Essay Writing Reflection

Ideas and Content
My writing demonstrates appropriate ideas and content as I am able to take the prompt and direct my writing from this point onwards. For example, in my Julius Caesar essay, I determined driving forces of Brutus, clearly stating them at the beginning of each paragraph in order to build of those ideas. I would then describe these forces, where in the book they were evident and how they affected Brutus, but would only touch on these matters and didn’t further elaborate, and provide additional evidence to support my statements and reasoning.

Organization
My writing demonstrates appropriate organization as I am able to structure the paragraphs in a systematic fashion. For example, in my Julius Caesar essay, I divided the paragraphs into the introduction, different driving forces of Brutus, and then the conclusion. My writing also builds of each heading, so that everything is directly related. However I struggle with my transitions so that my writing has a smooth flow when read. By creating smoother transitions my writing is linked together therefore improving my organization and the value of the content in my writing. I could also achieve this by making a more solid, detailed and generally clearer plan, mainly focusing on content and order of content, before starting the essay. This is a main factor for me to focus on especially when establishing direction for timed essays such as the Julius Caesar essay.

Personal Growth
There is still a lot of room for improvement in my essays. With my Alchemist essay being over duration of time, and with my Julius Caesar being timed, I would weigh the two about equally. My writing shows an open window to possible ideas, but there is nothing past that window. Therefore, by putting my thoughts onto paper first and building on from there I aim to structure my writing more. Another factor I am focusing on is evidence. Rather than merely stating an idea and briefly covering it, I need to work on going in depth in order to show the reader the reasoning behind the content. I have however grown in terms of word choice, which seems to be one of the stronger parts of my writing, but I could grow more as a writer by incorporating these words into better structured and more detailed paragraphs so as to create a more significant meaning behind these words.

SLR Reflection
When crafting an essay, my aim is to communicate effectively in order to clearly convey my thoughts and ideas to the audience. Keeping this in mind, I try to organize my writing so that one can read it smoothly and make sense of it. I state the main ideas at the beginning of each paragraph and refer back to them in a concluding statement at the end to emphasize my points. This is also mostly true for both the introduction and conclusion of the essay. The area in which in need to improve on in communicating effectively when concerning my essays is when elaborating on an idea so that the audience is aware of my thoughts. Thus, besides referring back to ideas, but keeping in mind to not unnecessarily repeat them, I should also expand my ideas in order to reinforce meaning behind the words.

Overlapping Thoughts

Think Creatively!
Identify and discuss some of the creative elements of your collage.
Red paint splattered on the right side of the poster resembles the blood shed in Sudan. This ties in with the images of death and dying. The words “Get Real” were a particular target, with most of the paint directed towards this area. I chose to do this because the paint contrasts against white background and the capitalized and bolded words stand out, helping to emphasize the message that this is reality for the Lost Boys of Sudan. On the left side of the poster, there is a woman with a bucket balanced on top of her head. Here I pasted a heart with the words “Embrace Love” enclosed in a square to resemble a sealed envelope of hope which, once open reminds the people to strive for better in their lives. The bucket resembles all of the thoughts and emotions of the Sudanese people, which they hold in high esteem, careful not to let them fall and be released. Although some emotions serve as a burden, love is one that these people live on and treasure, being essential for the people living in war struck Sudan.

Reason Critically!
How did you use the images and text that you selected to highlight your understanding of the Lost Boy’s situation?
Both the images and text that I chose highlight my understanding of the Lost Boy’s situation in several ways – namely, the difficult journey that they’ve experienced all through their life and the remainder of experiences ahead of them, ones that they have yet to face. On the right side of the poster is the word, “Abstract.” I chose to incorporate this word into the left side of my poster because although color is evident in the clothing that the people wore, “abstract” represents the sort of life that the Lost Boys lived in Sudan – a very bleak, war struck life where people constantly live in fear. On the upper left hand corner of the poster are the words, “Living Color,” resembling the color brought into their life from being able to have a new perspective of life, and from finding hope. “World Views” on the left side of the poster sums up the majority of the Lost Boys’ life, from their haunting past, to their hope-filled future.

Communicate Effectively!
Explain how your collage creates awareness for the Lost Boys’ plight.
My collage shows the Lost Boy’s journey from darkness to light using both images and text. On the top right hand corner of the poster is an image of people gathering around a water tank in the Darfur region. I chose this image to display the harsh reality of the people of Sudan’s life, having to wait in the blistering heat for water – a necessity that most people take for granted without giving a second thought about others placed in situations such as the one that the people in the Darfur region are in. On the left of the collage, there is a window. I decided to use a window as it is found at the end of the maze, which is shaped as a dollar sign – resembling the American currency. A lost boy at a school is featured at the entrance of the maze. This shows the conflict occurring of having to juggle an education and work to earn money, to provide for oneself and help the people in Sudan, with peace in Sudan as a motivator. However, once you have reached the end of the maze on your own, you reach closed doors. Expecting to find hope inside, you open it and it reads – “Fitting In Or Starting New?” Contradicting the whole purpose of the journey with a question as if to say, you’ve walked every step of your life in search of answers, but the real answer to life is to persevere. While many people reason that the Lost Boy’s life in America is from their life past life in Sudan, in every aspect, this is not true as one major conflict that they’ve faced in America has been assimilation. A map is in the bottom left corner of the collage. In this instance, I was comparing the journey to America and the journey occurring in America. I did this to weigh the two journeys, and make the audience weight the two against each other. A speech bubble directs off from the window. This reads, “Social Lights.” The message that I was trying to send across here was about the Lost Boy’s assimilation – one of the conflicts that the Lost Boys faced in America.

