As I worked on my Kite Runner essay, I had difficulty choosing a claim statement for the thesis. I tried to think of both contrasting sides of the argument and tried to reconcile both ideas by...
My original thesis was as follow: Although Amir’s birthplace is Afghanistan, he exhibits less touristic qualities in America than in his native land; therefore, it can be speculated that Amir is, in fact, more American than Afghani.
Then I began to debate whether or not I believed my thesis was true. I explored several perspectives of the claim and realized that the problem was the choice between quantitative or qualitative. Some actions/traits of a tourist include sightseeing, being ignorant to hardships of the native, being wealthy, and being treated well. I realized that out of majority, Amir is more of a tourist in Afghanistan; however, I knew that Hosseini wanted the readers to realize that Amir was actually more culturally Afghani. I knew I could write a more concrete essay about why Amir is more American, but it wouldn't be as meaningful or as important to the main plot of the story as Amir realizing his tie to Afghanistan. By viewing the pro's and con's of contrasting ideas, I found that the idea was not that he was more of one culture than the other, but that Amir needed to reunite his two ways of life to reach redemption. In class we talked of how Amir divided into many fragments, and once he reached redemption he would be whole again; this relates perfectly to the idea of piecing together both cultures to reach redemption and be one again.
This way of thinking is very effective because it allows one to compare contrasting ideas, which seems confusing, but is actually helpful. When seeing similarites between opposing ideas, I recognized that both thoughts worked as one to reach the end goal. By reconciling the idea that Amir was both American and Afghani I was able to create a more fascinating thesis. (This is referred to as a dialectic - conversation about contrasting things)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Best of Week: Kite Runner page 231
Although I do not remember who shared the upcoming insight with the class, I give them full credit. On page 231, the passage reads," I was afraid the appeal of my life in America would draw me back, that I would wade back into that great, big river and let myself forget, let the things I had learned these last few days sink to the bottom. I was afraid that I'ld llet the waters carry me away from what I had to do. From Hassan. From the past that had come calling. And from this last chance at redemption. " A parallel to this passage was brought up in class and can be found on page 136. "America was different. America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins." I thought this was one of the best insights of the week due to the fact that textual and craft simalarities were constrewed.
These pieces show irony because on page 136, Amir was thankful to be able to wash away his memories of the past. America was a new hope for him. However, in the later passage, Amir realizes that he shouldn't wade into the river or indulge in self pity because that will force him to digress from his mission to save what is left of Hassan. His son Sohrab.
These passages were also the best of the week, due to the way they represent our artful sentences lesson about short sentences. The last three sentences from the first quote listed are all relatively short, and they show ... I noted that all three of those sentences begin with from, therefore, they could've been listed in a single sentence. In class we discussed that, by splitting these pieces into short sentences, the idea is more salient and powerful. The length of the sentences gets progressively longer. Opposingingly, the second passage starts with a short sentence which also brings power. I feel that this shows more of a new beginning, whereas the short sentences of the first passage show plans for the near future/foreshadowing.
This was definitely the bests insight of the week because it showed textual connections, important ideas in the plot, and a type of writing craft we used this week.
One extra piece of connections that I came up with, concerns Assef's idea of cultural cleansing. Amir tries to forget, to erase, to cleanse himself of his past and all of this knowledge of his previous life in Afghanistan. He realizes that it is not possible to get rid of old memories completely; and Amir finds that it is important not to forget. Maybe Assef will also realize that it is not possible to cleanse everyone of the culture of the Hazaras when he looses the fight with Amir and Sorhab.
These pieces show irony because on page 136, Amir was thankful to be able to wash away his memories of the past. America was a new hope for him. However, in the later passage, Amir realizes that he shouldn't wade into the river or indulge in self pity because that will force him to digress from his mission to save what is left of Hassan. His son Sohrab.
These passages were also the best of the week, due to the way they represent our artful sentences lesson about short sentences. The last three sentences from the first quote listed are all relatively short, and they show ... I noted that all three of those sentences begin with from, therefore, they could've been listed in a single sentence. In class we discussed that, by splitting these pieces into short sentences, the idea is more salient and powerful. The length of the sentences gets progressively longer. Opposingingly, the second passage starts with a short sentence which also brings power. I feel that this shows more of a new beginning, whereas the short sentences of the first passage show plans for the near future/foreshadowing.
This was definitely the bests insight of the week because it showed textual connections, important ideas in the plot, and a type of writing craft we used this week.
