Hi,
I would like to share some of the unique superstitions and give my view on these beliefs.
Some superstitions are listed below:
If you cut an apple in half and count the number of seeds inside, you will hence know the number of children you will have.
However, if a person eats many apples a day, does it mean that the number of children he will have will change? Anyway, the number of children a couple has can be controlled by them and thus I believe that this superstition is not really true.
It is bad luck to cut your fingernails on Friday or Sunday.
I have cut my nails on Sunday before but nothing noticeably bad had gone wrong to me. Also, life is full of ups and downs, therefore it is perfectly normal if I get into trouble.
A yawn is a sign that danger will come.
I think that I yawn almost once every day, and science has proven that we yawn because of an excessive amount of carbon dioxide in our body, not when we are going to face danger.
A watermelon will grow in your stomach if you swallow a watermelon seed.
This is completely untrue.
I think that the reality of superstitions is really up to the person. In my opinion, I think that suprestitions are just things that were made up due to coincidences that happened in the past or when people decided to have some fun scaring their friends. However, I find superstitions quite interesting and enjoy proving them wrong.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
My Favourite Character
Hi,
I read the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and would like to share my favourite character in this story.
My favourite character in the story is Atticus because he is very wise and always maintains his cool throughout the story despite being the one who is always facing some sort of adversity. I have utmost respect and admiration of Atticus because he is an ideal father to me and a role model for me to follow. There were certain instances in the story which the author includes to invoke the feelings of respect that I feel towards him. For example, he would allow Scout to cuddle in his lap every night reading The Middle Section, showing that he is a very caring father who is willing to spend time to build up on the relationship with his children. However, not many fathers in Singapore are willing to put aside their busy schedules to ensure that they are close with their families. Therefore, I respect Atticus for this point. Also, when Bob Ewell threatens to kill Atticus and even spits in his face, Atticus just wiped the saliva off his face and replied Bob Ewell in a polite manner. If he were me, I would have taken no hesitation to deal a stinging blow onto his cheek and spit on him ten more times! I am extremely amazed at the way Atticus is able to curb his temper. Next, Atticus teaches his children very good and insightful values like putting ourselves in others' shoes and that having prejudices is wrong. Most importantly, Atticus has a very strong sense of justice. He was willing to defend Tom Robinson even though it put him at risks like getting confronted by a lynch mob. However, many people do not have the courage to stand up for the right thing because they fear the bad things that would happen to themselves. All these examples are the reason why my favourite character is Atticus.
However, in reality, I do not think that I would be able to find such a good man because Atticus is just a fictional character in a book. Even so, I hope to model after his wisdom and courage. I hope that every boy in the world would have the same dream as me!
Nathanael
I read the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and would like to share my favourite character in this story.
My favourite character in the story is Atticus because he is very wise and always maintains his cool throughout the story despite being the one who is always facing some sort of adversity. I have utmost respect and admiration of Atticus because he is an ideal father to me and a role model for me to follow. There were certain instances in the story which the author includes to invoke the feelings of respect that I feel towards him. For example, he would allow Scout to cuddle in his lap every night reading The Middle Section, showing that he is a very caring father who is willing to spend time to build up on the relationship with his children. However, not many fathers in Singapore are willing to put aside their busy schedules to ensure that they are close with their families. Therefore, I respect Atticus for this point. Also, when Bob Ewell threatens to kill Atticus and even spits in his face, Atticus just wiped the saliva off his face and replied Bob Ewell in a polite manner. If he were me, I would have taken no hesitation to deal a stinging blow onto his cheek and spit on him ten more times! I am extremely amazed at the way Atticus is able to curb his temper. Next, Atticus teaches his children very good and insightful values like putting ourselves in others' shoes and that having prejudices is wrong. Most importantly, Atticus has a very strong sense of justice. He was willing to defend Tom Robinson even though it put him at risks like getting confronted by a lynch mob. However, many people do not have the courage to stand up for the right thing because they fear the bad things that would happen to themselves. All these examples are the reason why my favourite character is Atticus.
