Socratic Seminar Reflection - Kite Runner #2

                   The Socratic seminar influenced my thinking on women's role and how the rest of world sees America. The seminar made me compare women's roles in different countries and how they are similar or different. For instance, it made me think more about how American women are seen in the United States and how Afghanistan women are seen in Afghanistan. In the seminar, there was a lot of talk over what would have happened if Amir and stopped Assef from getting raped. I hadn't thought too much about this scenario before the seminar. 

                         I agreed the most with Jessie when she said that women all over the world were generally viewed the same, but just on different levels. I believe that women are viewed as lesser than men and in society they are expected to only be the mothers and caregivers. Jessie touched on this same point and then brought up the fact that this ideology is expressed in more extreme ways in certain countries. I disagreed with Ryan and Frankie the most when they said that all countries loved America. If I had been able to respond to that I would have and I would have shed light on how 1st world countries in Europe and Australia, there is a dislike for America's arrogance. I would have said this to see if anyone else agreed with me.

                       One thing that worked really well for the seminar was that we went deep into issues. Instead of skimming the surface of issues like the other group, our group was able to dive a little deeper. We went a little farther than the book and talked about it's general themes, not just about how Assef raped Hassan. Lastly we were passionate about the subjects that we were talking about and shared experiences from our own lives to help explain our comments.

One thing that did not go well during the Socratic seminar was that it was extremely hard for people to talk and everyone one was arguing, not discussing. People talked over one another constantly and cut into people talking. Because of these two very rude things, the conversation was very jumbled and confusing and no one really understood what was going on. Also, people got really angry and hurt by certain comments and so the discussion turned into a heated argument a couple of times. It was not very pleasant to talk and it felt as though people were trying to beat each other, not collectively discuss themes and emotional appeals from the Kite Runner.

Socratic Seminar Reflection - The Kite Runner - #1

 The Socratic seminar influenced my thinking on the concept of 'friendship.' Of course everyone has their own definition of what friendship is but there are some words that are generally associated with friendship. The words kindness, loyalty, trust, happiness, support, caring, concern, etc. all go along with friendship. In the book, "The Kite Runner," Hassan and Amir have an interesting relationship that is on the borderline of friendship, but not really there. The seminar made me think more about the relationship that Hassan and Amir had. I also thought more about difficult decisions, and what justifies making a decision or not, especially in Amir's case.

One topic that our group focused on was whether Hassan and Amir were friends or not. I disagreed with Ryan when he said that Hassan and Amir were friends. I disagreed with him because I think that Hassan and Amir were just people who had know each other for their whole lives, not people who were friends. Friendship is balanced, and no one has direct power over the other. Hassan was Amir's servant and was under him in society. That is not a good basis for a genuine friendship. I think they appreciated one another, but they weren't friends. Also I don't think a real friend would let their friend get raped. I agreed with Helen when she thought that Amir was solely based his actions on trying to please his father, and by doing this he was trying to be more manly. In the Socratic seminar I wish I had touched more on Amir's relationship with Rahim Khan and talk more about the support that Amir got from Rahim. Rahim is an important character and he promoted Amir's writing. 

Something that worked really well for the seminar was that we were all well read and were very passionate. It seemed as though everyone had read the book and knew what they were talking about. Also, the seminar was not dull or boring because people were passionate about what they were talking about. 

Some things that did not work well for the Socratic seminar were some people didn't have a chance to speak and the conversion stayed on two topics and stayed mainly on the book. Because many people were passionate about the book, there were others who had to fight to get a word in. A lot of the same people continued to talk and control the conversation. Also, the conversation focused mainly on whether Hassan and Amir were friends or not and Hassan's rape. While the conversation was never dull, we could have moved on to more things. Lastly for the next Socratic seminar, we can focus less on the facts of the book and more on central themes that belong to "The Kite Runner." I think that will enrich the conversation and put it on a higher level.

Socratic Seminar #4 1984

Summary: 
Book 3 of 1984 shows Winston in the Ministry of Love being tortured by O'Brien. In book 3, more information is revealed about the party's motives and more is revealed about Winston.Winston in the end succumbs to what the party wanted him to be and he finally revealed that he loved Big Brother.

Level 2 Questions:
1. What is the effect of having 1984 broken into three distinct parts?
 - The fact that 1984 is broken into three parts represents Winston's treatment and understanding of the party. "'There are three stages in your reintegration,' said O'Brien. 'There is learning, there is understanding, and there is acceptance.'" In book 1 of 1984, Winston sought for more information about the proles and the past. In book 2, Winston broke the law with Julia and gained a new level of understanding about his feelings toward Big Brother. Lastly in book 3, Winston finally accepted that there could never be a revolt against Big Brother and he finally accepted that he would always love Big Brother. The three distinct parts of the book represent Winston learning more about the past and more about the proles, understanding his new goal in going against the party, and finally accepting that he loved Big Brother.
Appeal: Logical

