For your next blog response, answer each of the following questions:
1. Consider Pi's defense of zoos. Do you agree with him? Why/why not?
2. What is "Para Teresa" about??
3. What are your reactions to "Learning to Read"?
Length: At least one well-developed paragraph per question
Due: Before our next class
p.s. Don't forget to bring Researching & Writing to our next class meeting (or bribe someone nice to share with you).
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1. I would agree with Pi, when he says that animals in the nature are not happy and free as people think. He points out that the animals that people think of are the animals that are on the top of the food chain and not the ones on the lower parts. If an animal is on the lower parts of the food chain then it would be in constant fear of predators and always looking for its next meal, however in the zoo the animals are safe from predators and they can expect their food six days a week. Pi also says that after the animal gets accustomed to their enclosure it will protect it as its own territory in the wild.
ReplyDelete2. The poem is about the speaker and her schoolmate back in elementary school. It seemed Teresa did not approve the way the speaker was trying to conform to society and thought that she should be a rebel like her and the other three. The speaker says in the poem that she was not trying to conform, but to do it for her parents and grandparents. Also to prove to those who looked down on her that she was not just equal to them, but superior to them. Now the speaker is 28 years old, she still remembers Teresa and understand her feelings and thought of her as a sister.
3. I was surprised that Malcolm was able to teach himself how to read and write in a prison with no help. I could not imagine reading or copying the dictionary for so long everyday. When I was reading this, he was always talking about or was always reading about event on how the white men made everything worst for other races. He did this when he was in prison and when blacks were fighting for their civil rights, so I guess it would be logical to want to read about the white men history.
1.I'm going to admit that I was one of those people that were ignorant to believe that animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free" until I read Pi's explaination of why this is not true. Many people probably believe that animals are happier when free only because we think of a zoo as a prison and no human likes to be imprisoned. I liked how Pi expands his own thoughts on this idea, because it shows the reader a different view that you don't automatically come up with when looking at zoo animals. As he compares the way an animal inhabits any space (zoo or the wild) to the way chess pieces are limited to move around the board, it shows that no matter if they are at the zoo or in the wild they share the same limited freedom. He says just that and the only difference between the two is that the zoo can accomodate the animals in ways the wild can't.
ReplyDelete2.Para Teresa is about two Chicana girls that used to be friends, but when chosing different sides of the what education means and does one gets offended by the other's decision. The speaker didn't want to conform into something she didn't believe in or felt uncomfortable in doing, and in doing so lost one of her good friends.She looks back at this conflict and shares with the reader that she understood her friend's decision and that she can still call her a sister.
3.I thought it was amazing that Malcom X broadened his reading and comprehension skills during his time in jail.It was incredible to hear that he copied the whole dictionary learning each word and it's meaning one by one!I complain about like 20 vocabulary words to memorize for school!"The world's most monstrous crime,the sin and the blood on the white man's hands, are almost impossible to believe."Malcolm X used this fairly accuratly during the year of the Civil Rights Movement.
1. For me i would have to agree with Pi. Although some parts of his defense on zoos was somewhat confusing for me i do think that many people have this common misconception that animals are "happy" in the wild. The way Pi goes on to explain that wether the animal is in the wild or in the zoo it can accommodate to its surroundings. As he compares to the limited space on a chess board. His example really broadened my mind to the fact that we all see the animals as prisoners because we all would not want to be caged up like that ourselves.
ReplyDelete2. I think "Para Teresa" is about two girls who have different views on their education and the way they handle their education. It seems as though the girl that has cornered her in the bathroom is jealous of the speaker because she is doing so well in school and doing something that will better herself and her family. It sounds like they used to be friends but the way they are both handling their education has made them choose different paths. At the end, although Teresa cornered her and had so much anger towards the speaker, the speaker still thinks about her and thinks of her still as a sister.
3.My reaction to "Learning to Read" by Malcolm X was amused. I had no idea that you could sit and just write from the dictionary and learn so many words. I think he used his time well at the prison by educating himself because then he would not be seen as a dumb African American, and that exactly what he wanted. I also really like the fact that he loved to read because then he was aware of what was happening in the books he was reading and aware of things the more educated people were saying around him, Overall i really appreciated what he did in his time and the fact that he did use his time wisely in the jail to teach himself. Last, I was glad to know that he listened to himself and the slang and realized that he had a problem. That was big for Malcolm X.
