there lives as refugee's. The last portion of my collage shows the lost boys breaking free and having a new beginning in America as well as all the troubles they faced with jobs, money, and education, and also the success they managed to achieve.

Live Ethically:

My collage creates awareness by showing all the problems the lost boys had been through and their journey from the attack on their village to their long walk to Ethiopia, crossing the Gilo river, settling in Kenya, and migrating to America. This creates empathy because people get a look into lives of the lost boys and show compassion toward them. I also showed pictures of what the lost boys managed to achieve, such as the education they got, which shows people that what they do really does help the lost boys and does give them a better future, so they will be inspired to be compassionate and help.

Where do We Belong?

Sudan has been a Country at war for over 50 years. Being the biggest country in Africa it has many tribes and villages, but one tribe, which arguably has taken the hardest hit during the war, is the Dinka tribe. The documentary "The Lost Boys of Sudan" follows the story of two Dinka boys, Peter and Santino who where part of the Kakuma refuge camp in Kenya. Having fled from there village due to an attack, the Dinka boys began there journey across Africa. While travelling miles, and miles on foot there encountered many obstacles such as: starvation, exhaustion, heat, and the loss of friends and family. After fleeing Ethiopia, the boys found shelter at the Kakuma refuge in Kenya.

After spending 11 years at the refuge camp Peter was chosen to migrate to America in the hopes of a better future. He had to face many different difficulties during his time in America and deal with all the new cultures and life styles. When he first moved to Houston, the US offered to pay his rent for 4 months, until he got settled in and adjusted. But, soon after he was facing issues with getting enough money and paying the bills as well as feeding himself. Because Peter didn’t have much educational background he had to work in low pay jobs, so paying for his rent, food and clothes was a struggle from him. Also he was expected to send money back to his family in Sudan, so he also faced a lot of pressure form them. The area that Peter was staying in was a very low class neighborhood, so there were many crimes happening, like robberies and threatening. Because Peter was so obliged to helping his Country, her decided that Houston was not the best place for him to stay so he moved to Kansas City. There, Peter managed to get into high school, which was good for his education but he also had trouble trying to go to school every day, work and on top of that do homework every night. Also at school he faced many difficulties with culture race and all the English. Most of the population of his school was American’s and he was different from them so he had some trouble fitting in. At first he did not understand their culture and they did not understand his culture so it was hard for him to make friends. Also it was a challenge for him to get used to all of the English used in his school and community. As Peter got acclimated with the American system he also had to try and keep him culture and beliefs intact. Before they left for America one of the elders told them always remember Sudan and there culture.

Peter tried to deal with the massive culture shock in different ways. First when he started working he got used to the technology and the system people worked in such as: when to eat, when to work and when to socialize. How freely the people ate was a big shock to Peter because in his culture they only ate twice a day and sparingly. He also tried to fit in better by wearing clothes that every one wore such as: baggy jeans and t-shirts and picking up some of the slang that was in the American culture. When Peter started school he began to get more adjusted to the culture by hanging out with different people, attending social gatherings and joining activities such as basketball. By taking part in daily activities that the American people took part in, helped Peter get assimilated into the American culture.

"O Mighty Caesar!"

This passage that Olivia and I are presenting is the scene in where Mark Antony first see's Caesar's dead body lying in front of Brutus, one of the conspirators. When Antony first comes in he shows his great despair and grief of how the mighty, noble Caesar was killed and wounded and is lying under the feet of the conspirators. During his great despair he mentions how Caesar, who was once the noblest and purest man in all of Rome, has now stooped so low at the feet if the conspirators. He also accuses the conspirators of being brutal murders and, asks them to take his life as well. However Brutus responds to this in the kindest manner he can and he explains to Anthony that what they did was out of honor and that now they may seem like murders but their actions are justified. The significance of this passage is that it is the first time when Antony one of Caesars closest friends, see’s Caesar’s wounded body for the first time and confronts Brutus about his act. It shows a new point of view on what the conspirators did and that there were many people who supported Caesar and were angered by his assassination. Many people, such as Mark Antony saw the conspirators act a very savage and butcher like act and they did not understand Brutus’s point of view. This passage also included foreshadowing, because Brutus promising Antony and explanation and Antony showing his anger towards the conspirators act, could lead to further conflict between the two.

Act Three, Scene 1:

Brutus:

But here cones Antony. Welcome, Mark Anthony.

Anthony:

O mightyCaesar! dost thou lie so low?

