Studying for Finals

I have a lot that I need to do to prepare for final exams this semester.  One thing I plan on doing is skimming through the chapters and notes for each class and take notes of information that I feel is important.  If I run into any topics which I could use some improvement, then I will quiz myself and review those subjects the most.  For the classes in which I have received a study guide, I will make flash cards for the information listed.  I think that flashcards are an effective method for studying because if I miss a question on a card, then I can put that card to the side and spend the most time reviewing the answers I am less confident about.  Most of the textbooks have chapter reviews, so that definitely seems like a good choice on how to prepare.   Another possibility is to invite a friend over to my house so that we could help each other study.  There are several ways in which friends can study together.   One way is to make flashcards and quiz each other.   Another option is to read through chapters together and afterwards discuss what the main ideas were.  A fun alternative is to review by playing a game.  I have a friend who created a game in the likeness of Sorry! to study for a math test.  In the game, the different positions and cards would have equations or other sorts of problems that would need to be solved in order to advance further into the game.  I was impressed by my friend’s creativity in creating that game, but since I am running short on time before finals begin this may not be the best option for me.  In all likelihood, I will probably resort to making flashcards, reading through the chapters again, looking through graded homework assignments, and looking at any study guides and notes.  With finals coming up next week, I will definitely be busy.

Journal 21

Quote from "Self-Reliance" by Emerson

"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till."

In this passage, Emerson is saying that every person is unique and has his or her own gifts and talents to contribute to society.  That person has to work for himself to get where he needs to be in life.  Whatever is accomplished is a result of how much effort is applied to the work.  To Emerson, doing your own work and being yourself is of the utmost importance.  Say, for example, there is a girl named Alyssa who feels like she is a loser because she does not have the fanciest clothes and is not a great athlete.  Emerson would tell her that she should not be discouraged because everyone is different.  Not everyone has the same talents and will end up with the same occupation.  Alyssa should not be jealous of the other kids who that have nice clothes or are natural athletes because she has a special gift and purpose for her life that none of the others have.  It may be easy to want to be like others in order to “fit in” and be accepted, but by doing so it is much more difficult to develop skills that were actually meant for that person.  In another example, there are two friends.  One wants to become a lawyer and the other wants to become an accountant.  The two friends, however, wanted to work together so the friend that wanted to become a lawyer convinced the other to go to law school so they could start a firm together someday.  Law, however, is not what the other friend’s talent was in and she did not enjoy that occupation.  She would have been more successful and content if she had received a degree in accounting.  Apart from being unique, Emerson states that whatever profits a person will make have to come from that person’s own work.  While there are many people in the world who are willing to help others, each person must find a way to support himself.

Journal #20

Helen was a bright and lively girl growing up.  She had stone cold grey eyes and brunet hair.  She was the type of person who always had to be around other people.  When she was younger, she would get scared and start to cry if she was alone for an extended period of time.  As Helen became older, however, being by herself became less frightening, but it still made her feel really down.  Later, after she became an adult, she decided to adopt a young child.  She had always wanted to adopt a baby girl and doing so would give her company and fill her life with joy and energy.  The baby’s name was Elsie and she was only 5 months old at the time of adoption.  Elsie grew up fast and she and Helen and Elsie did not only have a mother-daughter relationship but they also became close friends.  As Helen soon discovered, like herself when she was younger, Elsie was terrified of being isolated from other people.  This was not usually an issue, though, because Helen was constantly with her.  Elsie also loved nature.  She would spend countless hours staring at the multitude of birds, the racing of a river, and most of all the forests of trees.  There were no trees on the property that she and Helen lived at, so she spent much of her time at the park admiring all of the tall and branched trees.  One day, Helen surprised Elsie by bring home a small tree which they would plant in the spacious backyard.  Elsie really enjoyed having that tree in the yard where she could see it from her bedroom window.  Every day, she would go outside and nurse the tree by giving it vitamin plant food and water.  If there were any weeds growing beside it she would pull those as well.  One spring afternoon, a terrible storm struck the town and the high winds uprooted the young tree.  Elsie was very sad but somewhat relieved when Helen said that they could plant a new tree in its place.  That’s what they did and eventually, the tree became huge and grew many branches.  Helen and Elsie spent much of their time together and were very grateful for one another.  Then, on a dark and dreadsome winter night, Helen was involved in a serious car accident after a car skidded on the slippery ice right into the front side of her car.  She was taken to the hospital for critical care and when it was apparent that she would not last much longer, she asked to see Elsie.  She told Elsie that she would have to go away for a long while but that she will see her again someday.  Elsie, who did not fully understand what was happening, told Helen that she was scared and begged her not to go and leave her behind.  Helen told Elsie that, like the tree that was devastated in the storm, her time has come to go but, like the strong new tree, Elsie is there to take her place.  “Do not be afraid”, she said.  “Someday I will get to see your bright smile again and I will always be with you in your heart.”

Patriotic Poem

On that cold and dark December night
All was silent that was in sight
Lo and behold there is Washington's men
Without decent food and clothing again
Freezing and starving was their condition
Many had died from lack of medicine and nutrition
Also a burden, their service would expire
Leaving the general with no longer an empire
But when it seemed that all would be lost
He would not give up whatever the cost
With thriftful silence which one cannot compare
The army finally crossed the Deleware
Paddling through the ice with each wooden oar
They finally reached the other shore
Where Hessians and British were unexpecting
Washington had succeeded at being undetecting
It was the morning of Christmas and all was sound
Drunk were much of the enemies all around
The Americans with their muskets opened fire
Bringing panic to alarm of a defense dire
Before to long the battle was won
The rebels had captured the enemy by the ton
Someday thanks to Washington's skilled hand
America may finally become a free land

Descriptive Writing #2

As I pondered the multitude of eyes beaming at me from the magnificent creature, I proceeded to present my research paper.  The bright lights were gleaming upon my anxious façade and every last person was staring into my soul and anticipating any mistakes I might make.  I took one last look around the crowded classroom.  Then I began.  “As president of the United States, Andrew Jackson had both his successes as well as his downfalls.  He was the one responsible for killing the federal bank and forcing the Native Americans across the far-off Mississippi River.  During his terms was the only time in United States history in which this broad and populous country has been completely debt free.”  I began to stutter over the simplest of words, my palms were sweating as if it were July when it was still only winter.  I continued on reading the rest of my long and dry paper to the uninterested class, some of whom had already fallen asleep before I finished reading the second paragraph.  Finally, it was over.  I looked up at the bored class and realized that they had all sprung back to life upon the end of my conclusion.  As I began to walk back towards my seat, everyone, and I mean everyone, began to throw rotten tomatoes, slimy banana peels, and other random objects at me.  One student even pulled out a paintball gun and shot me with the colors orange, green, and blue.  I shouted confusedly for them to stop, explaining that I was wearing a brand-new outfit that day and that my mom would hang me at dawn for getting it dirty.  This only seemed to increase the barbarous actions.  Everyone went crazy throwing whatever item they could find at me.  Even the teacher threw an apple with “F-x10^23”  written in black sharpie on the midline of the apple, which ended up smacking me right on the jaw.  I tried to run out of the battle zone, but I tripped on a moist and slippery banana peel.  Apparently, I was knocked out for about an hour before I awoke in front of the same obnoxious and outlandish class.  The cruel teacher began to give a lecture on the next chapter before I finally asked when everyone else would present their splendid papers.  It was then that it was explained to me that the attack which had knocked me unconscious was the entire class’s result from their research paper.  They descriptively explained how randomly pelting someone with objects is likely to scare and confuse him or her, or in my case, knock that person out for an extended period of time.  I spent the rest of the seemingly endless class period thinking of creative ways to convince my parents to let me be homeschooled.  