However, in reality, I do not think that I would be able to find such a good man because Atticus is just a fictional character in a book. Even so, I hope to model after his wisdom and courage. I hope that every boy in the world would have the same dream as me!
Nathanael
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Putting Myself in another person's Shoes
Hi,
I would like to explain on the term "to put yourself in another person's shoes" and thinking about what personal qualities that are needed to see things as someone else does.
I think that putting oneself in another person's shoes is very important in life, as it can help to reduce the number of quarrels in the world. When we put ourselves in another person's shoes, it means that we take a moment to think about the other party's situation and try to come up with a rationale of why he/she is behaving like that. For example, if I am doing a project with Person A and I contribute almost everything while Person A does nothing, I should try to understand his situation before carrying out an action towards him. Perhaps Person A is struggling with a loss of a family member and does not have the time or mood to do the project. Therefore, it is quite important to put oneself in another person's shoes so that we can think before we act and can hence come up with a more righteous and accurate judgement of a person. This will also enable us to prevent certain arguments from happening.
However, putting oneself in another person's shoes in not as easy as think. In order to carry out this action, we need to learn to possess certain characteristics. One such characteristic is sensitivity. We need to be sensitive to one another's feelings so as not to provoke their feelings and understand them better. We also need to be very patient and take time to listen to what the other person has to say. Objectiveness and fairness are also key qualities needed to ensure that we can have an unbiased view of the whole picture. Last but not least, I believe that we have to be very understanding and forgiving, because it is the key to maintaining a good, peaceful relationship with the other party by trying to understand that his/her way of life might be different from ours.
In conclusion, I think that I should learn from the character Atticus in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" because he is always able to put himself in other people's shoes, instilling great respect in me for him. I hope that everyone in the world will be able to do this simple action so that the world will become a happier place to live in.
Nathanael
I would like to explain on the term "to put yourself in another person's shoes" and thinking about what personal qualities that are needed to see things as someone else does.
I think that putting oneself in another person's shoes is very important in life, as it can help to reduce the number of quarrels in the world. When we put ourselves in another person's shoes, it means that we take a moment to think about the other party's situation and try to come up with a rationale of why he/she is behaving like that. For example, if I am doing a project with Person A and I contribute almost everything while Person A does nothing, I should try to understand his situation before carrying out an action towards him. Perhaps Person A is struggling with a loss of a family member and does not have the time or mood to do the project. Therefore, it is quite important to put oneself in another person's shoes so that we can think before we act and can hence come up with a more righteous and accurate judgement of a person. This will also enable us to prevent certain arguments from happening.
However, putting oneself in another person's shoes in not as easy as think. In order to carry out this action, we need to learn to possess certain characteristics. One such characteristic is sensitivity. We need to be sensitive to one another's feelings so as not to provoke their feelings and understand them better. We also need to be very patient and take time to listen to what the other person has to say. Objectiveness and fairness are also key qualities needed to ensure that we can have an unbiased view of the whole picture. Last but not least, I believe that we have to be very understanding and forgiving, because it is the key to maintaining a good, peaceful relationship with the other party by trying to understand that his/her way of life might be different from ours.
In conclusion, I think that I should learn from the character Atticus in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" because he is always able to put himself in other people's shoes, instilling great respect in me for him. I hope that everyone in the world will be able to do this simple action so that the world will become a happier place to live in.
Nathanael
Making a Fair Judgment
Hi,
I would like to share my views on what I think is involved in making a fair judgment about a person or situation.
First of all, the person making the judgement must not have prejudices against any party and must not even have a preference on one side over the other even before the matter happened. This is very essential because prejudices and preferences will greatly affect the outcome of the decision. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, event though the jury of Tom Robinson's court case were presented with a lot of substantial evidence to prove that Tom Robinson was not guilty of rape, the jury were still influenced by their prejudices against African-Americans and sentenced Tom Robinson guilty of rape.
Secondly, I think that the person must be upright and not corrupt. The judge needs to have a clear distinction between what is right and wrong before being able to come up with a fair judgement. The judge must also be strong enough to resist the temptations of bribes from either party if it is a court case.
