2nd Semester Portfolio Link

http://rclees01.wix.com/thedance

Our Society

10 LAWS:

1. Everyone must go to school from ages 3-18. At age 16 must sign up for the job they want. (We pick the jobs for them, based on high school activities)
2. At Age 65. Go to the Care Home of Elders.
3. From ages 15-18 start looking for your mate (or live single) BY AGE 19 MUST KNOW. Married at 20. Same sex if you wish. No divorce if their are kids
4. Social Interaction is required. Everyone is Equal.
5. If sick or injured, go to hospital, IMMEDIATELY
6. All things in PUBLIC are recorded.  
7. Must obey officials (police)
8. Citizens don't have control over weapons or dangerous items, meals are provided for them. They do not make their own meals.
9. NO VIOLENCE. Crimes and etc will lead to death. Examples: Stealing, Murder, Attacking, Abuse, etc.
10. PEACE IS EVERYTHING. Freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.

5 ALLOWED:

1. Expressive individuality
2. No curfew
3. Hobbies
4. 1 Pet
5. Participation in Government

5 NOT ALLOWED:

1. No more than 3 kids
2. Taking more than 1 item at the store (per person)
3. Religion. Holidays - based off religion.
4. Drugs
5. Drinking Alcohol

How/Where They Will Live, Wear, Ranking (if any), etc.

When a child is born, it will live with the parents he/she came from. They will grow up and live there until they are 20. When they are 20, they make the decision to get married or stay single. If they get married, they will move into a two-story house with their significant other and live there until it is their time to go. If they choose to stay single, they will move into a one-story house until it is their time to go. Each person will be able to wear anything they want. All their clothes will be from a store near them. They will be able to express their

individuality by choosing which clothes they want to wear everyday. In our society, there is no ranking because we believe that everyone is equal. No matter how many kids they have, what their job is, or if they’re married or single, everyone is equal.

Summary:

Our society revolves around peace and being able to express oneself. Blue is the color of peace which is why our logo is blue with a peace sign. We have everyone get an education and a job. We let our citizens choose whether they want to have a family or not. Our two most important laws are no violence and peace is everything. We don’t have any religion or religion based holidays because it may cause conflict between the people. Our society doesn’t have a currency because everyone is allowed one of each item (clothes, toys. etc.). The amount of money that one has would cause classes/rankings to be made and that is not what we want because we believe everyone is equal.

