Journal #13

        I found the Franklin Virtues Project very frustrating. I sent at least a dozen and a half emails to my group and did not get one reply in return.It was also frustrating because there was no other way to contact the Farmington kids, because the email was blocked at school, and they probably do do not usually check their email at home frequently. I was not sure then how to go about doing the project because I was not getting any feedback. I just had to wait and hope people did what they were supposed to. When they finally did get things done, it was not what I asked for as the video editor. First of all I asked for the videos on Wednesday along with their citations. I did not receive any videos until Friday and never got citations. I guess what I learned from this project is that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. In order to improve this project, first of all it would be much easier if Farmington would unblock their email. This way we would be able to contact each other in class and get things done quicker. Being able to see more examples would also be very helpful for a guide.This project was interesting because we got to see different opinions from people that we were not used to and maybe saw a different perspective on things. Overall this project was not really my favorite, and could be better with some improvements. One thing that did make this easier was the Google site. The site allowed us to see what one another were posting and how far they were on things. I was able to get information off of other group members' pages that I needed to put into the video.  We just really needed to be able to contact each other in a more efficient way and be able to be on the same page as each other.

Reflection Blog: Franklin's Virtues

            As in inventor, philosopher, and politician, Benjamin Franklin was a man of many talents. His advanced mind was capable of many things, but he still realized that he was not perfect, and he had room for improvement. As he reflected on this, he came to the conclusion that he shared the faults he noticed in others, and decided to make set of virtues that would help better him and the people he had noticed these things in. Coming from a low class family, Franklin made his rise to the high class. This evolution can be traced back to the virtues. He was not trying to get rich and powerful, he was simply pursuing the goal of becoming someone that he pictured having these admirable qualities. With these thirteen virtues, Franklin succeeded in becoming a better person.

To begin, Franklin actualized that the values taught in church were not those in which could make a person become better (Franklin 81). He observed and considered what his peers and he needed to purify themselves. He concluded with thirteen virtues he would then follow, and record. To ensure that he would pursue these virtues, he kept a journal in which he recorded his blunders, and furthermore designed a calendar which focused on a certain virtue each week (Franklin 85). By following these virtues, he would make exemplify his idea of how a praiseworthy, righteous person behaves. He kept this up for a year, and from then continued on, without recording in his journal. If he saw that he was beginning to stumble on his processes, he would revisit his journal technique (Franklin). These procedures helped him keep up his goal of personal bettering.

            How did these virtues help make Franklin a better person? As said by Tuckerman, when related to other philosophers, Franklin was clearly the most advanced and humble one of them all. Throughout his essay, Tuckerman admires Franklin for this humble attitude. “No experiment was too insignificant for his philosophy, no task to humble for his patriotism,” Tuckerman said in regard to Franklin testing his virtues on himself, and the commitment he put into it. In the contents of his essay, Tuckerman proves over and over why Franklin’s life was a commendable one and his virtues can be linked directly to this. Describing him as “brave,” “patriotic,” and “dignified,” he supported this praise for Franklin’s character (Tuckerman). In Franklin’s life, he started out as a low class citizen, coming from “rags”. After his virtues, and more specifically his use of the virtues industry, justice, and frugality, he was able to rise to “riches”. This “rags to riches” concept is a major part of the American Dream. This theory of the American Dream is what people in American aspire to reach, the goals they wish to achieve, and the future they strive to have one day. Franklin can fit in very well in this description, proving that because of his virtues, he went from a low class citizen to an admirable person living the American Dream. Using those three emphasized virtues, he was able to save money, stay on task and get things done, and be an honest trustworthy person.

            Overall, Franklin became proved to be a better person in result of his virtues. The virtues not only helped Franklin, but also anyone who has read or reads them.  The virtues and Tuckerman’s support and praise helps prove how Franklin became the successful man he is now known as.  

           

           

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Philadelphia: Henry Altemus, 1895. Print.

Tuckerman, Henry T. "Franklin's Character." Comp. Harold Bloom. Benjamin Franklin, Classic Critical    Review. New York: Chelsea House, 2006. N. pag. Print.

