Entry #12 - Oral Presentation

For our oral presentation on the skill of reading, my group and I decided to prepare a power point presentation which included the most important features of the theory and the examples we had made. In this way, we could show our mates what where the most important aspects to take into account and at the same time, it served us as a memory guide in case we forgot to mention any significant point. In fact, it was more useful for us than for our mates because it was extreme difficult for them to see the presentation from the screen of the netbook. Nevertheless, I believe that it was not an essential element as the rest of the class seemed engaged in the oral presentation, and they were taking down notes.

Taking into account my own presentation, I believe that in the whole it was good enough. Although there had been some mistakes in pronunciation, and surely some in language, I think that I was able to transfer my mates with the key concepts. However, it may have been quite challenging to them to follow me, as I tend to speed up while talking especially when I get nervous. 

Writing Assigment #2

Syria’s Disarmament: A Justification to Disarm U.S.’s Enemies

The Syrian conflict began in March 2011, when protestants against the president Bashar al-Assad demanded his resignation. When they took up the streets in demonstrations against Asad’s regime, the government responded with extreme measures, such as kidnapping, torturing and killing protestors and their families. In consequence, civil rebel forces began to arm themselves to encounter the government’s violence. Nowadays, the tension between the government and the rebels became substantial when allegations that the government had used chemical weapons in civilians were asserted. These allegations led to international intervention in order to defend the Syrian’s human rights. In this way, countries such as England, United States, France, Russia, among others, gather together in order to disarm the Arab republic and to avoid an increase in the amount of deaths. Superficially, these are good justifications for the disarmament of the country; however, there are hidden reasons for encourage such measure.[1]

As it had been stated before, one of the main reasons for Syria’s disarmament is the number of crimes against humanity that has been committed against the Syrian people since the use of chemical weapons. But truth is that many murders and deaths had occurred since the civil war began. There have been more deaths caused by guns than the ones which resulted as a consequence of the use of chemical weapons. However, in the last two years before the use of chemical weapons, only a few measures were taken in order to help the Syria people. These measures include refugee camps, food aid, medical supplies, emergency health care and water. Nevertheless, any of these measures included procedures to put an end to this violent confrontation. So, as there are weapons, the number of deaths will continue increasing no matter how many refugee camps would be created.

On the other hand, since Syria has broken the 1925 Geneva Gas protocol which “prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in war” (Geneva Protocol), there is a possibility for the United Nations to request of an intervention of the country; yet, this has not been confirmed. Nevertheless, the President Barak Obama had clearly stated that he “would use its political, economic and, if necessary, military power” (New York Times) in order to put an end to the conflict. In this way, the violent conflict in Syria will be halted by using more violence. However, as Professor Sigrun Skogly had explain in a BBC article, “these actions need to be exercised in a manner that is likely to minimise the continued human suffering of the populations and a military campaign may not be the appropriate response in such circumstances”, as the president of the United States is insisting on.

In this way, it may be thought that the United States’ persistent intentions to disarm Syria are far beyond of achieving peace in the Arab republic. As Zaher Mahriqui stated in his article for the Press TV “the objective of the US and [his ally] Israel has always been to disarm any Arab army that might us its weapons against Israel”. In consequence, disarming Syria will be a key point in ensuring Israel’s peace. However, this will be a long way as the Arab republic in not the only thread that the American’s ally has.  So, the aftermath international intervention would just be the American justification to weaken its enemies and any thread against it and its allies.

In conclusion, the disarmament of Syria is a direct consequence of its use of chemical weapons on civilians. This measure is claimed to be in favour of the Syrian people and to avoid more crimes against humanity. Additionally, an international mediation was needed since Syria has broken the Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons. However, this last reason for international intervention could only be a mean for the United States to disarm the Arab republic which threads the peace in its ally country Israel.