2. How is Winston's relationship with O'Brien similar to his relationship with Big Brother?
- In chapter two of book 3, Winston described O'Brien as the, "tormentor, he was the protector, he was the inquisitor, he was the friend."Similarly, Big Brother was characterized as the protector. Big Brother protected the people from war and from capitalism and other horrors. He gave everything to the people of Oceania but he also hurt them. Big Brother took away the people's freedom which is exactly what O'Brien did to Winston. Winston looked up to both O'Brien and Big Brother; they both protected him. Winston also had his freedoms taken away by both O'Brien and Big Brother.
Appeal: Emotional
3. How did Winston's relationship with Julia change after being in the Ministry of Love?
- After being tortured in the ministry of love, Winston and Julia had lost their feelings for one another. Before they had been caught by the thought police Winston and Julia were in it together, but after betraying one another their priorities changed. Julia noted about betraying Winston, "You think there's no other way of saving yourself and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person." At the end, they realized that their love could not be saved and that the party had performed the ultimate test in room 101 and both Winston and Julia failed by betraying one another.
Appeal: Emotional
4. By the end of the book, is there a part of Winston that can resist manipulation?
-By the end of the book there is no part of Winston that can resist manipulation. In the end Winston, "had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." Winston was tortured mentally and physically and there was no way that he could continue thinking revolutionary thoughts after being in the ministry of love. What determined whether Winston would be released from the ministry of love would be himself. When Winston finally accepted Big Brother and the party that meant that there was no more resisting manipulation.
Appeal: Logical
5. What is the party's strategy regarding Winston?
- The party's strategy towards Winston is to learn about his kind and destroy it. Winston was the only one in Oceania that was able to have memories and block the party's interests. "O'Brien smiled slightly. 'You are a flaw in the pattern, Winston. You are a stain that must be wiped out... When finally you surrender to us, it must be your own freewill." The party was interested in Winston and so they took their time observing him but their overall goal was to have him surrender to them and accept that he loved Big Brother.
Appeal: Logical
6. What is the party's purpose in creating Goldstein's book?
- The party's purpose in creating Goldstein's book was to create and enemy that they could protect the people from. The idea of the brotherhood and Goldstein allowed the people of Oceania to think that there was another option of governing that they could go to. This made it easy for the party to catch people like Winston who thought that there wan another alternative like the brotherhood. The party created Goldstein's book to outline obvious facts about ruling over others and to spark excitement in people like Winston. But in reality, the steps in Goldstein's book for a revolution could never actually happen. As O'Brien said, "It's all nonsense."
Appeal: Logical 

Level 3 Questions:

7. How has technology affected our society?

- Technology has made us more connected to one another, given us easy access to information, and has made our lives relatively easier, but we are now completely dependent on technology and have less privacy. Now, it’s not abnormal for people to own phones, iPods, ipads/tablets, computers, etc. In fact, it’s expected that everyone have a smart phone. We live in a world were if you don’t have a computer, it’s likely you’ll have a harder time in school because more than half of the assignments are posted online for you. The act of sending a letter is considered archaic by most, why not? An email, phone call, or a text is faster. Technology has helped us send and receive information faster, which has helped people socially, culturally, economically, and intellectually. But where are our searches and messages stored? There are privacy settings that supposedly protect us from getting our information leaked, but how many people do they actually protect us from? “As O’Brien passed the telescreen a thought seemed to strike him. He stopped, turned aside, and pressed a switch on the wall. There was a sharp snap. The voice had stopped.” (140) We are living in a world where the government can track our calls, emails, texts, instant messages, social media, etc. Privacy is just a façade if you are caught up with technology.

Appeal: Emotional

8. How much power should a government have over its people for it to be beneficial to society?

- A government should be able to provide protection and have some power over its people, but individuals should have rights and a voice in political agreements. Like in America, there is the bill of rights, the constitution, and the declaration of independence, which all protects the rights of individuals. Many people believe that the government should have little power over its people but I believe that results in chaos and revolts. Where would we be without our government? Sure, we would not have bad relations with other nations in the world but the government everyday helps us. Highways, hospitals, schools, national parks, social security, welfare, judicial system, election system, armies, FEMA, food stamps, food safety regulations, public health regulations, health care, coast guard, national weather service, etc, are all ways in which the government helps us. The government helps provide aid to, “the Middle, and the Low,” (152) so they should be granted some control over individuals. 

Appeal: Logical

9. What role does memory play in an accurate account of history?

Memory is a human trait that comes to us naturally. Some might say that we cannot pick and choose which memories to remember, but what about in the cases of brainwash and manipulation? Unpleasant memories can be suppressed and destroyed. If one chooses to suppress a memory and have a negative connotation with it then the account of history might not be as accurate. We look at different times in the past all based on how we feel and if it is considered good or bad. In the case of 1984, everyday people have to be a part of the 2 minutes of hate which is negatively directed towards Goldstein. The memories of those people are being changed and reshuffled into believing only in the bad sides of Goldstein due to the 2 minutes of hate. The accuracy or inaccuracy of the memories makes no difference to Big Brother. History and the past are determined partly by point of views and records that could have been altered by bias.

Appeal: Logical

Socratic Seminar Reflection #2 1984

             The Socratic seminars made me think more about the power that the proles had and Winston's attitude towards them. Before the seminar, I knew that the proles were the only ones who would be able to lead a successful revolt against Big Brother but I questioned if they actually wanted to. After the discussion I am more confident that Winston would be able to lead the proles into a revolution if he wanted to. Charlie said that if Winston were to confide in anyone about his revolutionary thoughts, he would confide in the antique shop keeper. Before the seminar I had thought about that a little but I didn't really analyze it. It makes sense that Winston would trust someone who appreciated the pre Big Brother world and who was not under constant supervision of a telescreen. 

             During the Socratic Seminar, a lot of people thought that the proles were oblivious to the party's discrimination towards them. I agreed with Molly when she thought that the proles did know that they were thought of as animals compared to the party. Like Molly, I believe that the proles are aware that they are discriminated against but they are content with their lives because that is all they know. I disagreed with Ryan when he said that Winston was not the type of person that would be able to rebel against Big Brother. I disagreed with him because Winston has been able to rebel. He started a diary against Big Brother which is highly illegal, he has been with prostitutes, wandered in the prole section of town, and has illegally thought of taking down Big Brother. In the time of 1984, what Winston was doing was completely and utterly against the law so I believe that he is the type of person to rebel. I wish I had said this during the discussion to make a point and to see if other people agreed with me. 

         During the seminars, everyone was able to contribute and really thoughtful questions were asked. Everyone was very passionate about our reading and I felt that everyone was very well prepared and interested. Also, I thought that most people emphasized rhetorical appeals more than last time. Lastly, I thought that the conversation never hit an awkward point and that the conversation was rich with thought.

              One thing that hurt the seminars was that I felt a lot of people were repeating similar thoughts and questions. Even if a question had been asked already or a passage had already been analyzed, ten minutes afterward a person would bring it back up again which seemed redundant. Also, even though everyone got to speak, there were three or four people who dominated the conversation and made it hard for other people to talk. Overall, the conversation went really well but the dominance and repetition needs to be worked on for the next seminar.

