Collage writing reflection

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Think Creatively

I had to really think how to format my poster and I came up with the idea of showing a story-line of images to show what the Lost Boys really went through during their long journey. By showing the whole story-line, I think the audience would give more sympathy because people would know and understand what the Lost Boys really faced during the whole migration process.

Reason Creatively

I used the images to show their journey and texts to give the audience a better idea of what the images are really implying on the poster. For example, I would put 6 to 8 images to show a situation that the Lost Boys are facing and I would one to three more words to describe the situation that they are in.

Communicate Effectively

The whole point of this collage was to drag sympathy towards the Lost Boys and by doing that, I think it will definitely create awareness for the Lost Boys’ plight. And the collage shows and tells what the Lost Boys are really needing in their lives at the moment. It is also important to catch peoples’ attention on the Lost Boys’ migration. So I thought the best idea was to create a story-line and by that way, people would understand all of their difficulties and the troubles they faced. I also included some texts in terms of what they faced during the migration

Live ethically

A story-line, in my opinion, is the best way to show the Lost Boys’ difficulties because a story includes all the information people need to know so I chose that way to draw sympathy. I think people wouldn’t really understand to show enough sympathy if they don’t know what the Boys really went through during their migration. I tried looking for the most sympathetic images to melt peoples’ heart and big word choices that would catch peoples’ attention.

Writing Reflection

Ideas and Content

I would use quotes to describe a person’s characterization while giving explanation based on how the quotes relate to their characters. For example, I wanted to characterize Brutus as an honorable and patriotic man towards his country so I chose a quote that best fit him based on his characterization and my quote was “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.” – Brutus. After that, I would give a reasonable explanation how the quote relates to his character. On the other hand, I could have really improved on giving a clear and precise explanation for the quote since I think my words weren’t clear enough in terms of what I was trying to say.

Organization

I think I did a decent job in terms of my organization on my writing. Each of my body paragraph starts off with a quote and an explanation to it but what I think I am missing is a proper introduction to my essay. I should have included a summary of Brutus’s characterization before I started off with the body paragraphs.

Personal growth

Yes I do note some improvement in terms of grammar usage and vocabularies. Although I still need a ton of improvement on my writing and I really have to put a lot of effort in my writing assignments.

SLR Reflection

I think I really had to think creatively to choose the right quote from the book that fits the person’s characterization. It was really important to choose the right quote since not all quotes can be given a clear explanation on his or her character. In general, I think I had to think creatively to get the appropriate quotes since I think that is what matters the most in this essay.

Love over Honor

“Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.” - Brutus. This quote definitely characterizes Brutus as an honorable and patriotic man towards his country. He never causes chaos followed by his jealousy or hatred. If he thinks his decisions will be beneficial to his country, so indeed he will make them. Patriotism is really what led him to join the conspiracy against Caesar since he believed Caesar would have brought harm to the country. It is indeed true that Brutus did not start the conspiracy. In fact, Cassius has started the conspiracy group and he flattered and convinced Brutus to join them so in my opinion, peer pressure is the second motivator for Brutus to destroy Caesar.

“For let the gods so speed me as I love. The name of honor more than I fear death.” - Brutus. Brutus is indeed a very honorable man. He realized Caesar was aiming for the crown and if he gets crowned, Rome will lose their Democratic Republic. Brutus really did not want a tyrant in Rome and he believed tyranny was one of the ways that Rome will be destroyed. “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown’d.” – Brutus. This quote clearly indicates that Brutus only joined the conspiracy for the country’s good and that was the only way to stop the rise of a tyrant. “We shall be call’d purgers, not murderers.” – Brutus. Brutus mentioned that in front of the whole conspirators and clearly Brutus was becoming the leader of the conspiracy instead of Cassius. We know that since Cassius started off the conspiracy group because of his fear, jealousy and hatred. He was indeed very selfish of his actions. He knew that Caesar disliked him so he feared if he ever gets crown’d, his power and position will be vanished from the society and also, his jealousy towards Caesar was huge. Back in the times, both Caesar and Cassius were at the same position and they both treated each other with respect but in a blink of an eye, Caesar has risen too high and people considered him as a god like figure. Now that Brutus has joined the conspiracy, Brutus has completely changed their attitudes of being honorable of their actions. This shows Brutus always sticks to the subject of honor no matter what. He definitely takes the assassination as an act of honor.

