Writing for HS, AM (Scalice, '07): Julie Ramseier

ATDP 2008

(jramseier) — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:36:12 GMT

I'M SO EXCITED FOR ATDP 2008!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYY

but i'm sad that we're not going to all be in the same class - our class was sooo fun! = )

what's everyone taking?

i was just reading this page i kept throughout the 6 weeks with all the best quotes from our class...it was so fun to read...siiiiiighhhhhh

hi

(jramseier) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:16:34 GMT

this place is dead!!!!!! where is everyone??? anyways, yeah, no one is going to read this probably, but i just made this post so that when people come to my webblog, if they do...probably not, anyways, they won't see the lame first sentence of my other essay...lol = )

so how's everyone doing? our class was awesome!!! yeah, random stuff...anyways...hope to see people here more often!!!!

Persuasive/Argumentative Essay

(jramseier) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:47:03 GMT

Human cloning is wrong. Although it has not been successful yet, researchers are still trying to develop an effective method to clone humans. This procedure is immoral because it is unfair to the clones, it can cause great damage to society, and the results of cloning do not give the expected results.
Imagine being a clone knowing that life would only last half as long as it should . This really is not fair for them because it was not their choice to be cloned, but that is just how they ended up. Also, clones get a shorter life than the people whom they were made “copies” of. At the time that they were cloned, the age of the person whom they were cloned from determined their age at birth. This happens because the age of the DNA which is shared between the clones and the people who were cloned is the same.. Additionally, because of their copied DNA, clones are more prone to catching certain diseases and acquiring health problems than people were conceived naturally. Clones can also be produced just for specific organs since there is no way to clone just one single organ or tissue. For example, someone might want themselves cloned just for a liver transplant, and that clone would be created with a functioning, healthy liver, but without a head. Because the clone is not a full person, it can be murdered without the killer being penalized; all for one organ.
Human cloning will also cause things in society to turn from their normal ways. To begin with, human cloning is very expensive, and it will increase the difference between the richest and poorest people since only the wealthy will be able to afford it. In addition, people could be cloned against their will as long as someone has some of their DNA, and moreover, if it becomes more popular, people will give up normal reproduction and just use the cloning procedure to reproduce. Although it is by chance, “cloning” already happens naturally: with twins, triplets, quadruplets, and so on, so why do people need to clone unnatrually? The twins and triplets may look the same, but even so, they are quite different: naturally occurring twins and triplets have different personalities and different likes and dislikes. Lastly, owners of slaves and terrorism leaders can just do a mass cloning project in order to get more slaves and terrorists to work for them.
Many people believe that that if a famous athlete, celebrity, or genius is cloned, their clone will be exactly like them. Unfortunately, this is not the case with human cloning. Only their appearance would be the same, not their personalities, skills, or abilities. So if someone was to clone a genius such as Mozart, they would only look like him, but the clone would not necessarily be a genius. In addition, the parents of clones would have unrealistic expectations for their children, if they are cloned from a genius, athlete, or someone great, and then, the parents would become disappointed because the clones did not turn out the way they expected them to be.
In conclusion, human cloning would be an unethical practice. There will be many health risks, unpunished killings, and shorter life spans for clones. The institution of cloning may change the way society runs drastically, and lastly, the expectations for clones are unrealistic. Right now, as cloning is being worked on by scientists, it may seem like a wonderful idea. However, once it becomes more common and used more frequently, just as other brilliant inventions such as the atomic bomb, it may be used less responsibly and it will become abused.

???

(jramseier) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:11:54 GMT

sorry - you have to click the comment to view my essay - i don't know why it didn't go onto my weblog.

Persuasive/Argumentative Essay

(jramseier) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:09:42 GMT

Analytic Essay

(jramseier) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:01:36 GMT

sorry - all my paragraphs are messed up - the spacing is weird once you put it here.