Othello Dramatic Reading - Statement of Intent

My Dramatic Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlC54L53FbY

          I chose to perform Othello's soliloquy from Act 5, Scene 2, where Othello is getting prepared to kill his wife, Desdemona. This particular soliloquy is filled with emotion and conflicting feelings which helped me to determine where tone, emphasis, and pauses, should be. During this scene, Othello is very angry with Desdemona because he was tricked into thinking she was unfaithful to him, but he is also overcome admiration of her beauty and the love that they shared. In his soliloquy, I decided to put an emphasis on phrases such as, "It is the cause, It is the cause," and, "Yet she must die," because I felt Othello said them to convince himself that murdering his wife was his only option. I felt a sense of urgency in these lines where Othello wanted to get the murder over with. After saying, "Yet she must die," I paused before reciting, "else she'll betray more men," in order to put an emphasis on Othello's realization in why he wanted to murder Desdemona in the first place. When delivering the line, "Yet I'll not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers as snow and smooth as monumental alabaster," I used a gentle, sweet, and loving tone to portray how Othello still adored Desdemona and his sorrow.
          After "becoming" Othello for two minutes, I learned how hurt he was by the idea that Desdemona had cheated on him and how he suffered from the conflicting feelings of love, anger, and jealousy all at once. Before I had prepared for this dramatic reading, I solely thought of Othello as an overpowering man who made rash decisions based on questionable information. While part of that is true, I have now recognized Othello's true love for Desdemona and the grief and rage that he felt after being tricked into thinking she cheated on him. After finishing the dramatic reading, I realized how dangerous and detrimental jealousy can be. I also found that people really need to analyze important pieces of information judiciously before making a decision.
          This particular soliloquy really defined Othello's emotions and it defined him as a character. This scene was not the climax or the resolution, but the audience gets a better understanding of Othello's struggle and his obsessive need to take revenge. Othello's soliloquy further complicated the conflict because he is revealing that his mind can't be changed and that Desdemona must die. He won't forgive her or attempt to discover if she's innocent or not... Othello is set on killing Desdemona despite his admiration for her love and beauty.

Socratic Seminar Reflection #1 1984

               The seminar influenced on why George Orwell portrayed the year 1984 as he did. In the discussion, people talked about the Ministries and the overpowering government, Big Brother. This book was published in 1949, right after World War two and the rise of fascism. Our discussion led me to think more about the over powering governments that the world had experienced right when George Orwell wrote his book. In the seminar there was a nonsensical attitude towards the idea of Big Brother and a completely over-powering government but in reality, that kind of government is not too unfamiliar. When Leah mentioned that some countries had governments such as the one in 1984, today, I thought more about why George Orwell wrote this book and why it's important for us to read it today.

               One controversial topic that appeared in the seminar was whether Winston writing in his journal was an act of freedom or not and whether it was smart or worth doing. Neilah said that when Winston wrote in his journal he started out writing about a film that he saw and then suddenly started pouring out his thoughts on the current situation in his country. Winston was shocked by his own thoughts and how easily he was able to write them down. I agree with Neilah when she said that Winston found freedom by being able to express his thoughts in this illegal journal; something that nobody was able to do. Ryan argued that the journal was not worth writing in because he would be discovered and either killed or put in jail for 25 years. I disagreed with his statement because Winston was obviously not happy with how his life was being controlled and if he could achieve some sort of revolt which would then inspire other people to do the same thing, I think writing illegally in his journal is worth it. I wish I had the opportunity to say that because I would've liked to see if others agreed with me and I could have maybe altered my view on it.

                 Something that worked really well for the seminar was that everyone had a chance to speak and discuss their ideas. There were no interruptions and no awkward silences that put a damper in the conversation. Also, everyone had different ideas so the conversation was rich and interesting. Lastly, everyone had a good knowledge and understanding of the text and some even used quotes from 1984.

                I felt that there needed to be more talk and emphasis on rhetorical appeals because that was what the discussion was meant to be based on. To me it was confusing whether some people were trying to discuss and emotional appeal or logical. But overall, I thought the seminar went well and next time I will try and put more of an emphasis on the appeals.

Justification Paper #3

Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled: 

           Imagine two boys who had very similar upbringings. Both were born in Baltimore, Md, had absent fathers and single mothers, and both were named Wes Moore. Most importantly however, both boys were raised in poverty but only one boy was able to make it out of the hood while the other will spend the rest of his life in jail. One might ask how this is possible? Two very similar boys ended up having very different adult lives and this happened because of the paths they decided to take and the expectations that were fulfilled. The title, "Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled," for the chapters, The Land that God Forgot and Surrounded, describe the paths that both Wes Moore's decided to take and the expectations fulfilled by doing so.
          Wes Moore 1(author) and Wes Moore 2(convict) took different paths and therefore different expectations were fulfilled. Wes Moore 1, at an earlier age compared to Wes Moore 2, decided to do well in school and he eventually became to be a sergeant of a platoon at his military school. At that moment, people expected more from Wes 1; they wanted him to really succeed. Wes 1 choose to enlist in the army, become a Cecil Rhodes scholar, study abroad in South Africa, apply to the White House Fellow program and was accepted. Wes Moore 1 did and is currently doing amazing things in his life because he paved his own path to success. Once he achieved all of these wonderful goals, his friends, family, and mentors had their expectations fulfilled. Wes Moore 2 on the other hand, did not pave his own path to success; instead he let others pave his path to jail. Wes Moore 2 let himself be negatively influenced by others and even though he tried to get out of the drug business, he was back into it just a few months later. Because of this, other people expected Wes to fail, which is exactly what he did. Wes Moore 2 was convicted of murder in the first-degree and sentenced to jail for life. Many might argue that the environment that Wes 2 grew up in affected his decision to hurt others but the fact is Wes Moore 1 came from the same conditions and greatly prospered and succeeded. Everyone makes mistakes, but how is it alright to make the same mistake numerous times?
            The title, "Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled," for the chapters, The Land that God Forgot and Surrounded, describe the paths that both Wes Moore's decided to take and the expectations fulfilled by doing so. Both boys made conscious decisions that had an impact on their lives. Regardless of race and the environment that these boys grew up in, one boy used these important decisions to make his life better while the other boy did not.

