Timed Writing

When we came to class today we thought we knew exactly what to expect, but we were a little wrong. We have prepared tips and went over ways to successful go about our timed writing. We were told we would have forty-five minutes to write a response to the prompt about the common reader we read this first half of the mid term A Long Way Gone. With only forty-five minutes we knew we had to manage our time properly right? Not exactly. The prompt asked us to think what does a successful community consist of? And how it relates to the book. Throughout the whole book Beah describes being forced to move from one community to the next, just to stay alive. To me the most important way to benefit one community is by volunteering. Volunteering is the idea of people working without being motivated by financial or material gain. Just as we where deep into our writing we heard a loud noise over the intercom, and are told it is a fire dire and we are to exit the building. Not the greatest way to end a paper, but we are now a lot more familiar with timed writing.

Writing

I myself am not a huge fan of writing, but I can say my interest in the subject is increasing due to this class. After viewing the video "Why I hate writing", you really understand why so many students dread writing. Students think that writing is too time consuming, or that it's hard, or even that it's boring and pointless when you're forced to write about something you have no interest in. I was surprised when I saw the statics. 95% of people have negative view of their ability. You will never like something if you don't practice and give it a chance. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the more often you write, the better and easier it will be to sit down and write. Not everyone can just sit down and take off writing a novel. Most of us need to brainstorm. It's important to jot down everything that comes to mind. You might want to think about the topic: your audience, what they need, what you can offer them, what's in it for them, etc. After you have come up will all your ideas and thoughts it's time to organize those thoughts into a rough outline, most important information first, and so on. For me brainstorm is the most difficult part, but once I have an outline of what I'm writing about its a breeze!

Earlier this week in class, we had a guest speaker come in and talk to us relating to our freshman reader A Long Way Gone. His name was Fred Wright and In November of 1989 he went to Sierra Leone on a mission trip with Operation Classroom. Wright and he's group was there to work and put roofs back on the schools. It was so interesting to see how his time was, and how it was so related the Beah's Book. Wright told us all about his experience and how it changed his life. We were shown pictures of his visit. While looking at the photos you could tell Wright was being brought back to that time in his life. The photos were of people he had met there, and places he visited. He even brought in a few things he bought back from this trip to show us. He said that ti-die was a very popular thing and that before he left He bought some for all his family. He showed us a hat, that was made for him, in exchange fro his leather gloves that he had brought with him there. He brought a cloth that was made for him, to remember his time there in Sierra Leone. Also was a very unique instrument that was all you heard there. I found his speech so interesting to watch, and made me really want to help out and give back to this world. I think Operation Classroom is such a great organization, that helps out underprivileged areas, and I would love to be involved in a organization such as this one.

Operation Classroom also went to Sierra Leone November 2008, and here is an interesting video I watch.

Violence

Page 140 of Ishmael Beah's book, "We cannot allow a civilian to talk to us like that." They unleashed blows at him, and then one of the boys had stabbed him in the foot, and once he feel down they kicked him relentlessly and left him lying on the floor bleeding and unconscious. They shouted in excitement, and walked back to the veranda. After this Beah says to himself "I missed my squad and needed more violence" This paragraph leaves me in shock to think how young Beah has change from the beginning of the book. In the beginning he didn't understand why the war was happening and why innocent people were dying, now sixteen chapters into the book he is the one killing, and wishing for more violence. How could anyone not care about ones emotions and that everyone is human, but I guess all Beah could care and think about was just staying alive!

Art Connections

When visited the Ball State Art Museum, there is one painting that stuck in my memory. From the moment I first glanced at this gruesome, detailed piece of art I quickly made a connection to Ishmael Beah's "a long way gone". This artwork was a little painful to look at, and imagine such a horrifying scene. It upsets me to see how this painting shows a pale, young man being roasted alive, and looking for an answer from the heavens above. The other young men in this painting that were forcing him down, seemed as if it didn't bother them to watch another human being die. This painting was know as "The Martyrdom Of Saint Lawrence". Being a boy solider, Beah would witness deaths right before his very eyes. Murders and deaths to him became a common everyday thing. No child should be in war and kill other innocent people. I could never began to imagine how I would feel, to watch this happen day after day, it would leave you traumatized. What a difficult life, to be constantly reminded of a unimaginable nightmare you were once living in.

Untraditional class

When you think of class the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional classroom setting, which includes a deck, chair, chalkboard, and ect. Today September 18, 2009, was a little different then your ordinary class. In Lafollette, there was a fire drill and everyone was to evacuate. We were unable to enter the building for a half hour, so we decided to hold class outside. It was unlike any class I have ever been in. It was very relaxing to sit in the sun, and discuss our agenda in english. Although class was shortened, and we didn't get done as much as we would of if we were able to be in class, but It was a great start to my Friday morning, and the start of a good weekend!

Can't Imagine Myself...

During Beah's journey he does some pretty unimaginable things. To relate how he feels I looked at a few clubs and organizations here on campus of things I would never imagine myself being apart of. Tonight was the night I stepped out of my comfort zone. The Ballroom Dancing League (BSBDL) met tonight at 7:00pm in Irving Gym 200D. The Ball State Ballroom Dance League educates members in the styles of ballroom dancing. At first I was quite nervous and scared to see what this new experience was about. Within five minutes I felt very comfortable and ready to learn some new moves! Only being there an hour, I felt like I learn a lot. I feel ten times more confident on the dance floor. This organization meets every Thursday, and I'm excited to see what the following weeks hold.