For some reason I get thrown off with the RHETORIC. I have no idea why but I do. So for this week I am doing a word meaning post!!
Rhetoric is the art of using language, Plato used it alot in especially public speaking and writing, as a means to persuade. Along with logic and dialectic, rhetoric is one of the three ancient arts of discourse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I wanna be Average
Reading I wanna be Average, the author presents the feeling of pathos. The author Mike Rose clearly implies that we could change our future if we choose to do so. I believe that to be true from my own experiences. He talked about being in vocational classes that were for the so-called slower learners. The setback came with the label to live up to the expectations of the school and others. Rose felt he and other students needed to act stupid and not live up to their actual potential. He said this by saying,” The tragedy is that you have to twist the knife in your own gray matter to make this defense work.” Which meant the special classes gives the student the idea to be dumb and they feel they need to play along. I can understand how this can happen. Back in high school, I was accidently put in an English class for ESL learners. I felt out of place especially since I only speak English and the class did not challenge any thought process. I had a choice to continue in the easy class or move to a more thought provoking one. I chose the latter. I clearly see how easy it is to fall into the funk of things. Luckily, Mike Rose also chose to change his life and do something other than what is expected.
John Taylor Gatto's "Against Schools"
The author in this essay gives the feeling of ethos and logos. He gives reasons to why and how he feels the school system needs to be a certain way. Since he taught for 30 years in one of the most difficult school systems in America, I feel he has a right to say so. Rose felt parents should be more active in their child’s learning. That way the child can do and be something good in society. He also felt school was worthless because it create only mediocre students. Rose wanted the students to dream big, then they can achieve those dreams. He wanted to challenge the students to think out of the box, when others did not agree with his ideas. He felt kids were bored and he was too. I think it is good for teachers to think outside of box. Not all kids learn flat black and white. If children are not learning then something else needs to change. I think Rose’s idea to challenge students will work, the setback comes to other authority figures not agreeing. Someone needs to make a change and step up to this challenge.
John Taylor Gatto's "Against Schools"
The author in this essay gives the feeling of ethos and logos. He gives reasons to why and how he feels the school system needs to be a certain way. Since he taught for 30 years in one of the most difficult school systems in America, I feel he has a right to say so. Rose felt parents should be more active in their child’s learning. That way the child can do and be something good in society. He also felt school was worthless because it create only mediocre students. Rose wanted the students to dream big, then they can achieve those dreams. He wanted to challenge the students to think out of the box, when others did not agree with his ideas. He felt kids were bored and he was too. I think it is good for teachers to think outside of box. Not all kids learn flat black and white. If children are not learning then something else needs to change. I think Rose’s idea to challenge students will work, the setback comes to other authority figures not agreeing. Someone needs to make a change and step up to this challenge.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Apostrophe
I have always had a problem with using or lack therof with Apostrophes. I am never to sure how to place them in my essays. Thank goodness for grammer check on computers. Here is what I found online to learn usage of the apostrophe.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.
Examples:
two boys' hats
two women's hats
two actresses' hats
two children's hats
the Changs' house
the Joneses' golf clubs
the Strauses' daughter
the Sanchezes' artwork
the Hastingses' appointment
the Leeses' books
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.
Examples:
two boys' hats
two women's hats
two actresses' hats
two children's hats
the Changs' house
the Joneses' golf clubs
the Strauses' daughter
the Sanchezes' artwork
the Hastingses' appointment
the Leeses' books
Idiot Nation
Idiot Nation
I have to admit I was not too crazy about having to read Michael Moore’s Idiot Nation. He is not the type of person who I would seek out for his opinion. Here I am going to judge him, but I feel he is too quick to judge and place blame on others. I think since he dropped out of college from not being able to find a parking spot, he is compensating his motivation or lack thereof elsewhere. I feel he works hard to voice his ideas to whoever will listen, even if they are not always correct. However, after reading his belief on the education system I found I agreed with some ideas but others were ridiculous to me.
To illustrate, Moore places responsibility on the teachers for the failing education system. I am sure that it is easier to place the blame on them because they spend so much time with students. In any event, any job will have good and bad employees. There is no difference because they teach children. If students are not doing well in school it might not always be the teachers fault. We have to place blame in correct order before pointing fingers. I wonder who that could be.
