Reflection Blog: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was in a way hard for me to understand. I do not know if it was the word usage or just the overall tone I picked up from the story, but I had a very hard time following what was happening.

As I was reading the Declaration of Independence, I picked up on some faulty propaganda that was used. One of the main ones I scoped out is called the name calling technique. In the name calling technique (Recognizing Propaganda), people are given a label, which sort of marks how other people perceive them. It is false because many people only get to see one side of a person, when there is always an underlying personality. The story tears the king down, which is one of the characteristics of name calling. Anyways, the name calling technique was used to bash the King of Britain basically (Thomas 123). There was a list included of past injuries and negative effects that led to a tyranny. Since the points sum up why the King of Brittain was bad, that is what people believe. Along with the bad things though, usually come some good things. The story forgets to mention the good things that the King of Britain has done. Another technique that I saw being used was using false information, almost contradiction (Recognizing Propaganda). It says in one part of the story that all men are created equal and that their rights cannot be taken away (Jefferson 122). I think that contradicts the point that if all men are created equal, then why are they bashing the king? Why is everyone not treated the same way? If we all have the same rights, shouldn't everyone be exposed to the same punishments and the same approval? I thought about these questions as I was reading the story. I think that the bandwagon technique is also used in the story (Recognizing Propaganda). Even though the list is not a positive one toward the king, the bandwagon technique builds up characteristics to make someone look good. Even though the list makes the king look really bad, it makes other people look really good. It is a persuasion technique the author uses to gain people to be on his side, rather than with the king who has supposedly cause them so much damage.

 I think that the whole document is mainly based on emotions. They are trying to lay down facts, but the thing is no one really knows if the statements are true Therefore, people are basing their opinions on what they hear. When they hear negative comments, they tend to develop a negative perception of who someone is. Another technique that is in possible use is poisoning the well. I think this technique is used because it is almost like a stereotype. Putting people into a certain category that alters, or people automatically assume, what kind of person they are. The use of faulty logic works with this document though. Even though there is hidden meanings in some of them, th argument is very moving and persuasive. People listened and that is when changes were made. I think to solve the issue of faulty logic, there should be solid facts, with solid proof. No matter what, the speaker has to be able to back up what he is saying.

Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 120-124. Print.

Dspsweb@cuesta.edu. "Recognizing Propaganda--Guide to Critical Thinking--Academic Support."           Academic.cuesta.edu. Cuesta College. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/404.htm>.

Blog #10 Logic

I don't feel like it is exactly necessary to wait and do the vocab until Wednesday. The vocab is very easy and takes less than five minutes for me to do. But if I were trying to persuade you, here would be my argument:

Anyways, I think that we should do the vocab next Wednesday because we are getting a lot of homework today. We have to read a story and write a reflection blog tonight over the story. Along with that, we have been getting a lot of homework in class this week. I think that since we have actively participated in class discussions all week, and we have done a pretty good job, that we should not have to do the vocab until next week. I would rather just wait until the middle of the week, so I can focus on getting my other homework done tonight and have a homework free weekend. If we were to do the vocab on Wednesday, Since vocab only takes about five minutes, a good idea would be to work on the vocab during class one next Wednesday. If we waited to do the vocab on Wednesday, everyone would have it done then. Some people do not have internet access at their houses, or a computer to work on. Since this class is based on technology and using our computers, I think that we should wait until Wednesday so everyone has a fair chance of finishing. Also, it is typical for students to forget to do their homework if it is not right in front of them. Since the vocab would be on the computer and not in our book bags, there is an easier chance of us forgetting to do the homework in the first place. If we waited until Wednesday, when we would be reminded in class that our homework was vocab, we might have a better chance of remembering and finishing vocab that day. Students tend to wait to do their homework on Sunday night, and by that time, usually doing vocab on the computer has slipped their mind. If we were to do vocab on Wednesday, I think students will have a clearer mind and will be able to finish the vocab on time.