1. Regarding Pi's statements about the zoo, I agree with him one-hundred percent. He talks about how people believe that animals who are 'wild and free' are as happy as could be, but he counters that argument with anecdotes about how escapees from zoos returned the very same day. He talks about how animals have the same routine whether they're in captivity or not, and speaks about how they live by 'pattern and purpose'. I'd defend to the death his argument about zoos, and how people misinterpret them; to be honest, I've always kind of felt the same way. Most people might be saddened to see animals in the zoo, but if you think about it, they've got it made.
ReplyDelete2. Para Teresa, or 'For Teresa', is a poem about two school children, two girls, who got in a scrap about being the teacher's favorite, or a model of what the teacher might wish that all students should be like. And after all the two had been through, the narrator still resorted to calling Teresa, who didn't even like her, her 'hermana', or sister. I didn't find it all that interesting until I got to the end. It's very vague, however, and does not directly touch upon what exactly happened between the two girls. It may lead one to wonder what exactly their previous confrontation was and what caused it, and who might have been the victor, although it is presumably not Teresa. I was thinking that perhaps it had something to do with their education as a whole, and maybe Teresa is jealous that the narrator is taking better advantage of her opportunities than she herself is; the teacher noticing this was probably a malevolent catalyst.
3. I was a little taken aback by how Malcolm X still talks of defending his 'people' from whites. It was an interesting story and all, but I didn't exactly enjoy it..if that makes sense. He seemed a lot more racist than the people he was talking about. The sole reason I admire him is because of the fact that he taught himself to read. The thought of him copying an entire dictionary made him seem determined, even despite how silly of an idea it is. Of course it works, I don't doubt that, but that doesn't make it sound any less silly to me. Let's just say that Malcolm X is not one of my favorite people in history.
1) i would agree with PI. who wouldnt like to be taken care of? I mean they get there meals delevered to them, they have a safe place to sleep and bathe.The only time i see this as a bad thing would be if you released the animal into the wild after captivity or the keeper was abusive.
ReplyDelete2)It seems to me that is about teo girls rased in a school where they are the minority. One girl wants to learn and make her parents proud and the other seems to think they(the school) is trying to make them conform, so she is rebeling and is angry with the other girl for conforming.
3)I was suprised that he had the discipline to copy the dictionary in his own hand writing and to want to learn in that way.I think its a good thing he wanted to learn more and self improve.
1. I agree with Pi when he says that animals aren't really free when they are in the wild. Even though they are trapped in a cage or a fake habitat, the animals don't really have to worry about anything. For instance, if an animal was out in the wild, it would have to be on gaurd with its surrounding and be on the lookout for predators. In a zoo, everything is taken care of for them by the zookeepers. Most people see a zoo as a prison for these animals, but really there are two perspectives depending on how you are looking at it.
ReplyDelete2. "Para Teresa" is about two Chicana girls who view things differently. One cares about their education and the other doesn't. They both have conflict between one another throughout elementry school. It seems like they both were really close friends at one point, but once reality of education kicked in, they both went their seperate ways. Even though Teresa(bully) was full of hatred with the speaker, the speaker manages to still be able to call her sister.
3. I would have never thought that Malcom X taught himself how to read. That would be the last thing that I would think of. He made his time in prison positive. I find Malcom X an incredible person and give him props for what he has done to help himself. It's amazing how one can teach themselves to read by rewritting the whole dictionary. This reading is a motivation so show that anything is possible as long as you try.
1.I would agree with Pi I also thought an animal would be happier living in the wild than being at a zoo. But it is true that only the larger animals that are always hunting might benefit or enjoy being in the wild more than being in a zoo. But for those animals that are the ones being hunted than being in a zoo may relax them as they know another animal isnt going to swoop in and kill them out of nowhere.
ReplyDelete2. Para Teresa is about a girl and her fellow student back in the day in 6th grade. Teresa didnt like how the speaker was smart in class and thought she was trying to show her up. But she didnt do it to show them up but too make her parents and grandparents proud and to succeed in life. She is now 28 years old and remembers about this incident that occured.
3.I was surprised to hear Malcom X improved his reading while attending Norfolk Prison Colony by writing down pages in the dictionary and re-reading them as he began to memorize the words and there meaning as well as improve his writing. Its actually a great way to learn words but everyone is too lazy to actually do that. Its good to hear though that he actually did something productive while he was in prison.
1. I think Pi had a great argument defending zoos. He brought up many points that I have never considered myself, and all of his points seemed valid. Animals do live off of necessity, so I do doubt that they would have feelings of longing for the wild. Their habitat in the zoo is their home, and I liked Pi's point when he brought up the fact that humans live in homes were we could fulfill all of our needs, and for the animals, all of their needs are being meet in the zoo.
