Honors Blog #4

4. If you could choose any specific parts of literature and.or history for our honors work next semester, what would you pick and why?

1. I think that through being an honors student I have gained a few skills that have helped me in the regular humanities class and will help me in the future. I think that one thing that being an honors student has helped me with already is learning history. I believe this because after researching for one of the honors blog I learned a lot about Social Security. I think that the honors blog forced me to look deeper so I understood more about it. This helped me on a test we took a few days later.

I think something that being an honors student will help me with in the future is my time management because the extra honors assignments and the regular class assignments kind of piled up at first but it forced me to focus on one thing at a time and to look at my deadlines to find out what assignment is most important.

The last thing I think being an honors student will help me with is leadership opportunities. Even though I am taking honors again next semester, honors this semester has inspired me to take as many leadership opportunities as I can because I think that being a leader is a sign of strength and I like that. haha

2. This only thing I would do differently through honors would be my first honors book review because I didn't understand what to do for the review but I kind of already did it because I thought we were supposed to. I'm not really sure what I'd re-do because I'm proud of everything I've done in as an honors student.

3. My goals for honors next semester is just to keep working hard and to not get behind like I almost did this semester. I also want to make sure to try very hard on each assignment. 

4. I'd like to read the novel Our Strange New Land: Elizabeth's Diary, Jamestown, Virginia, 1609 by Patricia Hermes

I had heard about this book form someone and it sounds really interesting its about "Nine year old Elizabeth keeps a journal of her experiences in the New World as she encounters Indians, suffers hunger and the death of friends, and helps her father build their first home."

I find Indians interesting and the whole coming to a new world interesting. I also really like novels that are like journals like this one and The Diary of Ann Frank. :) Yay!

Honors Blog #3

If I could modernize one program from the FDR’s new deal I would change the social security act of 1965, which was a created as a “fix” for the “Great Depression”. Social Security provided pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to blind, deaf, disabled, and needy children.

I believe that since we are in the “Great Recession” the government needs to expand on Social Security or create another program which mimics it. When I say expand Social Security I mean adding something like an expansion pack and calling it the Social Security reform of 2010 or 2011, depending on when it is approved. I think what needs to be changed or added is the amount of people eligible for Social Security.

I think that veterans, even ones who aren’t disabled after war, should also receive aid because even if they got lucky and weren’t tremendously hurt in war doesn’t mean they weren’t fighting for our country like the others did. I think that all veterans deserve extra help because they are fighting for everyone.

I believe that another thing that should be changed about Social Security is the price because it can be too high especially for retired people who don’t have any income so that their families can better afford it.

I believe that if the expansion of Social Security doesn’t work another program should be created that can be used as another option. It would have the same things as social security plus aid to all veterans and it would be more affordable. I think that this second option would help people live better lives because they can use money not spent on Social Security to purchase other things that are needed for life.  

Honors Blog #2

Dear President Obama,

                I’d like to take this time to talk to you about how to succeed in the "Great Recession” until the end of your first term and possibly your second if you are reelected. The “Great Recession” can be compared to the “Great Depression” of 1929 and you can also be compared to Franklin Roosevelt depending on how you take care of the problem with the economy.

                Like FDR, you came into office in the middle of an economic crisis. You, also like FDR, are trying to get through policies that don’t just “fix” the immediate problem but also to benefit Americans in the future. I believe that this will be challenging for you to do because your new ideas resemble FDR’s new deal and some people believe that was helpful while others thought it wasn’t necessary. I’m afraid people will see the resemblance and she your ides as unnecessary.

                FDR’s new deal was a series of economic programs to get the people out of the “Great Depression”. This was done through the “3 R’s”: relief, recovery and reform.  You have brought up a few ideas for improving the US and getting it out of the “Great Recession”. These include health care for all, a green revolution, expanded voting rights, due process for terror suspects, more powerful unions, financial regulation, and a shift of the tax burden upward. The idea that of yours that is most like FDR’s “New Deal” is your health care for all, or Universal Health Care plan.

                The difference is that people already have an idea of what could happen because they have seen the effects of FDR’s “New Deal”. Some people argue that it caused relief but did not cause recovery and people are afraid that the same will happen after Universal Health Care comes into play. I think that even if Universal Health Care causes recovery instead of relief you will still be helping the US and since something needs to be done, this will be perfect.