One extra piece of connections that I came up with, concerns Assef's idea of cultural cleansing. Amir tries to forget, to erase, to cleanse himself of his past and all of this knowledge of his previous life in Afghanistan. He realizes that it is not possible to get rid of old memories completely; and Amir finds that it is important not to forget. Maybe Assef will also realize that it is not possible to cleanse everyone of the culture of the Hazaras when he looses the fight with Amir and Sorhab.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Carry it Forward : Rives: A mockingbird remix of TED2006
Through his idea that mockingbirds, listen, repeat and reveal the truth, Ted Rives describes how everyone, no matter what race, religion, or nationality, is similar in some way. Everyone has faults. When people talk, they often say things that are rude to someone, and they don't realize who they harm because they often don't understand the other side of the argument. Rives believes that the mockingbirds will help to inform people with the problems that others are facing in the world. The mockingbirds provide a way of communicating and witnessing conversations so that everyone can listen to the other point of view. The mockingbirds just repeat, they will say something they heard even if it is hurtful someone that once was oblivious to the information.
One example of different lifestyles colliding is when he mentions towns with a surplus of mocking birds versus places with few. Rives goes on to talk in spanish. This shows the power of words and how there are misunderstandings due to language barries. We don't know necesarily know much about people of different backgrounds, so we judge and assume.
"...the lady at the laudramat who always seems to know what nice is..." represents the ignorant/arrogant person who thinks that they are right and others are wrong. However, that person doesn't realize that they are occasionally bossy. They need to take more time out listen to themselves and to others who might have a more practical perspective.
Rives also mentions the media and how they warp the truth; this teaches us that it is important to find honest sources of information like the mockingbirds who only repeat what has already occured.
From this speech I have learned about the power of words, and how sometimes listening like the mockingbirds is the better option. Instead of blurting out what I feel, I'm going to listen to what others say, process and then speak, so I avoid saying anything hurtful to others.
I can put this lesson to use during class discussions. If everyone listens while others speak, then we may learn something new, a different perspective. I know that I am a listener, and I am amazed when I hear a new insight that I hadn't come up with. I feel that the people who generally talk the most in class should take the time to listen to the quieter people, who should speak up more. Usually the people who generally listen take the time to formulate ideas based off what others have said, rather than diverting the topic to fit with what they want to say (laundramat lady).
The listeners, including myself, need to swap places with the talkers during discussions so that we get a chance to spread our ideas and the talkers get a chance to listen and formulate ideas. I think that I can listen, remix, and voice my thoughts much like the mockingbirds if I hear both sides of the argument. My goal is to speak up once during every social studies, spanish, and english discussion. However, while I am not speaking, I plan to pay close attention and come up with my own insights on the topic so that I am prepared if called on unexpectedly. My hope, after accomplishing this goal, is to be more spontanious and not anticipate every thing I am going to say.
One example of different lifestyles colliding is when he mentions towns with a surplus of mocking birds versus places with few. Rives goes on to talk in spanish. This shows the power of words and how there are misunderstandings due to language barries. We don't know necesarily know much about people of different backgrounds, so we judge and assume.
"...the lady at the laudramat who always seems to know what nice is..." represents the ignorant/arrogant person who thinks that they are right and others are wrong. However, that person doesn't realize that they are occasionally bossy. They need to take more time out listen to themselves and to others who might have a more practical perspective.
Rives also mentions the media and how they warp the truth; this teaches us that it is important to find honest sources of information like the mockingbirds who only repeat what has already occured.
From this speech I have learned about the power of words, and how sometimes listening like the mockingbirds is the better option. Instead of blurting out what I feel, I'm going to listen to what others say, process and then speak, so I avoid saying anything hurtful to others.
I can put this lesson to use during class discussions. If everyone listens while others speak, then we may learn something new, a different perspective. I know that I am a listener, and I am amazed when I hear a new insight that I hadn't come up with. I feel that the people who generally talk the most in class should take the time to listen to the quieter people, who should speak up more. Usually the people who generally listen take the time to formulate ideas based off what others have said, rather than diverting the topic to fit with what they want to say (laundramat lady).
The listeners, including myself, need to swap places with the talkers during discussions so that we get a chance to spread our ideas and the talkers get a chance to listen and formulate ideas. I think that I can listen, remix, and voice my thoughts much like the mockingbirds if I hear both sides of the argument. My goal is to speak up once during every social studies, spanish, and english discussion. However, while I am not speaking, I plan to pay close attention and come up with my own insights on the topic so that I am prepared if called on unexpectedly. My hope, after accomplishing this goal, is to be more spontanious and not anticipate every thing I am going to say.
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