Semester two Blog #13

Migration, people migrate all the time due to certain situations either economical, political, or due to war. The biggest migration was brought on by the Great Depression. Author John Steinbeck describes the Great Depression with the Joad family he explains Dust Bowl farmers and their hardships by the Great Depression and within the family. The entire novel focuses on the Joad family, as a reader you follow through their almost satirical tragedies and losses.


When people leave home it should not be a great deal, especially when you leave with your entire family, like the Joads. Steinbeck exaggerated the migration throughout the Joad family by numerous deaths and tragic stories. Its almost like the novel were written like a soap opera. Meaning too much drama not enough reality. Steinbeck wrote Grapes of Wrath as if he was a first time learner about the Great Depression, and he decided to write a satire novel about the topic.

If the story were written and focused more on one point of view i.e the Dust Bowl farmers I feel that would have been a sympathetic enough story, since Steinbeck seemed to have written the book for sympathy. He could have done this by sharing brief stories about families fighting to give up their land and let their crops die, or simply show one character traveling along and observing families because starved, sick, and tired of the migration.


Steinbeck spent too much time on one family, which might have seemed like a great idea. But it is like the writing tip Concerts not Pancakes he started out with the idea of an up close, a fictional story about a family during the Great Depression. But there wasn't enough struggle or drama in the book so he went through it again and threw in some deaths and and a still-born child and extreme religious views.


I struggle, when i am told to write about a balance between the two it is a struggle for me seeing as one side got most of the attention throughout the novel (the Joad family) I think if Steinbeck would have even created a equally balanced out novel it would have made the book that much more confusing because there would have been abrupt transitions from chapter to chapter.

Semester two blog #12

What were "public works projects"? What famous ones were part of the New Deal? What public works projects would you recommend for our society today?

Overall the New Deal included two main goals:

• Overcome the Depression and make the economy more stable
  
• Wanted to give enough help to the lower classes to keep rebellion from turning into a revolution

Some public works projects that helped the New Deal progress were:


-Capitalism was reestablished (the new deal re-organized the government)

-TVA (Tennessee Valley Author) provided jobs for citizens to make profit to provided for themselves, and there families

-NRA (National Recovery Act) outlawed in 1934 because too much power was given to the President, this was to make our nations type of Government less like a dictatorship

Some new public works projects I could think of to help out society today would be along the lines of employment and helping find jobs for unemployed citizens (educated or not) this will help the homelessness rate, and loss of homes and/or property. I am not sure which jobs or positions would be available for all but I know construction, organizations, and corporations that need recuriters would be benefitted by this new public works project.
If I were to come up with another public works project it would be a new law about healthcare for all. This could help make families and Americans healthier, and decrease death by illnesses and other untreated (or lack of) medical conditions.

Semester two Honors novel blog #1

Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

 Depression, a social issue not only existing in the 1930's, but in other era's as well. Author Elizabeth Wurtzel proves this to her audience throughout the controversial memoir "Prozac Nation".

There wasn't always medication out there for depression, and as our society heals from our last depression and braces themselves for the "Great Rescission" citizens are becoming uncontrollably depressed, committing suicide, and getting evaluated for anti-depressants to help control feelings, and crude anxiety.

"That's the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end."

Depression, known as an excuse or cry for attention by one, however when a entire nation is depressed chaos emerges. How can one begin to ever trust any type of government after you risk you life in combat. You feel its only fair to receive your reward (pay) to help you throughout the Depression, but your own President responds in violence.
How can someone fell safe after economic turmoil? FDR helped citizens re-gain hope once again in their nation, in financial difficulties. Like the little blue pill FDR helped people cope, he did this through speeches, citizen letters, radio/news broadcast and more.


 Author Elizabeth Wurtzel paints a picture about this social issue through main character Lizzie. When someone thinks depression, they think the least. Wurtzel highlights some of the deepest feelings of depression throughout this memoir. She shows the audience feelings that Lizzie cannot control. Being evaluated depressed you are put under a microscope. You receive a certain dosage and you live by it for however long you doctor feels you need it. When a nation is depressed we panic as a nation until someone steps in and controls us.

 When depressed, its as if you can no longer make decisions for yourself, like there is no end to the cycle of depression. 

"The National Institute of Mental Health, has estimated that almost 10 million Americans are seriously depressed and medicated and that a total of 14 million will suffer from it (depression) during their lifetimes."