Descriptive Writing

As the light blue fuzz feathered through the warm current of air purring from the heating vent, I looked deep into the far-away distance and saw that my two cats, Rascal and Blackie, were in the middle of a very intense fight. I put down my history book and I sprung up out of my seat and darted with every last ounce of strength I had towards the scene of the brooding commotion.  Lo and behold, when I had arrived, the fight was over and both cats had gone their separate ways.  I, exhausted from my penetrating sprint, suddenly collapsed onto the cool green grass.  While unconscious, my tired mind went ramped visualizing the ferocious fight between audacious Rascal and the cunning Blackie.  My crazed mind imagined Blackie was dressed as Thomas Jefferson and Rascal was in the appearance of Alexander Hamilton.  They blindly charged at one another and commenced a fierce combat.  Rascal grabbed Blackie’s furry neck and screamed, “What this country needs is a strong central government”.  Blackie dauntlessly punched Rascal on his black wet nose and shouted back, “Never!  A strong central government would do much more damage than good for the deserving people of this the United States of America.  States rule!!” “Not on my nonexistent red watch.”  Rascal did a ten-fold cartwheel before spinning in the breezy air and undertaking a five-star on the unsuspecting Blackie.  “We need a national bank to be better able to pay off the immense debts which are owed from the Revolutionary War”, he said.  Blackie kicked Rascal and punched him in the gut while shouting, “You idiot!!  That would benefit the states that have not yet paid their due taxes and further burden the prudent states who already have!  Banks belong to the states!!”  They glared at one another heatedly.  “Strong military”, snarled Rascal.  “Small military” responded the nonnegotiable Blackie.  At that worrisome moment I was woken up by the gentle yet tingling sensation of the two cats licking my ice cold face to wake me from my comatose state.  Then I remember that I have yet another quiz in history in the following morning.  I had spent the entire night and day diligently reading and studying the endless chapter until my poor mind felt that it would explode into a thousand bit size pieces upon as much as glancing at another word.  I brought the two exhausted cats with me inside the warm and calming house and we all fell sound asleep.  

Reaction to Someone Dressing Differently

Sometimes going to school I see people who dress a little differently from time to time.  One day, a girl who usually just wears jeans and a shirt wore a dress like the one from Alice in Wonderland.  Also, some people come to school with their hair dyed wild colors.  I have seen people dye their hair red, pink, purple, green, and blue.  This at the time seemed like such a radical change since some of those people usually dress normally.  I am not criticizing people who do this, however.  It is each person's choice to do whatever they want to do.  It really does not affect me if someone chooses to wear something different from what he or she would usually wear.  It is a personal choice and if it is the person’s will to do so then I am not about to stand in his or her way or ostracize that person for his or her choice of apparel.  People should be valued not for how they dress but for who they are.  As long as dressing differently does not in some way lead to vanity then I see it as individualism which is a good thing to have to an extent.  While I am not likely to be one of the people who has a sudden style change or dyes my hair different colors, I recognize that this is a freedom of choice.  If people would regard a person differently for how he or she dresses then they are not true friends.  A natural wonder may be in place simply because the occurrence is so extraordinary for the person and perhaps it would be a good idea to make sure that there is no bad reasoning behind the sudden change.  If the person changed because of a depression or some psychological weakness then it would be good to recognize that and to try to help the person.  If it is not from such reasons, however, the person should be left to decide how he or she wants to dress within reason.

Someone I Miss . . .

Ever since second grade, I have been friends with a girl named Samantha.  We were best friends.  Samantha and had similar personalities and likes.  We also shared a common birthday.  Each year we would celebrate our birthdays together.    I cannot describe in words how well we got along together; sometimes it felt as if we could read each other’s mind.  We did practically everything together.  She would never dream of going shopping without me and I would always be there cheering her on at her soccer and volleyball games. We also would come over to each other’s house quite often.  Last year, Samantha and I decided that we would go roller skating for our birthday.  We planned on the rendezvous being at 5:00.  I arrived at 5:10.  I thought for sure that Samantha would have arrived already and be waiting for me since she knows that I have a habit of being late.  However, when I arrived, she wasn't there.  I actually waited about 15 more minutes before I called her.  Perhaps, I thought, she ran into some really bad traffic, got lost on the interstate, or something like that.  When I called, no one answered.  I waited another 40 or so minutes before I finally headed back home.  It wasn't until later that evening that I was informed she had died after getting hit by a drunk driver going 85 miles per hour on the interstate.  

This was the most difficult time in my life.  When Samantha died I felt like I died too since our lives were so interwoven.  I felt depressed for a long time.  I wished that I would have been a better friend, that I wouldn't have suggested that we go skating that night, and that it would have been me who had gotten hit.  I did not know what my life was without her.  I no longer knew my identity.  I would try to find some way to punish myself and to make the pain that I felt on the inside reflect on the outside.  One night, I was considering suicide.  My mom came in and offered to take me to church with her.  I thought, “Why not”.  Usually, Samantha and I would go together, but I stopped going after she passed away.  I wasn't expecting it, but the sermon comforted me.  Ironically, it discussed just what I needed to hear.  The pastor talked about forgiveness and life in Heaven.  It was the story of one of the men who was being crucified with Jesus.  He repented and Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”.  I realized that Samantha was in a better place now where she would be happy and safe.  I still missed her a lot, but yet I was reassured that I will see her again someday. As a result of that hope I was eventually able to forgive the man who ran into her car, and, with a bit of effort, I was also able to forgive myself.  

How "The Pit and the Pendulum" Reflects the Romanticism Era

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum” is a good example of a story written during the Romanticism Era.  This period in literature took place approximately 1780 to 1850 (“The Spanish Inquisition”).  There are several traits that are considered to be a focus of this age of literature.  One such trait is that imagination and emotion are more important than reason and formal rules (Smith, D.).  The second is that is value the “common man” and shows a respect for nature (Smith, D.).  Third, Romantics were interested in the medieval past, the supernatural, the mystical, the “gothic,” and the exotic (Smith, D.).  Also, writers during this time were attracted to rebellion and revolution, especially concerned with human rights, individualism, and freedom from oppression (Smith, D.).  Finally, a large amount of emphasis was placed on emphasis on introspection, psychology, melancholy, and sadness (Smith, D.).  Works during this time often dealt with death (Smith, D.).  Several of these characteristics of the time period can be seen in Poe’s story. 

The first way in which “The Pit and the Pendulum” resembles Romanticism Era literature is that it used the Spanish Inquisition in the plot.  The Spanish Inquisition began in the late fifteenth century, just as the Medieval Era was about to end (“Introduction”).  While Poe’s story may have taken place in 1808 (Poe 273), it can still serve as a reference to what began centuries earlier. 

Edgar Allan Poe also would occasionally indicate the supernatural in his writing.  In the story, the narrator told the reader that he envisioned the seven candles on a table to be angels (Poe 263-264).  He said that the inquisitors had demon eyes (Poe 272) and were the “most demoniac of men” (Poe 273) Furthermore, the narrator also would often mention his soul, which, of course, would be considered spiritual (Poe 263, 264, 265, 268, 273). 

While it is not the best example ever, Poe also used a little bit of rebellion in this story.  Just when the narrator was about to be killed by the giant swinging pendulum, he jumped out of the way (Poe 272), thus rebelling against the inevitable punishment and momentarily saving his life. 

