What Really Happens When Power Collides?

This unit in humanities, we have been discussing the importance of conflict and what impact they may or do have.  After reading multiple passages about the Persian-Greek wars and the Fall of The Roman Empire, reading the classic novel Watership Down by Richard Adams and finally, completing a project revolving around a major conflict, we made a cumulative slide to sum up our learning for our final unit of the year.

The theme of this unit is "Power and Peace:  When Power Collides," and I chose to answer the question "How are people changed by conflict."  In my opinion, the three most important symbols in which I included on my unit slide would be the flock of birds, the seashell, and the book.  

I perceived the birds to be important because they had a near-metaphorical aspect to them.  Every other season, birds leave their homes behind and re-stabilize themselves, for the better.  Their settings change and so do their routines, at times.  This relates to how people are changed by conflict because, in relation to humans, when faced with a problem, specifically on a global scale, governments must change their points of view to understand where the other side of the power in coming from.  

Additionally, the seashell represents the idea of final solutions from a conflict.  Seashells are formed when sediments pile on top of each other until a shell is formed.  This relates to conflicts because the sediment represents the different ideas, suggestions, conflicts and whatnot that are thrown towards the possible resolution to an issue.

Uniquely, the book is to represent how governments can learn from the mistakes that past civilisations that ruled in that and how they attempted to or resolved this problem.  For example, a particular place with specific geographical issues.  This modern-day society can learn about what not to do based on what past civilisations did.  The book is meant to represent how civilisations can learn from their mistakes and what they could have done.

To conclude, society endures many conflicts, but must learn how to grow from them.  

Redrawing the Levant

Our world is moulded by acts of governments, societies, and even the doings of single human beings.  We as human beings have come to the ultimate consensus that what is happening currently should be focused on and that we should strive to come to solutions for these issues.  Due to this, we must be aware as well as sensitive to current events. 

Unit Four of Humanities revolved around how people are changed by conflict.  The goal of the unit summative was to research about a topic.  My partner, Abigail and I chose to research about the conflict that dominated newspaper headlines, ISIS.  We decided to address this topic because, unlike past conflicts, ISIS is a significant current event.  Knowing about the history of this terrorist organisation allowed me to understand the root and interesting perspectives on the topic.  

In my eyes, people are changed by conflict because their perspectives are changed.  By way of example, the American Led Coalition has had to expand their ideas about why this has happened and what was the root of the Sunni's actions.  Additionally, the Coalition has had to understand the Shia's perspective and the Kurdish standpoint as well.  "Terrorism is nothing new. It's been with us for years," President of France, François Hollande confidently stated in the Security Council meeting.  "But it has taken on another dimension, and it wants to conquer territory now." Gradually, certain modern-day terrorist groups have pushed boundaries of our ideas of terrorism. Particularly ISIS, an organisation who has been attempting to add a legal Islamic state. Contrary to Al-Qaeda, ISIS has been slowly expanding by raiding Shia towns and cities, taking them over. In addition, the terrorist factions been executing many Western hostages whereas Al-Qaeda's terrorist acts included more large-scale attacks, including the infamous, attacks of September 11th.

Based on the research and information that I have collected over the past weeks, my predictions for this conflict include the American Led Coalition continuing to bomb ISIS territory until the group either surrenders or stops growing and being as violent. If the group began to threaten other countries, the United States or even the Gulf States may try to make a treaty with the faction. ISIS may not be open to agree to an agreement, in which case the Coalition would have to compromise and continue to bomb the territory. If the group were to get air transportation and posed even more a threat, the United States may have to send extremely experienced militias, for example the SEALS. If this were to not work, the country may even have to start a full scale draft in which all citizens would have to fight.

I could not have asked for a better experience in learning about this subject. Due to this, I was am know able to comprehend and analyse articles whilst taking into account different perspectives about the topic, in addition to be able to have the fundamental knowledge about this crisis.

A Picture Means a Thousand Words

What are the challenges of creating maintaining a democracy?

