Friday, August 31, 2018

Welcome back, CW Juniors!

AGENDA:

1. Review Course Criteria/Welcome/Google classroom (6r0mlef)

2. Morning Reflection:  I'm Not Racist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43gm3CJePn0

First Blog Quickwrite: Your thoughts and post a comment (5 minutes) for credit

3. Activity: Read "Why I Write" and "The Poet"

Write Your Own "Why I Write Letter to Your Self"/group Why I write


Date: October 10, 2011
Summary: Prize-winning international poet, translator, and essayist Jane Hirshfield's poetry speaks to the central issues of human existence: desire and loss, impermanence and beauty, and the many dimensions of our connection with others. She tells NWP why she writes.
Why do I write?
I write because to write a new sentence, let alone a new poem, is to cross the threshold into both a larger existence and a profound mystery. A thought was not there, then it is. An image, a story, an idea about what it is to be human, did not exist, then it does. With every new poem, an emotion new to the heart, to the world, speaks itself into being. Any new metaphor is a telescope, a canoe in rapids, an MRI machine. And like that MRI machine, sometimes its looking is accompanied by an awful banging. To write can be frightening as well as magnetic. You don't know what will happen when you throw open your windows and doors.
To write a new sentence, let alone a new poem, is to cross the threshold into both a larger existence and a profound mystery.
Why write? You might as well ask a fish, why swim, ask an apple tree, why make apples? The eye wants to look, the ear wants to hear, the heart wants to feel more than it thought it could bear...
The writer, when she or he cannot write, is a person outside the gates of her own being. Not long ago, I stood like that for months, disbarred from myself. Then, one sentence arrived; another. And I? I was a woman in love. For that also is what writing is. Every sentence that comes for a writer when actually writing—however imperfect, however inadequate—every sentence is a love poem to this world and to our good luck at being here, alive, in it.
The Poet
She is working now, in a room not unlike this one, the one where I write, or you read. Her table is covered with paper. The light of the lamp would be tempered by a shade, where the bulb's single harshness might dissolve, but it is not, she has taken it off. Her poems? I will never know them, though they are the ones I most need. Even the alphabet she writes in I cannot decipher. Her chair -- Let us imagine whether it is leather or canvas, vinyl or wicker. Let her have a chair, her shadeless lamp, the table. Let one or two she loves be in the next room. Let the door be closed, the sleeping ones healthy. Let her have time, and silence, enough paper to make mistakes and go on. Jane Hirshfield
 
Discuss her essay and poem. 

 https://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/3660

Joan Didion:
http://genius.com/Joan-didion-why-i-write-annotated

RELATED ARTICLES ON NWP.ORG

About the Author Jane Hirshfield is the author of seven collections of poetry, including After (shortlisted for England's T.S. Eliot Prize and named a "best book of 2006" by the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the London Financial Times), Given SugarGiven Salt (finalist for the 2001 National Book Critics Circle Award), The Lives of the Heart, and The October Palace, as well as a book of essays, Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry. Her most recent book, a collection of poems entitled Come, Thief was published in August 2011. Hirshfield has taught at UC Berkeley, Duke University, Bennington College and elsewhere, and her many appearances at writers conferences and literary festivals in this country and abroad have been highly acclaimed.


4. POV Writing exercise
Write 4 paragraphs exploring point of view.
a. 3rd person limited
b. 1st prson
c. 3rd person omiscient
d. your choice--another character, second person/
example:
Her feet dragged in the dirt as she swayed back and forth on the playground swing set she used to soar on when she was younger. Her head hung low as she watched her dusty shoes trace circles beneath her. The rhythmic creaking of the rusted metal chains mixed with the patterns in the sand were enough to put her into a trance while she waited for a tap on her shoulder. When it came, it startled her, shocking her out of the coma she let herself fall into. His touch wasn’t warm like it used to be, the fingers that ran over her knuckles and along the lines in her palm felt forced, contrived. He sat beside her on the next swing and adjusted his feet to sway in sync with her. He smiled at her and she tried her hardest to smile back, feeling like the corners of her mouth were held up by string.

I made piles and lines in the sand with my shoes because they were dirty anyway. The screeching sound of the metal chain dug into my head. My hair would always get stuck in the links, ripping it out in pieces. The longer I swung back and forth the more my stomach would ache, but I couldn’t stop. The silence would be too much without anything to test it. I felt his icy fingers on my shoulder, exposed in the summer heat. My chest ached and my stomach fell into the dirt. I wish he didn’t come. I wish he never showed. There was no way to feel close to him anymore, even when he tried to swing in sync without me noticing. He was trying to get me to look at him. I could see from the corner of my eye, but I didn’t want to. Instead, I forced myself to smile, facing down the patterns in the dirt. I thought that would be good enough.