                Thank you for your time Mr. President Obama, I know you are a busy man, so it means a lot that you are taking the time to consider my advice.

Sincerely,

Advisor Shoshannah Michaelsen

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/10/081110taco_talk_coll
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/17/081117fa_fact_packer
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1906802_1906838_1906745,00.html

Blog #20

 Desegregation in Schools

When thinking about school I think about my peers and how many of them are of a different race. This seems so normal to me. It feels like it's always been that way but in reality it hasn't. Up until 1954 schools were separated by race and "dominant race", which was white, received the better education and books. This all changed through the Brown vs. Board of Education trial in supreme court where it was declared that state laws supporting separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The supreme court took a federalist stand and changed the law to desegregate schools and it has been that way since.

I talked to my grandma who told me about her experience with the desegregation in schools. She said that it didn't seem to make a difference in California, at her high school there was one black boy who was encouraged to go there because he was very good at Track and Field. I asked her how she reacted and she said she reacted like everyone else in the school. She said he was excepted because he was athletic and people saw him as one of the "jocks". I then asked her what she knew what federalism and anti federalism was and she told me she had the federalist papers at home but didn't know too much because she hasn't read them. I describe them to her as federalists are for the man while anti federalists are not. She nodded her head in agreement. I then asked her if the desegregation of schools was considered fed or anti fed. She told me it was federalist because the government was in change and changed the law. We then shifte conversation to other topics about the family and never came back to the subject.

Honors Blog #1

In a thoughtful, thoroughly researched and well-revised essay that is 500 words or less, make the case for what you consider the most significant element of health care legislation in American history. Be sure to organize your writing around a specific thesis statement and series of direct quotes from thoughtfully-chosen pieces of evidence and inlcude a works cited at the end of your writing (your works cited does not count towards your word count).

                The most significant element of health care legislation is the Social Security reform because it has continued to make changes for the better since 1935 when it was created. Social Security is also most significant because even though the system isn’t perfect and hasn’t ever been the government is still working to improve it to improve the life for people enrolled.

The first step of the reform was on August 14, 1935 when Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The Social Security act was originally made to provide security economically to people during the great depression but went on to aid the unemployed, elderly and children, and many state health and welfare programs. It also created a system which gave benefits fanatically to retired workers in “commerce or industry, except railroad workers,” that are of the age 65 or higher. According to the 1935 law, the system was funded by payroll taxes which started out at 2 percent.

                The first change that was made to Social Security was made in 1939, when the payroll tax turned into the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, or FICA. The Federal Reorganization Act begins making the Social Security Board a part of the newly established Federal Security Agency, which removed the status of an independent agency. New amendments expanded Social Security to and added benefits for the families with dead workers and retirees' descendents, like their children and spouses.

                After inflation on August 28, 1950 President Truman signed the 1950 Social Security Amendments. These enacted the first "cost-of-living-adjustment", which ultimately changed the benefits of Social Security, making it more affordable for people enrolled.

                Payroll taxes continued to rise reaching 9.2 percent in 1972 and 11.4 percent in 1983. This raised taxes for everyone not just the people with Social Security.

                In 1995 the Social Security Administration became an independent agency again.

                On August 22, 1996 President Clinton signed a welfare reform bill, which eliminated eligibility benefits if alcoholism or drug addiction had something to do with the disability.

                President Clinton approved the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act on April 7, 2000, which eliminated the Retirement Earnings Test for beneficiaries at or above normal retirement age of 66. This suede about 900,000 people to want keep their jobs instead retiring for another year so they wouldn’t miss out on any benefits.

                Social Security has changed over its existence and will continue to until it is gone, if that ever happens. There have been advancements and drawbacks and decisions that didn’t make sense, which is the exact reason it’s most significant. Although there are problems with the program and decision making, the government is looking to change Social Security. People still deal with program today and it is something everyone comes in contact with in their life.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_security/reform/timeline.html

Blog #19

1. What are you most proud of in your Life: The Book writing? Try to describe this is detail!
In my Life: The Book writing, I wrote about many different "mini topics" pertaining to my topic of Gene Therapy to treat immune system diseases. I believe that the best part of my writing was was the flow. I believe this because it is the part of writing I'm usually not very good at. The article was a challenge to do so because I had to make stories flow into ethic arguments and the arguments had to flow into the scientific aspects of the therapy such as the procedure. I think that after taking all the steps of revising my outline is what helped me to do so. 