Journal #12

        Today's American Dream can be different from person to person. I think that the American Dream is when you are at a point in your life when you are happy and feel as though you are at a point in your life you have dreamed of reaching. To reach this I think that first of all you must be happy with your family and friends. This means that you either have a family you have wanted, such as a spouse and kids, and friends that you enjoy being with and you feel as though they will be your lifelong friends.  Along with this, being successful in your life means being at a point or place in where you have been working towards. This could mean a number of things. This could be finally getting the house you wanted, or the dream job you have been working towards. Americans strive for success, and today success usually comes with money. Money drives many Americans today, and makes people feel as though they have made it.
        Over time I do not think that the American Dream has changed very much. I remember in twentieth century history class, we discussed the American Dream of the forties through the eighties. It was not to much different than what we have now. They dreamed of owning their own home, in the suburbs, and purchasing a car, which was a new thing at the time. They also wanted to be a successful working person. Unlike today however, It was typically just the men. Women working was much rarer that it is today. These along with others are very similar to what we have now, with the exception of owning a car, for the majority of people today.
        To me personally these things that are the modern American Dream are very similar to my own thought of the American Dream. I hope to one day be successful in my career, and have a family that I love, and surrounding myself with good friends.

Reflection Blog: Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

                When we think of Benjamin Franklin, we think of electricity. Although this was obviously a major accomplishment, Franklin did and accomplished so much more in his life. As a scientist, politician, and writer, it is easy to say that Benjamin Franklin was an extremely intelligent man (Quick Biography). A person with such intelligence as Franklin most likely has a good reason for the things he does and says, which is why his virtues and how he demonstrated them exemplifies Rationalism.

            To begin, Franklin’s set of virtues, created by him, exemplify Rationalism in several ways. A quality of Rationalism that the virtues show is using reasoning to back up your points. In virtues five and six, Frugality and Industry, Franklin backs up why he will waste nothing and use all of his time wisely with the facts that he wants to avoid debt and make use of his work time (Holden 84, 85). He obviously put this virtue to his benefit, discovering electricity and inventions from it, such as the kite (Quick Biography). By backing this up with reasoning to make it a solid example, it shows Rationalism. Along with the virtues themselves, Franklin also backs them up by using a chart, marking his emphasis and act of doing the virtues (Holden 85, 86). By making and filling out these charts, Franklin gives evidence that his set of virtues work and that they are not just for show and tell.

            Additionally, the way Franklin carries out his virtues and the way he acts also exemplify Rationalism. In the piece, Franklin says that he did not like the minister; therefore he did not attended church regularly on Sundays (Holden 81). This is a major example of Rationalism. He can openly say this, and not be shunned or accused of anything. He also gives back up to why he does not like the minister, because he has very “uninteresting” and “dry” sermons (Holden 81). Franklin also has back up to why he made his own set of virtues instead of following the virtues of the church, as they did in the Puritan period. “And that all crime will be punished, and virtue rewarded, either here or hereafter” (Holden 80). In saying this, Franklin tells the reader that because God says those who are virtuous are in turn rewarded, he can be virtuous in any way that he wants and still be accepted and loved by God. The people of the Rationalism time still centered around God, but they did not do it nearly as harsh, and were not judgmental of those who did it more or less than them.

Overall, Rationalism can be found anywhere in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. Franklin was obviously an intelligent man, and therefore his virtues can be backed up with evidence. Franklin uses facts and evidence to prove each of his virtues and actions he makes because of them true. This is the major aspect of the Rationalism period. Franklin’s virtues and actions can be used to prove that Rationalism was a very effective way of thinking, writing, and acting.

Holden, Liberty Emery, and Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography. N.p.: n.p., 1898. Print.

"Quick Biography of Benjamin Franklin." Quick Biography of Benjamin Franklin. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm>.

Journal #11

The set of virtues in which I live by were roughly outlined by my parents. At a young age, my parents taught me what was right and wrong, but never forced any strong virtues on me. They taught me to be accepting and nice to all people, regardless of age, race, gender,religion, sexual preference, or their own set of virtues. They put those set of virtues on my brother and I, and as we grew older we got to pick and choose more of our own virtues. For instance I believe that everyone has a right to be who they are or want to be. Some people do not believe in this, but my parents do, and I believe that they are right so I do also. Another virtue that I have is that I try to be as nice as I can to everyone. Even if I do not like or agree with them, I try to put myself in their situation. Everyone has things going on in their life, and you may not know, so I believe you have to be accepting of each individual person. Another virtue I live bu is that I try to not let others influence the way I act, am, and dress. In high school and middle school, it is easy to go along with what is popular, but my virtue is that I try to remain my own person. Another one of my virtues is one that I hope to pass on to my own children one day, along with many others. It is okay to be someone that society does not expect and ask of you to be as a person. For example, society thinks men should be manly and not show their emotions, but I hope to show them, and do myself, that you can be who you want to be. If you want to be emotional, be emotional, it should not matter what is expected of you to be.