In addition, Poe had the narrator spend lots of time reflecting on several events.  He contemplated on the similarities and differences between consciousness and unconsciousness (Poe 271).  He would ponder thoughts of death perhaps being peaceful (Poe 264) while still not wanting to die (Poe 272).  Practically the entire time that the narrator was in the dungeon, he was reflecting on one occurrence or another. 

Clearly melancholy was another theme which was used.  The narrator was switching between consciousness and unconsciousness after hearing that he was sentenced to death (Poe 264). As one author wrote, “This pattern of moving in and out of consciousness is much like the pattern in ‘Ligeia’ and is typical of Poe, for in such an alternating state consciousness has some of the characteristics of unconsciousness and vice versa; one state is imbued with the qualities of the other state. As a result, Poe's stories are neither solely like the consciousness of realism, nor the projective unconsciousness of romance” (May, Charles).  The narrator would become so overwhelmed that it is difficult to tell if he is in a state of sensibility of not.  It is sad how he would try to feel his way around the dungeon and later how he would avert his death only to realize that a worse one awaited him (Poe 273).  “Death, I said, any death but that of the pit! (Poe 273)” The fact that there was despair in the story is not a surprise since the setting is a convicted man awaiting his death in a dungeon.  

Finally, the theme of death is used without ever actually occurring.  The narrator may still be alive at the end of the story (Poe 273), but the ever looming threat of death was always lurking.  Just when it seemed that he had escaped death by the pendulum, he is about to be forced down the pit (Poe 273). 

Edgar Allan Poe wrote “The Pit and the Pendulum” with several traits reflecting the Romanticism Era.  It referenced an aspect of the late Medieval Era, the supernatural, rebellion, and introspection.  Themes of melancholy and death, or at least the threat of death, were also put into use in this story.  This being said, it seems safe to say that “The Pit and the Pendulum” was written with the Romantic writing style.

Works Cited

"Introduction." Medieval Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/lit/introlit/medieval.htm>.

May, Charles. "Dreams and Reality in the Story." Bloom's Literary Reference Online. N.p., 1991. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BMSSEP39&SingleRecord=True>.

Smith, D. "Characteristics of Romantic Literature." N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <www.odessa.edu/dept/english/dsmith/rom.lit.char.pdf>.

"The Spanish Inquisition." DonQuijote. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/history/inquisition.asp>.

The Time When I was Most Scared

I have a friend named Suzanne whom I used to go to school with.  We were really close friends and spent lots of time together.  She was somewhat of a perfectionist and she brought a little of that out in me as well the more that we hung out.  She was very passionate about everything that she did and I admired that.  She spent endless hours studying for her classes not because she had to but because she wanted to.  She loved school, being with her friends, and participating in any activities that she was involved in.  Over time, I began to notice a change in her.  She would still study a bit for her classes but it was with dread and she did not care like she used to if she got a bad grade on an assignment or even a test.  This was really shocking.  Normally, I would ask her if she wanted to hang out and she would be all for it.  Now it seemed like she did not want to be around anyone, even her best friend.  She quit all of the clubs and sports that she was involved in.  This amplified my concern because she had participated in those events for several years now and always seemed to enjoy them.  She wouldn't sit with us at lunch anymore.  She began to sit by herself and she always looked so sad.  She wouldn't even eat lunch anymore; she would just hide behind papers from various classes pretending to study.  I did not know what was going on with her so I would go and sit by her at lunch and just talk.  It seemed like she was in her own world.  I would offer her something to eat and she would tell me that she cannot.  I asked her why and she said because she does not deserve to eat.  This confused and worried me. 

We talked a while longer and began to understand a little of her thought process, although all of her reasoning put together was too complicated for even me to understand.  I knew that she had always held herself to a high standard and would not tolerate any flaws.  When she would receive criticism she would take it to heart and become depressed for a while.  I also knew that she had been having issues with eating disorders for the past few years, but things always seemed to work out okay and she would start to eat again.  Suzanne talked to me about how she does not understand one of her classes and is not doing as well as she should in the others.  I distinctively remember her calling herself a “failure” and “worthless”.  She talked about how her family was going through some issues and how one of her family members would criticize her every time that they saw each other.  She also told me that she had not eaten for about a week and she does not want to or else she will become fat and even more of a failure.  Of course, I was scared.  Suzanne was my best friend in the whole world and she was talking as if she were suicidal.  I asked her about the cuts on her arms and she said that her cat scratched her.  “Come on, Suzanne, you don’t even have a cat” I said.  I told the counselor and she talked to Suzanne, but to no avail.

 About another week or so later, I begged her to eat something and told her that if she kept harming herself then I would too.  She decided that she would eat again for me but only a little.  I was so happy.  I gave her an apple but she could not eat that because it was too much for her stomach to handle.  She had to start off with ice to get her body used to eating again.  While this relieved my fears at the moment, she never completely recovered and still suffers from anorexia today.

Franklin Virtues Project Analysis

By doing the Franklin Virtues Project, I feel like I got to know a little more about Benjamin Franklin.  It also made me realize that I needed to become more efficient at some of the virtues myself.  I might even try Franklin’s experiment on myself sometime.  It would be interesting to see how similar my results were to his. 

I wish I could say that I liked this project but, overall, I think that it could have been improved.  One issue which appeared was that in several groups there were people that did not complete their portion of the work.  I believe that setting a due date for when each thing, including the individual video, is to be completed would be a good idea.  For the people who do not have internet connections at their house, they should be provided time to do their part during school and if that is not enough, I would go to some place that has free Wi-Fi, assuming that they each have a laptop. 

Second, I think that some people in different groups were either confused on when to e-mail their video in to the video editor or forgot.  With Gmail not loading at Farmington, it was difficult to communicate back and forth with other team members on things such as that.  Hopefully an effective method of communication will be available for next year’s classes. 

Also, I did not see a huge benefit from doing this project.  I already knew what each of those virtues were before learning about the project as well as how they can apply in a person’s daily life and where they could be found in literature.  Ordinarily, I would have said that this project helped improve my communication skills, but, with not being able to communicate with everyone, that seems out.

In addition to making sure that Gmail or some other form of communication is available and setting common due dates for everything, I would assign everyone in the group a different task.  One person could be the video editor while another would be the grammar editor and someone else could create the definition slide, etc. . . .  

Was Franklin's System of Virtues Successful?

 Franklin, by implementing his system of virtues to his own life, was successful in becoming a better person.  Each of the virtues that he chose is one which could apply well to anyone who is in search of becoming a model citizen.  The scientific way which he chose to follow and track his following of the virtues showed his determination at improving his character.

In Franklin’s Autobiography, he writes, “”I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was by the endeavor, a better and happier man. . .” (Franklin 89)  His original goal was to “arrive at moral perfection . . . to live without committing any fault at any time” (Franklin 83) This was a very hard task that he set out to accomplish.  In fact, moral perfection is so difficult to achieve that it is pretty much impossible.  Even with the strong determination that Benjamin Franklin exhibited, perfection is out of reach.  He did, however, benefit from system of virtues.  While not able to be perfect, Franklin did become a more model citizen of society, and as a result he lived a happier life.  In all likelihood, Franklin probably had lived a less than satisfying moral lifestyle earlier in his life and decided that he was tired of living that way and wanted to change, to be the one that people would look up to, and also to live his life in accordance to Divine Providence (Tuckerman 4). 