Partner: Aaron Quillopo

The Merchant of Venice Final Essay

   The play, The Merchant of Venice, starts with a man named Bassanio, and his friends Antonio. Bassanio needs money to seem rich so that he can impress Portia, a rich woman he wants to marry. In order to marry Portia, Bassanio has to pick the right casket that has her portrait in it. There are three caskets. One gold, one silver, and one lead. Bassanio and two other men go into Portia's house and are told to pick a casket. The two other men are both rich with money and valuables unlike Bassanio. When having to choose a casket, the outside appearance might have played a larger role than it should have. The two richer men chose the wrong casket, the gold and the silver. The saw the appealing outside of the casket and assumed there was good inside. Bassanio saw the three caskets but didn't let the appearance play a role in his decision. He chose the lead casket and was shown good inside (Portia's portrait). He was the man chosen to marry Portia. The Merchant of Venice shows that the appearance of something doesn't declare the value of it.
   The way someone looks shouldn't determine how much they are worth. Some of the men thought the way they looked would determine their chances of marring Portia. The first man to choose a casket is the Prince of Morocco. He was the richest out of the three but he had a different colored skin. He let his outside appearance make him think that Portia wouldn't choose him. "Do not dislike me because of my color. My dark skin is the uniform of those who live under the burning coppery sun." (2.1.1-2). Although his skin may be darker than other men, he is still just like them on the inside. He is not worth more or less than the lighter colored skin men. Bassanio, the least rich out of the three also thought that the way he presented himself to Portia was important. He wanted to impress Portia and to do so, he needed money. So he asked his friend Antonio if he could borrow some money. "Oh Antonio- I feel convinced I'd be successful if only I had the money to make myself a rival!" (1.1.173-176). He thought the way he looked was important when going to see Portia. He did not know that Portia didn't take looks into consideration because she didn't want to and she couldn't if she could. The way someone looks shouldn't matter as much as their personality and the words they speak.
   Even if something looks nice and appealing, that doesn't mean what's inside will be nice and appealing also. The Prince of Morocco was the first to choose a casket. When he was given the choice between gold, silver, and lead, he chose the gold casket. The Prince of Morocco learned that the appearance of something doesn't determine its value. When he opened the casket, he found a scroll that said "All that glitters is not gold" (2.7.65.). He chose the wrong casket and was not the one who would marry Portia. When Bassanio went in the choose a casket, he was given the same choices. Gold, silver, or lead. Bassanio chose lead, the one that looked the least appealing. But when he opened the casket, he was happy with what he found. In the casket was Portia's portrait and a scroll that said "You who choose not by the view take a fair chance, and choose quite true" (3.2.131-132). The gold, being the most appealing to the eye, had what the men didn't want. But the lead casket, the least appealing, had what all three men wanted.
   In conclusion, the way something looks, shouldn't play a role when making decisions. If one lets appearance play a role, one may end up unhappy with the outcome. The Prince of Morocco cared too much about the color of his skin. Bassanio cared too much about how much money he had and what he looked like. But Portia didn't care about what any of them wore or looked like. She cared about what's inside (personality). When The Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket, he was fooled by the appearance and was unhappy with what he was shown inside the casket. But when Bassanio didn't let appearance affect his decision and chose the lead casket, he was overjoyed with what he was shown. Don't let the appearance of something declare the value of it.

The Merchant of Venice Essay

   Although someone may be loaded with jewels and money and seem very confident on the outside, on the inside, they may be very insecure about themselves. There is something that is holding them back from being confident and not caring about anything. Something may look priceless on the outside, but on the inside, it is filled with things very useless and disappointing. Don't judge anything by its outside appearance because it is misleading. Shakespeare shows in The Merchant of Venice, that the appearance of something doesn't declare the value of it.
   The Prince of Morocco is a very rich man. He has attendants and lives in a larger than normal home. Although it may seem like he would be a very confident person since he has all these things, he is very insecure about the way he looks. "Do not dislike me because of my color. My dark skin is the uniform of those who live under the burning coppery sun." (2.1.1-2). He doesn't think Portia will want to marry him because he has darker skin. By telling Portia to ignore the color of his skin, he showed her how insecure he is about himself.
   When Portia had to find a man to marry, her father decided that the men would pick a casket and whoever picked the casket with Portia's portrait in it, would be the man she would marry. All three caskets looked a little different from each other. One was gold, one was silver, and one was lead. Three men went to Portia to pick a casket. The Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket. When he opened the casket, there was not portrait but there was a scroll that said, "All that glitters is not gold" (2.7.65). The Prince of Morocco was fooled by the appearance of the casket. But when Bassanio chose a casket, he chose the lead casket and found the portrait and a scroll that said, "You who choose not by the view take a fair chance, and choose quite true" (3.2.131-132).
   In conclusion, when one chooses by the appearance of something or someone, they may be fooled. The appearance of something doesn't declare the value of it. It's what's on the inside that matter the most. A beautiful person is nothing without a beautiful personality and a beautiful casket is nothing without something wonderful on the inside.

