Toulmin and Teachers

Most Americans are guided by teachers through a significant portion of their lives. These teachers are put in positions to mold and shape who students can become. Still, the teaching profession faces hard times on the status ladder. A teacher shortage plagues our nation. We can partly thank the low respect for the teaching profession as a whole. As a nation, we must find ways to change this view of one of the most important professions in the cultivation of our future.

Vern Williams presents a solution in his Internet response to this dilemma. I agree with him in saying that allowing teachers more control in the curriculum and the practices of the classroom will help to raise the status of teachers. Curriculum for schools is largely determined by groups in the government of teachers who may or may not still be practicing. Students are changing, and teaching methods need to be changing with them. Who better to invent and implement these changes than teachers who are interacting with students every day? Teachers who have seen the times change and have kept up with innovations. Teachers who could have revolutionary ideas about how to teach this new "YouTube generation" of students with attention spans as long as a YouTube video. If teachers were allowed to control what and how they taught more directly, they could teach the material better and be more appreciated for it.

Some may say that if teachers were given such freedom, students would not learn what is needed. I am not saying that standardized curriculum should be thrown out the window. I am saying that teachers who want to implement new ways to teach that curriculum should be lauded and allowed to do so. If they can make the necessary learning more stimulating for students, we can raise a generation of students who will remember fondly their teachers. These students could then be inspired to grow their own ideas on learning. This would be a welcome change from teachers in my school who teach only the state-set material using state-given textbooks with state-written worksheets and nothing else. Sure this may teach students to pass the state standardized tests, but that is about it.

Those teachers are not the ones who are remembered. I will remember my innovative teachers: the one who challenges us, but still makes us feel like he is our friend; the one who let us pick what broad, real-world topics we were interested in and then taught the concepts based on those; the one who created a role-playing game to teach us the ever important, timeless concepts of history. These are the teachers that inspire me.

The Great Gatsby

Using The Great Gatsby as a channel, Fitzgerald presents his views on America and the prosperity she experienced in the 1920s. His hopeless reflection through the narrator Nick on the last page of the book analyzes the American mindset about the past and the future. He suggests that though we try valiantly to move forward and modernize our world, we can never out do the wonder that nature provided originally. The future may seem bright and accessible, but all we can do is let destiny run its coarse.



The Old World descriptions illuminate the reader's imagination with images of youth and joy. When the narrator lost himself in the island, the man-made structures faded away leaving the memory of the old island. Fitzgerald alluded to the landing of Dutch sailors in America, the first foreigners to do so. The beauty of this new land inspired them, filling them with dreams, desire, "wonder." The "fresh, green" land stood untouched by humans for them and "flowered" by only the graces of nature. The diction of the passage makes readers feel they can see the glorious land that could be captured in a breathless "enchanted moment" and hear the personified trees speaking softly.



In contrast, when Nick returns to his modern island, he sees "inessential houses," "dark fields" of struggles, and the ghosts of the glory of the past. He acknowledges how humans strive toward that "orgastic future" but can never quite get there. That imaginary ideal eludes us every time, and we strive ever harder to catch up. In his intentional fragment in the second to last paragraph, Fitzgerald builds up the excitement and hope for the success of the future. Then, it suddenly stops. The fragment brings us back to Earth where we can never achieve as much glory as we desire. Fitzgerald compares humans to boats who can try ceaselessly to row against the current but always find themselves pushed back, maybe even farther back than where they started.



The 1920s were filled with extravagance and wealth, and this is demonstrated in The Great Gatsby. Throughout the book, however, Fitzgerald uses his characters to bring that high-life mentality back down to Earth. He reminds us that success and development do not always mean happiness. He reminds us that excessive spending or partying does not always make us friends. He also reminds us of the beauty of the natural world, a world that we did not touch.

"My Wood" Screencast

Here's my screencast on "My Wood"

Consumerism and Happiness

There are two ways to get enough: one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.

-G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Over the last few days, while reading about consumerism, a common idea has continually popped up. Almost every article I have read discusses the happiness levels of Americans now and in decades past. Turns out that people in the 1950s were just as happy, if not happier, as we are now. But how could that be?! They didn't have nearly the "stuff" that we do!

According to Chesterton, they were just as happy as we are because they desired less. Consumerism is a ravenous monster: you can try all you want, but it will never be satisfied. If we continue to buy and buy and buy and buy, a non-ending cycle will develop. Buying "stuff" may make you satisfied for a short amount of time, but later that feeling leaves and you feel the need to buy more.

