Essay from Keziah Young ThePensters Writing Contest Winner (Part 2)

Part 1 of the essay Dear Elaine, one letter began, the days seem to fly by. I can scarcely believe it three months since we last saw one another. The lady I am staying with speaks very little English. We have been having the funniest conversations in which I believe neither really understands the other. You will be relieved to know I have also now learnt enough Chinese to ask directions. This is, as you can imagine, comforting knowledge, the only slight hiccup being I can’t quite understand their answers yet! But I smile and thank them of course, and go in the direction they point. Anyway, I have high hopes that my studying will pay off and soon have me involved in deeply intellectual discussions regarding grocery shopping, weather and perhaps even Tibetan monasteries†¦

Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell - 623 Words

The first diary entry that relates to my life is number 61. This diary entry is about a teenage girl that was in class and they were discussing the double standards for men and women. They listed some examples like a man can get away with whatever they want, but when a woman does the same, then they get degraded. Ms. G introduced the word misogyny which is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. I have same views and I can connect to what the female in this dairy entry is saying. I can connect because in history women have been left out and put down because they have something that men don’t. That shouldn’t make them different from anyone else. They are also seen as sexual objects in music videos and in lyrics of songs which should be stopped. A woman once said, Women should have equal rights. Sexual preference should not matter. Gender roles should be eliminated. Self expression should be limitless. That quote should be spread to every man and woman because in this day and age we need equality, not just based on our gender. But rather in other things such as race/ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, and etc. Another thing is items and clothing and what’s â€Å"acceptable† for females. For example, there was a woman flying from Las Vegas and she was confronted by an airline employee for showing too much cleavage. Since when do you have to a â€Å"dress code† before going on to a plane. This why we need equality. The next two diary entries are connected. They areShow MoreRelatedThe Freedom Writers And Erin Gruwell833 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Freedom Writers Diary† By: The Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell Genre: Nonfiction Plot summary: The first pages include a forward by Zlata Filipovic. She is a survivor from the war in Sarajevo, and many call her the â€Å"modern day Anne Frank†. She talks about how the writers have affected her life, and how they are an inspiration to many around the world. The students entries consist of how they do not believe that Mrs. Gruwell will make it in their school. The students are deemed unteachableRead MoreThe Movie Freedom Writers : Erin Gruwell Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesSummary The movie Freedom Writers is about Erin Gruwell who is starting her first year as an English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School. This school is racially divided with many gangs and violence erupting at any time. Ms. Gruwell was the students main subject of hate too. After having a discussion with her students about what they were feeling about their lives and situations, she took the responsibility of educating the students no matter what the cost was. She would eventually get throughRead MoreFreedom Writers : Film Review1085 Words   |  5 PagesFreedom Writers Film Review But even an ordinary secretary Or a housewife or a teenager Can, within their own small ways, Turn on a small light in a dark room. - Miep Gies Just like how Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) turned the lights on, in the dark room of 203. Freedom Writers is a film inspired by students of Woodrow Wilson High School as they experience the aftermath of LA riots. Los Angeles resembles a war zone back in the 1992. During this time in America, it all comes down to what a person lookRead MoreFreedom Writers By Jung Ah Choi1010 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual demonstrates their learning process. â€Å"Reading Educational Philosophies in Freedom Writers† by Jung-Ah Choi, breaks down the different methods of teaching through the film Freedom Writers. Freedom Writers is a film based on a true story about a young teacher, Erin Gruwell, who faces racial barriers at an integrated high school in Long Beach California. The article displays the teaching methods used by Gruwell in order to help her students face their academic struggles that are obstructed byRead MoreFreedom Writers Critique1679 Words   |  7 PagesThe Freedom Writers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Freedom Writers was released in 2007 on January 7. It was based on the book the Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell, who wrote the story based on a school name Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Eastside Long Beach, California. This film tells a story about Erin Gruwell, who is a young teacher who just started her job as a freshman and sophomore English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School. She is soon challenged by a group of Black, Latino and Asian gang membersRead MoreMovies Such As The â€Å"Freedom Writers (Lagravenese, 2007)†1661 Words   |  7 PagesMovies such as the â€Å"Freedom Writers (LaGravenese, 2007)† and â€Å"Precious Knowledge (Palos, 2011)† both support the central theme of discrimination and race within a school system. The students in both movies come from backgrounds experiencing poverty, gangs, and violence experiencing discrimination and the lack of support for their education, but overcome the stereotypes and battles to gain access to receiving their education at their fullest potential. Each movie involves students that were guidedRead MoreThe Freedom Writers1584 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Freedom Writers is a drama based on the book â€Å"The freedom writers’ diary† by Erin Gruwell and her students at the Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in California. The book is an agglomeration of the writings of these students, inspired by their teacher, to write about the experiences they had to undergo due to the racial tensions and violence existing in the society. The movie is an enrapturing representation of the way in which a teacher revolutionizes the process of classroom teachingRead MoreRacial Conflicts1152 Words   |  5 Pagesthe equality of every human causes racism. Humans need laws to follow and the lack of these laws cause conflict between humans. Erin Gruwell was optimistic about teaching a class of so many different backgrounds but it was much more challenging to get through to such angry teenagers. Racial conflicts in America include gang violence, and even murder. The Freedom Writers movie gives a clear description of the life that every teena ger has to go through while there are racial conflicts. In that environmentRead MoreFreedom Writers Analysis Paper786 Words   |  4 PagesFreedom Writers Analysis Over the years, I had heard many positive things said about this movie, but yet I had never taken the time to rent the movie and watch it myself. That is why I am so glad that this movie was our assignment. Freedom writers far exceeded my expectations. It truly was touching to see an adaptation of real live stories come to play. Watching a young woman, a teacher, who was completely out of her element and her comfort zone, grow to actually take an interest in these kids thatRead MoreThe Process Of Receiving Or Rendering Systematic Instruction976 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual’s perspective. Individuals can be educated in various ways. A route in giving this systematic instruction can be viewed through films. Freedom Writers, is a film that depicts education through specified cultures within America. The film celebrates an appropriate relationship between students and their teacher. As an educator, Mrs. Gruwell, felt inclined to seek the needs of her students through liter ature and by giving them a sense of hope. Coming from very complex backgrounds, Gruwell’s

