Life after this blog

I wrote a few personal notes in the future me email that I sent myself of course, but I also made a list of all of the main issues I want to change or fix. I definitely want to be more focused and dedicated when it comes to school, homework and work. I need to start reflecting on myself more, taking a step back and really taking a look at where I am standing in life. There are a lot of different places I want to be in five years. I want to have graduate with my BA and continuing in with my education in graduate school. I definitely want to be successful in life. I know I have what it takes to get there. I just need to be more willing and ambitious. 

I CAN READ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fVNd40AYj4&feature=youtu.be

Paper Cut

I really enjoyed the process and benefited from breaking down the essay into separate sections after already writing what was intended to be a "final draft". I really was not expecting that what so ever. I did well with brain storming ideas to compose into a well-written and well-structured term paper. I hope to improve on my time management.. I have suffered a few sleepless nights over this paper; definitely all my fault. Not having a definite prompt was a very new experience for me. I'm so used to teachers telling me what to write and how to write it. That's probably why this term paper was a little difficult for me in the beginning. It taught me to think outside of the box even more than I already do. I taught me to really research into the topics I am writing about for the best possible evidence and support. I really feel more confident about my writing, especially writing a 10-12 page paper.

Connecting the dots

I honestly wasn't surprised when I first heard the assignment. It seemed very feasible. I had been expecting an assignment like this, so once we were assigned it, I was ready to dive right in. I am personally interested in Politics and the government. I feel it's going to be very easy to find examples and relate racism to Political Science and write a very informative term paper. There have been Political officials assassinated due to or because of racism, there is racism towards politicians, between politicians, and because of politicians. I can even relate back to the first paper I wrote and just research more about politics and add it to what I have already wrote.

Racism Term Paper

Paige A. Logan

Dr. Preston

Expository Composition

11/10/13

Term Paper: Racism

             Racism exists in all parts of the world, but America seems to have a very long established history with racial issues. Dating back to the start, when Europeans first explored this land, to issues with slavery, to racism with Latin Americans and many more races; racism still continues to occur to this day in many different aspects. Some problems never go mentioned or never make it on the media, but that does not mean they aren’t relevant or worthy of media praises. Professionals even deal with issues in racism. Racial discrimination is becoming more and more frequent. If something isn’t done to control the racism and not let it escalate, there are going to be some serious problems in the future that could have been avoided.

There have been racial issues in this country from the get-go. Being that the Native Americans had settled on this land for thousands of years before the Europeans arrival, the Natives naturally believed this land belonged to them. As Stephanie Muntone wrote in her article Native Americans and the Europeans, “Clashes between the American Indians and Europeans were inevitable.” Both of the group’s thoughts on life were so diverse. The Natives had adapted to the best of their ability. They respected the land and all that it could provide.

The various groups of Europeans shared a common religious, linguistic, and cultural heritage. They had developed sophisticated weapons. They had a conquering mentality that differed greatly from the mentality of the American- Indian tribes, who had found that there was room enough for all to settle, with fights over territory being very rare. (Muntone 2)

Obviously, Europeans had the drive, which enabled them to conquer the land from the Native Americans. They wanted to be free from the king, but were so used to his monarchic attributes. They lacked the ability to reason or agree. Once all of the territories were created into the United States, Native Americans were then forced into “…reservations constituting just 4% of U.S.”(BRD 1) With-in those reservations, Native Americans were forced to attend school “…which sought to reeducate them in white settler American values, culture and economy.”(BRD 2) It’s hard to just stop racism and it can’t be expected to just happen over night. Especially when this issue has been on going since day one. “To this day, Native Americans are the most harshly affected by institutionalized racism.”(BRD 3) Native Americans were mistreated and discriminated for this land; this land that continues to house discrimination, not only towards Native Americans, either.

            African Americans are still discriminated against in the United States today, even after their well-known discriminatory historical backgrounds. Slavery began in the Untied States once the English colonists settled in Virginia. Americans brought Africans to this country to specifically use them and treat them inhumanely. Once African American received their rights to vote and poll taxes in the 19^th Century, acts of terror by groups like the KKK and discriminatory laws kept African American’s disenfranchised in the South. “Racism in the United States was worse during this time than at any period before or since. Segregation, racial discrimination, and expressions of white supremacy all increased. So did anti-black violence, including lynchings and race riots.”(BRD 4) As you can see, racism definitely has come along way in a Century, but there are a lot of areas that still need improvement. On a blog titled “Racism today”, there was a post made on March 25, 2013, about a New York Police Officer named Pedro Serrano who was secretly recorded and caught on tape telling a NYPD whistleblower to “…specifically target “male blacks 14 to 21” for stop-and-frisk because they commit crimes.”(Racism Today 1) If a young African American man cannot even walk through the streets of New York with out being randomly and unreasonably question is pretty sad and the fact a role model for all of society is stating this makes it even worse. It sparks a numerous amount of questions about any superior government official. There shouldn’t be a lack of trust or questioning loyalty when it comes to those positions.