Next, the person making the judgement must take time to understand the whole matter so that his judgement will be fair. If one does not know the facts of a person/situation and jumps to conclusions, his judgement will be very inaccurate and unfair. Therefore, it is very crucial for a person to be patient and understanding in order to make a fair judgement of a person/situation.
Finally, a fair judge needs to be someone wise. The judge needs to be able to interpret some facts or data and come up with a relevant and accurate inference or statement about the person/situation. Wisdom will aid the judge in making a fair judgement and even help him to come up with a solution to help the person or situation.
A fair judgement is very rare, as people are too lazy to bother about the steps to take to make one. However, I believe that an unfair judgement can result in unwanted consequences and can hurt one party very badly. Therefore, I think that we should try not to judge anyone or anything if we know that we are not good judges. I suggest that should a judgement really be needed, that one should ask a few other trustworthy friends for their opinion.
In conclusion, there are many factors and characteristics of a person that can influence his judgement. However, I believe that the objectiveness, wisdom, trustiness and patience of a person will help him to come up with a fair and good judgement of a person/situation.
Nathanael
I would like to share my views on what I think is involved in making a fair judgment about a person or situation.
First of all, the person making the judgement must not have prejudices against any party and must not even have a preference on one side over the other even before the matter happened. This is very essential because prejudices and preferences will greatly affect the outcome of the decision. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, event though the jury of Tom Robinson's court case were presented with a lot of substantial evidence to prove that Tom Robinson was not guilty of rape, the jury were still influenced by their prejudices against African-Americans and sentenced Tom Robinson guilty of rape.
Secondly, I think that the person must be upright and not corrupt. The judge needs to have a clear distinction between what is right and wrong before being able to come up with a fair judgement. The judge must also be strong enough to resist the temptations of bribes from either party if it is a court case.
Next, the person making the judgement must take time to understand the whole matter so that his judgement will be fair. If one does not know the facts of a person/situation and jumps to conclusions, his judgement will be very inaccurate and unfair. Therefore, it is very crucial for a person to be patient and understanding in order to make a fair judgement of a person/situation.
Finally, a fair judge needs to be someone wise. The judge needs to be able to interpret some facts or data and come up with a relevant and accurate inference or statement about the person/situation. Wisdom will aid the judge in making a fair judgement and even help him to come up with a solution to help the person or situation.
A fair judgement is very rare, as people are too lazy to bother about the steps to take to make one. However, I believe that an unfair judgement can result in unwanted consequences and can hurt one party very badly. Therefore, I think that we should try not to judge anyone or anything if we know that we are not good judges. I suggest that should a judgement really be needed, that one should ask a few other trustworthy friends for their opinion.
In conclusion, there are many factors and characteristics of a person that can influence his judgement. However, I believe that the objectiveness, wisdom, trustiness and patience of a person will help him to come up with a fair and good judgement of a person/situation.
Nathanael
Childhood Memories
Hi,
I would like to share my childhood experiences when I read about Scout's experiences in the book "To Kill A Mockingbird".
I find that every child is very innocent and I think that the way the author portrays Scout is very true and realistic. For example, Scout does not know the true meaning of marriage and gets engaged to Dill at a very young age. This reminds me of how I used to cheer my kindergarten classmate on as he proposed to a girl from our class. I did not really understand the concept of marriage then and thought that it was a very simple and happy occasion that one can plan anytime he/she wants to. Scout also had very creative imagination, just like me when I was young. However, instead of playing 'Pretend' like Scout and imitating other people, my favourite childhood pastime was to come up with very weird stories including monsters under the bed. Although this often gave me nightmares, I loved to exchange stories with my sister or my friends. As a child, Scout was also very defensive and never thought anything as her fault. Once, Ms Caroline Fisher showed her disapproval for being able to read in Year 1, causing Scout to hate Calpurnia for teaching her how to read. I remember an incident when I accidentally kicked a ball too high, knocking over a family photo and damaging the photo frame. Although my parents politely asked what had happened, I became defiant and blamed the wind for blowing my ball too high. I was just too stubborn at that time to acknowledge my mistake.