“No matter how much it costs to get there, or how hard the work is, America is still better than this.” These words were spoken by one of the millions of immigrants to America in his native land, before he left for America. The statement was true for some immigrants, but sadly, the reality of America crushed hopes for others. Carlos Bulosan, a Filipino immigrant, wrote an autobiography of his experience of life in America. Changing immensely, Bulosan experienced both the good and bad sides of America, yet, as an optimist, he tried to remember all the good things that it had done for him; clinging onto those memories of America.
As a young child growing up in the Philippines, Allos (Bulosan’s native name) had already faced many emotional and physical hardships. Coming from a poor family, Allos was separated for long amounts of time from parts of his family who lived in a rural mountain town to help his father farm on their small pieces of land in order to earn money for their family, and also as their source of food. Because of this separation, Allos rarely saw his brothers. In fact, he had a brother who went to war whom he had only seen in pictures, and he saw him for the first time when he was already five years old. Although Bulosan does not mention this in his book, he must have felt very lonely and separated at times; with a curiosity to know more about his family. As for his physical hardships, one year, most of his family’s farming land was destroyed by rain causing them to have no harvest for that year leaving him hungry, and their family without money. After this tragedy, Allos moved to the town where his mother lived, and stayed with her for a few years as they sold food to other villages. Working hard to keep earning money for his family, Allos and his mother later worked at farms, harvesting their crops. Eventually, after working several jobs, Allos made the decision that two of his older brothers had already made: to immigrate to America and start a new life. He had heard all about America: the land full of opportunities. Allos was ready to grasp all of these opportunities – otherwise, why would he have left the Philippines, his homeland?
On his way to America, Allos had no idea about what he was going to do there. Upon his arrival, he took a job at a fish cannery in Alaska. During his first few years, he traveled throughout the western United States – jumping onto freight trains and hopping off whenever he reached another town. Now called Carlos, his American name, he was able to track down his two brothers already living in America. Carlos changed jobs frequently, lived in many different cities, and made many new friendships. He noticed that both his brothers were becoming much Americanized, but he wanted to hold on to his old Filipino customs and traditions.
Carlos was definitely not expecting all the violence that was in America. Within a few weeks of his arrival, he had been to many gambling houses and restaurants and seen multiple people shooting and beating up Filipinos while the Filipinos all shot back and beat up others. In addition, Carlos had witnessed lots of discrimination toward the Filipinos; for no other reason than their race. He had seen that there was a major social class difference between the Caucasians and the Filipinos and he also had noticed that because the whites felt superior to the Filipinos and that they could do anything they wanted to the Filipinos. Once, he was found by policemen and they beat him up; just because he was a Filipino and they took his only hard-earned money. “It’s hard to be a Filipino in California.” (pg. 112)
With all his exposure to this violence and Filipino discrimination, Carlos became angry; so angry that he was able to get into a fight with the Caucasians who had just fired him from his job. Using violence, he got back at the Caucasians, but oddly, that made him feel free.
“I had struck at the white world, at last; and I felt free. Was my complete freedom to be fought for violently? Was murder necessary? And hate? God forbid! My distrust of white men grew, and drove me blindly into the midst of my own people; together we hid cynically behind our mounting fears, hating the broad white universe at our door.” (pgs. 163-164)
He started gambling and earned lots of money, but because of his morals, he soon gave it up. After Carlos had used up all his money that he spent from gambling, again he traveled from town to town looking for work, and hearing, “You’re fired! How many times did I hear those words?” (pg. 163)
Then, suddenly, something changed in Carlos. He soon reconnected with his brother Macario and they spent lots of time planning how to spread progressive ideas to the Filipinos in California due to the dynamic social struggle. He worked with his friends trying to organize a statewide union campaign. Carlos had changed. He had stopped just merely thinking about all the bad things that were in America; instead of just watching them happen, he was trying to help them.
One day, he felt terribly ill and had a horrible cough. He was taken to a doctor when he found out that he had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. His brother had died from the same disease within a few years while he was in the Philippines. Because he knew that he only would live for several more years, he started to follow one of his dreams that he had when he came to America: to become a writer.
As he lay ill in bed, he started writing poetry. Soon, his poetry was getting recognized. He met with an author, Alice Odell, and they started discussing his writing quite often. When she moved away, her sister Eileen took her place and made the frequent visits to the hospital.
Before he fell ill with tuberculosis, Carlos had met a young Caucasian lady whom he had become very good friends with. Carlos did not understand why some people like the author Alice, her sister, Eileen, and Marian, his friend who were all white people could be so nice and respectful to him; however other Caucasians such as those policemen who had beat him up earlier could be so cruel and be so mean to him.
Soon, Carlos had published his autobiography. He had taken this opportunity that was offered to him, and used it. That was America. The land full of opportunities. He decided not to remember all the violence and discrimination, but to remember the kindness of people and second chances that America had.
Through America is in the Heart, readers will be taken on a journey with Bulosan – through his life, but even after their journey, they will have brought back souvenirs from it: Bulosan’s optimism, hope, and perseverance which will inspire them to do the same.

How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

(jramseier) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:26:13 GMT

Why did they go through the Waig?