Merchant of Venice Act I Scene III

1. Portia can't control choosing a man suitable for her because it is in her father's will.
2. Shylock is the man who is negotiating the loan with Bassanio. Shylock is important because Bassanio needs the money to impress Portia. If Shylock doesn't agree to loan Bassanio the money, he won't give off a good impression on Portia.
3. If Antonio doesn't pay Shylock back, Shylock gets to cut off a pound of his flesh.
4. Shylock is hesitant because Antonio isn't charging interest so Bassanio doesn't have to worry about paying more if he doesn't pay him back on time. The relationship between Antonio and Shylock is negative. Antonio has called Shylock a dog in the past and had spat and kicked him.
5. I wouldn't trust Antonio because he has so many ships out at sea and it's not for sure that he'll make a lot of money. Antonio might not make as much money as he thinks his going to make.
Reflection Question: When you do business with your friends, you are more likely to make exceptions for them. By doing this, you may lose money. I think it is smart that Antonio and Shylock are doing business together because they aren't friends so they won't make exceptions for each other.

Merchant of Venice Act 1

1. The setting of this book is in Venice, Italy. The people there are rich.
2. Antonio is merchant who is depressed. He doesn't know why he is depressed. He's worried about the traded ships he invested in that are still at sea.
3. Bassanio asked Antonio for a loan because he wants to marry Portia. He needed money so that he could look presentable when he sees Portia.
4. Portia likes Bassanio more than all the other men her father chose even though she's only seen him once.

Anticipation Guide

"Don't rely on outward appearances when making judgements."
I agree with this statement because you shouldn't judge food by the way it looks. Something could look like it would taste really good but when you actually taste it, it doesn't taste that good. Something could also look like a piece of trash but when you taste it, it tastes super good.
When I went to eat sushi, everything looked really tasty and pretty. So I took the prettiest one off the conveyor belt. But when I tasted it, I didn't like the way it tasted. Another time, my grandma made eggplant with this sauce and it looked really ugly and unappetizing. But when my mom made me eat it, I ended up really liking it.

"Justice is always blind."
I agree with this statement because I think everyone should be treated the same way. It doesn't matter what gender or race you are. Everyone gets the same consequences for their actions.
When a person turns 18, they will be treated the same as someone who is 30. They will be treated as an adult even if they're 18 or 19 and still a teenager.

"A brotherly love between two friends can be just as strong as an intimate love between a man and a woman."
I agree with this statement because in both relationships, they have to be willing to do anything for the other. They will also be there for each other no matter what. The pair will always want to do everything with each other because that's how much they mean to each other.
When my dad was in the hospital for a few days, my mom went to go make sure he was doing okay even though he was coming home in a few days. Likewise, when my friend was sick, I did everything I could to make sure she got better as soon as possible.

"You can break a promise as long as you have a good excuse."
I agree with this statement because you can't always keep a promise. There are things that come in the way. You can try your best to get around the obstacles but it doesn't always work out and it's not always your fault.
One day I promised my friend I would get her lunch bag that she forgot in the band room. But I couldn't get it for her because I was stuck in a leadership meeting and right after the meeting, my mom told me we had to leave. I didn't have enough time to go all the way to the band room and get her lunch bag.

"Love is blind."
I agree with this statement because if someone really loves someone, their looks won't matter to them. If someone likes another because of the way he/she looks, then it isn't love. If you love someone, you love them because of who they are, not what they look like.
In "The Fault In Our Stars", Augustus loved Hazel Grace because of who she was. He thought she was beautiful no matter what. Although she wasn't the most beautiful because she had tubes connected to her face and she was diagnosed with cancer, he still loves her.

"Stereotypes are often right."
I do not agree with this statement because stereotypes are just things people assume. They think these things because the stereotypes apply to the people they know. But they don't necessarily necessarily apply to the people they don't know.
A stereotype about Asians is that they are very smart. But not all Asians are smart and get straight As. My sister and I get Bs and Cs too. We aren't that tidy and organized either.

"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a good motto to live by."
I don't agree with this statement because I think you should treat people the way you want to be treated. If someone spreads fake rumors about you, you don't have to spread fake rumors about them.
When someone told my friend's hydro flask, he was mad. But he didn't steal the other person's hydro when he found out who stole his.