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[1] Expository Thesis Statement

Outline

• Introduction:
• Thesis Statement “countries such as England, United States, France, Russia, among others, had gather together in order to disarm the Arab republic and to avoid the increase in the amount of deaths. Superficially, these are good justifications for the disarmament of the country; however, there are hidden reasons for encourage such measure”
• Body:
• Measures taken to help Syrian people
• Break of Geneva protocol
• Reasons for disarmament
• Conclusion:
• Disarmament, a justification to maintain peace in Israel

Graphic Organizer

Bibliography

1925 Geneva Protocol. United Nations office for disarmament Affairs. Available at http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Bio/1925GenevaProtocol.shtml. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Attacks on Ghouta. Analysis og Allegeat Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria. Human Rights Watch. Available at   http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria_cw0913_web_1.pdf. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Landler M. (September 24, 2013) Obama Defends U.S. Engagement in the Middle East. The New York Times. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/us/politics/obama-iran-syria.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=syria. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Mahruqui M. (September 24, 2013) What does the Syrian Chemical Diarmament Deal Mean?. Press TV. Available at http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/24/325714/syrian-chemical-disarmament-analysis/. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Syrian Civil War. Wikipedia. Availabla at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_civil_war. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Viewpoints: Is thre Legal Basis for Military Intervention in Syria?. BBC News. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-23847169. Retrieve: September 28, 2013.

Entry #11: Metacognitive Analysis

We are almost finishing the year, and it is a very good idea to see how my writings had improved or, in the least of the cases, how they have become worsen. In order to do this, it is important to consider the different features that we have been learning throughout the year that had helped me improve. And at the same time, those features which are still flaccid and need my improvement. 

One of the things that I have learnt, and mainly incorporated, this year is the importance of planning all my writing pieces beforehand. Every time I was requested to write something, I used to write the first thing that came to my mind. However, since we learnt the relevance of the five steps in writing (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing), I began to pre-plan my writing, then to write and, before sharing or handing the final draft, I revise and edit it. In this way, my writings became more cleared and organized; since following an order makes the writing more understandable for the reader than writing as the ideas spring.

Another important thing I have adopted in my writing process is the use of different paragraphs according to what I aspire to express. For instance, if I have to compare and/or contrast two or more novels, now, I am able to do it in a better way, as we have learnt how to organize a contrastive paragraph. In this way, when I had to write a comparison essay between the novels “Eaters of the dead” and “Beowulf” for Language and Culture, I was able to fulfil the task, since I implemented this new knowledge.

However, there are some things that I still have to improve. For instance, my topic sentences are too weak. In consequence, I have to pay more attention to them while writing. One way of doing this, is always keeping in mind the main topic of my essay, so the topic sentence has coherence with the whole writing piece. Another way, is paraphrasing it in a way that it is not a simple sentence, but a more complex one. Yet, another problem is the weakness of my paragraphs as well. This can be solved by providing more supporting sentences and not just one as I had done. Either topic sentence or paragraph weakness, I still have to work hard in my writing pieces in order to pass the subject, but mainly to improve myself as a writer.

In all, there are various things that I have learnt and acquired during my writing process that had helped me improve. However, there are still some features that need my improvement, such as the case of topic sentences and the amount of supporting material included in each paragraph. Nevertheless, and even though it is not easy, I consider that I am able to progress in this features.

Vocabulary

• Aspire: (vb intransitive) usually followed by to or after: to yearn (for) or have a powerful or ambitious plan, desire, or hope (to do or be something): to aspire to be a great leader

• Beforehand: (adj , adv) early; in advance; in anticipation
• Flaccid: (adj) lacking firmness

• Fulfil: (vb transitive) to carry out or execute (a request, etc)

• Implement: (vb transitive) to carry out; put into action; perform: to implement a plan        

• Request: (vb transitive) to express a desire for, esp politely; ask for or demand: to request a bottle of wine
• Spring: (verb) to move or cause to move suddenly upwards or forwards in a single motion

Graphic Organizer:

Source:

Word Reference. http://www.wordreference.com/. Web. 14 Sept. 2013

Entry # 10: Essay

Essay from natycarla

Art: a Way of Expressing Feelings and Interacting

Much of the people enjoy going to art galleries, concerts or reading a pleasant book. In most of these cases, the artist behind all these art forms tries to communicate his public what his inner feelings and emotions are. And this is exactly what art is about: expressing oneself. However, art conveys a much deeper meaning; and this is the fact that it can provide disable people many opportunities they have never thought about. Through art people with either physical or mental limitations are able to communicate, to express themselves, and even to interact socially in a way that was not possible for them.

