Comparison On Persuasiveness

Although "The Crisis," by Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry's "Speech in the Virginia Convention," are both persuasive, Patrick Henry's is more due to its compelling rhetoric and to the point analysis.
When reading, "The Crisis," by Thomas Paine, I felt as if I came across many conflicting arguments. For example he states that God won't leave men to die by war. This is just inherently false, men die all the time in war. He later says in the speech that on every side of war there is never a more just side than the other. That conflicts when he calls upon everyone to support the Americans. How can he say the Americans have a just cause when he just said that isn't possible in war? That argument also conflicts with the last portion of his speech when he says there is no clear winner of reasoning in any war. Overall it was a read I didn't agree with and was confused about. Patrick Henry's speech was completely different. He starts out with a big claim that his thesis of his argument is freedom vs slavery, which drew me in. He always defends his cause as just, basically saying it's a bad idea to start a war with happy, smart, and compliant people. Henry also states the american's previous actions against Europe's injustices of which, no repercussions have been made. It also always helps to gain support from people by stating that God's on his side. The last line of his speech, "Give me liberty or give me death!" is so rhetorically powerful that it resonates within the listener. That is a quote that I remembered well more than any line in "The Crisis."

Words: 283

The American Dream

The American Dream of moving through society from the "bottom up" is a thought that has resonated in the minds of American citizens since the 19th century. In the mid 1850s, many immigrants came to the Americas to start anew based off of the lack of a strict hierarchical social system.  This common ground significantly decreased the distinction between social classes, allowing more social mobility. America became the country, "where dreams come true." Instead of being born into a system that had no mobility, a man could move up in status based off of his hard work. This idea of honor and hard work has been recently been magnified onto students in the US. Every kid in elementary school is a fish in the same net. Since I was a little kid, the goal of an ivy league education has been drilled into me like hammer to nails. My mother was a single parent, unsatisfied with her mediocre living standards, so I grew up being told I could do anything. Well, anything if I worked hard enough for a scholarship.  I know that I'm not unique in this way. Going to a school like Whitney, many kids strive to take the hardest possible classes with the potential for the best possible grade; regardless of their own interests that don't benefit the god sent piece of paper that determines the rest of your life college application. Whether school administrators accept this obvious community consensus is beside the point. I have big dreams; dreams that I know can only be accomplished by hard work. The difference between today and the 19th century is that instead of it being applied into adulthood with movement within job positions, it's now hammered into the minds of middle and lower class children as the only option of success. 

Words: 301

Nature Portfolio- Responses to Atlantic Readings

Nature Portfolio- Response to Atlantic Readings

Read

The American Forests- John Muir

The Sound of Trees- Robert Frost

The Divine Soil- John Burroughs

            I read “The American Forests” by John Muir, “The Sound of Trees” by Robert Frost, and “The Divine Soil” by John Burroughs from the Atlantic Magazine readings. I think the main focus of all of these together is that a person should be proud of and respect where they are from.

            In “The American Forests” the essay is mostly about how Americans killed all of the trees. He describes that the to God, “they were the best he had ever planted.” He goes on to talk about how when the white people came into North America they had no idea what they doing. He states that “any fool can destroy trees,” and urges the government to stop all the destruction of them. He believes that we should respect nature and that our trees were something to be proud of.

            In “The Sound of Trees” by Frost, the poem says how the trees make “forever the noise” about trying to leave, but never going. He then goes onto say that this encourages us to leave places like when he says, “My feet tug at the floor and my head sways to my shoulders.” He is annoyed at the endless chatter the trees make about leaving. This relates to the big theme because this author wants the trees to like where they are from and not complain.

            Written by John Burroughs, “The Divine Soil” begins with how Darwinism affected people. He says, “Most people were shocked by the thought; it was intensely repugnant to their feelings.” He thinks people look upon nature now as “caste and cheapened.” The distaste of natural things by regular people upsets him very much. Overall he wants doesn’t want people to dislike where they come from, but relish in it and respect it.

            In conclusion “The American Forests” by John Muir, “The Sound of Trees” by Robert Frost, and “The Divine Soil” by John Burroughs all describe that people should respect and be proud of where they are from.


Words: 355

Nature Portfolio- Original Responses To Stories.Poems Read (5)

"Nature" By Ralph Waldo Emerson Response

        The essay by Ralph Emerson called, "Nature" is very moving. It speaks of how nature has the ability to release past memories and unpleasant egotistic tendencies by truly living off the land. Emerson states that nature has the ability to give, "perpetual youth." He thinks of old age as something to be shed off, like every year is more pain in modern day society. Upon entering into the woods, those years are "cast off."