2. What are some changes or new ideas that you have developed in your writing through the course of this semester?

Besides what I had said in the question above I believe a change or new idea I have developed in my writing is after receiving a critique I don't just go back an fix what they said needed to change, especially if they don't say much, instead I go back and make another critique for myself to improve my writing even further. This year is the first year I have actually tried to work really hard on my writing and I think that it has made a huge difference. I believe that taking these few extra steps of critique has helped me improve A LOT from last year and will only further continue to improve my writing in the future.

3. If you had a little more time to work on your writing for LifE: The Book, what would you do differently? What would you change about your writing?

When I look back at my writing next to other students I notice a couple things. I notice that my article is shorter than a lot of other peoples so I might want to go back and just try to add more detail to make the article longer. I know that doing that is sort of pointless hearing from multiple people that it was very clear and understandable I think I could paint a better picture in peoples mind with better language. Another main thing I'd change is to research more about the first gene therapy. I know that I did TONS of research and still found nothing but I feel as though I might have been able to find more on the little girl. The last thing I'd change is when I talked about the ethical issues it was very difficult to find people who actually said the things I talked about so I couldn't be very specific so I would go back and try to find those even though when doing research I couldn't find those things.

4. How has the additional element of publication in a book affected the way you approach writing?
The only thing that the publication has really changed about my approach on my writing would be the fact that it is very difficult to reword things that I research so I had to go back and change things that were to similar to the resources I took the information from. This was a problem because My job for publication was to make a timeline for the book and it set me back for a little bit but in all honesty it didn't take to long to fix the things I needed to so it wasn't very hard at all to get my article to the book editors and get to working on the timeline. My major concern with my problem of rewording my research is that I won't get good at it and I will be accused of copying someone else work, which isn't good obviously.

Blog #18

What are your character's main goals for the Senate Health Care Hearings?

 

I am Governor Edward G. Rendell and I want to expand CHIP so more children can have health insurance.

What do you want to accomplish?

 

I want to raise the income $5,000 so more parents can afford this health care. I also want to make premiums lower for families with more children.

How do you plan to accomplish it?

 

By getting bills signed that will let us expand and we also want to make a bond for children to get to college to make the money we will loose to make these changes.

Who are you working with to get this done?

Monkina :)

Blog #17

I think that this debate doesn't really affect my topic until gene therapy is aproved. I think that once it is people would want cheaper health care so if they need gene therapy they won't have to pay as much.

"Let’s not forget that the existing Medicare system is roughly $80 trillion in the hole." The author tells the reader a large amount that would shock them so they will listen to what he had to say.

In the second articel the author talks about the issue of medicare and how it is going to cost us more because there is a huge population of elderly people. "When Medicare was created in 1965, America's median age was 28.4; now it is 36.6. The elderly are more numerous."

Blog #16

In my article I will be talking about gene therapy for breast cancer. I learned that health insurance isn't really affected by genetic therapy. People who undergo this type of cancer treatment will not have their health insurance loss.

I was reading the "Health care is a right, not a privlage" article and I found a quote that was very intereting. It was that "more than 18,000 Americans die every year from preventable illnesses because they do not get to the doctor when they should. This is six times the number who died at the tragedy of 9/11 - but this occurs every year." I thought this was interesting because it is very very sad that we are loosing so many people to preventable illness when all we need in health insurance for them.

I know that if everyone has health insurance the people who have worked harder for it will be upset that the other people who don't work as hard will get the same insurance. I think, after hearing what others said, that there should be universal health care but different kinds. The people who work harder should get a better health care plan while the people who word less for it should have not as good plan.

Blog #15

3. Describe how Americans pay for health care and the government's role in this process.

Health care can be expensive especially when you aren't rich and/or powerful. Many Americans struggle to pay for health care and sometimes need help. The ways Americans pay for health care are through 1 of a few ways. These ways are through work, where some jobs will pay for specific health care plans but sometimes won't cover people or their families completely so that leaves them to pay out of pocket. This can be hard for Americans especially when they don't make load of money.