Live Ethically!
Explain how you think your collage demonstrated empathy and might evoke an emotional response from your viewers and/or incite them to act.
The overall message that I was trying to send through my collage was that the more fortunate must take the time to look inside him or herself and find the time and seize the opportunity to help others. The short and simple sentence, “Make No Small Talk” was meant to trigger a first response and key in the others of the Lost Boy’s journey. Darkness and light contrast each other in the Lost Boy’s journey as they struggle to find their place in the world. This contrast is evident through many aspects of my collage from the gradient of the background in the top left hand corner where the dark side is predominately facing towards the Lost Boy’s journey in Sudan and where the lighter side is on the edge of the poster suggesting that light (hope) can extend into your unnamed future. Others can relate to the Lost Boy’s journey in terms of assimilating into a new culture. In order to make this journey easier for the Lost Boys, others must offer support – “The more you give to the people that will be touched by your generosity the more rewarding it will be for both parties.” This statement offers room for reason, asking others to consider being global citizens as we all walk on the same land. As individuals it is our responsibility to spread our knowledge to others to benefit them and others thus, “Share something provocative” was meant to inspire others to take what they’ve learned and spread the word.

The Many Faces And Phases Of Brutus

“I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general he would be crowned.” With honor and Rome set in his mind, Brutus assassinated Caesar out of devotion to his country.
Honor is like a one-way road for Brutus, there are no turning points. At first an internal conflict was going on inside Brutus as to whether he should become part of the conspiracy to kill Caesar. However, being an idealist, Brutus was manipulated into believing that the other conspirators were acting out of patriotism instead of jealousy. With this in mind, and honor held in high esteem, Brutus did what he thought to be honorable by killing Caesar. Brutus truly didn’t want to kill Caesar but was manipulated into believing that he needed to. Without a third party to influence him, Brutus would’ve seen Rome under a bright light as supposed to being in the dark to rest of the conspirator’s jealousy. For he himself was knew of his honor and made it known – “For let thee gods so speed me as I love the name of honor more than I fear death.”
Brutus loved his country so much to have killed his friend, in order to get rid of tyranny. Rome as his best interest, rather than personal gain, Brutus listened to the letters Caesar wrote and signed by the people, but ignored the possibility that when Caesar was offered the crown thrice and the crowd cheered, they were cheering because they wanted him to be king. Brutus considered the cause, keeping Rome in mind. Centered that his act was honorable, Brutus justified, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” He defends the conspiracy with rhetorical questions, cornering the people by asking them, “Who here is so vile, that will or love his country?” For Brutus believed that his act was just to have asked this and proceeds to point out the people, “With this I depart, that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome.”
Brutus fell deep into the trap of believing that assassinating Caesar was honorable and that it was beneficial for Rome, without providing evidence and only offering reasons, “as he was ambitious I slew him” for he too was unsure whether to kill Caesar but determined that it must have been honorable. The play Julius Caesar serves to contradict Brutus’s morals and hopes to improve Rome. Instead, the exact opposite happened, with the people of Rome turning against Brutus and Rome itself drowned in chaos. His goal was clear but his reasons shallow, thus upturning Brutus’s good intentions and showing that his motivation drove him, erasing the nobility Brutus thought was evident when pursuing his cause.

No Orientation Equals Disorientation

Lost Boy Peter, faced difficulties trying to adjust to American culture. The journey to America for a better life – namely, peace, freedom and education, proved to be grueling with starvation and heat’s hands constantly dragging him down. Indirectly, these conflicts during migration urged him on, as he tried to avoid their paths as frequently as possible. The refugee camp also served as a difficult place to be in, surviving on rationed food, being under poor living conditions and lacking an education which was one of many things that the Lost Boys hoped to change. However, the refugee camp was also a place of comfort and stability, being around your own people who share the same culture as you. Despite high hopes for a brighter future, America served to be a place where each would make it on their own, not walking for endless miles every day to feel like you have achieved nothing, but instead finding their way through the thick scrub, into the world of endless possibilities. The future represents a freshly planted seed, starting out small, slowly descending into the sky. Peter’s life is very similar in terms of achieving an education and working while juggling basic needs, and facing external pressure to send money back to Sudan. This was a huge internal conflict of Peter’s, as he felt the tug between providing for himself first and providing for his family. Not fully aware of his present condition, his family urges him to send back money despite his own financial condition. Peter dealt with sudden culture shock by dressing differently, becoming involved in the American lifestyle by playing basketball, making friends, and learning English, still remembering his roots and dedication to the country which chased him away but to which he still feels obligated to. Many mixed feelings are evident as Peter feels disconnected from society – such as an outcast of sort. While others sympathize with his story, being under their own security, they are negligent of Peter’s feelings at the moment. His expectations of America were not quite met, sending him into a difficult position. Without anyone to guide him, the future both promises and betrays, the decisions you make map out your journey, not by means of migrating from one place to another, but by traveling on in life to achieve your own, personal goals.