Maybe, then, we should take Chesterton's advice. Maybe we should try to desire less. Maybe we should appreciate what we have more than what we want.

Heart Warming Advertising

A nice family sitting down for dinner. Cute kids. Yummy food. Milk. Ahhh... Don't you just want to jump right into that advertisement, take a seat, and eat with them? I sure do.

The creators of this ad play on our heartstrings in order to make us want to buy some delicious Stouffers lasagna. They used one of the techniques described in the New York Time article: they are making the home seem more fun. Who needs to go out to eat at an expensive restaurant when you can just pop some lasagna into the oven and enjoy marvelous family time? If "every family dinner is a story waiting to happen," then every family dinner is a chance to make memories and and a great time, even at half the cost.

But the advertisers don't want to let us forget that every family dinner requires something to dine on. They are reminding us that staying in for dinner can be just as fun (especially if you have a fairy child) and that we can always turn to Stouffers for a delicious center to the family dinner.

Whom Can We Trust?

What would you do if you saw any one of these men on the street? Would you just ignore them? Would you walk right past? You might take a closer look at Guy #1 but only because he has a crazy moustache, right? What if I told you that all three of these men were serial killers? That changes everything.

The book The Devil in the White City tells the true story of the World's Fair of Chicago in 1893. Half of the novel recounts the creation of the fair and its attractions. The other half presents the terrifying story of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer and Guy #1. A fairly attractive and charming man, Holmes was able to lure women into his "Murder Castle" where, after he made them fall madly in love with him, he killed them in a variety of ways. The book provides chilling detail as it tells of how women adored his "bright eyes" and tendency to "touch them" in tender ways that forced the women to trust him naturally. After that, it recounts the screams Holmes endured and the excitement he felt.

This is not the only story of killers that demand trust. Take Guy #2 Ted Bundy. Also an attractive man, he preyed on the caring tendencies of women by pretending to be injured. After they agreed to help him with whatever activity he requested, he kidnapped and murdered them, often after raping them as well. Bundy was believed to be linked to the murder of at least 100 women that were "white, thin, and single and had long hair that parted in the middle." But guys, don't think you're safe! Guy #3, also known as John Wayne Gacy or the "Killer Clown," only looked for male victims from nine to twenty-five years of age. He also convinced his prey to trust him, and he killed them once they came to his home. That pretty much covers everyone who could be reading this, right?

The question we must ask is: whom can we trust? Most of the victims of these killers trusted in them. Holmes was married to more than three women at the same time, most of whom he later murdered. What are we supposed to do when we see a man asking for help on the side of the road? A man who is injured, kind, rather handsome? The truth is, I do not have much of an answer. There is no way to tell the genuinely charming people from the crazies. I have trouble trusting people anyway, and Devil in the White City has certainly not helped that. I suppose all we can do is to be careful and follow what our parents told us. "Don't talk to strangers." "Don't walk alone at night." Intuition is also an important tool. I know we women often have gut feelings as to whom we should believe. It is very unfortunate that our society has such people in it, but we must face that fact and be careful where we put our trust.

The Time I Was a Gargoyle (In 12 Sentences)

Georgia and I always go crazy at my house, our stomachs aching from laughing so much, our iPod batteries dead from the endless dance parties, our voices hoarse from singing and screaming. It was the dead of winter: the weather outside was grey and freezing cold. I decided to make us fully loaded hot chocolate, a delicious but terribly sugary drink, to help with the cold. We travelled through the living room, across the foyer, out the front door, and onto the porch to enjoy our hot chocolate. Georgia and I then pretended to be gargoyles. Of course. Georgia got a text from her mother who instructed that we pack Georgia's things and that we wait for her to arrive and that we prepare to leave. Mrs. Weygandt pulled into my driveway, but she backed out of it immediately. Across my neighborhood to catch her, we ran frantically. Why had she left us? We caught her and jumped on top of her car and stopped her. The confusion we faced at her strange actions, the mini race we ran to catch her, the life-threatening jump we made to stop her all payed off when Georgia finally got to go home.

A Literary Slap in the Face

... or not. The video entitled A Dramatic Reading of an Actual Breakup Letter is one of the funniest videos I have ever seen on YouTube. The amusement comes not only from the hilariously bad writing but also from the narrator's reading.

