Aaron

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

Category: Humanities

“The American Revolution was a Beginning, not a Consummation”

My character goes through a dramatic change over the course of the American Revolution. From a scared boy to a brave grown-up man. At first, he dislikes the revolution and wants to live normally, however, with motivations from a variety of obstacles, my character learns how to overcome them and take responsibility. My character represents the Boston colony.

 

Give me Liberty or Give me Death

www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/wp-content/upl...

The country America is now a very developed place with a very strong economy, extensive natural resources, high productivity, and more. However, it couldn’t have happened if the American Revolution hadn’t taken place. This video describes a brief summary of the American revolution. People think that the American Revolution is simply just a battle between America and Britain, however, it gets more complicated than that. From all the acts to the alliance with France.

What were the major causes of the American Revolution? It all dated back in 1754, during the French-Indian war.  The Native Americans were fighting for their land and culture, and the French wanted a more active trade with the Indians. It just seemed like a normal battle between the two countries until Britain got involved. Later on, the British came with a provincial unit of soldiers as the others were outnumbered. Now, watch the video below to get deeper into the American Revolution!

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/peter-salem-and-battle-bunker-hill

Trevor Noah: Smart and a Spirited Child

It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah tells the experience and the challenges Trevor faces because of his race. He was born a mixed child, his mother being a black women and his father being a white man. He tells his personal story and the injustice he faced while growing up as a half black, half white child in South Africa under and after Apartheid. During Trevor’s lifetime, black and white people were not able to have relationships with each other due to the regulations of Apartheid. Trevor Noah was born a crime. It is a compelling story of a young boy growing up in a harsh environment. If you have a chance to read this book, I would recommend it.

During Humanities class, we also dealt with the story called Hidden figures via read aloud, short clips and more. It present a social issue of racism, segregation, opportunity and much more. My notebook will contain not only the analysis of my own book club book, but also the class example Hidden Figures.

 

Identifying Central ideas:

 

It’s Trevor Noah

A prominent central idea in the book is the impact of apartheid on Trevor Noah’s life. Being born to a black mother and white father during a time when mixed-race relationships were illegal, Noah was considered a “crime” under apartheid laws. His experiences highlight the absurdity and cruelty of racial segregation, and he reflects on the complexities of racial identity and its influence on one’s sense of belonging.

Throughout the book, Noah depicts the harsh realities of poverty and the stark socioeconomic disparities in South Africa. He discusses the challenges faced by families living in poverty, the impact of limited resources on education, and the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality.

Hidden Figures

In the short video clip, a white women tried to move a black women to another place. In the process, many people were staring at her and people were whispering “We don’t want any trouble in here” showing the assumptions she was made of people because of her identity and her race. Everyone deserves equal chances and opportunities.

Connections between the stories

The two stories deals with a similar central idea and theme that allows the readers to make connections with each other.

Both stories depict individuals who face significant challenges and obstacles in their respective contexts. Trevor Noah’s memoir explores his experiences growing up during apartheid in South Africa, navigating racial divisions and societal prejudices. Similarly, “Hidden Figures” tells the story of African-American women mathematicians working at NASA during the racially segregated 1960s, overcoming discrimination and gender bias. Both narratives highlight the resilience, determination, and courage of individuals who rise above adversity.

Pay Attention to Narrative + Informational

Trevor Noah

The book provides insights into the apartheid laws that were enforced in South Africa during the time of Noah’s upbringing. It explains the racial segregation policies, the Immorality Act that made interracial relationships illegal, and the implications of being born to mixed-race parents. Noah also discusses the education system in South Africa, highlighting the disparities and challenges faced by students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He shares anecdotes about his experiences in various schools, the influence of teachers, and the impact of limited resources on education quality.

Noah presents the narrative through a series of vivid anecdotes and personal stories from his childhood and adolescence. These stories provide specific examples that illustrate the broader themes and issues he addresses throughout the book.

Hidden figures

The narrative and the informational provides historical context by delving into the racial segregation and gender biases prevalent in the United States during the 1960s. It explores the challenges and limited opportunities faced by African-Americans, particularly African-American women

-East side of Langely university

-work dedicated based on merit

-Favoritism + social Hierarchy

 

Discover and Analyze Implicit Argument

Trevor Noah

Throughout the memoir, Noah highlights the absurdity and injustice of apartheid while emphasizing the importance of resilience, empathy, and understanding.