A comparison of Beatrice and Hero from the Shakespere play Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example For Students

A comparison of Beatrice and Hero from the Shakespere play Much Ado About Nothing Essay The two main female characters from the Shakespeare play Much ado about nothing are Beatrice and Hero. Although cousins, they are two very contrasting women, who have different principles and hold very different views on life. Hero is young, attractive, innocent and somewhat naÃÆ' ¯ve. She is a dutiful and obedient daughter and is dominated by her father Leonato. Whereas, Beatrice is witty, independent and clearly has a mind of her own. To gain a greater understanding of the dialogue I have watched the Kenneth Branagh production of the play, however, my essay will be based upon the version of the text that I have been reading. Much ado about nothing was written in the late 16th century. It is a lively comedy that ends in multiple marriages. However, the line between tragedy and comedy is sometimes very thin because the play creates a strong sense of anger, betrayal, hatred, grief and despair amongst the main characters. The play is basically about two pairs of lovers who are deceived and tricked in various ways by the people around them. Although Hero and Claudio are the central characters of the plot, the courtship between Beatrice and Benedick is what makes the play so enjoyable to read. Much ado about nothing is set in a very patriarchal society where the womans place was to be dutiful and obedient to the men. This role seems to fit Hero perfectly. Whereas Beatrice tries to rebel against the society she lives in, Hero embraces it. Hero is the type of woman that men want to marry. She is pretty, has a high social status and is very wealthy as she is going to inherit her fathers money. However, she is lacking in independence as she is expected to be obedient and loyal to her aristocrat father. Leonato has so much control over Hero that he even tells her who to marry. He says: Daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer Leonato is telling Hero that if Don Pedro should propose to her that she must accept, even though Hero has feelings for Claudio. So when the prince asks for Heros hand in marriage she accepts, unaware that Don Pedro intends to give her to Claudio. It is Heros innocence that is shown here; because when she is given to Claudio she does show him some affection albeit on Beatrices instruction. Beatrice says: Speak cousin: or, if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss, and let him not speak neither Although, however innocent and obedient Hero appears she is not above certain forms of deception. Hero is also a bit of a romantic, and when Don Pedro devises a plan to get Beatrice and Benedick together Hero is more than happy to help, considering neither her duty or social status are compromised in any way. Hero says: I will do any  modest office my lord, to help my cousin to a good husband Further into the play we learn more about Heros character, and we discover that Hero is not as naÃÆ' ¯ve as she seems to be. When she is talking to Ursula in the garden, Hero knows exactly what to say to make Beatrice change her character and fall in love with Benedick. However, unlike Beatrice, Hero doesnt change at all during the play. Even when Claudio is accusing her of infidelity at her wedding, Hero responds in a way that is very typical of her. Instead of denying the accusation made against her, she comments on the impropriety of his language. She says: .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .postImageUrl , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:hover , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:visited , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:active { border:0!important; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:active , .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3 .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u103bc3b608f8f204f08742df23aa4dd3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Comparison of Hughes and Plath - Wuthering Hieghts EssayIs my lord well, that he doth speak so wide? This shows that even though Hero is wrongly accused of infidelity, she still behaves in the way that is expected of her in the patriarchal society she lives in. Beatrice however, is the total opposite of Hero. Beatrice rebels against the society in which she lives, and prides herself on being wild, outrageous and witty, although underneath she is really loving and generous in character. But like Benedick, she constantly mocks other people with sarcastic comments and derisive jokes. She even says herself: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter The reason for Beatrices wild character may be due to the fact that she is an orphan. Unlike Hero, Beatrice doesnt have anyone to answer to, and therefore has lived her life exactly as she wanted to. The play implies that Beatrice was once in love with Benedick but the relationship ended. Nevertheless, Beatrice keeps up a merry war with Benedick, and as soon as he returns from war they have their own war of words. Benedick says that Beatrices distinguishing feature is the speed of her tongue. He says: I would my horse had the speed of your tongue and so good a continuer Beatrice is also a very proud woman, and this is shown in the play when Hero and Ursula use Beatrices pride against her to make her change her attitude. Although Beatrice appears tough and sharp she is actually quite vulnerable, and when she overhears Heros harsh criticisms of her and also that Benedick is in love with her, she immediately seeks to change. Beatrice says: Stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much contempt, farewell! And maiden pride, adieu! From being so against marriage, Beatrice opens her heart to love and everything that comes with it. This is shown when Beatrice says: Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand And indeed, Beatrice emerges after overhearing the conservation a completely changed character. However, dramatic though Beatrices personality change is, she doesnt admonish her strength of character. When Hero is humiliated at her wedding and wrongly accused of infidelity by Claudio, Beatrice explodes with rage and is desperate to prove her cousins innocence.  She is furious and frustrated about the unequal status of women and says passionately: Oh that I were a man for his sake! . . . . . Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! The incident at the wedding reveals a depth of emotion in Beatrice that up to that moment in the play had remained hidden. It is at this moment that Benedick reveals his love for her. Beatrice, still very angry and upset, tells him that he must prove his love by killing Claudio. Her demand that Benedick: kill Claudio Is of course an unreasonable one, but it is also a very powerful statement. It illustrates a depth of feeling and shows another strong point in Beatrices character as she uses her iron-handed personality to get her own way. At the end of the play Hero is proved innocent of the allegations made against her, and she and Claudio finally marry. Beatrice and Benedick are forced to admit their love for each other, and Beatrice is at long last silenced when she and Benedick kiss in the closing moments of the play. Though Hero and Claudio are married, they know little about each other and do not have a close relationship. There was an initial attraction between them at the beginning of the play, however, unlike Beatrice who had a choice in whom she married, Hero didnt. Although Hero liked Claudio, she had been given to him by Don Pedro. Hero and Claudio suffered a lot of upset before they finally married, and a lot of trust was lost between them. I think that they will have one of those marriages where they will either to love each other, or grow to hate each other. Beatrice however, is a more modern woman, and she said from the outset of the play that she didnt want to marry. This is probably because Beatrice hadnt found the perfect, equal partner, and didnt want to be controlled by a man. I think that Beatrice marries Benedick because she knows that they have a relationship that has all the signs of proving successful, with each partner sharing an equal status. In my opinion, their marriage w ill be very successful. Although their relationship started based on lies and deceit, Beatrice and Benedick are obviously head over heels in love. .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .postImageUrl , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:hover , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:visited , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:active { border:0!important; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:active , .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2904bb0d0406ad3891638ff247a5e52e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: La Malquerida monologue from the play by Jacinto Benavente EssayI think that Shakespeare added Beatrice and Benedick to the play because they both provide a lot of humour, and make the play more enjoyable to read. I must say that although I feel sorry for Hero, as she had such a hard time throughout the play, I sympathise with Beatrice the most because she is outspoken and very frustrated about the unequal status of women in society. Much ado about nothing is essentially a romantic play, and the way it ended certainly suggests that love can conquer all whatever the circumstances.