 "In 2005, personal health care expenditures were paid by private health insurance 36%, federal government 35%, state and local governments 11% , and out-of-pocket payments 15%." Sourse
Govenment has a lot to do with health care for Americans as you can see in the quote above. This only states what government pays for health care but a lot of this money doesn't go to the poeple instead it goes to hospitals and research for diseases. Something the government does fund through heath care money is research on gene therapy, which is talked about in this article.

1. Using a specific example, describe what makes a compelling character in narrative nonfiction or literary journalism.

It is important to have characters who know what they are talking about or are immediately connected to the topic of issue discussed in the writing. It is also important to have characters who the reader can connect to somehow so that the reader feels like they relate to them or that they can understand where the character is coming from. You want the characters to add importance to the writing as well. The characters in Open Channels knew what they were talking about and they also had a character with the disease that was the main focus of the article.

2. Using a specific example, describe what makes an interesting plot in narrative nonfiction or literary journalism.

It is important to have a lot of detail in the plot so the reader understands the point of reading the piece of writing. Something else important to having an interesting plot is by stating the arguement and giving both sides so the reader can figure out their own opinions. Make sure to include a lot of detail so the reader fully understands the topic. In The Covenent the author talks about religion and sciece and a scientist who has founhd a ballance between the two. This gives the reader an understanding that these two worlds can co-exsist but it still leaves room for the reader to make their own opinions.
 

3. What specific steps do authors take to write non-jargon-based scientific writing?

The author has to try to use words that someone with a basic education can understand and if this isn't possible the author must give a definition of the "jargon" being used.  ALWAYS WRITE FOR THE READER! Just because the author understands doesn't mean the reader will too. In Open Channels the author gives explainations for all the jorgon-based words.

4. What specific steps do authors take to encourage their readers to connect with their stories?
It is important to have a loop in a piece of writing because you want to bring the reader back to the main idea of the writing. it is also important to use only important characters who know what they are talking about and have good quotes related to the topic or good characters who immediately relate to the topic. This is important because you want the characters to relate so the reader can too. You also want the characters to add importance to the writing. In Open Channels the author uses the loop to bring the reader back to the main idea. In Darwin's surprise and Open Channels the author made sure to uses characters who know what they are talking about. They uses scientists that focus on the topic and in Open Channels they use a character who has the disease discussed.

Blog #14

Adult Life

Breast Cancer Treatment through Gene Therapy
The government agentcies that work in this area are the Scientist' institution, FDA, NIH, and RAC. The scientists' institution has differnet board in which aprove or reject differnet scientific ideas. The FDA or US Food and Drug Administration must aprove or deny the ides. There job will also be to regulate the gene therapy. The trials that are funded by NIH, or National Institues of Health, must be registered with the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC).


FDA is the government agentcy that can approve the Gene Therapy and in this article it talks about the good and the bad of the gene therapy for cancer treatment. The author says that is hasn't been aproved yet because when there is only a tumor the genes have promise of finding the cancer cells and infect them so they die but when the cancer has stread or when there are multiple tumors the thereputic genes cannot find the cancer or the patients ammune system reacts to the treatment. The FDA has to decide if it is worth aproving if it will only help people with one tumor.


The Genes are injected by the vector being injected or given intravenously (by IV) directly into a specific tissue in the body, where it is taken up by individual cells. Alternately, a sample of the patient’s cells can be removed and exposed to the vector in a laboratory setting.


History:
In this article the author talks about the history of the gene therapy and how it got started. It talked about how 2 researchers more than a decade ago undertook a landwark of gene therapy studies.  It said that "Based on the animal experiments, the first lung cancer patient underwent gene therapy in early 1995, and in mid-1996, Roth and his group published a study describing the first reported successful replacement of a defective p53 tumor suppressor gene."


Culture:
There are a few social and ethical issues surrounding human gene therapy. This article talks about the issues with this form of therapy. It says the first issue is that "Germ-line gene therapy would forever change the genetic makeup of an individual's descendants. Thus, the human gene pool would be permanently affected." and the NIH doesn't aprove of this. People also fear that this will become just a luzury to the rich and powerful. They also fear that widespread use of this will alter the "normal" which will exclude individuals who are actually "normal."

