1. Triangular diagram of rhetoric
2. Using textual sources to formulate your own argument, not just agree with the argument that is presented or trying to combine multiple (differing) sources into on argument
3. Evaluating sources (what did they include and why? what did they not include and why? bias?) think critically about the facts you uncover
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Refelction of Gallery Exercise
What long term effects were Brits considering before they abolished the slave trade?
- This questions seems very feasible for me to address in my essay. I want to be able to take a look around the world (during the time period of the abolittion movement in Britain) and try to see if I can notice any changing economic trends. What trends were the British noticing? Did they feel that because of these changing economic trends that it was the right time to abolsh the slave trade? If these trends had not arose, would the Brits have abolished the slave trade when the did?
What parallells can be drawn between then and now? (Nike sweatshops, etc.)
-This question also seems very feasible for me to answer. I can compare and contrast how consumerism drove both the slave trade and today drives the use of sweatshop workers (people want name brands at an afffordable price --> compnaies exploit workers in other countries were labor laws are non existent).
- This questions seems very feasible for me to address in my essay. I want to be able to take a look around the world (during the time period of the abolittion movement in Britain) and try to see if I can notice any changing economic trends. What trends were the British noticing? Did they feel that because of these changing economic trends that it was the right time to abolsh the slave trade? If these trends had not arose, would the Brits have abolished the slave trade when the did?
What parallells can be drawn between then and now? (Nike sweatshops, etc.)
-This question also seems very feasible for me to answer. I can compare and contrast how consumerism drove both the slave trade and today drives the use of sweatshop workers (people want name brands at an afffordable price --> compnaies exploit workers in other countries were labor laws are non existent).
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Online Class Exercise
"Up From Slavery" by Richard Brookhiser:
I really agree with Richard Brookhiser in his review. I too feel as tho Hochschild is taking unnecessary shots at Christianity throughout his book, often times making statements that could have easily been left out of the book (like when he criticizes Newton for remaining silent for so long after his "conversion"). I feel as tho Hochschild is looking at the past with an unfair "present-day bias". He is using thoughts and sentiments that are very prevalent today yet were not necessarily the case back in England during the 18th century. He is criticizing men for doing what almost every other person in the British Empire was doing at the time, supporting (to some varying degree) the slave trade. Just because these men happened to men of the cloth doesn't make them more or less responsible than anyone else during the time period. The shots that Hochschild takes are unnecessary and unwarranted.
"Freed" review of Bury the Chains in NY Times by By MARILYNNE ROBINSON :
I really agree with Marilynne Robinson in her review. I too also feel as Hochschild fails to prove that it was solely the efforts of the individuals he discusses that brought about the end of the slave trade in England. I agree with Robinson that one must look at the economic considerations that were in play. I really enjoyed the point made by Robinson regarding the timing of Britains decision. Because Britain knew for almost 20 years that the Americans were going to abolish the slave trade in 1808, it doesn't seem that surprising to me that they decided to abolish the trade themselves in 1807. I also like the point made about the French and Napoleon. With France looking towards the domestic cultivation of sugar, Britain would no longer have the huge carribean market to export its slaves too. I feels as if Hochschild overlooks these points too much in his book and focuses too narrowly on the few main individuals he decided to pick.
I really agree with Richard Brookhiser in his review. I too feel as tho Hochschild is taking unnecessary shots at Christianity throughout his book, often times making statements that could have easily been left out of the book (like when he criticizes Newton for remaining silent for so long after his "conversion"). I feel as tho Hochschild is looking at the past with an unfair "present-day bias". He is using thoughts and sentiments that are very prevalent today yet were not necessarily the case back in England during the 18th century. He is criticizing men for doing what almost every other person in the British Empire was doing at the time, supporting (to some varying degree) the slave trade. Just because these men happened to men of the cloth doesn't make them more or less responsible than anyone else during the time period. The shots that Hochschild takes are unnecessary and unwarranted.
"Freed" review of Bury the Chains in NY Times by By MARILYNNE ROBINSON :
I really agree with Marilynne Robinson in her review. I too also feel as Hochschild fails to prove that it was solely the efforts of the individuals he discusses that brought about the end of the slave trade in England. I agree with Robinson that one must look at the economic considerations that were in play. I really enjoyed the point made by Robinson regarding the timing of Britains decision. Because Britain knew for almost 20 years that the Americans were going to abolish the slave trade in 1808, it doesn't seem that surprising to me that they decided to abolish the trade themselves in 1807. I also like the point made about the French and Napoleon. With France looking towards the domestic cultivation of sugar, Britain would no longer have the huge carribean market to export its slaves too. I feels as if Hochschild overlooks these points too much in his book and focuses too narrowly on the few main individuals he decided to pick.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Brainstorm
Activism
-Extremes (no real middle ground)
-Propaganda
-Right vs wrong
-Moral duty
-Mis-informed
-More talk then "walk" (action)
-Moral superiority?
-Mass media
-Age of information (easy access, easy mediums for spreading info)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Bury The Chains - Chapter 8 and 9 (summary)
Chapters 8 and 9 of Bury The Chains focus on the efforts of the newly found committee against slavery to get their message out to the public and mobilize support amongst their fellow Britons. Clarkson embarks on a journey to several major seaports (Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester) in an attempt to gather information, testimonials, and gain further support for the cause. Through his inquisitive actions, Clarkson draws much resentment from people within the slaving industry. At one point, Clarkson is even confronted by a group of men who mean to throw him off the pier into the water (most Britons at the time could not swim so it is fair to say they meant to kill him). However, through his hard work and determination, Clarkson is able to enlist the services of several people who are willing to testify to parliament about the horros they have witnessed during their time in the slave trade as well as sign a petition against slavery. Chapter 9 ends with the story of King George IV going insane, an event that would put the abolition movement on hold (people couild not focus on the abolition movement until the Kings situation was resolved)
What I found most interesting about these chapters is the degree to which petitions were used during the time period. Because only 1 in every 4 Briton had the right to vote, Petitions were used as a very effective method for people to have their voice heard by government. I found this little bit of knowledge to be very interesting and surprising.
What I found most interesting about these chapters is the degree to which petitions were used during the time period. Because only 1 in every 4 Briton had the right to vote, Petitions were used as a very effective method for people to have their voice heard by government. I found this little bit of knowledge to be very interesting and surprising.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Freewrite Jan 31, 2008
Freewriting is a very interesting concept to me. Ive never conciously thought about using it in my writing, but after reflecting, realized that I practice freewriting in the oral form every day. When engaging in meaningful conversation with peers, I find myself arriving at the point I meant to make well after I begin talking. I find that by just saying the firstr thing that comes to my mind, I am able to eventually stumble upon the right words. The same could hold true in my writing. I often stare at a blank page for a very long time, thinking very hardly about the words I want to put down on the page. Often times, I feel as if I am overthinking things. Perhaps if I just began to write I would eveentually stumble across the words I was searching for, as I do in my conversations. However, I have this phobia (for lack of a better word) of writing sentences that I dont like. Its some knd of mental block that wont allow me to write down garbage sentences, even though they are designed to produce more suitable sentences. I am going to try harder to practice freewriting (this post was written with it and I dont think it came out to bad).
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