Semester two Blog #11

Dear President Obama,

I am writing you this letter regrading the Great Recession. This letter encloses some goals to overcome this devistating financial crisis. People say "History tends to repeat itself" and since this is not the first financial crisis the United States of America has seen, I have researched ways our own FDR pulled our nation out of the Great Depression. FDR kept his word and showed the nation that there is hope to come out of the depression. He did just that in his four terms her served, you will not get all the time he has had sir, but I know you can do it. FDR improved our nation in the following areas US economy, by creating relationships with Congress, trustworthy relationships with American society, FDR was constantly productive political leadership (getting laws passed by Congress, leading his party, etc.), he also established himself and his ideas on American History. President Obama, I know you can improve the US economy by making more public jobs, for example. More construction workers or Recruiters for the communities finding possible jobs and pairing an extreme amount of community citizens with all sorts of jobs that are needed. Keeping a close eye on the banks loans, something that FDR and it helped citizens in a great way. You also might want to consider re-building a relationship with the congress, 

"The most dramatic transformation in the relationship between the presidency and Congress occurred during the first two terms of Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR changed the power ratio between Congress and the White House, publicly taking it upon himself to act as the leader of Congress at a time of deepening crisis in the nation. More than any other president, FDR established the model of the powerful legislative presidency on which the public's expectations still are anchored."

FDR did an extreme amount of work within his first two terms changing the way the congress works. Coming up with new laws will be effective and efficient, during his time in office FDR came up with the "new deal" this helped the economic downfall and included great laws like Social Security, REA, WPA, and etc. President Obama, I know you can turn this economic burden around, like FDR did the "Great Depression" if you take charge of your party and have the citizens feelings, and ideas in mind you can fix our nation once again. President Obama, I and a great deal others believe you will get us out of this rescission. Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Jasmine Roesner
(Your Advisor)

Semester two Blog #10

Do you believe that the Grapes of Wrath successfully establishes sympathy for the plight of Dust Bowl farmers? Why or why not?

I believe Grapes of Wrath successfully establishes sympathy for the plight of the Dust Bowl farmers. Grapes of Wrath paints a picture about all of the hardship the Dust Bowl farmers go through.All of their troubles, loosing loved ones, and financial problems. I do not enjoy how the Dust bowl farmers stayed in Oklahoma stayed so long. Grapes of Wrath portrayed them as innocent, and honest people just looking for a way to survive and keep their family living healthy and happy.

Semester two Honors History blog #1

Imagine you are an advisor to President Obama. Write a letter to him in which you advise him as to how to succeed in the "Great Recession" by using FDR in the Great Depression as an example. Your advice should be presented as strategy for his first (and possible second) term as President. You should consider strategy in the following areas: US economy, relationship with Congress, relationship w/American society, as a political leader (getting laws through Congress, leading his party, etc.), and establishing himself and his ideas in American history. FDR provides clear examples in all of these areas and should be the basis of your advice for Obama's present & future. Cite all of your sources. Also, consider this a possible Ampersand piece.

Dear President Obama,

I am writing you this letter regrading the Great Recession. This letter encloses some goals to overcome this devistating financial crisis. People say "History tends to repeat itself" and since this is not the first financial crisis the United States of America has seen, I have researched ways our own FDR pulled our nation out of the Great Depression. FDR kept his word and showed the nation that there is hope to come out of the depression. He did just that in his four terms her served, you will not get all the time he has had sir, but I know you can do it. FDR improved our nation in the following areas US economy, by creating relationships with Congress, trustworthy relationships with American society, FDR was constantly productive political leadership (getting laws passed by Congress, leading his party, etc.), he also established himself and his ideas on American History. President Obama, I know you can improve the US economy by making more public jobs, for example. More construction workers or Recruiters for the communities finding possible jobs and pairing an extreme amount of community citizens with all sorts of jobs that are needed. Keeping a close eye on the banks loans, something that FDR and it helped citizens in a great way. You also might want to consider re-building a relationship with the congress, 

"The most dramatic transformation in the relationship between the presidency and Congress occurred during the first two terms of Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR changed the power ratio between Congress and the White House, publicly taking it upon himself to act as the leader of Congress at a time of deepening crisis in the nation. More than any other president, FDR established the model of the powerful legislative presidency on which the public's expectations still are anchored."

FDR did an extreme amount of work within his first two terms changing the way the congress works. Coming up with new laws will be effective and efficient, during his time in office FDR came up with the "new deal" this helped the economic downfall and included great laws like Social Security, REA, WPA, and etc. President Obama, I know you can turn this economic burden around, like FDR did the "Great Depression" if you take charge of your party and have the citizens feelings, and ideas in mind you can fix our nation once again. President Obama, I and a great deal others believe you will get us out of this rescission. Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Jasmine Roesner
(Your Advisor)

Cited Sources:

The new deal

Relationship between FDR and congress

Semester two Blog #9

Post a thoughtful reflection on how you have performed within the numerous freedoms associated with Ampersand. Then post a thoughtful reflection on how you have performed within the numerous structures associated with Ampersand.

I feel there was a lack of "numerous freedoms" that we have had during Ampersand. I feel we have not been taking advantage of or time and using it for Ampersand (the most important project) When we did have time for Ampersand there was hardly any structure which left me unsure hat to write about, and confused. I did not allow myself to sit there the entire so I typed up a lot of goals and brainstorming ideas for my two writing pieces. I have start on one out of two, and I have also asked for lots of revisions and clariying questions.