I personally volunteered in Uganda, Africa this past summer and had the most life changing experience. While I was in Africa, a villager and a high school student both asked me on separate occasions, “Are there people like us in America?” After hesitating a moment, I proceeded to tell them “Yes, there are.” One of my best friends is African American and I had a picture with her set as my background on my cell phone. I showed both of them pictures of my friend and I. They both were shocked and lost for words. They had no idea African Americans even existed. Everyone I met in Uganda was so welcoming and full of life. Every single person was happy as could be with everything the way it was. Americans are very appreciated in Uganda. In other parts of Africa, Americans aren’t kindly welcomed, which is understandable! Americans hold grudges against enemies that have attacked us in the past. Ugandans have the best attitudes about everything, just life in general! My volunteer mission sparked my interest in Politics and International affairs. I want to help those countries that are in need. Americans went to that continent and took people out of their homes and land. Now, majority of the countries on that continent are struggling by while the rest of the countries in the world are continuing to prosper.

            Latin Americans are another race that is discriminated against in American. “The immigration debate has generated negative feelings of nativism and racist claims that Latin Americans are taking over white Anglo-American society…”(BRD 5) After the Mexican-American War, Mexicans residing in the south found themselves subject to discrimination. Nick Valencia, a national news desk editor and former head of the CNN Spanish Desk, reported about an incident when he was talking to a group of individuals in Spanish and a woman yelled to him “Go home! Why don’t you go back home to Mexico before you ruin this country like you ruined your own!”(Valencia 1) Valencia was standing in a crowd at the Music Midtown festival in Atlanta when this happened and stated he grew up in Los Angeles and “…had never encountered such overt racism.” The way he handled that situation with a very professional manner. He simply told her "I don't think you understand who you said that to.” And she really didn’t! She is a prime example of someone racial discriminating against someone who was simply talking in Spanish to some other individuals. That woman harassed a group of individuals she didn’t even know, in public. Things like that should go unsaid. That woman should have kept her thoughts to herself.

There are many racist attitudes and stereotypes towards Latinos in America. “Hispanics in general, and American Hispanics in particular, have been the victims of racist stereotyping in an unbroken string of images and portrayals that began with the battle over Mexican land in the Southwest as America expanded during the frontier era.”(Brown Face 1) Hispanic Americans are one of the minority groups in the United States that suffer from racial stereotyping. “Typical stereotypes include: the Greaser, the Lazy Mexican, the Latin Lover, the Mamacita, maids, slum dwellers, drug addicts, gang bangers, feisty Latinas, the Mexican Spitfire, and the Exotica.”(Brown Face 2) Anyone that thinks any of those things or passes a judgment about a person they don’t personally know is super low. There are racial stereotypes for all races.  

If you're black then you are supposed to act, dress and talk the way society expects you to. If you're a black man or woman from the south then you're automatically lacking in intelligence; if you're a black woman you have an attitude or you're angry. You must listen to rap or hip hop music, too right? (Cain-Jackson)

Those are a few typical stereotypes stated about African Americans. There are stereotypes for every race, gender and religion. Stereotypes are created and used by very ignorant people. “Ignorance prevails and it instills in us all that we should not have our own sense of individuality, but instead that we are expected to be identical to others whose skin pigmentation is the same as ours.”(Cain-Jackson 2)

Whatever happened to “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”? Why can rappers rap about derogatory subjects, using profane language? For songs to be on the radio, they have to be clean and censored versions anyways. There really isn’t any point to rapping that way.  As we learned in class, you really don’t have the right to your opinion and this is true, especially in racism. People take differences in opinions not as difference in ideology, but rather a personal attack on another being. Racial stereotypes and slurs are opinions and classifications. Ignorant people place other people under categories and place labels on other. Racism is bullying and bullying causes many emotional, mental and physical issues. Racial bullying is a huge problem in schools lately. “Any hostile or offensive action against people because of their skin color, cultural or religious background or ethnic origin can be classed as racist bullying.”(Kidscape) There is a lot that can be done to stop this. Kids learn things when they are younger from their parents and any other superior figure roles in their lives. Maybe educating on the subject to make obvious the huge issue of racial bullying will make people realize what they are doing and causing because of the racism. The easiest thing to do is start being more accepting and open to other cultures and races. Each is so diverse from one another, which keep the curiosity roaring. 