Chapter 8: Surrounded

Theme 1: Crime
1) "Crime in Baltimore and its suburbs had spiraled out of control, particularly in the city proper." (148)

Chapter 7: The Land that God Forgot

Theme 1: Life Choices

1) "A year after completing the Job Corps training, Wes realized the only consistency in his employment was inconsistency. That, and the fact that none of these jobs paid over nine dollars an hour." (144)
- Many people, particularly in America, would like to think that if you work hard and strive to do better at all times, then you will prosper and be successful. Wes 2, despite the fact that he had a criminal record and no high school diploma, went into Job Corps training in the hopes for finding a profitable, stable job other than selling drugs. Even though Wes spent nine months in Job Corps, working hard and learning how to build, he still couldn't find a job that would cover his expenses and support his family. Who is to blame in this situation? The boy who came from poverty in Baltimore that was introduced to drugs in his pre-teens? Wes 2 is mostly to blame for his actions and the fact that he is in jail today, but it's not fair to say that Wes did not try to make a new life for himself and his family. Even though there are opportunities to change ones life for the better, and stay away from illegal business, these opportunities don't necessarily change peoples lives for the better. Instead they negatively affect people's lives and cause them to return to the illegal and more profitable way of life, such as selling drugs.
 2) "As the baking soda swirled in the rapidly heating pot, Wes held the plastic bag with both hands and poured in nine ounces of cocaine." (145)
- Despite his attempt at finding a better life, Wes opted for the job that would pay him the most money. In communities, like the one where Wes grew up, that are ridden with crime and drugs, the only clear and straight forward job to do is to sell drugs. Drugs have a high price on them, and a high toll, and so the sellers are guaranteed a stable income if they are loyal to the business. It's difficult for a person to walk away from the drug business for a job that pays minimum wage with the only satisfaction of the job being ethical. A person who was committed to a business such as this for most of their life can't get up and walk away and expect an easy transition. Even if a person makes a conscious choice to change and be better, that one choice has very little value if all the other choices that he/she made, benefitted them in a negative way.

Theme 2: Role Models

3) "As I started to think seriously about how I could become the person I wanted to be, I looked around at some of the people who had the biggest impact on my life." (132)
- In order to figure out what people want to do with their lives, the common response is to observe the people who affect their life in some way. This could mean admiring a family friend who is always seen reading the news paper and keeping up with the changing times, or admiring a professor who shows no mercy but also desires his/her students to learn and experience life. This could also mean, observing the family member who always asks to borrow money from others. Whether a person in your life has a negative or a positive effect on you, it's important to take note of how their actions made you feel because this can better help you figure out what kind of person you want to be. 

Theme 3: Drugs

4) "The sight of her coming off of her high, stumbling to the bathroom, disgusted Wes... The people who would line around the corner for drugs... He knew these people because he was the one who got them what they needed. It was his job." (138)
- Wes 2 knew the dangers of drugs but he was now starting to feel the guilt of selling them once he saw that his children's mother was addicted to heroin. Many times it takes an actual experience, not just warnings, to understand the dangers of drugs. People like Wes were getting payed for selling drugs and couldn't be bothered with the correlation of drugs and bad neighborhoods. The buying and selling of drugs not only hurts the people taking and getting high off the drug, but it also hurts the people who sell the drugs. They are hurt because they are left with the choice of getting payed well for a job that they know best or facing unemployment or minimum wage for jobs that they aren't equipped for. 
5) "Wes had to reconsider what it meant to be a father. He wanted to protect his young daughter, shelter her... Without a thought about what he was taking on, he announced that he wanted to build her a house." (142)
- Similar to what Joy and Tony Moore did to Wes when he was a young boy, Wes felt the need to protect his daughter from the drug and crime ridden streets of Baltimore. Although a small wooden house would not fully shield Wes's daughter from danger, it would at least comfort Wes and offer him a peaceful state of mind. This protection from the streets is thoughtful but also hopeless keeping in consideration the percentage of people who go into the drug ring and never come out. In order for a person to do well in school and not get involved in illegal business it takes self will, not just warnings and wooden houses that offer protection, to make that goal a reality.

Justification Paper #2

Choices and Second Chances 

     Imagine two boys who share the same name and lived similar lives. These two boys soon turned into men and even though their backgrounds are similar, both of them made choices that made one into a credentialed author and the other into a convict. Not all of the decisions that these boys made were good, and not all were bad, but the true test of character is making a choice and knowing that there won't be a second or a last chance to help you if the choice was wrong. The title, "Choices and Second Chances," for the chapters Marking Territory, Lost, and Hunted, describe the choices that both Wes Moores made, the second chances they did or did not receive, and the impact these choices and redemption had on their lives.
      Wes 1 (the author) made more beneficial choices than Wes 2 (the convict) made. Wes 1, a boy with a loving family, grew up in the Bronx for most of his childhood until he moved to Pennsylvania to attend Military school for high school. What put him in military school was his decision to not care about school and to summon Kid Kupid. He had multiple behavioral problems at school, and he cared more about hip hop and basketball then he did homework. Kid Kupid, a spray painting alter ego to Wes 1, amplified Wes 1's defiance toward his mother and the rulers. Although Wes 1 would deny it at the time, military school was his saving grace from what he would have become. Kids like Wes 1 who had behavioral issues and who grew up in a drug and crime ridden place like the Bronx either don't make it our unscathed or don't make it at all. Military school was Wes 1's second chance to do better in school and set himself up for a better future and to redeem himself of his bad choices. But ultimately, what good is a second chance if you don't use it well. Wes 1 used it well and became a senior sergeant and leader of his platoon; admirable achievements. Wes 2, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Despite his family's warnings to not participate in the drug business, Wes 2 did. At first he started out small, just having a head set and helping the dealers, and then he made it to having his own crew and his own turf. He choose drugs and unstable money over an education. Tony, Wes 2's brother, and Joy, Wes 2's mother, tried numerous times to warn him and to protect him, but Wes 2 ultimately made the choices that put him where he is now, jail. Wes 2 got a girl pregnant. Wes 2 decided to shoot a boy his own age. Wes 2 decided to make and sell drugs. These decisions and careless actions added up and no second chance could get Wes 2 out of them because he was too deep into it. Bad choices are made all the time, but the trick is knowing how to make better choices next time and to use second and last chances to your own advantage.
         While both Wes 1 and Wes 2 had many things in common, they differed in many ways. For one thing, Wes 2 played in the big leagues with the drug dealers and he chose to be there. Wes 1, was more content turning into Kid Kupid and spray painting his logo onto buildings; a minor offense. But however you look at it, both Wes 1 and Wes 2 are where they are today based on the decisions that they made and the 2nd chances that were given to them.

