Apple's decision caused several negative consequences, such as encouraging piracy.
When people cannot get their favorite EBooks, music and movies through the itunes store, they would turn to illegal methods such as downloading from the internet for free. This would instill the people a mindset that it is okay to do illegal things and thus neglect the law. Also after a while, people would think that these forms of entertainment are free and should not cost a penny. This would cause a major problem to the entertainment industry due to their loss of profit. However, the biggest problem would be the effect of the people’s morale, which in turn gives the government lots of problems.
However, I do feel that even though Apple grant Asia access to the itunes store, they would still not earn enough money. Asia is one of the most advanced continents in the world. Even if there is a legal way to buy music and so on, the people would still choose to go to different websites set up by web makers in countries such as China to download their things as they are free. By putting ourselves in their shoes, I do feel that even though it might cause several negative consequences, it would still benefit the company. Moreover, they would not have to deal with the case of piracy and rather focus on other things such as promoting their itunes store in Europe.
I hope that the governments in Asia countries will do their part in stopping piracy from happening. They should be stricter when dealing with illegal cases by ensuring that there is a tight web security. Once Asia become as piracy-free continent, I’m sure that Apple would reconsider their decision and grant Asia access to the itunes store once again.
Phone Hacking Scandal
I believe that the phone hacking scandal led to a huge outrage of the public is actually caused by the public themselves, as they are they are the ones who want to find out more about the private lives of famous people. They are clearly trying to give the all clear signal for the media to continue in the phone hackings.
We should learn that our actions have to be in line with our thoughts, so that confusions would not be made Our actions may cause other to react in such a way that is against our own will, and we sometimes don’t realise it as we always perceive that what we do is always right.
We have to keep our thoughts and actions on the same line rather than separating it. Sometimes, we should break our chains of thoughts and think, am I actually doing what I am thinking? If we don’t, unnecessary misunderstandings or consequences may occur and people would have gotten the wrong idea of you. Also, we may cause confliction, resulting in harm being done to both parties just because our actions do not reflect what we think. Hence, it is essential for both our actions and thoughts to be on the same line.
Another point to take note of is the fact that we should show respect to everyone. We should not support the hacking of phones of famous people and celebrities. Think about it. By putting ourselves into their shoes, we would realise that they need privacy just like all of us do. Many of them out there are getting tired facing the media all the time. If phone hacking goes on, do you think they like it? Due to the media, some of them even went to rehab or committed suicide.
In conclusion, it is important to respect people and not do thing like phone hacking to find out more about a person’s personal life.
We should learn that our actions have to be in line with our thoughts, so that confusions would not be made Our actions may cause other to react in such a way that is against our own will, and we sometimes don’t realise it as we always perceive that what we do is always right.
We have to keep our thoughts and actions on the same line rather than separating it. Sometimes, we should break our chains of thoughts and think, am I actually doing what I am thinking? If we don’t, unnecessary misunderstandings or consequences may occur and people would have gotten the wrong idea of you. Also, we may cause confliction, resulting in harm being done to both parties just because our actions do not reflect what we think. Hence, it is essential for both our actions and thoughts to be on the same line.
Another point to take note of is the fact that we should show respect to everyone. We should not support the hacking of phones of famous people and celebrities. Think about it. By putting ourselves into their shoes, we would realise that they need privacy just like all of us do. Many of them out there are getting tired facing the media all the time. If phone hacking goes on, do you think they like it? Due to the media, some of them even went to rehab or committed suicide.
In conclusion, it is important to respect people and not do thing like phone hacking to find out more about a person’s personal life.
Casey Anthony
I feel that the public should understand what she is going through and leave her alone.
The public are trying to play the role of a judge by saying that she is guilty of it just because she did things that were suspicious. Although they are trying to give their own opinions to the case, I feel that such actions do not make sense because of the fact that they are judging her without evidence. Moreover, the evidence is not justified, meaning that it is not 100% true. There might be lies in them. Thus, she should be not judged just because of the strong opinions of many as they are being irresponsible by adding fuel to the fire. When so many people are tormenting her, how can she get social acceptance at whatever she says? Because of that, Casey Anthony might not be given a chance to speak the truth. Furthermore, the public is causing more hurt to be done to her and her family.
Thus, the take away from this incident is that we should all be responsible for what we do as they might impact someone’s life negatively just like how the public did to Casey Anthony. We should not be so quick as judging her and instead wait for case to be justified. No one likes to be judged unjustly. However, if we if we are quick to judge we will lose our impartial view on this matter and think that she was the murderer.
I feel that justice must be done. We must let her go and assume that she was not the one who murderer her daughter. Besides, if we don’t trust the judge, who else will we trust? Hence, by taking this example we should take responsibility on how we react to thing and think before we act as it might affecting people directly or indirectly
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #12
Step 2:
The common theme present among the scrolls which are in the casket is the acceptance of a person rather than the love of their wealth.
The golden casket shows that the person who picked it loves money more than anything else, as the gold implies that the person would do anything to get the gold. This shows a person’s greed. Also, the gold shows that the person chooses money over all other things and regard it as useless if that thing or person had lost its monetary value. This is further evident by the fact that the Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket because he loves money than Portia.
The silver casket shows that the person who chooses it does not love money as much as the person who chooses gold. However, the person’s interest in money still takes up a part of his love of Portia. This means that this person wants both the money and her at the same time. It also implies that if Portia was not rich, he would probably have chosen another woman. This person is not a person who possesses wisdom as he lacks critical thinking and is unable to make decisive decisions. Thus, the silver casket in the middle shows that the person has a weak mindset as he cannot take a stand, like the silver casket which is neither here nor there.
Bronze shows that the person is down to earth and only loves Portia for who she is rather than the money. The bronze casket shows that the person is not really bothered by how rich someone is as he goes for the character and personality of Portia rather than her wealth. Thus he goes for the humble bronze as he wants the scroll inside and not judge through the value of the caskets themselves. This shows that he does not care about the monetary value of something but rather what matters to his feeling and emotions.
Step 3:
One day, my parents went into my room and said that they had divorced. I was shocked upon hearing the news. Before they got married, they used to be a loving couple. These days, they have been arguing about almost everything. It never occurred to me that these series of events would lead a divorce.
I slowly learned my fate of choosing to live with either my mom or my dad. My parents had been suing each other over the custody of me. Eventually, the judge allowed us to choose who we should go with. Thoughts flooded by mind. Should I follow my Mom or Dad?
I searched on the internet on how to make better decisions. I realised that I had to use logic to make my decision. I had to ask myself, out of my mom and my dad, who has treated me better and who do I think is capable of giving me a better life. Most importantly, I had to think whether my mom or dad could influence me to be a successful person when I grow up.
I managed to break down my chain of thoughts. I pondered over the questions. Originally, I had wanted to live with my mother. She treated me well by showing me lots of love. But after considering, I had decided to live with my father instead. He is the breadwinner of the family, meaning that he can support me through my teenage years and early adulthood. Also, he would be able to influence me to work harder in life and be as successful as him. The loss of love would not be a major concern too. I will be able to take advantage of this kind of hatred given by my father to motivate me to work harder.
I may not have made the best decision, but I know that if I follow logic and my heart, I would be able to make the decisions in life such as this.
The common theme present among the scrolls which are in the casket is the acceptance of a person rather than the love of their wealth.
The golden casket shows that the person who picked it loves money more than anything else, as the gold implies that the person would do anything to get the gold. This shows a person’s greed. Also, the gold shows that the person chooses money over all other things and regard it as useless if that thing or person had lost its monetary value. This is further evident by the fact that the Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket because he loves money than Portia.
The silver casket shows that the person who chooses it does not love money as much as the person who chooses gold. However, the person’s interest in money still takes up a part of his love of Portia. This means that this person wants both the money and her at the same time. It also implies that if Portia was not rich, he would probably have chosen another woman. This person is not a person who possesses wisdom as he lacks critical thinking and is unable to make decisive decisions. Thus, the silver casket in the middle shows that the person has a weak mindset as he cannot take a stand, like the silver casket which is neither here nor there.
Bronze shows that the person is down to earth and only loves Portia for who she is rather than the money. The bronze casket shows that the person is not really bothered by how rich someone is as he goes for the character and personality of Portia rather than her wealth. Thus he goes for the humble bronze as he wants the scroll inside and not judge through the value of the caskets themselves. This shows that he does not care about the monetary value of something but rather what matters to his feeling and emotions.
Step 3:
One day, my parents went into my room and said that they had divorced. I was shocked upon hearing the news. Before they got married, they used to be a loving couple. These days, they have been arguing about almost everything. It never occurred to me that these series of events would lead a divorce.
I slowly learned my fate of choosing to live with either my mom or my dad. My parents had been suing each other over the custody of me. Eventually, the judge allowed us to choose who we should go with. Thoughts flooded by mind. Should I follow my Mom or Dad?
I searched on the internet on how to make better decisions. I realised that I had to use logic to make my decision. I had to ask myself, out of my mom and my dad, who has treated me better and who do I think is capable of giving me a better life. Most importantly, I had to think whether my mom or dad could influence me to be a successful person when I grow up.
I managed to break down my chain of thoughts. I pondered over the questions. Originally, I had wanted to live with my mother. She treated me well by showing me lots of love. But after considering, I had decided to live with my father instead. He is the breadwinner of the family, meaning that he can support me through my teenage years and early adulthood. Also, he would be able to influence me to work harder in life and be as successful as him. The loss of love would not be a major concern too. I will be able to take advantage of this kind of hatred given by my father to motivate me to work harder.
I may not have made the best decision, but I know that if I follow logic and my heart, I would be able to make the decisions in life such as this.
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #11
Theme - Justice
FIFA Corruption (Bribery)
FIFA’s choice to award the 2018 world cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has been widely criticized by media. There have been reports stating that Russian kickbacks of cash and gifts given to FIFA executive members were enough to secure Russian 2018 bid weeks before the results were announced. Also, England was frustrated as they failed to secure the 2018 finals. When they questioned FIFA, evidence of bribery during the world cup bids started leaking out.
Bribery is an act implying money given that alters the behavior of the recipient. Some members of the FIFA executive committee accepted bribes just for the sake of money instead of making the decisions in which countries should host which world cup and ignoring the needs and opinions of both footballers and football fans. I feel that they are abusing their power out of personal interest. Given a high post, they should have high moral values and stick to the laws. Furthermore, people would lose respect of them and FIFA would have a bad image.
FIFA should have high discipline and prevent such things from occurring in the future. A few years back, It launched a fair play campaign called ‘My game is fair play’ that represents positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. However, because of such allegations of briberies, their reputation of being a fair and responsible organization to govern football has been tarnished. This led to illegal activities like match-fixing in Turkey. As we all know, football is the world’s most popular sport. It should be enjoyed by millions around the world. If such cases of bribery in FIFA continues, how can be ensure that football is fair for all of us? Another point to take note of is that FIFA would lose its major sponsors such as Coca-Cola and Adidas because they want to cut off ties with the corrupted FIFA.
Looking at the big picture, FIFA’s irresponsibility could ultimately cause the increase of corruptions happening all over the world. The organisation has always been a large one and is well known to many through their organization of major international tournaments, notably FIFA World Cup. It should set a good example to other small organisations by being strict when dealing with corruption.