During humanities, we recently completed a cumulative slide using only pictures answering the three main questions that revolve around the our unit, The Power of Relationships.
In my eyes, the challenges of creating and maintaining a democracy mainly consist of balancing, as well as interconnected conflicts.  Correspondingly, it is equally as important as balancing challenges in general.  In my cumulative slide, I naturally tried to portray these points in the most innovative, creative way possible.  For my background, I chose a creamy or off-white color because it is an imperfect color.  It is a metaphor for democracies of the world, as none of them are near perfection.  The symbols that appear on my slide are, in clockwise order starting from the right, include a flower and a parrot, representing fauna and flora.  To the right of this is a picture of one man next to a group of three.  This symbolises favouring the majority, as well as balancing opinions.  Similarly, this is followed by the symbol of the Libra, which is the horoscope sign of a scale, which symbolises balance.  Lastly are three trees, one of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.  This introduces the topic of vitality and chronology.  In a democracy, issues must be addressed and some issues may be interconnected.
The voices of the citizens in a country are of utmost vitality, in fact without these opinions, democracies are virtually nothing.  An idealistic democracy would take all ideas into all ideas into account as well as not have to focus on providing for the individual rights versus having to distribute for the general welfare.
In my opinion, the challenges of creating and maintaining a democracy are balancing opinions as well as interconnected conflicts.

Does The Community Make The Cut?

Countries today are driven by order.  Governments, no matter what form they take, share the common responsibility of keeping their country a safe place.  Unfortunatly, some governments may not conform to these qualities, as they are corrupted by the satisfaction of the power that they can come in possession with.

The purpose of government is to act as an enforcer.  A brave face or symbol that will not only protect the country from the outside, but help the citizens that live in the country.  Government must help the country evolve, strengthen, as well as better the country.  Moreover, a government must make important decisions as well as create rule and order.  Lastly, and maybe most importantly, meet the needs of people and minimize conflict.  In short, a government is the enforcer of fairness, peace, to the people of the country, and the face of strength and courage to the outside.

In Lois Lowry’s novel, The Giver, the Community’s government bends these rules.  Citizens of the Community are over-monitered.  There is no freedom of speech, no choice.  Girls must wear hair-bows until they turn nine-years-old.  This is when children recive their first bicycle.  One could argue that the government is enforcing safety and proper etiquette, but all children should grow up with the ability of expression.  The government cannot stifle that, or take it away.  Furthermore, adolescents cannot choose their profession.  Until they are twelve, they are watched over, every action taken into account by the Committee of Elders.  Then, their job, or "assignment," is chosen for them, not by them.

In light of these factors, I believe that the society in The Giver,  does not conform to or follow these rules.

Now Would I Live in The Community?