Blog #13

Cancer Treatment

Gene Therapy to create a treatment for Cancer.

This can infect healthy cells instead of cancer cells.
Adults.

This is a treatment for cancer that can be dangerous because it can end up hurting a person more. Doctors have to introduce new genetic material into a human and hope that it infects the cancer cells instead of the healthy ones.

The problem with this is it is protocol and is being watched by FDA, NIH, and RAC. This isn't ethical to some people because it is focused on correcting flaws in a  life threatening way.




Stem Cell research
Stem cells useful for finding ways to cure cancer and other diseases.
The time to extract stem cells would be as an embryo. to do this the embryo must die. Ethical?
Conception.

The embryo has to be fertilized within a certain amount of time and stem cells must be extracted at a certain time as well. The embryos will die anyway so it would be useful to extract the stem cells from them and then let them die.

People argue that the embryo is still a person and it can't be taken advantage of like that. You are ultimately killing a potential person.





Designer Babies
This is when a parent can alter different things about their child before it is born.
Messing with the true life and creating it yourself.

A doctor can alter whether the baby has blue eyes or brown eyes, whether its a boy or a girl, he can even have a say in what diseases it will be less likely to get. This is all done through genetic engeneering.

Is this playing the role of god. Is this taking life into our own hands? Are we going to far to try to reach perfect? These are things argued against this idea of "building your baby."

Blog #12

Idea #1 should be the type of environment in which you'd like to work.

Depending on what internship I get involved in will change what environment I want to work in. If I get an internship with design I'd like to be in the room where that takes place. If I get an internship with photography I w0uld like to be outside. And if I get an intership with a school I'd obviously want to be in the classroom.

Idea # 2 should be the type of skills you'd like to use at work.

I'd like to use my photography skills which are still devoloping. I would also like to  use the skills I have with working with kids. I have also tried designing clothes so I would use those as well.

Idea #3 should be the types of things you'd like to learn at internship.

I really want to learn about business and dependind on where I intern at I'd like to see how would be to have that as a carrer. I also really want to see the stress level of that job because I can't handle stress well and I want to start to get used to it.

Blog #11

Don't Ask Don't tell Repeal

This article is about a federal judge who repealed "don't ask, don't tell" policy today. The federal govenrment was given 60 days to appeal. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips found that don't ask, don't tell" violated the 1st Amendment.

Don't ask Don't tell Yahoo! news

This article talks about the same thing the article above does except I feel like it gives more quotes and discription as to what was talked about in the court today. Quotes such as "Don't ask, don't tell, as of today at least, is done, and the government is going to have to do something now to resurrect it," Woods said. "This is an extremely significant, historic decision. Once and for all, this failed policy is stopped. Fortunately now we hope all Americans who wish to serve their country can."

In this article you will find many quotes and explainations that will clear up many questions you might have about what had happened today, October 12, 2010.

Blog #10

The root cause of Michael Westerman's death was the fact that him and his killer, Freddie Morrow, were very ignorant and didn't know what the symbols actually meant. Michael flew the confederate, or rebel, flag from his truck not knowing the real meaning. He only knew that since he was white he was supposed to fly that flag because the symbol it had become bothered black people like Freddie who didn't really know why it upset him. He just knew it was supposed to. He knew that the symbol the flag had become was offensive to him. "Michael's personal reason for flying the confederate flag was to show the pride he felt in his ancestors who fought and died for the flag, as well as to show his southern heritage. " 

Another reason for his death is the fact that people can't admit the things they do or say are extremely racist and that is the reason they are doing or saying the things they are. Like the woman chapman who stood out to me the most in this story for being extremely racist and for contradicting herself. She says "Slavery was not all that bad... Blacks need to get over slavery." but later she goes on to say "don't put us where they used to be." so obviously she knows that is was bad enough that she wouldn't want to be in that situation.

Challenge: 

In this article there is a section where the parents are at the meeting at the middle school complaining about the mascot of a rebel being removed and how they don't want to change it but black parents see that it is offensive to them and their children and they want a say as well but some feel like they aren't being heard "I asked why she hadn't made this sensible comment during the meeting. She looked at me as though I was crazy. 'Who's listening?' She asked." This goes against Amendment 15, Race No Bar to Vote, which is supposed to make sure every race get's to vote or has a voice.