The system by which Franklin tries to achieve his moral goal is admirable, as pointed out by Tuckerman (Tuckerman 3).  He decided that “daily examination would be necessary” (Franklin 85).  At any point throughout the day that he caught himself going against any of his virtues, he would record that mishap in his journal (Franklin 85).  By doing this, he could easily track his progress at improving his morals.  It would seem, however, that while it was a workable and probably the best option by which Franklin was given, the results would naturally be somewhat inaccurate since what is following a selected virtue may be against other peoples’ view of the same virtue.  Also, he could have forgotten to record each mistake as it occurred during the day.  On the other hand, this process was not done by every person in society, only Franklin, and thus the results would affect Franklin- how much his character improved and if he was happy with living by them. 

Tuckerman notes that “The silent dignity . . . is one of the most admirable traits of Franklin’s character” (Tuckerman 6) This seems to be true.  According to Franklin, if something did not need to be said or if it had negative effects, then it is better to not say it at all (Franklin 83).  Benjamin Franklin seemed by all accounts to have been a man who felt a resilient desire to do what was right and attempt to maintain peace.  “My rule is, to go straight forward in doing what appears to me right at the time, leaving the consequences to Providence.  I wish every kind of prosperity to my friends, and forgive my enemies.” (Tuckerman 6)  If this statement does not show a true achievement of moral character by constantly trying to do what is right, wishing prosperity to his friends, and forgiveness to his enemies, then it would be hard to find one that would. 

As a result of creating his system of virtues, Franklin may not have achieved perfection, but he did significantly improve his character and happiness as a result of living by a higher standard.  This is what was truly important.  By living his life in accordance to a set of virtues, Franklin could become the person that he deep-down wanted to be but was otherwise unable to become.  Overall, his system seems to have been successful because Franklin did experience a change in character and as a result was able to live a happier life. 

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Paris: William Temple Franklin, 1791. Print.

Tuckerman, Henry T. "The Character of Franklin." Facts on File. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.

The American Dream

Different people, naturally, have diverse plans for the future.  Some people have a goal to achieve as much money and power as is attainable for them while others are simply content with being able to support their families.  There are also those who do not really have a goal for their life except to go “wherever the wind takes them”.  While individuals may have different plans, a common one is referred to as “the American Dream”.  I think that the American Dream can best be described in the song by Casting Crowns properly titled “American Dream”.  In the music video, a lawyer is so busy with his work all of the time that he neglects his own personal relationships, leading to unfortunate results (Hall).  For instance, when his son had a baseball game or later was celebrating his birthday, he never showed up because he became so caught up with his work that he forgot all about events he was expected to attend (Hall). Unknowingly, his job became the most important thing in his life (Hall).  After not being there for his family time after time, their relationship fell apart and resulted in a divorce (Hall).  Back to the main topic, the reason why the father and husband was working so hard was because he “wanted to give his family the finer things” (Hall).  The family in the video had a nice house, car, clothes, and other material possessions (Hall).  This is a large part of what the American Dream is.  People want to make as much money as possible and rise to higher positions in the work force.  Those who find themselves caught up with the American Dream often find themselves seeking the more impressive material items.  Another component is that it is widely believed in today’s society that a person is capable of ascending to a higher position in life if that person utilizes his or her capabilities and determination.  In short, the American Dream is to ascend to a higher social and economic level at which that person would be able to live comfortably.  It is recognized that this can be accomplished by any person regardless of his or her initial social class. 

By the way, if anyone is interested in watching the music video for the song “American Dream”, which I mentioned in this blog, here is the link to the page:  http://youtu.be/DumlIIHSrsQ . 

Hall, Mark. "American Dream." Casting Crowns. Casting Crowns. Mark A. Miller, 2004. YouTube. 25 Oct. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DumlIIHSrsQ>.

Benjamin Franklin's System of Virtues

Benjamin Franklin received education as a Presbyterian (Franklin 81).  In accordance to his religious faith he believed in the “existence of the Deity; that he made the world, and governed it by his Providence” (Franklin 81).  Furthermore, he understood that the soul is immortal, that all crimes will be punished and virtue rewarded either in this life or the next (Franklin 81).  As a man of religious tolerance, Franklin held a level or respect for every religion, although some more than others (Franklin 81).  In order to maintain and strengthen his character, he created a system of virtues (Franklin 83).  This system of virtues and his dedication to them exemplifies his manner of thought as being that of a Rationalist. 

            During the Rationalist period, people began to focus less on religion and more on reasoning and advances.  The method of attaining virtues which Franklin created was not completely without religious influence, but it was however indistinguishable of any particular sect in which he added his own interpretations (Franklin 91).  The reasoning behind his virtues is that he was trying to gain knowledge and at the same time improve his intrinsic worth (Franklin 84).   By carrying through with his system of virtues, Franklin expected to arrive “at moral perfection . . . wished to live without committing any fault at any time” (Franklin 82).  To achieve his goal, he kept a book with the days of the week and thirteen virtues he deemed important to living a moral life, placing a black dot in the appropriate place for each time he would break one of the day’s virtues (Franklin 86).  These virtues include:  temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility (Franklin 84-85).  By trying to achieve perfection in his character through a well-thought-out system, Franklin is depicting rationalism.  A person who based his or her life on faith and had a good understanding of Scripture would have known that perfection as sinners is impossible.  A person should strive to be the best that he or she can be, but never in the process should perfection be expected.  As it is written in Romans 3:12, "There is no one righteous, not even one. . .” 

            Franklin even states in the excerpt from his journal that he “seldom attended any public worship” (Franklin 82).  He emphasized a time when he attended church for five consecutive Sundays (Franklin 82).  This in the time of the Enlightenment would have been only customary.  Once he made the decision to discontinue attending a preacher’s service because the sermon did not contain “the kind of good things that I expected from that text” (Franklin 82).  He even formed his own liturgy for private use (Franklin 82).  It seems as if Franklin would have a preference to view matters the way he wished to see them and if the world’s perception did not match his own then he would break away to practice his own understandings.  Justification for the amount of virtues he would concentrate on each day came from his reasoning that a gardener does not attempt to eradicate all of the bad herbs at once, but works on one bed at at a time (Franklin 87). 

            Finally, in his journal, Franklin asks in the morning, “What good shall I do this day?” (Franklin 88) and in the evening he asks himself, “What good have I done today?” (Franklin 88).  In asking these questions, he is concentrating on the level of righteousness in himself which seems rather egotistical.  A person should not decide for himself/herself what he/she shall do each day, but rather be enlightened to do so by the Holy Spirit.  Asking “What good shall I do” is putting the morality on man when the credit belongs to God since everything good comes from Him. 

            Franklin may have been raised with Christian beliefs, but his way of thinking is a better representative of the Rationalism era rather than the Enlightenment.  Unlike what was accepted during the Enlightenment, Franklin did not place a high importance on attending church and he left when he thought the sermon was not expanded enough.  Through the use of his own reasoning, he created a system by which he hoped to achieve moral perfection (Franklin 83).  All of these depict the qualities that a rationalist might possess. 

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Paris: William Temple Franklin, 1791. Print.

"Romans 3:10 As It Is Written: "There Is No One Righteous, Not Even One;." Romans 3:10 As It Is Written: "There Is No One Righteous, Not Even One;. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://bible.cc/romans/3-10.htm>.