All in all, FIFA must not point fingers and instead work as a team to emerge stronger and from within, as stated by IOC president Jacques Rogge. They must ensure that no bribery occurs in the future and be more responsible at what they do. Football would then be respected as fair sport to be played.
FIFA Corruption (Bribery)
FIFA’s choice to award the 2018 world cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has been widely criticized by media. There have been reports stating that Russian kickbacks of cash and gifts given to FIFA executive members were enough to secure Russian 2018 bid weeks before the results were announced. Also, England was frustrated as they failed to secure the 2018 finals. When they questioned FIFA, evidence of bribery during the world cup bids started leaking out.
Bribery is an act implying money given that alters the behavior of the recipient. Some members of the FIFA executive committee accepted bribes just for the sake of money instead of making the decisions in which countries should host which world cup and ignoring the needs and opinions of both footballers and football fans. I feel that they are abusing their power out of personal interest. Given a high post, they should have high moral values and stick to the laws. Furthermore, people would lose respect of them and FIFA would have a bad image.
FIFA should have high discipline and prevent such things from occurring in the future. A few years back, It launched a fair play campaign called ‘My game is fair play’ that represents positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. However, because of such allegations of briberies, their reputation of being a fair and responsible organization to govern football has been tarnished. This led to illegal activities like match-fixing in Turkey. As we all know, football is the world’s most popular sport. It should be enjoyed by millions around the world. If such cases of bribery in FIFA continues, how can be ensure that football is fair for all of us? Another point to take note of is that FIFA would lose its major sponsors such as Coca-Cola and Adidas because they want to cut off ties with the corrupted FIFA.
Looking at the big picture, FIFA’s irresponsibility could ultimately cause the increase of corruptions happening all over the world. The organisation has always been a large one and is well known to many through their organization of major international tournaments, notably FIFA World Cup. It should set a good example to other small organisations by being strict when dealing with corruption.
All in all, FIFA must not point fingers and instead work as a team to emerge stronger and from within, as stated by IOC president Jacques Rogge. They must ensure that no bribery occurs in the future and be more responsible at what they do. Football would then be respected as fair sport to be played.
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #10
I was a Jew, and I was reading the Guardian, when I saw this article that really scared me. The title was “Israel should be wiped off map, says Iran’s president”. The leader of a country had created a sense of outrage by threatening to wipe a Jewish country off. This was a result of long years of hatred that the two countries have for each other. The formation of Israel was due to the overtaking of Iranian land. This might have sparked off anti-Semitism feelings among Muslims, who are Iran’s main ethnic composition.
I was really terrified that Iran’s president will endanger our race again. We had suffered a lot in the past, and would certainly not want to be affected by him. His comment would probably make us Jews panic. Perhaps that was what he wanted. I personally do not know why he hates us so much. I feel that peace should be made so that we would not have to suffer ever again.
I decided book a ticket to somewhere far way in Asia. I did not want to stay Israel for now as it is unsafe. I might return after a few months. Luckily for me, I have a few business friends they who can help me whenever I’m in need.
I hope that the Iran president will do no harm to us in the near future.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/27/israel.iran
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #9 (Part 2)
With a leap of faith
The Japanese marked the start of the war
They invaded the small island
And knew they were going to conquer
The Bukit Timah battle
Claimed the lives of many
And people suffered in agony
In a flash, the war was over.
The Japanese reigned supreme
The British lost all hope
And we fell to the Japanese
But hope came by
Japan was bombed
By weapons so powerful
They surrendered immediately
A delightful ending
A big reunion for many
Singapore was free from the Japanese rule
The Japanese marked the start of the war
They invaded the small island
And knew they were going to conquer
The Bukit Timah battle
Claimed the lives of many
And people suffered in agony
In a flash, the war was over.
The Japanese reigned supreme
The British lost all hope
And we fell to the Japanese
But hope came by
Japan was bombed
By weapons so powerful
They surrendered immediately
A delightful ending
A big reunion for many
Singapore was free from the Japanese rule
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #9 (Part 1)
1. The type of gun Sandburg was describing was anti-aircraft gun or cannon.
2. The “jackies” were sailors from the past who were famous for wearing white uniforms. They sang war chants as they were about to go into war to motivate themselves.
3. He means to say that guns are brothers of shovel as they are made of the same material. This is because when there is a war, the iron-made shovel will be melted and then made into guns to be placed on warships. When the war is over, the guns will be melted and then made into shovels.
4. The significance of the title “And They Obey” is that they have no say over what they do. When they say something, all have to do what they command. This show how powerful the rulers were as they full control of the people.
5. The effect of the contrasting effect tells us that no matter how bad the war is fought, there will always be a time when the city has to be rebuilt. The attitude toward them is that what they are doing is meaningless and they always go back to square one.
6. In my opinion, it is easier to destroy a society then to rebuild it. This can be seen by the fact that it took at least 10 years for Singapore to recover from WW2 economically and socially, compared to the fact only 4-5 years were needed to destroy it.
7. In the past, people ride horses to war and this will cause the drums of hoofs of the horses to be heard. In the present, motor powered tanks were created and that caused the hum of motors and the tracks of the tanks caused the tread of its rubber tires. The future would be a big question mark. It represents quick silent death.
8. Like how The Egypt dictator was overthrown by his own people as he became a convict and lost his power to rule over them.
2. The “jackies” were sailors from the past who were famous for wearing white uniforms. They sang war chants as they were about to go into war to motivate themselves.
3. He means to say that guns are brothers of shovel as they are made of the same material. This is because when there is a war, the iron-made shovel will be melted and then made into guns to be placed on warships. When the war is over, the guns will be melted and then made into shovels.
4. The significance of the title “And They Obey” is that they have no say over what they do. When they say something, all have to do what they command. This show how powerful the rulers were as they full control of the people.
5. The effect of the contrasting effect tells us that no matter how bad the war is fought, there will always be a time when the city has to be rebuilt. The attitude toward them is that what they are doing is meaningless and they always go back to square one.
6. In my opinion, it is easier to destroy a society then to rebuild it. This can be seen by the fact that it took at least 10 years for Singapore to recover from WW2 economically and socially, compared to the fact only 4-5 years were needed to destroy it.
7. In the past, people ride horses to war and this will cause the drums of hoofs of the horses to be heard. In the present, motor powered tanks were created and that caused the hum of motors and the tracks of the tanks caused the tread of its rubber tires. The future would be a big question mark. It represents quick silent death.
8. Like how The Egypt dictator was overthrown by his own people as he became a convict and lost his power to rule over them.
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #8
Dear Diary,
Today was frustrating day for me. I just got involved in World War II, whereby we had to face the heavily-armored Japanese soldiers.
The British army was heavily injured and got their loots stolen during their battles. Because of their failure to defend Singapore from the Japanese, Chinese soldiers were needed to assist them. One of them was me. For the past few months, we had trainings every day and learn survival skills such as learning how to kill animals and cook them, purify water for consumption and most importantly learning how to use the gun.
Today was my first day at war. It turned to out to be one of the worst days of my life. Our weapons were so inferior when compared to the Japanese and our zero fighter planes were nothing compared to their high-technology planes. The Japanese proved to be too strong for us and many of my comrades died. Luckily for me, I managed to survive. However, I sustained an injury on my leg as someone had shot me.
I always thought that my comrades and I were capable to dealing with the Japanese. However, news got out saying that many of our soldiers are dying quickly and our resources are running out. We actually failed. The general was shocked by how capable the Japanese were. A huge physiological damage was done on us.
I’m really uncertain about my battle tomorrow. I really hope the tables will turn in our favor. We keep ourselves calm and fight for the country like relentless warriors. I do believe that Singapore still has hope in keeping the Japanese away. As long as we do our best, there would still be a chance for many us to come out of this war victorious. Until then, our lives are on the line.
Winston Tan
Today was frustrating day for me. I just got involved in World War II, whereby we had to face the heavily-armored Japanese soldiers.
The British army was heavily injured and got their loots stolen during their battles. Because of their failure to defend Singapore from the Japanese, Chinese soldiers were needed to assist them. One of them was me. For the past few months, we had trainings every day and learn survival skills such as learning how to kill animals and cook them, purify water for consumption and most importantly learning how to use the gun.
Today was my first day at war. It turned to out to be one of the worst days of my life. Our weapons were so inferior when compared to the Japanese and our zero fighter planes were nothing compared to their high-technology planes. The Japanese proved to be too strong for us and many of my comrades died. Luckily for me, I managed to survive. However, I sustained an injury on my leg as someone had shot me.
I always thought that my comrades and I were capable to dealing with the Japanese. However, news got out saying that many of our soldiers are dying quickly and our resources are running out. We actually failed. The general was shocked by how capable the Japanese were. A huge physiological damage was done on us.
I’m really uncertain about my battle tomorrow. I really hope the tables will turn in our favor. We keep ourselves calm and fight for the country like relentless warriors. I do believe that Singapore still has hope in keeping the Japanese away. As long as we do our best, there would still be a chance for many us to come out of this war victorious. Until then, our lives are on the line.
Winston Tan
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #7
Soldiers were piles of rubble all over the place. The destruction caused by months of grenades and shooting was unmistakable. There were many holes in the walls and scorch marks on the rubble and debris all around the war zone -buildings were none existent. The piles of wood and rocks underfoot made it really hard for the untrained man to navigate through the terrain. Scout enemy camps made frequent trips to the area, and finding cover was a big concern for them. Without any cover, the scouting missions succeeded by killing of many soldiers. They were shot by snipers from enemy camps. Some got hit on the arm or the leg. Others were the receivers of head shots. The soldier who got that shot in the picture fell to the ground. His comrades quickly surround him, and offered their silent prayer for him. Biting back emotions, one of them sought to unbuckle the ammunition strip from their dead counterpart. The other kept a vigilant look in grief, just keeping a lookout just in case bullets were fired out again from the enemy camp. If that happened, he sacrificed his life and helped his friend. Tears were flowing down their cheeks. They had to suppress their feelings as they knew that emotions can affect one’s focus, making them more vulnerable. Fumbling while holding the ammunition strip, his comrade finally got it out. Their waste of ammunition had caused their problems. You never know when you need more of it. They could have used their bullets at the right time rather than shooting aimlessly, hoping that they would succeed when they tried. Nonetheless, the soldier laid there full of pride and awaiting death. The comrades got up and ran back for shelter. They knew that their fate would soon be the same as the soldier.
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #6
Dear Takumi,
I recently heard about the devastating news whereby Japan got struck by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami afterwards. The entire northern side of Japan is in a bad state and many buildings have collapsed due to the natural disasters. It is a total mayhem out there in the disaster zone. I was shocked to hear the news and thought of sending a letter to you.
Please remain optimistic and hope for the better. Also, you can always seek help from me as will always be there for you. You are welcome to stay with me too. I hope you have not given up hope even though your family is lost. Please do not be demoralized and lose faith at whatever you do.
The Japanese government is also trying their best to seek refuge for all the victims. There is a mammoth challenge for you and your fellow Japanese, to rebuild your homeland. Please do not be despair but instead, show the determination in you. There is still so much worth to fight for – your home, your country and your pride. Live life to its fullest as your parents and do your parents proud.