Chapter 6: Hunted

Theme 1: Drugs and Crime
1) "All that mattered was that he was here. He had accomplished his mission of completing high school... But only eighty-seven seats were filled that spring morning." (109)
- In Woody's perspective, school was the big challenge that he had overcome and a challenge in which many of his peers had failed to face and to defeat. People like Daemon, White Boy, and Wes were only a few of Woody's friends who dropped out of school due to complications or in search of a real life job. If Maryland had the highest rate of high school graduates, one might wonder how in Baltimore only 38% of people who started high school actually graduated. A place overcome with poverty, crime, and drugs only produces 38% of high school graduates. To people like Wes and his crew, a head set and frightening credentials was more meaningful than a high school diploma. People who grow up in a drug and crime filled environment have a hard time trying to keep their head above water let alone graduate from high school. In a place were drugs and crime is the every day norm, the aspiration to learn decreases.
2) "It was a risk, and Wes knew it. But taking risks is at the heart of the drug enterprise, and scared money didn't make money." (113)
- Wes was suspicious of the man wanting to "buy some rocks," and his instincts were correct. However, because of the pressures from the drug enterprise, Wes decided to risk his freedom for the sale of $20 worth of crack cocaine. How brave. Wes became a soldier, along with many other boys, for the drug business and was arrested multiple times because of it. However, Wes had doubts about how much he was really making from selling drugs and he realized that his bosses were the real money makers of the whole thing. By this point, the drug dealers, such as Wes, are too caught up in the business to call it quits and it becomes a burden. Educations, good relationships, financial and physical safety, and morality are all sacrificed for the selling and buying of drugs. Selling drugs starts as a profession and turns into a lifestyle that people are willing to be arrested and killed for.   

Theme 2: Life Choices
3) "Should I have stayed there in the middle of the street, waiting for the boys to come back, somehow gotten them out of their car, and tested them blow for blow? Part of me was aghast when I decided the answer was no." (121)
- After being called a nigger and violently hit in the mouth, the initial response is to be angry, hurt and hungry for a fight, all of which Wes was but he subdued those feelings and strategically retreated. This thought out action is a sign that Wes was responsible and knew how to react in maddening situations. Somewhere between the time Wes started military school and the moment when he was hurt by the drunk college, he decided to make a change. The decision to make peace with attackers and to make a non-violent solution is much less costly than one that would have been made if this had happened in the Bronx, a crime filled neighborhood. If this had happened in a rougher area which has gang violence, shootings, drug raids, and muggings Wes's decision to not fight back would have been unheard of. But this decision kept Wes from being further hurt by his attackers and it kept him and his friend safe.
4) "Not surprisingly, without a high school diploma or job training - and with a criminal record - Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family." (110)
-Wes's decision to shoot a man and participate in the drug business hurt not only his chance at a better life, but also his family's. In most cases, Life does not give too many ultimatums. Instead, people make choices that are stringed together and that impact each other. Wes's first decision to try drugs, eventually landed him into the decision of wanting a headset to help the drug dealers and then eventually he chose to be a drug dealer. Small choices overtime can either become one big burden or positive things.

Theme 3: Overcoming Obstacles
5) "I was now a platoon sergeant, a cadet master sergeant, and the youngest senior noncommissioned officer in the entire corps. Three years ago I'd been one of the insubordinate kids first entering the gates of Valley Forge." (115)
- The obstacle that Wes faced was finding motivation in school. In the Bronx, he was bored with school, torn between his community and the people who went to his school, an also more interested in hip hop and basketball. This transformation from wanting no responsibilities to being in charge of a platoon and so on, shows how much Wes wanted to succeed. Although this may have been a gradual choice for Wes to take on more challenges and strive to do better at school, this change will drastically help his future. People who show a tremendous amount of growth in character and responsibility set themselves up better in life and are models for overcoming their own faults.

Wes Moore Characterization Sonnets

Wes Moore (Author):

Wes Moore, an author and credentialed person are ye.
A man with a voice,
light thou hast shed on one who will never be free.
Thou hast been grant'd redemption, despite periodically making the wrong choice.
A tragedy occurred, became the Bronx a new territory.
Down the streets thou sauntered, basketball at hand,
With Crack heads and Drug Dealers a new meaning became of predatory.
In thy ears blar'd hip-hop and nay school was the law of the land.
Thou wast protect'd by Nikki and the protect'r of Shani, a family man to be.
But can Kid Kupid, the streets from which he was born, be a protector?
A reputation thou art more concern'd of than thy family's well being, many would agree.
Thou art a pretender, poisons of the streets thou gulped like rich nectar.

A kind boy, have thou a good heart.
A good life thou hast made, but doth not let thy surroundings tear thou apart.