After watching and laughing multiple times, I began to think about the background of the letter. Where did it come from? Who wrote it? Has the writer EVER had an English class... ever? Some part of me also began to feel sorry for the person who wrote the letter in the first place. Whoever this person is was obviously subjected to a terribly ridiculous relationship. If the horror of having a terrible relationship was not enough, the letter written was then placed on YouTube and made fun of in front of anyone who wants to watch. Viewers laugh at the relationship described, the funny voices used, the first grade writing.

When you think about it, this video is really just an example of a piece of writing gone bad. The author meant for the letter to hurt "Chris" and convince him that she or he (we can't assume) was done with the ups and downs of the relationship. Unfortunately, that purpose was completely shadowed by the horrible writing. No one can take the letter seriously with so many misspelled words, run-on sentences, and ridiculous "text talk."

So what can we learn from this? There really are stupid people out there. No, just kidding. We can all learn that good writing techniques are important. In order to properly express a point, authors need to know how to write properly. If a reader cannot understand what is being said in the plain-Jane text, then they will never understand the main purpose of the passage or the subliminal hints.

Moral of the story: pay attention in English class! That way, when you want to break up with someone via letter, they will actually pay attention instead of going on YouTube and making fun of you.

My Reading List

As previously mentioned, I want to expand my reading horizons. I am trying to be very open to suggestions this nine-weeks period. I also plan to read some books are not new and were written more than five or so years ago.


Jonathan Livingston Seagull

I mainly plan to read this book because my mom told me to. Normally, she and I have different taste in books, but maybe I will enjoy the book. Plus, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was written in the 70s, so hopefully I will get a different style of writing than the modern teen books I am used to reading. My mom has a copy, so I will just get her copy.



The Devil in the White City

I was browsing our class library, and this book caught my eye. My dad and a friend read this last year, and I am pretty sure they both liked it. Since the book is readily available, I might as well try to read it. Also, the book seems to be historical fiction and I have never really read anything like that, so I should try.


Love in the Time of Cholera

Once again, I simply found this book in my house. Upon reading the title page, I discovered that it won the Nobel Prize and is part of Oprah's book club. If the book is good enough for such renowned people, it will be good enough for me.

Reading Independently

Reading is one of my favorite pass times. I love to dwelve into a different world and escape my own. At the first of the year, I had to push myself to read regularly. Now, however, reading for a while every night has become a habit. Not to mention, the books I chose this period were all pretty interesting and fun to read.

Inking my thinking was a harder habit to get into. Sometimes, I have trouble pausing my reading to write what I'm thinking. I found that I have many deep thoughts, I just cannot get them on paper very well. Looking over my reading journal is quite entertaining, though, since I can go back and remember how I felt during certain parts of the book. My favorite part of my journaling is writing down quotes that I love from books.

I am sure that I am reading more analytically this year. I know that I am putting more thought into the books I choose. Next quarter, I want to expand my reading variety even more. I am going to start with a book that my mom has recommended from the 70s called Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I want to read books that normally wouldn't have read.

Socratic Seminar Reflection

The Socratic Seminars proved to be a fun, interesting way to talk about "big ideas" in Brave New World. As we discussed we came to a conclusion that "there is no way for a utopia to exist because it cannot be perfect for everyone." I have really been thinking about this over the past weeks. Every person, no matter how hard any government tries, is different. With so many people to please, there is no way that everyone can be completely happy all of the time. This logic solidifies for me the use of soma in the book. The government cannot make everyone happy naturally, so they found a drug to do that chemically. By researching for my Seminars, I found that Huxley tied Shakespearean tales into his book. John the Savage can be related to many of Shakespeare's characters. Also, while talking about fads, (iPods in particular) one group concluded that even though they may be a fad, iPods bolster individuality because they allow users to listen to their own taste of music. From now on, I can imagine that I will be seeing the individual appear even in the following of trends.

By participating in the Seminar, I took two roles: I participated in the discussions and I also had to evaluate someone else in his or her discussion. Being in the discussion felt almost unnerving; I imagined myself as a fish in a bowl with everyone else looking in. Soon into the discussion, however, I was usually too into talking and listening to remember my surroundings. Evaluating my classmates gave me an opportunity to hear new ideas and watch how people interact with one another.

Overall, I felt I did pretty well. Sometimes I had trouble getting all of my researched thoughts in before I got distracted and moved on to another idea. I often had five or ten new ideas running through my head as another person was talking, so I had to push those out of the way to really listen to them. I generally like the seminar, but there was one point when the discussion turned into a flat-out debate. That was a little uncomfortable; many people seemed to walk away with their feelings hurt.

