Burning

Although both of these two men burned themselves there is a lot deeper meaning to it all. Both of the two men strongly disagreed with how there country was being run. The Monk was about the religion, while the Tunisian was about rights. One of the ironic things about the two is both of them were looked on strongly by their country, and effectively. The monks main help was on how his heart didn't burn in two burning, and the Tunisian on how he didn't die on the spot as well as the revolution it caused. These two men did something very dangerous, yet effective.
"Ring around the rosy,
a pocket full of posy,
ashes, ashes we all fall down."
Meaning: Ring around the rosy... circle a fire (the people bowing for the monk, and the crowd the Tunisian attracted) pocket full of posy... a bouquet of flowers (the mom of the Tunisian grieving, and the flowers of the cremation of the monk) ashes, ashes we all fall down... the two men burning for the people.

Questions

1. Determine what Kipling means by "the White Man's Burden." He is referring to the White Man's burden as Imperialism.

2. Does Kipling justify imperialism? He says that it is a power for man, a natural thing that may hapen, and could be better of worse.

3. Why might such a justification might be so appealing? Because he brings out points that makes the others feel good about what they did.

Self Reflection: Reconstruction Debate

1. How did I feel during planning this presentation? Why did I feel this way? I felt distracted, and a bit not able to think. I felt this because of what had happened earlier in the week with the sub, and I couldn’t focus again. On Friday I felt better, and was able to finish my slides.
2. How did I feel prior to presenting? Why did I feel this way?

Prior to presenting, I was anxious, and nervous. I kept seeing people mess up, and even though I felt I new my stuff, and kept going over my speech in my head, there was a voice in the back of my head that kept telling me I would mess up.

3. How did I feel while I was presenting? Why did I feel this way?

As soon as I stepped up on the stage to talk, my mind went blank. I felt like I could just melt right into the ground, and never come out. I was extremely embarrassed that I just couldn’t remember. I felt this way, because I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I should have. I hadn’t really mentally prepared myself for forgetting what I was going to say. I felt confident because I knew my stuff, but when I got up there the nervousness took over. After I shook off the first slide, I couldn’t really get back into my voice, and the way I do because of what had just happened.

4. What did I personally do well?

The only thing I can think of doing well during the debate was recovering. Although I just completely spaced what I was supposed to say, I was able to gather myself, and finish out my presentation. Before the debate, I felt like I was trying to keep everyone on task, taking me away from mine.

5. What did not go as desired in this presentation?

Just about everything. My brain froze, ruining my whole presentation for the rest of my speaking period.

6. On a scale from 1-10, how well do I think I understood the content? Explain.

I think I understood it in about a 9, I just couldn’t get it out the way I had planned, practiced, and written down. I new what the 50% plan, and the 10% plan were, I just caught my words, and tried to change too much at the last second.

7. How do I think my group members perceived me? Why do I think this?

I don’t quite now whether they thought of me as a mess up, or just a detriment to the group. I think this because I know I’ve had good projects, and that this one I just missed, but also they could just be thinking about how they did good, and I really stunk it up.

8. How do I think the 8^th graders perceived me? Why do I think this?

I think the 8^th graders were disappointed with me, because they had heard things about me, and expected me to lift my group up, not bring them down.

9. Knowing that I can only control how I act and react, if I could do this presentation again, what would I change about my actions to make it a more ideal experience?

Starting off, I would have just compromised, reversing the order of my words, or just stopped to catch my breath.

10. What are my strengths in groups?

I can get my work done on time, and do it quality. Although this project I struggled, it will just push me more to be the best the next time. Also, I can really bring the creative aspect forward. Usually I can bring forth energy, which I didn’t in the debate because of the stress I was under.

11. What areas do I need improvement?

PUBLIC SPEEKING, even though I was ready, like I said I just saw all the eyes on me and just struggled.

12. What is the most important thing I learned about myself? Why is this so important?

I learned I have to be even more prepared speaking infront of others (not just the mirror). This is important, because we will do many more debates in DLC, and in my life.

13. Are there any other things that I need to express?

No.

Reflective Blog Entry

I have really grown this year as a person, a student, and as a technology user. Coming into this year, I had nothing of experience with any technology besides the internet and power point. This year I have learned, and I’d say mastered keynote. I have grown as a person, becoming more confident. Last year my teacher took my confidence down a lot. Also as a student, this program has really made me dig out the ideas from those hard to reach places, and put my everything into my project.

I am really proud of my Thematic Causes of the Civil war project. If you haven’t seen the new one you would say mine was bad, well I agreed. So I redid my project and this time I liked it. I put in hours of time into my second project, and the outcome surprised me a lot.

The most challenging project of the year was the Lorax. First for Mrs. Binder’s class we had to write our poem, and then make a movie of it. It wasn’t my hardest project, but I think it was by a long shot the hardest project.

My favorite project was a tie between the opening scene and the Thematic Causes. Both of these projects I got to express myself and my ideas in a appropriate manner. The opening scene was based off a secret agent base, while the Thematic Causes I made about a bear (Bearlock Holmes) and his assistant (Watcub) who had to solve the mystery of who started the civil war.

My hopes for the second semester is to have projects that can let go of everyones inner self, and have all projects that we enjoy. I also hope to continue getting good grades and performing the best I can. The first half was the most fun, and the most learning I have had. I can’t wait for the second half of the DLC!