Character Analysis

   In the book, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie go around finding new jobs. They started working of the ranch they are at now because their last job had ended. This relates to The Great Depression because during the time of The Great Depression, people were losing their jobs and trying to find new ones. Lennie's character is not the brightest but he is very sensitive and gentle. He has mental retardation. Mental retardation is a condition that usually happens before someone turns 18. This condition makes it hard for them to remember things and they don't know how to act in big crowds or in public. This is like Lennie because Lennie didn't know how to act in public when he saw the girl's pretty dress and wanted to touch it.

   In the book, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, Lennie is the big, tall, and dumb character. But his personality does not match his physical features. If one looks beyond the large Lennie, they will find a gentle and sensitive person. He was kicked in the head when he was younger. This caused him to have a condition called mental retardation. Mental retardation made it hard for him to control how he acts in public and made him have horrible memory. He is also slower at learning how to do everyday things that a person his age would normally know how to do.
   Mental retardation is the reason why Lennie says the things he says and acts the way he acts. "Well, he seen this girl in a red dress. Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever'thing he likes. Just wants to feel it. So he reaches out to feel this red dress an' the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on 'cause that's the only thing he can think to do." Since Lennie had metal retardation, he didn't know how to act in public which is why he held onto the girl's dress. Lennie also has bad memory. "Lennie looked puzzled. 'Like I done in Weed?' 'Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya?'" Mental retardation makes life hard for Lennie so George stays with him.

The Great Depression

   The Great Depression is when America's economy dropped and created an economic downturn which started in 1929 and lasted all the way to 1939. There were steep declines in the industrial output because consumer spending and investment dropped. People started spending less and this lead to piles of unsold goods. Farmers didn't have enough money to harvest their crops which meant they had to leave their crops to rot leading to piles of unsold goods. Piles of unsold goods are bad for businesses and its workers because if nothing is being brought, no money will be made. Along with the drop of consumer spending, banks also lost a lot of their money. Investors demanded cash from the banks and led to many closed doors of banks because they lost a lot of money. In conclusion, The Great Depression led to rising numbers of homeless in the streets of America and many unemployed citizens.
   After 1935, America started to get back on its feet. There were programs and institutions that helped people get there life back together after The Great Depression. During years 1935-1943 the WPA help 8.5 million people get permanent jobs. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built dams and hydroelectric projects to control flooding and provide electric power to the Tennessee Valley region of the South. During the spring of 1933, after showing signs of recovery, America's economy continued to improve throughout the next 3 years. Along with the job increase, The Great Depression helped America become even more employee friendly. In 1935 Congress passed a Social Security Act which insured safety. Also, after The Great Depression industrial production started to rise, creating a reduced unemployment rate that was even lower than what it was before The Great Depression. In conclusion, The Great Depression was not all a bad thing.
Rhysa & Aaron

MIce and Men Vocbulary

Relish:
Definition: to enjoy or to savor greatly
Sentence: During the last performance of "Peter Pan", the cast relished every moment of the show because they would never perform it again.
Quote: "'The guys said on account of the nigger's got a crooked back, Smitty can't use his feet.' He paused in relish of the memory." (p. 20)

Cesspool:
Definition: an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage
Sentence: You would not want to fall into a cesspool because it's full of liquid waste and sewage.
Quote: "'We... we was diggin' a cesspool." (p. 22)

Rhysa and Aaron

Metaphor Graphic

A Coney Island Life Essay (Final)