Students have the choice to learn and further their education. If students are lazy and unmotivated, that is all on them. We need to stop being codependent and let students take responsibility for the choices and actions they have chosen to make. If anyone is to blame for the students choices it is in the home with parents first, not teachers. Parents are the ones who frame their child’s mind and then send them out into the big world. Therefore, they are responsible for how their child does in school. For example with Moore’s education, his parents made the choice to keep him in 1st grade rather than moving to second grade. He was bored in school, to cure it the teachers wanted to move him up a grade. Nevertheless, it was his parents’ decision to forgo that idea and keep his mind uninterested with studies.
When I finally finished reading Moore’s outlook for Idiot Nation I found it entertaining. I think it was not as bad as I thought it would be and maybe I might consider other things he has said. One thing I will agree with him on is the education has problems, but accusing does not help the problem. In the end, we need to look in the home before we point our finger and glance down to realize we have three fingers pointing back at us.
I have to admit I was not too crazy about having to read Michael Moore’s Idiot Nation. He is not the type of person who I would seek out for his opinion. Here I am going to judge him, but I feel he is too quick to judge and place blame on others. I think since he dropped out of college from not being able to find a parking spot, he is compensating his motivation or lack thereof elsewhere. I feel he works hard to voice his ideas to whoever will listen, even if they are not always correct. However, after reading his belief on the education system I found I agreed with some ideas but others were ridiculous to me.
To illustrate, Moore places responsibility on the teachers for the failing education system. I am sure that it is easier to place the blame on them because they spend so much time with students. In any event, any job will have good and bad employees. There is no difference because they teach children. If students are not doing well in school it might not always be the teachers fault. We have to place blame in correct order before pointing fingers. I wonder who that could be.
Students have the choice to learn and further their education. If students are lazy and unmotivated, that is all on them. We need to stop being codependent and let students take responsibility for the choices and actions they have chosen to make. If anyone is to blame for the students choices it is in the home with parents first, not teachers. Parents are the ones who frame their child’s mind and then send them out into the big world. Therefore, they are responsible for how their child does in school. For example with Moore’s education, his parents made the choice to keep him in 1st grade rather than moving to second grade. He was bored in school, to cure it the teachers wanted to move him up a grade. Nevertheless, it was his parents’ decision to forgo that idea and keep his mind uninterested with studies.
When I finally finished reading Moore’s outlook for Idiot Nation I found it entertaining. I think it was not as bad as I thought it would be and maybe I might consider other things he has said. One thing I will agree with him on is the education has problems, but accusing does not help the problem. In the end, we need to look in the home before we point our finger and glance down to realize we have three fingers pointing back at us.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Looking for work
Looking for work by Gary Soto, describes a little boy who fantasizes of his family imitating his idea of the perfect families from television shows watched. Gary wanted a life of wealth and he believed wealth to be anything he seen on TV. The perfect family in his mind consisted of no rifts in family relationships. Waking up in the morning to find him showered with kisses and family all sitting down together for breakfast. However, in reality his family delivered beatings for punishments and sometimes called each other names. Looking back on my childhood memories, I remember wanting to live like the families, I would see or know. What child does not have a vivid imagination? All children survive on this imagination to seek out their land of make believe to slay dragons. Imagination is something that never lets them down to dream big or want more.
Gary wanted to gain acceptance from the white kids so he receive invites to play over at their homes. He felt wealth would provide him this opportunity. I feel children no matter their cultural background crave to be accepted. I know I did. As I have been told Americans always wanting something more or better, often things we do not think we have. Soto is a perfect example of the American boy who wants more. He finds a way to achieve it by doing chores for his working class neighbors. Soto knew he had to work hard for the money to achieve his goal.
Gary does not realize is he is wealthy; he is living the lifestyle of an American child who has luxuries that many children do not have in third world countries. He has a family who although, not perfect love and cares for him. He has friends. Soto enjoyed things such as Kool-Aid and popsicles. He is encouraged to play outside while it is still light out because his mom wants him to be a kid. He was a happy kid regardless of being wealthy, as he had seen on the TV. I think in all we want better things in life and until then we can just be happy with what we have.
What we really miss about the 1950s
Stephanie Coontz wrote a lot on statistics and research of the 1950s era. People from that era agree to a nostalgic feeling of less complicated choices that face children and parents. It was mostly from repressed emotions and actions. People were unable to push the envelope because everyone in the community set the boundaries for the family norms. Nobody liked to display their dirty laundry because they were afraid it would bring shame to the family. Similarly, the same moral gauge still stands in our communities today. However, times have changed and it seems attitudes represent anything goes mentality no matter how immoral.