Once again, you must perseverance and have the determination. By standing tall and taking up all challenges that you face, you will bounce back stronger than ever. I send you my warmest regards and hope that you will make the right decisions in life and succeed in the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Winston Tan
I recently heard about the devastating news whereby Japan got struck by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami afterwards. The entire northern side of Japan is in a bad state and many buildings have collapsed due to the natural disasters. It is a total mayhem out there in the disaster zone. I was shocked to hear the news and thought of sending a letter to you.
Please remain optimistic and hope for the better. Also, you can always seek help from me as will always be there for you. You are welcome to stay with me too. I hope you have not given up hope even though your family is lost. Please do not be demoralized and lose faith at whatever you do.
The Japanese government is also trying their best to seek refuge for all the victims. There is a mammoth challenge for you and your fellow Japanese, to rebuild your homeland. Please do not be despair but instead, show the determination in you. There is still so much worth to fight for – your home, your country and your pride. Live life to its fullest as your parents and do your parents proud.
Once again, you must perseverance and have the determination. By standing tall and taking up all challenges that you face, you will bounce back stronger than ever. I send you my warmest regards and hope that you will make the right decisions in life and succeed in the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Winston Tan
IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #5
ONLINE LESSON
Group #5: Montgomery Bus Boycott and Scottsboro Trials
a. What event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?(Shao Wei)
It started in December 1 ,1955. Rosa Parks who was an African American, did not surrender her seat for a white man when she was sitting in the bus in Alabama. the reason i say surrender was because at the time blacks were supposed to give up their seats to white people because Alabama at the time was a segregated country. Rosa parks was then sent to court where she was found guilty and so was fined a total of us $ 14 dollars. with her arrest, sparked the Montgomery bus boycott where blacks refused to take bus services in Alabama.
b. Which two organizations were primarily involved in coordinating the boycott? (Glenn)
WPC and Montgomery NAACP
c. Why did the boycott catapult Martin Luther King, Jr. to prominence?(Shao Wei)
The bus boycott was planned by E.D. Nixon and after that was led by martin Luther king Jr, which lasted 386 days. in fact the situation became so intense that martin Luther kings house was bombed. king was arrested during the boycott and the united states district court ruling in the end ended the racial segregation on all Montgomery bus services . this was how martin Luther king Jr rose to fame during the boycott.
d. How is the Scottsboro trial related to the trial in TKAM? (Winston)
The Scottsboro trial was related to the trial in TKAM in a sense that both trials saw coloured people getting accused of rape. There was a miscarriage of justice and in the end, the coloured people were eventually ‘found guilty’ Back then, many people were racist and sided the white people. These two incidents have caused an uproar in the community due to the unfairness of the law.
e. State the specifics of each trial and why they were significant.(Chuan Xin)
Montgomery bus boycott
There was not really much of a trial in this case because the trial only lasted 30minutes, but instead, the main focus of this movement was the bus boycott. The bus boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks, a black woman who refused to give up her seat to the whites because she ‘did not feel like it’. She was arrested and fined and jailed for a trial that only lasted 30 minutes. This sparked of the bus boycott, in which the famous Martin Luther King was in charge of.
The main aim of the bus boycott was to let the whites know that the blacks have had enough of then treatment by the whites. 90% of the blacks stayed of the bus service in the country, and thus the bus operators have lost a lot of business. The KKK took action by intimidating the blacks, but the blacks were under orders to play it cool, and thus did not retaliate at all, no matter what the KKK did. This non-action made the KKK feel even angrier, and thus they started a lot of burnings and killings. However, the blacks stand was impassive, and in the end, due to their efforts, they won the match against the whites.
The Scottsboro Trial
The trial was significant because the jury was all white, which increased the chances for a miscarriage of justice during the trial
f. In what way are these trials similar?(Jun Jie)
They are similar in terms of racism towards to black, when both the cases are either minor, or when the “culprit” is totally Innocent.
Compiled and edited by Tan Yan Shen
Reflection
The topic that we did on that had to do with racism was the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Scotsborro Trials. After reading up about both cases of racism, I feel that the whites in the past were really extreme in their methods of putting down other races to maintain their supremacy. I am really glad that even though racism is not completely eradicated and most probably never will be, it is already greatly reduced and the hurt caused to the blacks have been minimized potentially.
In relation to TKAM and Mississippi Burning, I feel that all of the main ‘leaders’ of racism was the KKK. In the bus boycott, they also appeared to terrorize the blacks when they stopped taking the bus. In TKAM, the court was most likely KKK members, since there was a previous mention about clans and gangs by Scout, and Jem was trying to bluff her into believing that there was not any. In Mississippi Burning, the KKK presence is outright, where they kidnaped and killed the civil rights workers and set fire to all the black communities houses and churches.
The KKK were very immoral, and most of the extreme actions taken against blacks were seemingly done by the KKK and associated members of the society. They guided their actions through their twisted aim of maintaining white supremacy, but they never thought about what the white supremacy will achieve for them. The KKK were misguided and did not spare a thought for the black community by ‘walking around in their skin’, as said in TKAM.
Group #5: Montgomery Bus Boycott and Scottsboro Trials
a. What event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?(Shao Wei)
It started in December 1 ,1955. Rosa Parks who was an African American, did not surrender her seat for a white man when she was sitting in the bus in Alabama. the reason i say surrender was because at the time blacks were supposed to give up their seats to white people because Alabama at the time was a segregated country. Rosa parks was then sent to court where she was found guilty and so was fined a total of us $ 14 dollars. with her arrest, sparked the Montgomery bus boycott where blacks refused to take bus services in Alabama.
b. Which two organizations were primarily involved in coordinating the boycott? (Glenn)
WPC and Montgomery NAACP
c. Why did the boycott catapult Martin Luther King, Jr. to prominence?(Shao Wei)
The bus boycott was planned by E.D. Nixon and after that was led by martin Luther king Jr, which lasted 386 days. in fact the situation became so intense that martin Luther kings house was bombed. king was arrested during the boycott and the united states district court ruling in the end ended the racial segregation on all Montgomery bus services . this was how martin Luther king Jr rose to fame during the boycott.
d. How is the Scottsboro trial related to the trial in TKAM? (Winston)
The Scottsboro trial was related to the trial in TKAM in a sense that both trials saw coloured people getting accused of rape. There was a miscarriage of justice and in the end, the coloured people were eventually ‘found guilty’ Back then, many people were racist and sided the white people. These two incidents have caused an uproar in the community due to the unfairness of the law.
e. State the specifics of each trial and why they were significant.(Chuan Xin)
Montgomery bus boycott
There was not really much of a trial in this case because the trial only lasted 30minutes, but instead, the main focus of this movement was the bus boycott. The bus boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks, a black woman who refused to give up her seat to the whites because she ‘did not feel like it’. She was arrested and fined and jailed for a trial that only lasted 30 minutes. This sparked of the bus boycott, in which the famous Martin Luther King was in charge of.
The main aim of the bus boycott was to let the whites know that the blacks have had enough of then treatment by the whites. 90% of the blacks stayed of the bus service in the country, and thus the bus operators have lost a lot of business. The KKK took action by intimidating the blacks, but the blacks were under orders to play it cool, and thus did not retaliate at all, no matter what the KKK did. This non-action made the KKK feel even angrier, and thus they started a lot of burnings and killings. However, the blacks stand was impassive, and in the end, due to their efforts, they won the match against the whites.
The Scottsboro Trial
The trial was significant because the jury was all white, which increased the chances for a miscarriage of justice during the trial
f. In what way are these trials similar?(Jun Jie)
They are similar in terms of racism towards to black, when both the cases are either minor, or when the “culprit” is totally Innocent.
Compiled and edited by Tan Yan Shen
Reflection
The topic that we did on that had to do with racism was the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Scotsborro Trials. After reading up about both cases of racism, I feel that the whites in the past were really extreme in their methods of putting down other races to maintain their supremacy. I am really glad that even though racism is not completely eradicated and most probably never will be, it is already greatly reduced and the hurt caused to the blacks have been minimized potentially.
In relation to TKAM and Mississippi Burning, I feel that all of the main ‘leaders’ of racism was the KKK. In the bus boycott, they also appeared to terrorize the blacks when they stopped taking the bus. In TKAM, the court was most likely KKK members, since there was a previous mention about clans and gangs by Scout, and Jem was trying to bluff her into believing that there was not any. In Mississippi Burning, the KKK presence is outright, where they kidnaped and killed the civil rights workers and set fire to all the black communities houses and churches.
The KKK were very immoral, and most of the extreme actions taken against blacks were seemingly done by the KKK and associated members of the society. They guided their actions through their twisted aim of maintaining white supremacy, but they never thought about what the white supremacy will achieve for them. The KKK were misguided and did not spare a thought for the black community by ‘walking around in their skin’, as said in TKAM.
Expert Circles Activities
Topic 1: Will the real William Shakespeare please stand up?
Scholars and historians feel that the name “William Shakespeare” is a pen name for he real author of the plays to hide his identity from the public. Many scholars and literature historians feel that the thought that “William Shakespeare” was simply a pen name is counted a fringe belief. Then, the language that Shakespeare uses its in his biography seemed totally different from his poetic eminence and his reputation for genius, arousing suspicion that Shakespeare might not have written the works attributed to him.
The controversy has since created a large number of literature, and more than 70 authorship candidates have been proposed, including Francis Bacon, the 6th Earl of Derby, Christopher Marlowe, and the 17th Earl of Oxford. The full list is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Shakespeare_authorship_candidates
Edward was a well-educated and well-traveled nobleman of Queen Elizabeth court which may be comparable with the intelligence of William Shakespeare as William needed to very intelligent and also smart to be able to have written so many superb and historical plays which are still being acted and read till date. Another reason is that Edward was also not known being a playwright or a writer, and simply attributed to have high level of intelligence, which William Shakespeare may have wanted, not wanting anyone to recognise him for anything, if he used a pen name to avoid the public. Edward was also known to be pursuing literature, which William Shakespeare should be doing because the only reason he wrote so many plays was because he loved literature. Last but not least, the birth and death date of William Shakespeare is very close, with the birth date being unknown, only that it is known that he was baptised in 1564, which may be possible as Edward was born in 1550. However, there is a 14-year difference in the year of death, which may also be caused by mistake during recording such as assuming that he was dead just because he disappeared and left.
Topic 2 : Queen Elizabeth 1
Elizabeth I born 7 September 1533 died 24 March 1603 was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. She was known as the virgin queenand was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. In 1558 Elizabeth succeeded the Catholic Mary I, during whose reign she had been imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels
Throughout the Early Modern Period English foreign policy underwent many dramatic shifts as the Monarch moved within the Franco-Spanish-Burgundian triangle. King Henry VII had been incredibly isolationist and intent on recovering from England’s internal problems after the War of the Roses, but his son Henry VIII had grandiose imperial ambitions. Elizabeth had more in common with her grandfather than her father, and yet her reign would see England involved in fighting from Brussels to the New World and one of the great martial victories of English history, over the Spanish Armada. She was very sensitive to the European situation and it was often a catalyst for change in her foreign policy. This was a time of change for English foreign relations and Elizabeth learnt after a decade that the old-fashioned and well-trodden paths of her ancestors would need re-examining. England had strong relationship with Spain & France prior to 1567, Philip II of Spain, most powerful man in the World, had been married to Elizabeth’s estranged sister, Mary I. But such a direct Spanish link to England had offended the common people, and Elizabeth declined Philip’s offer of marriage to herself upon her accession.