            Emerson also talks about, “an occult relation between man and the vegetable… they nod to me and I to them,” This relationship is formed within nature. Once a person has experienced the value to a humble life of living off the land, he can understand what is around him better. He no longer thinks of a vegetable as just something to eat or sell, but as something that is grown and alive. This is very important because it allows a person to feel more about what is around them, and it signifies the respect needed between all living things.

            H believes that this relationship to, “produce such delight does not reside in nature, but in man, or in the harmony of both.” As in the Shel Silverstein’s novel, “The Giving Tree” states, all nature does in the world is give. Emerson points out that it is human’s job to acknowledge this occurrence with respect and gratitude because “nature is a setting that fits [people] equally well.”

 Word Count: 246

“The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Response

       In this poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it talks about the tide rising and falling.  The poem is a story about the life of a person. In the first stanza, it says that, “the traveler hastens towards the town.” This means that the traveler is born and has eagerly gone into society. Soon the traveler has died when we hear, “the little waves, with their soft, white hands, efface the footprints in the sands.” The tide erases the traveler and the memories that associate with him. The “darkness that settles on the roofs and walls,” are the grieving loved ones who mourn for his death. “The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls.” This line is meant to say that continues to move on after death. The repetition of the line, “And the tide rises, and the tide falls,” conveys this message as well. Longfellow states that life goes on after death, despite the influences of the person. He uses the tide as a way to say that nature will always continue on its same path if allowed to. I thought the poem was sad to thin about because it makes the claim that human life is in significant.

Words: 217

“The Devil and Tom Walker,” By Washington Irving Repsonse

            The main theme of Washington Irving’s short story called, “The Devil and Tom Walker” is greed. When Old Scratch (the devil), offers Tom an old Kidd the Pirate’s treasure, he says, “he was determined not to do so to oblige his wife.” Tom didn’t want the treasure because he would of have to had shared it with his wife that he hated. Soon after in the story, the wife tries by herself to get the treasure. After she disappears, Tom takes it for himself. These are both symbols of greed. The devil is a sly and evil man who gains from the greed of people such as Tom Walker and his wife. We see in the beginning how he burned a log with wealthy man’s name on it. From the end of the story when the devil comes to collect Tom to drag him to hell, we can see that all the wealthy men’s names on the logs are those who had been greedy too. This story was a bit scary because despite the attempts Tom makes to cleanse himself of his sins, he still cannot break the deal he made to the devil.  This story reminds me of the fire and brimstone speeches in “The Crucible,” that were used to scare parishioners into being good. This tale sounds like it was said to children for the same purpose.

Words: 237

“To Build a Fire” By Jack London Response

This story was very sad because although the man is skilled to live in the Artic climate, he dies because of careless mistakes he made. The point of view in the story is one of the most interesting aspects.  It is told from third person omniscient, who gives thoughts to not only the desperate traveler, but also his dog. Each character is concerned with only saving themselves. This is eminent when the dog runs back to camp once the owner dies; and when the man wishes to kill the dog so that he can use the carcass for warmth.

            Another interesting writing style of the book is its instruction manual qualities. It really does teach the reader about the danger of, “the coldest snaps that never freeze during the winter,” and how to build a fire. I liked that this story was entertaining as well as informative. Although the man is by himself, there is lots of suspense built up as the story moves forward and the dangers become greater.

            Something that annoys me about this naturalism and transcendentalism portrayed throughout all the stories we’ve read is that they are all written by and starred by men. No women in any of these stories are mentioned to have the ability to be as involved in a close relationship with nature as men are. I think that its something very odd considering that women are the one’s who go through childbirth; something considered being the most natural thing of all. There are stereotypes being enforced by not naming women.  Like that since they are so vain, or too involved within the gossiping of society that they cannot possibly remove their egotism (the idea stated from Thoreau’s Walden and Emerson’s Nature). Maybe the fact they aren’t mentioned is because all the time periods of these novels or stories are so far back, and because of this women were not seen in the same light as men. That would be an adequate back up, but the fact we read, “To Build a Fire” by Phillip Connors changes all that. He was writing his story in 2002, meaning that it was published sometime afterwards. If one is to pick a transcendentalist in modern times, what better opportunity to use a woman. Or are women to just be the simple-minded ones who cannot fully understand living in the wild, such as the woman in Into the Wild. She was just a rubber-traveler, never fully entering the woods. Or in the Devil and Tom Walker, where the wife tried to get the money on her own, showing only greed, and wound up dead.  Why not involve Margaret Fuller, Mary Emerson, Sophia Peabody-Hawthorne, or Sophia Ripley? Sure the ideals stated in the general passages are saying humans as a whole, but the unspecificity of women is a sad thing to think about.