“And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors as will turn your hidden worthiness into your eye, that you might see your shadow” – Cassius. “And since you know you cannot see yourself so well as by reflection, I, your glass, will modestly discover to yourself, that of yourself which you yet know not of.” – Cassius. Brutus was indeed not the one to come up with the idea of starting a conspiracy against Caesar. He was simply worried but nothing has come into his mind until Cassius tried flattering and convinced him to join the conspirators. Cassius has given a speech of what Caesar was capable of doing to destroy Rome for he knew Brutus was an honorable man. He also succeeded in convincing Brutus that Caesar is no god-like but simply a noble man just like themselves. Cassius really tried his best to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy and although Brutus was fully convinced, there was still a huge peer pressure on him. Peer pressure was indeed the second motivator for Brutus to join the conspiracy since if it wasn’t for Cassius, Brutus wouldn’t have caused a whole bloody mess.

After a whole bloody war and violence, Brutus still didn’t achieve what he really wanted. Rome was taken by Octavious and he became the emperor. The main goal for Brutus was to stop tyranny and keep the Democratic Republic but it was all in vain in the end. His goal wasn’t achieved and in addition, all the conspirators died. Was the Brutus’s goal worthy? Not at all for all the Romans always have Caesar as a hero in their hearts and the gullible Romans never thought of honor but only their love towards Caesar.

Part1: The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides (silence) an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

Explanation: I feel that adding a silence after the word "provides" creates the best tension since it creates a void that would make people ask questions such as "What does The International School of Kuala Lumpur provide?". The audience will be killing themselves trying to figure out what the school really provides and that creates a huge tension and most importantly, they will feel the power of the void. The whole idea is to make the audience wait for an answer while they are trying to figure it out themselves too and that is why I would put silence right next to the word "provides"

Part 2: Composers are the ones who really control the music and therefore, creating a tension and release in their music is always possible. Based on the knowledge I have gained, I think composers could create a sudden silence right after a huge climax, and release a soothing rhythm after the silence. During that silence, the audience will be wandering..."Has the music ended?" or "what comes next?". It really would make the audience curious and they will once again, feel the power of the void.

Void Blog #1

Part1: The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides (silence) an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

Explanation: I feel that adding a silence after the word "provides" creates the best tension since it creates a void that would make people ask questions such as "What does The International School of Kuala Lumpur provide?". The audience will be killing themselves trying to figure out what the school really provides and that creates a huge tension and most importantly, they will feel the power of the void. The whole idea is to make the audience wait for an answer while they are trying to figure it out themselves too and that is why I would put silence right next to the word "provides"

Part 2: Composers are the ones who really control the music and therefore, creating a tension and release in their music is always possible. Based on the knowledge I have gained, I think composers could create a sudden silence right after a huge climax, and release a soothing rhythm after the silence. During that silence, the audience will be wandering..."Has the music ended?" or "what comes next?". It really would make the audience curious and they will once again, feel the power of the void.

Lost in America...

The Documentary, "Lost Boys of Sudan", shows a group of boys who were forced to leave their homeland and migrate due to the bloody civil wars. Both civil wars had lasted for 41 years in total and the difficulties the lost boys had faced is ridiculous. Peter Kon Dut of the Dinka tribe, being one of the Lost Boys, has lived his life full of conflicts, struggle and danger. He was only a 4 years old kid when his homeland was striked violently and the loss of his parents had really been an impact for him since he had to grow up all by himself. After avoiding the civil war and his journey towards the refugee camp was full of conflicts and difficulties but he has finally arrived at the Kenyan Refugee Camp. After spending ten years of his life time there, him and a lot more lost boys migrated to the United States. Peter was happy about the migration since he imagined a new form of education and he thought America was a place full of chances and opportunities for everyone but clearly, it wasn't what he imagined at all.