Queen Elizabeth I liked plays that were acted out for her. She likes Shakespeare’s plays because in some of his play, Shakespeare cleverly hinted passages referring to the Queen and other events that affiliated during both of their life time. Queen Elizabeth I was a great supporter of the arts, mainly she supported plays and masques.
Topic 4: The (historical and cultural) Setting of Venice
Venice in the 14th and 15th century was fighting and acquiring islands and various territories on the way to the Middle East. Venice started declining in the 16th century after various attacks like the Kingdoms of France and Spain. One of such example will be the Turks. In the summer of 1570, about 60,000 troops, including cavalry and artillery, under the command of Mustafa Pasha landed unopposed near Limassol on July 2, 1570, and laid siege to Nicosia. In an orgy of victory on the day that the city fell — September 9, 1570 — 20,000 Nicosian Greeks and Venetians were put to death, and every church, public building, and palace was looted.
However, Venice flourished and was an important trading centre and art centre due to its stable political climate. There were over a 100,000 people living in Venice in the 15th and 16th century. At the beginning of the 16th century, theatres were introduced and were welcomed by the citizens. Groups of actors performed in the houses of nobles and even they charged admission.
Venice was a centre for Renaissance culture in the 15th and 16th century. Architecture, art, music and literature flourished in Venice. As a major port of trade, Venice was able to find ready markets for whatever decorative arts Venetian craftsmen could produce. The whole Republic was crawling with ceramists, glassworkers, woodworkers, lace makers and sculptors (in addition to painters), all of whom made entirely satisfactory livings. Trading was also very important in Venice as it was along one of the main trading routes during the Renaissance.
While Jews had been legally banned from England since 1290, Venice had laws in place to protect non-Venetian traders who supported the city’s economic well-being
Shakespeare’s setting is filled with religious strife, especially between Christians and Jews. Also, in 16th century, Venice was more tolerant of foreigners than Elizabethan England; Jews in Venice were confined to ghettos at the time Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice.
Topic five : Jews vs Christian
Love in Christianity: Jewish conception of love to justice, and the Christian conception of love to charity.
Sin: in both religions, sin refers to an offense towards god. these sin can be thoughts, words and deeds.
However, in the christian religion, sin is grouped into different types. the first one is called a venial sin, in which the sinner has wounded their relationship with god. on the other hand a complete destruction of the relationship with god is most often called a mortal sin. Christians think that unless the sinner has salvation from sin, after they die they will go to hell in the afterlife
Christians thought that Jews are inferior to them and therefore, should not be accepted into their society. What is more is that if a Jew wants to be accepted into the society, they will have to be converted to a Christian. They are also openly discriminated by the Christians and treated as slaves.
Among socio-economic factors were restrictions by the authorities. Local rulers and church officials closed many professions to the Jews, pushing them into marginal occupations considered socially inferior, such as tax and rent collecting and moneylending, tolerated then as a “necessary evil”. Catholic doctrine of the time held that lending money for interest was a sin, and forbidden to Christians. Not being subject to this restriction, Jews dominated this business. The Torah and later sections of the Hebrew Bible criticise Usury but interpretations of the Biblical prohibition vary. Since few other occupations were open to them, Jews were motivated to take up money lending. This was said to show Jews were insolent, greedy, usurers, and subsequently led to many negative stereotypes and propaganda. Natural tensions between creditors (typically Jews) and debtors (typically Christians) were added to social, political, religious, and economic strains. Peasants who were forced to pay their taxes to Jews could personify them as the people taking their earnings while remaining loyal to the lords on whose behalf the Jews worked.
Topic 6
Shakespeare’s plays were mostly performed in the Globe Theatre which was some sort of a medieval building. The outer view of the building has a much simpler design while the inside holds a much more intricate design which brings out a mystical atmosphere. The Globe Theatre had no roof, allowing sunlight to enter the building during the day. The building had no lighting equipment thus plays were mostly scheduled in the afternoon where there is light.
The theater that Cuthbert Burbage built for the Chamberlain’s Men had a total capacity of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators. Because there was no lighting, all performances at the Globe were conducted, weather permitting, during the day (probably most often in the mid-afternoon span between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.). Because most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air, acoustics were poor and the actors were compelled by circumstances to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures.
The language of Shakespeare’s plays are also descriptive as the theatres are open air without much scenery. The scenery are being described through dialogues and actions of the actors. Therefore the language of Shakespeare’s plays are often descriptive.
Shakespeare’s fellow members of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men acted in his plays. Among these actors were Richard Burbage (who played the title role in the first performances of many of Shakespeare’s plays, including Hamlet, Othello, Richard III and King Lear), Richard Cowley (who played Verges in Much Ado About Nothing), William Kempe, (who played Peter in Romeo and Juliet and, possibly, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Henry Condell and John Heminges, are most famous now for collecting and editing the plays of Shakespeare’s First Folio.
People from all classes went to see Shakespeare’s plays in Shakespeare’s time. Anyone who could afford the minimum price of one penny could go and stand in the yard in front of the stage. They were known as ‘groundlings’ or ‘penny stinkers’; they stood all through the play. Those who could afford two pennies could sit on the covered benches; there were three tiers of covered seating around the edge of the yard. Rich people could sit above, or above and just to the side of the stage in the ‘Lords’ rooms’.
The Mayor and Corporation of London banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the plague, and in 1575 they formally expelled all players from the city1 This prompted the construction of playhouses outside the jurisdiction of London, in the liberties of Halliwell/Holywell in Shoreditch and later the Clink, and at Newington Butts near the established entertainment district of St. George’s Fields in rural Surrey
In the past, Shakespeare worked in places like the theatre.The Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Shoreditch (in Curtain Road, part of the modern London Borough of Hackney), just outside the City of London. It was the second permanent theatre ever built in England, after the Red Lion, and the first successful one. Built by actor-manager James Burbage, near the family home in Holywell Street, The Theatre is considered the first theatre built in London for the sole purpose of theatrical productions. The Theatre’s history includes a number of important acting troupes including the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.The design of The Theatre was possibly adapted from the inn-yards that had served as playing spaces for actors and/or bear baiting pits. The building was a polygonal wooden building with three galleries that surrounded an open yard.
However, the modern Globe theatre is different. Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse in the London Borough of Southwark, located on the south bank of the River Thames, but destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt 1614 then demolished in 1644. The modern reconstruction, of the 1614 building, was founded by the actor and director Sam Wanamaker and built approximately 230 metres (750 ft) from the site of the original theatre. The theatre was opened to the public in 1997, with a production of Henry V. The site also includes a reconstruction of the Blackfriars Theatre.
Scholars and historians feel that the name “William Shakespeare” is a pen name for he real author of the plays to hide his identity from the public. Many scholars and literature historians feel that the thought that “William Shakespeare” was simply a pen name is counted a fringe belief. Then, the language that Shakespeare uses its in his biography seemed totally different from his poetic eminence and his reputation for genius, arousing suspicion that Shakespeare might not have written the works attributed to him.
The controversy has since created a large number of literature, and more than 70 authorship candidates have been proposed, including Francis Bacon, the 6th Earl of Derby, Christopher Marlowe, and the 17th Earl of Oxford. The full list is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Shakespeare_authorship_candidates
Edward was a well-educated and well-traveled nobleman of Queen Elizabeth court which may be comparable with the intelligence of William Shakespeare as William needed to very intelligent and also smart to be able to have written so many superb and historical plays which are still being acted and read till date. Another reason is that Edward was also not known being a playwright or a writer, and simply attributed to have high level of intelligence, which William Shakespeare may have wanted, not wanting anyone to recognise him for anything, if he used a pen name to avoid the public. Edward was also known to be pursuing literature, which William Shakespeare should be doing because the only reason he wrote so many plays was because he loved literature. Last but not least, the birth and death date of William Shakespeare is very close, with the birth date being unknown, only that it is known that he was baptised in 1564, which may be possible as Edward was born in 1550. However, there is a 14-year difference in the year of death, which may also be caused by mistake during recording such as assuming that he was dead just because he disappeared and left.
Topic 2 : Queen Elizabeth 1
Elizabeth I born 7 September 1533 died 24 March 1603 was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. She was known as the virgin queenand was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. In 1558 Elizabeth succeeded the Catholic Mary I, during whose reign she had been imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels
Throughout the Early Modern Period English foreign policy underwent many dramatic shifts as the Monarch moved within the Franco-Spanish-Burgundian triangle. King Henry VII had been incredibly isolationist and intent on recovering from England’s internal problems after the War of the Roses, but his son Henry VIII had grandiose imperial ambitions. Elizabeth had more in common with her grandfather than her father, and yet her reign would see England involved in fighting from Brussels to the New World and one of the great martial victories of English history, over the Spanish Armada. She was very sensitive to the European situation and it was often a catalyst for change in her foreign policy. This was a time of change for English foreign relations and Elizabeth learnt after a decade that the old-fashioned and well-trodden paths of her ancestors would need re-examining. England had strong relationship with Spain & France prior to 1567, Philip II of Spain, most powerful man in the World, had been married to Elizabeth’s estranged sister, Mary I. But such a direct Spanish link to England had offended the common people, and Elizabeth declined Philip’s offer of marriage to herself upon her accession.
Queen Elizabeth I liked plays that were acted out for her. She likes Shakespeare’s plays because in some of his play, Shakespeare cleverly hinted passages referring to the Queen and other events that affiliated during both of their life time. Queen Elizabeth I was a great supporter of the arts, mainly she supported plays and masques.
Topic 4: The (historical and cultural) Setting of Venice
Venice in the 14th and 15th century was fighting and acquiring islands and various territories on the way to the Middle East. Venice started declining in the 16th century after various attacks like the Kingdoms of France and Spain. One of such example will be the Turks. In the summer of 1570, about 60,000 troops, including cavalry and artillery, under the command of Mustafa Pasha landed unopposed near Limassol on July 2, 1570, and laid siege to Nicosia. In an orgy of victory on the day that the city fell — September 9, 1570 — 20,000 Nicosian Greeks and Venetians were put to death, and every church, public building, and palace was looted.
However, Venice flourished and was an important trading centre and art centre due to its stable political climate. There were over a 100,000 people living in Venice in the 15th and 16th century. At the beginning of the 16th century, theatres were introduced and were welcomed by the citizens. Groups of actors performed in the houses of nobles and even they charged admission.
Venice was a centre for Renaissance culture in the 15th and 16th century. Architecture, art, music and literature flourished in Venice. As a major port of trade, Venice was able to find ready markets for whatever decorative arts Venetian craftsmen could produce. The whole Republic was crawling with ceramists, glassworkers, woodworkers, lace makers and sculptors (in addition to painters), all of whom made entirely satisfactory livings. Trading was also very important in Venice as it was along one of the main trading routes during the Renaissance.
