Reflecting gets Farther

Ideas and Content

My writing demonstrates appropriate ideas and content because we I am proving that a quote relates to the topic, I don't get side tracked and start rabbling on about another topic. I also don't jump ahead of where I am. On my Julius Caesar essay I believe I did well on staying away from the other topics until I was ready but on my Alchemist essay I think I could have done better. I could improve my writing pieces by going into detail more and provide more evidence just to make sure that my points get across.

Organization

My writing demonstrates appropriate organization because I don't jump around from topic to topic. When I write I focus on the main point of the paragraph and try to stay away from things that would lead me away from what I was talking about. I think I could improve my organization by working on my transition between ideas and paragraphs. In both my Julius Caesar and Alchemist essays transitions are what bring me down. I doesn't allow my essay to flow very easily between paragraph to paragraph or idea to idea.

Personal Growth

I didn't notice much change from my Alchemist essay to my Julius Caesar essay. Other than the Religious essay I did last year these were the first essays I have ever done so I am proud of what I have done. Although I would like to improve my writing even more over the next few months.

SLR Reflection

I think that in order to complete an essay well you have to think creatively.

When you are writing an essay you have have to know what you are talking about to actually write the essay but when you think creatively you are going into more detail and depth. If you know how to think creatively then you can also organize your writing better. In my opinion think creatively is the most important SLR to use when writing an essay

Picture url: http://diplomat.azeriblog.com/public/blogs/diplomat/2008/11/22/essay_writing.jpg

Why Brutus, Why?

Brutus’ Motivators

Brutus, Act 1 scene 2, Lines 35-38. “Cassius, do not be deciev’d; if I have veil’d my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance merely upon myself.” In this quote it shows the first sign of Brutus’ conflict with himself. He is afraid that Caesar is becoming to powerful and has won over Rome in his favor. He is worried that Caesar has become a tyrant and ruined the Roman Republic that his ancestors founded. This is what motivated Brutus to kill Caesar.

Brutus is a descendant of the people who first started the Roman Republic but now that Caesar has come into the picture he is disrupting ruining the government Brutus’ ancestors founded. Brutus love for patriotism is the first motivator that helped him decide that killing Caesar was the best thing to do for Rome. Caesar’s actions caused Brutus to act in ways that he hasn’t before. He isn’t the loving and caring husband to Portia that he once was. This makes Portia upset and putting more stress on Brutus to tell her. This quote shows that Brutus stilled loved Caesar but his love for the Roman Republic was greater. Brutus, Act 3 scenes 2, Lines 19-23. “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” This quotation shows that Brutus did love Caesar but did not love him enough to spare his life. Brutus loved Caesar very much that is why he was so stressed about considering joining the conspirators. But eventually he convinced himself that, although Caesar loved him like a brother, he had to do what was better for Rome and its government. When Brutus joined the conspirators he was still very stressed but he took charge. When the other conspirators were suggesting who else should be killed Brutus denied all of them because he wanted to keep their mission noble and honorable. This next quote also shows Brutus’ love for the form of government. Brutus, Act 2 Scene 1, Lines 10-14. “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general. He would be crown’d: How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” This quote shows that Brutus had nothing against Caesar, but because of his ambition he must be killed to save Rome from becoming victim to a tyrant. Brutus thinks that if Caesar were crowned that he might change his nature and ruined what Brutus’ ancestors helped fight for. Brutus did love Caesar and Caesar loved him back, but because of the way Caesar acted, Brutus had to put his love for patriotism before his friend.

Brutus was respected by all of Rome, including Caesar because Brutus came from a family that once rid Italy of tyranny and the people of Rome looked up at him for that. But because Caesar was slowly becoming a tyrant he had to slay him to keep his honor. This made Brutus take control of the conspirators. But when they were offering who else should be killed along side Caesar he wouldn’t listen to anyone else’s opinions. During this time Brutus wasn’t open-minded and didn’t consider all the possibilities of what could happen when Rome discovered that they had killed Caesar, which would eventually lead to his downfall. This quote shows that Brutus was trying to keep their mission honorable and just. Brutus, Act 2 Scene 1, Line 162-164. “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, to cut the head off and hack the limbs, like wraith in death and envy afterwards.” When Brutus said head he was referring to Caesar and by limbs he meant Antony. This simile shows that without Caesar, Antony can do no harm than a body with the head cut off. This quote shows how Brutus was trying to keep their quest honorable. If they had killed Antony then Rome would have thought that they were butchers and only wanted Caesar’s power. Which was not at all what they wanted. This quote shows that Brutus did not want to keep make their course seem to bloody otherwise the people of Rome may not listen to them. This quote also shows how Brutus was motivated by his honor. Brutus, Act 3 Scene 2, Lines 23-27. “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoiced at it; as he was valiant, I honored him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for his valor; and death for his ambition.” This quote shows that Brutus did not hate Caesar and rejoiced at what he accomplished. Brutus loved Caesar but because Caesar was ruining the way things used to be Brutus had to get rid of Caesar to keep Rome and himself honorable.