Reflection Blog:Speech to the Second Virginia Convention

Well, upon listening to the story being read, I felt like I was being lectured. The tone of the story is very persuasive. The speaker is trying to get people to see the light. He is using his ideas and his theories to show people the differences in what the world has done in the past, and has not work, and what we should do now in the future. The story uses many characteristics of the Rationalism time period.

One of the main characteristics I found in the story was the use of persuasion. The main character in the story uses persuasion so the President will make a change. I think that in a way, from the tone, he over-exaggerates things, which makes the people listen and realize what is really going on. He persuades people into believing everything he is telling him (Henry 117). A second characteristic that I saw was the use of figurative, or descriptive language. The language was full of detail I think because the author wanted the words to appeal to the senses. He wanted people to use their eyes to see what was happening and that the current plans were not working. He wanted the people to use their ears to hear the things he was saying and process the changes that were taking place. He wanted people to use their senses, so his words really appealed to the readers and made an impact on the people in the story. One of the big characteristics seen in this story in particular is the use of logical reasoning. The narrator in this story is uses his words, his logic, to explain changes that need to be made. He is using the facts he knows about the past and figuring out a way to make a better future for the people (Henry 117). When he is presenting these ideas, he has support to back him up. He uses logic so that no one can question him. He has logical reasoning for all of the problems and a logical solution for each of them. He keeps repeating his words in places which shows he is trying to emphasize something very important. In this case he is trying to emphasize the problems to the president and what he thinks would be a better solution, or what he would do instead.

 In the story, I also like how the narrator appeals to the readers emotions. Even though when I read the story I pictured an angrier tone, I still was moved by the speech. As a reader I wanted to believe what he was saying and wanted to agree with him. He took things to the extreme! When he said "Give me liberty, or give me death," that is a pretty big ultimatum (Henry 118). He is willing to be put on his death bed for liberty. He seeks peace and fairness. He seeks a plan that will work for the people, unlike the plans of the past. Overall, the very short story had a lot of meaning and displayed many characteristics of the Rationalism style of writing!

Henry, Patrick. "Speech to the Second Virginia Convention." American Literature. Columbus: Mc-Graw Hill, 2009. 114-18. Print.

Blog #9- Rational Approach

I remember a time when I was really upset. When I was about 10 years old, my grandpa died. I was very emotional. He was my idol and I loved him very much. As he was sick at his house, we visited him every week until he died. At the time my brother was just born. The trips were very hard on my brother because he was just a little baby and he cried the whole car rides. The trip to my grandpa's house was about an hour, so the trips were long for all of us, but worth it because we got to see him a lot before he passed. Well since I was young at the time, all I really knew was to get upset. I did not really know much better and I had only been to like one other funeral in my life. I was sad and upset that he was sick. My parents were very supportive. They were sad, but they helped me through it. They told me about heaven and that is where our loved ones go when they pass. They tried to explain to me that even though he was not here, he would still be with us. They told me that it is actually better when they pass because they go to a better place than we are at. They took a very calm approach with me because I did not really understand and I did not think it was fair. I loved my grandpa and once the trips stopped, I was very sad that I did not get the chance to see him anymore. He was sick with cancer. My parents tried their best to make me understand that sometimes these things just happen and it is no one's fault, and there was really nothing we could do. They used a more rational and practical approach to make me realize that there is another alternative to every situation. Even though it still upsets me at times, I just remember all the things that my parents told me and I feel a whole lot better.