Racism is being found more frequently and brought to attention because of advances in technology. This term paper wouldn’t have been so strongly defended with out the Internet and News. I found many websites and articles resourceful to what I wanted to know about. There was even a blog I came across that was exactly what I had been looking for. The blog Racism Today’s purpose “…is to show and point out incidents that prove just how racist the world still is and we're hoping through this blog that the world can change and get better for everyone.” There are many topics of racism discussed on this blog. The main topics being discrimination, incidents with police, racism in schools/sports and racism in politics. Another resourceful blog I used was created by two of my very own peers. In Loco Politico is to “…provide the next generation with a forum to discuss international as well as national problems.” I am still surprised that two individuals I go to school with created such an informative blog. Their goal is to “…encourage our generation to get involved, because within the next election cycle, we will be making giant decisions that will affect our world.” These are all great resources, especially for individuals like myself, writing a term paper on racism and also being interested in politics. I want to study Political Science after I graduate from high school and racism will always come up in America, it’s almost inevitable. Look into and reading blogs is a great way to stay up-to-date with current events and the author’s thoughts on those events.

Current racial events in the media today are practically horrifying. In Santa Rosa, CA “Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a replica assault rifle they mistook for the real thing.”(Wollan 1) The 13-year-old boy’s name is Andy Lopez. Two officers noticed the boy carrying the gun and ordered him to put it down. The boy refused the officer’s orders, so deputies fired several rounds from their handguns, striking the subject. After being shot a total of seven times in 26 seconds. The boy fell to the ground and landed right on top of the toy gun he was holding. Deputies searched the subject once he had dropped to the ground and found a plastic handgun in the boy’s waistband. The police were originally dispatched to the area because of a reported suspicious person. Why did the deputies shoot at the boy 8 times with 7 of the shots actually hitting him?  

Did the police do what was necessary or did they act out of line? Both cases can be made. The gun clearly looked like an actual weapon, especially from a far. Some will argue that they should have assured that it was a real gun before firing, but that could have easily put them and innocent civilians in danger had it been a real gun.(Solis)

Javier stated both sides of the debate exactly how I would have. I couldn’t agree with his theories more. The officers took their first instinct, being police officers, and assumed that the gun was real. Andy’s death could have easily been avoided. But as Erica exclaimed in a post on her blog, “Why 7 times? Why did Andy get fired at 7 times?” There must have been some alternative motive behind the shooting of the young boy. Maybe it being recent shootings committed by Hispanic teens, but that is putting a stereotype on teens now. There are no actual statements claiming this is an act of racism, but with hearing about the stop-and-frisk policies in the NYPD, who knows what the real reasoning is.

            Another current event taking place as I am writing this term paper is on the NFL Miami Dolphins. Player Richie Incognito left racial and profane voicemails on his teammate, Jonathan Martin’s cell phone. ESPN drafted a written version of the voicemail,

"Hey, wassup, you half n----- piece of s---. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. [I want to] s--- in your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your real mother across the face [laughter]. F--- you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."

Some sources familiar with the tapes say “…these are terms Incognito used over time and were not isolated incidents, including the use of the racial epithet multiple times.”(ESPN 2) Incognito was suspended from the Miami Dolphins for “…Conduct detrimental to the team.”(ESPN 3) A team source told newspaper reporters that Incognito is done and that from a club’s perspective, he will never play another game in the NFL. I totally understand where Martin would be offended by that voice mail and any other messages that were sent from Incognito. Of course, Incognito could have been kidding, but he didn’t make that obvious so who knows. Being the two were teammates, maybe Incognito felt comfortable speaking to Martin in that manner. Incognito has been in trouble twice before this incident. In 2009, he got into a “verbal altercation” with the St. Louis Rams coach, Steve Spagnuolo. In his 2004 college season at Nebraska, Incognito was suspended because of “off-the-field incidents.” The current story in media is, “Incognito was “bullying” Martin, possibly at the orders of the coaching staff, maybe to “toughen up” Martin, and this caused Martin to leave the team.  Some of the things that were said were pretty ugly.”(Fulkerson) Some say Martin might not be innocent; they can’t imagine a 6-foot-5, 312-pound offensive tackle being bullied. I think that is false. Someone’s size doesn’t matter, just like appearance doesn’t matter. The NFL should definitely show a good example by refusing to tolerate racism in order to strive for better team-building skills.

Incognito’s peers in the NFL have very feelings and opinions towards the situation. The defensive lineman of the Houston Texans, Antonio Smith, swung a helmet at Incognito during a game in the preseason. "You are what you are I guess," Smith said. "That doesn't surprise me one bit."(ESPN 4) David Garrard, of the New York Jets, was a teammate of Incognito’s in Miami during preseason last year.