I think that every child is as innocent, stubborn and creative as Scout and I was, but the things that all of us do in our childhood is what makes every child distinct. I really enjoyed the times that I had and I really feel like travelling back in time to where there were no worries in life other than wearing my diapers. I really hope that every child in the world will treasure this precious span of time and make the fullest use of every second.
Nathanael
I would like to share my childhood experiences when I read about Scout's experiences in the book "To Kill A Mockingbird".
I find that every child is very innocent and I think that the way the author portrays Scout is very true and realistic. For example, Scout does not know the true meaning of marriage and gets engaged to Dill at a very young age. This reminds me of how I used to cheer my kindergarten classmate on as he proposed to a girl from our class. I did not really understand the concept of marriage then and thought that it was a very simple and happy occasion that one can plan anytime he/she wants to. Scout also had very creative imagination, just like me when I was young. However, instead of playing 'Pretend' like Scout and imitating other people, my favourite childhood pastime was to come up with very weird stories including monsters under the bed. Although this often gave me nightmares, I loved to exchange stories with my sister or my friends. As a child, Scout was also very defensive and never thought anything as her fault. Once, Ms Caroline Fisher showed her disapproval for being able to read in Year 1, causing Scout to hate Calpurnia for teaching her how to read. I remember an incident when I accidentally kicked a ball too high, knocking over a family photo and damaging the photo frame. Although my parents politely asked what had happened, I became defiant and blamed the wind for blowing my ball too high. I was just too stubborn at that time to acknowledge my mistake.
I think that every child is as innocent, stubborn and creative as Scout and I was, but the things that all of us do in our childhood is what makes every child distinct. I really enjoyed the times that I had and I really feel like travelling back in time to where there were no worries in life other than wearing my diapers. I really hope that every child in the world will treasure this precious span of time and make the fullest use of every second.
Nathanael
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Narrative Viewpoints
Hi,
I would like to share my view on the different types of narrative viewpoints and each of their purposes.
The first-person point of view uses a narrator to recount the story to the readers, hence containing the word "I". It is used mainly to provide a subjective view of the events that happened, allowing the readers to pick out important characteristics of the narrator as well by looking at some of the narrator's thoughts and feelings. For example, the first-person point of view can bring out the narrator's state of mind very well as compared to the third-person point of view. Furthermore, this point of view is usually used to make the readers feel close to the narrator and know him/her better. This is done by sharing some of the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Finally, it is mainly used when the author wants to focus on the characters or themes of the story.
In contrast, the third-person point of view uses a narrator who is not mentioned at all in the story. The narrator can follow one character around or can be omniscient. This helps the readers to identify the main character of the story and see how he resolves the conflict he is facing. The third-person point of view can also be used if the author wants his readers to feel close to all the characters in the story. This narrative viewpoint is very useful, as it allows the readers to know every characters' feelings and thoughts, so enabling them to understand each and every single one of them. Finally, the third-person point of view is used when the author emphasises more on the plot and setting of the story, as the narrator is objective and can hence describe the setting more and can develop the story fully too.
In conclusion, I think that choosing an appropriate narrative viewpoint for a story is very important, as it can affect the way our story turns out to be. By analysing the gist of our story and the aspects that we want to emphasise on, we will be able to use the best narrative viewpoint.
Loo Nathanael
I would like to share my view on the different types of narrative viewpoints and each of their purposes.
The first-person point of view uses a narrator to recount the story to the readers, hence containing the word "I". It is used mainly to provide a subjective view of the events that happened, allowing the readers to pick out important characteristics of the narrator as well by looking at some of the narrator's thoughts and feelings. For example, the first-person point of view can bring out the narrator's state of mind very well as compared to the third-person point of view. Furthermore, this point of view is usually used to make the readers feel close to the narrator and know him/her better. This is done by sharing some of the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Finally, it is mainly used when the author wants to focus on the characters or themes of the story.
In contrast, the third-person point of view uses a narrator who is not mentioned at all in the story. The narrator can follow one character around or can be omniscient. This helps the readers to identify the main character of the story and see how he resolves the conflict he is facing. The third-person point of view can also be used if the author wants his readers to feel close to all the characters in the story. This narrative viewpoint is very useful, as it allows the readers to know every characters' feelings and thoughts, so enabling them to understand each and every single one of them. Finally, the third-person point of view is used when the author emphasises more on the plot and setting of the story, as the narrator is objective and can hence describe the setting more and can develop the story fully too.