Even before his arrival at America, he faced so many things that he has never experienced before such as new form of transportation, different food supplies and so on. Once he arrived in houston and started out a life there, a lot of stuff were new to him such as electricity usage, using a stove, driving a car, cultural difference and so on. He missed his family at times while he was in Houston and the discrimination towards him was pretty big. He found himself a bit too black and a huge disappointment came when he found out that he was too old to get a high school education in Houston and the new form of education was what he really wanted since he wanted to help his family and friends who are struggling back in his homeland, Sudan. Being fed up with Houston, he moved to Kansas thinking that he will have more chances there.

Since he doesn't have a proper birth date, he got a birth certificate saying that he was young enough to go to high school and his school officially enrolled him as a junior in high school. He has made quite a few friends that actually helped him to fit in better. He tried acting like them, dressing like them and as they helped Peter through out his difficulties of adapting to the new culture in America. As he joined a prayer group, he made a lot more new friends that offered him help. As he got a job, he made some money for himself to pay rent and send back to his family back in Sudan and therefore, it has left him a tiny bit to spend on himself.

It is indeed true that Peter has been through so much conflicts and difficulties in America but he ended up graduating from high school and he received an education, something he would have never experienced in his lifetime. He adjusted quite well there and made some money to send back to his family back in Africa and though he will be facing a bunch of conflicts and difficulties while he is in America, he has overcome a lot of them.

Duet Julius Caesar

Partner – Patrick Wilson

Characters – Woobae - Cassius
Patrick - Brutus

Passage – Act 1 Scene 2, lines 78-175

Intro -
This passage clearly shows the audience about both Brutus and Cassius’s feeling towards Caesar's domination. Brutus wants democratic Republic instead of tyranny so he really doesn't want Caesar to be king. Cassius on the other hand, is trying to destroy Caesar for his own good. In this context, Cassius is trying to lure and flatter Brutus to join the conspiracy and Brutus agrees in the end.

Reasoning-
Cassius is trying to flatter Brutus so he would join the conspiracy and at the same time, it shows the audience that Caesar is not god-like. It also tells us what both Brutus and Cassius think about Caesar and most importantly, their characterization.

Adv Band. Power of the Void Assignment

I would call this story, "The Black Box", since the whole plot doesn't give the purpose of the Black Box and the ritual until the very end of the story. Therefore, if I call this story "The Black Box", it makes the readers think that the black box plays an essential part of the story but because the plot doesn't give any purpose about the ritual and the black box, it makes the readers ask a lot of questions before the end of the story and that creates the power of void. But as a reader, I had many ideas in terms of the black box and I thought it was some kind of a sacrifice ritual since when they were giving out the giving out the slips, people were very afraid and scared of getting a black dot. I thought Tessie Hutchinson was going to get kicked out from the village. It has never given a clue of what was going to happen but it has given a clear idea that it wasn't going to be good at all since the villagers was all scared of getting a black dot on their slips and the person with the black dot would be in huge trouble. When the end of the story was not given to me, my mind was flooded with unanswered questions and it killed me for having to wait until 5 p.m and that is when I really experienced the power of the void. When I was handed the mystery paper, I couldn't stop wandering what it was and for the people who had the black dot, made them even more suspicious and scared at the same time, and I did follow the instructions since because I wanted to feel the Power of The Void. After all my thinkings and imagination, I felt so much freedom when I read the end of the story since all my questions were answered! My predictions were somewhat correct. I predicted that the ritual was to sacrifice someone and indeed, I was correct but instead of getting kicked out of the village, Hutchinson was stoned to death. At this point, I can't say what could have given me a better prediction since the clues they have given in the plot don't give a exact hint of what was going to happen in the end. In my opinion, the author created the voids in the story in order to make dramatic tensions in the story plot and by then, the readers will be flooded with questions and they will intend to keep on reading until they finish the story. This experience has indeed given me the exact definition of the power of the void. It makes you ask thouasands and thousands of questions. It also makes you think so much that it makes you suspicious. The Power of the void, also makes you work harder to achieve what you want because, whoever can deal with the void longer, wins in the long run.

the school of athens

The School of Athens, which is also known as Scuola di Atene in Italian, is one of the most famous painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael. It was painted between 1510 and 1511 as a decoration to the rooms now known as the Stanze di Raffaello and it was a commission made between Raphael and Pope Julius II. If I were to describe myself as one of the Renaissance figures in the painting. I would describe me as Aristotle. He was the first one to create the system of logic and science. I think I am a person who uses logic and science when I am doing something. He also developed a universal method that it would be possible to learn anything there is to know about reality. I have always agreed with that fact because in reality, there are always countless reasons behind it but myths have a limited amount of knowledge in them which are not even real. According to what I have learnt about this person, he has always used logical reasoning and scientific proves since they are the most accurate ways. He thought reality was what mattered instead of wild imaginations and myths. I would describe myself as that.

