Reflection on Reading Responses:
Jamila
The Catcher in the Rye
I found Jamila's response interesting for many reasons. First of all, I liked the book, The Catcher in the Rye a lot when I read it. I found the plot interesting, with a subtle but entrancing character and character change.
The reason I liked Jamila's post was her focus. Jamila focused on one of the most interesting parts of the book. Not only is Mr. Antolini the only teacher that Holden looks up to, but Mr. Antolini changes the mindset that Holden carrys around throughout the book. I thought that Jamila's focus around Mr. Antolini's impact on both Holden and the plot of the book was artistically supported. As the classic by J.D. Salinger draws to a close, Jamila's thesis sheds an interesting light on Holden's and Mr. Antolini's relationship.
Joyce
The Hunger Games
I liked Joyce's post on The Hunger Games, because it analyzed and highlighted a complete realm of the book. Personally, I do not like love triangles. But I have noticed a theme of them in our society. The Twilight Saga, was a popular book about a love triangle. Since then, I have noticed many "team's" and more recently, team Gale and team Peeta.
I had never really looked carefully at the love triangle in The Hunger Games until reading Joyce's post, and I love how the plot of the Hunger Games is intertwined with the dramatic love triangle. Joyce's post notes, "He has risked his life for Katniss many times and has always stood by even if he wash't physically or mentally prepared for the challenge."I had never thought about Peeta that way before.
Some ways that I would like to improve my blog posts is I would like to do some compare/ contrast essays like Joyce did. I would like to make a structured and long conclusion like Jamila.
Reflection on Plagiarism
In the paragraph, the student could have put quotations around the passage and citied the source instead of implying that the text was his/her own.
Something the student could have written instead could be:
As one looks at Van Gogh's piece, "there is a peaceful essence flowing from the structures. Perhaps the cool dark colors and the fiery windows spark memories of our own warm childhood years filled with imagination of what exists in the night and dark starry skies. The center point of the town is the tall steeple of the church, reigning largely over the smaller buildings. This steeple casts down a sense of stability onto the town, and also creates a sense of size and seclusion." (A Brief Understanding of the Starry Night Paintings, http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starryindex.html)
3 ways to avoid plagiarism are to use a quote, a paraphrase, or a summary.
Non-fiction Article Response
National Geographic, March 2012
Rhino Wars by Peter Gwin
Rhino horns are believed to have medicinal purposes in many Asian cultures, and promise an overwhelming revenue on the black market. Many people buy rhino horns to heal life threatening conditions, despite the the horrifying toll on the species. The theory should be tested for modern medicine.
There are many conflicting statements consulting the rhino horn, "Although a number of Vietnamese doctors I spoke with said rhino horn was not an effective cure for anything, let alone cancer, several other respected physicians claimed rhino horn could be part of an effective cancer treatment." No tests concerning the efficiency of rhino horns have been conducted yet.
Many people, when confronted with a life or death situation are more likely to buy rhino horns off the black market. One of the people interviewed in the article, when asked whether or not she would try rhino horn in response to possible cancer found during a mammogram, replied, "'…when you think you might die, it can't hurt to try it.'" People are willing to try almost anything when a loved one's life or their own life is threatened. The psychology of cultural and ancient medicine is almost as powerful as a real cure. One oncologist states, "'Belief in a treatment, especially one that is wildly expensive and hard to get, can have a powerful effect on how a patient feels.'" The human mindset can lead to demand for rhino horns.
Rhinos are endangered animals, and the medicinal need for horns is without scientific explanation. The Wild Javan Rhinoceros was declared extinct in 2010. 30 Javan's exist in captivity in Indonesia today. When poachers come across a rhino, they put a bullet through the animal's brian, and then use a penknife to harvest the two horns on the snout. The majestic rhino is now a disfigured carcass, cast away for the scavengers of the savannah. The rhino's numbers are dwindling. Rhino horns can fetch up to $133 a gram, "…which at top end is double the price of gold and can exceed the price of cocaine." Rhino horns are incredibly rare, and the promise of the nearly blind rhino's horns being wroth tens of thousands of dollars is driving rhino's to extinction.
A compromise could be reached if tests were conducted. If it is proven that the rhinoceros horn is indeed a life saving antidote, then rhinoceros farming could take place. Rhino horns grow back and by taking a controlled amount of the horn, the rhino can still reproduce and the species could be saved from extinction. If it is proven that the rhino horn actually has no real medicinal purpose then the demand for the horn's will go down. Many animals are endangered today, and for many it is because of poachers. Rhinoceros are not the only animal that suffers from poaching and ruthless trade.