Our world is like a huge melting pot,  full of different countries, ethnicities, religions, personalities, climates.  Take that all away.  What is planet Earth left with?  Jonas' world, which is a colourless mass of land, inhabited by people with the same colourless complexion, and blank, emotionless face.  The Community.
Based on my observations up to chapter 12 of the novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry, I have concluded that the society in which the protagonist, Jonas lives is not "nice" world, so to speak rather a dystopia, where people of the Community do not know anything of their world's past, have no say in multiple aspects, and are "released" when they become too old or as babies are not developing as fast as peers.    There are no deaths caused by old age.
First and foremost, in our world, one can grow up wanting to be a doctor more than anything.  They can pursue that dream if they are focused.  In Jonas' world, it does not exactly work that way.  Almost the exact opposite, in fact!  Based on a child's twelve years of behaviour, actions, they are assigned a role.  
Although this might seem like exemplary organisation on the Community's part, there are certain jobs that are empty, lonely, devastating.  For example, Birthmother.  A woman that gives birth to a new child, only to give it away.  On page 21, Jonas' little sister, Lily, says
"I think newchildren are so cute!" Lily sighed. "I hope I get assigned to be a Birthmother."
"Lily!"  Mother spoke very sharply.  "Don't say that.  There's very little honour in that Assignment."  Living in Jonas' Community would be utterly.. grim.  Our society's children grow up with dreams of what they might be in the future.  It is a given that children pursue their dreams in college or university.  However in the Community, children have no choice.  At the age of Twelve, they are assigned a job.  Imagine having no choice.  That is what children growing up in that world think.     
Moreover, the people of the Community live in a world without colour, without varying climate.  The worst part about this is the fact that the people purely do not know what colour or climate is!  I would not be able to picture what our world would be like, is everything were the same.  The same questions filled my head; How?  Why!  On page 94, is reads:
"It happened,"  Jonas said.  "It happened in the books, but it went away again."
"I'm right, then,"  the Giver said. "You're begging to see the colour red.
"The what?"  This models just how sheltered the people of the Community are.  Imagine not being able to have a choice of something as simple as an outfit, or no choice of paint for your house.  Imagine having so sunshine to play ball in or similarly, no snow to ski or snowboard or sled in.  This is what life in the Community would be like.  
Furthermore, the strictness of the vocabulary.  When I am with peers, we speak over each other, and nobody thinks anything more of it, just the fact that we were talking over each other.  For example, the book reads: "She peddled forward silently, and he knew that she expected him to tell her why.  She expected him to describe his first day of training.  But to ask would have fallen into the category of rudeness," on page 90.  One should have the pure right to speak their minds, not have to apologise for asking something simple as a question!  There are many people that do not have the right to speak their minds, depending on their circumstances.  It is unfair.  Everyone deserves the right to exercise votes or ideas.  Everyone should have freedom of speech.  Imagine having to apologise every time you accidentally spoke at the same time as a peer.
These reasons are just part of the reason why the novel The Giver, by Lois Lowry is an obvious dystopia.  Primarily, the devastating jobs that one could be assigned to.  Second, the Sameness, the depressing, lonely Sameness.  Thirdly and finally, the strictness of vocabulary.  Ask yourself; "Now would I live in the community?"  

What Happened BN? (Before Natasha)

Before this unit in humanities, I had frequently found myself wondering what happened in the Victorian Age, in ancient Greece, and in Mesopotamia.  What was life like before the iPhone?  Before any phone at all?  l would find myself wondering what life would be like without "simple" pieces of technology, such as the refrigerator, or Google.  This unit in humanities has allowed me to learn about just that.  In the first part of this unit, we had to choose an invention that impacted society either in a more subtle way that is not thought of as an "invention," for example juries.  On the other hand, you could also choose an invention that impacted society in a louder, more obvious way, like the airplane.  The invention that I chose was democracy that gave a voice to most Athenians.  I chose this "invention," because it is not the obvious choice.  When most people think of the word "invention," what pops up in their minds first, generally lean to the idea of something physical, something tangible.  Democracy is neither of those things, but revolutionised lives all the same.  I thought that this was an interesting way of looking at the unit- to choose something that you have to dig deeper to think about.  The second part of this unit was creating a graphic novel.  Instead of making the graphic novel about democracy, I worked with a peer, Anna Clara, and chose the invention that she had written her paper about, which was the elevator.  I enjoyed this experience, because contrary to what I had predicted, creating a graphic novel was quite hard.  It had to be informative, yet funny.  The frames had to have a sufficient amount of detail, but could not go overboard.  In the end, my partner and I were able to portray what I believe was an interesting story.  

I believe that new technologies produce different outcomes in different societies because of the seed that planted them.  Famous inventors did not just think, "I'm going to invent the car and alter people's lives forever," no.  These people realised that there needed to be a change in the world.  Maybe they realised that horse and buggies were not enough to transport the growing world as they might have before.  If a society is still developing, and an invention as life-changing as the airplane comes, then the invention will thrive, due to the need of help for the society.  If an invention is made in the developed society that we live in today, it will probably not succeed, and if it does, maybe not as noticeably.

I think that technology can change the development of societies because of how big the invention is figuratively, meaning that the invention can be small to hold, but impacts a society greatly.  If a society is not very successful in terms of trade, or economics, and then they receive rifles, the civilisation can hunt animals, and then trade the meat and fur.  The society can then thrive, and invest their money in different, possibly more important things.