One smaller idea connected to the main theme is the exploration of identity and belonging. Noah grapples with his mixed-race heritage, feeling like an outsider in both the black and white communities. He navigates the complexities of racial classification, constantly adapting his identity to fit into different social contexts. This exploration of identity reveals the arbitrary nature of racial divisions and challenges the notion of predefined categories.

Hidden figures

“Sometimes when the environment is corrupt, the brave people stand up”

“Her small act of defiance made them all feel a bit anxious but also empowered.”

Racism, Sexism, Innovation, Identity, Opportunities

Defeat Germany

-secrecy, secluded, misunderstood, excluded

-Mustang (Best plane)

 

Descriptive passages

Hidden Figures

Gigantic, grown, expanding, high speed tunnel –> Innovation, Opportunity, Industrialization

Remote, Strange, Desolation, Attacks –> Exclusion, Segregation

Trevor Noah

 

 

Am I a Humanist?

Am I a Humanist

 

Am I a Humanist by Aaron Kim [STUDENT]

We wrapped up our first unit and moved straight into the unit of Renaissance. To start off the unit, we learned about the concept of humanism and its qualities.

In the process, we made ourselves an infographic that had the question asking ourselves, “Am I a Humanist?” To do this we needed to first learn the beliefs of the humanists. The 5 key beliefs I found was their emphasis on humans, secularism, individualism, education, and egalitarianism. The two factors that I strongly believed was true was egalitarianism and their thoughts on education. I strongly believe that people should be recognized by who they are more than their social standings. In the renaissance, to be recognized as the way you are, you needed to be well-educated. I also gave it a 5 because I believe that education should be a prominent part of the society to enhance their opportunities of success.

As I reflect on my beliefs, I realize that I strongly believe in treating everyone as equal, valuing education, and questioning the focus on individualism, secularism, and the excessive importance placed on human beings. To put these beliefs into action, I want to actively promote equality, empower others through education, and challenge societal norms.

This was a very meaningful and fun experience in which we were able to see if we were humanists ourselves. I was shocked to see myself as a 76% humanist!

“I’ve Killed him, a Leg of a Lamb”

The found poem is based on the story called “Lamb to the slaughter”by  Roald Dahl.

In this project, I tried to pick words that connecting with the external and the internal conflicts of this story. One internal conflict I found in this part of the short story is a conflict within Mary (person vs self) the Protagonist. After her husband (the antagonist) reveals a shocking news to her, Mary experiences an internal conflict as she grapples with her emotions and decides how to respond. This internal conflict revolves around Mary’s struggle to process the news, decide how to respond, and ultimately, whether she should take drastic action. She experiences a wide range of emotions, such as shock, anger, fear, and desperation. These conflicting emotions create tension within her as she grapples with the gravity of the situation. Thinking of this conflict, I chose words like “deep freeze”, “she stopped” to represent the shock in her emotions and her hesitation before she grabbed onto the lamb leg.

Another internal conflict (person vs self) I have identified is Mary worrying about her unborn baby. She said that it was fine to think about her own death but not her child. I have included chose words like “penalty”, “kill them both” to show the thoughts going on in Mary’s mind. Mary’s internal conflict is further heightened by the fact that she is presented as a seemingly gentle and submissive woman. It is unexpected for her character to resort to violence, making her internal struggle even more intense. She must confront her own values, morals, and sense of self as she contemplates the consequences of her actions. After committing the murder, Mary must reconcile her actions with her previous perception of herself as a loving and devoted wife.

An obvious conflict can be found about the death of Patrick. The author used direct words to present a direct message to the readers. I collected words like “I’ve killed him”, “A leg of a lamb”, “Swung the frozen leg of lamb” to show the external conflict (person vs person) that Mary killed Patrick.

In my poem, it covers the concept of conflict because in this short story. I have included words that fully described the conflicts I have identified. Using red and black was a choice of mine giving the reader a scary emotion. Using bold letter in the red part was not only to help other read it but also to give the emphasis to these few words. In the section I have created the found poem, I was able to identify a lot of words that can give the reader a sense of conflict in this short story “Lamb to the Slaughter.”

Citations: https://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lamb.html, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roald-Dahl

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