In the last few years, it became popular the insertion of art programs in prisons. These programs have the aim to “offer an engaging and humanising option for inmates to engage in the rehabilitative process” (Djurichlovic 12). The art programs are “beneficial as they provide the participant inmate with a positive relationship that is not based around authority, one that also provides a link to the outside world” (Djurichlovic 6). Thus, these programs are favourable to the individual prisoners as they can express their feelings, but at the same time, they are beneficial to the society as the prisoners are in contact with other people apart from their cell mates. Additionally, this helps the reinsertion of the prisoner into society as they acquire new skills that might help them survive once they are freed. In all, prison art programs have a positive result both for the individual person and the whole society.

 Painting, which is another way of expressing oneself, is thought to be exclusive for only few people. In this way, it is believed that mental or physical disabled people are not able to produce a masterpiece; however, “some of the best artists deal with disabilities in the everyday lives” (Angela West), and use art as a way of communicating with the rest of the world. Iris Grace Halmshaw is one of these artists. She is a three-year-old girl who was diagnosed with autism two years ago. Iris “cannot talk yet due to her autism but she is able to express herself through beautiful paintings that have been sold to collectors for hundreds of dollars” (Huffpost Arts & Culture). She began painting as part of her therapy and quickly, she began to love it. Irish, as many other disable artists, show that despite their mental or physical condition, they are able to develop into artists, even though their mental or physical conditions.

Contrary to the stereotype that deaf people cannot enjoy music, is the fact that they do enjoy music in diverse ways. One of them is through the vibrations produced when an instrument is played. A second way is signed songs, where they sign the lyrics, and at the same time “they put a lot of expression in their faces to convey the meaning of the words” (Samantha Monroe). Moreover, deaf people “perform music and create it as well” (Samantha Monroe); in other words, deaf people learn to play instruments, contrary to what is socially thought. The most renowned example is the German musician Ludwig van Beethoven; who despite being deaf composed and played symphonies in a way that almost anyone can do. However, he was not the only one; surely, there must be many more cases resembling Beethoven, where deaf people become musicians who delight people with their talent, in spite of their hearing problems.

It does not matter what kind of art -painting, music, dance or literature- is being used to express oneself. The important thing is that by means of any art form, people disabled or not, with either physical or mental limitations, or even prisoners, can be able to express their inner feelings and emotions. This is possible due to the fact that art is by no way discriminatory. On the contrary, it is by virtue of arts that many children and adults have managed to gain their insertion in society, such is the case of prisoners; or even, it made possible to open a channel of communication and social interactions, such as with autistic or deaf people. And above all, due to art many people have pursued their dreams of becoming artist even though their limitations.

Works Cited

-----.“Iris Halmshaw, 3-year-old with Autism, Can’t Talk; But her Beautiful Paintings Sell for Hundreds”. Huffpost Arts & Culture. Mar 7, 2013. Web. Jul 7, 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/>

Djurichkovic, Alexandra. Art in Prison. A Literature Review of the Philosophies and Impacts of Visual Arts Programms for Correctional Populations. Australia: UTS Shopfron Student Series, 2011. Web. Jul 7, 2013. <http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/>

Monroe, Samantha. “Deaf Music”. Music in the World. A Space to Explore Music and Meaning. Dec 2, 2012. Web. Jul 7, 2013. <http://blogs.longwood.edu/ >

West, Angela. “The Amazing Art of Disabled Artist”. Web Designer Depot. Mar 12, 2010. Web. Jul 7, 2013.  <http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/> 

Entry #9 - Concluding Paragraph

As it has been shown in cartoons and in several scientific researches the irresponsible use of cell phones while driving puts not only the driver's life at risk, but somebody else's. Many times, these imprudent drivers had only faced a light punishment, even in occasions were fatal accidents had occurred. This is why it is necessary the creation and implementation of a bill to regulate the use of cell phones on the road. In this way, the existence of such a firm law will impose specific punishments to negligent drivers; and as a consequence, many driving accidents would be avoided.

Entry #8 - Immigration

European Immigration after World War II

After World War II, the social conditions in the countries involved in the war were devastation, so many people decided to migrate to other countries. Argentina, as many countries of America, received an innumerable number of immigrants from countries such as Italy and Spain. These people were looking for a new beginning and a personal growth which could not be achieved in their native country as a consequence of the war. With themselves, the immigrants brought their customs and new ways of working and doing things. In this way, the countries which received immigrants began to grow and develop economic and socially. Clearly, immigrants managed to start over in a new country and , at the same time, they produce the improvement and development of social and economic conditions of those countries.