This unit has taught me so many different aspects about different inventions and has helped the side of me that has wondered what happened before me grow.

My Research Paper

Summing Up The Unit.. With Pictures!

My visual slide:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VRBxXzoXPhe7rHeUI5vZqUNXaheScnO2z9bB2aagrDY/edit?usp=sharing

Why do enduring stories survive over time?
In Humanities, we have just finished our unit about the Epic of Gilgamesh, and have just started reading "The Story of My Life," by Helen Keller.
These two stories are extremely different, but do have some similarities.  For example, both stories are stories of endurance.  Early on in "The Story of My Life," we learn how desperate Helen Keller really was.  The Epic of Gilgamesh is also an endurance story because throughout the book, Gilgamesh is fighting to find immortality.  I believe that s tories of endurance last over time because they are stories that make us realize how important our life is.  For example, in "The Story of My Life," I noticed how Ms. Helen Keller's life must have been so scary.  She was both blind and deaf, and also mute.  We take for granted that we have the ability to see how beautiful our world is, hearing the noises that fill our world, and being able to share these expressions with others.  Eventually, with the help of Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Keller learned to speak.  This is a miracle and it serves as an inspiration to us all.

Looking in The Mirror With "The Epic of Gilgamesh"

In humanities, we have just finished The Epic of Gilgamesh.  Personally, I enjoyed this book so much because it spoke of values that writers nowadays lack.
In the beginning of the Epic of Gilgamesh, I did not percive Gilgamesh as a hero.  He was spoiled, opressive, and greedy.  Despite this, he grew into an epic hero by the time the book reached the end. Gilgamesh transformed into an epic hero because when he is finally gets to the resevoir for to which he must dive into to uproot the plant of life from the bottom.  Once he did get the plant, he thinks that he has finally succeeded in his quest, but while he is not looking, a snake eats the plant.   He had continued to persevere through the project, but he was faced with a setback.  Gilgamesh's true colors show in this chapter because he had wanted to share the Plant of Life with Uruk's men.  He accepted defeat and mortality in this chapter.  Also, Gilgamesh defeated the Bull of Heaven when Ishtar sent it down.  This shows that he posesses great power and confidence if he is able to stand up the beast and slay it.  Also, when Ishtar, the goddess of love bribes him to marry her, she stands up to the heartless woman by bringing up examples of the terrible things she had done to past "lovers."  This shows that Gilgamesh is larger then temptation. He is will not let things that are bad but tempting get to him.


The values of acient Mesopotamian society compare to our values today?
In ancient Mesopotamia, the people valued, among many things, peace, religion, and curiousity.  Some of those things still shine through nowadays, but are faded.  They are like old paintings.  Back then, they were vivid and detailed, now they are faded.  Nowadays, some of the things that we value are technology, power, and social status.  We are so caught up in things like "who has the newest iPhone."  We have forgotten to enjoy the little things in life, because one day, we will realize that they were the big things that we had missed out on.  This is what the book Gilgamesh highlights.  The things that have stayed with us since Mesopotamian days.  These are things like curiousity, achievments, friendship and family.

Got Myths?

In humanities, we have been learning about myths, mainly focusing on the ones that are Greek.  After learning about these myths, we got to make our own myth comic strip.  It had to be completely original.  Mine was about the goddess of hope, named Opta.  Before time, she lived alone in a cold, dark place with no company.  She would weep and hope for happiness, people, animals and nature.  One day, when she fell asleep, all she had ever hoped for poured out of her ear.  She woke up to see animals, people, nature, the variety of things in which she had always hoped for.
My myth is orginal because in Greek myths, the world was created involving the Titans.  In my story, the world is created rather differently.  I think that it is interesting for us to be able to answer a question about the world, because there are so many different explanations to things.
The elements of a myth that my story included were the following-

• I had a goddess
• I explained how something came to be
• I had a moral
• I included the element of fantasy/magic

I included all of those things.  If I had not, then it would not be considered a myth, but only a story.  A myth is not a myth if it does not have those elements.


