Making History

An important historical event can be determined by the changes that it brings to society: its legacy, and also how it influences the people of a nation's way of thinking.
Several important events that have happen throughout history (mainly associated with wars) include:

• American Revolution: learned in class about the reasons for war, the actual fighting and consequences of the war, and how many deaths and what the Americans needed to do after the war ended to start their new country
• Civil War: watched a movie and learned in class about the causes of the civil war, the battle, how blacks gained their rights, and the consequences of slavery (reconstruction of the country)
• French Revolution: learned in class about the reasons, actual battles, and consequences
• Russian Revolution: learned in class and on a tour guid about the history of Russia (the reasons, battles, and consequences)
• World War I: learned in class about the reasons, battles, alliances, and consequences of the war; also learned about the new inventions and technologies used in war
• World War II: watched several movies and learned in class about what the reasons for war are, the actual battles and the alliances of war, the consequences of war, and the legacy of the war.

Style

What do you think of when you hear the word “style” or “stylish”? How do you recognize whether someone or something has style? Or does everyone have style? How does one reveal one’s style? How do you evaluate between “good” style and “bad” style? Is style more permanent, or more temporary? Do you have a style? What is it, and how do you manifest it?

•  A person's style is the way a person expresses themselves to the outside world. Style can be classified into two groups: appearance and behavior. Appearance includes a person's clothes, their accessories, etc. Behavior includes the way a person talks, who they hang out with, what they do, and what their way of thinking is. Most people have their own styles, but only a few people have extremely catchy and unique styles. Some people, though immitate one another's style. I personally think that is really lame (no offense to anyone). I don't believe that a person's appearance cannot decide whether their style is a "good" or "bad" style. Appearance of a person only give a "feeling", but not the actual style. I believe that it is a person's personality and behavior that decides whether his or her personlity is "good" or "bad". Style can be both temporary or permanent. It really depends on your interaction with the environment and its people. I cannot really determine my own stlye, and my beliefs may be biased. I believe that my style is more of a person who is a bit more open and sometimes really stupid. My style is quite normal. Or should I say, I can't decide my style. For example, I can't decide what clothes I want to wear, because my mother won't allow me to buy or wear what I want, so I can't really express myself as much as I want.

A Daring Adventure

Helen Keller, the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” Write what this quotation means to you. What is fate? Who or what controls fate? What particular event gives a meaning in our lives? What gives meaning to our lives as a whole?

•  I agree with this quote. If people are not brave enough to step out their first step to do something, then what meaning is there to life? So I believe that people have to adventure at least once or twice during their life. This strength within people motivates people to do things that they might even think that they can never do, and this is what makes life worth living for. 
• I believe that fate is how the world works - who we meet, when we meet, and under what type of circumstances we meet under, and what happens to the relationship between two people who met for the first time. All of this may be fate. I believe that it is ourselves who controls fate. For example, if we go out and meet a friend at the market, it is us who decides when we leave to go to the supermarket and how long we take for going to the market. Events that may be significant in our lives include adulthood, marriage, giving birth, etc. Many events are meaningful to our lives, and all of them teach us an important lesson about life, and these lessons allow us to learn from our mistakes and continue to live on better.

Memories

What do you remember from your childhood that was important, unusual, or funny? Write about an early memory from the perspective of your childhood self. Be sure to use vivid images and descriptive detail. Are our strongest memories formed by happy or sad events? Why do you think this is so?

•  Right now, I can barely remember anything about my childhood self except for a few things. First, I was always lonely, and to be honest, I remember myself looking totally like a nerd, with childish glasses, nerdy clothes, and always having a book in my hands. I remember that I used to be a little autistic. Just a little, because I like to be by myself. The places that I used to love to go include the dance room and the playground. I always went there to eat my lunch, or just to sleep or do nothing at all, just staring at the wall. I remember that I always complain about why my life was like this, that everyone and everything is against me. I really feel surprised as I look back, because I can see the big difference between my present self and who I used to be. What a huge change!
• Strong memories, I believe, can be formed by both happy and sad events. If it was a happy event, then you would always remember the feeling during that time because if because a motivation in your life (at least, for me it does). Sad memories also have a similar effect. You learn from the sad memory, and you look at what caused it, and you would start to avoid the cause of this sad event. So overall, both happy and sad memories can bring us strong memories.

