English Notebook

Quick Write:  The word culture to me is a social norm in society. The culture of McPherson High School is competition. We play a lot of sports, and try to be "better" than our rival schools, and maybe even our own peers. A culture I would like to see at McPherson High School is respect. I want to be schooled in a place where no one makes fun of other people. 

I think the way racial issues are portrayed helps people today paint a visual. Hopefully some can see the progress we've made, and still see we still need to work on it.  Important that Scout wears overalls when girls typically weren't supposed to.  Why are the kids always getting in trouble? Family issue? Deeply-rooted emotional issue? 

Quick Write:  Scout's demeanor is very carefree and outgoing.  The description of Boo Radley is unfair and rude.  Calpurnia's attitude is strict with the Finch kids.  Miss Caroline should feel anxious her first day.  Expansion: I chose carefree and outgoing because she is young and extroverted. She speaks her opinions and isn't afraid to do whatever. I think the description of Boo Radley is unfair and rude because it was solemnly based off of rumors, opinions, and "legend". They don't know him, yet they make him our to be a monster.  I chose strict because she enforces rules. Don't get me wrong, I know she loves the kids and that's why she enforces rules.  Miss Caroline should feel anxious because she is fresh out of college and new to everything. And by anxious, I mean nervous, yet excited. 

Quick Write: Kneeling at the national anthem and TKMB NFL players kneeling is comparable to To Kill A Mockingbird because they both gravitate around systemic racism. These men are kneeling because no one wants to praise something they don't agree with. They kneel for the 258 africans murdered annually by police. The kneel for the black people who are 33% more likely to be shot. Etc. 

A:Socratic Seminar Questions and Answers  Q: Why did Heck Tate protect Boo Radley? A: People could've though he killed Boo.    Q: How did Heck Tate change?  A: He tried to make things equal. - Lakyn    Q: Why did this book bring up Hitler? A: Racism. -Haliegh  Irony with Miss Caroline. -Jackson Fox   Q: How do you feel about the way Tom was killed?  A: Very unnecessary and excessive. 17 shots is too much. -Riley   Q: How would it be different if Tom wasn't found guilty? A: Some of the jury would be angry. Tom would be avoided. - Raegan    Q: How does Mrs. Dubose play into the story?  A: Shows that you can't be judgmental. -Haleigh    Q: Why was Atticus rough with Jem's punishment (Mrs. Dubose)  A: To prepare them. Teach respect to everyone. -Will   

Theme: manipulating innocence.  Jem, Tom, Boo, Mr. Raymond can be seen as mockingbirds- "innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil." 

Quick Write:  When I see this picture, it just looks like a nice family to me. The children are close and the man is holding onto the woman; they look like a loving family. They don't look very well-kept, so I presume they are a low-income family/ living in poverty. That could also explain their looks of fright and exhaustion. It looks like they're in a car, which could be their home.    Poverty:  When I hear the word poverty I think of low-income families and unfairness. Some people were raised in poverty and could never escape it and are forced to live the rest of their lives like that (which isn't fair). A lot of people die because they don't have the money they need to support themselves. Crime-rates tend to be higher in impoverished areas because some people become so desperate for money, they resort to selling drugs, stealing, and joining gangs. This spreads a negative stigma all over low-income families or people living in poverty. 

Free-Write: what doesn't kill us makes us stronger I think this is true to an extent. When it comes to mental trauma, or metaphors, this is most likely true. I've experienced deep emotional pain before, but it didn't kill me. It did make me a stronger person. When it comes to physical trauma- it's only partially true. If you were climbing a tree and fell and broke your arm, chances are you'll heal and won't make the same mistakes again- therefore making you stronger. But if you got in a car accident and survived yet suffered paralysis- that might've made you weaker or "uncapable". You aren't able to do as much as before, so although it didn't kill you, it didn't make you stronger. This is very applicable to me. Everything I've endured, mentally and physically, has made me stronger in some way.    "Everyone has something good about them... you have to find the redeeming quality and love them for that".  I do not believe this. I do believe everyone has a redeemable quality, but if everything else about them is bad or negative, then you don't have to love them for that one thing. Like you can't love Hitler just because he liked dogs... it just doesn't make sense. Love them if you believe they are a good person, don't search for a single good thing and force yourself to love them for it. 