Virtues

Different people have different values by which they choose to live their lives.  It is good to have a system of values decided so that you know how you want to live your life.  One virtue that I strongly connect with is going to church and helping others.  Even if a person has faith, it is good to attend services to strengthen his or her faith.  Listening before one speaks is also a good trait.  As Abraham Lincoln said, “Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” (Quotations by Author)  It is wise to think before saying something and to assure that the subject is fully understood and that no one will be unintentionally offended by the remark.  Furthermore, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness are all virtuous qualities to possess. When a person is wronged by another, it is easy to feel angry or saddened by what that person had done.  However, it is most beneficial to the other person as well as the individual to let the situation go and to release it to God’s control.  In this way, the person harmed may receive healing and the harmer may come to see their wrong deeds and repent.  Order is another important aspect of daily life.  Work comes before play.  If commitments have been arranged then it is the responsibility of the person to follow through with those obligations.  Putting inclinations before duties creates chaos and does not contribute to a healthy lifestyle.  In addition, the concept of industry can be exceedingly advantageous in the lives of ordinary people.  Students, for example, could make use of the time on the bus, before class starts, or while eating lunch to study and review for their classes.  This would optimize the student’s daily schedule and open up more time later in the day.  Finally, sincerity is a crucial trait to have.  Always being honest to others and to oneself is a building block to developing friendships with a foundation of trust. 

"Quotations by Author." Abraham Lincoln Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. 

<http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Abraham_Lincoln>.

Propaganda in The Declaration of Independence

“The Declaration of Independence” was created to state the reasons for the American Revolution and separation from Great Britain.  In this document, Thomas Jefferson says that people have the right to separate from tyranny in government but they should in doing so state the reasons for which they are separating.  It is this which Jefferson is trying to do throughout the document.  While many of the statements made are reasons for the separation between America and Great Britain, they can also be regarded as propaganda due to the persuasiveness in Jefferson’s writing style. 

Jefferson tells the reader the story of why the colonies in America chose to break away from England.  While he does give reasons to back up his argument, he is giving a clear depiction of a “good” America and a “bad” England.  In one remark, Jefferson states that they have appealed to the people of England for justice, but they have been deaf to their voices.  To be sure, there were some in England who cared about the wellbeing of the colonies, although perhaps not many.  I have read in history books how a couple members of Parliament presented their beliefs that America should be treated fairly otherwise there will be conflict.  Jefferson also was sure to make use of several extreme, for lack of a better word, language.  Barbarous, plundered, ravaged, destroyed, tyranny, imposing, and deprived are only some of the words he thoughtfully chose to use to evoke an emotion in the reader parallel to his cause for independence (Jefferson).  Jefferson also uses description to make his statements appeal to the reader.  He stated, “…the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of wartime is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions” (Jefferson).  By saying “destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions” instead of merely saying “destruction”, Jefferson is creating a sense of empathy towards the colonists, whether the reader is young or old, male or female, and rich or poor (Jefferson).  Finally, by stating that America has a “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” (Jefferson), Jefferson even further so makes his statements for separation more honorable. 

“The Declaration of Independence” was a great document which the Founding Fathers chose to base their claims for separation from the mother country of England.  Through the use of deep description, choices of words, appeal to all people, and justification in the sight of God, Jefferson provided a convincing argument for his cause in which many people could understandably be swayed to his way of thinking. 

Works Cited

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." American Literature. Colombus: Colombus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 122-24. Print.

Benefits to Peppermint Candy

Mints have a large number of benefits.  In the fall season, many people get sick with colds, allergies, etc…  One way which mints help the body is by suppressing coughs.  This occurs due to a key ingredient in the mints- menthol (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  The menthol contained in peppermint tea and candy causes an increase in saliva production which leads to swallowing and overwhelming the reflex that causes coughs to occur (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain). Secondly, mints can allow for easier breathing. The menthol in mints can also act as a potent decongestant clearing stuffy noses and causing breathing to be less labored (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  In addition, menthol stimulates nerves that sense cold temperatures, creating a cold feeling in your mouth (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  This sensation can be used to help sore throats (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  Mints are also good for calming an upset stomach.  The menthol stimulates the stomach lining during digestion and thus eases stomach pain (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  Likewise, the peppermint herb in mints can ease muscle spasms and cramps (Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain).  It is not too likely that someone would be having a major cramp or spasm attack during English class, but you never know.  It could happen and then a peppermint would save the day.  The peppermint flavor also can be used to refresh a person’s breath.  This might encourage people to talk more since they do not have to worry about what their breath smells like after lunch.  Finally, it is believed that mints can be used to help improve concentration.  With English being the last class of the day, students can use all of the focus they have left and still get distracted from time to time.  Furthermore, since they are low in calories and have no grams of fat, people do not have to worry much about how they would fit into their daily diet (Calories).  One serving has five percent of a person’s daily carbohydrate intake, containing 8 grams of sugar, which would help supply some much needed energy to a person’s day (Calorie).  With all of the many benefits to mints, I think that bringing in some for the class would be a good idea. 

Works Cited

"Calories in Star Brites Peppermint." Calorie Count. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-brachs-star-brites-peppermint-i89844>.

"Does Peppermint Candy Stimulate the Brain?" LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/520172-does-peppermint-candy-stimulate-the-brain/>.

Autumn

Autumn is a beautiful season of the year.  I love to look at the trees and how the leaves turn different colors.  Not only are the leaves beautiful during this time but the weather, depending on where a person lives and how late in the season it is of course, is still decent- not too hot but not freezing either.  This is a good time of the year to invite family over and have a bonfire.  My family used to do this sometimes when I was younger.  It was fun roasting marshmallows over the fire, going on hayrack rides, and jumping across hay bales.  I also used to go to orchards and pumpkin patches in the autumn with my family.   One orchard that we went to let us pick our own apples.  There was also a cornfield maze.  As a little kid, I thought that was really exciting.  One year, my family went to visit an Amish town for some sort of farm festival they were putting together.  They also had a cornfield maze, only this one was much larger than the other one that I had been to.  There were so many fruits and the like that were being sold there.  It seemed like there was an endless supply of gourds.  In addition, I thought that going to the local park for a jack lantern walk was entertaining.  It was amusing looking at all of the hand-carved faces on the pumpkins.  Wearing a jacket would be advisable, but going on bike rides can also be a great activity for the fall.  With all of the activities that can make Autumn an enjoyable time of the year, it is also when allergies and colds for many people begin to kick in again.  Also, the mornings are quite cold.  I much prefer warmer temperatures such as late spring and early summer.  Like any other season, there are perks and drawbacks to Autumn, largely depending on how an individual views that season.  

A Rational Decision

Once there was a girl named Suzanne.  She was a teenage girl who was always happy and positive.  She got along with just about everyone that she met, but she was especially close to her mom.  They would often talk to each other about how their day was and just spend time together.  Sometimes they would go on trips road trips together.  Her mom would always forget to put her seatbelt on and Suzanne would tease her about that.  It was little things like that which made them feel even closer.  One day, her mom had to go to Chicago for a conference.  She was a little sad that her mom had to leave, since they were so close, but she was also glad that her mom was given the opportunity to travel and present her ideas to others. The day finally came when Suzanne’s mom was leaving for Chicago.  Suzanne’s mom gave her a hug and told her that she would be back later that night.  Time went by and when Suzanne’s mom called to say she was getting ready to drive back home, Suzanne begged her mom to stay in Chicago over the night because it was so late and she was worried that her mom would get tired on the way back.  Also, she told her mom that she should go visit some of the tourist attractions in the area.  She is always so busy that Suzanne felt she deserved a break.  Her mom hesitantly agreed and said that she would be home by 6 PM the next day at the very latest.  The next day comes and it is 7 PM.  Suzanne figures that her mom just ran into heavy traffic and will be home soon.  Not long afterwards the phone rings.  Suzanne answers it to discover that the police were on the other end.  They informed her that her mom had been stabbed to death late last night after getting out of her car to walk half of a mile to the hotel.  Her body was not discovered until around noon the following day and after going through what possessions she still had, they found her home phone number, by which they were talking to Suzanne.  Suzanne was devastated that her mother had been killed.  It especially hurt her that she still would have been alive if she had not told her to stay in Chicago.  She saw what had happened as her responsibility and for a brief time became suicidal.  It took a long time for her friends and others to counsel her and for her to clear her head.  Her friends reminded her that there was no way that she could have been able to predict what happened and that the only reason why she asked her mother to wait before traveling back so soon was because she cared about her.  Eventually, Suzanne, who still deeply missed her mother, was able to recognize that she was not to blame for her mother’s death. 