While Jews had been legally banned from England since 1290, Venice had laws in place to protect non-Venetian traders who supported the city’s economic well-being
Shakespeare’s setting is filled with religious strife, especially between Christians and Jews. Also, in 16th century, Venice was more tolerant of foreigners than Elizabethan England; Jews in Venice were confined to ghettos at the time Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice.
Topic five : Jews vs Christian
Love in Christianity: Jewish conception of love to justice, and the Christian conception of love to charity.
Sin: in both religions, sin refers to an offense towards god. these sin can be thoughts, words and deeds.
However, in the christian religion, sin is grouped into different types. the first one is called a venial sin, in which the sinner has wounded their relationship with god. on the other hand a complete destruction of the relationship with god is most often called a mortal sin. Christians think that unless the sinner has salvation from sin, after they die they will go to hell in the afterlife
Christians thought that Jews are inferior to them and therefore, should not be accepted into their society. What is more is that if a Jew wants to be accepted into the society, they will have to be converted to a Christian. They are also openly discriminated by the Christians and treated as slaves.
Among socio-economic factors were restrictions by the authorities. Local rulers and church officials closed many professions to the Jews, pushing them into marginal occupations considered socially inferior, such as tax and rent collecting and moneylending, tolerated then as a “necessary evil”. Catholic doctrine of the time held that lending money for interest was a sin, and forbidden to Christians. Not being subject to this restriction, Jews dominated this business. The Torah and later sections of the Hebrew Bible criticise Usury but interpretations of the Biblical prohibition vary. Since few other occupations were open to them, Jews were motivated to take up money lending. This was said to show Jews were insolent, greedy, usurers, and subsequently led to many negative stereotypes and propaganda. Natural tensions between creditors (typically Jews) and debtors (typically Christians) were added to social, political, religious, and economic strains. Peasants who were forced to pay their taxes to Jews could personify them as the people taking their earnings while remaining loyal to the lords on whose behalf the Jews worked.
Topic 6
Shakespeare’s plays were mostly performed in the Globe Theatre which was some sort of a medieval building. The outer view of the building has a much simpler design while the inside holds a much more intricate design which brings out a mystical atmosphere. The Globe Theatre had no roof, allowing sunlight to enter the building during the day. The building had no lighting equipment thus plays were mostly scheduled in the afternoon where there is light.
The theater that Cuthbert Burbage built for the Chamberlain’s Men had a total capacity of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators. Because there was no lighting, all performances at the Globe were conducted, weather permitting, during the day (probably most often in the mid-afternoon span between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.). Because most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air, acoustics were poor and the actors were compelled by circumstances to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures.
The language of Shakespeare’s plays are also descriptive as the theatres are open air without much scenery. The scenery are being described through dialogues and actions of the actors. Therefore the language of Shakespeare’s plays are often descriptive.
Shakespeare’s fellow members of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men acted in his plays. Among these actors were Richard Burbage (who played the title role in the first performances of many of Shakespeare’s plays, including Hamlet, Othello, Richard III and King Lear), Richard Cowley (who played Verges in Much Ado About Nothing), William Kempe, (who played Peter in Romeo and Juliet and, possibly, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Henry Condell and John Heminges, are most famous now for collecting and editing the plays of Shakespeare’s First Folio.
People from all classes went to see Shakespeare’s plays in Shakespeare’s time. Anyone who could afford the minimum price of one penny could go and stand in the yard in front of the stage. They were known as ‘groundlings’ or ‘penny stinkers’; they stood all through the play. Those who could afford two pennies could sit on the covered benches; there were three tiers of covered seating around the edge of the yard. Rich people could sit above, or above and just to the side of the stage in the ‘Lords’ rooms’.
The Mayor and Corporation of London banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the plague, and in 1575 they formally expelled all players from the city1 This prompted the construction of playhouses outside the jurisdiction of London, in the liberties of Halliwell/Holywell in Shoreditch and later the Clink, and at Newington Butts near the established entertainment district of St. George’s Fields in rural Surrey
In the past, Shakespeare worked in places like the theatre.The Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Shoreditch (in Curtain Road, part of the modern London Borough of Hackney), just outside the City of London. It was the second permanent theatre ever built in England, after the Red Lion, and the first successful one. Built by actor-manager James Burbage, near the family home in Holywell Street, The Theatre is considered the first theatre built in London for the sole purpose of theatrical productions. The Theatre’s history includes a number of important acting troupes including the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.The design of The Theatre was possibly adapted from the inn-yards that had served as playing spaces for actors and/or bear baiting pits. The building was a polygonal wooden building with three galleries that surrounded an open yard.
However, the modern Globe theatre is different. Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse in the London Borough of Southwark, located on the south bank of the River Thames, but destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt 1614 then demolished in 1644. The modern reconstruction, of the 1614 building, was founded by the actor and director Sam Wanamaker and built approximately 230 metres (750 ft) from the site of the original theatre. The theatre was opened to the public in 1997, with a production of Henry V. The site also includes a reconstruction of the Blackfriars Theatre.
Racism questions
In your opinion, has enough been done to combat racism? How do you think racism can be dealt with in Singapore?
I personally feel that we need to have more initiative as the world hasn't done enough to combat racism. Statitics show that people out there in this world are still being bullied due to racism. Racism is a perception, not a problem. We can't just go out there and change what people are thinking about. Imagine me asking you what your favourite colour is, and afterwards I told you that you had to choose a different colour. It's a problem that is hard to resolve. Therefore, it has been a struggle for governments all over the world to even stop racism.
I think that racism is hard to stop. However, it is always good to try and teach the citizens of Singapore about being racist. I believe that most Singaporeans out there are racist but don't show or say it out. The government should carry out some initiatives and teach the citizens not to carry out racist activities. Also, it is to our advantage if Singapore educates children from young so when they grow up their perceptions may change. For example, it's no doubt that someone who goes to the seaside everyday would love the colour blue. It all starts in the 21 century. On top of that, Singapore is a multi-racial country. If all of us get racist, what would Singapore become of? I hope we would make a difference to the world. People out there in this world are suffering for no good reason.
I personally feel that we need to have more initiative as the world hasn't done enough to combat racism. Statitics show that people out there in this world are still being bullied due to racism. Racism is a perception, not a problem. We can't just go out there and change what people are thinking about. Imagine me asking you what your favourite colour is, and afterwards I told you that you had to choose a different colour. It's a problem that is hard to resolve. Therefore, it has been a struggle for governments all over the world to even stop racism.
I think that racism is hard to stop. However, it is always good to try and teach the citizens of Singapore about being racist. I believe that most Singaporeans out there are racist but don't show or say it out. The government should carry out some initiatives and teach the citizens not to carry out racist activities. Also, it is to our advantage if Singapore educates children from young so when they grow up their perceptions may change. For example, it's no doubt that someone who goes to the seaside everyday would love the colour blue. It all starts in the 21 century. On top of that, Singapore is a multi-racial country. If all of us get racist, what would Singapore become of? I hope we would make a difference to the world. People out there in this world are suffering for no good reason.
Reflections on doing CIP on founders day 2011
This year, our class had to go to Jurong Point to do Community Service. We had to spend time with the elderly for two whole hours. For the first hour, we treated them to breakfast. In the next hour, we decided to bring them around the shopping centre and chat to them. It was a frutiful experience for me and I enjoyed myself in the process. Terrence and I had to take care of Mr Tok, who sometimes can get irritated easily. We managed to handle him and it was a huge relief that he did not get frustrated or so. After talking to him, I realised that we should cherish our lives even better. I hope we can come back to this place again to do CIP. It is an honour to serve the community and I would do my very best to help the elderly.
Prejudice - Racism
Many coloured people out there in this world are being bullied, threatened or even killed for nothing. I feel that prejudice cannot be stopped, but minimized. To most Singaporeans, it is a natural thing for us to think of coloured people in a different way. I hope that everyone can start to think that coloured people are just like white people. Even if you don't think this way, at least try to kepp your opinions to yourself. Racism has been a big problem in Europe. Therefore, it is inevitable for the court to have problems regarding rascism. I personally feel that what the court does may not always be right, assuming that they are racist too. It is no doubt that the court would stirr up emotions and create controversies. People always have a mindset that law is always right. Since the court is full of racists, then this would pose a big problem to the coloured people. People from the society would start mocking them even more, and probably question them on whether they deserve to live or not. I feel that racism gives the white a real sense of entitlement, which thereby unifies the group's phenotype for maintenance of that entitlement. Because of the court, a psychological impact was made and would affect coloured people out there by a lot. I want the government to stop all this but I know time will tell. Prejudice is a serious problem. Why can't everyone be treated equally? Everyone should always think twice before you act. Imagine yourself as a coloured man and being bullied all the time.
For language arts this term, we went through a book called To Kill A MockingBird. It focused mainly on how a coloured person was being accused of a murder that he did not do. After reading the book, I realised that racism is not just a opinion, but a 'disease'. We should all put an end to this and be anti-racist so as to make the world a better place.
For language arts this term, we went through a book called To Kill A MockingBird. It focused mainly on how a coloured person was being accused of a murder that he did not do. After reading the book, I realised that racism is not just a opinion, but a 'disease'. We should all put an end to this and be anti-racist so as to make the world a better place.
Something that has changed my life
The very first thing that comes into my mind is council. After joining the proed council, I realise that I had to make a change for myself. Being a councillor is a challenge, not to mention that the workload given is equivalent to having another Ep3. Irealised that leadership is really being who you are. But the most most important thing you need to have is about having courage. I started to notice that the people who actually speak up in class are the ones who are more confident in life compared to the others who just simply sit there and watch the world go by. My point is that by having the courage, being actually respect you and want you to lead them. Courage has not been my strong point, therefore I am still working on it. Council has also taught me how to manage my time. I struggled through the first few months but soon got the hang of it. I know that my efforts will eventually pay off. I have become a more efficient person and will look to do better in my studies. Council helped me to ease the pressure in Hwa Chong. My councilmates are like my brother. We laughed, competed and worked together like a family. They have all been a source of motivation to me. I finally got the chance to have close relationships with them, which eventually taught me the true meaning of brotherhood.
So many people question me, 'Why join council?'. I feel that council has been a brilliant experience to me. I want to learn more about leadership and how we apply the skills in the future. I believe that everyone is a leader in his or her own way. I want to be a leader too. I will pledge to work harder and give my best to contribute to the school.
So many people question me, 'Why join council?'. I feel that council has been a brilliant experience to me. I want to learn more about leadership and how we apply the skills in the future. I believe that everyone is a leader in his or her own way. I want to be a leader too. I will pledge to work harder and give my best to contribute to the school.
What I want to be before I turn 30.
When I grow up, I want to be a businessman. Before I turn 30, I want to be a part-time musician. I picked up music a few years back and gradually fell in love with my guitar and bass. My father always said that there is no hope in being a musician, which is in a way true. Through my past experiences, I learned that no matter what career you take, you have to be one of the best at it. With every successor comes a story. Mark Zuckerber didn't just become a billionaire with any problems at a tender age. Neither did Neil Armstrong believe that he could step on the Moon. For me, I want to write history. Starting from now. I love to play music and I will never stop till the day I die. I feel that music makes the world go round, and it is important to share the joy of it. I would probably not make it in life as a musician. But after thinking about it over and over again, I could possibly earn some money by performing at clubs or events over the weekends. I am an optimistic person and I believe that hard work will only lead you to success. There is a burning passionin me that suggests how important music will be in my life. Other than that, it is crucial for me to work hard and be a businessman. I want to open up a music company that sells music instruments and even start a record label. Starting from now, I want to follow my father's footsteps in becoming a successful business.