Words: 483

“The Snowstorm” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Snowstorm begins with the snow being, “announced by the trumpets of the sky.” From this starting line, the reader can tell the snow is important and powerful. This is similar to how kings and queens were announced at the sounds of trumpets. It has the ability to stop, “travelers, and the courier’s feet.” This powerful theme is enhanced even more because the mailmen usually deliver through any type of weather. The tone begins to change to something of praise while it talks of, “the north wind’s masonry.” The descriptions that follow are all comparisons to great accomplishments in classic architecture. By saying that the snow is powerful and an architect, Emerson clearly loves the remains the snow leaves behind.

This idea of the snow changing the landscape is very much intact in modern day society. I remember last year when there were two snow days in a row, I loved looking out my window to see white towers created in the snow. This is similar to how Emerson felt in the poem while he is inside looking out at the storm. The only difference I feel with the snow is the relation towards the sunshine. Emerson says that, “when the sun appears, astonished Art.” I feel that when the sun melts snow, it is sad and leaves lumps of what used to be great architecture.

Words: 231

Nature Portfolio- Weather Experiance

Weather Experience

As a kid I would spend my summers at the Great Gilson beach camp in Wilmette.  It was a magical place where I had many friends and adventures. One of the most memorable adventures was in the summer of 2006. I was eleven years old, and classified as an “Astronaut.” The camp had multiple group names depending upon the age of the campers. The order from youngest to oldest was as follows: Munchkins, Gizmos, Aquanauts, Astronauts, and Space Cadets. Walking into camp on that morning, I looked up out to the Wallace Bowl. It was a huge place, with a stage on the ground and stone steps reaching at least 100 feet into the air. That’s where the campers would meet and await the day’s instructions or special announcements. That particular day, it was a bit overcast and drizzling. I had been afraid we were all going to have to stay indoors in the cramped park district building due to a thunderstorm. At camp, when it rained lightly it was called, “liquid sunshine” and we would remain outside for the day in spite of the weather.

I quickly made my way to my group of friends and greeted them. They were buzzing. “I bet it’ll be today!” exclaimed my friend Amila. She was a blonde gymnast who was by far the sassiest and most stubborn girl I had ever met in my life. We had become best friends instantly when we met two years before.

            “Yes!” screamed Izzy, my other friend. She was Italian with dark hair, who was always up for anything. The three of us were a great group, although probably a bit of a handful to the counselors who worked there. The name “troublemakers” was not an uncommon name for us.

            “What’s going on?” I had asked, eagerly waiting to hear the exciting news. I was only in the suburbs for the summers with my father, and often had to catch up on the traditions and events within the area by asking.

            “Today’s a wave day!” Amila whispered. I had no idea what that meant, but I was excited because of all the hype it was starting around camp.

            “Now, now campers!” bellowed out the director Mr. Miller. “Today the waves are pretty high and the rain has begun…so I am afraid that we’ll have to…” I could begin to feel the groans waiting to be released by the campers.

            “Have a double-dip in the liquid sunshine for Astronauts and Space Cadets!” he yelled. The whole camp jumped up and cheered for the old gray haired, plump man.  A double dip at camp was always the best of days because instead of going to the beach once, we got to go twice.  Luckily, our group was up to the beach first so Izzy, Amila, and I walked along the green fields with the rest of the group, to the beach a block away. Once I caught sight of the waters, I knew what all the fuss had been about. The waves were riveting. They crashed up and down at least five feet into the air. The waters were dark and the winds were high, blowing my hair all over my face. Immediately, all the Astronauts and Space Cadets raced for the water.

            I remember the water was surprisingly warm. Amila, Izzy, and I laughed and squealed as we tried to climb out farther and farther, with the waves breaking on us every five seconds. When I say breaking, I mean pounded. The waves were the strongest that day I have ever felt in my entire life. There were rows of campers shoulder deep in the water, awaiting every wave. Out that far, when a wave came, it was at least four feet above your head. There was the constant screaming and laughter of the, “Watch outs!” as kids got slammed into the sand. One particular wave came by, probably eight feet above my head standing up. Amila and I held hands as it slapped us and brought us down into the water. The under toe swept the hold of feet in the sand below, and tumbled us upon each other down the shore. We were amazed as we were finally let go of the current’s grasp at a measly foot depth. We must have tumbled forty yards backward because of that wave. We both got up in a mixture of coughing, laughing, and screaming; and hurriedly limped back into deeper waters. 