Blog #9

Many people believe that the civil war ended slavery and that there is nothing like it now but those people are wrong. The website I have posted a link to above shares stories of teenagers who have been forced into slavery (now called either human traicking or sex slaves) where they are treated horribly and forced into becoming prostitutes or just raped and murdered. This website shares a video (also embeded) of a girl who believed something like this could never happen to her that she "was safe and careful" but little did she know that these things happen more frequently than most people think. 300,000 children a year is the estimate. This is something that I feel very strongly about this because it is something I fell more girls should be worried about but they don't and I don't understand why that is. I think its sad that all the soldiers in the civil war fought so hard to end slavery and we still have it.

Blog #8

Find & link to at least one specific news article (although it doesn't have to be "new") that addresses at least one specific part of the Constitution that interests you.

Then....

1. Summarize the article, and include relevant quotes.

2. Explain what Constitutional concepts are relevant. Some may be obvious, but others maybe more subtly related. Explain the Constitutional connection in your own words, but also reference the specific Article & Section or Amendment(s).

3. Explain what interests you about this article and/or the Constitutional connections you found.

 

 

http://www.religioustolerance.org/dixon_02.htm

 

This article is about same-sex marriage and the arguments about it pertaining to the US constitution. It talks about how the constitution was made to secure our rights.

"The fact remains that the Constitution was written to "...secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.""

 

 This article also talks about how the religious view on the same-sex marriage doesn't count because in the constitution it states in the first amendment that congress can't do anything that goes with or against a religion 

"The religious argument, however, is moot, thanks to the First Amendment, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…"  It is thus that our forefathers sought to protect all Americans from the religious zealotry of a few," 

 

In this article it also talks about how in the constitution it says something about how if same-sex marriage happens in one state other states can't ignore that that happened.

Article Four of the Federal Constitution states:

"Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States."

Article Four of the Federal Constitution states:

"Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States."

Lastly this article says that in the constitution is says if one group is allowed to marry than so should the other groups.

The thing that interested me about this article is that the author says in the begining that he has looked at it from all the different angles and he still sees that same-sex marriage should be legal.
"There are many ways to look at this issue: personally, religiously, politically, emotionally, rationally, legally, even Constitutionally.  As a person directly affected by the outcome of this national social debate, I have looked at it from all these angles.  In so doing, I have found nothing at all which persuades me that there exists a rational reason to deny fully equal marital rights for same-sex couples."

I thought it was interesting that the constitution has so many different things in it that help actually supports same-sex marriage and people still fought to make it illegal.

Blog #7

What stands out to you in your learning?

The thing that stand out in my learning is thefact that I am actually paying a lot of attention and taking good notes that I can look back on later and make sence of as well. 

What is working well in this class?

I think that the writing tips are what are working best for me because they have helped improve my writting and have helped me improve others during critiques.

What can you do to build upon your successes?

I can keep paying attention and keep up on my good notes. I can also practice the writting tips to help my writting even more. I think it would be helpful to keep up with my homework so my grades stay up.

What very specific, concrete & manageable steps can you take to make the most of your opportunities to learn in this class?

I can make sure to always have my notebook and pencil with me so I son;t ever have ot worry missing out on notes. I can make sure to always be in school and be paying good attention while I'm there. Lastley it i do miss any school I can make sure to find out what I missed by contacting someone in my class and getting that informaton form them.

What are your goals for the next few weeks in class?

To keep taking good notes and to pay attention to them so I will understand them completely.

Blog #6

Artist Statement Marilyn Monroe

by Shoshannah Michaelsen

           

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring", was written on a frame holding a picture of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. At that moment a million thoughts spun around my head like a hurricane: She is beautiful. I love this picture. I love this quote. But most importantly, I needed to know who she was. I looked below the picture to see the name Marilyn Monroe written in black ink. I thought about the name and realized I knew little about this amazing woman and wanted to know more.

Once I got home I got on my computer and typed her name in on a quote website. I read quote after quote becoming more inspired by each one. I thought each one and it made me think about life. I’ve always believed that words are powerful and can change lives. I believe Marilyn’s words are extremely powerful and can help people live happier lives and can also inspire them to go for their dreams and to not care what others think.

