Sean Wright

Period 1

H. English 2

1/21/14

Grapes of Wrath :  Socratic Seminar Reflection

The seminar that we participated in during class open my eyes to see that there are more functions of man represented in the book than just to work, but that they are also to survive and even provide. Though it was during the socratic seminar that I hadn't been a part of when Ben had said that though the bank had  taken from the Joads and the other okies', maybe they weren't doing it to be greedy but maybe because they had to do it. There are always two sides of the story its just that the Joads side is the only one that is represented in the book.

I think the statement that I agree with the most would be that, "Ma Joad is the glue that holds the family together". I agree with it the most because I feel that though Ma was a woman that felt that when something had to be done she would be the person to do it if no one else would. I don't think that there is a statement that i disagree with, the ideas that were shared if anything opened my mind to the book and the second side of it. I think that if I could have spoken my opinion in the second seminar it would have been just that I agree with the idea that the guy on top doesn't always do what he does to be greedy sometimes they might have a reason that critically affects the people below them.

I think the thing that worked really well with our seminar would be, that our discussion leader made sure to keep everyone engaged and they kept the discussion on the right topic while they also inserted themselves into the discussion without being overpowering and controlling. I also think that the way that there were multiple ideas expressed through the seminar, and also the great questions that were both level 2 and 3 which helps if you don't know what to write about for your essay.

I think the thing that we might need more help with in the second seminar would have been to have stayed on task. In their seminar it started off we'll and on topic, but somewhere during it the topic changed to something that was somewhat relative to the question but didn't address the task at hand. Where they had been talking about the functions of man they switched to the purpose and structure of businesses, between boss and worker. Which I deem somewhat irrelevant to the purpose of our seminar.

Chapters 23-27: Family Discussion Reflection

Sean Wright

Period 1

H. English 2

Grapes of Wrath Family Discussion

Summary

In my selected text I choose article that talks about homelessness in America, and all of the major reasons for it as well. Such as how it examines the trends in homeless between the early 2000s and now, and also the State of Homelessness 2013 identifies a number of challenges and opportunities in the efforts to prevent and end homelessness in the United States. 

Evaluation

The selected reading relates to the given chapters by the way that the Joads are homeless in the more commercial way while, like many of the homeless people in the world today believe that whenever they are with family they have a home.

MLA Citation

Roman, Nan. "The State of Homelessness in America 2013." National Alliance to End Homelessness:. National Alliances to End Homelessness, 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.

Philosophical Questioning

1. Do you think beautiful music can bring tranquility during times of sorrow?

2. Would you still love me even if you knew I killed somebody?

3.How would you react to watching someone you loved die?

Discussion 

The most memorable moment of the discussion was when my mom said that she would love me no matter what or threw thick and thin, which was very great to her.

The most surprising thing about the discussion was when my mom said that she felt that music could bring solace, even in times of great despair and sadness.

I think that I need help bringing more questions to the table that more focus on the given chapters and less on the text in general.

Chapters 18-22: Family Discussion Reflection

Sean Wright

Period 1

H. English 2

12/18/13

Chapter 18-22 Family Discussion

Research 

In the article I found it talks about how people in Haiti after the earthquake were dumped into mass graves do to the families inability to have proper burials and lack of space for burial. These graves would have a terrible stench and are treated without dignity do to the authorities wanting to clear the streets.

This relates to the text by the way that the Joads lacked the money to give grandma a proper burial and had to leave her with the coroner. As well by the way that they had left Grandma in there truck, the way that in Haiti people were left on the streets and under buildings.

MLA Citation

Sherwell, Philip. "Haiti Earthquake: Thousands of Bodies Are Dumped in Stench-filled Mass Graves." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 16 Jan. 2010. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

Philosophical Questioning 

Do you think that being low class can bring a family closer together?

How of you react to death in the family?

Would you bring a child into the world if it was during the depression?

Reflection

The most memorable part of the discussion was when my mom said that she truly that that when a family goes through hard times it can bring a family together. Though they lack sufficient funds for food, home and clothes they often survive off of the love of their children and significant others. She said that though she doesn't want to be low class, there is a clinging feel for the love of other family members that would draw a rich man to want to be poor.

The thing that was most satisfying to me about the discussion with my mom was the fact that she said that she reacts to death well. She said that she never over thinks it and believes that everything happens for a reason, and everyone has a time to go and that just might have been their time.  This assured me that maybe these values will be passed down to me and my children, thankfully I think that deal with death well as well and am happy to know that I don't react like Ma Joad.

The way that I think that i still need help with my questioning is through he connections to the text still, because I feel that they could be better represented and could allow the discussion to help more with my understanding of the text.

Chapter 10-17 : Family Discussion Reflection

Sean Wright

Chapter 10-17 Family Discussion

Research 

Summary

In the article, it explains a modern day gold rush that took place in Indonesia. Thousands of men who are illegal miners tear up the the ground in Indonesia in the hunt for the precious gold, which they then use extremely high-pressure hoses to blast tons of sand out the ground. To then open pits around the Borneo Islands, before running it through filters to find specks of gold.

Evaluation

This article refers to the text by the way that these miners have heard about the possibility of there being gold in these areas, when really only 10 of them may really find anything they can sell.

MLA Citation

France-Presse, Agence. "Indonesian Miners Risk Lives in Modern-day Gold Rush." GlobalPost. Global Post, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

Philosophical Questions

1. If you heard that there were thousands of white jobs in Detroit, that didn't require any prior knowledge or skill set would you attempt to get the job?

2. How far would go to survive, if the odds were not in your favor?

3.Do you think the rich would be affected, if the economy fell and migrants invaded the major cities?

Reflection

The most memorable part of my discussion was during the question that I asked, "How far would you go to survive, if the odds were not in your favor?" My mom then responded I would do whatever it takes to make sure that my family and I are well kept and together with no need the help others.
The thing that I found most surprising was when my mom responded to my question about jobs, and responded that she would not want to go Detroit because she knew that many other people from all over would be trying to beth their and she was happy with the job that she has. I think that through this dialogue journal my levels of questioning just might help on being more elaborate with the questions, and not so much on how much they pertain to the text.

Chapters1-9: Family Discussion Reflection

Sean Wright

Research

Summary

      In the text that I found it talks about how the families and people in the Philippines have lost many family members and homes, that have been held by the families for generations.

Evaluation of The Text (Chapter1-9 to Outside Document)

The text that i found relates to the reading in the way that both of these families and places went through things that they lacked the power to control. One being the money that they didn't have to save themselves, while the other being a natural disaster that not even the rich have power over.

MLA Citation

Abrams, Lindsay. "Philippines Farmers Face "double Tragedy" in Typhoon's Aftermath." Saloncom RSS. SALON, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.

Philosophical Questions

1. What do you think is the main cause of poverty in the world?

2. How might a family go from middle class to poor?

3. Do you think wealth could define happiness?

Reflection

The most memorable part of the discussion was when my mom said that if you place your entire being on money then you yourself may never find happiness, because you have to find you monetary value in order to achieve try happiness. This part of our discussion really just made me take a step back and think about my future and how I should truly think about what true wealth and success means to me. The thing that surprised me the most about the discussion was when my mom said that there really is no middle class today, due to the economy decreasing and how it depends on what position your in based on your job. This really made me think because if there is really no middle class then what is there just the rich and the poor. If that is the case then how hard might it be for the poor to be rich, and how easy is it for the rich to become poor? The places that I think I need help with my questioning, is by advancing my way of better synthesizing the text through the question.