"I would just say he's a jokester kind of guy," Garrard said. "A good guy, but like all of us, you want to have your fair shake of pranks and stuff like that. ... It's unfortunate. You never want it to get to a point where guys want to leave the team. You would hope other guys in the locker room would help police it. It's one of those situations that's sad to see."

The third player that made comments about the situation was Bart Scott, a former New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens linebacker. "He needs to be gone," Scott said. "No one would miss him anyway. Trust me."(ESPN 5) Garrard was the only one of the three that actually played on a team with Incognito. He was around him and got to know him more than the other two may know him as. No matter what anyone says, Martin was offended by what was said by Incognito, “Martin's attorney, David Cornwell, released a statement Thursday that alleges that Martin endured harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker-room hazing.”(Glazer) Martin is also claiming he received “daily vulgar comments.” Incognito turned over his phone records for conversations between him and Martin. Martin sent these texts to Incognito three days after he left the team:

"Wassup man? The world's gone crazy lol I'm good tho congrats on the win"

"Yeah I'm good man. It's insane bro but just know I don't blame you guys at all it's just the culture around football and the locker room got to me a little."

Everyone is now questioning all of the racial allegations. Martin clearly stated his reasoning behind leaving the team. The media is making it out to be Incognito’s fault behind leaving. With cases like these, the media isn’t very trust worthy until situations and issues have been resolved. Even then, the media can still be questionable.

“Race is a significant social issue because people use racial differences as the basis for discrimination”(BRD 6) History repeats itself and will continue to do so. There will always be stereotypes, but will there always be people to use them? It’s going to be very hard to extirpate racism as a whole in society. The country we live in today, was established with good-means and intentions, but the ways things went about in order to establish this nation, weren’t very humane or orderly. There are many different ways that situations could have been handled and things might be better off today, but looking back at the past and seeing what could’ve been done is irrelevant now. Looking at the present and seeing what CAN be done in order to determine a better future; now you’re talking!

Works Cited

Cain-Jackson, Bryan “Slaving to Racial Stereotypes”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-cainjackson/slaving-to-racial-stereot_b_4082228.html

Do Something “Background on Racial Discrimination”

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-racial-discrimination

Fulkerson, Zack Racism and bullying take center stage in NFL

http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php/2013/11/11/racism-and-bullying-take-center-stage-in-nfl/

Glazer, Jay “Richie Incognito: ‘I am not a racist’”

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Richie-Incognito-Miami-Dolphins-Jonathan-Martin-Jay-Glazer-full-transcript-111013

The History of Racist Latino/Hispanic Stereotypes

http://brown-face.com

In Loco Politico

https://inlocopolitico.wordpress.com/about/

Kidscape “Racist Bullying”

http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/racist-bullying/

Marquez, Erica “Why 7 times?”

http://emarquezrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/2013/11/why-7-times.html

Muntone, Stephanie “Clashed between the Native Americans and the Europeans”

http://www.education.com/study-help/article/us-history-settlement-colonization-native-americans-europeans/

Racism Today

http://racismtoday.blogspot.com

Rich Cimini, Tania Ganguli, James Walker  Slurs in Incognito’s Message

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9926139/richie-incognito-miami-dolphins-used-slurs-messages-jonathan-martin

Solis, Javier “13 year-old boy is shot seven times by police officers in California”

http://javi123xyz.blogspot.com

Valencia, Nick My encounter with anti-Latino Racism

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/opinion/valencia-racism-latino/

Wollan, Malia Boy, 13, Carrying toy guns is shot dead by deputies

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/us/boy-13-carrying-toy-guns-is-shot-dead-by-deputies.html?_r=0

7 times

I was very moved by Erika's post! She has a very strong, and aggressive tone. She definitely wanted to get her point across and effect the thinking and emotions of her audience. She caused me to look at the situation with a different point of view. Maybe the boy was shot because of his race, but we will never know. Javi was very concerned with the situation as well. He controlled his anger more than Erika did. Both posts were very well written and supported. I enjoy reading other students opinions about current events because I can really relate sometimes and other times it causes me to look at something from someone else's shoes for a change.

Racial Profiling Lives On

*Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ruled that the stop-and-frisk practices of the NYPD violate the constitution

*Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was disappointed with that ruling because it is "...a very dangerous decision made by a judge who I think does not understand how policing works." 

*Judge Scheindlin is a Federal District Court Justice in Manhattan and her ruling doesn't come close to the authority of the Supreme Court 

*Supreme Court has given police officers permission to target African-Americans and Latinos with little or no basis. 

