Evolution of Writing... Post 11AP

The passage I have provided well represents where I started as a writer prior to the practice and teaching I experienced in my junior advanced placement english class. The piece resembles my struggle and inability to further my argument by providing a deeper analysis as well as the difficulty I faced when creating an evident tone. I simply stated my argument followed by evidence, in which I had trouble effectively incorporating into my writing, then concluded with a sentence that lacked deeper understanding. I generalize words and ideas when I need to be more specific in order to create a stronger argument and avoid confusion amongst my readers. Although the structure is acceptable, my sentence structure remained rather simple, straying away from complexity in fear of misusing words or phrases. I wasn’t so confident in whether my writing was logical or if it sounded professional enough or not. I was unaware of the simple techniques that could represent my ability to further ideas instead of keeping is surface leveled as I did here.

The second piece reveals the evolution and the place I stand now as a writer. I have become more skillful with transitions and providing a deeper outlook on a piece and/or topic. Being able to connect one idea to the next seamlessly is important as it encourage an argument I feel as if that is something I have attempted to focus on this year and is represented in this piece. The confidence in my work has led me to become more sophisticated with my word choice and sentence structure as I attempt to provide more depth within my writing. The passage also reveals my improvement with incorporating evidence that actually serves the claim instead of just being there because it’s required. I have learned to organize my writing effectively, allowing me to avoid digressing into an irrelevant idea, and instead, being able to further ideas on topics that I have already introduced, and then expanding on them. I feel as though I still struggle with developing a tone that can be used to my advantage in my work, but I do feel accomplished with achieving my goal to develop my own style of writing.

As this year comes to a close, I feel confident with saying that I have learned an abundance of skills and techniques that I can apply to my writing and work in general. Although there is much difficulty with trying to make your writing better then the piece before, it’s important to keep in mind the mistakes you made before, and focus on improving them moving forward. I was defiantly challenged when it came to deepening my analysis and feel as if it’s something I could continue to improve on, but I do feel as if there was much progress made. There was also much difficulty when trying to incorporating techniques into my writing in general, for they’re skills that cannot be taught, but rather, can only be practiced. To continue seeing improvement it is necessary to simply continue trying. Variety is key and it is important that I do not continue to use the same transition words or sentence structure, but using a new approach and trying to better yourself moving forward. I will keep in mind that I can always provide an even deeper understanding and stray away from developing an essay merely summarizing.

To be Censored, or Not to be Censored

     There are many theories and ideas behind Mark Twain's work in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and what the original intent of the piece was. Truly, it depends upon the individuals personal perception and how closely they decide to look into it. An ongoing and popular conspiracy is whether or not Twain censored (or should have censored) his writing and the effect that decision had on the plot of the novel.
     As mentioned in "Love and Judgment in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Timothy Peltason, this criticism piece examines how reliable the novel is as it focuses in what may have been the reason for Twain's "censorship". It argues that he is in denial due to "a guilty cultural past" therefore it reflects on his writing as he attempts to avoid the darkness behind slavery. Although a valid point, it seems as if Twain does the opposite as he does portray both the hardships as well as the idea that African-Americans are people are just like anyone else. I don't believe the writing is censored but more focusing on the topic that was lesser known during the time period, every knew and saw African-Americans as property opposed to actual human beings. Twain sheds light on this concept through Huck as he reveals how kind and considerate Jim is as a character which soon causes him to create a relationship with him and no longer calling him things like "slave" and "N****r". Jim and Huck seem to even create a father-son relationship in the sense that both of them care for and protect each other.
     It would be very unbeneficial for the author to exclude such things in order to deprive students from hearing or being knowing of the subject. This is history and telling as is expands knowledge and promotes change so that history as evil as this one doesn't repeat itself. As Huck evolves as a character, Twain may be promoting a similar change in societal views towards African-Americans.

Ask Yourself This...

      What determines if one has a good or bad self conscience? There are many factors that contribute to one's ideals about themselves and determining what will satisfy there own definition of what it means to be a "good person".  The words "self conscience" can also be described as one who is aware of themselves as an individual as well as being aware of one's acts and belonging to themselves. In other words, it means knowing who you are and owning up to the things or actions that you're responsible for as well as what it makes you feel when you carry out these particular actions.
      I believe the only person who can really decided whether an individual possesses an acceptable self conscious is oneself. Within one's own mind, personal expectations on how one should so be and act is established early on and as one matures, they will learn from mistakes and therefore enhancing their skills to determine what is right and wrong. There are, however, other factors that contribute to the making one's skill in detecting when something is good or bad such as the way there were raised or the environment they grew up in as well as what society has demonstrated as being acceptable or frowned upon.
      This concept is prevalent within Mark Twain's Piece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, when main character, and narrator, Huck Finn helps Jim, a runaway slave, escape to freedom. He attempts to convince himself that he is not responsible for helping him leave his actual owner in the first place but continues to inform the readers that, "I [Huck] couldn't get that out of my conscience"(98). Huck feels bad because he knows it's not right to promote a slave, who is defined as property by society, from their rightful owner. On the other hand, Huck knows he would feel just as terrible as turning in Jim, someone who he now considers his friend that cares for him just as much as he does. Huck's conscience does not feel content with the choices he's mad but knows that there is not much else he can do because both outcomes will dissatisfy him.

