My Growth

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Ideas and Content
For the Alchemist essay, I am aware that my writing skills weren't satisfactory. I strayed off from the topic casually and didn't really have any outstanding or effective ideas to support my thoughts. So I can not really find any examples that shows appropriate ideas and content. However, I can find infinite examples that lack contents and ideas. The main reason for my lack of ideas was because of the weak quote I chose. Frankly speaking, while I was looking for quotes, I just picked any quote that would be able to support my ideas and not see the depth of it in the actual story which caused my ideas to be weak too. For the Julius Caesar, I have improved. The main reason why I failed the Alchemist essay was because of the quote, but for the Julius Caesar essay, my quotes were strong and had depth in it. For that, I could express my ideas as much as I want and effectively write it so that the reader would be able to understand my ideas thoroughly. However, my Julius Caesar also had several flaws. The main mistake that cut off some grades were because of simple grammar problems. If I had looked back at my essay thoroughly enough, I would have been able to cover those mistakes and earn a better grade.
Organization
For the Alchemist essay, my organization wasn't bad, but wasn't good either. I had tried to mention my ideas according to the stories chronological order but couldn't seem to organize my ideas so that the reader would easily understand what I am trying to say since the teacher who had graded my essay was often lost.
For the Julius Caesar essay, I have mentioned my ideas in an organized manner and knew where to focus on important parts of my essay. My use of transitions were fair. Additionally, by stating a clear and focused topic sentence supported by an appropriate quote, I was able to list my ideas in an organized manner.
Personal Growth
There is an obvious growth between my essays. It clearly shows is my grade of how much I've improved in writing skills. The depth of my ideas have become exceedingly deeper and the ideas are layed out in an organized manner for the reader to easily read it. The quotes that I chose were significant compared to the Alchemist quotes which proved that I understood the significance of certain quotes better than before and whether it would contain enough information so that I can express my idea more clearly. Additionally, less grammar mistakes are made and my sentence structure is firm. My ideas stay focused on the topic, and most importantly, I have exceedingly imporved in wrapping up my ideas in my conclusion, which I have absolutely failed in the Alchemist essay.
SLR Reflection
The SLR I have represented in both of my essays were 'reason critically.' I needed evidence to prove to myself and to the reader that the quotes I have chose are significant and my ideas make sense. Another SLR that I demonstrated was 'communicate effectively' since writings are all about communication between the writer and the reader. In order to help the reader to understand his or her ideas, the writer must provide evidence and express her ideas efficiently and not flow away from the topic. I may have not be an ideal model to express the SLRs but I have tried my best.

Brutus's Pride As Well As His Flaw

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Brutus’s Pride As Well As His Flaw

“For Brutus is an honourable man, so they all, all honourable men.” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 80-81) The following quotation was when the conflict between Antony, Caesar’s loyal supporter and Brutus, the conspirator’s leader began. Antony sarcastically described and explained Brutus as a honourable man, and that he was a true patriot. Brutus’s patriotism and honour were the two factors that made the readers have a positive bias towards him in the beginning of the play, and also the factors that led him to his death in the end.

Brutus was a character that deserved sympathy. The motivator that made the first stepping-stone to his death was non other than his strong and loyal patriotism. According to Mark Antony, he was the only conspirator that had truly loved Rome, and did not assassinate Caesar because of jealousy of his success. Brutus and Caesar were friends. However, Brutus’s ancestors were the ones that had driven away the corrupted kings of Rome and had made Rome a republic, and Brutus wanted to keep it as it is, for it was a memento of his ancestors. He knew was well aware that Caesar could become ambitious and lead Rome to another depraved kingdom. Additionally, persuaded by Cassius, one of the conspirators, Brutus has decided to join the conspiracy for Rome’s sake, and not his own. “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.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 10-13) The preceding quotation was when Brutus had an inner conflict of whether choosing his friend’s life or Rome. In the end, he came up with the conclusion that only killing Caesar shall save Rome from tyranny, and had joined the conspirators. Brutus believed strongly that killing Caesar would be ‘justice’ for Rome, for humans become arrogant when they had reached the top, and tend to ignore the ladder that had helped him to reach there. Brutus feared that Caesar might make his supporters and the other citizens of Rome as his slave and become a tyrant. Brutus didn’t join the conspiracy only because he was afraid of tyranny. He had another reason, his love towards Rome, which was a peaceful republic. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 20-21) This quotation was part of Brutus’s speech to justify his and the conspirator’s assassination of Caesar. He mentioned that he had loved Caesar, but his love towards Rome was more powerful. This shows that Brutus truly loves Rome and is a loyal patriot to his country for he even killed his friend for what he thinks will be beneficial for his country. The fact that Brutus even killed his friend for his country shows how much Brutus loved Rome, and how powerful and stiff was his patriotism.

By showing his patriotism and being born into a noble family, Brutus’s theme or title was ‘honourable,’ and Brutus himself, also had great pride in his title. However, this ‘honour’ was also his greatest flaw that led him to his death. “Believe me more mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you many believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and wake your senses, that you may the better judge.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 14-17) This quotation was presented in the play when Brutus talked to the crowd about the conspirator’s deeds and to manipulate them to think that the conspiracy was justice. Brutus emphasizes his honour in his speech making the viewers and the crowed to feel like as if his honour is a great deed and should believe what Brutus says for he mentions his honour in it. The quotation also shows shows that once more, Brutus thinks of his honour as everything and believes that his honour shall succeed in manipulating the crowd. However, his honour was not only his pride, but also his biggest flaw. “And for Mark Antony, think not of him; for he can do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head if off.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 181-183) This quotation was part of Brutus’s speech to persuade the conspirators to not kill Antony for their behaviours may look to bloody and violent, and ‘violent’ doesn’t suit an honourable and noble figure like Brutus. Although Cassius presented the idea of killing Antony, Brutus considered Antony to be only a limb of Caesar, and made the conclusion that he will be no threat as long as Caesar was gone. This quote shows that Brutus knows how to respect his enemy’s supporters and is aware of when a cause might seem to bloody. This quote might make the readers think that Brutus is really worth respecting and is a generous figure. However, his honour of respecting Antony was the greatest mistake he could make in his life, for Antony completely flips the crowd’s faith towards Brutus by talking to them as if he was an equal and turns around the crowd’s bias of the assassination of Caesar.