Reflection Blog: The Declaration of Independence

          In the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson is a piece of literature in which the colonies state their independence from Great Britain. During this time, around 1776, the colonies were strictly controlled by Great Britain. After years of being bossed around and treated unfairly, they decided to finally declare their independence. This work was written to show the colonists why they needed to do this, and join in and support the declaration. In order to do so, Thomas Jefferson, and his fellow writers, had to use propaganda and other persuasive techniques, some good and bad, in order to rally the colonists.

To begin, one of the major techniques used by Thomas Jefferson and the writers was propaganda. Propaganda has several qualities within itself that were used. Name calling and “nice” words were used subtly throughout. Thomas Jefferson calls the Native Americans “merciless” and “savages” in order to prove the King unjust (Jefferson 124). This kind of name calling gets the listeners to picture these people as bad, although they may not have all been. Jefferson also uses nice words to describe the people and the declaration (Jefferson 124). These nice words get the people to see these things as good as right and the negatives as bad and wrong.

Additionally, testimonial and plain folk propaganda are used. Testimonial kind of propaganda is when the author name drops, using popular people most of the public would recognize. In the Declaration of Independence’s case, they say they are representatives of the United States, and they are appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World (Jefferson 124). This kind of name dropping catches the listener or readers attention. If an ordinary person wrote this to the public, it would not feel as significant and important as this one. Along with name dropping, the piece used plain folk technique.

This technique makes the argument appeal to not only the important people, but also as if they had the plain folks in mind also. In the work, Jefferson states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson 122). This quote tells the public straight forward, that they are not, and should not be treated, different than anyone else. The reader of listener feels more on the same level, and that the idea can make things better for them too.


Finally, the main technique of propaganda is transfer. Jefferson spends the vast majority of the speech listing ways the King of Great Britain has mistreated the people of the United States, and why they should not put up with it any longer (122-124). Jefferson claims things such as the king has refused to give the colonist a good government in order to make the colonists happy and at peace. He goes on to list many other examples such as these (Jefferson 122-124). These examples give proof to the people why they should become independent from the King, because he is holding the country back.


Overall, the Declaration of Independence is an extremely persuasive piece of literature. It is very well written, and uses propaganda techniques to its advantage. These techniques made the colonist do exactly what they were hoping, and resulted eventually to the independence of the United States.

 

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." Glencoe  American Literature. N.p.: McGraw-Hill, n.d. 120-124. Print.

 "Recognizing Propaganda Techniques and Errors of Faulty Logic." Cuesta College. 06 Mar. 2011. Web. September 25, 2012.

Journal #10

      Mr. Langley should absolutely bring in Brach's Star Brites mints into the next English class. Star Brites mints are so good even celebrities from superstar,Katy Perry to USWNT player,Abby Wambach eat these mints. Katy Perry even has an outfit created in inspiration of these mints, and Abby Wambach and the rest of the US Women's National Team have red and white striped uniforms due to their love of Star Brites mints. Not only do famous celebrities eat these mints, but also average people like ourselves. This is why Mr. Langley should bring our class these mints. They are so popular and good that we would not want to out of the loop on such a wonderful trend such as this. Just imagine popping one of these mouth watering, red and white striped peppermint mints into you mouth next class and starting A2 English class on the right foot to get the ideas flowing. These mints could be the gateway to the greatest ideas ever thought of not only in A2 English, but English classes everywhere! Why would anyone want to be a horrible person by depriving the class, no, the world to such ideas that could stem from Star Brites mints. Nothing else can even compare to the sweet, minty taste that explodes from these mints as it hits your salivating tongue. Mr. Langley needs to bring these mints in because the things that could pop into our minds after Star Brites mints have refreshed our brains could be life altering to many people. Star Brites mints can make our grades go up also, which in turn would make Mr. Langley get the deserved recognition as best teacher in Pleasant Plains High School, and the World. As our grades go up we will become such smart people that we will always remember the true reason we became this way, the Wednesday morning Mr. Langley brought us Brach's Star Brites mints into our A2 English class.