In conclusion, I think that choosing an appropriate narrative viewpoint for a story is very important, as it can affect the way our story turns out to be. By analysing the gist of our story and the aspects that we want to emphasise on, we will be able to use the best narrative viewpoint.
Loo Nathanael
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Setting of a Beach
Hi,
This is the setting of the photograph of a beach I was given:
Standing on the balcony of the three-storey villa, I could feel the salty breeze caress my face and sting my eyes. The view in front of me was astounding. The coast was full of footprints, possibly belonging to children who had went there to play. Waves slowly formed as they rushed eagerly to the shore, like a puppy running to welcome his master home. The sea seemed like it was divided into two by a wall; slightly turquoise near the shore, but turning dark blue after a certain point. A solitary motorboat spurned through the clear blue waters, sending droplets of water up in the air and leaving a trail of bubbly white foam behind it. On the left of the sea, a bumpy hill, dotted by countless greeneries, gave off fresh oxygen that mixed with the smell of sea salt, giving off a soothing smell of Mother Nature. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the picturesque sight that was right before me.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
This is the setting of the photograph of a beach I was given:
Standing on the balcony of the three-storey villa, I could feel the salty breeze caress my face and sting my eyes. The view in front of me was astounding. The coast was full of footprints, possibly belonging to children who had went there to play. Waves slowly formed as they rushed eagerly to the shore, like a puppy running to welcome his master home. The sea seemed like it was divided into two by a wall; slightly turquoise near the shore, but turning dark blue after a certain point. A solitary motorboat spurned through the clear blue waters, sending droplets of water up in the air and leaving a trail of bubbly white foam behind it. On the left of the sea, a bumpy hill, dotted by countless greeneries, gave off fresh oxygen that mixed with the smell of sea salt, giving off a soothing smell of Mother Nature. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the picturesque sight that was right before me.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
Sunday, January 23, 2011
BECOMING
Hi,
This is the comic that I made using toondoo:
I chose to write on the theme on "Work or Family?" because I find this problem very imminent in many Singaporean households. I also find this problem very serious and think that this should be eradicated from Singapore. Singapore is getting busier and busier, which results only in making people more stressed and tired. I believe that we should adopt the steps taken by countries such as Denmark, where there is a 4-and-a-half day week.
I tried to bring out the theme strongly in my comic by constantly putting John in office clothes. This represents his business and that he even thinks about work when he is at home. I also set half of the panels in the office and the other half at home, to show the struggle on prioritising certain things in our lives. I also put clocks in some panels to represent that time is important, thus we should treasure it and spend it on something worthwhile. This again brings out the theme on whether we should choose work or family as the number one priority. I also used various emotions for John, in order to bring out his character and his feelings at a specific point in time.
In conclusion, I find that this online learning task is very beneficial to me because it makes me think and reflect on how Singaporeans have become ever since the country placed a huge emphasis on business and industry. I hope to do something like this again!
Nathanael
This is the comic that I made using toondoo:
I chose to write on the theme on "Work or Family?" because I find this problem very imminent in many Singaporean households. I also find this problem very serious and think that this should be eradicated from Singapore. Singapore is getting busier and busier, which results only in making people more stressed and tired. I believe that we should adopt the steps taken by countries such as Denmark, where there is a 4-and-a-half day week.
I tried to bring out the theme strongly in my comic by constantly putting John in office clothes. This represents his business and that he even thinks about work when he is at home. I also set half of the panels in the office and the other half at home, to show the struggle on prioritising certain things in our lives. I also put clocks in some panels to represent that time is important, thus we should treasure it and spend it on something worthwhile. This again brings out the theme on whether we should choose work or family as the number one priority. I also used various emotions for John, in order to bring out his character and his feelings at a specific point in time.
In conclusion, I find that this online learning task is very beneficial to me because it makes me think and reflect on how Singaporeans have become ever since the country placed a huge emphasis on business and industry. I hope to do something like this again!