Brutus did love Caesar but Brutus thought Caesar was too ambitious and arrogant for his own good and for the good of Rome. This put him through a lot of stress. He had to choose between the Roman Republic and his close friend. But eventually his love for patriotism and his honor convinced him that Rome would be better off with Caesar dead. In a way I think Brutus did and didn’t achieve his goal. He did manage to kill Caesar but it didn’t really help Rome, it actually made it worse. I don’t think Brutus goal was worthy. Caesar may have done some bad things but he brought back great victories for Rome. Even if Caesar had become a tyrant I think he still would have listened to some other peoples opinions on what was the right choice or not. So in the end I think Brutus goal was not worthy and was not justified by killing Caesar.

Why Brutus, Why?

'No such heaven exisit on Earth' reflection

Think Creatively
In my collage I think that I used many creative elements. For example, I organized my collage so that i should the conflicts the 'Lost Boys' faced in Sudan such as extreme poverty and the civil war with the North and on the other side I should American culture and how alien it was to them. Also I put a picture of the two boys we were focusing on, Peter and Santino, in the center of the collage but i tore both of the photos in half. I was trying to show how Peter and Santino were torn between their new lives in America and their family and friends back in the Kenyan refugee camp.

Reason Critically
I used my the text I chose to highlight the 'Lost Boys' plight because I chose my words so that it shows that they had a happy life in Sudan, other than living in poverty, before the military came and killed their family.

Communicate Effectively

In my collage I think that it invokes emotion into people because of the words I used. Also I think it makes people more aware of the situation in Sudan and the conflicts that the boys faced during their time in Sudan and in America.

Live Ethically

In my collage it shows the pain, destruction and poverty that they experienced in Sudan and Kenya. Many of the people never made it to Kenya after the first hit from Northern Sudan. I think that this makes people feel empathetic for the 'Lost Boys' because these are normal people with a tragic story, and they have to live with that story burned into their minds for everyday of their lives.

Peter in 'Heaven'

During the 21 year war in Sudan many of the village in Southern Sudan were destroyed. This sent many of the people away from home. One of whom was Peter. Peter ran away from what was once his home and became a refugee in Kenya. After adapting to his new life in the refugee camp Peter is sent to America where he begins his life.

While Peter was assimilating to his new life in America he encountered many problems that made is new life less than enjoyable. He had trouble handling money, getting an education and the racist and stereotypes people were making about him and his fellow refugees. During his part time job working at Wal Mart his boss said that he and all the black people had to work in sun because they were from Africa and were used to the heat while the Americans stayed inside with air conditioning. When Peter was at school he told his counselor that he would like to go to college. His counselor told him that he could go to a community college. But when Peter should him that he had received a letter from honor society his counselor was dumbfounded. He then told Peter he had to write a biography and was even more shocked to find out that Peter knew what one was and he had already finished it. Peter was racially discriminated against because of his skin color and his nationality. This made it hard for him to make friends but with Peter determination he overcomes these obstacles.

While the Dinka tribe member is adapting to his new life he discovers new ways to deal with his life. Peter joins the basketball team to try and become more intertwined with his new peers. Also Peter joins a Christian group with all his new friends but when he goes to where they meet at this nice house his feels like an outsider. Although he practices the same beliefs as his new friends he is not used to way that they teach it. During the speeches Peter was hanging around the back because he was not sure what he was supposed to do. But although Peter feels left out in this new world, he still manages to overcome his troubles and fit in to his new home in America.

Julius Caesar Acting Passage

Act 3 Scene 1, line 147

Brutus: But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

Antony: O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well. I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, who else must be let blood, who else is rank: If I myself, there is not hour so fit as Caesar's death's hour; nor no instrument of half that worth as those your swords, made rich with the most noble blood of all this world. I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die: No place will please me so, no mean of death, As her by Caesar, and by you cut off, the choice an d master spirits of this age.

Brutus: O Antony, beg not your death of us. Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, As by our hands and this our present act. You see we do, yet see you but our hands and this the bleeding business they have done. Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and the pity to the general wrong of Rome - As fire drives out fires, so pity pity - Hath done this deed on Caesar. For you part, to you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony: Our arms in strength of malice, and our hears of brothers' temper, do receive you in with all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

Brutus: Only patient till we have appeas'd the multitude, beside themselves with fear, and then we will deliver you the cause why I that did love Caesar when I struck him, have thus proceeded.

Antony: I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand. First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Next Caius Cassius, do I take your hand; Now Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours; though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. Gentlemen all - alas, what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. That I did love thee, Caesar O, 'tis true! If then thy spirit look upon us now, shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, To see thy Antony making his peace, shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes. Most noble in the presence of thy corse? Had I a many eyes as thous hast wounds, Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood, It would become me better to close in terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Here didst thou fall; and there thy hunters stand, Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe. O world, thou wast the forest to this hart; And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee. How like a deer strucken by many princes, Dost thou lie here!

This passage is when Antony comes the the capitol to and speaks of how he now follows feels that what the conspirators have done was right. But on the inside he feels the complete opposite.

Partner Christian (Leo) Young

The significance of this quote is that Antony is tricking the conspirators into thinking that he is weak without Caesar. But really he is just as strong or possible stronger.