How Can Leonardo be characterized as a true Renaissance Man?

The general definition of Renaissance is the rebirth of something and I think Leonardo has contributed a whole lot for a rebirth of knowledge. His works and achievements have helped the whole Europe in terms of art, architecture, weapons, technology and so on. For example, Leaonardo has contributed a lot for Milan against France. His inventions and creations really represents a whole new rebirth of knowledge.

As I Grew Older - Langston Hughes

It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun--
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky--
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands!
My dark hands!
Break through the wall!
Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams
Of sun!




Langston Hughes’ poem, “As I Grew Older” generally explains that black people cannot achieve their dreams just because of their race. In the beginning, he uses a simile, describing his dreams during his youth to being “bright like a sun”. He also uses metaphors, he describes racism, prejudice, discrimination, limited opportunities and all the things that get into his chances as the “wall” keep rising that “it touched the sky”. The term that the wall blocked out the sun, describes that it was impossible to achieve his dream. It clearly explains that when he was young and innocent, everything seemed possible to him, even achieving great things; but as he grew older, he realized the cruelty of the world, racism and discrimination would stop him from achieving his dreams. He put the term, “I lie down in the shadow” as being defeated. The only literal terms are “I am black” and “my dark hands” and they make the poem even stronger. At the end of the poem, he says, “My dark hands! Break through the Wall! Find my dream! ...Into a thousand whirling dreams”. Those terms were to command his race to rise up and achieve their dreams.

Two hearts that beat at once

In the book The Alchemist, Coelho shows love as one of the most important elements. He also says that love is the force that tranforms and improves the Soul of the World. Coelho is clearly trying to explain the importance of love in one's life. During Santiago's journey, love was one the main elements that kept him going and led him to his destiny. In the very beginning, his goal was to meet the merchant's daughter and that really forced him to keep going and when he meets Fatima and loved her at his first sight, he had to make a decision. It was either to stay with Fatima or to continue towards his destiny. He has indeed decided to continue and his determination has enhanced knowing that he must return to Fatima after achieving his destiny. Because Santiago always had a loved one inside his heart, he tried his best to strive to achieve his destiny knwoing that his love was awaiting for him somewhere. Coelho also explains that love is different from every other elements. When Santiago was caught by one of the tribes and was forced to turn himself into wind, he had a conversation with the sun and there he firmly tells the sun that it doesnt know anything about love because unlike every other things, love can be learnt just by being up high in the space and observe everything. From Santiago's journey, it should be clear to everyone how Coelho demonstrated that love is indeed the the force that tranforms and improves the Soul of the World.

Love, always looking for a partner

Wearing nothing but memories that occurred, whether good or bad

Leaving impressions on its previous dears, whether good or bad

Not chances, but choices make our destiny

“But you don’t know about love. If there hadn’t been a sixth day, man would not exist; copper would always just be copper, lead just lead. It’s true that everything has its destiny, but one day that destiny will be realized. So each thing has to transform itself into something better, and to acquire a new destiny, until, someday, the Soul of the World becomes one thing only”. (pg 143) His determination has indeed led him to his destiny and love had helped him strive to become better than he himself and his courage had put him out of a lot of difficulties. Santiago, an Andulasian shepherd who dreamed a lot of of things. He eventually chose the path of searching his treasure because he truly believed that it was indeed his destiny to reach the Great Pyramids and during his journey, he encounters the Alchemist who has been waiting for him.