Nathanael
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Reading a Novel
Hi,
I would like to share my views on the historical and cultural background of a novel and how it relates to reading a novel.
Firstly, I think that it is necessary to understand the historical and cultural context of a novel before reading it. I find this essential because I believe that doing this aids the reader in understanding more about the context of the story and from there, he can be able to relate to the story better and understand certain parts of the story that depicts a scene of the history. For example, take the book "Animal Farm". It was written during the time when Communism ruled Soviet Union. This motivated George Orwell to write the novel to illustrate what was happening at that time. However, if one does not know these facts, he may just think that the novel is a fantasy story where farm animals can talk. Thus, it is necessary for a reader to understand the historical and cultural aspects of the story as it reveals a lot of secrets and helps the reader understand the true meaning behind the story.
I also think that understanding the author's backgrond helps us a lot in finding out the purpose the author wrote the book and the prejudices he might include in the story. Let me use the example of "Animal Farm" again. Geogre Orwell was against the system of Communism as his personal experiences taught him that greed is imminent in every part of the world. Therefore, he wrote the novel to criticise it. Thus, reading up on the author's background can help us to identify the key message of the story.
Finally, although I think that the historical and cultural contexts, and the author's background are important when reading a novel, I have to admit that it is still possible to appreciate a text without reading up on either one. This definitely applies to non-fictional books, where most of the reader's creativity is put to use. I also have to say that since young, I have always enjoyed reading good books but have never put these skills into practice. Thus, it is possible to do without reading up on the backgrond of a novel, but it will definitely bar the reader from finding out more secrets beneath the surface of the story.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
I would like to share my views on the historical and cultural background of a novel and how it relates to reading a novel.
Firstly, I think that it is necessary to understand the historical and cultural context of a novel before reading it. I find this essential because I believe that doing this aids the reader in understanding more about the context of the story and from there, he can be able to relate to the story better and understand certain parts of the story that depicts a scene of the history. For example, take the book "Animal Farm". It was written during the time when Communism ruled Soviet Union. This motivated George Orwell to write the novel to illustrate what was happening at that time. However, if one does not know these facts, he may just think that the novel is a fantasy story where farm animals can talk. Thus, it is necessary for a reader to understand the historical and cultural aspects of the story as it reveals a lot of secrets and helps the reader understand the true meaning behind the story.
I also think that understanding the author's backgrond helps us a lot in finding out the purpose the author wrote the book and the prejudices he might include in the story. Let me use the example of "Animal Farm" again. Geogre Orwell was against the system of Communism as his personal experiences taught him that greed is imminent in every part of the world. Therefore, he wrote the novel to criticise it. Thus, reading up on the author's background can help us to identify the key message of the story.
Finally, although I think that the historical and cultural contexts, and the author's background are important when reading a novel, I have to admit that it is still possible to appreciate a text without reading up on either one. This definitely applies to non-fictional books, where most of the reader's creativity is put to use. I also have to say that since young, I have always enjoyed reading good books but have never put these skills into practice. Thus, it is possible to do without reading up on the backgrond of a novel, but it will definitely bar the reader from finding out more secrets beneath the surface of the story.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Prejudiced Group
Hi,
I would like to share my experience of my being in a group of people that were unkind to one or more individuals. This experiences happened in my primary school.
I had a clique of friends who were good in soccer and we also stuck together on the same team when we played soccer during recess. This meant that we placed all the better players on one team, while the others formed another team, making it a heavily lopsided match in terms of skill. Furthermore, there were a few bullies in our group who decided to misuse their "power" and control the rules of the game. For example, when the opponent team scored, they would find a way to explain that it was disallowed, eg. offside. This made our group feel high and mighty. However, it hurt the others' feelings. This eventually led to class lessons. A few people in our group tormented others and made fun of them, causing teachers to take action.