Wes Moore (2):

Wes Moore, ye art an obtuse creature.
A drug dealer became thou, with thy head hood'd
Unlike what Tony may believe, gone are thy hopes for a good future.
Nay good decision is made when one is nimble foot'd.
Fitting 'tis, what ye art destined to become
Surround'd by crime, with not yea a father to admire
predict'd most thou would be scum.
Thy face blood dripped, thy situation became dire.
Drug chinks, the only chinks thou found valuable.
Despite their warnings, a knife grabbed thou.
Betoken me, is the back of a police car honorable?
A prince of the streets, to thou wilt I bow.

Evasiveness, what a power thou behold!
But contrary to what you believe, thy story is aught but bold.

Chapter 5: Lost

Theme 1: Paralel Biographies
1) "She was devastated. She was losing her son, and she was not sure how to turn the tide."(89) Wes 1
Joy Moore felt as though she was losing her son. Wes was doing poorly in school, hanging with a questionable group of people, and he wasn't trying to do better. Similarly in Baltimore, Mary Moore felt that she was losing her son as well. Wes 2 was a drug dealer, he had gotten a girl pregnant, and he tried to murder a guy that had punched him. Both mothers were struggling with their sons who were acting out and both mothers had trouble finding solutions. Both Wes 1  and Wes 2 were defying their mothers and chose to go down unhealthy paths in life.

Theme 2: Single Mothers
2) "My mother had written to family and friends, asking them to help her however they could. 'I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need it,' she wrote. Weeks later, she was still thousands of dollars short." (95) Wes 1
This is a prime example Joy Moore's struggle as a single mother. If Wes Moore Sr. had not died, financially Joy would have been able to pay the tuition for Wes Jr.'s boarding school because there would have been two incomes rather than one. Because Joy was a single mother, it was harder for her to take care of all of her children's needs because she had two consuming jobs that payed very little. But, with the help of her parents and other family members and friends, Joy was able to send Wes to military school to correct his behavior. However, sending to military school would have financially been easier if Joy was not a single mother.

Theme 3: Absent Fathers
3) "All he knew was his mom. He had no idea what his role would be in this new situation - he wasn't even sure he had a role." (101) Wes 2
Because Wes had only met his father three times in his whole life, he did not have a real concept of what a Father was supposed to be. This troubled Wes because he was soon to be a father and, without a father in his life, he had no one to consult for help or to mimic. The fact that Wes's father was absent put a strain on Wes's life and how he would treat his son.

Theme 4: Life Choices
4) "Wes and his friend traded shots and finally heard Ray scream as he fell behind a black Toyota just fifty feet from his house." (105) Wes 2
Wes made the choice to get his gun after he was hurt by Ray and he made the choice to run after Ray and try to kill him. This violent choice to try and murder someone landed him the backseat of a police car, an environment Wes was used to. However, this illegal act was more serious than being caught using/selling drugs or as a young child attacking someone with a knife: this choice will follow Wes Moore for the rest of his life and possibly land him in jail for a very long time.

5) "Bad grades, absence from classes, and an incident with a smoke bomb were just some of the reasons he rattles off as my mother sat silently on the couch with the phone to her ear. Her conviction was increasing with every bad report." (87) Wes 1
Wes made the choice to do poorly in school and to not try, despite the fact that he was a smart person. He chose to act up and to hang with people like Shea who police gravitate towards. His poor choices convinced his mother to change her son's environment and to to send him to military school. In this chapter, Wes blamed numerous people for the fact that he was in a place he hated, but he never blamed himself. Wes was the one who was put on academic probation. Wes was the one that used a smoke bomb. Wes was the one who continually spray painted the walls despite a warning from the police. Wes made these choices, and the outcome was that he was put in military school.

Chapter 4: Marking Territory

Theme 1: Life Choices

1) "'That was over four thousand dollars in drugs! I have to pay someone back for that!' Wes had completely forgotten about his conspiracy argument. The only thing on his mind was trying to figure out how on earth he was going to come up with four thousand dollars- and fast." (74)
-Because Wes 2 had made the choice to sell drugs, he was put in the crisis of having to come up with four thousand dollars after getting caught. His choice to be a part of the drug circle caused his mother to distrust him and made his older brother, Tony, to become disappointed in him. If Wes had focused more on school and had steered clear of illegal acts, his relations with his family members would be better and he would probably not be in jail today.
2) "I had added my indelible mark to Laconia Avenue, a testament to the world that Wes Moore lived- or at least Kid Kupid. Nobody could ever deny I was there. Not even me as a police cruiser rolled up around the corner." (81)
- Wes Moore (author) was fully aware of what he was doing. Despite some hesitation, he took the spray paint from Shea and painted his logo on the wall. This choice landed him in the backseat of a police car, waiting to hear his fate. Even though the officer set the boys free and warned them not to do it again, Wes continued to spray paint on walls. His defiance to any sort of authority will catch up to him and second and third chances will become last chances.
3) "The problem was that I wasn't even showing up half the time. It's tough to do well in school as an eleven-year-old when you're picking and choosing which days to go." (78)
- Wes purposefully chose not to go to school and not to learn even though he was fully capable of learning and was given wonderful opportunities. Obviously, at some point in time, Wes decided to take a hold of his future and graduate from high school and continue on to write a book, but before his lack of dedication to school was disappointing to his mother. He made the choice to focus on friends, music, and basketball instead of school, and that hurt his education (His younger sister was better at reading than him) and his relationship with his mother.

Theme 2:  Overcoming Obstacles

4) "In my struggle to reconcile my two worlds, it was an essential asset... My obsession with hip-hop kept me credible with the kids in my neighborhood. It let them know that, regardless of my school affiliation, I still understood." (76)
-Even though hip-hop music did not help his education, it helped Wes feel more comfortable with the kids in his neighborhood and feel closer to them regardless of his school. Hip-hop helped Wes's status with the neighborhood kids and took away the issue of where he went to school. This music helped Wes's social life for the better and helped to give him an identity with the people he lived around. 

Theme 3: Single Mothers

5) "With our mother working so much, and our grandparents obviously slowing in energy, my sisters and I were supposed to look after one another."
- Because Joy Moore was a single mother it was harder for her to watch and be completely present in her children's lives. After Shani was hurt by another girl, Wes and Aunt BB were the ones to confront the bully, not Joy. Also, because Joy was working so much, it was harder to see exactly why Wes was struggling so much in school and his methods to avoid school at all costs. If Joy was not raising her children on her own, it would be easier to see how her children were struggling and she would be the one to help them.

