Amber James
Period 2
Christopher Columbus Essay
English III
In the letter that Columbus wrote to Luis de Santangel, he tells Luis about his voyage and all of the land that he has found. Columbus takes all of the credit for what he and his men have found. He paints beautiful pictures with his words about the land. He also tells Luis that he would like control over the land. Then at the end of the letter he finally tells Luis that he and his brothers were captured and are now prisoners.
In the letter Columbus uses “I” a lot as if he did everything by himself. He doesn’t acknowledge the people that helped him at all he just takes all of the credit. He says how he found 5 new pieces of land and named them all himself. And he has taken possession of each one. Then he goes into detail about how he found the islands and the certain things he had to do to get there. Columbus made it seem like he made all of the decisions and the success that he and his men had been all because of him. He also adds in the fact that he did this all in the matter of thirty-three days. I believe that Columbus comes off cocky and arrogant in this letter. There is no way that he could’ve done everything by himself and he could’ve made that evident during the letter.
Columbus is a very intelligent man and he knows how to use his words and when to use them. Throughout the letter he speaks formally to Luis. He addresses him as Your Highness as a form of respect. He gives Luis a feeling of power. When telling Luis about the land Columbus uses great imagery and paints a beautiful picture with his words. He makes the land seem like the perfect place to be. He talks about how beautiful the land is and he uses adjectives like marvelous and lovely. It’s like he just puts you in a fantasy world and makes u just imagine the type of place that he’s talking about. He mentions how the birds were singing and how everything just seemed so perfect. He compares the trees to the lovely ones that appear in May in Spain. He uses comparison so that Luis can understand and relate to what he is talking about. Columbus didn’t mention not one flaw about the island. Then he starts to talk about how Luis should leave the islands to him to govern in Luis’ name since Columbus did discover these islands. So now he figures they should belong to him. Columbus also says that it is only right for him to control the land in which he discovered as a matter of justice.
Columbus waits until the end of the letter to tell Luis that he is a prisoner. He wrote about all the success he has had first. When Columbus talks about him being a prisoner he plays the victim role and he tries to play on Luis’ sensitivity. He talks about how he has nothing and how he is becoming sicker by the day and expecting death. Then he asks for Luis to pardon him. So he starts reasoning for freedom. He begins to tell Luis for all he has done for him he deserves to be free. It’s almost as if Columbus is begging for his freedom.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Beginning of the World Essay
Amber James
Period 2
Iroquois and Pima Essay
This article consists of stories about the beginning of the world and how it was created. These are stories not written by the people themselves but about them. The stories tell what exactly happened in the beginning of the world according to their beliefs. The first story is about the Iroquois of the northeast. The other two are about Akimel O’odham or Pima’s of the southwest. These are the stories of their times and are coming from their point of view. The authors specify on how every important aspect of the earth was made, such as the sun, moon, and humans.
I believe that the Iroquois story of how life began is a complete myth. The author talks about how there are two different worlds in existence. The lower level which was in great darkness and controlled by the monster (the devil) and the upper world was inhabited by mankind. The story consists of a woman conceived and would have the twin born, which would be god and the devil. They say that in her womb one of the twins was moved by an evil opinion. So this separated the twins one known as “the good mind” (god) and the other as the bad mind (the devil). The good mind created what’s here on the earth by using its deceased parent’s head to become the sun, he took the remnant of the body and formed the moon. He also created the stars, creeks and rivers, and species of animals. Then he formed two images of the dust of the ground in his own likeness which are now humans. By him just breathing into their nostrils he gave them living souls. While the good mind was going around making all of the beautiful creations the bad mind was creating things that would be hazardous to man kind such as reptiles and high mountains. This is how the Iroquois believed the earth began.