Duet Acting

Melissa Sivaraj (Caesar) & Emily Thorne (Decius)

Context:
The conspirators have sent Decius, one of Caesar’s closest friends to fetch Caesar to the capitol, where Caesar thinks that he will be crowned. The night before the assassination was chaotic, things were out of order, Calpurnia dreamt that Caesar would die and after much persuasion, Caesar decided to stay. Decius, being charismatic, flattered Caesar to believe that Calpurnia misinterpreted her dream and he turned the events around to make it seem that. Thus, Caesar, brushed aside Calpurnia’s pleads and concluded that his earlier decision was rational and that he shouldn’t fear the unknown.

Significance:
This passage leads into Caesar’s assassination. It is an example of Caesar’s ambition and the internal conflict between his public and private side and which side overpowers the other. Tension is created when Decius arrives because, before there were no outsiders to support his decision to go the capitol. Caesar being gullible was a tragic character flaw and his love for admiration to which he succumbed to, lead to his death. The irony is that he was good to the ones who betrayed him. Caesar’s final decision erases the possibility that he may live to see himself rise in power.

Act Two, Scene 2, Lines 65 – 107

Caesar Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest strech’d mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

Decius 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 tonight she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain with a 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 today.

Decius 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 bath’d,
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 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 your 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.

Renaissance Identity

Hypatia of Alexandria

In the left-hand side of the Fresco to which Plato sections off, stands Hypatia of Alexandria, conversing with Parmenides on her left, who is also a Greek philosopher. Raphael’s placement of Hypatia is unique as she was supposed to not appear in the painting due to her open-mind which opposed the Church. Originally, she was meant to appear as one of the prime characters, centered near the focal point of Plato and Aristotle. Hypatia was the first woman recognized for significant contributions of mathematical and philosophical growth. Mathematics, though not a subject I strive in, appeals to me in its simplicity of calculations as it did to Hypatia. It is based around formulas, appearing as a subject of consistency. While I haven’t studied the art of philosophy, an endless sea of questions probes at my mind. These range from queries of existence, to how, and why we abuse our power as human beings on this Earth, and why we have deprived people of equality, and to this day still do in subtle ways. Being a woman, Hypatia’s open views and empowerment urged her to defy the Church’s heretic proclamations against mathematical and philosophical questioning. Hypatia, a symbol of independence, was not afraid to stand out and be heard, be seen. Her views were outspoken, her thoughts unguarded. I too believe that all opinions are to be taken in consideration. Although Hypatia was a nonbeliever in Christianity and this faith is strong in me, this difference doesn’t disguise the beliefs we share. Embracing knowledge, Hypatia was an influential woman, declaring that all should receive an education. This is also something that I feel strongly about, as this concern has followed us through the years, which is also why Hypatia, being a woman of the Renaissance, was shunned for expressing her opinions. Despite her attempts to practice what she preached, Hypatia was only to face death as she was a nonbeliever, went against the Church, and a woman. Visions of equality may seem fulfilled in our modern world, but without action, we are only to face a same fate of a demise of mind.

Mirroring Society

Reflections of light are shafts, opening the eyes of historians intrigued and absorbed in the moment. These are the eyes leading to discovery, willing to share new found knowledge. Art is to be interpreted by the reader. It is not only that emotions and feelings are depicted through art, but evidence of era is also captured – not through the lens of a camera, instead through the talent and persistence of dedicated artists. Past experiences, development, architecture, and important figures, are all revealed in art. The School of Athens is a sophisticated piece, clearly stating through the architecture and behavior of the painted figures that this painting, full of life, represents a rebirth of ideas, the Renaissance. Art drives steadfast minds towards hidden treasures of knowledge, piecing together clues. As a new age and era forms in front of you, art opens up the blinds of the window, creating an indication of how people and time are represented. Through the window, lay a field of answers – waiting to further illuminate. People reach out, only to be barricaded by their ignorance – a window which mirrors the past to which we yearn to enter and understand. In The School of Athens, art mirrors a civilization of growth, and the essence of a time far away, yet right before our contemporary world.