In the beginning of the book, Santiago was still unsure of a lot of things, his destiny. He was not yet any determined to look for his destiny. But little by little, he gained a strong determination to pursue his destiny. “You must not let up, even after having come so far.” (pg 106) First, Santiago thought of returning to Fatima in the middle of his search but he chose not to. “No project was completed until its objective has been achieved.” Is what Santiago reminded himself (pg 153) Secondly, Melchizedek said when one is about to achieve his or destiny, he or she tend to give everything up and all the difficulties and troubles they faced will turn into ashes but Santiago has clearly overcame that. “When you get into a place and everything does against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will return.”- Harriet Stowe. To achieve something, determination will be required and if it is strong, all things are possible to anyone. Finally, There were times when Santiago had no idea what to do. For example, when he was caught by one of the tribes in the desert and was forced to turn himself into wind, he was afraid he couldn’t and die there yet he was still very determined. He showed courage within himself that he, a boy could perform miracles and demonstrated it but without courage, he wouldn’t have been able to turn himself into wind because courage helped him to face the nature and allah. But failure will still happen if one’s determination is not strong enough to succeed but Santiago was strongly determined no matter what.

It is clearly proven that Santiago truly believes in love. He believes that Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. Firstly, Santiago says “Because it’s not love to be static like the desert, nor is it love to roam the world like the wind. And it’s not love to see everything from a distance, like you do. Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. When I first reached through to it, I thought the Soul of the World was perfect. But later, I could see that it was like other aspects of creation, and had its own passions and wars. It is we who nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that’s where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.” (pg 143) Santiago mentions that love improves the Soul of the World and that is why Santiago has been able to strive to be better than he himself. Secondly, in the very beginning, he has been waiting for the meeting of the merchant’s daughter. He didn’t understand the true definition of love. It was just simply the excitement to meet her once again. It was indeed very different with Fatima because at the very first sight, he felt the true love in her and by feeling the true love, he was able to learn the Soul of the World well and improved it. Finally, his intuition convinced him that she was his love and the more he learnt about love, it wasn’t just about being near around your loved one. Through all these years, Fatima has been jealous whenever she sees other desert woman waiting for their loved ones because she knows her love would one day have to go away in order to return and her treasure will always be Santiago and expects him to find his destiny without getting distracted of having left her love behind. I would say the search of his destiny is indeed not his only goal but to return to Fatima is one of his major goals too because he was able to achieve his destiny and survive because he knew Fatima would be waiting for his return. So by thinking that he must return, he would try his best strive and that is why Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. Lastly,

His courage was a big help in the long run and if he wouldn’t have become the alchemist’s apprentice. When the alchemist came upon and tested Santiago’s courage, Santiago was calm and explained clearly why he read the omens of the two hawks and that takes courage. The alchemist also mentioned how important courage was in his learning process. “Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.” (pg 106) He also said, “You must love the desert, but never trust it completely. Because the desert tests all men: it challenges every step, and kills those who become distracted.” (pg 106) Secondly, It clearly states that Santiago wouldn’t have been able to travel through the desert without his courage since the desert challenges every step and banishes whoever becomes distracted but Santiago always focused on his destiny. In the middle of the journey, Santiago and the alchemist were caught by one of the tribes in the desert, Santiago was to turn himself into wind and before that he had to challenge the wind and the sun with their knowledge. Lastly, He was brave enough and his courage indeed defeated the sun.

Every man has his own destiny and Santiago achieved his destiny and without these three traits, he would have failed. His destiny was not the journey to the Pyramids or anything because the treasure was always at the original starting point of his journey. His destiny was to truly understand the Soul of the World and to strive to become better and improve himself. “Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.

I am indeed the main participant in my destiny and it is a fact that one's destiny is only achieved when much hardwork is done. Some people might say whichever path they take will still eventually lead to their destiny because destiny is not there to be controlled. But in my opinion, not chances, but choices definitely make one's destiny and every single choices that is made matters. In addition, if one doesnt focus and control his destiny, some one else will. In the process of searching one's destiny, determination will be required more than anything else. It is sure that one will get a lot of distraction and at some point people will decide to give up due to the difficulties they faced but if the strong determination is within one's heart, one can defeat anything that comes into his way and nothing will stop him. The courage or even the intelligence one have wont make anymore good if one decides to give up and give everything away. Therefore, I think determination will be required first before anything.