week in review

Finished up the human rights unit this week. It was actually very interesting to learn about. I think the way a lot of people are treated is very wrong. The main reason people need to learn about this subject is so we don't have repeats of the Holocaust or anything else like it. After that unit we started the mystery stuff. So far it seems pretty cool. The first story we read was kinda creepy. The fact that this killer was in her house and started to lick her hand was just wrong. Then we watched a movie. It was good, but weird all at the same time. I think if that really happened to me i would not know what to do. I would be too scared to do anything when i found out the person was in the house. Although i don't plan on that happening to me anytime soon. Hopefully this week is pretty easy since its the last week before break.

This week

This week was pretty interesting to learn about. We continued to learn and discuss about people's denial of civil rights. We started talking about similarities and differences of Concentration camps and Japanese internment camps. There were not a whole lot of differences. All the people in the Concentration camps were innocent and being killed by the Nazis. They had no way of escaping or staying safe from the senseless killing. The major difference was that the Japanese were not being killed here in America. They were still allowed freedoms, they just had to stay in the camps. The American Government felt it would help keep the Japanese-Americans safe from being attacked by other american citizens. I really felt the movies we watched in class we very helpful in understanding what really happened.

Civil Rights Reading

     The Story "Nightjohn" is a great example of how many people were denied civil rights. The story takes place in Texas during the civil war. The main character's name is Sarny. She is a very curious girl. One day the plantation she lived on, had a new slave. His name was John and he was from the North. He had been beaten many times. This was easy to tell when he had his shirt off because he had many scars on his back where he had been whipped. His goal was to teach slaves, young and old, how to read and write. He did this so they could share their story of how they were mistreated. One example happened right on that plantation. Another young girl was walking around outside at night and she was savagely beaten when found. Sarny was the one who was going to learn from John. She traded him so tobacco for the alphabet. This story signifies how slaves were traeted and were forced against thier will to do tasks.

     "Mascot" tells how the events in a young man's life led him on the path of becoming a great leader in the civil rights movement. This story is about Malcom X and takes place in Michigan around the year 1937. As a young man he lived in the shadow of his brother, who was a great boxer. Malcolm would end up trying to be a boxer himself. In his first fight he was knocked out. He was so disgraced because the kid was a white boy. He challenged the same kid to a rematch and was again knocked out. He was so samed he couldnt show his face in his own town. After that he wanted to become a lawyer. Later in his life he was sent to reform school. While there he lived with an all white family, and he was the only black person in the whole town. However, he was treated very well. At his school he was one of the most popular people. He was very involved in his school activities. He played basketball and was also voted class president. Later in his life he would go to Boston to help become a lawyer. He said it was one of the only places he felt comfortable. The events in Malcolm X's life led him to be a great leader.

     The movie The Great Debaters had many similarities and differences with the stories "Nightjohn" and "Mascot". First it was similar becasue Nightjohn and the movie both took place in Texas. In the movie a black man was lynched; in the story a young girl was beaten savagely. John taught slaves to red and write to tell the story of racism, while the debate team spoke about it. Also, Samantha Booke, from the movie, and Malcolm X both wanted to be lawyers. The Debate team went to Boston just like Malcolm X. Malcolm X and the debate team were both from small schools. However, there were many differences. Nightjohn took place while slavery was still a part of everyday life. Also Malcolm X lived in the North. Malcolm was also the only black man in his school while the debate team was from an all black college. Also when Malcolm went to live with a white family he was openly welcome. The debate team was shunned when they were debating a white college.