The conflict between Antony and Brutus’s bias of Caesar’s assassination switched Brutus’s dignity into his flaw. His patriotism was the origin of him joining the conspiracy and his honour was the main cause of him making the biggest mistake of his life, to let Antony live. If Brutus had agreed with Cassius to kill Antony, his goal would have been achieved wholly. However, because he ignored Cassius’s advice because of his honour he accomplished his goal partially, for Antony and Octavius (Caesar’s son) declared war against the conspirators, making Rome a bloody battlefield, and crucially, Octavius has became the king, following Caesar’s dream. Even though Brutus achieved his goal partially, I would say that his goal was noble. Brutus’s primary goal was to save Rome from tyranny and to maintain his ancestor’s achievements. He has killed his friend and until the end, believed that he did what was right for his country and died a honourable death.

The Lost Boy's Plight

Think Creatively!

The part that I've thought creatively in this collage is the outer line of the images pasted. I have added some positive feelings into some images which showed the peaceful life and hope for the lost boys by making the outer line curvy and smooth. And, for harsh situations that had made the lost boys suffer, the lines are ripped apart to show negative expressions. Another thing that I have thought creatively is to lay out the images in order to show the life of the lost boys in chronological order to exactly show the plight of theirs.

Reason Critically!

I reasoned critically when choosing my images. I needed to make sure that all of the images on my collage relates directly to the journey of the lost boys and stay focused on the topic. Also, I needed to add some emotions in my collage to persuade the viewers to take some actions. I needed evidence to support my thoughts and sympathy so that the viewers would believe what the collage shows.

Communicate Effectively!

I communicated effectively by using appropriate and effective pictures and laying out the images in order. Rather than pasting images in random order, sticking them in order would help the viewers to understand more effectively about their plight. Additionally, about the outer lines of the images, I am additionally able to show the emotions of not only myself, but of the lost boys too.

Live Ethically!

By showing sympathy of the lost boy's past I have demonstrated how to live ethically. I understand well that the lost boy's lives were very desperate and sad and truly feel sorry for them. Additionally in my collage, I have posted how the U.N was to Sudan when the civil war occurred and their response has caused Sudan to fall.

Peter, the Lost Boy

The Lost Boys of Sudan are a group of over 20,000 refugee boys and girls, age range of 7 to 17. They have lost their parents during the civil war, and on their journey to Ethiopia many have died due to starvation, sleeplessness and diseases. The few that have survived are now currently in refugee camps in Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. And among the 20,000 refugees, only 4000 of them has been chosen to experience a 'civilized' life in America. Peter is one of the 4000 boys that were selected. He was an open-minded figure who was willing to adapt the culture of America which was new to him. However, it wasn't that easy.

Even though the world claims that everyone has equal human rights regardless of their race and skin colour, there are still those who refuse to accept people who are different from them. And Peter was one of those who were treated differently because of his skin colour. At his working place, he was assumed by his boss that he would endure the hot sun better than the white people since he is black. Even the his school counsellor who is supposed to be in charge of helping the student to his satisfaction underestimated him because he's a refugee and he's black and chosen all of his classes even before Peter had a chance to talk to him. Not only racism, but Peter also faced some financial problems too. His relatives back in Sudan kept on acquiring money from him even though he didn't have enough money to survive himself in America. He needed to pay for his rent, food and everything else. But the worst case for Peter was his sudden low self-esteem. Compared to the rich whites who had parents and proper education, he felt so weak and poor compared to them. He was a refugee, his parents were killed during war, he earned his own money, and lastly, he didn't have proper education as them. He felt that he was different from the people in the civilized world, and felt that he does not fit into this group.

The situations above naturally leads to cultural shock. Peter came from an uncivilized refugee camp, and America is one of the most civilized countries in the world. With such a big cultural difference, one cannot adapt the new condition there in unless they receive help or guides from others who are used to this culture. However, Peter was rejected by the whites because of his race and was left to adapt the new world alone.

[Julius Caesar]Performance Assessment

Partner: MinJin, Kim - as Decius
Me - as Caesar

Passage: Act2,Scene2, lines 65-107

CAESAR
Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS BRUTUS
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CAESAR
The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

DECIUS BRUTUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR
And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS BRUTUS
I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
'Break up the senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love
To our proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable.

CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.




The following scene is when Caesar decides to stay at home as Calpurnia wished him to for she fears that Caesar is going to be killed as she dreamt. However, Decius turns out and starts to flatter Caesar to come to the capitol as he planned with the conspirators.
This passage has a few significance in it. Starting with the dramatic irony. The viewers and readers know that Caesar is going to be killed when he reaches the capitol and gets out of his house, and just when Calpurnia managed to find a way to save him, Decius comes along taking that chance away. However, when Caesar claimed that he shall not go, it gives tension in the play and makes the audience think in a different perspective whether Caesar shall be killed or not. Not only making the audience think in a different way, but it also adds some personal feelings in the play such as sympathy or anger towards Caesar's innocence. Another significance is that this is the scene that decided Caesar's fate. The moment he was flattered by Decius to go to the capitol with him, it became sure to the audience that the conspirators shall succeed in their conspiracy and assassination and Caesar shall meet his end.