At first, when I realised that we would never lose the daily soccer matches, I felt quite good and decided to play along with their plan. However, I had not enough courage to bully others, so all I did was to join their group but not defend the victims. As the days went by, I felt quite bored and frustrated because it was more interesting to lose at times and my groupmates were beginning to carry things too far. I began to feel guilty and so I did not really linger with that group already. However, it was quite hard to do so because I feared the prospect of being bullied by them. Therefore, I took a quiet role in our group until we departed for our own secondary schools. Fortunately, after the teachers intruded into our affairs, my groupmates turned for the better and started making friends with the people they once bullied.
Looking back now, I feel really guilty for joining their group and not having the bravery to stand for what is right. I felt that I was prejudiced against those who could not play soccer better than me. I hope that they will forgive me for my selfish actions and that I will not do such a horrid thing in the future. It is so true to say that "making 1 more friend is better than making 1 new enemy".
Nathanael
I would like to share my experience of my being in a group of people that were unkind to one or more individuals. This experiences happened in my primary school.
I had a clique of friends who were good in soccer and we also stuck together on the same team when we played soccer during recess. This meant that we placed all the better players on one team, while the others formed another team, making it a heavily lopsided match in terms of skill. Furthermore, there were a few bullies in our group who decided to misuse their "power" and control the rules of the game. For example, when the opponent team scored, they would find a way to explain that it was disallowed, eg. offside. This made our group feel high and mighty. However, it hurt the others' feelings. This eventually led to class lessons. A few people in our group tormented others and made fun of them, causing teachers to take action.
At first, when I realised that we would never lose the daily soccer matches, I felt quite good and decided to play along with their plan. However, I had not enough courage to bully others, so all I did was to join their group but not defend the victims. As the days went by, I felt quite bored and frustrated because it was more interesting to lose at times and my groupmates were beginning to carry things too far. I began to feel guilty and so I did not really linger with that group already. However, it was quite hard to do so because I feared the prospect of being bullied by them. Therefore, I took a quiet role in our group until we departed for our own secondary schools. Fortunately, after the teachers intruded into our affairs, my groupmates turned for the better and started making friends with the people they once bullied.
Looking back now, I feel really guilty for joining their group and not having the bravery to stand for what is right. I felt that I was prejudiced against those who could not play soccer better than me. I hope that they will forgive me for my selfish actions and that I will not do such a horrid thing in the future. It is so true to say that "making 1 more friend is better than making 1 new enemy".
Nathanael
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Prejudice
BEFORE:
KNOW: What do I already know about prejudice?
I know that prejudice means being biased to a certain group of people because of their characteristics or way of life, which will influence one’s actions towards a matter concerning that certain group of people.
WHAT: What do I want to learn/know about?
I want to learn about the different types, effects and causes of prejudice and some of the generalisations of prejudice.
AFTER:
LEARN: What did I learn about prejudice?
I learned that prejudice can arise from stereotypes of a person. I also learned that some prejudices may not be right and that bigotry means stubborn and complete ignorance of any opinion different from their own.
KNOW: What do I already know about prejudice?
I know that prejudice means being biased to a certain group of people because of their characteristics or way of life, which will influence one’s actions towards a matter concerning that certain group of people.
WHAT: What do I want to learn/know about?
I want to learn about the different types, effects and causes of prejudice and some of the generalisations of prejudice.
AFTER:
LEARN: What did I learn about prejudice?
I learned that prejudice can arise from stereotypes of a person. I also learned that some prejudices may not be right and that bigotry means stubborn and complete ignorance of any opinion different from their own.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Poem Extract
Hi,
I would like to share a poem that I enjoy reading and share what I learned from it.
"One picture puzzle piece
Lyin' on the sidewalk,
One picture puzzle piece
Soakin' in the rain.
It might be a button of blue
On the coat of the woman
Who lived in a shoe.
It might be a magical bean,
Or a fold in the red
Velvet robe of a queen.
It might be the one little bite
Of the apple her stepmother
Gave to Snow White.
It might be the veil of a bride
Or a bottle with some evil genie inside.
It might be a small tuft of hair
On the big bouncy belly
Of Bobo the Bear.
It might be a bit of the cloak
Of the Witch of the West
As she melted to smoke.
It might be a shadowy trace
Of a tear that runs down an angel's face.
Nothing has more possibilities
Than one old wet picture puzzle piece.