The story of the Pimas is somewhat believable because they say the world started off with nothing at all. The only thing that was in existence was Juhwertamahkai (the doctor of the earth). First he started off small with ants then he moved up to the first human (Nooee), he made him out of the shadow of his eye, to assist him. Before the people he made the people he made the mountains, everything that has seed and is good to eat, the sun, the moon, and the stars. After everything was made he then populated the earth but after all of the people were made there wasn’t enough food so the people started killing and eating each other. The “doctor” didn’t like this so he let the sky fall and killed all the people. He made a whole in the center so he and Nooee could escape. So then he tried to remake the earth and sky three times until he finally liked the way it turned out. So with him crushing the world all of those times and building a new one right on top that formed the center of the world.
Everyone has their own beliefs. These are just the beliefs of these people. These stories are considered to be myths. The author’s write as if they know for a fact that this is how the world began. The stories vary in large amounts. These authors weren’t there when the world was made so who knows if they’re right or wrong. Its either we believe their stories or we don’t. The author’s use imagery by describing the “god’s” every moves to paint pictures in our heads on how everything was done and created.
Period 2
Iroquois and Pima Essay
This article consists of stories about the beginning of the world and how it was created. These are stories not written by the people themselves but about them. The stories tell what exactly happened in the beginning of the world according to their beliefs. The first story is about the Iroquois of the northeast. The other two are about Akimel O’odham or Pima’s of the southwest. These are the stories of their times and are coming from their point of view. The authors specify on how every important aspect of the earth was made, such as the sun, moon, and humans.
I believe that the Iroquois story of how life began is a complete myth. The author talks about how there are two different worlds in existence. The lower level which was in great darkness and controlled by the monster (the devil) and the upper world was inhabited by mankind. The story consists of a woman conceived and would have the twin born, which would be god and the devil. They say that in her womb one of the twins was moved by an evil opinion. So this separated the twins one known as “the good mind” (god) and the other as the bad mind (the devil). The good mind created what’s here on the earth by using its deceased parent’s head to become the sun, he took the remnant of the body and formed the moon. He also created the stars, creeks and rivers, and species of animals. Then he formed two images of the dust of the ground in his own likeness which are now humans. By him just breathing into their nostrils he gave them living souls. While the good mind was going around making all of the beautiful creations the bad mind was creating things that would be hazardous to man kind such as reptiles and high mountains. This is how the Iroquois believed the earth began.
The story of the Pimas is somewhat believable because they say the world started off with nothing at all. The only thing that was in existence was Juhwertamahkai (the doctor of the earth). First he started off small with ants then he moved up to the first human (Nooee), he made him out of the shadow of his eye, to assist him. Before the people he made the people he made the mountains, everything that has seed and is good to eat, the sun, the moon, and the stars. After everything was made he then populated the earth but after all of the people were made there wasn’t enough food so the people started killing and eating each other. The “doctor” didn’t like this so he let the sky fall and killed all the people. He made a whole in the center so he and Nooee could escape. So then he tried to remake the earth and sky three times until he finally liked the way it turned out. So with him crushing the world all of those times and building a new one right on top that formed the center of the world.
Everyone has their own beliefs. These are just the beliefs of these people. These stories are considered to be myths. The author’s write as if they know for a fact that this is how the world began. The stories vary in large amounts. These authors weren’t there when the world was made so who knows if they’re right or wrong. Its either we believe their stories or we don’t. The author’s use imagery by describing the “god’s” every moves to paint pictures in our heads on how everything was done and created.
Monday, August 24, 2009
google essay
Amber James
Period 2
08/24/2009
In the article ”Is Google Making Us Stupid?” the author is informing us about the danger we are in if we keep relying on google. He explains how google has been distracting our brains. He talks about the deep readings that used to come natural becoming a struggle for us now. No one sits and reads all day just to find an answer when they can type in one question on the internet and get an answer in a few seconds. Even though the answers are given at that very minute no one goes to double check the answer they just agree with the answer that’s given.
The author speaks on how his mind now expects to take in information the way the net distributes it. The author is saying that we are starting to let google think for us instead of thinking for ourselves. We rely on the source heavily, not realizing that every answer may not be true. No one turns to the pen and paper anymore, all we do is hop on the computer and search for the answers to all of our questions. We have adapted into this lifestyle letting the computers take over our ways of thinking. Nicholas Carr says that the computer is becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV.