The Socratic Seminar was thought by Socrates to be one of the highest forms of learning. By participating in a civilized discussion, one not only collects his or her own ideas, but he or she also hears what others have to say. I am certain Socrates would be proud of the discussions we mere teenagers were able to have.

Pink's Purpose

Pink's amused humor reveals that Americans have forgotten how incredible their abundance is and are seeking meaning and creativity. For example, Pink describes the incredible environment of his local mall, but discovers that "what's so remarkable about Potomac Yards is how utterly unremarkable it is." (pg. 32) By comparing his childhood shopping experiences to modern ones, Pink shows that abundance in America has increased since the 1970s. This paradox explains how Americans overlook the extravagance of the normal objects in their lives because they are commonplace. However, this prosperity has not made Americans that much happier. Pink says "while living standards have risen steadily, personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't budged." (pg. 35) He is not suggesting that Americans are not happy, only that material possessions have not made Americans any happier than they were previously. Basically, Americans are looking past their material possessions to search for meaning and internal satisfaction. Pink's ideas lend themselves to suggest that American society is moving into an age where material possessions and technology are not as important as seeking purpose and self-satisfaction.

Persuasive Appeals Analysis

Most advertisements, whether directly or indirectly, use persuasion. Some try to persuade consumers to buy a product. Others, persuade people to stop or start a practice such as anti-drug and "got milk" advertisements. In order to do this persuading, advertisement designers use the three forms of persuasion: ethos, logos, and pathos. One ad that uses all three forms of persuasion is this ad for Triumph motorcycles.

The first persuasive technique that can be found in this add is ethos, an appeal to credibility or character. The most obvious example of this is the use of the Star Wars saga to try to grab attention from consumers. The top of the ad says "The Empire Strikes Back" which is also the name of the fifth movie in the Star Wars saga. The comparison of Triumph to the Empire from Star Wars also invokes thoughts of strength and power in the mind of consumers. Another play on Star Wars is seen in the first line of text: "Not all that long ago..." This is a play on the famous opening text from Star Wars that says "A long time ago..." These uses of ethos are what drew me to the ad, so they obviously worked. The second paragraph of text shows that Cycle Canada magazine called the motorcycles "sublime." Ethos tries to create credibility, and the ad is saying that if Cycle Canada, a credible publication (in Canada), likes these bikes, consumers should like them too. The text also tells consumers that Formula One technology, such as that used in race cars, influences the building of each bike. After all, who doesn't secretly love race cars?

Logos, or logical appeal, is clearly seen in the text below the photographs in the advertisement. The whole first paragraph speaks of the great benefits and bonuses that are included in each motorcycle. The ad tells consumers that each Triumph motorcycle is "crafted in the world's most modern motorcycle factory in the English midlands." Plus, "each Triumph is backed by a full two-year unlimited mileage warranty." The Formula One technology and hand craftsmanship are also facts about the bikes that could convince a consumer to buy a Triumph. All of these great facts about the motorcycles and the company make them seem more desirable.

Finally, pathos is used. Pathos appeals to the emotions of consumers. This ad is designed to make consumers feel excited about Triumph motorcycles. All of the photographs show riders in all black going very fast. The angles at which the pictures are taken make the scenes look fun and even a little daring. Besides the photographs, the text can also appeal to emotions. Talk of "traditional hand craftsmanship" remind consumers that they generally trust such craftsmanship. In the second paragraph, each motorcycle pictured is briefly described. The Daytona 955i is compared to a tactical fighter. The Speed Triple is said to have "the pugnacious attitude of an English bulldog." These comparisons make consumers want a Triumph because tactical fighters are cool and English bulldogs are too. Motorcycles that can be compared to these objects must be cool as well. Plus, the comparisons and the rest of the text has a sense of wit and humor. This makes consumers laugh and like Triumph even more.

By using all three forms of persuasion, the ad has proven to be successful.. Each persuasive technique is balanced by the others so that the advertisement is appealing and pleasing to consumers. This ad makes Triumph motorcycles seem cool and desirable, thus the advertisement has done well.

A Modern Marvel

For my confirmation, I received a book called Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla: A Woman's Life. At first, I pictured the book would be a semi-interesting, informative biography. I soon discovered inspiration and a wonderful story within the book's pages.

