Thursday, February 17, 2011

The white man's burden response

1. Determine what Kipling means by "the White Man's Burden."
I think he considers the "White Man's Burden" to be our job of developing third-world colonies and countries.
2. Does Kipling justify imperialism? How so?
Yes, He is basically telling us that it is our job to take over third-world places and develop them.
3. Why might such a justification might be so appealing?
He perceives it to be our job. Governments see it as a way to get natural resources and money.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Ben Self-Reflection Questions Reconstruction Debate

How did I feel during planning this presentation? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt very excited that we would be debating again.

How did I feel prior to presenting? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt a little nervous because many things were last minute.

How did I feel while I was presenting? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt comfortable but felt as if there was not enough time to say everything.

What did I personally do well?

a. I think I did well with speaking and helping others speak better.

What did not go as desired in this presentation?

We did have technical difficulties.

On a scale from 1-10, how well do I think I understood the content?

a. 9.5 I think I understood almost all of it except for a couple of things.

Explain.

How do I think my group members perceived me? Why do I think this?

a. I think my group members didn’t really think about me much at all. During the debate I was in the background most of the time.

How do I think the 8th graders perceived me? Why do I think this?

a. I have no idea how they perceived me. I don’t know any of them very well.

Knowing that I can only control how I act and react, if I could do this presentation again, what would I change about my actions to make it a more ideal experience?

a. I think I would have tried to go more on the offensive towards the other group.

What are my strengths in groups?

a. I’m creative and I can do what you need me to do.

What areas do I need improvement?

a. Orginization

What is the most important thing I learned about myself? Why is this so important?

a. I learned about how things can change in life that you can’t control.

Are there any other things that I need to express?

a. not really.

Ben Self-Reflection Questions Reconstruction Debate

How did I feel during planning this presentation? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt very excited that we would be debating again.

How did I feel prior to presenting? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt a little nervous because many things were last minute.

How did I feel while I was presenting? Why did I feel this way?

a. I felt comfortable but felt as if there was not enough time to say everything.

What did I personally do well?

a. I think I did well with speaking and helping others speak better.

What did not go as desired in this presentation?

We did have technical difficulties.

On a scale from 1-10, how well do I think I understood the content?

a. 9.5 I think I understood almost all of it except for a couple of things.

Explain.

How do I think my group members perceived me? Why do I think this?

a. I think my group members didn’t really think about me much at all. During the debate I was in the background most of the time.

How do I think the 8th graders perceived me? Why do I think this?

a. I have no idea how they perceived me. I don’t know any of them very well.

Knowing that I can only control how I act and react, if I could do this presentation again, what would I change about my actions to make it a more ideal experience?

a. I think I would have tried to go more on the offensive towards the other group.

What are my strengths in groups?

a. I’m creative and I can do what you need me to do.

What areas do I need improvement?

a. Orginization

What is the most important thing I learned about myself? Why is this so important?

a. I learned about how things can change in life that you can’t control.

Are there any other things that I need to express?

a. not really.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Reflection Blog Entry

I think the way I’ve grown or changed the most is that I’ve been able to listen better. In previous years I would have trouble listening to teachers and other people because of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) so sometimes I would get in trouble. Now I pay attention in class all the time and control my ADHD.

The thing I’m most proud of is that I handled the workload of middle school without many missing assignments. When I moved from 3rd to 4th grade I had so many missing assignments. This year I only had a couple.

The most challenging thing for me is to get multiple projects done. I don’t have a problem when it is just 1 project. Although when you have 2 or 3 or 4 projects due by February 30th then I have a problem finishing them.

I hope that in second semester we will have more Socratic discussions and debates. The Lincoln/Douglas debates were very fun and educational.