Your Role

Describe your role in the class Of Mice and Men video project. What is your job or jobs? What have you done so far? Has it been a good experience, or have you had some frustrations? What is left for you to do? What is your opinion on how the final project will turn out? Give an honest appraisal of your own level of effort so far.

• In the class project of the book Of Mice and Men, I am the scriptwriter, along with Sarah. There are currently a total of 8 scenes. I am responsible for the first 4 scenes, while Sarah is responsible for the second 4 scenes. Currently, I have only finished Act 1 Scene 1 of my project. The progress has been quite slow due to the international conference I went to in St. Petersburg for Model United Nations. I had to finish the part that I did on the plane! It was so tiring... I barely had any sleep out of the 24 hours of plane flight - I believe that I only had about 4-5 hours. So right now, I feel like dropping to my bed. Anyways, bad to topic, the scriptwriting is going quite well. I had a hard time deciding what type of format should I use, but I'm glad that I solved it. Right now, I have 3 more scenes left, which I would believe is quite easy, because the first scene is the longest and most complicated. I believe that if everybody does their part and that if the filming and editing shows the effects and mood we want, then it would be an extremely successful project.

Cruel or Kind?

In the novel Of Mice and Men, the characters often act cruelly to each other, but at other times we see acts of kindness. Describe at least one act of cruelty and one act of kindness from the novel and explain what you think the character’s motivation was. Are some characters only cruel? Only kind? Or is there a mixture of both?

• One act of cruelty can be seen when Curley starts to punch Lennie just because he did not want to see him, or just because Lennie is larger and stronger than he is. One act of kindness can be seen from the start of the novel and also throughout the novel: George has always kept Lennie with him and has always taken care of Lennie even though he doesn't have to, even though he could have just left him alone and not care about him. I believe that the motivation for Curley wanting to punch Lennie was because Curley was jealous of Lennie's large body size and also his strength (he was a big guy). The motivation for George keeping Lennie with him was because of his selfishness, because he wanted company, and he believes that Lennie is good company for him. There are not characters who are completely cruel or completely nice. All characters have a bit of good or a bit of bad in them. Curley, though most people believe that he is evil, still has a bit of good that can be seen when he is with his wife. Lennie, who may seen as the innocent character, actually has a bit of evil within him. This can be seen because Lennie went berserk and even killed Curley's wife. He didn't do it on purpose, but this shows that he still has a bit of "evil" in him. Most of the others are clearly people with a bit of good and a bit of bad.

Analyzing Visuals

Look at the picture on p. 409 of your text. Describe the picture, and then discuss whether and how it affects the emotional impact of the text. Does it contribute to your understanding of the event? Consider perspective, color, the use of light and dark, and any other elements you can think of.

• My first impressions of the illustration on page 409 in our textbook can be described by the words "dark", "dramatic", "ironic", "ocean", "sea", "lights", "blue", "ice", "cold", "stars", and finally, "shine". These words are impressions that I have concerning the illustration, which are closely related with the story R.M.S. Titanic. When I see this illustration with the story R.M.S. Titanic, it is able to amplify the dramatic effect of the tragedy. We can see the use of light and dark clearly - the Titanic is still shining its lights as it sinks, while its surroundings are pitch black, only illuminated by the stars. The color of the illustration is mainly blue and black. I believe that the the picture does contribute to my understanding of the event. It shows me one example of why so many people died. In the picture, there are only 2 lifeboats with people, even though there are still a large amount of passengers on the Titanic. More people could have been saved if the lifeboats were more filled. Also, I discovered something weird about the picture. The people on the lifeboats wore life jackets. However, because they were to confident about the Titanic, they didn't wear life jackets, did they?

Will to Survive

As you read about the sinking of the Titanic, think about other stories, movies, or books in which a character (real or fictional) has to choose between saving himself or herself and saving others. How does one balance the will to survive with the urge to help others? Do you think this is a conscious choice, or do people act on instinct in an emergency situation and only think of the danger to themselves later? How do you think you would act in such a situation?