In a nutshell, Saint Gianna Molla was a modern day saint who lives between 1922 and 1962. She grew up with twelve siblings in a very religious family. She went to college to become a nurse to fulfill a need to help people. Gianna had four children herself, the last of which she sacrificed her life to give birth to. She remained as religious as her parents, and she went to mass every single day. She was the leader of many church youth and women's organizations. However, she also had many other interests such as opera, mountain climbing, and skiing. Of course, none of these took a larger place in her heart than that of her God.

Throughout the book, first-hand accounts of Gianna were given. In all of these accounts, family members and friends spoke of her appreciation of life and religion. One quote inpired me the most. "[Gianna took] pleasure in the small and great joys God grants us even in this world." I can always be greatful for the "great joys" that I experience such as when I succeed in a task or when I get a wonderful gift. This quote reminded me that we all should also be thankful for the "small joys" such as the weather on a nice day or a day that just seems to be going right. Often, I find this hard, but my eyes were opened to these small parts of my life.

During the pregnancy of her last child, Gianna discovered some complications that had three options to fix: an abortion, a surgery that would be very dangerous for the baby, or a surgery that would be very dangerous for Gianna. As she had a giving mother's spirit, Gianna chose the last option. Because of this, a few days after the baby was born, Gianna died. Her sacrifice for that of her child is incredible. I am not a mother, so I cannot really understand such love. I still ask myself, though, if I would be able to make such a sacrifice. Gianna knew that she would likely die, but she also knew that her baby would live. I also wonder how difficult the decision was to make.

There are thousands of Catholic saints out there. However, many of those modern saints are often overlooked. I am very glad that I could learn about a modern woman whose actions led her to become a saint. Who knows, maybe someone I know could become a saint.

"This is Your Moment, No Hesitation"

Every so often, I find a song that is so good, I listen to that song constantly. My newest song obsession is "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira. This song has a killer beat that makes me want to dance. However, my favorite part about the song is the lyrics. Once I read the lyrics, I felt inspired and actually pretty confident.

The lyrics of "Waka Waka" are all about believing in oneself and being strong. Even the old adage "try, try again" is included in the inspirational message. One line of the song says "if you fall get up...and when you fall get up." Obviously, Shakira is singing about continuing the fight for whatever is needed, even if failure comes first. Every person fails at some point, and these lines remind us that failure is not necessarily the end.

My favorite line from this song says "your time to shine don't wait in line y vamos por todo" (which means "we go for all"). To me, this line is saying that we should go and take what we want to achieve. I also feel impowered and ready to face the world when I sing this to myself.

I continually play "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" everywhere. I love the song and the message that the lyrics send. This song was chosen to be the 2010 FIFA World Cup official song. After reading the lyrics and taking them into consideration, I can clearly see why. The song is empowering, and perfect for a soccer team hoping to win.

Food for Thought

Some books are pure entertainment. They take the reader into another world, and when the book is done, the reader thinks "hey, that was fun." Other books, however, not only entertain, but they also propel the reader into thought and questioning. One such book is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not only did this book keep me reading, but I could not help but question myself, the characters, and both worlds: the real world and the fictional one.

The main character of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, was faced with great challenges during the annual Hunger Games during which her whole purpose was to kill everyone else in the arena. As I read, I found myself feeling almost weak. I know for a fact that if I were placed in the Hunger Games, I would be the first to die. Compared to Katniss and the other players, even the young and innocent Rue, I am seriously handicapped. I wondered how I could fare in such a situation, and I admired how the characters in the book showed such immense strength.

In the book, the Hunger Games are controlled by important people to make them interesting to watch and difficult to win. Throughout the book, the Gamemakers threw challenges and horrors at Katniss such as a spontaneous fire. However, they also seemed to bend the rules when they agreed to let two people win if they were from the same place. Then, a few days later, the Gamemakers revoked this rule. In other words, Katniss had to continually change her state of mind. One moment she has a partner, and the next she is supposed to kill him. I was astounded by how quickly she could adjust to these changes. As a person who resists change, I could see how difficult this would be.

I also was horrified at how a government could force such annual bloodshed. Not only did they force the Hunger Games to take place, they also forced all other citizens to watch. I cannot imagine how terrible watching such a program would be.

After I finished The Hunger Games, I found myself hungry for more so to speak. I cannot wait to find out how the rest of the trilogy plays out.

My Annotated Photo

A condensed look into my life. Click to see more...