    

Now that 12 Angry Men is over we are starting stories and movies about civil rights. I honestly think this is a very interesting topic. The first story we read was Night John. It was pretty good. I think what that man did was amazing. To teach other slaves to read is a very good idea so they can share their stories of how they were treated. The second story was a chapter from a biography about Malcolm X. It seemed like he had a very interesting childhood. He was treated badly but then once he left his home he was treated really well. Now we are watching Great Debaters. So far it is a really good movie. Its amazing how this small college is beating all the top colleges in speech and debate competitions.

this week of class was actually pretty good. We finished the book 12 angry men on monday. it was actually a pretty good book. The ending was kind of what i thought it was going to be. The jury ended up finding the kid not guilty. After the book we started to watch the movie of it. It was really good too. I thought it was going to be boring because all the people were just sitting in a room discussing a murder trial. However, it was actually filled with action. The actors were really good and convincing. We also went to the play this week. It was great. I wasnt really sure what to expect, but it was amazing. The whole cast and crew did a really good job. My favorite part had to be the singing.

response

commented on Gigi's blog at http://gigi-gigi98.blogspot.com/

Pretty easy week of class. All we did was read the play 12 angry men. I thought it was pretty good. I just wish my part had more to read. I think the whole time in the book i said something 10 times. While everyone else got a lot more. Oh well though. I like that we set up the class room in a jury table. I think it actually helped me to understnd the play better. I wonder if there is a movie version of this play. And if there is are we going to watch it like we watched To Kill a Mockingbird? Also i think we are going to the play this week. That should be a lot of fun. I think the students will do a very good job with it, like they always do. Lets hope this week is as good as last. Also this is the first week of basketball.

response

commented on Evren's blog at http://evren-evrensblog.blogspot.com/

I am so happy that movie is over. The whole time i thought it was really dry and boring. The only kind of good part  was the end when the kids were being attacked. Aside from that not a good movie. The test we took over the book was pretty easy though. I like how we talked about the answer to the short answer question the day before in class. It really helped and i think i got an easy A on it. now we are starting to read the play 12 angry men. Actually seems like it is gonna be a very interesting read. I hope it turns out to be good and not boring. I was reading Juror 6 today and i didnthave to read very much. I hope i am the same one tomorrow but get to read a little bit more tha n today. I really liked our little decision thing we did yesterday in class. Was interesting to see why people chose who they did.

commented on Josh's blog at http://joshblog614.blogspot.com/

new post

So i am actually starting to like this book we are reading. its not as bad as i thought it was going to be.  Its actually very interesting. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time during the trial scene. Also i like how it exposes how much people really are racist. Its just one part of the world that should not be there. All people should be treated the same no matter where they come from. I say this about the book but i feel the movie is terrible. i swear it is so dry, i think i fell asleep like 5 times on friday. Just not my first choice in movies to watch. I guess it is better than doing work in class though. I think the kid who plays Dill is the funniest looking person i have ever seen. However, i am ready for this book to be over. I am ready to move on and start reading or learning about something else. But i also heard a lot of the other reading is boring. Hopefully thats not true. Anyway it was an interesting weekend in colege football too. Number 1 went down for the third week in a row. All-in-all it was a very good weekend. Hopefully this week isnt too hard with it being the last week of the quarter.

I am really starting to get tired of all these blog posts. They are really annoying and take too much time. Anyway I might aswell start talking about this week. First of all this book is getting really strange. I actually kind of like it now though. Its getting to the part that sounds good. I like the fact the kids are trying to get to know Boo Radley. it was really weird how Scout didnt even notice how he put the blanket on her back. I dont think he looks like what the kids think. I think he just looks like a normal guy that has not seen sunlight in a ton of years. So basically a pale guy. I was so happy this was a short week. It was nice to finally get a couple extra days off. I needed them to catch up on some sleep, but i was also sick for some of it too. That part did not make me very happy. Even so, i am still happy basketball season is just around the corner. i have been working hard and cant wait for this season. i think it is gonna be not only a fun year but a very successful one too. Well i think that pretty much sums up this week.

response

commented on Mike's blog at http://mikechaublogs.blogspot.com/

So im really not into this book we are reading. Its pretty boring if you ask me. Also it really it doesnt make a whole lot of sense. Hopefully as we start getting further into the book it gets better. I really dont want to be bored in class for the next couple weeks. I think it could get interesting once a couple of my questions are answered. Like what does Boo Radley really look like? Also, i hope something happens between Jem and Burris. If there was a fight that would make the book a little less dry. But i guess it will be fun to see how the book ends up. Also i want to get my persusasive essay back. I think i did well on it and want to see my grade.
On another note i am so happy we have a short week this week. I desperately need the two days off to catch up on some much needed sleep. However, i really dont want to take the Plan test on wednesday. Oh also i cant forget to mention how bad Michigan lost to Michigan State. They sure did not play like the normal Michigan. I am so happy Michigan lost. They finally played a good team who could match up with them. Thats just a preview for the future, I'm talking about November 27th when they play Ohio State, of the season.