Vocabulary #9

Ultimate: maximum; decisive; conclusive

Ex- I found the ultimate christmas present for my mom. 

Interactive: influencing or having an effect on each other

Ex- We always tend to have interactive conversations.

Principle: a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning
Ex- Happiness is the key principle to living a great life. 

Guidance: advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, esp. as given by someone in authority
Ex- I go to my mom for guidance when i'm lost.

Collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something

Ex- I'm hoping to meet with a student from SJ to do some collaboration for a write up about the shield. 

Formative: serving to form something, esp. having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development
Ex- Everyone makes high school out to be this huge formative part of your life.

Summative: the process of adding things together
Ex-This article was summative to the other one.

Racism: the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races

Ex- Racism is a world wide issue 

Intelligence: the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills
Ex- Intelligence is attractive in a person 

Hyperbolic: exaggerated
Ex- Her reaction was hyperbolic and unnecessary.

Consent: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
Ex- I need my mother's consent in order to do anything. 

Doctrine: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group
Ex- The bible is a doctrine for Christian people.

Hunch: a feeling or guess based on intuition rather than known facts
Ex- I had this hunch that he was hiding something from me. 

Predominant: present as the strongest or main element
Ex- Blue eyes are very predominant in my family. 

Discretion: the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information

Ex- She told me discreetly that I had something on my pants. 

Provision: the action of providing or supplying something for use
Ex- My mom always buys my provisions. 

Seizure: the action of capturing someone or something using force

Ex- The hunter seized the lion. 

Warrant: a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police or some other body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice

Ex- The felon had a warrant out for his arrest. 

Infraction: a violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules
Ex- Not wearing a seat belt is an infraction. 

Melancholy Grad

Today is a very special day. Even though we have all faced problems, achieved accomplishments and experienced these past four years individually, we all can say we share this memorable day with each other. Now the biggest question of our lives, what do you do now? Do you continue on with education? Do you move out? Do you join the Military? There are so many choices to be made after this day. We all have the capability to accomplish anything and everything we set our minds to. As we all branch off to explore new avenues and ways of thinking, let's forever keep in mind the memories we  created together during these past four years. Each memory shaped us to becoming the people we are today, siting on this football field. We're forever going to be Warriors, we bleed purple and gold. We never back down to a challenge and we never give up on a fight. Fight on, Warriors!

Text- Hamlet *Group Activity

ACTIVITY 1 courtesy of Tiana
1. What prior experiences do you have reading plays?
As a freshman in high school, we were required to spend a whole unit, studying, understanding and reviewing The Odyssey. This helped understand how to read plays and be familiar with them.
2. What did you notice about the format and annotations?
The format of Hamlet was strict iambic pentameter. Shakespeare followed a certain form and continued throughout the play. The connotations were very hard to understand in present day English. Shakespeare used old English to convey his messages.
3.What did you notice about the texts structure?
The texts structure as I said above was based on iambic pentameter. He had a strict format of which he used throughout. His lines and/or sentenced seemed to run on. I think this had a purpose in the conveying his poetic style however. Lastly, his soliloquy is written in common play format.

Responses by, Alyssa Barajas

HAMLET VALUE OF LIFE

ACTIVITY 1 courtesy of me, Tiana
1. What prior experiences do you have reading plays?
As a freshman in high school, we were required to spend a whole unit, studying, understanding and reviewing The Odyssey. This helped understand how to read plays and be familiar with them.
2. What did you notice about the format and annotations?
The format of Hamlet was strict iambic pentameter. Shakespeare followed a certain form and continued throughout the play. The connotations were very hard to understand in present day English. Shakespeare used old English to convey his messages.
3.What did you notice about the texts structure?
The texts structure as I said above was based on iambic pentameter. He had a strict format of which he used throughout. His lines and/or sentenced seemed to run on. I think this had a purpose in the conveying his poetic style however. Lastly, his soliloquy is written in common play format.

ACTIVITY 5: courtesy of Alyssa Barajas

Term                                                                       Antonym
Oppression                                                              Contumely (contempt)
Action                                                                      Calamity (tragedy)
Endurance                                                                To die-to sleep
Mystery                                                                    "take arms against a sea of trouble"
Life                                                                          Quietus (death)

Term                                                                       Word Family
Action                                                                      take arms, opposing, shuffled off, bear the whips, to                                                                                     grunt and sweat,
Thought                                                                    question, mind to suffer, to be wish'd, perchance to                                                                                       dream, conscience
Suffering                                                                   suffer, bear the whips and scorns of time
Morality                                                                   sins remember'd, grunt and sweat, coil, calamity
Fear                                                                         quietus, bodkin, suffer, slings and arrows, take arms                                                                                     a

ACTIVITY 7: courtesy of Summer Morgan heart-ache, weary life,

1. Where does Hamlet ask the central question of his soliloquy?
Hamlet asks the central question, whether he should continue living or end his own life, at the very beginning  of his soliloquy.