Online Lesson #4
2) This picture displayes a store in vibrant colours with decorations hung from the ceilings.
The christmas music being played puts us in a festive period.
The smell of perfume is trapped within the airconditioned store so as to give us a pleasent scent when we enter the store.
The colour contrast of the brown wall and bright colours sets a tone to the store, making us feel right at home.
4)The walls looked as soft as butter and while the bright colours looked so dynamic, creating a beautiful colour contrast to make us feel right at home.
The smell of Italian perfume had hit on all of us as we entered the store, not to mention that the cent was trapped within the airconditioned place.
6)The walls looked as soft as butter, but were thankfully as hard as
stone, which said something about how welcoming they looked, and also made a perfect contrast with the bright colours coming from the decorations.
7) The large entrance door was pushed open, immediately hitting us
with a smell of fresh Italian scent trapped within the airconditioned room.
The walls looked as soft as butter, but were thankfully as hard as
stone, which said something about how welcoming they looked. The carpet glowed
like hot coals in the radiance of the evening sunset.
We were drowned into our thoughts, thinking how could a store make us feel right a home. The colour contrast has been so vibrant, putting us in the festive period of Chirstmas.
What is life all about - Studies or Happiness?
After months and months of studying in high school, I begin to ponder on a simple question- What is life all about? I hate to mention it but I am still lost. Parents always want their children to work hard, and wanting them to be successful in the future. That is what we call a typical way of thinking according to Singaporeans. You could be successful and all that, but what about happiness. My uncle one told me that happiness is the most important thing in life. It is not that we should neglect studying, but I just want everyone to treasure our lives. We are all given 'perfect' lives as Singaporeans. We have technology at our fingertips, beautiful surroundings everywhere and not to mention airconditioning most of the the time. Sadly, it only happens in one life. Studying is definitely a crucial yet vital thing to do, as we store our knowledge for later use for the future. Therefore, the ideal life is to do what you love in life. As long as you are happy, it means that you are living your life. It does not mean that you should laze around. Doing what you love must be realistic, and should be a productive thing to do. Money may not neccessarily buy you happiness. My father told me happiness is a subjective thing. A Singaporean going out for clubbing might experience the same kind of happiness ascompared to a group of construction workers going to the beach.
I want to embrace the future and not hold any regrets in life. Back to the question -- What is life all about. I'm still a teenager, so I don't know much. Perhaps once I reach my uncle or my dad's age I understand. For know, that is just my viewpoint of life. Happiness is what keeps us going, and not what should be excessively sacrificed.
I want to embrace the future and not hold any regrets in life. Back to the question -- What is life all about. I'm still a teenager, so I don't know much. Perhaps once I reach my uncle or my dad's age I understand. For know, that is just my viewpoint of life. Happiness is what keeps us going, and not what should be excessively sacrificed.
Vivid Childhood Memory
When I was young, I used to play soccer five times a week without fail. When the bell rang, my friends and I would always rush out of the classroom and head straight to the football field. When I turned 11, I participated in the interclass tournament in my school. It was an enjoyable expericence for me and I played my best for every single match. Despite being the underdogs, my class still clinched the 2nd runner up trophy. That was a memorable expericence for me and I soon fell in love with soccer.
Scout :D from TKAM
Scout is an ignorant, but unique girl. She is childish and prefers playing than going to school. She also has a crush on Dill, which helps her in tolerating many of his flaws. Her crush on him helps her change her way of thinking things about him and sometimes allow her to tolerate things she usually can’t tolerate. When Walter got Scout into trouble in school, she was frustrated and attempted to wrestle Walter too. When Dill called Scout a “nigger-lover”, she flies into a rage and beats him up after indirectly called Atticus a 'nigger-lover' too. She voices out her opinions and mostly only accepts her thoughts as the right answer except in some casees where she doesn’t even know the answer to something. She is also a very proud person and thinks that she is the best one there is, and also has many differing opinions from the crowd, making her very unique. She is also quick thinking and thinks of points which frustrate boys who dare to agrue with her.
When she starts to grow older, she shows some maturity by being able to sympathize others. She was frustrated that Tom Robinson, despite being a coloured person, was being taunted at. Scout chose not to reveal his thoughts in fear of being laughed at. This showed that she was more mature and was able to identify the right from wrong. Scout also refuses to ostracize Boo Radley and even sat beside him at a point of time. As Scout grew older, she had trust of him and thought of him as a nice person. When she was young, she used to think that he was a scary person and even made fun of him.
This would show that she is a more matured person and her level of tolerance has also been greatly reduced. Just like what everyone has wanted her to be, she has become a young and fine lady in Maycomb.
When she starts to grow older, she shows some maturity by being able to sympathize others. She was frustrated that Tom Robinson, despite being a coloured person, was being taunted at. Scout chose not to reveal his thoughts in fear of being laughed at. This showed that she was more mature and was able to identify the right from wrong. Scout also refuses to ostracize Boo Radley and even sat beside him at a point of time. As Scout grew older, she had trust of him and thought of him as a nice person. When she was young, she used to think that he was a scary person and even made fun of him.
This would show that she is a more matured person and her level of tolerance has also been greatly reduced. Just like what everyone has wanted her to be, she has become a young and fine lady in Maycomb.
My favourite fictional character
My favourite fictional character is Carson from 'The End Of The World As We Know It'. He was lost in life and hated everyone. After meeting a girl, he went through hardships with her and realised that life is not as hard as it seems. Carson made a change to himself and started appreciating his family and friends more. I feel that this character reminds me of some people out there in this world who should take Carson as a role model. Many people have lost hope, but Carson had the same problem and made it through. He taught me to appreciate my life more than ever.
My favourite fictional character in TKAM
I really admire the character Atticus from To Kill A MockingBird. He guided his children through their childhood and taught them right from wrong. He is an honest, highly moral person in Maycomb. He went against racism and even outsmarted the other lawyer in court despie losing the case. He has shown characterisitics of a very smart and opinionated person.
Significance Of My Chinese Name
My chinese name is 源盛。'源' probably means the source of something (e.g. river, lakes). '盛' means to be strong. Together, it signifies that you must be strong in the mind when facing adversity and not forget about the ones that helped you along the way. I feel that my name is special and also relates to who I am as a person.
Favourite memory of Chinese New Year
My favourite chinese new year memory was when I saw fireworks right above me. My uncle had bought a box of fireworks and we lighted it up. It was one of the best things that I had seen. I am so delighted to be able to go to Malaysia every Chinese New Year. We get to do things that we could not do in Singapore. I even saw a twelve year old kid riding the motorcycle! Basically, all the memories I had of chinese new year were brilliant. I hope that we get to light up fireworks again next year. I will never forget that day.
Identity
I feel that an identity comes from within. Everyone is special in the way we think, feel and live our lives. How we develop depends mainly from our environment. We follow our hearts to do things that we want to do. That is what makes everyone different. Getting to know more people expands our freedom of choice to who we are and what we want to be. Identity describes a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations. We are special in different ways. I feel that many people out there who are still struggling with studies have raw talents unknown to themselves. The people who succeed in life are the ones that have been influenced on their own talents. Scoring high marks in tests and exams only justifies that you are good in studying. Also, personality reflects on our identity. Our parents always want us to have good habits. This can be 'trained', but to a certain extent. We still follow our hearts and believe in ourselves that what we do is right. Remember that it's the inside that counts, and not the outside. That is what I think about identity.
I feel that my parents had brought me up well and I can certainly say that they have been an inspiration to me. They used to tell me stories of their past which triggered my emotions. Right now, it is because of them that changed my whole aspect of life. I have learned to do my best at everything in life. My sisters have been a motivation to me. They have spurred me to overcome my fears and challengers. Sports have taught me to been more mentally strong and fight for who I am. Learning to control my emotions is what tennis had taught me for the past 4 years. Most importantly, my friends have taught me to live my life. Other that studying, it is important to have some fun and always stay positive. They are also great competitors in studies. We push each other to do our best in school.
Pictures that represent me:
I feel that my parents had brought me up well and I can certainly say that they have been an inspiration to me. They used to tell me stories of their past which triggered my emotions. Right now, it is because of them that changed my whole aspect of life. I have learned to do my best at everything in life. My sisters have been a motivation to me. They have spurred me to overcome my fears and challengers. Sports have taught me to been more mentally strong and fight for who I am. Learning to control my emotions is what tennis had taught me for the past 4 years. Most importantly, my friends have taught me to live my life. Other that studying, it is important to have some fun and always stay positive. They are also great competitors in studies. We push each other to do our best in school.
Pictures that represent me:
Singapore Short Story
In a time of war, where calls of distress had replaced the whispers of the wind, where gunshots lingered in the air like perfume in air-conditioned rooms, where our emotions were toyed with under the cruel fate of death, threatening to claim us anytime, we all suffered. Some, in more ways than one.
I was caught in the middle of World War two defending Singapore before it was too late. Looking down at my uniform, it struck me that one I donned it, the country was my responsibility, my duty to protect. My thoughts already blank from the resignation that this uniform was to lead me to battle, the sacrificial element of life and death.
However, it was unknown to me that this army uniform was to mould my character into what my previous being could not have recognized. It was to change my life thereafter, as I came to know about the most brutal form of mankind-war, as army recruits.
With progression of time, we were transformed into fearless fighters, to whom blood and gore could not affect. Day after day, crimson stains appeared on my uniform as we shot, stabbed, kicked and chucked at the enemies. Perspiration, tears, blood, wound infection, murky river water, my faithful uniform knew them too well.
Each night, pain from our hearts swelled up as we thought of how our fellow soldiers were dying day by day. The Japanese were too strong for us. They outnumbered us, outsmarted us, were decisive- practically everything we did was no match for the resilient soldiers of theirs. Tearing our confidence apart was one thing that shook us the most. I lost hope of myself, not to mention that the country was ‘dying’ too.Luck had brought me this far. Without it, I would have been long gone from this world, escaping from the war that seemed too much.
I starred at the iridescent stars above the clear night sky. Then, I looked back down, catching a glimpse of my uniform. It was the symbol of commitment, the costume of a morbid parade. Thoughts flooded my mind. There and then, I realized, what was war anyway. It was the degree of enemity, the pride of the countries, the survival of the fittest. Not to mention that it was too bad that humans are such fragile creatures.
We donned the british colours as we upheld the colony values. There was only a sign to distinguish ourselves from the enemies- our uniform. Did that mean it was not who the individuals that mattered, but what? The generals, did he even know our names? We were nothing but a pixel in the whole picture. Soldiers fought and soldiers died, and there was no ceremony of honor to commend their bravery. Did I want to end up alone and forgotten like that?
That night, hatred had given me another option. It had brought a new light to my greying destiny, and given me the courage to escape the despairing events of war in store for me.