Journal #8: Autumn

Autumn is probably one of the best times of they year. I like when the weather gets a little bit colder, and I can wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants. I like the activities that come with autumn. Usually there are bonfires on the weekend, and the weather is always so comfortable. I think autumn is one of my favorite times because I get to wear jeans and boots. I love boot season because my mom takes me shopping and whatever shoes she buys, I can wear also! I like the way that autumn is spelled. It is such an interesting word. Usually a person would say fall, but saying autumn is a lot more fun. The thing that I like is the weather most of all. Even though I have said it so many times already, the weather is beautiful. I like the day when it is not too hot, but its not too cold. The school is not that hot and it is just very comfortable throughout the day. Usually the sun is still shining and it is very nice out. The nights are colder, but with a sweatshirt and a pair of comfortable pants, it is pretty warm out. I do not really know what else there is to say about autumn. Autumn is when Halloween is. I love Halloween because I get to dress up in ridiculous outfits and still get candy even though I am 16. I am mad though, because Halloween is on a Monday this year, and so that means we have to go to school on Tuesday. Autumn is also the time when the school year starts to get a lot better. It is the start of homecoming and homecoming week, which in my opinion is the best time of the whole school year. Other than that autumn is just a very relaxing season. I feel more at ease when autumn is here, but once it starts getting too cold, that is what I do not like. When I cannot wear a sweatshirt and have to wear a winter coat, that is where autumn ends for me, no matter what the calendar says.

The Crucible Act 4: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

I liked the way that the book ended. Act four was full of a lot of suspense and sadness. I started to develop an emotional connection with the characters because they some decisions were made out of pride instead of truth.

 John Proctor was a very brave man in the end of this book. After being chained up in a cellar for a long time, he was really quick to just give away his life knowing what waited for him at home if he would confess.I felt bad for Elizabeth in this scene after she talked to him. Before she had a chance to talk to him, she really had no emotion and it seemed like she could care less if her husband hung or if he lived. I did not really like her attitude and tone in this part of the act, but in the end after seeing him, she became very emotionally attached to him. I think that she secretly wanted him to confess and for them to both be forgiven. I think that John had to much pride, for he knew he was a liar and God already was frowning upon him. He did confess, but only to rip up the document in the end because he believed everything was already taken away from him except for his name, which he was not willing to give away and died for it. I think that The Crucible goes right along with "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" because they both are based on God in general. In the final chapter of The Crucible, the court was trying to get people to confess. If the people accused confessed, they were more likely to be saved from God and forgiven. If they did not confess they were to hang. All of the people accused were sinners, and God did not like to save the sinners. Judge Hawthorn believed that many of the accused souls were already in Hell, so he did not want to postpone the hangings unless they confessed; unless they finally saw the light of God. I do believe God was angry in the Crucible. From the way the characters were acting, God was not willing to forgive people of their sins if they were not willing to confess. The play is very confusing in that way because everything was through God, but the town people, who are sinners themselves, are supposed to be caring out the works of God. I think that Judge Hawthorn was a sinner also. He did not always follow God's way and either did Parris. I think that people just assumed they did because they were both religious figures. The Devil could have really been seen by anyone in the story. If so many people were being accused, its hard to believe that they could just save themselves because they had some kind of authority in the town. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" has a tone that is very angry, so that people pay attention and really listen to what is happening. In the last act of The Crucible, the tone is very angry and threatening because they are trying to make Proctor realize and make a decision that will make or break his future. I think the stories go hand in hand with each other because they both are following sinners as their souls slowly go to hell when they should be going to and praising God.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Journal #7 Bullying

Bullying is a topic that has risen and fallen so many times. People think its okay to bully people, when in fact there is underlying damage that is done. Bullying does not mean physical in all cases, it also means verbal too. Bullying probably has more effects on the victim because they are the main focus.The victim of bullying is usually very self-conscience already without a bully harassing them. After bullying though, they are usually hurt and depressed. They never really tell anyone that they are being bullied because they are afraid. The victims of bullying are usually looked at as "weaker" and easier to pick on. The bully has a different viewpoint because they feel like they have all the power. They like what they are doing and they do not really care if they are hurting someone else. I think that the bully is self-conscience also, but does not admit it and does not let it show. The bully usually has some underlying problems of his own, but takes his hurt and anger out on other people instead of dealing with it on his own time. A bully usually thinks that putting someone else down will make them feel better and they will somehow get satisfaction out of it and forget about what they are dealing with. The victim of bullying is probably hurt the worse because sometimes they get pushed a little to far. I know victims of bullying and did not know they were bullied until after the fact that they were pushed a little too far and could not take it anymore. I could tell that they were hurt and depressed, but they did not say anything. I think not only emotional are the victims damaged, they are physical damaged too. Bullying has always been such a touchy topic because it is something that happens everyday in some way, but people are never brave enough to say anything. It can easily be stopped and the bully and victim can both be spared if people are willing to speak up and say what is on their mind sometimes.