Title Justification Paper #1

Part 1: Fathers and Angels

         Two boys named Wes Moore roamed the streets of Baltimore, Maryland and both lacked fathers. As the boys got older, their stories became less similar but one thing that was prevalent throughout both of the boys lives was the influence of their families and friends. What schools and neighborhoods the boys grew up in was all determined by their mothers, but the activities and social interactions that the boys participated in were influenced by people who did not share their same DNA. The title Fathers and Angels, embodies the role that families and friends played in both of the boys lives and the role that their Fathers played in their lives.

         Wes Moore 1, the author, and Wes Moore 2 both had absent fathers but they both were guided by their other family members and their friends. Both boys had brief memories of their fathers but the absence of their Fathers greatly affected the boys lives. Wes Moore 1had fond memories of his father, a calm radio host, who tragically died of a virus that could have been treated. Wes 1 described his Father as his "protector" and the man that he looked up to. (11) While Wes 1 was only a three year old when his Father suddenly died, the actions of his mother after her husbands death altered Wes 1's life. Joy Moore decided to move back with her parents after the death of he husband because the pain of his death was to hard to deal with along with raising three children. This set Wes Moore 1 in the Bronx: a culturally diverse area of New York that had succumbed to drugs and crime. The death of Wes Moore Sr. changed where his family resided and altered the atmosphere of Wes Moore 1's world. Wes 1 was now surrounded by drugs, murder, and general danger but he was also in the company of his loving grandparents who were advocates for hard work and change and friends like Justin who encouraged Wes 1 to do better in school. Wes 1 also found refuge at the basketball courts.  Wes 1 and his basketball buddies showed one another their, "best and worst, revealing ourselves- even our cruelty and crimes- as if that fence had created a circle of trust. A brotherhood." (45) These people who had become a greater part of Wes 1 life because of his fathers death, helped guide him through life. Wes Moore Sr. in this case, identifies as the Angel in the title and is a positive force in Wes 1's life. In contrast, Wes Moore 2 did not have the pleasure of having pleasant memories of his father. When Wes 2 was just a baby, his father showed up to his ex girlfriends house and was "drunk and crazy." (24) A couple years later, Wes 2 officially met his father at his grandmother's house but little connection was made. Bernard Moore, Wes 2's father, was the reason Mary Moore moved to a different neighborhood. Bernard Moore had no role in Wes 2's life, but he was still considered a negative force. During their first meeting, Bernard Moore could have cared less about his son and was only interested in the way Mary looked. By moving to many different neighborhoods, some dangerous and others not, Wes 2 was introduced to drugs and crime and because he had less of a positive support system than Wes 1 did, he was more vulnerable to participating in criminal acts. Where as Wes 1 had friends who took refuge in playing basketball, encouraged education, and made fun of druggies, Wes 2 had a brother who was a drug dealer, friends who encouraged drugs and skipping school, and violent experiences with playing football with other people. The absence of Wes 2's father helped determine what people were in his life and unlike Wes 1, most of the people in Wes 2's life had a negative affect. The Father portion of the title Fathers and Angels highlights the impact that the boys fathers had on their sons lives and the Angels portion refers to the family and friends that influenced many of the boys decisions.

           The title Fathers and Angels, embodies the role that families and friends played in both of the boys lives and the role that their Fathers played in their lives. While the boys lives were similar at the beginning, overtime Wes 1 and Wes 2 started making different decisions and were surrounded by  people who influenced them to do different things. Even in the first three chapters, it is clear that Wes 1 is headed down the more successful path of life and Wes 2 is not. Regardless of which path the boys are headed on, it is clear that their father's absence impacted many ways in which the boys lived. If Wes 1 traded his friends and family member with those of Wes 2, do you think his choices and general direction in life would change?


       

Chapter 3: Foreign Ground

Theme 1: Drugs

1) "Crack was different from the drugs that preceded it. It was crazily accessible and insanely potent- and addictive. My friends and I would regularly trade the most remarkable stories we'd overheard or witnessed." (51)
- People had very easy access to crack and other drugs and it was a part of life. For entertainment, Wes and his friend shared stories about crack and they saw drug addicts struggling to get by. With crack all around them, it was very easy for Wes and his friends to be sucked up into the hype of it all.
2) "There was so much money to be made that drug gangs rapidly expanded their ranks, sucking in some of our best friends, and turf wars became deadly, aided by the influx of sophisticated firearms.  From the early 1980s to the end of the decade, there was almost 61 percent jump in the murder rate." (51)
- This neighborhood, that was once happy and family friendly, turned into a war zone and Wes was an innocent bystander in the midst of it all. Drugs induced murder and it was very likely for innocent people to be caught in all of the danger. All odds were against Wes because he drugs were completely open to him and danger was inescapable.
3) "But Wes rationalized. I am not actually selling drugs. All I'm doing is talking into a headset." (58)
- This is the very beginning of Wes 2's journey down a dangerous path. Despite what he witnessed with his brother who was in the hospital after a drug related fight, Wes still choose to start a job that promoted drugs. Despite his Mother's efforts to move to a better neighborhood and her encourages to stay in school, Wes 2 opted to be one of the hip guys and help dealers out. Although Wes 2 was not actually selling drugs, he still aided the dealers which put him in a very dangerous circle.
4) "As he lay in bed, he realized how time seemed to stop when he was high, how the drug- smoking it, feeling its effects, recovering from it- made him forget everything else. And he understood, faintly, how addictive that feeling could be, and how easy it would be to make some money off selling that feeling to people who needed it." (62)
-This right of passage of smoking weed for the first time helped Wes understand the addictions and troubles of drugs. Whether he liked that feeling of not, he now understood why drug dealers became drug dealers and how lucrative the business is. With this realization, Wes 2 was more vulnerable to the bad affects of drugs.
Theme 2: Crime

5) "We were starting to feel the fear that crept around the edges of our consciousness at dusk... Justin knew the rules; Never look people in the eye. Don't smile, it makes you look weak. Always keep your money in your front pocket, never in your back pocket. Know where the drug dealers are at all times. Know where the cops are at all times." (51)
-Wes and Justin were both greatly affected by the crime that surrounded and seeped into their neighborhoods and they were taught rules to make sure that they were never put in a dangerous situation. Their parents taught them to be fully aware of their surroundings and that the streets, even if you are with friends, is never a safe place. The Bronx succumbed to crime and violence and it greatly affected the families that lived their because it prevented them from living a normal, happy life. Instead, the people were in great fear of being attacked or put in danger at any moment.