The Crucible Act IV: Similarities to "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Jonathan Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible are both books which indicate what Puritan values were during the late seventeenth and first half of the eighteenth centuries.  “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” discussed the importance of people to receive Christ and live godly lives.  The Crucible, on the other hand, was first and foremost the story of the Salem witch trials.  Although the main point from each of the two works differed from each other, there were several aspects that linked them together. 

One of these similarities is that the people in the congregations had become relaxed about their faith and were losing some of their values.  Edwards and Reverend Parris were trying to draw people back to Christianity by arousing fear deep inside their hearts.  In order to do this, the reverends chose to give fearful sermons to the church community about the life that would await them in hell if they did not choose to change their ways, repent, and accept Christ as their savior.  Indeed, John Proctor exclaimed, “I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation…There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more.” (Miller 28-29).  This statement shows how the ministers were so concerned about “winning over the souls of the lost” that God was hardly talked much about in comparison to the past.  In my opinion, it is important that people remember that there are laws, such as the Ten Commandments, set in place for a reason and if those laws are broken then there will be consequences.  While it is important for this message to be understood, I do not see the necessity in discussing it time after time after time.  As I see it, a person’s relationship with God should be based on faith, love, thankfulness, etc…instead of solely on fear. 

Also, in both of these literary works, repentance was a necessary factor.  Edwards inferred through his statements that repentance was needed for those who wished to change their old ways and turn to God as their lifeline (Edwards 97-99) .  In The Crucible, repentance was also looked for among the alleged witches, although primarily for different reasons than saving that person’s soul. 

In addition, both Reverends Edwards and Parris believed that members of their own congregation would go to hell after their death.  Edwards clearly states this belief in his sermon by using declarations such as, “The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation:  Let everyone fly out of Sodom!” (Edwards 99). Parris likewise says, “There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” (Miller 30).  Although the ministers gave warnings to the people that they needed to change, many thought that they were sufficient enough already.  As Edwards writes, “It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons” (Edwards 99).  Several people from The Crucible had stopped attending church, worked on the Sabbath, and did other sins which were unacceptable for their religion.  John Proctor fit this description rather well, although he by no means considered himself a saint. 

Both “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and The Crucible exhibited similarities towards one another.  It may be true that these events took place several decades apart from each other and were concerning different topics.  However, they both shared some similar themes which reflected well together.

Works Cited

Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." American Literature.  Colombus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

The Effects of Bullying

Bullying is a major issue faced in society that takes a negative effect against both the victim as well as the bully.  One way that bullying can affect a victim is by making that person feel as if he/she is not good enough.  The victim could go through a phase of depression.  They may try to change who they are so that others will not tease them anymore and possibly even acknowledge them.  If this fails and the feelings of worthlessness remain, then that person may resort to measures such as cutting, starving, or other ways of hurting himself/herself.  Sometimes people being bullied come to believe that what others saying about them is true even when it is not.  If someone says that he/she is stupid, ugly, worthless, etc… then it must be true.  They become so tired of being teased and looked down upon that they do not know where to turn and there is confusion and fear that arise.  In severe cases, some victims even commit suicide.  This is devastating because that person had a purpose and destiny in his/her life but was unable to recognize it because he/she did not even know who he/she should be or how to settle the issues going on in his/her life.  Often, victims of bullying will begin to disconnect with their peers and prefer to be alone much of the time.  If that person gives any hints or asks for help it is important to not turn him/her away but rather to be there to talk, listen to, and support your friend. 

There are also tolls taken on the bully in addition to the victim.  If the bully ever realizes that his/her behavior towards a person were wrong, then he/she may feel a sense of remorse for the actions.  Also, being a bully does not promote the quality of good character that is so desperately sought out in the work force.  This person does not appear to be paving the road for a happy and successful life.  

The Crucible Act III: Human Nature

Human nature is commonly displayed in books to give them a more realistic feeling.  Without putting peoples’ natural reactions into the plot of the story, the reader loses the sense of reality.  Throughout the course of the plot in The Crucible, the characters share similar attitudes to what could be still understandable today. 

One aspect of human nature which is expressed in this book is that people generally take some sort of stand for what they believe is upright.  Mr. Giles, Mr. Proctor, and Mr. Nurse, for example, all came to court to protest the the charges put against their wives for witchcraft (Miller 87).  Also, Mary Warren finally came forward to confess that she and the other girls had been lying all along to save themselves from punishment as well as for sport (Miller 106).  Reverend Hale, after realizing that the charges were ludicrous, denounced the proceedings (Miller 120).  Even the officials in Salem, however twisted their ideology may have been, seemed to have thought that they were doing what was righteous in the eyes of the Almighty God by fulfilling His will and protecting the people. 

Secondly, this book provides a depiction of how people can become manipulated so easily.  All that Abigail and the other village girls had to do was act as though they were possessed or faint and the authorities (i.e. Danforth) believed that the person brought forth to them was a witch (Miller 53, 117).

 Another point reflecting human nature is that many people will do whatever is necessary to save themselves.  This is depicted in Mary Warren.  She confesses to perjury, yet when pressures arise and her life is threatened, she recants her statement and rejoins with Abigail and the others (Miller 118). 

Vengeance is also a common human trait.  In Act 1, Abigail tells the other girls, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller 20).  After Mary betrays Abigail, Abigail and the other girls act as if they are being possessed by Mary, even when it is probable that Mary would be hung for such allegations (Miller 117). Mary’s claims against John Proctor most likely came from her loathing of him.  After having been treated poorly by Proctor for such a period of time, it is probable that she saw this as her opportunity to seek revenge and to get rid of him once and for all (Miller 59). 

Finally, people for the most part try to act in a way which would be beneficial to himself/ herself.  Although Reverend Parris had a pretty good idea that his daughter and niece partook in sorcery, he knows that such rumors would annihilate his already damaged reputation (Miller 16).  Thus, he attempts to cover up the truth and goes along with the girls’ story in order to save his name in the town.  Also, many people lied about being witches simply in order to save their own life (Miller). 

Thus far in the book there have been several depictions of human nature.  They help the reader by giving an impression of how a real person would act.  This makes the plot more entertaining for the reader as well as preventing some potential confusion.  

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Consequences for Giving False Testimony

Blaming a person for something that he/she did not do is definitely not a good thing by all accounts.  The eighth commandment plainly says to not give false testimony against your neighbor.  If a person beaks any one of the commandments then God will punish him/her.  For any wrong deed there are consequences, whether they are immediately realized or not.  Blaming a person for something that he/she did not do is a good example of how a deed can turn against oneself.