The Crucible Act 3: Human Nature

I am having a little bit of trouble with this blog because Human Nature is kind of a difficult concept to understand. Upon doing this blog, I did a little research about what human nature really is. I came to conclude that human nature, in my own words, its all about character and decisions that not only affect you, but everyone associated. The main way that human nature is displayed in the play is by the decisions people are making, which is showing their true colors. Human nature is evident in act 3 when the main characters of the play are gathered at the courthouse.

 They are gathered at the courthouse because Goody Proctor has been charged and is going on trial. Mr. Proctor went there to save her and have Marry Warren in a way take the blame for what happened. It was almost like he wanted to sacrifice her just so he could have his wife back. See, the mess of the story is all the characters lie. They do not admit it, but they are all guilty of sin because they are lying. Lying is part of their human nature. It seems like when they are panicked, or scared, they turn to making up stories and lies as a way of getting them out of a situation. The fact is though, it is the exact opposite; the situation becomes a lot worse. Mr. Proctor's human nature seems to be putting the blame off on other people. Even though he sort of admitted to lechery, he wants everyone else to suffer before he does it seems like. He is so quick to make accusations and opinions about people because he wants to save himself or the one he loves. Abigail turns to a more emotional human nature. Whether or not she was pretending to see a bird, she did a really good job of playing it off. She made Hawthorn believe that there really was a sign of the devil inflicting her and she was hypnotized. Whether or not it was an act, it was quite believable. Good Proctor's human nature is to protect. She wants to protect her husband and I think that is why she lies. Even though it turned out to be worse for her, she is the kind of person that feels the need to protect the ones she loves. Each character reacts differently in situations and that comes naturally to them. The decisions they were making not only affected them, but the affected all the people they loved. Since they are all connected in some way, they slowly figured out that lying is not in their best interest considering how things are unfolding. I think human nature is evident just simply through actions in the play.

 Human nature is presented everywhere. Without human nature being a big part of this book, I do not think the characters would be that different from each other and the play would be a lot less interesting.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Blog #6- Blaming Someone

I think the number one repercussion of blaming someone for something they did not do would be revenge. If someone gets blamed, they usually try and figure out who is blaming them so they can try and clear their name. I think that revenge would be the first thing that comes to mind for most people. The second repercussion is probably confronting the person. If they know who the person is, it is usually easier to confront them about the matter than to go behind their back and plan revenge. For the person who is being blamed, they are probably feeling very hurt and confused. If I was blamed for something I did not do I would first be very mad. I would wonder why I am getting blamed and try and confront the person about it. Then, I would probably be upset. I would be upset because my reputation would be on the line, and usually I would be the one to look bad. Then, I would be really confused. I would be confused on why I am getting blamed in the first place. Eventually I would calm down and talk to the person who is blaming me and discuss the matter with them. If the person did not know who is blaming them, they would probably feel kind of scared. I think they would be scared because someone obviously looks at them as a target, and that would scare me too. There is a number of repercussions when blaming someone. In the story, Mr. Proctor responded with anger. He wanted to hurt Abigail and he was very upset with her. Goody Proctor responded in a calmly matter. She was angry and the reader could tell, but she had to cooperate in order to make everything run smoothly. The slave responded emotionally. She broke down and started to cry, saying she could not testify against Abigail. Each character responded differently to Goody Proctor being blamed, and then I could see their true character colors.