I decided that I would compare my myth with my friend Abigail's myth.  Her's was entitled "Phases of The Moon."  Evidently, it explains the phases of the moon and how they came to be.

This is my myth

I noticed that Abigail's myth involved a goddess, as did mine.  We both explained how something came to be and also had the element of magic.  What mine had and Abigail's did not was a moral.

I enjoyed this activity so much and I hope we can do something like this again!

This is Abigail's myth

Norse Myths and Greek Myths- The Differences And Similarities

In humanities, we have been learning about Greek gods and goddesses.  We had a chart where we collected information about all the myths.  We had to notate character traits, morals, and we had to observe the civilization through GRAPES.  (Geography, religion, achievements, economics, and social structures.)  Then, Mr. J had us each choose a god or goddess.  I chose Selene, minor goddess of the moon.  We then were given a small card in which we had to write information about the god, for example-

• Who are they related to?
• Why are they worshipped?
• Quotes by god or about god
• Moral of the story

Then, we were assigned to read three non Greek myths.  I read three myths, two Norse, the other Brazilian.  The Brazilian one that I read was called The Creation of Night.  I found Norse myths to be extremely interesting, so I read two, one entitled Twilight of The Gods and the other The Creation of Thor's Hammer.  In both, the main character in the mischiveous Loki.  My favorite was The Creation of Thor's Hammer.

In the Greek myth, Selene is the protagonist.  She is gentle and kind and worshipped.  She is the goddess of the moon, thus the sister of Helios, the Sun.  On one of her nightly rounds, her gaze falls upon the sleeping Endymion.  She wishes eternal sleep to him so that she can always watch him.  Loki, however uses his time for things other than love.  He enjoys causing trouble for the other gods.  They are different because where Selene is looking for love, Loki is looking to cause some mischef.  For example, in The Creation of Thor's Hammer, Loki decided to cut off Sif, Thor's wife's hair.  Or, when Selene pleads Zeus for eternal sleep for her love, Loki bets his head on the fact that the two expert metal-workers Brokkr and Sindri cannot fashion creations as good as Ivaldi's sons had fashioned.

I think that these two myths were both written for entertainment and so that you can learn something at the end of it.  I think that both of the myths were entertaining, I did not find them boring.  I also think that we were meant to learn a lesson.  For example, what I got out of Selene's myth was that you should always think your decisions through.  With Loki's myth of the other hand, I thought that the moral was to know when enough is enough.  

I have been enjoying this unit so much because I had never thought to look at the under currents of myths.  It has given me a new perspective on stories.
Student Led Conference Reflection

This is my card of Selene

You Just Can't Top Disney

Link
I really like Mickey Mouse Shorts.  A lot.  I love that they are original, black and white.  So, I was pretty happy to find an article about the Mickey Mouse Short, "Get a Horse!".  This article was about how the makers of the Short came up with who should do the voice of Mickey Mouse.  The team decided that they needed temporary dialouge, so they started using clips of Walt Disney when he was the voice actor for Mickey Mouse.  Eventually, one team member suggested that they should just use Disney's voice, as it sounded so perfect.  I find this a really excellent article because it shows that there are so many things from the past that are helpful to us now, and also remind us of past eras that we can forget about.

Mickey Mouse, to me always represented happiness and innocence.  Making Mickey's voice the origianal Disney voice made the short perfect to me.  It summed up how Mickey Mouse is supposed to be!  An animated short in 1928.  A character living in a world not knowing of the fact that there could be color on T.V.  There was so much that happened from then until now.  That to me, is where Mickey Mouse belongs.