Vocabulary Words:  Rendition- I think this word is important to me because I do this a lot (renditions) and it's frequently used. A situation where I would use this word is on my YouTube channel. I post sign language covers to popular songs to spread awareness and show support to the deaf community.  Exodus- This word is very important and relevant, especially now. With poverty, over-population, war, and immigration we see a lot of exodus. A situation where I would use this word would be talking about politics. Whether it'd be deporting Mexicans or not allowing Syrian refugees in, it is relevant.  Castigate- This word is important because it happens all the time, even to me. A time when this word would be used would be talking about a teacher who's putting down a student, or a kid berating someone else. It's very common, and it's good to know how to properly define a situation. Largesse- I personally am a very generous and peaceful person. I do a lot of volunteer work, charities, donations ,etc. I would use this world all the time to explain my work. I want to give as much as possible to show my love and dedication to helping people.  

Timed Write If I am understanding correctly, this is saying that being neutral and ignoring differences, you would be racist or promoting inequality. I 100% agree with this "article". When you ignore differences, you allow inequality to exist. Not everything in life just works itself out when you leave it alone, if there's a problem, fix it. If you see someone being racially discriminated, don't be neutral. By keeping walking and ignoring, you are supporting racism. If you think a change has to be made, don't wait for someone else to do so. Of you can identify the problem, you need to find a way to actively support and promote a solution. A problem as big as systemic racism will not fix itself. If you have the mindset "if I don't favor one group, or get into something that doesn't involve me, things will work themselves out" nothing will ever get done. You have to be the change you want to see. We are humans, we all have a story, our own struggles, context and we all are unique in some way. It's remarkably ridiculous to even think everyone is the same, because we're not. We are individualized and we all deserve to be treated as humans; with compassion. Viewing everyone as the same won't solve the problem, it is the problem. Sure, you could go on and on about how physically, we all have the same body structure and we're all basically the same, but you're ignoring the part of the body that is most important. Our minds and feelings. That's what makes us different and unique. When you walk past a hate crime of some sort, you cannot ignore it if jtou want to fix it. That black, mexican, white, asian human being has a story. A heart, morals, values and compassion. Don't walk past that. Don't walk down the street viewing everyone as the same, because that's impossible. Being neutral, is being hateful. Acknowledge color and their history. We're all different, but we're still humans. Start acting like it. 

Free write: leaders  A good leader is educated. They need to know what they are doing, where they are going and need to know how to manage a group of people. They need to know how to be authoritative, yet compassionate. They need to know a lot about what they're leading (ex. president should be educated on US history, laws, economy, etc.). They have to be factually informed in many fields if they want to lead a group of people in the right direction. they need to know the type of people they are working with and how to correctly inform and lead them in a way they understand. Overall, they need to be educated on past, present and future, how to care for people, the subject mater and working with people in a way that is beneficial to them. They just need to be smart and reliable.    Friendship:  Friendship is a bond between two or more people that gravitates around trust, loyalty, compassion and kindness. 

Quick Write: I agree. Many times, which I'm not speaking for everybody, people who crave power and publicity are tempted to do bad things, even if they are good people. For example: kids that grow up famous (Justin Bieber, Olsen twins, etc.) they are all good people, but when you are so famous and crave more wealth/power/attention, you most likely will be driven to do bad things. 

Julius Caesar summary and notes:    Act 1 Scene 1:  Flavius questions citizens about why they aren't at work. They said they were there to see Caesar- which was confusing to Flavius. Marullus was upset because Caesar attacked Pompey. Caesar and Pompey both have followers and they are almost like fighting political parties. These two create a political divide. It is a very controversial subject matter. Flavius and Marullus support Pompey, and the two citizens we see support Caesar.    Act 1 Scene 2  Caesar asks man in religious race to touch Calpurnia to make her fertile. March through July on 15th is religious and special day. Soothsayer says to beware the Ides of March and Caesar thinks he is crazy and thinks nothing of it. Cassius asks Brutus (they are friends) if he wanted wanted to go see the race, and Brutus doesn't want to. Cassius can tell that something is wrong. He is battling something internally/emotionally and Cassius tries to make him feel better. Cassius effectively lectures as to why he refuses to bow to Caesar. He believes that Caesar is nothing more than an ordinary person. If anything, he is feeble, weak, cowardly and over rated. He thinks that Caesar deserves no credit or praise.