The Crucible Act 2: True Colors

Well the book is very interesting so far. The characters are all slowly developing and the reader gets to experience the real person they are turning out to be. Overall though, the characters in the book are all kind of deceiving. They act like good Christians when they go to church, but when they are outside of church, they are not very good at being a Christian. In the chapter, witchcraft is still a rumor that is being spread, but now many people are being called into court for many reasons. A panel of judges basically chooses if they are hung or if they are sent to jail. When the people come with a warrant to take you to the court, they must go without questions. Evidence is the main thing that is important to the judges because they determines if you get hung or if you go to jail. In the story, Abigail is becoming quite the scheming artist. She is doing a very good job at trying to get what she wants. She has a lot of anger from when Goody Proctor kicked her out of the house because Abigail did not want to be a slave. She has a secret crush on Proctor and she does anything to ensure they are together. She claims she was stabbed in the side and the person who should be held guilty is Goody Proctor's spirit, which secretly wanted to hurt her.

I think that Abigail falls into the orange category because she is a doer (True Colors). She did not really think about her actions and how they could affect her, she just went with her gut and hoped Proctor would come back to her. Not only is Proctor furious now, he is asking his slave to testify against Abigail in court. I think that Goody Proctor falls in the green category because she has a plan for everything, but she thinks about it before she actually carries it out (True Colors). I think that this will help her later in the story because unlike Abigail who just went with her gut feeling and wanted to get it done with, Goody Proctor already had talked to her husband and told him what to do about Abigail. She told him that he needed to end anything with her that she might see as potential flirting in a way. I think that Parris is probably in the gold category. I think this because he has a plan for everything and he seems very organized (True Colors). When he first found out better was "sick," he sent for a doctor. He thinks very logically and keeps everything in control. He is a leader among the group from what it seems. I think that Mr. Hale falls in the blue category because he is a helper (True Colors). He likes to help people. He is there for giving advice and helping people through tough situations. He seems like he can make a person feel better and has an answer for everything. I think Proctor falls in the doer, or orange category (True Colors). He seems to say what he wants and does what he wants. He went to Abigail's house and did not really think about it or the impact it had on him and her. I think that he goes off of his impulses and his anger more than logically thinking things through. As for the slaves, I think that they are in the blue category also (True Colors). They like to help out the families they are slaves for, but they have a certain twist to them. I do not believe they are such good saints as they claim to be. They have a rebellious side, and I think they are secretly not loyal to their masters and that will hurt them in the end. Even though each personality is different in the story, I think that is what makes it such an interesting book to read.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.


Baytech Web Design. "True Colors." True Colors. True Colors International, 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.true-colors.com/WhatisTrueColors.html>.

Blog #5 21st Century Punishment

I think that a fair twenty-first century punishment is taking away the things that kids need and focus on the most. Kids focus on facebook a lot and now they are also focusing on twitter. Taking away facebook and twitter for awhile is a big punishment to kids and young adults because that is a main way they talk with their friends and keep up with what their friends are doing. Another punishment is taking away cell phones too. The cell phones are a main part of kids lives, especially teenagers. When teens do not have their cell phones, it causes a lot of issues. They become very mad and rebel against their parents. Without their cell phones they cannot talk to their friends and access their twitter and facebook also. I would not really know what a twenty-first century punishment is because I do not get in trouble all that much. I know that if my parents took away my technology I would be very mad. Also my parents do threaten to take away my car at times. If they were to actually take my car away, I would have to ride the bus to school, and I would not be able to do anything extra outside of school. It would also suck because then my parents have to come pick me up from poms everyday. Even though they have threatened it, they have never actually done it. I think that grounding teens does not really do much anymore because they still have some freedoms. I think the most effective way of punishing kids and teens is to take away what they enjoy the most. For teens, take away her freedoms and their communication with friends. For kids, take away their extra activities, like the wii and the x-box. If you take away what they enjoy the most, they will most likely not screw up again because they do not want their things taken away again.