The Corner of Hip and Chic

Link
When I read "How I Became a Hipster," I was reminder of how in December of 2009, I helped my dad move boxes into our new apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  It was a small, quirky neighborhood that nobody really knew about.   In 2011, we moved to Brazil.  In the summer of 2012, we visited Williamsburg.  In the three years between 2009 and 2012, Williamsburg had sprouted into a cool neighborhood with cute shops and fun cafés.  My family and I were all so suprised with Williamsburg's development.  I remember wondering that if there were two more years, what else would happen in Williamsburg.
When I stumbled upoun the New York Times article, "How I Became a Hipster", I was so suprised that Williamsburg was featured in the New York Times!  I was intrigued and clicked on it.  Up popped a picture of a man holding his bike, surrounded by people in Williamsburg.  I think that the main idea of this article was to show that small places can grow, and that you can find a place to belong anywhere.  It also is about finding where you belong.  I think that there are so many places that can be your Williamsburg.  There are so many places that are just hidden in the most unlikely nook and crannies, you just have to look for them.  

Teams Are More Than You Think

Team
noun
a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport.

This morning I was browsing the New York Times website when I found this article about the New York Rangers.  It caught my attention because I really like hockey and the Rangers are my very favorite team.  I think that the main idea of this article is that the Rangers have had a big comeback and that every part of the team is a huge part of the team.  I think that another aspect of this article is that you need to work to get something that you want.  You cannot just sit around and wait for victory to come to you, because it never will.  You have to get up.  Get up and fight.

I also think that part of this article is about being in a team.  You can't have everyone arguing and not understanding the coach.  There are 24 people on the team, but they are one.  St. Louis, one of the Ranger's players mother had passed before Game 5 of the Eastern Confrence, but he says that his teammates helped him get through the situation by supporting him. The team's goalie, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 35 of the Pittsburgh Penguins 36 shots. “It was such a good feeling at the end, when you know it’s a done deal, and we did it,” Lundqvist said. “We came back.” The article quotes Lundqvist. Even though he is not a skater, he is a big part of the team. Every member of the team is valued in different ways.

Link

Just Because You Can't See It Doesn't Mean It's Not There

Link

I recently read an article by the New York Times about Poor Sanitation in India.  It interested me because in sixth grade we learned about India economically so there were a lot of things in this article in which I was familiar with.  I already know things about this topic so I could get a lot more out of it.  The article stuck with me because I could learn more facts and expand my knowledge on the topic. 

I think that the main idea of this article is to teach people that even though something like malnutrition may not happen close to you, it is still happening and it is also a very big problem worldwide.  I think it is also meant to make you think.  There are many stunning facts throughout this article.  For example in one paragraph, it says, "More than one in four newborn deaths occur in India."  This is a devastating fact that sticks with you. I think that the writer of the article wanted you to take a step back and put things into perspective, instead of just zipping through the article.  They want you to realize how big of a problem this is.     

BRICS Studies

In humanities we have been learning how to solve extreme poverty and were given a project realted to that. We learned about 5 different topics relating to poverty; health, education, employment, environment, and gender. We were assigned a topic and one of the B.R.I.C.S countries. I was assigned gender in Brazil. First, we had to find a project that had to do with resolving the problem. Then, we had to find websites that explained the following things: overview of problem, overview of solution, challenges of the project and successes of the project. Then, we had to create a paper about it. The week after we turned in the paper, we had the BRICS Summit where we were separated into comitees. It was interesting to collaborate with so many other people because I saw so many other points of view. The core values I noticed the most were critical thinker, communicator, curious and risk taker. I think that the most challenging part of the assignment was forming the resolution. I think that the easiest part was probably collaborating with other people because you can share ideas, it is not only you thinking of everything. I think that I did pretty well. I previously did MUN, and that it helped a lot. I think that it is important for us at Graded to learn about extreme poverty so that we can learn about the world that surrounds us. The purpouse of our study of poverty was to learn that there are so many aspects of this world, and the people in it.

Looking Back to The Three Gorges Dam Essay

1) What is your artifact?

This artifact is my Three Gorges Dam Essay.  

2)  What is The Three Gorges Dam?  Why is it controversial?