In middle school  people used to use their words to hurt me. I’d come home crying because the things they would say but I realized if "…I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them." I have a dream to be a model but It’s been hard because I’ve tried sending my picture to places but it seems like I’m never what they are looking for. It seems they always want someone better than me, another girl with the same dream, "… there must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest."

These words are what inspire people to be happy or go for their dreams. John Lennon is a man of inspiration, not only do people look up to him for being an amazing artist in the Beatles but they look up to him for what he has to say. “All you need is love.” Another man whose words inspire the people of today is Walt Disney, the man we all looked up to as kids while watching his movies “If you can dream it, you can do it.” These people are from completely different worlds but all contribute to the same cause, they inspire people of all ages to be happy and go for their dreams, one day I hope to do the same. I always tell people is that they “…should always try to prove people wrong, not to be right, but to show them you can do what they least expected.”

Blog #5

1. What aspect of the American Icons artist statement has been most successful for you? Why?

 

The aspect I found most successful was the quotes and how to put them into a sentance and make it my own. 

 

2. What writing tip(s) have been the most helpful? Why?

 

The Loop writing tip was probably the most helpful for me because I had trouble writing the first and last paragraphs of my paper. I also thought the concerts not pancakes tip was very helpful because it helped me make my paper end on a strong note.

And...

3. What aspect of the artist statement has been most challenging? Why?

 

The ending paragraph was the most challenging because I couldn't find a nice way until we talked about the loop.

 

4. What writing tip is most challenging? Why?

 

The most challenging tip was the loop, even though it was most helpful it was hard to get at first. It was also very difficult since there are so many ways to use the loop. I decided on using the quote and anecdote.

And....

5. Post a section of your writing that you are currently working on. List at least three questions that, if answered, would help you improve your work.

 

I have a dream, a big dream; it't to be a model. It's been hard because I've tried sending my picture to places but it seems like I'm never what they are looking for. It seems they always want someone different someone else who is out there with the same dream as me "...there must be a million girls sittin galone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest."

 

Does it make sense that I believe this too?

Can you tell that this is a quote by Marilyn Monroe?

Is there anything that I should add to make it easier to understand?

Blog #4

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." was written on a frame holding a picture of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. At that moment I was taken aback-inspired-while a million thoughts spun around my head like a hurricane: She is beautiful. I love this picture. I love this quote. But most importantly, I needed to know who was this beautiful woman who’s words inspired me? I looked below the picture to see the name Marilyn Monroe written in black ink. I thought about the name and realized I knew a little about this amazing woman but I wanted to know more. I took out my phone, typed her name in a message and saved it as a draft so I could look her up when I got home.
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When people think of their favorite quotes they think about what it means to them and they think of how they relate to the words being said. These words are what inspire people to be happy or to go for their dreams. John Lennon is a man of inspiration, not only do people look up to him for being an amazing artist in the Beatles but they look up to him for what he has to say. “All you need is love.” Another man who’s words inspire the people of today is Walt Disney, the man we all looked up to as kids while watching his movies “If you can dream it, you can do it.” These people are from completely different worlds but all contribute to the same cause, they help people get through the hard times in their lives. There worlds inspire people of all ages to be and happy and go for their dreams, one day I hope to do the same. The thing I always tell people is that they “…should always try to prove people wrong, not to be right, but to show them you can do what they least expected.”

1. I chose this opening and closing combo because I wanted to start with a qoute and then talk about the power of words and end in a quote that I use all the time.

2. This combo connects the main idea of my paper which is the power of words.

3. I want the reader to go back into the real world believing that they can change the world with their works like the people I mention in the continuum.

Blog #3

Part one:

John Lennon and Walt disney are a huge part of the continuum that includes my inspiration, Marilyn Monroe, because they all have things on common. Yes, they are all famous and Yes, everyone has heard of all of them but the reason they are being put into the same catigory today is because they all have powerful words that inspire people today.

John Lennon "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." Walt Disney "If you can dream it, you can do it." These are just some of the powerful words these men have used to inspire millions of people tp follow their dreams.