Are all thy conquests, glories, triumph, spoils,

shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.

I know notm gentlemen, what you intend,

Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:

If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Caesar's death's hour nor to instrument

Of half that worth as those your sowrds, made rich

With the most noble blood of all this world.

I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,

Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,

Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,

I shall not find myself so apt to die:

No place will please me so, no mean off death,

As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,

The choice and master spirits of this age.

Brutus:

O Antony, beg not your death of us.

Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,

As by our hands and this our present act

You see we do, yet see you but our hands

And this the bleeding business they have done.

Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;

And pity to the general wrong of Rome-

As fire drives out fire; so pity pity-

Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,

To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Anthony:

Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts

Of brothers' temper, do receive you in

With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

(p.116-118, lines: 148-176)

The School Of Athens

How can art be a mirror of society?

During the Renaissance, people used art as a way to reflect the change and rebirth, happening in society at that time. “The School Of Athens”, by Raphael reflects all if the Rebirth, and reformation of knowledge that was happening during the Renaissance. Knowledge that had been lost from the Ancient Roman Times and Greek times was being reborn and rediscovered during the Renaissance time period. Also people were beginning to explore the world around them and develop their curious nature, which led to the discovery of new knowledge and theories. People became interested in varies subjects such as art, math, science and astronomy and began to run their own experiments and make their own inferences instead of just accepting what the church said. What Raphael did in his painting, was that he incorporated all of these ideas and subjects, and combining them so that they support and refine the whole idea of rebirth of knowledge during the Renaissance. He divided all the different guilds of people like mathematicians, scientists, and astronomers, to show the diversity of high Renaissance knowledge. Another interesting thing that Raphael did was that he incorporated both Ancient Roman Architecture, and Ancient Greek Architecture in the building. Roman archers, pillars and pediments are evident in the architecture, but the decoration on one of the high arches is a Greek inspired pattern. Also the two statues in the background are of Apollo and Athena, two Greek gods who represent music, art and wisdom. The Location of the Painting, Athens, is also a purpose full thing Raphael did, because he is connecting the rebirth of knowledge during the Renaissance to the Ancient Greek times, where they got all their knowledge and inspiration from. By bringing all of the greatest minds of the Renaissance together in one painting, and showing the progress of art, science, math, architecture and astronomy, Raphael managed to reflect society at the high point of the Renaissance.

Who Am I:

If I were part of the painting “The School of Athens” I would be the one of the figures standing in the scientists group. Like scientists at that time I am very curious about nature and the world around me. I like to make observations and later on inferences about what I see. In the painting, the groups of scientists are discussing a matter, and I think this also reflects me, because I like to share my ideas with others and have discussions where I learn about others and opinions on things. Also I think the fact that in the painting the scientists are interacting with each other and sharing ideas, is similar to me because I am a social person and I like to share and compare my ideas and thoughts in order to get a deeper understanding. The groups of scientists are placed on the same side as Athena goddess of wisdom, who is very practical and reasonable and this trait is evident in me because I like to be reasonable in my decisions and make the practical choice. Also like scientists of that time I like to use what I know in order to discover more about the world around me.

Leonardo Da Vinci: A Renaissance Man

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the brightest minds and creative thinkers in the Renaissance. He was interested and involved in a variety of subjects such as: art, science, math, human anatomy, engineering and sculpting. However he was most well known for his paintings. At an early age Da Vinci showed a talent and potential for art. With all his research and experimentation he discovered the rule of perceptive. His paintings were very realistic and 3-D, compared to other artists of his time, and he followed the rule of proportions and paid attention to the law of motion for the human body, which is why his work stood out between other artists. Besides being a skilled artist Da Vinci also showed interests in math and science. He did his own calculations and experiments to gain more knowledge about the world around him one of his drawings the vitruvian man shows Leonardo’s calculations and ideas about the motion of the human body. By running his own experiments and trying out new things he was able to get a sense of the world around him. Throughout his life time Leonardo designed and built many new and advanced machinery for the military. He was a skillful designer and had an eye for engineering and physics which allowed him to build some of the most advanced and deadliest weapons in the renaissance. In his spare time Leonardo was also involved in sculptors, architecture and some philosophy which proved to the people around him his true potential and genius. Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the few people in the Renaissance that brought a new and fresh perspective on art and science. He was a man willing to try new things and run experiments of his own in order to discover and learn about the world around him.  Da Vinci’s dedication to his work and creative thinking is what marked him as a true Renaissance man.