The Three Gorges Dam is a dam located in Southern China on the Yangtze river.  It was made because the Yangtze was growing extremely wild and would many times

flood, taking lives.  The dam now provides one-ninth of the nation’s energy and keeps the river from flooding.  The dam did not come alone.  Worldwide controversy rapidly spread after the building of the dam. There were many valid arguments, for or against the dam. The dam is controversial because there are so many pros and cons about the dam.  Some people for the dam argue that it generates a lot of energy, prevents flooding and transportation is safe.  Those against the dam may argue about the 1.13 million who were displaced, the money spent and the relocation programs that were inefficient to those who needed it.   

3)  What is an argumentative essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that argues a claim with 3 fact-based arguments that support your claim.  Your goal in writing an argumentative essay is to argue against people who disagree with your claim.

4)  What is your essay’s claim?

My essay’s claim was that the Three Gorges Dam should not have been built.  

5)  What process did you go through to complete your essay?
Well, first of all, we looked at videos and read articles about the Three Gorges Dam.  Then, we chose what side we would take on the issue.  (For or against the dam)  Then, based on the information, you would choose your arguments and find evidence that would support that your argument.  Then, you would piece together the puzzle by writing the essay.  Finally, we would do our introduction and our conclusion and proof-read.

6)  What was one specific area where you demonstrated success?

I was particularly proud in getting a 4 in “Central claim is well-supported by textual evidence.  Use of relevant evidence is sustained throughout the entire analysis.

The core reasoning follows from evidence.”  It was one of my original struggles that I was able to overcome.

7)  What was one challenge of writing the argumentative essay?

I was challenged by making all of my paragraphs melt together, to become one.  Originally, all of my paragraphs were stacked together like bricks, but once I found the cement to put between them, the essay fit together.

8)  If you could rewrite this essay, what would you do differently?

I would try to make my conclusion more detailed.  During revisions and edits, I could not think of a particularly “good” ending, but then, after we looked at the essay again, the ending just clicked in my mind.

9)  Comparing your argumentative essay for the common writing assessment last quarter to this one, where are some areas where you see growth?

In fifth grade, to finish fourth quarter, we did our persuasive essays, and I implied everything I had basically learned from there into the first argumentative essay, not realizing that the two were different, but there are quite a few differences.  

10)  What core values does this relate to and why?

I think that the core values that this essay relates to would be:

• Critical Thinker because you had to think about the dam from two different perspectives before your could choose what side you would take.
• Curious because you needed to try and find information that had not been used in class so that your essay stood out.
• Communicator because you had to communicate your ideas into your essay in a way that made sense.
• Persevering because you had to find evidence that supported your claim, you had to proofread, edit when something was wrong.  It was a long process.
• Risk Taker because you had to think of new evidence that supported your claim, that made sense, even if nobody else was using it.  

My Essay 

Our debate in preparation for the essay.  

Theme- City of Ember

Curiosity is a great thing to have, but it could also be a costly thing.  It can be worth the risk. 
For example, in the chapter ''Something Lost, Nothing Found,'' Sadge had gone to the unknown regions out of curiosity.  He did not find anything and his nerves got the better of him.  He can only remember this from his curiosity.  He should not have used his curiosity here, but in a place where it could be more useful.  He was unable to find something and could have used it in a way where he can look even deeper into the situation.  Later into the book, Doon and Lina tell the guards about their discovery about the mayor, but they do not believe them.  Although this was an amazing discovery founded by their curiosity, they shared it with the wrong people.  Finally when Lina is caught by the guards, she tried to convince them that it was not a lie, but they did not believe her.   This shows that there are consequences in curiosity.  Curiousity helped Lina and Doon all throughout City of Ember and did risk themselves, but it was the net that caught them in the end.

I used to think that "The City of Ember'' was about two children that wanted to explore and discover new things.  I read that Lina liked to run and wanted to be a messenger.  She also knew her way around Ember by heart.  I also read that Doon wanted a job in the pipeworks because he wanted to fix the generator.  My initial thoughts when I read these were that the theme could be freedom and adventure.

Now, I realize that the City of Ember is really about how curiousity is something that will help you.  I see that you should not be afraid to take the risk.  I noticed this later in the book, when Doon and Lina are wanted for spreading untrue rumors.  They risked telling someone where their curiousity had lead them, and they soon had to pay for it.  I realized that theme is not something that can just be seen by taking the first idea that comes to mind, it is something that you have to dig deep to find.  