Chapter 2: In Search of Home

Theme 1: Single Mothers

1) '"Mom, if it's still all right, I think we need to move up there. I can't do this alone anymore." (37)
After Wes Moore Sr. died Joy was left with a broken and heart and three kids to support. Without her calm and caring husband to help raise their children, Joy was left with stress and worry as the neighborhood the Moore's lived in got more dangerous. Being a single mother brought on a lot more stress and responsibility to Joy's life and her only resolution was to seek help from her parents in the Bronx.
2) "It was years before Wes's mom found out her son had been arrested that day."(35)
By being a single parent, Mary Moore could not be as involved in her child's life. She had to work to support her two children and herself and in the meantime she lost some knowledge of what her kids were doing with her gone for the day. Because Mary Moore was a single parent, she was unable to focus on her children for most of the day and therefore the fact that Wes had been arrested was an easy thing to hide.

Theme 2: Absent Fathers

3) "Most of all Wes enjoyed the simple fact that Woody's father was there. Before he met Woody, Wes had never really seen a father around. Single-parent households were the norm in his world... He was genuinely happy for Woody, but he was also deeply envious." (30)
Even though Wes's father was still alive, he was still absent in his life. The person who picked Wes up after being arrested wasn't his own father but his half-brothers father. By having Woody as a friend, Wes got to experience a new definition of family and affection and a new feeling of jealousy started to appear.

Theme 3: Overcoming Obstacles

4) "We were all enclosed by the same fence, bumping into one another, fighting, celebrating. Showing one another our best and worst, revealing ourselves- even our cruelty and crimes- as if that fence had created a circle of trust. A brotherhood." (45)
The Basketball court was a neutral zone; a place to escape from the drugs and crime. The courts didn't judge you on your appearance or your background, only on how you played. Basketball was a way to overcome all the tragedies on the streets and to bring your all on the courts. Basketball helped these guys get along with each other but it also freed them of being hyper aware of all the danger and crimes around them.

Theme 4: Drugs and Crime

5) "Fear and apathy had become the new norm in what had once been a close-knit community. They had also talked about something I had never heard before. Crack."
A diverse and eclectic community was damaged and torn apart by drugs such as crack. Wes and his family was warmly greeted by vacant buildings and shady drug dealings. This was Wes's new home and he was now surrounded by drugs and crime. That is a true test to ones character and ability to see if they can survive a toxic area such as that and get out of it successfully.

Chapter 1: Is Daddy Coming With Us?

Theme 1: Overcoming Obstacles

1) "He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down... One month later, Joy and Nikki were packed up. Together, they left Bill for good." (10)
- Joy's obstacle was her husband who was physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive on account of his drug and alcohol addiction. On the day that her husband came home and pushed Joy around, Joy's only thought was making sure her child would not be waken. Joy defended herself and realized that the only safe option she had was to leave her husband. Once she did, her obstacle that was her abusive husband was overcome.

2) "She'd always pull back enough in her interactions with her classmates to give herself room to quietly observe them, so that when she got home she could practice imitating their accents, their idiosyncrasies, their style." (8)
- Being an immigrant from Jamaica, Joy wanted "desperately to fit in," with her peers in the Bronx. To do this she studied her classmates talk, mimicked what she heard on the radio and TV, and tried to adapt to American english and life. Her obstacle was being the outsider, a foreigner. She overcame this obstacle and fear of hers by studying and pursuing a different way of speaking in order to fit in and be normal. This studying and determination of learning a new way of speaking really highlights how she wanted to blend into her new surroundings and jump "into the melting pot with both of her feet."

Theme 2: Life Choices

3) "By the end of the riots... Mary was only a kid, but she made a pact with herself at that moment: she would get her education and leave the neighborhood no matter what it took." (19)
-Mary was challenged with growing up in a crowded household in a bad neighborhood during turbulent times that involved  many riots. By making the choice of leaving the destruction that she had grown up with, she took her fate into her own hands and was the first to experience college. Despite not being able to get a bachelors degree, Mary still strived for a better life and was determined to be in a better place. She did this all in spite of having to take care of her two children on her own.

4) "'It's Bernard's crazy ass out there. I ain't going out to talk to him. He's drunk and crazy'... That was the last time he tried to see his son."(24)
- Despite the fact that Bernard wanted to see his son, Mary knew that to keep herself safe and her two sons safe that staying away from Bernard would be best. By choosing to ignore his screams and calls she overcame his overbearing self and raised her two children on her own without his help. This choice of not letting her ex boyfriend in the house to see his son meant Wes would not have a Father present but it also meant peace and safety in Mary's family.

5) "'I don't trust them, Mommy. They have never really given very good treatment, so I just don't feel like I will get it now.'.... Alma went to the hospital for the transplant."
-Alma's choice of going on with the kidney transplant despite her suspicions drastically changed the life of her family. After her death the heart of the family was gone and the only thing to replace it for Kenneth was booze. Ultimately her choice to go through with the kidney transplant, as innocent as it sounds, affected her family dynamic after her tragic death, and her family was forever changed. For one, her eight children were left with their alcoholic father who struggled greatly with the death of his wife, aging grandparents that were supposed to fill the void of a mother, and a loss of their mother's compassion and helpful thoughts.