ReplyDelete2. Para Teresa is a poem mainly involving two young female classmates. Both students are minorities who have two different views on education. One strives to succeed in her education, while the other views education as an insult to what see believes. The two females have a confrontation about their opposing views. Years pass and in the end the young girl that excelled in school seems to look back maybe with regretful eyes. I am not sure but it seems as if her education didn't end up taking her in a direction that she was happy with or maybe even with her education she was still not getting the respect she was looking for.
3. "Learning to Read" by Malcom X was interesting to read. It was inspiring that he become so moved and motivated by someone and something that he dedicated his time to improve his vocabulary in order to express his feelings in an educated manner. I know his views towards white males were harsh in this passage but I also know his views changed in later years and that is why he was murdered.
1. I agree with Pi. I believe that people do have a false opinion of animals in the wild. Just because they are free doesn't mean they are happy. It was interesting to read his reasoning's because if animals are happy in the zoo is not something that I have really thought about. I liked how he said that a man doesn't wander around. It made me think.
ReplyDelete2. Para Teresa is about two young Latina girls that are in elementary school at the time. One of them becomes angry with the other because she thinks that the other one is being what everyone wants her to be instead of being true to herself. It causes a problem and it seems like they both just did their own thing the rest of their days until many years later when the speaker reflects and even calls Teresa her sister.
3. I was amazed that Malcom X had copied the entire dictionary. I always thought of that as a punishment and he seemed to love it. Then I started to think of what I would do if I were in prison and I think that copying the entire dictionary would be the close to the last thing on my list. I thought it was interesting that he read so much and was able to retain it all.
1. I loved Pi's defense of zoo's! I thought that it was very well thought out. I agree with him, I think that animals in captivity don't miss the wild. They live off of habit, so much that if they don't follow that habit, you know something is wrong. I also agree with Pi that if animals could make the decision they would choose to live in captivity because everything is provided for them as long as they stay within their boundaries.
ReplyDelete2. Para Teresa is about two girls in the same school who are of the same heritage. Teresa accuses the author of making her look bad because she always studies while Teresa is a rebel. The author says that she is not trying to make Teresa look bad she is simply trying to prove that their race is as good as if not better than the others in the school. Even though they don't understand why the other does what they do during school the author says that even years later she remembers that encounter with Teresa so obviously it had some effect on the authors life.
3. I was very intrigued by "Learning to Read!" I never thought that jail could be such a beneficial experience to someone. I always thought of jail as a place where they tried to improve prisoners lives but instead made them dependent on prison life. Malcom X's view was completely different from this. It seemed like his jail experience made him a better person with qualities that helped him to succeed in his life until he was assassinated.
1) First of all, I disagree with his use of the word "religion" in Chapter 4. He uses it synonomously with a philosophy of human nature, that of free will in this case. I think religion refers to something more specific in the way it is practiced, and thus propagates such misnomers. Now, with respect to zoos, granted he claims that free will is rather illusory, though provides the example of a free stay at the Ritz v. lonely homelessness. The very nature of the question assumes free will, and if he factored in the cage aspect to the Ritz, many would be less hasty in their decision. Characteristics unique in humans are rarer than many people seem to think. Free will, emotional capacity, intellect, morality, etc. only seem to be developed to a greater capacity in humans, not entirely of them (the last in that list may be of some controversy, but I stand by it). For such reasons, I remain undecided on the zoo issues. Just as I oppose paternalism in human governments, such concerns are reflected to other species.
ReplyDelete2) "Para Teresa" is about two hispanic girls at Alamo Elementary School. The narrator adapts to the will of the teacher, participates in class, and is eager to learn. Her antagonist, Teresa, (I use that word loosely) rather than accepting her difficulties, rebels against education, and is resentful of those who don't. She confronts the narrator in the bathroom to unleash some frustration as the narrator attempts to understand. She didn't until many years later.
3) I was not surprised by "Learning to Read", having heard the tale several times before. However, it certainly is impressive, especially how he was able to maintain the motivation in such a setting, or any setting for that matter. I was reminded of the very different educational system in which we live today. I wish home brewed education was more legitimate, rather than having to pay a college huge sums of money before your efforts, very similar to such self education, will be recognized. Lastly, I was amused by the relevant The Boondocks cartoon on the last page.