Part two:

Biography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe
This website is what I used to write the information about her in my artist statement.

Quotes web page
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/82952.Marilyn_Monroe
This is the website I used to copy the quote down from.

Pictures
http://photobucket.com/images/marilyn%20monroe/
The place I got the phot ideas from,

John Lennon Quotes
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_lennon.html
The website I found the quopte I used for him.

Walt Disney quotes
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/walt_disney.html
The website I found all the walt disney quotes.

Blog #2

Marylin Monroe

1. What does this Icon represent to you? Why?

Marylin Monroe represents who I want to be in life and she also represents how I hope to see life. She represents a better way to view my life and view myself. My favorite thing about her are her quotes about being who you are.

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."


"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."


"I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't."

"She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that’s important—you know "


"We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets."

"I want to grow old without face lifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made."


"I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one."


"I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night — there must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest."


"Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

2. Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

David Conover first photographed her because she was a woman helping out with the war. He asked her if she ever considered modeling and that's where it started. She was important to herself she believed in herself.
3. How did this Icon become important in American culture?

She was a famous actress who girls looked up to because she was beautiful and inspirational. The way she lived her life.

4. How did this Icon become important to you?

I have always heard about her and loved her beauty and one day just started reading her quotes and they were very inspirational.

5. Who and what did this Icon inspire?

She inspired people to go for there dreams and be themselves. She also inspired other actresses and singer. even models :)

6. Most inspiring thing about this person?
Every Quote is amazing and inspirational.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Betsey Johnson
 
1. What does this Icon represent to you? Why?

She represents fashion because everyone has at least heard her name because someone is talking about her designs. She makes the thing every girl wants. she makes beautiful clothing.

2. Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

Fashion and clothing because she is a designer. Her life because she survived breast cancer.
3. How did this Icon become important in American culture?

People wear clothing and she designs it and sells it in America. People like her designs and buy her clothing.
4. How did this Icon become important to you?

One day I walked into a Betsey Johnson store because I saw a dress I liked and then I looked through the rest and realized i liked the clothing there. My aunt also had shown me somethi9ng she bought from there a week later and i fell in love with her stuff.

5. Who and what did this Icon inspire?

She inspires other designers to make unusual clothing. She also inspires girls that its fine to wear unusually clothes it can still be trendy. She inspires people by being a cancer survivor as well.

6. Most inspirational thing about this person?

Her designs are different but amazing. Gives me hope I can do it too.

Miranda Kerr

1. What does this Icon represent to you? Why?

She represents my dream job. I want to be a model more than anything in the world. She represents beauty and clothing.

2. Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

Her home family and her family of angels (aka Victoria's secret models)
3. How did this Icon become important in American culture?

She campaigned for many different company's including Roxy and Betsey Johnson and eventually found Victoria's secret and then came from Australia.
4. How did this Icon become important to you?

I thought she was the most beautiful Victoria's secret model and I heard she was with Orlando Bloom.
5. Who and what did this Icon inspire?

She inspires girls because shes young and beautiful inside and out. Girls want to be just like her.
6. What is most inspirational about this person?

She has the job I want and I know that she acheived it from just following her dream and it makes me feel like I can do it too.

Blog #1

1. Please outline your hopes for your upcoming junior year. What are your overall hopes, dreams, wishes and goals for the year?

This year my main goals are to learn a lot and prepare for the SATs. I also really want to get a good internship that I will enjoy and learn a lot from. I really want to keep all As for the whole year and I want to finish every assignment to the best of my ability and make sure I have no regrets.

2. Let's get a little more specific. Tell us about what you hope to accomplish or learn from your experiences in this Humanities class.


I really enjoy writing but I feel as if its not my strong point and I really want to work on that this year because I feel like the better i can write the better my speech can become and the more confident I will be with sharing things out loud. I really want to learn how to communicate with people so I hope we have  something to do where we can interview people or something like that.


3. What is something that you do in your life that naturally try to do well (Are you seriously good at video games? cooking? Are you an athlete?)? How do you naturally develop this talent within yourself?
 
I think that I am naturally good at things like designing. I think I'm good at this because I always want things to be different, like when I buy clothes most of the time I either cut my shirts or make holes in my jeans or other things like that. I practice this by messing with outfits and decorating shirts.