•  One balances the will to survive with the urge to help others just like how a person balances their self value with their pride. What I mean when I talk about self value is that most people are afraid of dying. Most people do not want to risk their own lives to help others. This is selfishness, which is natural for human nature. However, pride contradicts their self value. Some certain people like to show off and be the center of attention, or be a hero, so they would want to help others so that they respect him or her as their "hero". Pride can be said as a person's passion as a "human being", which is being nice and friendly with each other.
• People do things both conciously and unconsiously. It really depends on the person, and what their personality is and what their way of thinking is. When a person does an act consiously, it is either because they are valuing themselves, or because of pride. When they are acting unconsiously, it reflects their passion for life. 
• When I am in such a situation, it really depends on who I'm saving. If it the person was my friend, then I would definitely save him or her. If the person was a stranger, then I might save them, depending on my impression of that person. However, if I do not like the person, then I would save myself first.

The Band Played On

What did the band members on the Titanic do as the lifeboats were being loaded? Why do you think they made that decision? Do you agree with their decision? Have you ever heard of people reacting in a similar way when faced with life-threatening danger? How do you think you would react in a similar situation?

•  When the Titanic bumped into a huge, enormous iceberg and began to sank, the band members continued to play their instruments, even when the others were loading the lifeboats, and when the people were sure that the Titanic was actually sinking. I do not believe that I can agree or disagree with the band members, because I am not a band member, and I do not feel extremely passionate for music. However, for them, music might be their everything, and they want the other people who might die enjoy music even at their last moments, before they die. Or maybe, they believe that they will definitely die, and want to continue to do the thing they love the most before their final moments. There are many different reasons, and we will never know for certain what the band members were thinking. I have never heard of anyone reacting the same way they did in this type of life-threatening situation. If I were in such a situation, I would be calm on the outside, but actually panicking in the inside. I would try my best to find a way to stay alive, so my first reaction in this case would be to find a lifeboat and get onto it.

Bad Choices

The sinking of the Titanic is a famous disaster. Versions of the story have appeared in songs and movies—some accurate, some highly fictionalized. Write a few sentences about what you know—or think you know—about this event. Comment on the choices that were made in the course of the disaster. What choices do you think led to so few people’s surviving the sinking of the Titanic?

•  The R.M.S. Titanic is the largest ship during her time period. The next largest is her sister ship, the Olympic. The Titanic set out on her first voyage, leaving Southampton, in Europe, and heading for New York, in the land of hope, the United States. However, on her way, she bumped into icebergs, and damaged her body frame, and eventually causing her to sink. The people who constructed the Titanic and who have heard about the Titanic were all too confident in her. This is the reason for why they ignored the 3 icebergs, and also the messages that were sent to the controlling board of the R.M.S. Titanic pertaining to the icebergs.
• The bad decisions that were made duing this course of disaster include the people from the control panel not reporting the messages about the icebergs, and also, even when they did report it, the people controlling the ship did not take the message and the icebergs seriously. Finally, a lot of the people from the Titanic died in this tragedy because one, they were all panicking, and the life boats were not filled, and two, because the passengers were too confident about the ship and did not expect it to sink, so there were safety checks, etc.

Sources

Do you know what the difference is between primary and secondary sources? Discuss what you think each one is and how they differ from each other. Give examples of what you think might qualify for each. Then think of a significant historical event, like the 921 earthquake, and think of what might qualify as a primary source of information about it, and what might be a secondary source.

•  Primary sources are first-hand information sources. These sources include interviews that include only questions and quotes, autobiographies, quotes, eyewitnesses, letters, speeches, and historical documents. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are second-hand sources. Secondary sources can also be describes as primary sources that have been interpreted by people other than the ones who are involved with a certain person, incident, or event. Secondary sources include encyclopedias, magazines, articles, textbooks, and biographies. Examples of primary and secondary sources are not only limited to the ones listed above. 
• One of the examples that I am going to use here is the 921 Earthquake that occurred in Taiwan. A large amount of people died during this earthquake. One of the primary sources can be a quote from an eyewitness of the earthquake when a building fell down, or from a diary of a victim. On the other hand, a secondary source may be an interview where the victim's feelings, views, and opinions might have been interpreted by the reporter. 
• As you may know, primary sources are more reliable than secondary sources in most cases. But we have to consider the fact that the point of view of that person might be different from another person's point of view, and if they have any hate towards a certain part of an incident of event, they might be biased. Secondary sources sometimes can be more reliable, because the sources have been collected by people who are knowledgeable in those fields.