Coping free essay sample

My generation’s greatest challenge will be coping with the real world. We are the most shielded, mollycoddled and over-protected group of kids to grow up in America. We’ve been separated from war by distance and the worst thing that could possibly happen is for our favorite reality television show to be cancelled after only four seasons. Oh, how we’ve suffered. In the age of the iPod, news has faded into something that occasionally appears on AOL’s welcome screen. When my generation does catch a glimpse of news an explosion in a foreign land, terrorists threatening America it seems distant and unlikely to affect us. We constantly see support for the troops fighting heaven-knows-where, so it’s a natural assumption that we don’t have to worry about our safety; we can pore over the latest celebrity hook-ups instead. Applying to colleges and having to prove ourselves has been a nasty enough shock for my generation. We will write a custom essay sample on Coping or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The last few years, I’ve noticed more and more of my high school’s alumni staying in town to go to the local college. Is the real world really that frightening? Most of these kids have never lived out of state and probably never will. It has become too easy and too comfortable to feed off our parents like preppy little parasites. Why go out into the world and make a name for yourself when a smaller, safer version of the world is handed to you by Mom and Dad? Talk about difficult decisions. The real challenge will come when we finally have to take on authoritative, demanding roles in society. How are we coping so far? According to The Washington Post, â€Å"one in 10 American women takes an antidepressant drug and the use of such drugs by all adults has nearly tripled in the last decade.† That would make my generation’s greatest challenge be coping with reality without drugs. We’re not doing so well, so far. If we don’t start to adapt soon, our country and world will be run by underqualified â€Å"Daddy’s little Princesses† who will take uninformed standpoints on important world issues. We have to start taking control of our lives now, before we get too comfortable living in the passenger seat.