It was a rash thing to do, judging by the fact that I was a Chinese. I was certain that I would not have chosen to stay and be a captive of warfare. I gathered my belongings, glanced at my dorm for the last time and slipped out of the campsite.
Perhaps no one had spotted me. I did not care a single bit. I dashed through the dense forest, not knowing my fate in the time to come. Freedom had, however, caught up with me.
I was caught in the middle of World War two defending Singapore before it was too late. Looking down at my uniform, it struck me that one I donned it, the country was my responsibility, my duty to protect. My thoughts already blank from the resignation that this uniform was to lead me to battle, the sacrificial element of life and death.
However, it was unknown to me that this army uniform was to mould my character into what my previous being could not have recognized. It was to change my life thereafter, as I came to know about the most brutal form of mankind-war, as army recruits.
With progression of time, we were transformed into fearless fighters, to whom blood and gore could not affect. Day after day, crimson stains appeared on my uniform as we shot, stabbed, kicked and chucked at the enemies. Perspiration, tears, blood, wound infection, murky river water, my faithful uniform knew them too well.
Each night, pain from our hearts swelled up as we thought of how our fellow soldiers were dying day by day. The Japanese were too strong for us. They outnumbered us, outsmarted us, were decisive- practically everything we did was no match for the resilient soldiers of theirs. Tearing our confidence apart was one thing that shook us the most. I lost hope of myself, not to mention that the country was ‘dying’ too.Luck had brought me this far. Without it, I would have been long gone from this world, escaping from the war that seemed too much.
I starred at the iridescent stars above the clear night sky. Then, I looked back down, catching a glimpse of my uniform. It was the symbol of commitment, the costume of a morbid parade. Thoughts flooded my mind. There and then, I realized, what was war anyway. It was the degree of enemity, the pride of the countries, the survival of the fittest. Not to mention that it was too bad that humans are such fragile creatures.
We donned the british colours as we upheld the colony values. There was only a sign to distinguish ourselves from the enemies- our uniform. Did that mean it was not who the individuals that mattered, but what? The generals, did he even know our names? We were nothing but a pixel in the whole picture. Soldiers fought and soldiers died, and there was no ceremony of honor to commend their bravery. Did I want to end up alone and forgotten like that?
That night, hatred had given me another option. It had brought a new light to my greying destiny, and given me the courage to escape the despairing events of war in store for me.
It was a rash thing to do, judging by the fact that I was a Chinese. I was certain that I would not have chosen to stay and be a captive of warfare. I gathered my belongings, glanced at my dorm for the last time and slipped out of the campsite.
Perhaps no one had spotted me. I did not care a single bit. I dashed through the dense forest, not knowing my fate in the time to come. Freedom had, however, caught up with me.
Margot's Treatment
William should be held responsible for Margot’s treatment. He brushed off Margot's comments of the Sun as he did not dare to believe a single word she said. He ordered the other children to go against her, and even locked her up in the storage room. When the sun came up he left Margot in the storage room for the whole time, as if forgetting about her when he saw the Sun.
If I were one of the children, I would have sacrificed a little of my time to help Margot out by unlocking her from the storage room. Margot did not deserve to be locked up in the storage room. All she did was to comment on the Sun and yet she got bullied by William. Once the other children see Margot out of class looking at the Sun, they would feel bad and stop bullying her ever again. As for William, I would have stood strong and told him in the eye that bullying are for losers. Hopefully they would apologize to Margot and not bully people again.
If I were one of the children, I would have sacrificed a little of my time to help Margot out by unlocking her from the storage room. Margot did not deserve to be locked up in the storage room. All she did was to comment on the Sun and yet she got bullied by William. Once the other children see Margot out of class looking at the Sun, they would feel bad and stop bullying her ever again. As for William, I would have stood strong and told him in the eye that bullying are for losers. Hopefully they would apologize to Margot and not bully people again.
Teamwork
Proed Leadership Camp (PLC) 2011
A group of us were assigned to organise PLC, a camp mainly used to spot a new batch of students to become proed councillors. We were told that this camp proved to be an important one, and no mistakes should be made. I felt a little presurrized as I had never something like this before. We started off by planning out the programmes outline of it. I took us a lot of time but we managed to finish it. Through the experience, I realised what teamwork meant. I always thought that it meant by a group of people splitting roles equally to ensure fairness. Well, I was in a way wrong. I learnt that teamwork is about taking advantage of people's strengeths to do things. Thinking this way was easier for all of us. Some of us liked planning, while others preffered researching. The camp will be held in the March holidays and I'm looking forward to it. So far we have done a great job in it. All of us became closer in the process. It has also been a wonderful time helping out proed as a councillor. I can't wait for more work to be assigned to me. Teamwork would definitely be required in the months to come.
A group of us were assigned to organise PLC, a camp mainly used to spot a new batch of students to become proed councillors. We were told that this camp proved to be an important one, and no mistakes should be made. I felt a little presurrized as I had never something like this before. We started off by planning out the programmes outline of it. I took us a lot of time but we managed to finish it. Through the experience, I realised what teamwork meant. I always thought that it meant by a group of people splitting roles equally to ensure fairness. Well, I was in a way wrong. I learnt that teamwork is about taking advantage of people's strengeths to do things. Thinking this way was easier for all of us. Some of us liked planning, while others preffered researching. The camp will be held in the March holidays and I'm looking forward to it. So far we have done a great job in it. All of us became closer in the process. It has also been a wonderful time helping out proed as a councillor. I can't wait for more work to be assigned to me. Teamwork would definitely be required in the months to come.
Comic Strip Reflections
I felt that this assignment we an enjoyable one to do. As it was the first time we had something something like this, I thought that it was going to be boring. Slowly, I found joy in making comic strips and finished the task in no time. I learned that comic strips are great platforms to express your ideas. They always say that pictures tells a thousands words. By making a comic strip, it's as good as writing a composition! I am glad that the school has recognised comic strips in an educational way. I hope that the teachers can continue to find new ways, or rather new platforms for us to learn.
Comic Strip
My comic strip talks about a teenager dreaming about what he wants in life. I chose a picture of a resort, an unusual lamp and a scenery of Singapore so as to represent most of the things people want. They want to rest and relax, discover the unusual and fascinate over beautiful sceneries. The fourth scene shows the teenager not paying attention in class. He is only thinking about enjoying life and neglecting studies too. This comic strip shows that in order to get the best things in life, we have to work hard and belief in ourselves. When we are young, we should grasp our chances to learn as much as we can before heading over to adulthood. The scenes are specifically chosen so as to put the readers in their 'dreams' while reading the comic strip till the last scene. Despite showing that hard work always pay off once you read my comic strip, I still believe that life is complicated and it is hard to explain.
Learning goals for LA in 2011
What I hope to achieve this year in language arts is simple- to improve my sentence structure. I've always had a huge problem in the way I write sentences, way back from my primary school days. By reading more, I hope that I can get the structure right. This year, I would like to work hard on it because I want to make my english essays and compositions more smooth and clear in the way information is being conveyed. Also, by reading more and attending literature lessons in school, I should be able to improve my vocabulary. I believe that even if you have a brilliant plot but poor sentence structure, no-one is going to read whatever you write. Sec 2 is an important year for me and I want to make a change before it is too late. Other people have a huge headstart compared to me, and I got to race to catch up with them. I feel that achieving a favourable grade for language arts is not as important as improving your command of English. Studying hard does not guarrantee that you are good in English, but merely just the tip of an iceberg in what LITERATURE is all about. I want to believe and succeed in whatever I do, and I will take whatever it takes to do it.
Language Arts- Rewind
I feel that the most valuable thing I learned from language arts last year was to read and read and read. Mr Lundberg has always been encouraging the class to pick up the habit of reading so that we can do better in our tests. When I was in primary school, I refused to read books as I thought they were boring. My mother used to go to the national library and borrow books for me to read. I pratically gave up everytime i tried to look at pages filled with nothing but words. After a year of literature, I learned to appreciate the language the way it is. Poetry taught me that a few words put together can actually become a beautiful piece of writing. I quickly found an interest in the way authors write their books. I hope that by growing an interest in reading, I can improve my English in every way.
The past.
2. Have you ever been part of a group of people who were unkind to one or some individuals? What was the circumstance? How did you act? What did you feel?
I have never been under those circumstances before. However, this is how I would have thought if I were to answer the questions.
I was part of a clique back in the early days of my primary school life. Jenson, who was new in school and supposedly joined our group to gain popularity, was also tormented by my other friends. Jenson simply did not care. He kept on following us around and always tried to 'click' with us whenever we had a conversation. Everyone thought that he was irritating and thus no one was kind or showed pity towards him. A few weeks later, tormenting became bullying. My friends punched or kicked him hard whenever they had the chance to. I tried to intervene, but to no avail. I knew that sooner or later, the group would be in big trouble. And it did. Jenson's mother had called the school up to report on the brusies that Jenson had all over his body. My friends who had hurt him were immediately expelled upon the shocking news. I felt bad to have let my friends off easily. Losing my friends was bad, but losing my pride was worse. Time never turns back. If it could, then the world would have been perfect. This was definitely a huge learning point for me to grasp. I'll never forget this incident for life.
I have never been under those circumstances before. However, this is how I would have thought if I were to answer the questions.
I was part of a clique back in the early days of my primary school life. Jenson, who was new in school and supposedly joined our group to gain popularity, was also tormented by my other friends. Jenson simply did not care. He kept on following us around and always tried to 'click' with us whenever we had a conversation. Everyone thought that he was irritating and thus no one was kind or showed pity towards him. A few weeks later, tormenting became bullying. My friends punched or kicked him hard whenever they had the chance to. I tried to intervene, but to no avail. I knew that sooner or later, the group would be in big trouble. And it did. Jenson's mother had called the school up to report on the brusies that Jenson had all over his body. My friends who had hurt him were immediately expelled upon the shocking news. I felt bad to have let my friends off easily. Losing my friends was bad, but losing my pride was worse. Time never turns back. If it could, then the world would have been perfect. This was definitely a huge learning point for me to grasp. I'll never forget this incident for life.
Song Review
'Drifting' by Andy Mckee
I feel that this song had one of the greatest impact to me. You can easily relate this song with life. The part where he slaps his guitar to make percussive sounds shows that and life rough, while the melodic parts of the song are talking about hope. 'Drifting' is a great song to show how songs can express meaning without any lyrics. I believe that the song is called 'Drifting' as we often drift away from the past and find peace and a great future. It also inspired me to start learning guitar, and since then i've never turned back. I learnt that road of success is tough, and you need to find the ryhthm of your very own life.
I feel that this song had one of the greatest impact to me. You can easily relate this song with life. The part where he slaps his guitar to make percussive sounds shows that and life rough, while the melodic parts of the song are talking about hope. 'Drifting' is a great song to show how songs can express meaning without any lyrics. I believe that the song is called 'Drifting' as we often drift away from the past and find peace and a great future. It also inspired me to start learning guitar, and since then i've never turned back. I learnt that road of success is tough, and you need to find the ryhthm of your very own life.