2. Where does he restate this question in greater detail?
Hamlet restates his question of living in greater detail throughout the rest of his soliloquy. He goes deeper and deeper into his thoughts about what he should do, if he really could go on or if this was the end for him.

3. Does Hamlet ever answer this question?
Although throughout the whole speech Hamlet sounds melancholy causing you too think that, in the end, he will choose to give up on life instead of continuing it; he never really clearly states his answer to his own question.

4. Does he ask any other questions in this speech?
The whole speech is made up of smaller questions that coincide with his huge opening question. He starts his speech with the big question and the rest consists of smaller questions that lead into his first question of whether or not he wants to live.

5. Who or what interrupts Hamlet at the end of his soliloquy? Do you think he was finished talking?
Ophelia interrupts Hamlet at the end of his soliloquy, I don't think that he was finished talking, he just suddenly ended his thoughts and stopped speaking.

ACTIVITY 10 courtesy of me, Tiana
First, Hamlet clearly uses many strategies. One clear personification is this sentence:
"Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,"
Here, Hamlet personifies the sea by giving it troubles. All this line is saying is, "Should I fight against a these large amount of troubles."
"For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,"
Here is another example of personification where Hamlet gives time, "life" by personifying it. This sentence is conveying "Who wants to deal with all life's struggles?".
Shakespeare's stylistic ways make him the famous playwright that he is. In this speech alone, these strategies create a dramatic atmosphere at which a reader gets engulfed in and can feel a mood. A reader can become more involved in the reading and also understand the true, deeper feelings the character feels.

ACTIVITY 12 courtesy of Gabi:

1. the soliloquy appeals more through pathos rather than logos. this is apparent because the soliloquy is more or less the thoughts and emotions of that person put into a monologue, therefore pathos is a big part of it.

2. Yes, Shakespeare uses pathos to create an effect on the reader. By Hamlet expressing his confrontational problem and stylistically debating it causes a nostalgic response for readers. people are able to connect this with something that may have happened to them, has, or is in their near future. It helps the reader to feel a connection to Hamlet because the emotions of confliction are common place.

3. Shakespeare also uses logic, or logos, to help the reader with understanding Hamlet. When Hamlet starts debating life and death, and what is worth it and what not, he uses logic to create a contrast between them:

"Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer

The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,

Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles..."

4. When people are put in tight situations, the value of their life becomes clear to them because they tend to take a broader stance when the situation is. Hamlet defines this with his soliloquy. He seems to be talking about the quality of life in general, but alludes to his life because it is what he knows.

5. YES, Shakespeare's views and thoughts are definitely worth considering. He provides insight and a fresh point of view to concepts we can all relate to, but that haven't been found. He expresses them through stories and artistically through characters, so as you learn about concepts through the characters, it feels less like you're being taught, and more like you are being enlightened.

Activity 13: Hamlet

Title: Hamlet's Soliloquy
Author: Shakespeare
Genre: Dramatic Play

What is the text's big issue?
-People have this misconception of this speech, as Hamlet trying to kill himself. That is not the case. The real issue is, Hamlet's uncle just killed his father, and slept with his mother. Hamlet wants to escape from his newly ruined life. He contemplates killing his uncle, but the real issue for him is to sleep. "To dream." If he can escape from this nightmare of a situation, that is really his goal. If he can sleep, and dream, then he can dream himself into a different life. Preferably a life unlike his very own at the moment.

What claim does the text make?
-The claim made is to live or die. To continue living this lifestyle, or begin to live a new one through killing his uncle, or to sleep and dream. To continue to tolerate the whips and scorns of time, or the pain of rejected love. It claims to either stay in the world given to him, to life with the mistakes of his mother and the ghostly remembrances of his father, or to create a dream in which he can escape his awful life and start a fictional one.

What are examples or quotes from the text?
-"to be or not to be, that is the question"-to be what he knows or to be what his life truly has become
"...tis nobler in the mind of suffering"-what is better, to ruin even more of what has become, or to stand tall and not fight back with his uncle's decisions
"by sleep we say to end"-to sleep, to end all his sufferings and to escape to a land of his own
"To die, to sleep"-which does he choose, his life where he is, or his own life he makes up
"To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come"-a chance to dream, to escape his tragedy and make his own world in which he designs the outline of his dreams

What do you think about the text's claims?
-The first couple times i read this text, I hated it. But now i actually kind of enjoy learning about new eras and texts from way back, Shakespeare time. I think this claim is far more elaborate and detailed than the naked eye can see. You really have to take a hold of the words given, and sort of read between the lines. I dont truly believe i have gotten a complete grasp on this Soliloquy yet, but in time i will, hopefully.