Well as I began to read, I started to agree with Pi. I mean, who wouldn’t prefer having everything handed to them for free and not having to do anything for themselves and just live like a royalty instead of living in the wild and having to actually work for your food and shelter and risk being killed? But then I started disagreeing. They are animals, not humans. It is not ok for animals to be kept in little cages just because they are away from danger and get fed and cleaned daily. It’s like prisoners in jail. Just because they get three meals a day, clothes, shelter, and cable TV, it doesn’t mean that they love living that way. While Pi keeps drawing comparisons between animals and humans, they make little sense. Animals and humans are not alike at all. Animals are meant to hunt for prey or become prey, live with parasites, sometimes starve, and fend for themselves. They’re freaking animals, NOT humans!!
ReplyDelete“Para Teresa” is about a young Hispanic girl in sixth grade that is being bullied by Teresa and her little gangster friends who are ready to jump her. They are in the bathroom and Teresa is yelling at her asking her why she thought she was all that. That she was the teacher’s pet. What she was trying to prove by being all smart and why was she doing all this just for the teachers to like her. Teresa tells her that she’s a shame to her people. The speaker then tells her that she’s not doing it for the teachers. She’s studying and working hard to make her family proud, to prove that her race is not inferior to the white race, and for herself. Then Teresa lets her go and they go their separate ways. Once they are all grown up, the speaker remembers Teresa and now respects her.
I was really impressed that Malcolm X copied every single word in the dictionary while he was in prison. It is a crazy thing to do, but i guess there isn't really any other more exciting things to do in prison, so at least it was something that greatly helped him. Most people in prison work out and read a lot of books, but i've never heard of anyone who copied the whole dictionary!
1. I have to agree with what Pi has to say about animals living in zoos versus living in the wild. Animals living in a zoo habitat have everything they need, living an almost dream-like lifestyle. Animals share many similar traits as humans, and come on, what person doesn't wish that everything could be done for them? Although I also believe that animals in zoos possibly feel the want to be able to roam around freely at times, in the end I think that the animal lives a happier, healthier life.
ReplyDelete2. "Para Teresa" is a poem about two schoolmates, the speaker and her friend Teresa, who are in conflict about the meaning of education. As years passed, the speaker, stayed in line with society, excelling in school, while Teresa disagreed with her views and chose to rebel, causing the two to go their separate ways. Although the two could restore their friendship, the speaker will still always remember Teresa as her sister.
3. I was very impressed after reading "Learning to Read" by Malcolm X. He utilized his prison time how it is supposed to be used, positively and productively, to better himself as a person. Books on almost every subject were made available to him in prison, so he took full advantage of that, looking specifically for details about black history.
1. I do agree with Pi about his defense of zoos. Although Pi had mentioned in the book that the life in zoo and wild are pretty much the same. The animals still tend to adapt with whichever environment they are in. However, in a wild life, the animals are entitled infinite freedom, but their life span would be reduced.The reason for that is they might be eaten by other animals or deficient in food supply etc. Therefore, i think Pi made a valid point. The animals in the zoo are given with many services they need for improving their life span.
ReplyDelete2. I think Para Teresa is about two girls in elementary school arguing about how they have different ideas about what education means. The speaker seems to be angry about Teresa. The speaker mentions she was accused by Teresa for being arrogant. Something that the speaker was not. They just simply have different directions and somehow the speaker's idea of education is better than Teresa's.
3. I am amazed that Malcom X taught himself how to read. Comparing to today, people basically have every materials available to them. The teachers are there to help whenever confusion might occurs. So I think to actually learn something is to self-learn yourself.
1. Pi's statements regarding the zoo animals got me thinking about which lifetyle is best for wild animals. Animals live an even better life "behind bars" at zoos, yet they are not free to come and go as they please. I found it interesting that these zoo animals that were able to free themselves, would return as the day goes on. When you think about it, why wouldn't these animals return. They have everything they need for a long peiceful life provided to them. Pi's view om zoo animals was really interesting.
ReplyDelete2. "Para Teresa" tells the story of a 6th grade chicana student. She deals with the pressure of being a minority student and to make her situation a bit harder, the school bully (Teresa), is on her case. The speaker & Teresa share different views about their educations. One day the speaker gets caught in the rest room with Teresa and a group of her friends. They bully her simply because of her will to learn, then is acused of being a teachers pet. The speaker then tells that her parents and grandparents are her motivation. In the end, the speaker was not forced to fight. Both girls had their own clothing style, neither girl accepting the others. The poem ends by the speaker, who is now grown, looking back to that day to say she respects Teresa enough to call her "sister."
3. I was impressed by the way Malcolm X chose to serve his time in prison. I seriously find the fact that Malcolm X hand copied and basically memorized his dictionary to learn to read and appear educated, despite all the rascism that was going on at the time