A girl hopped over the fence into the playground, then she looked around more a minute, grinning slightly when she saw that it was empty. She walked over to a bench that stood under a red maple tree. Her fingers glided over the bark as she passed it. She sat down on the bench for a moment, her legs crossed and her head resting in her hands, but she quickly got up, taking a new place on the swing set. She started to swing back and forth fast, her legs kicking back and forth to propel her higher and higher until there was slack in the chains when she went up. She smiled big as the wind whipped her hair back. After a minute or so she started to slow, eventually coming to a hard stop. Her face looked pale and her smile was gone. From then on, she just swayed slowly, dragging her white shoes in the dirt. A boy hopped over the fence behind her, but she didn’t seem to notice. He tapped on her shoulder and sat down next to her. That smile didn’t come back.

You hop over the chain link fence, expecting her to hear you. Of course she doesn’t though, she’s always lost in her thoughts. That’s one of the reasons you love her. You tried to make as much noise as you could as you walked up behind her, but still, she stared down at the ground. You didn’t mean to scare her, but when you tapped on her shoulder you could feel her jump with fear. You know that you should’ve just called her name, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it without bringing tears too. You touched her hand as softly as you could because you know she loves it, holding on until you take the spot next to her. She didn’t notice as you adjusted your swing to align with hers. You stared at her as you swung in exact sync. She smiled and you smiled back because you knew that as long as she was smiling she was still yours.


5. Sign out books:  Mudbound

HWK: Get Course Criteria signed for credit
READ: Mudbound Ch. 1

48 comments:

  1. Originally, I depicted this music video as being ironic because despite its title, I felt extremely offended. But towards the end, I realized what was occurring and I actually thought the concept was quite interesting. The video portrayed both sides of the story between race divide, and it gave viewers perspectives of the majority of either side. In the end, once the two opposing sides had shared their opinions, views, and facts, they came to an understanding. Comprehending each other is essential to neutral existence. Personally, I enjoyed the video, and thought it conveyed a well developed message that all audience alike can grasp and comprehend.

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  2. the video that we've watched today i already saw. the first time i couldn't get through the first verse because i was disgusted from the white man saying nigger and nigga a lot and it was kind of upsetting. then i skipped through the video and watched the other half. i saw that it was kind of a pov little project of how they were feeling. the second time i watched it was a few minutes ago and the feelings that i had the first time went away and i really enjoyed the video a lot. it was put together really well and had a really good meaning to it that had a perfect ending. both sides coming together to come to an understanding was amazing.

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    1. I'm glad you pointed to POV aand how our own POV can change when look at things more than once. I, too, was initially put off by the video until I started to see more things that the artists were trying to do. Good reflection...thank you!

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  3. I actually haven't seen this video before even though it came out months ago. I've heard about it all over Twitter because of the controversy it sparked. I feel like it was really powerful and showed the viewpoints of white people and black people regarding racism and social movements like #blacklivesmatter

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    1. this is joshua sorry i didnt sign in

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    2. What do you think about the ending/ Was it believable?

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  4. The video by Joyner Lucas had a very powerful point. It was showing the two sides of the same story. It was addressing some of the ignorant stereotypes that people place on others and uses them as a way to open their eyes to what's really going on. The video also points out how both sides tend to go through the cycle of indoctrination. For example, the African-American explained how when white children see their parents act racist towards other people and when their parents teach them, it starts that cycle of hatred all over again with each generation, therefore making it much harder for it to die out. This video was trying to show that deep down, we're all humans. We're all the same. I learned that it's hard but essential to try and listen to every part of the story, so that you can get another understanding of why things are a certain and what people can do to change it.

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    1. Fine reflection with many good points--especially about how we learn from our parents and society and the cycle repeats itself. Wat do you think can stop that cycle?

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. I have already seen the video for "I'm Not Racist" but it's been a year since then. However, the meaning of the song and the impact it successfully delivers is still strong even after this long. It's also sad that it speaks true even now and who knows how many more years. I think there are points on both sides of the argument, but when the white man started using racial slurs to address the other person, he crossed a line. It's fine to tread on these topics and understand each other, but without the use of the N-word. That makes the conversation brutal enough that the other side won't listen to him, because the white man will not see him as anything but that word. Anyway, at the same time, I don't think it was appropriate to call the white man a cracker either but he was being targeted first. I just think a lot of people are pointing fingers at each other and it'll be hard for a resolution and understanding to come to fruition. It's a powerful video and I'm glad Joyner Lucas decided to make that song, especially in this time.

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    1. Thoughtful response, Jenna. You focused on DICTION, te power of the word choice. How do we respond to words like the "n-word, cracker, kike, dago,chink, wetback, spic, slant-eyes,polack," etc. etc. etc.? All of these slurs are cruelly thrown against our diverse heritage and tradition as a country. Words matter, writers.