What are your examples from the text?
"Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,"
-this first section of Shakespeare's piece really stood out to me. This examples shows all the thoughts from Hamlet, from the death thoughts, to the dreaming contemplation

Activity 5:
Term                                                                       Antonym
Oppression                                                              Contumely (contempt)
Action                                                                      Calamity (tragedy)
Endurance                                                                To die-to sleep
Mystery                                                                    "take arms against a sea of trouble"
Life                                                                          Quietus (death)

Term                                                                       Word Family
Action                                                                      take arms, opposing, shuffled off, bear the whips, to                                                                                     grunt and sweat,
Thought                                                                    question, mind to suffer, to be wish'd, perchance to                                                                                       dream, conscience
Suffering                                                                   suffer, bear the whips and scorns of time
Morality                                                                   sins remember'd, grunt and sweat, coil, calamity
Fear                                                                         quietus, bodkin, suffer, slings and arrows, take arms                                                                                     against, heart-ache, weary life, 

Activity 13:
Title: Hamlet's Soliloquy
Author: Shakespeare
Genre: Dramatic Play

What is the text's big issue?
-People have this misconception of this speech, as Hamlet trying to kill himself. That is not the case. The real issue is, Hamlet's uncle just killed his father, and slept with his mother. Hamlet wants to escape from his newly ruined life. He contemplates killing his uncle, but the real issue for him is to sleep. "To dream." If he can escape from this nightmare of a situation, that is really his goal. If he can sleep, and dream, then he can dream himself into a different life. Preferably a life unlike his very own at the moment.

What claim does the text make?
-The claim made is to live or die. To continue living this lifestyle, or begin to live a new one through killing his uncle, or to sleep and dream. To continue to tolerate the whips and scorns of time, or the pain of rejected love. It claims to either stay in the world given to him, to life with the mistakes of his mother and the ghostly remembrances of his father, or to create a dream in which he can escape his awful life and start a fictional one.

What are examples or quotes from the text?
-"to be or not to be, that is the question"-to be what he knows or to be what his life truly has become
"...tis nobler in the mind of suffering"-what is better, to ruin even more of what has become, or to stand tall and not fight back with his uncle's decisions
"by sleep we say to end"-to sleep, to end all his sufferings and to escape to a land of his own
"To die, to sleep"-which does he choose, his life where he is, or his own life he makes up
"To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come"-a chance to dream, to escape his tragedy and make his own world in which he designs the outline of his dreams

What do you think about the text's claims?
-The first couple times i read this text, I hated it. But now i actually kind of enjoy learning about new eras and texts from way back, Shakespeare time. I think this claim is far more elaborate and detailed than the naked eye can see. You really have to take a hold of the words given, and sort of read between the lines. I dont truly believe i have gotten a complete grasp on this Soliloquy yet, but in time i will, hopefully. 


What are your examples from the text?
"Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,"
-this first section of Shakespeare's piece really stood out to me. This examples shows all the thoughts from Hamlet, from the death thoughts, to the dreaming contemplation

Responses by, Paige Logan
Activity 6:
I believe that Hamlet was a pessimist. He is contemplating through out his entire soliloquy whether he should just give up and end his life or be strong and take on all of the challenges. An optimist wouldn't be debating or even thinking about giving up. Optimists only see the positive in all situations.

Activity 11:

What is the big issue in Hamlet's soliloquy?
The big issue in the soliloquy would be death and Hamlet's attitude towards death.

What claim or argument about the value of life does Hamlet make?
He argues back and forth whether life is worth living and fighting for. He's very emotional because of the death of his father, his father's brother marrying his mother and finding out that his uncle was behind his father's death. I don't think Hamlet really knows the value of life at this point which is why he contemplates his entire soliloquy.

What do you think about Hamlet's claim?
I honestly don't know what to think about Hamlet's claim. I don't know what I would think or where I would stand if I was in his position. I think Hamlet should try to stay positive even with all of the negative going on around him. Life is beautiful and everybody only gets one.

ACTIVITY 7: courtesy of Summer Morgan heart-ache, weary life,

1. Where does Hamlet ask the central question of his soliloquy?
Hamlet asks the central question, whether he should continue living or end his own life, at the very beginning  of his soliloquy.

2. Where does he restate this question in greater detail?
Hamlet restates his question of living in greater detail throughout the rest of his soliloquy. He goes deeper and deeper into his thoughts about what he should do, if he really could go on or if this was the end for him.