Reflection Blog: The Crucible (Act 1)

Well, to begin, The Crucible is exploring the practice of witchcraft in the town of Salem. Salem is a religion based society where elected officials are head of the ministry and help run the town. In other words, Salem is a theocracy. In the beginning of the play, the reader can already understand some of the Puritan writing.

 Right away, Parris is kneeling against the bed praying to God. God is the ruler of their town, but the people are the ones who carry out what God wants. In Puritan writing, the main focus of all the stories is usually God. Yes, God is the main ruler and idol in this story, but then the play gets into the idea of witchcraft. Witchcraft is basically exploring with the devil and trying to contact the dead, which is quite a sin. So already in the play, God is contradicted as the main idol, and now the devil has come into play. The play gives a little twist to the Puritan writing, by looking at it through a different aspect. In other Puritans stories that we have read, the people have bad stuff happen to them and they pray to God and ask for his help in the situation. In The Crucible though, not only are they asking for God’s help, they are asking God to forgive them for worshiping the devil. From the story “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” we see the darker side of things in Puritan writing. Yes there is the almighty and powerful God, but below we do have the devil. Sin is a major theme occurring between the two stories because God is angry when people sin. Witchcraft is by far a sin, which makes God angry. In Puritan writing, it is not a good thing if God is mad at you. One of the Puritan’s beliefs is that doing humanistic learning and activities would draw people away from the church. The church was a very important place to the Puritans because God was working in their everyday lives and the people needed to attend church. Anyways, in The Crucible, the witchcraft rumors are partially keeping people away from the church. The reputation the girls made for themselves are not very good ones. The church has become a less enjoyable place for the people in Salem, so many are choosing not to go. The girls were practicing witchcraft for selfish reasons really, which took them away from God.

 Overall the book is very plain and simple. There are some parts that are kind of complex, but once they are broken down, the reader realizes how straight to the point the book really is. In the beginning the girls are very held back and do not want to confess to practicing witchcraft for fear of what may happen to them in their future. As Betty begins to become a little bit better, she still cringes when she hears the Lord’s name, which is upsetting to Parris. The girls finally confess because they want God to free them and renew them. This is when Betty gets a lot better and the viewpoint starts to shift to Tituba, who is receiving the majority of the blame. I think overall the book does a good job at showing Puritan writing style, but also contradicting the writing style and showing the reader a different viewpoint of what is happening in the book when the characters are focused on something other than God and heaven.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Journal 4-Vacations

The people that I usually go on vacations with is my family. Usually wherever we go, we stay for about a week. It is hard to stay in the same house as my family for a week in a different state. Since they do not let me drive the car anywhere, I basically have to find time for myself on vacations. Typically if we are by a beach, I will lay out most of the day by myself. My other family, like my cousins, aunts, and uncles, end up going on vacations with us. So we have a really big house and lots of space for all of us. When they go, it is a lot easy to have fun and have free time. I lay out with my cousins and still get to relax. Do not get me wrong, I love my family and hanging out with them can be fun, but it is hard to stay with them in a different state for a week.When we go on short trips, I get along with them much better. Vacations in generally just make me really tired, which is very weird since I sleep the entire car ride there and back. When I get home from a vacation though, I love to go straight to my bed. I do not unpack anything, I just go lay in my bed. Vacations just me worn out. I have fun on the vacation, but at the end of the week, or our stay, I am usually ready to leave. When I go on vacations with friends like I did last spring break with no parental control, I tend to have more fun, obviously. I went to Clearwater, Florida and stayed in a resort. The people who took me where all 20 years old and our resort was right on the beach. It took a month of convincing my parents to let me go, and when they said yes, it was really hard for them to let me go. That vacation did not leave me worn out because I spent my time very wisely. Vacations are very fun, but also very tiresome for me.