Blog #13 - Values?

Well I think ethics should be taught in school because everyone isnt a good citizen. Most people know what these values are for the most part (I think?) but these values would include honesty, kindness, compassion and friendliness.
Now for the second part I really dont know how to answer because values are usually positive and personal things to each person, so there could be countless values. The only thing that could be a value that shouldnt be taugh in school would be religion because it is something that is personal an can differ from others.

Blog #12 - Movies

Movies are put into category usually by genre. Genres include action/adventure, comedy, romance, horror, family and documentaries. But that is the basic way to categorize movies and something more personal would be what is a great film. To be a great film, to me, includes a great plot along with great acting, along with how it looks (special effects, is it flashy, etc.).

Blog #11 - Metacognition Questions on Definition Essay

Culminating Writers Profile

1. I feel that my expectations for my writing style has changed because I know write the same way on different things, while before my styles changed.

2. I think my strengths in writing is that I'm able to make clear points based on facts or quotes from the source material.

3. I think my weakness is going off from my original thesis but Ive changed this by going back and usually rewriting my paper.

Evaluating Your Writing Process

1.  I thought that for the prompt i turned in the best essay I could, but I would take some cliche aspects out.

2. The easiest element to improve was taking out those cliche parts.

3. My biggest problem was not knowing how to finish the essay from where I started, so I rewrote it.

Evaluating Your Successes

1. My success in revising was that I rewrote the entire essay into what i thought was a much better essay.

2. My essay was mostly narrative in how I set it up as going to sleep and having dreams because I defined having ambition.

3. I thought my best success, considering the audience, was having a quote that applied well to my topic.

Being Honest With Self

1. The biggest intimidation was that this was my first AP paper, but I just got over it and wrote my paper.

2. What influenced me was reading Almbom's flashbacks and that inspired the style of my essay.

3. I don't really remember picking up one solid idea from the examples.

4. I learned to use less cliches when I write.

5. I think I'm a a better writer now because I overcame my biggest problem in this writing course.

Blog #10 - Being Nobody

What we read about loneliness applies somewhat to nobodiness.  But, while you can accept loneliness, i think it is harder to accept nobodiness.  The only cause of being nobody to me is that you have to be a nobody someone or something.  For example:
"Sheryl doesn't even know i exist, and if she does, she thinks that I'm nobody and wouldn't consider even talking to me."
Or:
"I'm a nobody at my job and i need to work hard so i cant get noticed for that promotion."
These are ways that people can be a nobody, and while you can accept this, to me it cant be positive like accepted loneliness.

Blog #9

I wouldn't say that Morrie really changed my views on being a part of a materialistic society, but I would say that he has made me put more emphasis on good friends and my family in my life.  It's kind of funny though how even though we're a part of a materialistic society, I still really enjoy the times spent playing Xbox (a huge material possession) with my friends because it brings up new conversations and I wouldn't say that it diminishes any part of our friendship.  I think having a share of both lifestyles is good, but I would still say that Morrie had an impact on me even though my views differ from his.

The Obvious Argument?

For BLOG #7, I didn't want to put in the title what I thought the main argument for Fast Food Nation was. "The point that Schlosser tried to make is that fast food companies are bad" probably would make me fail English class if i used that for my main argument. But, while that actually be the main point, there are many arguments throughout the book that stem off from this main argument. But the part in the book about the working conditions of the meatpacking plant cleaning crew. He describes the horrendous conditions of the nightly job about how "temperatures soon exceed 100 degrees" (from the high pressure hose steam) and how people lose body parts and fall off catwalks to their death. Then he talks about how they are mostly illegal workers getting paid minimum wage even though it is a high risk job. Then he goes on to say how the companies were only being fined $480 for each death. He is obviously arguing how the fast food companies don't care about having morals or being humane, as long as they are getting a good deal.

The Amish

People who are Amish are sometimes looked down upon for being different. But really, what's so bad about being different? While they choose not to have modern possessions, which may seem like a burden, may be just the opposite. Think about all the times you have gotten distracted from something you were supposed to do because of a phone, computer, TV, etc. If you were Amish, you wouldn't be distracted by these material possessions. Also, you wouldn't of paid taxes on those items, therefor saving precious time that could be used to make butter or milk a cow. The idea of being Amish may seem bad to some, but a "no-brainer" for others.