Giving false testimony is like a boomerang.  It is fun to throw but if not caught it will come back and hit the person that threw it.  One way that this may come back to hurt the person is if the truth is somehow revealed and people finally realize that the person was lying.  This would lead to no one trusting the person that lied anymore and he/she would be looked down upon.  Also, others may not want to associate with her for fear that he/she would tell lies about them.  People would also not want to be associated with that person because then they would also be looked down upon for being acquainted with such a person.  Finally, when one may think that no one else knows what he/she did, God does and He holds each person accountable for his/her actions and thoughts.   Giving false testimony is a serious offense that is not taken lightly.  In today’s court of law, a person who lies during a proceeding or gives false testimony, similar to how the girls in Salem acted during the witch trials, is guilty of perjury.  That person could be made to pay a large sum of money and serve years in jail.  The punishments were even worse in England long ago when the perjurer could be sentenced to death, banishment, or to have his tongue severed (Doyle). 

As this essay response showed, blaming someone for something that he/she did not do is a serious offense.  Not only does have devastating effects for a person’s social life, but also economic and spiritual.  It is best to always tell the truth even when it may not appear as the most appealing choice. 

Works Cited

Doyle, Charles (2010). "Perjury Under Federal Law: A Brief Overview". Congressional Research Service.

Parental Discipline

Parental discipline is an important issue that parents have to make.  It can be difficult to draw the line between being overly caring to the point where the kids practically get away with what they did and being too strict.  Parents want to teach their children that a certain action they had done is wrong without being so stern that they may damage the children’s emotional wellbeing.  So how can this be done effectively?  While it may be difficult, there is a way to get through to your kids in a proper manner. 

            I strongly believe that punishments are a good thing.  Proverbs 13:24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” This may sound harsh, but it is very important that one does “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)  If a child does not learn from his mistakes, then they come to believe that those actions are acceptable and will continue to do them after the child is grown.  As quoted from Hebrews 12:11, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  If the child is young and depending on the severity of the wrong, a spanking may be acceptable.  This does not mean a beating as that would not only be cruel but also more damaging than beneficial.  As the child grows older, however, different punishments may come into play.  If for example, your teenager back talks you, I would take away his access to any technology (iPod, car, television, computer, etc...) for at least a week as well as ground him.  There are, of course, other ways that a teen could be punished, like maybe doing certain chores around the house.  It is important that the child knows that you still care for him and that your love is unconditional but that if he breaks the rules there will be consequences.  It might also be a good idea to try giving punishments that fit with the offense.  For example, if your child stays up past bedtime, then make him go to bed early the next night.  Finally, make sure that the child understands what it is that he did wrong and what the proper action should have been. 

            While coming up with an appropriate punishment may be a confusing and difficult decision, it is important that the parent inflicts strict rules and discipline if those rules are broken.  The child should not feel like he is hated by his parents but that he is being corrected because his parents love and care for him. 

Works Cited

"37 Bible Verses about Discipline Of Children." What Does the Bible Say About Discipline Of Children? N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://www.openbible.info/topics/discipline_of_children>.

The Holy Bible. Glasgow [Scotland: Collins, 1989. Print.

The Crucible Act 2: Personality

A personality reflects a person’s character and actions.  Some of the major classifications for personality include:  helper, thinker, planner and doer.  A helper is someone who has good people skills, communication, and feels the need to make a difference in others’ lives (Blue Helper).  A thinker is a creative problem solver and believes that knowledge is power; he or she has an unquenchable desire for understanding (Green Thinker).  The planner personality type is typically conventional, has a high respect for authority, and a strong sense of right and wrong (Yellow Planner).  The final personality type, the doer, is a persuasive motivator and courageous by acting on a moment’s notice (Red Doer).  The characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible display different personalities which provide reasoning for the way that they act. 

            One of the main characters in the story is a young lady by the name of Abigail Williams.  She is bossy, threatening, malicious, and crafty.  When the other girls who she had been practicing witchcraft with arrive, she intimidates them by saying that will kill them if tell about what they did on the night that they were caught dancing (Miller 20).  Abigail uses the superstition of the town not only to her advantage by staying alive but also to put claims against Mrs. Proctor (Miller 73), whom she saw as being in the way of her relationship with John Proctor (Miller 22).  By analyzing Abigail’s behavior in the first two acts, I would label her, as well as several of the other girls, as a doer.  Similar to the description of the doer, she is able to convince the others that she had been influenced into taking part in witchcraft and was thus not guilty (Miller 44).   She also makes several of her decisions by looking at the present rather than the future.  When she realizes that giving out names will of alleged devil worshipers, she keeps naming one after another (Miller 48).  In addition, Abigail also tries to have Mrs. Proctor killed by drinking a charm (Miller 19) and later by accusing her of witchcraft (Miller 73).  She does not consider how this would affect the relationship between John and her.  Abigail seems to be very “in the moment” and if she wants something then nothing will stand in her way of getting it. 

            Reverend Parris is another important person in this work.  The uncle of Abigail and father of Betty (Miller 8), he is the one who spotted the girls at night performing witchcraft (Miller 10).  His character is stern and partial to those whom he sees as sinners.  When he is accused of preaching too much about hell, Parris sticks by his decision and says, “There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” (Miller 30).  Due to his strong beliefs in right and wrong, Parris could be classified as a planner.  This trait helps determine some of his behaviors such as not wanting to accept that witchcraft had been used because it would be a disgrace for the town to see that members of his own family partook in sorcery.  He felt a need to keep his appearance as untarnished as possible in order to maintain his status as a person with authority. 

            The third character to be discussed is Reverend Hale.  He is dedicated to studying the ways of demons that he may cast them out of people.  When he arrives at Parris’s house, he is carrying a load of books (Miller 36).  When questioned about how heavy the books are, Hale replies, “They must be; they are weighted with authority…We shall need hard study if it comes to tracking down the Old Boy.” (Miller 36-37).  This suggests that Hale is a thinker.  He believes that knowledge is power and he searches for understanding of demonic roots.  His personality brings forth his actions in the way that he gives the impression of being completely focused on facts and possibilities to decide who might be a witch.  He let is factual information override his rationality.  Even after thirty-nine women were arrested on the basis of witchcraft, including Rebecca Nurse, he still believed that it was possible that they were all guilty (Miller 64). 

            Personality can play a key role in the way that people carry out their lives.  Different people have different temperaments which cause them to respond to situations differently than others might.  The characters in The Crucible are a fair example of how a person’s personality can direct the way that person makes his or her choices. 

Works Cited

"Carolyn Kalil Career Green Thinker Card Results." Carolyn Kalil Career Green Thinker Card Results. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://www.truecolorscareer.com/greenfinal.htm>.

"Carolyn Kalil Career Quiz Blue Helper Card Results." Carolyn Kalil Career Quiz Blue Helper Card Results. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://www.truecolorscareer.com/bluefinal.htm>.