   Today there are many people who hope for things that are out of their reach. They hope and wish and have expectations so high, they are disappointed when it is not what they wanted. One can hope for something but it is not guaranteed that it will happen. In the poem "A Coney Island Life" by James L. Weil, he talks about life, comparing it to Coney Island. He said one shouldn't have hopes too high because in the end, they'll just be reaching for something they can't get.
   When the author compares life to a Coney Island life, he talks about the rollercoasters and balloons. Life has good times and bad times like a "rollercoaster ups and downs". Everyone has feelings and emotions. There are feelings of happiness and excitement and feelings of despair and sadness. When one is hoping for something big and great to happen, they feel like they are going up the rollercoaster not knowing when or if it's going to happen. But once their hopes are crushed, they feel like they are going down the rollercoaster, scared and not knowing what to think. Our hopes are also compared to helium balloons. One's hopes get higher and higher. "And seen my helium hopes break skyward without me," is what happens when their hopes are too high and can't be reached.
   The author also talks about life and death. One might be living their last their last few days of their life but won't know when they'll leave earth. Every day when one wakes up, they don't know if they'll die today or tomorrow or the next. Everyday is a day to keep on reaching for one's hopes that haven't been reached. The poem also talks about reaching for one's hopes. The author compares reaching for one's hopes to catching the "brass-ring-sun before the game is up". The "brass-ring-sun" is one's hopes that they are reaching for everyday. If the hopes are too high, it will be harder to reach them. If one wants to be able to reach one's hopes, don't have hopes too high so that they are in reach.
   In conclusion, having hopes too high will only lead to disappointment. When one has hopes too high. they will feel like they are going down the rollercoaster. They will be scared and confused. having high hopes can also lead to being left behind. It'll be like their hopes flew away like a helium balloon that got away from a little kid at Coney Island. High hopes also disappoint people when they are trying to reach for it when they don't have much time left. It's like trying to reach for a brass-ring sun. Don't have high hopes because one won't be as happy as if they had hopes that are in reach.

Vocabulary Graphic and Sentences

Tigger (Metaphor Poem)

Tigger

Everyone knows Tigger

as the one who's 

loud and outgoing

energetic and smiling

the one who makes everyone laugh

never fails to put a smile one someone's face

But not everyone knows the other side of Tigger

the side of him that has feelings

feelings of sadness and loneliness

the smile on his face covers up this side of him

no one ever expects this side of him to come out

and it barely ever does because he doesn't want to let anyone down

Everyone depends on Tigger
they depend on him to stay happy
stay optimistic
keep everyone's spirits up
although it can be hard
he makes sure he doesn't let anyone down

If he covers it up with a smile and a laugh

everything will be okay

Tigger is the one who makes everyone smile

even though he might be the very one

who needs someone to put a smile

on his face

I am Tigger

the one who can make anyone smile

don't try to figure out how I am feeling

because in the end you'll end up with the same answer

i'm okay and we'll smile and laugh

and life will be exactly how it's supposed to be

A Coney Island Life Essay (Draft)

   Today there are many people who hope for things that are out of their reach. They hope and wish and have expectations so high, they are disappointed when it is not what they wanted. One can hope for something but it is not guaranteed that it will happen. In the poem "A Coney Island Life" by James L. Weil, he said one shouldn't have hopes too high because in the end, they'll just be reaching for something they can't get.
   The author compares life to a Coney Island carnival. Life has good times and bad times like a "rollercoaster ups and downs".  When one is hoping for something great to happen to them, they are going up the rollercoaster. But once their hopes and dreams are crushed, they are going down the rollercoaster scared and afraid. The poem also compares one's high hopes to helium balloons. When one hopes too high for something that won't happen they will be crushed and left behind. "And seen my helium hopes break skyward without me."
   The author also talks about life and death. One might be living their last their last few days of their life but won't know when they'll leave earth. Every day when one wakes up, they don't know if they'll die today or tomorrow or the next.  Everyday is a day to keep on reaching for one's hopes that haven't been reached. The poem also talks about reaching for one's hopes. The author compares reaching for one's hopes to catching the "brass-ring-sun before the game is up". The "brass-ring-sun" is one's hopes that they are reaching for everyday. If the hopes are too high, it will be harder to reach them. If one wants to be able to reach one's hopes, don't have hopes too high.
   In conclusion, having hopes too high will only lead to disappointment. One shouldn't have hopes too high because in the end, they'll just be reaching for something they can't get. If one's hopes are in reach, they will be happy. But if one's hopes are too high and out of reach, they will be disappointed.