            More waves days came later every couple of years, but the beach decided it didn’t want the liability and closed every time. That day was one of the most fun times I have ever had. I will never forget the meekness I felt standing up against the gargantuan waves. The whooshing of the wind and water breaking upon the shoreline was like the theme song to an action packed thriller that I was the star of.  The waves that day were truly my favorite weather experience.

Words: 832

Nature Portfolio- Creation Story

Creation Story- "The Lava Lamp"

            It had been a regular morning in Roswell, New Mexico until the news spread. In one rancher’s corn field, a spacecraft had crash-landed! Reporters and civilians swarmed the area, trying to catch a glimpse of the flying saucer and its possible inhabitants. Before it could be properly examined though, the feds were all over it. They created a perimeter around the craft and swiftly removed it from the field. The public statement states that the aircraft was a special type of weather balloon of a highly classified space program called, “Mogul.” The rumors were silenced, and the evidence taken into government hands, never to be seen again. Or at least so they had thought in the beginning. The government later distributed out the remnants of the mission to the public in incubators also known as lava lamps.

            See, when the government collected the craft and examined it at Area51, they were overjoyed. They were truthful that the craft was in fact property of the United States, but lied about the purpose of the device. The device was designed to travel to distant stars and collect multiple specimens from different planets. The common term for these specimens is aliens. When they opened the craft, a team of doctors quickly took out the tiny injured aliens and desperately tried to keep them alive. They found that the atmosphere on Earth was too different from their home planets. The solution was what we know today as lava lamps.

            Each specimen from a different planet had very unique coloring and was very small. In order to distinguish where the aliens came from, they color-coded the fluid within incubators to contrast with the coloring of the alien. The heart rates of the creatures sped up once placed into the glass incubators, and the United States Federal Government was giddy with glee. They had believed they captured aliens alive and were nursing them back to heatlh! They were so happy in fact that they did not pay attention to the life forms inside, as they should of.

            The skins of the specimens grew hot. The fluid was reacting badly with their body systems.  Within days after the crash in Roswell, the aliens melted into blobs within the incubators. What was left were just vividly colored, small incubators with alien remains.

            The government thought this was a great tragedy. They had wanted to the restart their mission, and begin building new technologies to better adapt to alien living conditions. Due to the crash landing of the aircraft however, they were out of resources to fund a new mission into outer space. One clever scientist had a revolutionary idea. He suggested that they patent and sell the vivid incubators off to civilians are decorative pieces. The government loved the idea! They quickly added a small light bulb to the bottom of the containers and thus created the modern day lava lamp. Little did the consumers know that the goo inside the lamps were really alien remains. They got so popular that later adaptations of the lamp were created a few years after with the use of wax instead of extraterrestrial life forms to float about within the glass cylinders.

The End.

Words: 536

Nature Portfolio- Most Beautiful Thing In The World

My grandparents are among those who can be labeled as “better off.” The home they used to live in was considered a magical and beautiful place to me. Their property in Barrington, Il stretched out across five acres of land. They owned a huge house along with a farm full of animals, a grazing pasture, a magnificent garden, a pool, and lake. Living in Lincoln Park, the visits to my grandparents rural home was a special escape for my family and me.

 No matter my age, I was always allowed to roam carefree about the property. I jumped into the pool on hot summer days, and fished with my grandfather squealing as I wrapped worms around hooks. I picked herbs and vegetables for my grandmother, often going out of my way for the best looking specimens. I loved the sound of my feet crunching onto the gravel as I ran down the hillside to visit the barn. Despite the pestering I always received, I constantly would just stand on the pathway drawing out thick lines with my feet until I saw dirt under the gray stones.  In the barn I would spend hours whistling to the shy sheep who never gave me the time of day, picking up eggs from the chicken coop, and feeding the goats extra food from the palms of my hands, laughing at the slime of their tongues.  When I grew tired of the animals, I pretended to be Tarzan, trying desperately to swing from the branches of the enormous weeping willow tree by the water. Usually after a big fall, I would lie still on the ground breathing in the fresh air, and gaze out onto the lake where the swans swam elegant and proud.

I was my truest self at my grandparent’s house. I basked in the alone time I received when I was there. It was free of all prior misunderstandings and bad memories. When I went out to Barrington with my sister and mom, it was as if something was lifted off our shoulders.  The constant arguments about grades, money, and my father didn’t exist in that place, only the essence of nature. I felt as if the purification when I was there had no comparison to the sermons I heard preached to me everyday. Three years ago when my grandparents sold the property for a smaller and more manageable house, I was devastated. The new owners ripped up the gardens, tore down the barn, and removed the bare ground, replacing it with basketball and tennis courts.  Although I cannot revisit the place now, I relish in my childhood memories there. My grandparents’ estate was truly the most beautiful place in the world.

words: 451