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Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Trip

When I was young my family and I traveled to Florida to visit other relatives and to go to the beach.  I was really excited.  I had been to Florida a few years earlier to go to Walt Disney World and I really enjoyed it.  The long drive over there was not much fun, of course.  However, it was worth it when we finally arrived at our destination.  Our hotel was right on the edge of the beach, so we could simply go outside and walk on the beach.  I loved walking in the water and collecting seashells.  My goal was to try to find as many Sand Dollars as possible.  I was a little worried after I found some later but they were practically surrounded by stingrays.  There was also a poor just outside of the hotel.  My brother tried teaching me how to do different dives and swimming techniques but I did not catch on right away.  We then went to some seafood restraint.  I had a snow crab and it surprised me that the crab was still in its shell and I had to break it off with some sort of instrument that the waitress gave me.  After being in Florida long enough we went to visit my aunt who lives by Atlanta.  For some reason I had not been feeling well during that time.  We all went to a large aquarium exhibit that otherwise would have been very interesting to look at but the only thing that I felt like doing was staying home.  I do remember that there were small sharks and stingrays that you could pet and there was a poster showing a Japanese Sea Crab which it claimed can grow as big as a car.  When we finally got back home I wanted to stay in bed for a long time because of what I thought was the stomach flu.  The irony of the situation is that my brother would check up on how I was doing and bring crackers for me to eat (I didn’t feel like eating anything), etc..  I told him that he should stay away from me unless he wants to get sick too, but he would not leave.  A couple days later I felt better and he was the one that was sick.  While one might think that going to Disney World would be more fun than going to the beach and an aquarium, this trip was far more memorable.

The Crucible Act 1

The Crucible is shows both qualities of Puritan writing as well as the breakdown of Puritan beliefs.  The government in this book is a theocracy, which would go along with the Puritan ideals since they were not very tolerant of other religions.  Another way in which this book depicts Puritanism is that while Reverend Parris is in the room, there is a crowd gathered whom he later leads in prayer and songs (Miller 24).  In contradiction to the Puritan beliefs, Proctor says that he does not like the “hellfire and damnation” in Parris’ sermons (Miller 28).  Several people have also not been attending church for some time (Miller Act 1).  This being said along with the quote suggests that Parris was trying to scare some people into attending church, somewhat like Jonathan Edwards did in his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.  This would have been occurring during the breakdown of Puritan beliefs because people were becoming relaxed with their beliefs so the reverends would try to get them to see their mistakes and repent.  In addition, Mrs. Putnam asks for Tituba to contact the spirits of her dead children and to ask them who had murdered them (Miller 15).  This is also strongly against Puritan ideals.  One key principle for Puritans was to praise God for everything, even if it does not seem like something that is a blessing.  They believe that everything happens for a reason and that God is in control.  By asking a child to perform witchcraft by trying to contact spirits of the dead, she is not putting her trust in God and is committing an abominable act.  In conclusion, the book showed several of the Puritan beliefs as well as the beginning of the break from Puritan ideals.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Being Held Hostage

Being held hostage, like Mary Rowlandson, would be a difficult situation to be placed in.  It would be difficult to say for certain precisely how one would act it is possible to guess.  Many times people think that if something happened they would surely act one way but when it actually happens they act another.  This is just one of those situations where one would have to actually experience it first hand before knowing how his or her reaction would be.  I would suppose, however, that in such a case, my reaction would be alarmed but not really in a panic mode.  I might want to be afraid and worry about what will happen to me.  I might even try desperately to escape if I am feeling brave.  On the other hand, a person in this situation needs to remember that they are not in control of what happens to them, God is.  If it is His will that one should escape bondage, then He will do so in His own good and perfect timing.  A Bible verse which reminds us of this is Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Fear and later anger would be the natural responses in many situations such as being help captive, having a family member or friend who passed away, losing a job, etc..  Sometimes we can get carried away by all of the worries in life that we forget who has created and sustained us all along.  Another good verse to remember is, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).  It is important to remember that God cares for each of us and if we put our trust in Him, He will deliver us from our despairs in time.  In the meanwhile, we should not be grudging over what is going wrong with our lives, but rather be thankful for what the Lord has given to us.

Romans. The Holy Bible. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1973. Print.

Matthew. The Holy Bible. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1973. Print.

How Of Plymouth Plantation reflects Puritan Values

By reading only a part of William Bradford’s journal, Of Plymouth Plantation, it is still obvious that it is a reflection of Puritan writing.  Bradford sailed to America with the other pilgrims on the Mayflower and became the first governor of the Plymouth settlement.  In his book, he tells about the journey to the new world was like as well as their later life in the colony.  A common theme in this book is to be grateful to God for what He has blessed us with.  There are numerous accounts where Bradford depicts this idea.  One of which is “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element” (Bradford 124)  This shows how the people, similar to Puritan beliefs put their faith in God that He would deliver them through the rough voyage and safely land them in the new world.  Puritans were focused solely on God.  They were grateful for the blessings that He bestowed upon them and they were not distressed when things were not going the way they would have preferred; but in all things, they knew that God was with them to protect and provide.  Bradford also writes, “What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and his grace?”  (124). The pilgrims had certainly been going through a difficult and tireless journey to be allowed the freedom to freely practice their religion.  In order to escape from the Church of England and the Catholic Church, many Puritans sailed to Holland before venturing off to America on boats such as the Mayflower.  Once on the ship there were often difficulties, too.  Disease was one of them.  Bradford tells the story, “And I may not omit here a special work of God's providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the sea-men, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be condemning the poor people in their sickness, and cursing them daily with grievous execrations, and did not let to tell them, that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey's end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head; and it was an astonishment to all his fellows, for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him” (122).  This story says that they believed that God was in control of everything.  He could determine who became sick and died as well as who lived.  The Puritans believed that God had punished the young man, in an ironic sense I might add, for how he had treated the others on the journey.  So, those who were sick but had faith in God were healed while those who doubted or criticized were killed.  Another important quote I would like to add is, “May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: "Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity, etc. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry, and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men” (Bradford 124).  This quote again shows the great faith of the pilgrims, how they trusted in God and He delivered them. 

Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. Massachusetts: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1856. N. pag. Print.

Puritan Writing

The writings of Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet are filled are filled with evidence of Puritan ideals.  Mary Rowlandson was the wife of a reverend in the town and her writing showed that her religion was very important to her.  In spite of being captured by Wampanoag Native Americans, she was not afraid and refuses to withhold her belief that no matter what happens, God will always be there and will protect and provide for her. Rowland was under a significant amount of stress during this book, but when her distress or worries came she would take them to God, saying that He is in control.  Quoting Psalms she writes, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee” (Rowlandson 3).  Another quote which reveals her patience and strong beliefs comes from Exodus, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (Rowlandson 3).  Mary is a rather unusual but interesting character.  Many people faced with her situation might blame God for allowing it to happen to them.  But Mary was not this way.  She would in the midst of her suffering praise God for his great mercy in her life.  After the death of her child, Anne wrote, “I have since then thought of the wonderful goodness of God to me, in preserving me so in the use of my reason and senses in, that distressed time that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own life” (Rowlandson 2).  Losing a child is a time of great sorrow, but she was able to see that even though it seemed like her life was falling apart, God was still and always would be there. 

            The other writer, Anne Bradstreet, also used her religion as a refuge when bad things happen.  In the story, Anne’s house burns down, but she is neither angry nor afraid.   Imagine having your house burned down before your eyes.  Would you be nervous or angry that it was your house that was destroyed?  These may be the ways that many people would react to such a tribulation, yet Anne reminds the reader that everything belongs to the Lord.  The house that burned to ash was not Anne’s but rather it belonged to God who had allowed for her to use it.  She wrote, “I blest his name that gave and took, that laid my goods now in the dust.  Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.  It was his own, it was not mine” (Bradstreet 1).  She had no need to worry about where she would live or how this event would affect her life.  Whatever happens, she knew that God would provide for and be gracious to her. 

            These two writings reveal how Puritans felt about God.  They constantly trusted Him, knowing that they will face tribulations, but He will be there to see them though.  They have no need that will unmet.  Although Mary was taken captive, she was later released.  Anne’s house may have burned down, but she had faith that the Lord would provide for her through this time.

Glencoe. American Literature. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. Print.