Most people currently claim they do not miss the foundation the family unit consisted of, including how women were treated. They just miss the life that was simple, balanced, and innocent. On the other hand, communication for parents today is more open than it was back then with their children. I can see this first hand with my parents and grandparents. I notice it with my own daughter. My husband and I are more open to her asking questions than our parents were and would have just avoided it all together.
I think time eras are like raising children. Child rearing has it good and bad points at each age. It is all a matter of what we view of that particular age to be the positive or negative. Each time Era also carries its weight of the good and bad. Therefore, it is all in how we look at things to formulate our opinions of the world.
Looking for work by Gary Soto, describes a little boy who fantasizes of his family imitating his idea of the perfect families from television shows watched. Gary wanted a life of wealth and he believed wealth to be anything he seen on TV. The perfect family in his mind consisted of no rifts in family relationships. Waking up in the morning to find him showered with kisses and family all sitting down together for breakfast. However, in reality his family delivered beatings for punishments and sometimes called each other names. Looking back on my childhood memories, I remember wanting to live like the families, I would see or know. What child does not have a vivid imagination? All children survive on this imagination to seek out their land of make believe to slay dragons. Imagination is something that never lets them down to dream big or want more.
Gary wanted to gain acceptance from the white kids so he receive invites to play over at their homes. He felt wealth would provide him this opportunity. I feel children no matter their cultural background crave to be accepted. I know I did. As I have been told Americans always wanting something more or better, often things we do not think we have. Soto is a perfect example of the American boy who wants more. He finds a way to achieve it by doing chores for his working class neighbors. Soto knew he had to work hard for the money to achieve his goal.
Gary does not realize is he is wealthy; he is living the lifestyle of an American child who has luxuries that many children do not have in third world countries. He has a family who although, not perfect love and cares for him. He has friends. Soto enjoyed things such as Kool-Aid and popsicles. He is encouraged to play outside while it is still light out because his mom wants him to be a kid. He was a happy kid regardless of being wealthy, as he had seen on the TV. I think in all we want better things in life and until then we can just be happy with what we have.
What we really miss about the 1950s
Stephanie Coontz wrote a lot on statistics and research of the 1950s era. People from that era agree to a nostalgic feeling of less complicated choices that face children and parents. It was mostly from repressed emotions and actions. People were unable to push the envelope because everyone in the community set the boundaries for the family norms. Nobody liked to display their dirty laundry because they were afraid it would bring shame to the family. Similarly, the same moral gauge still stands in our communities today. However, times have changed and it seems attitudes represent anything goes mentality no matter how immoral.
Most people currently claim they do not miss the foundation the family unit consisted of, including how women were treated. They just miss the life that was simple, balanced, and innocent. On the other hand, communication for parents today is more open than it was back then with their children. I can see this first hand with my parents and grandparents. I notice it with my own daughter. My husband and I are more open to her asking questions than our parents were and would have just avoided it all together.
I think time eras are like raising children. Child rearing has it good and bad points at each age. It is all a matter of what we view of that particular age to be the positive or negative. Each time Era also carries its weight of the good and bad. Therefore, it is all in how we look at things to formulate our opinions of the world.
Rereading America
The intro of Rereading America talked about challenging the views of the reader by different subjects and looking at them from different perspectives. This happens to be one of the many great things of being an american. America is a big melting pot with very diverse people with different thoughts and Ideas. Everyone lives life to their own set of rules. Which this often can have something to do with their cultural background. Maybe sometimes we do not understand what someone elses rules are and can possibly think they are weird or wrong. We just assume that our culture is right, and that other people are rude and ignorant. A misunderstanding like this can be changed on one condition. To realise that when we make judgements about other people, we are saying quite a lot about ourselves too.
I might be challenged by the opinions of others, but that does not make either one of us wrong if we disagree. If I keep an open mind I can embrace others thoughts and ideas, and I might beable to learn something new in the process. Everyone can welcome new perspectives of the opposite side. It does not mean that we have to change our view point. Everyone together in the American melting pot is one of the many great things we have to offer. This is because it creates endless possibilities if we all keep an open mind.
I might be challenged by the opinions of others, but that does not make either one of us wrong if we disagree. If I keep an open mind I can embrace others thoughts and ideas, and I might beable to learn something new in the process. Everyone can welcome new perspectives of the opposite side. It does not mean that we have to change our view point. Everyone together in the American melting pot is one of the many great things we have to offer. This is because it creates endless possibilities if we all keep an open mind.
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