Big Fish
Answers for the 'Big Fish' Worksheet
1) To me, the phrase means that sometimes you need to look at the big picture of things to truly understand them. As the big fish stands out from the small pond, it is also important to take notice of the water, as without it the big fish would die.
Actual Meaning: People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) It is to show that a wedding ring is a precious thing and has the power to bring two people together. Edward Bloom used his wedding ring as a bait to catch Big Fish, and therefore assumed that it could do wonders.
3) William enjoyed the tale as a boy but when he got older, he got sick and tired of it and even said that by telling the story it embarrasses not only him but also his father.
4) Edward Bloom was successful in marriage, and thus wanted to teach other people so that they can learn from him about marriage.
5)When William was young, he had a close relationship with his father. As they grew older, their relationship strained and William did not want to talk to his father face to face for years.
6)Legends or myths. Not everything is true, so you tend to not take the stories realistically, but instead just grasp the learning points from them.
7) Yes it does. Fiction Writers have an incentive to sensationalize and perhaps exaggerate stories so that they become more interesting for readers to read. Tall tales are often less valid and might cause some confusment. Therefore it makes readers hard to believe them compared to straight reportage of facts.
1) To me, the phrase means that sometimes you need to look at the big picture of things to truly understand them. As the big fish stands out from the small pond, it is also important to take notice of the water, as without it the big fish would die.
Actual Meaning: People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) It is to show that a wedding ring is a precious thing and has the power to bring two people together. Edward Bloom used his wedding ring as a bait to catch Big Fish, and therefore assumed that it could do wonders.
3) William enjoyed the tale as a boy but when he got older, he got sick and tired of it and even said that by telling the story it embarrasses not only him but also his father.
4) Edward Bloom was successful in marriage, and thus wanted to teach other people so that they can learn from him about marriage.
5)When William was young, he had a close relationship with his father. As they grew older, their relationship strained and William did not want to talk to his father face to face for years.
6)Legends or myths. Not everything is true, so you tend to not take the stories realistically, but instead just grasp the learning points from them.
7) Yes it does. Fiction Writers have an incentive to sensationalize and perhaps exaggerate stories so that they become more interesting for readers to read. Tall tales are often less valid and might cause some confusment. Therefore it makes readers hard to believe them compared to straight reportage of facts.
Shel Silverstein’s Poems
The Little Boy and the Old Man
1. The underlying message that is being conveyed through this poem is that children always think that they are treated unfairly but in fact adults always understand how they feel.
2. He uses rhymes and assonance to make the poem an easy one to read, so that the message behind the poem can be brought out easily.
2. Messy Room
1.The poem is humorous because the persona is talking about a messy room, and yet it turned out to be that the room is actually his.
2. I feel that the person in the poem was LAZY by not tidying his room, and still dared to put other people into his shoes.
Clooney the Clown
1.Clooney was not funny when he was trying to be one, but made everyone laugh when he talked about him feel sad.
2.Shel Silverstein wanted to let the readers know that the road of success isn't smooth, and you have to get back up once you fall.
3.He has used repetition and alliteration to make the poem seem funny and also show pity to Clooney.
1. The underlying message that is being conveyed through this poem is that children always think that they are treated unfairly but in fact adults always understand how they feel.
2. He uses rhymes and assonance to make the poem an easy one to read, so that the message behind the poem can be brought out easily.
2. Messy Room
1.The poem is humorous because the persona is talking about a messy room, and yet it turned out to be that the room is actually his.
2. I feel that the person in the poem was LAZY by not tidying his room, and still dared to put other people into his shoes.
Clooney the Clown
1.Clooney was not funny when he was trying to be one, but made everyone laugh when he talked about him feel sad.
2.Shel Silverstein wanted to let the readers know that the road of success isn't smooth, and you have to get back up once you fall.
3.He has used repetition and alliteration to make the poem seem funny and also show pity to Clooney.
Book Review: The End Of The World As We Know It (Favourite Book)
'The End Of The World As We Know It' by Lesley Choyce
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2142021.The_End_of_the_World_As_We_Know_It
Stuck in a private school for kids who have repeatedly flunked out elsewhere, Carson knows he's got nowhere lower to sink to. "Flunk Out Academy" is the last resort for Carson and his classmates, in a small town where its deeply troubled students are decidedly unwelcome. Then Carson meets someone who is even less optimistic than he. Christine struggles to get by, living in a trailer by herself, abandoned by her mother and father, so desperate that she has become almost immune to the pain and loneliness. Confronted by her deep sadness, Carson starts to care for her and she for him. Once focused on someone other than himself, he begins to notice the world around him and realize that there is beauty as well as hopelessness, love as well as hate.
This book is one book that I really love. It talks about how Carson changes for the better -from being a misanthrope to a thoughtful and caring person. Most of it talks about how Carson deals with his normal life by hating everything. He neglents what he has in life despite having a loving family. After meeting Christine, he learns that there are people out there who are emotionally hurt and are worst off than him. Eventually, Christine moves in with Carson and they struggle for the better to live in an imperfect world.
'I find that I open my mouth and i say her name out loud. Christine. And once I've said her name out loud I want to go with her. But instead, I breathe in the cold, clear night air. I take it deep into my lungs and I remind myself that there are good things in this world you can hold onto, important things that stay inside you and never go away. Even though the world has moved on and everything has changed forever.' The ending finally shows that Carson understand what life is about, and feels that his change in character was the biggest present that Christine gave to him. I feel that this book relates to me well, in a sense that when I was 10, I struggled with life, giving up all the time. This book has taught me to find that sparkle in life and excel in everything you do. I recommend this book to those who are still lost without hope and are trying to find out what the true meaning of life is.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2142021.The_End_of_the_World_As_We_Know_It
Stuck in a private school for kids who have repeatedly flunked out elsewhere, Carson knows he's got nowhere lower to sink to. "Flunk Out Academy" is the last resort for Carson and his classmates, in a small town where its deeply troubled students are decidedly unwelcome. Then Carson meets someone who is even less optimistic than he. Christine struggles to get by, living in a trailer by herself, abandoned by her mother and father, so desperate that she has become almost immune to the pain and loneliness. Confronted by her deep sadness, Carson starts to care for her and she for him. Once focused on someone other than himself, he begins to notice the world around him and realize that there is beauty as well as hopelessness, love as well as hate.
This book is one book that I really love. It talks about how Carson changes for the better -from being a misanthrope to a thoughtful and caring person. Most of it talks about how Carson deals with his normal life by hating everything. He neglents what he has in life despite having a loving family. After meeting Christine, he learns that there are people out there who are emotionally hurt and are worst off than him. Eventually, Christine moves in with Carson and they struggle for the better to live in an imperfect world.
'I find that I open my mouth and i say her name out loud. Christine. And once I've said her name out loud I want to go with her. But instead, I breathe in the cold, clear night air. I take it deep into my lungs and I remind myself that there are good things in this world you can hold onto, important things that stay inside you and never go away. Even though the world has moved on and everything has changed forever.' The ending finally shows that Carson understand what life is about, and feels that his change in character was the biggest present that Christine gave to him. I feel that this book relates to me well, in a sense that when I was 10, I struggled with life, giving up all the time. This book has taught me to find that sparkle in life and excel in everything you do. I recommend this book to those who are still lost without hope and are trying to find out what the true meaning of life is.
Book review: Fake ID
'Fake ID' by Walter Sorells
Sixteen-year-old Chastity and her mother have been on the run since Chass was a baby, with new identities in every town. She doesn't know why they are running, who her father is, or even her real name. On the night of Chass's sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears. Police find her abandoned car, blood matching her DNA, and a purse containing six ID cards. Chass doesn't believe her mother is dead, only that she had to run again. If Chastity doesn't find her mother in six days, she'll be put into foster care. She races against time to uncover the truth of her mystery, and then discovers that there are more than meets the eye.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it was filled with suspense. After every chapter, there was a cliff hanger. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It is fast paced with strong connections to teen issues and a good mystery going on. I loved the way everything fit into place as the ending turned out to be a good one. I feel this this book is more of an investigation rather than an action packed one. It may seem creepy, but it is a definite worth to read.
Sixteen-year-old Chastity and her mother have been on the run since Chass was a baby, with new identities in every town. She doesn't know why they are running, who her father is, or even her real name. On the night of Chass's sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears. Police find her abandoned car, blood matching her DNA, and a purse containing six ID cards. Chass doesn't believe her mother is dead, only that she had to run again. If Chastity doesn't find her mother in six days, she'll be put into foster care. She races against time to uncover the truth of her mystery, and then discovers that there are more than meets the eye.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it was filled with suspense. After every chapter, there was a cliff hanger. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It is fast paced with strong connections to teen issues and a good mystery going on. I loved the way everything fit into place as the ending turned out to be a good one. I feel this this book is more of an investigation rather than an action packed one. It may seem creepy, but it is a definite worth to read.
Book Review: Right Behind You
Hey! I've been reading about some nice books for the holidays and I shall do book reviews for my top 3 favourite books out of the whole lot. Look out for the next two posts too!
'Right Behind you' by Gail Giles
When Kip McFarland was nine years old, he set his seven-year-old neighbor on fire because he was jealous of the baseball glove the boy received for his birthday. The boy dies and Kip was committed to a juvenile facility, where he spends the next four years in rehabilitation. At the age of 13 to 14, Kip is released and moves with his family to a new town, with a new name, to begin a new life.
I feel that this book was a good one due to the way Gail Giles expressed the feelings and emotions going through Kip's life. She allowed Kip to openly explore his feelings, emotions and reactions, she doesn't let him feel sorry for himself or blame others for his predicament. Kip struggles in his teenage life, in search of forgiveness. Giles told the story of Kip in a way that fits into our daily lives. After rehabilitation, he goes to a normal high school,joins the swimming team and has a girlfriend. Kip then moves to Texas and has an ease in life by homeschooling after his friends realised he was a murderer. I highly recommend this book, as it is an easy book to read and keeps you at the edge of your emotions.
'Right Behind you' by Gail Giles
When Kip McFarland was nine years old, he set his seven-year-old neighbor on fire because he was jealous of the baseball glove the boy received for his birthday. The boy dies and Kip was committed to a juvenile facility, where he spends the next four years in rehabilitation. At the age of 13 to 14, Kip is released and moves with his family to a new town, with a new name, to begin a new life.
I feel that this book was a good one due to the way Gail Giles expressed the feelings and emotions going through Kip's life. She allowed Kip to openly explore his feelings, emotions and reactions, she doesn't let him feel sorry for himself or blame others for his predicament. Kip struggles in his teenage life, in search of forgiveness. Giles told the story of Kip in a way that fits into our daily lives. After rehabilitation, he goes to a normal high school,joins the swimming team and has a girlfriend. Kip then moves to Texas and has an ease in life by homeschooling after his friends realised he was a murderer. I highly recommend this book, as it is an easy book to read and keeps you at the edge of your emotions.
A Tough Year Ahead
Hello! After a year filled with regret, I hope to make 2011 a better one for me. I realised that I had to work harder and improve in my English. Last year, i got B3 for literature. This year, i want to hit at least an A2. I've been reading books lately, so hopefully it would help me in my studies! I'm looking forward to a brand new year ahead, with hope and belief that I want to do well. I'll have to stay strong and keep my spirits high (:
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