Carr also talks about how the last thing these companies want is to encourage leisurely reading or slow, concentrated thought. The internet has so many different distractions such as; pop ups, adds, hyperlinks, etc. The result of these distractions is to scatter our attention and diffuse our concentration. Some people have stated that the more they use the web the more problems they have trying to stay focused on long pieces of writing. Also because of the wide range of information on the web people tend to go from one site to another without fully reading the pages jus skimming through the articles. No one takes their time anymore to consider the information given to them. There is just so much that the web has to offer that people tend to lose focus.
Carr discusses how the use of the web has also increased the laziness of people. The most common thing people do now is seek convenience. Instead of actually reading the articles people just skim through them and sometimes the articles could be up to three paragraphs long. Carr states that it seems as if people go online to avoid reading in the traditional sense which is pure laziness. Now with the internet we have so many shortcuts and quick and easy ways to read without having to turn pages. We have become dependent upon the use of technology. We allow it to do everything for us. People are saying that we would be better off if our brains were supplemented, or even replaced by an artificial intelligence. Carr speaks of this as being unsettling. Even though we are capable of doing these things our selves we are just too lazy to do so.
The author has many sources included in this article. He stays on the topic never getting off subject. He stays on the opposing side of google throughout the whole article. He gives information back to back to showing the readers he knows exactly what he’s talking about. Carr also has good logic he supports everything he says with a rational reason. His writing is very easy to understand. The way that he writes makes you want to believe everything he says is the truth and logical without even second guessing him. He has a very informative style of writing and he appeals to the audience.
Period 2
08/24/2009
In the article ”Is Google Making Us Stupid?” the author is informing us about the danger we are in if we keep relying on google. He explains how google has been distracting our brains. He talks about the deep readings that used to come natural becoming a struggle for us now. No one sits and reads all day just to find an answer when they can type in one question on the internet and get an answer in a few seconds. Even though the answers are given at that very minute no one goes to double check the answer they just agree with the answer that’s given.
The author speaks on how his mind now expects to take in information the way the net distributes it. The author is saying that we are starting to let google think for us instead of thinking for ourselves. We rely on the source heavily, not realizing that every answer may not be true. No one turns to the pen and paper anymore, all we do is hop on the computer and search for the answers to all of our questions. We have adapted into this lifestyle letting the computers take over our ways of thinking. Nicholas Carr says that the computer is becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV.
Carr also talks about how the last thing these companies want is to encourage leisurely reading or slow, concentrated thought. The internet has so many different distractions such as; pop ups, adds, hyperlinks, etc. The result of these distractions is to scatter our attention and diffuse our concentration. Some people have stated that the more they use the web the more problems they have trying to stay focused on long pieces of writing. Also because of the wide range of information on the web people tend to go from one site to another without fully reading the pages jus skimming through the articles. No one takes their time anymore to consider the information given to them. There is just so much that the web has to offer that people tend to lose focus.
Carr discusses how the use of the web has also increased the laziness of people. The most common thing people do now is seek convenience. Instead of actually reading the articles people just skim through them and sometimes the articles could be up to three paragraphs long. Carr states that it seems as if people go online to avoid reading in the traditional sense which is pure laziness. Now with the internet we have so many shortcuts and quick and easy ways to read without having to turn pages. We have become dependent upon the use of technology. We allow it to do everything for us. People are saying that we would be better off if our brains were supplemented, or even replaced by an artificial intelligence. Carr speaks of this as being unsettling. Even though we are capable of doing these things our selves we are just too lazy to do so.
The author has many sources included in this article. He stays on the topic never getting off subject. He stays on the opposing side of google throughout the whole article. He gives information back to back to showing the readers he knows exactly what he’s talking about. Carr also has good logic he supports everything he says with a rational reason. His writing is very easy to understand. The way that he writes makes you want to believe everything he says is the truth and logical without even second guessing him. He has a very informative style of writing and he appeals to the audience.
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