response

commented on Costa's blog at http://costa-costasblog.blogspot.com/

I am so happy this stupid paper is finally done. It was so much work i thought i was gonna fall asleep when i was typing it in the car this weekend going to Illinois. Also why does it have to be worth so many points. I think 250 is a little too muuch. Let change it into a completion grade. Im thinking like 10 points. But anyway i hope i get a good grade so i dont end up with a bad grade in the class. It was kinda iteresting to learn more about the trial i researched. I only knew who O.J. Simpson was and that he may have killed simebody. i never really knew a lot of the details. i guess that might be since the case was the same year i was born but whatever. Hopefully we take a break from a lot of hardwork in the class this week. I just want to do some esay grammar stuff or something. Mabye just read a story or two in class. However i think he is going to put something else big right after we turn this in tomorrow. I hope i am wrong. Well again atleast the paper is done and i hope everybody got theirs done and get good grades.

paper

So i have decided the paper is getting a lot easier. I have made good progress and am on track. Will soon be ready to start typing it. Once that gets started the hardest part will be over. Well aside from the parenthetical citations. Which are the most annoying thing in writing a research paper. I think i could have the paper all the way done by Friday at the earliest. Im not really sure if i have enough notes to write a four to six page paper. Fifty-five seems like a lot but not when you are writing such a long paper. I guess if i need to make more i always can, not that i want to though. Also, i am very happy with the topic i picked. i never really knew what exactly happened in the O.J. Simpson murder Trial. i was really glad to learn more about it. A lot more went into it than i had thought. I did not know that a lot of big trials like that one would last around a year. i couldnt imagine having to go to a court room for so many days in a row. I am not as mad now we have to do this project. I think in the end the paper will be worth the time we ahve all spent on it. Good luck to everyone on finishing their paper and hopefully we all do well.

response

commented on Evren's blog at http://evren-evrensblog.blogspot.com/

Trial paper

This trial paper is the most annoying thing i have ever had to do. It is just so much work for writing one paper. The reason i say that is because we have to have 5 sources. I cant remember the last time i had to have 5 sources on a project. Also it wouldnt be so bad if we didnt have to make an outline. For me that is one of the hardest thing to do. I can never figure out the right way to write one. Also the 4-6 page part. Thats a lot of writing. Even though it is double spaced i dont know if i can find enough information to write that long. So far there hasnt been enough information. I have found a lot but not enough. I am not a very good writer so this is pretty much my worst nightmare. Going to have to try my best on this. Atleast he made us a schedule that tells us when we have to have certain things done by. That does make it easier and makes me more organized. I wonder what we are goning to learn after this.

response

Jada's blog

Persuasive Essay

So Im really not a writer. Never have enjoyed it and dont think i will in the future. So this is not my ideal class. I have always enjoyed math and science. So with this essay i am very proud of.This is the easiest writting I have ever had to do. Although I picked an easy topic. I thinnk this will be one of the better grades on the essay. Im not really looking forward to having to write them this year though. Writing is not one of my specialties so i mite not have a whole lot of good one. Even though I dont want to write in the class i think it will still be a fun class. We have a lot of good people in the class that will make it a lot of fun. Also i think a lot of the topics we will learn about will be a lot of fun. I hear some of the stuff we read though is a little boring. The main one is To Kill a Mockingbird. Does anybody even know what its about? I mean it sounds like a bird is getting killed. Doesnt sound all that great to me, but i guess i cant say that until i read it. So this should be an all around good year.

poetry

I really dont like reading the poetry. Its too hard to figure out meanings of what the author is saying. The hardest one was the second one. He started talking about leaving and i didnt get what else he was saying.