In the book ‘’Guns, Germs and Steel’’ By Jared Diamond explores a brief history of the human world and how it has become what it is today. When Jared Diamond takes a visit to New Guinea, he is encountered by a local politician on the beach whose name is Yali, and as they walked and talked together, Yali asked a simple question “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?’’ .That question made Jared go on the journey of his life. The book explains how three major powers: Guns, Germs, and Steel brought by the Europeans, conquered the world and raises a simple question on why many societies and civilizations were different back then and how it has shaped the fates of humanity as it is today.…
When I was in 7th grade I wrestled this guy named Bo Meikamp from Edwardsville. In 8th grade I wrestled him again and he beat me in the second period, and then he ended up placing 3rd at state our 8th grade year. Our next match was at the Edwardsville Freshman Duels and he beat me by points in the third period. Later my freshman year I wrestled Bo at the Conference Championships, and I put everything into that match, but I lost in overtime. I knew that I probably will wrestle him again during Regionals at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center in East Saint Louis.…
In her article, “Confessions of a Sociopath”, M.E. Thomas describes the sociopath she inhabits and how the pre notions of society are uninformed of the true nature around sociopaths. Although most people tend to mark sociopaths with a negative connotation, Thomas shows how she has turned her own life into a positive lifestyle. Thomas also describes to the reader how the backstory of sociopaths affect the sort of person they become, whether that be extremely violent or extremely silent. Thomas mainly presents the positive outcome of her sociopathy she entitles, reflecting how it has helped her to become a more giving and a more professional character in the game of life. As a matter of fact, she describes the advantage of sociopathy in her…
Knowing Our Place, written by Barbara Kingsolver, showed a great detail about her experiences in the face of nature. Barbara wanted to get the idea of spending more time in nature across to her readers. Kingsolver lets her readers know that she is grateful to be a part of it by her great detail of nature and its surroundings. She makes it apparent that she feels apologetic to the individuals who do not get to witness the vastness of nature. Kingsolver found a home in the spaciousness of nature.…
In his writing, Richard Rodriguez describes himself as a “scholarship boy”, a label he read about in Hoggart’s book, The Uses of Literacy. His description of himself and Hoggart’s description of a scholarship boy do seem to align with each other in various ways, which Rodriguez points out in his essay. He gives block quotes from Hoggart’s book and then relates those quotes to his own life to show the reader just how much the two descriptions align with each other. Rodriguez uses Hoggart’s book to describe his life, it wasn’t until he came across that book that he knew what category of student he fell under.…
In the article "Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here?" by Mark Edmundson narrates the experience of studying at college. Mark Edmundson says, that the first day of college is a major achievement not just for the students attending to their classes also an achievement for parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts who helped to get at college. He says, education in America is a fight against the drugs, violence, slime-based culture and big fight against the institution and education is about finding out what form of work for you is close to being play. Mark was taught that a person goes to college only once and he must study what he wanted.…
How would you feel if even paying money you, have to share your bed with someone else that you might not know or if you and your family have to share your home with some other families? well, that's some of the things that these people have to live every day. Living in small places without any ventilation, light, plumbing or a place where their children can play even sometimes exposed to get robbed, having a high risk of diseases and without fire escapes. In this photo taken by Jacob Riis for his book "How the other half lives" we can see how people that pay a cent to spend the night (the ones that can afford it because many of those people don't have the money to pay it) in those bedrooms with unsanitary conditions without any space to put…
The point of Baldwin’s essays is not so much to make his readers aware of racial prejudice in the States as it is to attempt to look at that prejudice, analyze it, understand where it comes from, and decide how to deal with it. In this essay, James Baldwin explores the complexities of both race relationships and familial relationships. Concerning his relationship with his father, Baldwin admits toward the beginning of the essay: “We had got on badly, partly because we shared, in our different fashions, the vice of stubborn pride.” This admission sets the tone for the rest of the essay, an idea of both opposition and similarity in this relationship. Also, Baldwin begins the title essay in Notes of a Native Son with a statement of death and birth. He mentions that “my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born.”(p,52) This theme of death and birth also works itself out on a larger scale, eventually encompassing the entire essay. At the end of the essay Baldwin begins with his father’s funeral. Then he goes into reminiscing the times when his father was alive, realizing that they hadn’t talked much. Then back to the funeral, “The casket now was opened and the mourners were being led up the aisle to look for the last time on the deceased.” (p.65) Baldwin takes a last look at his father’s face.Baldwin is able to see his father in a different light, one that includes both his negative and positive characteristics. In doing so, Baldwin is also able to see himself more clearly. By examining his relationship with his father, Baldwin experiences several revelations, which culminate in a type of symbolic death and spiritual rebirth by the end of the essay.…