City of Ember- Deep Question of Choice

Why do you think more people in Ember did not act like Lina and Doon did?

I think that people did not act like Lina and Doon because they were still asleep, unable to see the true mayor, unable to wake up and see the real scarcity in Ember.  For example on Assignment Day, nobody thought twice about the mayors reaction towards Doon's outburst.  Suddenly Doon spoke up.  "But Ember is not prospering!" he cried.  "Everything is getting worse and worse!"  "Silence!"  cried the mayor. (13)  Nobody really suspected there could be something more to it.  Little trails the mayor leaves behind are not picked up by the citizens of Ember.  They are just left there, but Lina and Doon look more closely at them and go deeper.  Secondly,  on page 85, the citizens of Ember are invited to a town meeting.  He then, on page 87 says; "Slooshns!" he bellowed "Arbingfoun!"  "Solutions,'' the people in the front called to the people in the back.  "Solutions are being found?"  Later, he does not answer what king of solutions.  He just wants to cover up his tracks.  These are things that Lina and Doon would pick up, but other citizens are unable to see.  Finally, on page 156, Doon's curioustiy puts him in a position where the truth comes out.  He is in the pipeworks when he notices a key in the door he and Lina were looking at.  He then opens it.  "On the table were dishes smeared with the remains of food, and in an armchair facing Doon was a great blob of a person whose head was flopped backbard, so that all Doon could see of it was an upthrust chin.  The blob stirred and muttered, and Doon, in the second before he stepped back and pulled the door closed, caught a glimpse of a fleshy ear, a slab of gray cheek, and a loose, purplish mouth."  This, we later find out is the mayor.  Only somebody with curiousity like Doon or Lina would really get to the bottom of this.  Also, you realize that nobody really second guessed the fact that the Mayor was bigger than the rest of the citezens.        

Digging Deep With Doon

       Doon Harrow is caring and selfless.  Right after everyone chose their jobs on Assignment day, Doon felt did not want to be messenger, and he explains the reasoning behind it and he taps Lina on the shoulder and says; 
"Will you trade with me? he asked.  
"Trade?"
"Trade jobs.  I don't want to waste my time being a messenger.  I want to help save the city, not run around carrying gossip."  (Page 15)  This shows that Doon is selfless because he wants to help save the city.  He knows about what could be coming, and wants to help protect people from it.  Further into the book Doon makes a selfless act that shows he is a good person.  It says;  Now he could see only two courses of action: he could give up and do nothing, or he could start to work on a different movable light. Doon didn't want to give up, so on his day off one Thursday, he went to the Ember Library to look up fire.  (Page 117)  This idnicates that Doon wants to help the city so that nothing bad happens.  It also proves that he is selfless because on his day off, he did not spend it relaxing at home.  He spent it looking for a solution for the city.  Lastly, on page 82, we learn how other people really think of him. it says:  "Lucky for you Doon Harrow was around," said Nammy Proggs, who'd been watching them with her sideways glare.  "He's a good-hearted boy.  Anything breaks at my house, he fixes it."  This lets me realize that Doon is always there and happy to help.  Nammy Proggs is elderly and she probably can't do as much now, but Doon helps her fix things.
Source

Economy

In humanities, we have been studying econemy and were given an assignment to create a product, a good.  We had to pay for our own recourses (using Hum Bucks) and make something helpful to students.  Our group made a bag with pockets and a makeshift speaker.  This was to model Free Market Econemy.  Free market econemy is good because supporters believe that the governmanet should not tell people how much to make.  It is bad because it is based on supply and demand, therefore there is scarcity with certain recourses.  We modeled scarcity, and a real life situation is, when there is a popular invention and many companies want to purchase it, it becomes rarer and more people want it.  If I could do one thing to change this system, it would be to try and reduece the importance of supply and demand because it causes scarcity and prevents lesser companies from growing.  I am really enjoying this unit because we get to see and understand things that are happening in the real world.