Picture Puzzle Piece by Shel Silverstein "
This poem left a deep impression on me because it relates to my life as a student and the big future that lies ahead of me.
Firstly, I will talk about what the poem means. The poem illustrates a scene of the poet walking past a single puzzle piece on the sidewalks. He is interested in it and starts to ponder on the possibilities of what it could be, instead of other passers-by who would treat it as a lost item or simply rubbish. He lists all the characters and things related to fairy tales to help children to understand the poem better.
I think the poet is trying to target people who are very straight-minded and cannot think out of the box. As a single puzzle piece is small and does not portray a complete picture, there are a lot of possibilities of what the puzzle could be. Thus, I think that the poet is trying to tell us to look at a matter more optimistically, by pondering on what paths it could take us to if we look at it differently and not just looking on one side of things. For example, a choice of what courses to pick up in university is a puzzle piece. We should not just take the course which seems the easiest or the one that sounds the most interesting and stick to it no matter what. Instead, like the poet, we should consider all the possibilities and imagine what our future would be like if we should join a certain course. When we do this, we would be able to list our choices better and decide what is best for us.
I learnt important lessons from this poem. I learnt that we should be more optimistic and take time to ponder on a matter, especially studies because it will affect our future greatly. Therefore, we should exercise our critical thinking skills to ponder on the possibilities of what it could hold. We should also not be so greatly let down by a setback, because it may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Finally, I learnt that we should not jump at conclusions by just looking at one piece of the puzzle. Instead, we should take an unbiased and full view of the whole matter before making a decision about something or someone. This will enable us to be more objective and will help us to judge something accurately.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this poem and learnt many lessons that I can apply in my life in the future.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
I would like to share a poem that I enjoy reading and share what I learned from it.
"One picture puzzle piece
Lyin' on the sidewalk,
One picture puzzle piece
Soakin' in the rain.
It might be a button of blue
On the coat of the woman
Who lived in a shoe.
It might be a magical bean,
Or a fold in the red
Velvet robe of a queen.
It might be the one little bite
Of the apple her stepmother
Gave to Snow White.
It might be the veil of a bride
Or a bottle with some evil genie inside.
It might be a small tuft of hair
On the big bouncy belly
Of Bobo the Bear.
It might be a bit of the cloak
Of the Witch of the West
As she melted to smoke.
It might be a shadowy trace
Of a tear that runs down an angel's face.
Nothing has more possibilities
Than one old wet picture puzzle piece.
Picture Puzzle Piece by Shel Silverstein "
This poem left a deep impression on me because it relates to my life as a student and the big future that lies ahead of me.
Firstly, I will talk about what the poem means. The poem illustrates a scene of the poet walking past a single puzzle piece on the sidewalks. He is interested in it and starts to ponder on the possibilities of what it could be, instead of other passers-by who would treat it as a lost item or simply rubbish. He lists all the characters and things related to fairy tales to help children to understand the poem better.
I think the poet is trying to target people who are very straight-minded and cannot think out of the box. As a single puzzle piece is small and does not portray a complete picture, there are a lot of possibilities of what the puzzle could be. Thus, I think that the poet is trying to tell us to look at a matter more optimistically, by pondering on what paths it could take us to if we look at it differently and not just looking on one side of things. For example, a choice of what courses to pick up in university is a puzzle piece. We should not just take the course which seems the easiest or the one that sounds the most interesting and stick to it no matter what. Instead, like the poet, we should consider all the possibilities and imagine what our future would be like if we should join a certain course. When we do this, we would be able to list our choices better and decide what is best for us.
I learnt important lessons from this poem. I learnt that we should be more optimistic and take time to ponder on a matter, especially studies because it will affect our future greatly. Therefore, we should exercise our critical thinking skills to ponder on the possibilities of what it could hold. We should also not be so greatly let down by a setback, because it may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Finally, I learnt that we should not jump at conclusions by just looking at one piece of the puzzle. Instead, we should take an unbiased and full view of the whole matter before making a decision about something or someone. This will enable us to be more objective and will help us to judge something accurately.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this poem and learnt many lessons that I can apply in my life in the future.
Loo Nathanael (18) 2I1
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