In the essay, Myth of Adolescence, Alex and Brett Harris incorporate their thoughts on what they feel about what teenagers actually go through during their period of `adolescence.` They go on to compare this phase to an elephant. They say that an elephant is a powerful beast that can be restrained even by a piece of twine. According to Alex and Brett, young teens are the elephant and our twine is the concept of adolescence. Unfortunately, these low expectations end up limiting teens for no reason. Teenagers, between the ages of 13-18, are held back by society and aren't able to excel in life. The essay, Myth of Adolescence, states that the socials expectations are becoming obstacles for teens. We as teenagers, need to erase the invisible shackles…
Most of the American history serves a great deal of pride, acknowledgement, and importance to its culture. Spreading democracy and liberty all over the world yet forgetting some part of the history full of abusement, racisms, and evil. The novel, Between The World And Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, who is know for expressing black culture by writing novels, talks about some of this history. In his novel, he confesses all the fears filled in black Americans’ body in a letter that he writes to his fifteen year old son. When I first learned about the history of African Americans, I was shocked and I wanted to know even more about their culture and their backgrounds since, my culture is different from theirs. I was also disguised because American history was so cruel. One of the reasons that I took this class was also to learn more about African American culture. Ta-Nehisi Coates is also African American which helps the novel show his personal feelings and opinions…
I found your response very enjoyable. I agree with you in saying that Mary Bibb faced many biases due to her race and sex and support your statement in saying that “one’s identity should not restrict or deny them from any opportunities.” I thought it was important that you addressed the issue of separation and exclusion, as the society was disregarding her accomplishments and making her seem invaluable due to her skin tone, sex and gender. Black children were also excluded/denied access to common schools and Mary Bibb wanted to change this, making sure that children of any skin colour could receive an education. Even though schools now accept students of various cultures/backgrounds/races, I find that within the classroom and schools, judgement,…
The era of Transcendentalism was a time period when people had certain ideas about life like living life simply and protesting peacefully. Transcendentalists also believed that people should be worried about the nature that gives us oxygen and that's why we are living. The songs that involved in transcendentalism is going to be Me, Myself, and I by G-Eazy and Rexha Bebe and Don't worry, be happy by Bobby McFerrin. Transcendentalists believed in self reliance and that nature can make you feel happy and that people should appreciate nature and live simply. Also G-Eazy and X Bebe Rexha made this song called Me,Myself, I and its all about self reliance and relying on yourself. And the other one is Don't worried , be happy by Bobby Mcferrin and…
I am currently reading the book, Harris and me by Gary Paulsen, I think a possible theme could be is always look at the bright side of things. It says “ I had done this many time - been put in new places -and I had devised a method that worked”. I think that his parent is not very good parents but he hasn't really talked about them and if his parent was a good parent then he/she would take care of him and keep him at home and care for him. I think that I would be shy if I stayed with at a new person's house all the time,the text says “I held back-the shyness kicked in- but in a moment realized that I would appear ridiculous if I stayed in the car and so I got out but stood by the door waiting.” he doesn't want to look the slightest weird, and…
We were asked in our Archaeology class to watch two documentaries, one is “In Search of the Origins” and the other is “The Real Eve”. “In Search of the Origins” by Don Johanson discusses the discoveries of the fossils of Lucy, a Homo sapiens from Hadar, Ethiopia, the Laetoli footprints in Tanzania, and the fossils and other artifacts of Zinjanthropus boisei from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Homo habilis also from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and Homo erectus in Turkana, Kenya. While “The Real Eve” discusses how mitochondrial DNA was used as an evidence to know who are real ancestors are. Only to find out that the modern humans are said to have first occupied East Africa.…
that our genes hold the marker and revel the story of our history. On Spencer Wells…