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  7. We let the media get into our heads and that causes us to think we know something about another race without actually knowing. Obviously not all whites are the same, not all blacks are the same but the society we live in today is very brainwashing. We don't actually sit down and talk face to face. Everybody has a different story and everybody has a different background. We all can be a little bias, some people more than others. We need to try to understand both sides because without understanding there will never be equality between people, we won't be able to be united.

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    1. Very thoughtful response! Especially about the media's role in brainwashing us...

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  8. Having already seen the video, I was more curious about what everyone else was thinking as they saw it than about the video itself. I definitely think the video has a good message and a nice beat. I like how the video lets one person talk and then the other, like a debate, to give them each an opportunity to share their stories and beliefs so that by the end they meet in the middle with a new understanding.

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    1. Pahz--Good point about the deate quality--argument and counter-argument leading to a place in the middle and greater understanding.

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  9. Watching the video was like pouring hot candle wax on my skin. At the same time is was triggering, it was a message I felt all of us needed to hear, to see, and to experience. For there to be people out there who were so ignorant they didn't see the kind of hate POC were getting is just insane. To be in the same atmosphere as the oppressed and to barely bat an eye. I can't imagine a life where I am created equal, and where there are people who don't see you by the color of your skin but by your character. I wish I could, but I can't. Hopefully those who carry the blood so many of us have lost would experience such harmony.

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    1. Nice reference to MLK. I find your painful image of "hot candle wax" on your skin the possible beginning of a poem.
      Your reflection indicated a lot of personal pain, and I hope you can make others understand more. Try to imagine that other life as you live yours and share with others.

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  10. I think this video was trying to get the message across to white people that black people don't do certain stuff for attention such as creating the black lives matter protest. They do certain stuff like that because they are oppressed in this point in time and everyone is so quick to cry all lives matter, but how can all lives matter if black lives don't? White people love to yell the reasons about how they are 'just as oppressed' as people of color, but oppression is not a competition and we need to stop treating it like that. Instead of everyone trying to find ways to prove they are more oppressed than others, we should help the ones who are oppressed so we can all finally be equal with one another. I find it ridiculous that we can't even handle having different skin tones, thinking about it from that perspective just makes racist people look stupid.

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    1. Good reflection, Isobel. In your head, try doing the flip question. It helps put things in perspective.
      What would it be like if you lived in a society where you were judged by the color of your skin because you are "white"? It's a profound beginning to understanding how white privilege is assumed in American society and te beginning of empathy for POC.

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  11. I'm not racist displays some of the common ignorant ideas and beliefs held by members of the opposite race. All my life I thought that if only these stories could be shared then maybe there could be understanding. Recently I read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, a book that through out most of it is about the these same struggles. Except this book was published in the 1950s. The story was always out; but now with Trump, gun violence, and videos like this people are finally starting to listen. Like the man in the video people can comfortably spew there hate now that they got a white president again, that's what people say. However like the man in the video having mean they need to recognize why. Understand like he did that his point of view on the story is why he had hate, but not the story from the other point of view.

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    1. Thoughtful response Jesziah. i'm glad you read Invisible Man--it's an important eye-opening American novel! Wish we could teach it.
      Don't stop believing that sharing stories makes a difference. It does, only too slowly because we need other forms of activism as well.

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  12. It seemed as if the white man was just yelling just so he could get his point across. It was as if there was no pure emotion in the things that he was saying, other than having pent up anger about black people taking advantage of the world and complaining. When the black man spoke he was so passionate and ready to justify everything that he does just so he wouldn't seem like a barnacle to the government.

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    1. who are you? Identify for future credit, please.

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  13. This video we watched is so controversial, we are letting the past reflect the future. We cant walk around and be who we are without someone telling us its wrong or labeling us. No one is born racist its what they have been taught. All the political issues are breaking our country apart and making us hate one another.

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    1. Good reflection. What do you mean by "letting the past reflect the future"? That's such an interesting idea.
      How can future be different from the past? How will your generation help change it?

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  14. I have seen the video a couple of times before and seeing it a second time allowed me to listen more to the lyrics instead of the overall concept. I think the video is something everyone should watch because it highlights the importance of conversation. The video is aimed to teach the audience why its so important to listen to others perspectives in order to come to an understanding.