Bosom Buddies

Describe the relationship between George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men. How would you characterize it in terms of the benefits one friend derives from the other? Does one friend benefit more or less? Who and why? Considering the definition of plot, how does their relationship function to move the plot forward? Consider your own relationships and describe one or more of them. Do you have any relationships that resemble that of George and Lennie? Are you more of a George, or more of a Lennie?

• The relationship between George and Lennie is a symbiotic relationship. Lennie benefits more from George, because Lennie has to have help from George, or else he cannot survive. George, however could like alone without Lennie, and quite a good life as well, so he is giving up more for Lennie. George only gets company out of his relationship with Lennie, and other than company, trouble. 
• The definition of plot is a series of related events that hold a story together. The driving force of the plot is George's protection of Lennie, and Lennie always relying on George, creating tensions that increase and decrease. For example, because George wants to protect Lennie, he doesn't let him talk to the boss, which cause the boss to be suspicious about George and  Lennie. Also, an example of trouble brought by Lennie is their conflict between Curley and Lennie. Curley doesn't like Lennie because he is a big guy, and George doesn't like Curley because Curley doesn't like Lennie and wants to cause problems for Lennie on purpose.
• I do not have any friend relationship that resemble the relationship of George and Lennie. If I compare myself to George and Lennie, I would say that I am more of an in-between person. I give while I receive. I believe that this is very fair.

Your Lennie

Think of someone who you have known most of your life; someone who is close to your age; your best friend or blood brother/sister; you have always protected each other. Then your friend is in a terrible accident. He/she now has some brain damage. He/She can still do most things; but he/she forgets things; acts very childlike (not childish). Still looks up to you for friendship and protection. Your other friends make fun of him/her and tell you to drop him/her as a friend. Would your friendship end? Why? Why not? How do you protect him/her from the cruelty of society? Can you? Why or Why not? 

• I am a person who believes that friendship is a really important thing in life. I take friendship really seriously, so I pick my friends carefully. Once I pick them, I hope that I can be friends with them forever. So, even if an accident like this happened and my friend now has a severe brain damage and cannot remember well or acts childlike, I will still treat him or her as a friend and try to help them as much as I can. Also, I believe that if a single accident can stop us from being friends, then we aren't really friends.

• To protect him or her from society, I would first check to see if he or she has any chance for recovery. If there is, then I would want him or her to first say in the hospital to take treatment. If treatment does not work, then I would have to help him or her settle into a hospital for disabilities. Then, when I grow up, I will find time to go and see him or her, and also donate money to him or her when he or she needs it. I believe this is the most that I, as a friend can do for him or her.

Emotional Setting

Setting is not only the physical time and place, but can also include the emotional atmosphere in which a story takes place. Describe the setting of the novel Of Mice and Men in both senses—physical (time, place, physical features of the environment) and emotional (is the atmosphere friendly, antagonistic, collaborative, dog-eat-dog, etc). In your description of the emotional side, explain what evidence from the text you are basing you interpretation on.

•  The physical setting of the novel Of Mice and Men includes nature, if we recount the first seen of the novel. There is the woods and the path which leads to a pond, where George and Lennie drank water from. The other physical settings include the new ranch that George and Lennie went to. There, the most described place is the dormitory for the workers; the bunks and the shelves are precisely described. The time for the novel is most likely in America during the time of the thirteen colonies, in the South. 
• The emotional setting is quite different from the nature and calmness of the physical setting. The emotional setting is very suspicious and  competitive. We can already see some suspicion when the owner of the ranch notices that George is always answering for Lennie. Then, there is obvious competition when Curley sees Lennie, because he doesn't like big guys, and Lennie is a big guy. This shows a dangerous feeling and mood, and also foreshadowing at the same time. However, there is a quite friendly emotional setting between George and Lennie.