Ch.16 Huckleberry Finn

The Truth About Lying

     Everyone seems to feel a little intrigued to lie. Whether it's as small as telling your parents that you completed your homework when you had yet to do it, or something so big as pleading your innocence when you're the one that committed the crime. What really makes people feel the need to be dishonest? An article from Today explains how and when people began lying and what their intentions behind it are. Children learn to avoid punishments by straying from the truth, and when they realize how easy and effective it can be, it because more frequent, or you may even say that it develops into a habit. Even teens and adults today lie so that they can avoid doing things or receive unwanted consequences for their wrong doings. Many others also lie because they want to establish and pertain their self image. Everyone wants to be likeable and this theory has developed that you need to be a certain way to fit in, especially in high school. People will lie about who they hang out with because their friends may no be considered cool enough, or act like a stuck up kid claiming they have this glamorous life when in reality, their life isn't that spectacular, but who can blame them? Everyone has this wanting to to fit in. What makes lying so easy, according to Dan Ariely, a guest speaker on TED talk, "When we see them [others] cheating, we feel as if it's more appropriate..to behave this way". Seeing others engage in this kind of behavior makes it seemingly more excepted and easier on yourself conscience to cheat or lie.
     Personally, I think there are certain circumstances where lying is appropriate. It can be a beneficial skill when you try to spare someones feelings are someone asks you a personal questions that you felt should not be answered. Avoiding nonideal conditions that aren't going to hurt you or you self conscience in anyway can make your dishonesty come into use.
     Think about how often you lie, do you always bad intentions?

 

The Witchery Behind Witchcraft

      Many have their own their own ideas about witchcraft and what it actually means. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary it can be defined as "the use of sorcery magic, communication with the devil or with a familiar". Although it seems logical that it would have to do with witches, that's not always the case. As explained within Arthur Miller's piece The Crucible, many were terrified by the thought of witchcraft and the kind of things that are conjured and summoned by the practice.
      The beginning of the play begins with chaos as individuals claim to have seen young women dancing in the forest naked. Not only was dancing naked was provocative, just as it is today, but it was believe that the forest "was the Devil's last preserve, his home base and his final stand". It was believed that Satan was responsible for all mysteries and odd things in life. Those who opposed the ideas of Christianity was thought to be connected to the Devil and all evil in some type of form. There was a conspiracy that demons and other evil spirits would take the souls of individuals and they were the ones who did wrongful acts.  Therefore, people would do everything they could to avoid and stay away from anything associated with witchcraft or any unnatural practice or being. They would do so by torturing any one who was thought to be associated with any type of magic, even if it meant the possibility of killing the innocent, they had to be sure.
      Despite the twistedness of witchcraft and the ideas that used to be associated with it, today its a totally different practice. According to an online article, Spiritual Travels/, witches today gather not to worships Devil or any other evil spirits, but to appreciate the earth and come closer with nature.
      Kind of funny how time can completely change the practice and ideas behind something as significant as the concept of witchcraft.

Discovering what was Already Discovered

      Many know him for discovering "The New World", but was what he found actually something to discover?

      Christopher Columbus is commonly known for his expedition across the Atlantic Ocean seeking Asia, but instead running into North America, land  that was thought to be unknown to many other countries including his own. Furthermore, many assume that he was able to ask the Native people, who already inhabitant the land, to kindly move elsewhere so that he could claim the territory, making a big name for himself. Today, American's recognize him on a holiday named Columbus day in resemblance of is "great" achievement.

       What many do not know is the truthful and brutal reality behind it all. Columbus, in fact, was not the first explorer to the discover the new world, there were several others who were on a voyage and ran into the Americas just as he did. Vikings were actually the first Europeans to the discover the land 492 years before Columbus did, maybe we ought to rename the holiday to "Vikings day". After attempting to assert the ownership for the country of Spain, he first had to remove the Natives who were already living in the land for 12,000 years before Columbus intruded. As he sailed towards the land, Columbus and his men noticed the Native Americans didn't have weapons of any sort and doing so, they drew their swords attempting to establish their power. It was then decided that Columbus was going to keep these people as his servants and command them to do whatever it is he wanted. In search for gold among the land, he enslaved, murdered and inflicted many inhuman misery on these innocent and gentle people. 

      Citizens see Columbus as an outstanding individual when all he did was discover something that had already been discovered and established himself with violence for selfish purposes. Native's today are still viewed as outsiders who don't act the "norm". They're the ones who are told they don't belong here, when many years ago, their ancestors were the first ones to inhabit the land during one of the several ice ages and the help of a land bridge. 

     So now the real question is "What did Columbus really do to deserve the attention that he has received in the past few hundred years?".