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  15. I'm not racist displays how racism only comes from people not understanding the other culture, people base their thinking and actions towards people based on their own stereotypes and depictions of how they are, but if people, whites and blacks, sat in the others shoes they would have a better understanding of each other and with that better understanding there would be a realization that there is no need for them to be separated. As it said at the end of the video we are all one people, but people allowed race, politics, wealth, etc. to separate the one people into several different peoples which leads to the discrimination, endured by blacks, Native Americans, etc. People need to take the time to understand other people before judging, discriminating, and bringing them down because that judgement, discrimination, and making inferior of a race caused separation of a people and caused terrible tragedies, slavery, police brutality, deportation, within the world that could have been avoided if people understood that we are one, but because they, the white people fail to understand that, slavery and police brutality occurred/occurs causing tension and hatred between a people who should be one, and for what? "Live in the same building, but on 2 different floors."

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    1. Thank you for your focus on our common humanity. That's what writers try to do as their passion and mission. I'm glad you understand this. Why I write? Not just for me to understand, but also for you to understand. Thoughtful reflection!

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  16. I write because that leisure luxury was not always free.
    I write in order to get out all of my intrusive thoughts.
    I write when I feel inclined to voice my perspectives and opinions.
    I write to release everything inside of me.

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  17. I write to say the words unspoken. I write to discover who I am. I write to remember things forgotten. I write to forget things I fear. I write to understand the world's differences. I write to have a listening ear. I write to find true love and happiness.

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  18. I write because I think dreams are interesting and need to be heard about. I write because even though my life is good, I want to experience a different one. I write because I can. I write because I love to talk. I write because I enjoy reading. I write because I'll fail if I don't.

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  19. I write because life gave me the power to put a pencil in my hand, and to put my thought onto paper.
    I write because to hear my heart slither from someone else's lips is the sweetest music.
    I write because when tears would fill my eyes, writing was there to cure the pain I had.

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  20. I write to feel things. I write because I have to. I write because I enjoy it.

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  21. I write because I use it as an escape. I write because I want to learn. I write because I want to use my imagination to soar on a gryphon's wings and tango with Medusa. I write because if I don't, I'm a shell of myself. I write because it's calming. I write because I want to learn to love. I write because I love to write about friends and food. I write because it's my life and soul.

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  22. I write so I don't fail in class. I write to improve and expand on my skill. I write, albeit rarely, to release my emotions. I write to let ideas flow from my mind. I write to show others what I can achieve. I write to show my self what I can achieve.

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  23. I write to express emotion. I write to say the things that I can't say. I write because I can change the ending. I write because I control what happens next. I write to tell my story. To tell other people's story. To say the things that should be said.

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  24. joshua phonharath - I write because I enjoy it. I write because it makes me feel productive. I write because it allows me to put my thoughts, opinions, and hopes for the future on to paper.

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  25. I write because as an only child the stories in my head were my friends. I grew up in a house where one to talk to, to communicate I write. I write because poetry and literature are what the high class understand. And I have things I want them to learn. I write to leave something that matters for the people I love.

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  26. I write because seeing what I completed makes me feel good. I write because people are able to hear what I am thinking about. I write because of all the opportunities that are out there for me to get. I write because I'm a writer who writes. I write because I like writing.

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  27. I write because I want to escape the real world. I write because I feel like someone can hear me. I write because I feel more relaxed. I write because I want to make a statement. I write because its who I am.

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  28. I write because I want to tell a story. I want to give people something to feel and to see other than their own lives. I write because i want to live someone else's life. I want to tell the unspoken words. I want to tell a stories like those I read as a child. I write because i believe there is a world outside ours and i want to bring it to life.

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  29. i write because my life is filled with problems i want to tell.
    i write because my life's a story
    i write because i want you to feel my pain
    i write to show what i can do
    i write for those who said i wouldn't be shit
    i write to show my love to someone
    i write based of my life.

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  30. I'm Not Racist, both the song and video had a large impact months after it's release. When first saw it several months ago I only saw a clip of the white man's side and felt that the song was dumb. I actually thought Joyner Lucas was the white himself. Then I chose to give the entire video a chance and still felt as though the song didn't do a good job showing both sides equally. Initially, I felt that the white guy was simply saying that black people had certain stereotypes and even chose to follow them. When it became the black kid's verse he was simply denying stereotypes and even trying to justify some. I felt that the song's entire debate was one-sided and is only being talked about because it was controversial. However, it wasn't actually saying anything different from what I see daily on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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    1. Wow! I love your response. You are very acquainted to this. Yet, I so need to learn more! Help me learn....How should the real argument be made?

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  31. I write because it's a chance to let out thoughts, emotions, or even actions I can't do otherwise. To throw myself into a world that is unlike my own. I write to be heard. Words on paper make a louder noise than I'll ever be able to say. Simply because the words will always be able to revisited. I write so that I can change the belief that a black boy only wants to rap, or play a sport, or will have to shut his feelings aside and work a dead-end job. I write to open future doors for future kids who feel there's no way out of borderline poverty or a broken home. I write not only for myself but for others.

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