3. Does Hamlet ever answer this question?
Although throughout the whole speech Hamlet sounds melancholy causing you too think that, in the end, he will choose to give up on life instead of continuing it; he never really clearly states his answer to his own question.

4. Does he ask any other questions in this speech?
The whole speech is made up of smaller questions that coincide with his huge opening question. He starts his speech with the big question and the rest consists of smaller questions that lead into his first question of whether or not he wants to live.

5. Who or what interrupts Hamlet at the end of his soliloquy? Do you think he was finished talking?
Ophelia interrupts Hamlet at the end of his soliloquy, I don't think that he was finished talking, he just suddenly ended his thoughts and stopped speaking.

ACTIVITY 10 courtesy of me, Tiana
First, Hamlet clearly uses many strategies. One clear personification is this sentence:
"Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,"
Here, Hamlet personifies the sea by giving it troubles. All this line is saying is, "Should I fight against a these large amount of troubles."
"For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,"
Here is another example of personification where Hamlet gives time, "life" by personifying it. This sentence is conveying "Who wants to deal with all life's struggles?". 
Shakespeare's stylistic ways make him the famous playwright that he is. In this speech alone, these strategies create a dramatic atmosphere at which a reader gets engulfed in and can feel a mood. A reader can become more involved in the reading and also understand the true, deeper feelings the character feels.
ACTIVITY 12 courtesy of Gabi:

1. the soliloquy appeals more through pathos rather than logos. this is apparent because the soliloquy is more or less the thoughts and emotions of that person put into a monologue, therefore pathos is a big part of it.

2. Yes, Shakespeare uses pathos to create an effect on the reader. By Hamlet expressing his confrontational problem and stylistically debating it causes a nostalgic response for readers. people are able to connect this with something that may have happened to them, has, or is in their near future. It helps the reader to feel a connection to Hamlet because the emotions of confliction are common place.

3. Shakespeare also uses logic, or logos, to help the reader with understanding Hamlet. When Hamlet starts debating life and death, and what is worth it and what not, he uses logic to create a contrast between them:

"Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer

The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,

Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles..."

4. When people are put in tight situations, the value of their life becomes clear to them because they tend to take a broader stance when the situation is. Hamlet defines this with his soliloquy. He seems to be talking about the quality of life in general, but alludes to his life because it is what he knows.

5. YES, Shakespeare's views and thoughts are definitely worth considering. He provides insight and a fresh point of view to concepts we can all relate to, but that haven't been found. He expresses them through stories and artistically through characters, so as you learn about concepts through the characters, it feels less like you're being taught, and more like you are being enlightened.

Activity 13: Hamlet

Title: Hamlet's Soliloquy
Author: Shakespeare
Genre: Dramatic Play

What is the text's big issue?
-People have this misconception of this speech, as Hamlet trying to kill himself. That is not the case. The real issue is, Hamlet's uncle just killed his father, and slept with his mother. Hamlet wants to escape from his newly ruined life. He contemplates killing his uncle, but the real issue for him is to sleep. "To dream." If he can escape from this nightmare of a situation, that is really his goal. If he can sleep, and dream, then he can dream himself into a different life. Preferably a life unlike his very own at the moment.

What claim does the text make?
-The claim made is to live or die. To continue living this lifestyle, or begin to live a new one through killing his uncle, or to sleep and dream. To continue to tolerate the whips and scorns of time, or the pain of rejected love. It claims to either stay in the world given to him, to life with the mistakes of his mother and the ghostly remembrances of his father, or to create a dream in which he can escape his awful life and start a fictional one.

What are examples or quotes from the text?
-"to be or not to be, that is the question"-to be what he knows or to be what his life truly has become
"...tis nobler in the mind of suffering"-what is better, to ruin even more of what has become, or to stand tall and not fight back with his uncle's decisions
"by sleep we say to end"-to sleep, to end all his sufferings and to escape to a land of his own
"To die, to sleep"-which does he choose, his life where he is, or his own life he makes up
"To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come"-a chance to dream, to escape his tragedy and make his own world in which he designs the outline of his dreams

What do you think about the text's claims?
-The first couple times i read this text, I hated it. But now i actually kind of enjoy learning about new eras and texts from way back, Shakespeare time. I think this claim is far more elaborate and detailed than the naked eye can see. You really have to take a hold of the words given, and sort of read between the lines. I dont truly believe i have gotten a complete grasp on this Soliloquy yet, but in time i will, hopefully.


What are your examples from the text?
"Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,"
-this first section of Shakespeare's piece really stood out to me. This examples shows all the thoughts from Hamlet, from the death thoughts, to the dreaming contemplation