Father asked if anyone had seen them coming to his house - he told them to travel through the Waig because he did not want anyone to see them. he wants to know if she'll be able to accept the environment - non city - wants to see if she will fit into to their rural, peasant life. Maria is making an effort fit into their lifestyle even though she is scared and not used to it.

She could be crying because of tears of joy since she got accepted, maybe father died, or father did not accept her, but the most possible inference is that she is happy because she got accepted.

The most happy thing that father found out about Maria is that she sang the peasant song.
___________________________________________

Father asked if they saw anyone along the way.

What is the connection between Leon and Noel?

How old is Baldo?

Did Baldo know Maria before?

Why did Leon change his name and make it spelled backwards?

Where was Leon coming from?

It seems that Manong another name for Leon/Noel, but later on, it seems like it is the place where they are from...

Why does Baldo's heart sink when Leon said that he was a good boy?

How is the relationship between Baldo and Leon?

Why does their father ask Baldo questions about Maria?

___________________

Maria is from the city (Manilla???), and Leon is from the rural countryside.

Arguilla assumes that we know a lot about the Phillipines, but Bulosan does not expect that the audience knows that much about the Phillipines, so he explains it all. They have different audiences.

Arguilla's audience is Filipinos who understand English.

Bulosan's intended audience is someone who speaks English, but do not have that much background info about the Phillipines.

what is the signifigance of the song, Sky Sown with Stars? (pg.13)
all the laughter goes out of her because they are close to his house - she is afraid of not
accepted by the family. then, leon starts singing it. he taught it to her - it is a song that
he and his father used to sing when they were cutting hay???

*ALWAYS USE PAGE #'S!!!!!

__________________________________

America is in the Heart 1st Chapter:

mainly sad, but there are some happy moments:

Leon coming back from fighting int he war - they never had seen each other in person - Allos was too young - only pictures.

It is the context that makes the story different that Arguilla's - sad context.

Themes:

City & Countryside

Questions: How do the themes change/affect each other in these 2 stories?

Argument:

A: City adapts to country in the person of Maria.

B Country adapts to city in the person of Carlos.

Sin City

(jramseier) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:55:29 GMT

Although I have never seen the movie, Sin City, I agree with this review. Now, it seems to me that almost all movies that adolescents enjoy watching contain nothing but violence. I do not understand why people enjoy movies where there isn’t a good plot, just “bloodletting,” no dialogue, and “no drama, just a succession of thuds and screams.” I also believe that it is ironic that Sin City was released on April first; right in the middle of the deaths of two famous people.

If people enjoy this type of horror movie so much, is it true that they want it to happen in real life (in America)? If there was this much panic and violence in the real world, which there is some parts of the world, what would become of America? I am pretty sure that the people who think that this movie was amusing and a wonderful movie have never seen such real violence, right before their own eyes, in their entire lives, nor do they ever plan to. If they ever had experienced or seen real violence, their perspective on this movie would be very different. What is shown on the screen always seems a lot different than real life. Because there is so much violence in the real world, why do people need to recreate that in movies?

I am not trying to say that violence should completely be banned from movies, but it should be taken out to some extent. I think that if movie makers want to keep the violence, that at least the raters should give the movies higher ratings because of all the violence that the movie may contain.

Worldview Essay Reflections

(jramseier) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:35:28 GMT

I mostly agree with your worldview. It is true that our society today has turned into a place of injustice. The essay really made me think about all the things that I have, and whether or not I really need them. I really liked the comparisons of hungry people, and the $100 bottle of champagne; thousands of people dying from a curable disease, yet there are still doctors doing cosmetic surgery research.

There are some parts of the essay that I do not exactly agree with. It seems that it was mostly written about the two extremes, but what about those of us who lie in the middle? I do not live in a mansion or own a SUV or other big vehicle, and my family does not buy expensive champagne or have cosmetic surgery done. I know that even though we lie in the middle, it is partly our fault, but we do a lot of things to help the less fortunate as well. Although I agree with the fact that it is unfair we have so much, and people in other parts of the world are suffering, it really is not our fault that we were born in such a wonderful place with oppurtunities, while others were also born without choice in a place of suffering. Where we ended up was all by chance, and there is not exactly anything that we can do to change that, except helping others, which can make a big difference. Maybe the point that was trying to be made in this essay was not that it is the rich people’s fault, but that we should concentrate on the needs of others (less fortunate) than our own needs.

nothing

(jramseier) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:56:27 GMT

this laptop is annoying...now i'm going to try out that bold thing...

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