My noodle

(dictionary.com)

Plagiarism is the use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.

(Wikipedia.com)

When doing research on a given subject, many resources and sites are open for information exchange.  This is good, until the researcher uses the exact phrasing of the research for their own work.  Without proper citation this can be a very serious offense and is looked down upon on the academic world.

The Igbo are the second largest group of people living in southern Nigeria.

I was a little confused as to what to expect when I started researching Igbo.  The first result on the google search engine was the international gay bowling organization, but after furthering my researched I learned they are a large tribe in South Nigeria.  They have their own language and their own religion, which is very interesting to learn about.  I enjoyed the information provided on Igbo.

Electricity filled the air of the cool cafeteria, as thousands of crazed leadership students surrounded the enemy state of Pennsylvania, like a schoolyard bully.  With so many multi-colored shirts from every state, I tricked my eyes into believing I was trapped in a box of Fruity Pebbles.  Though we were in an air conditioned school, the thick Texas air brought a slight dampness to my bandanna, as I was bumped back and forth in the enormous pit, teeming with leadership kids.  As I stood in the presence of seemingly countless pubescent teens, their scents, both tantalizing and repulsive, tingled my nostrils, from cheap cologne, to a mezmorizing perfume, and all the way to eye-watering odor.  My ears rang like a doorbell, as the chants echoed through my head, as if we were in a deep canyon.  “West coast! Midwest! West coast! Midwest!” will forever be branded in my ear drums as the war call of my home states.  I could see the so- called enemy state was confused, looking to unify the mob, rather than to degrade.  Knowing what would have been the disappointment of my father, a South-Philly-bred boy, I knew I had to do something to tame this beast.  I grabbed the damp, broad shoulders of a large Philadelphia black man, and used them to boost me to a standing position on the cold, hard cafeteria table.  Like Moses, on the side of Mount Sinai, I raised my arms, and raised my voice.  The beast’s growls calmed to a silence as I yelled,  “Don’t you see, Pennsylvania is just trying to unify the states as one, and you’re simply spitting in their eyes!  What can you say about yourselves?  We are all leadership kids and should work as one, as a whole  -  the United States of America.”  My stomach folded like a Lazy Boy chair, as I waited alone on the ice-cold table.  The colors were even more brilliant from this higher viewpoint, and I noticed the silence turning to smiles, followed shortly by cheering and clapping.  Around my legs, I felt many sweaty hands grab me as I rolled across the top of the crowd, just like I was “hanging 10″ on the big wave.  People cheered and shook my hand, as “USA! USA!” echoed through the halls of the school.

Transfix- to make or hold motionless with amazement, awe, terror, etc.

Torpid- inactive or sluggish.

Timbre- Acoustics, Phonetics.

Naivete- the quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.

Ruminative- to chew the cud, as a ruminant.

Transcends- To pass beyond the limits of: emotions that transcend understanding.

Derisive- characterized by or expressing derision; contemptuous; mocking: derisive heckling.

Sangfroid- coolness of mind; calmness; composure: They committed the robbery with complete sang-froid.

Subsidized- to furnish or aid with a subsidy.

Integral- of, pertaining to, or belonging as a part of the whole; constituent or component: integral parts.

Prostheses- a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body.

Creosote- an oily liquid having a burning taste and a penetrating odor, obtained by the distillation of coal and wood tar, used mainly as a preservative for wood and as an antiseptic.

Crepuscular- of, pertaining to, or resembling twilight; dim; indistinct.

Gibbous- Astronomy. (of a heavenly body) convex at both edges, as the moon when more than half full.

Astral- pertaining to or proceeding from the stars; stellar; star-shaped.

Corrugated- to draw or bend into folds or alternate furrows and ridges.

6.

Within this paper are two opinions on love.  Marathe (the Frenchmen) believes in choosing carefully who or what to love, while Steeply (the American) believes there is no choice but rather we just fall in love.  I personally lean more toward Marathe’s argument.

Americans have been manipulated by the media in terms of what constitutes beauty.  We all want to be and to fall in love with a beautiful person, according to images we have been exposed to on TV, in the movies, magazines, advertising, etc…

Usually when we “fall” in love, its because we happen to meet someone who fits our image and expectations of a beautiful person.  Often character traits take second seat to outward appearance, but when we do consider character traits, and personality, we look for things in the other person that make us feel good and which agree with or validate our own beliefs which is somewhat selfish.  In the paper Marathe states that being so in love with someone you would die for them is selfish.  Simply because you are not thinking about the welfare of them, but you can’t imagine your own life without them, looking out for yourself.

In other countries, in olden days, parents would usually choose spouses for their children.  Often the two getting married wouldn’t even meet until the wedding.  They certainly didn’t love each other at that point, but most of the marriages worked out because they were based on building a successful family and contributing to society, not just individual gratification.  I’m sure that most of these couple grew to love each other over the years because they were working together on something bigger and more important than themselves.  Divorces were rare.  Compare to broken marriages and divorce rate in America today, as people keep looking for the perfect person to fall in love with.

A.

This story is about how Malcolm X was able to teach himself how to read in prison.  He spent his time in jail for robbery, and was able to use the dictionary to teach himself how to read.  He read about racism and learned of whites v.s. blacks.

B.

Feigned: pretended; sham; counterfeit

Glutted: to feed or fill to satiety; sate: to glut the appetite

Bestial: of, pertaining to, or having the form of a beast: the belief that a person could assume bestial form after death; the bestial signs of the zodiac

C.

Is reading a dictionary able to give better education then reading a regular novel?

Why did Malcolm X think a more violent way was the way to find peace?

Did Malcolm X have any other prior schooling?

I have spent 17 years on this earth, going through good times and bad times.  Whether it be in sports, school, leadership, or even family, I have always come through a happier, better person in the end.  So when asked if there has ever been a “lifeline,” or someone who has helped me in a time of need, very little comes to mind.  Now of course, family and friends are always there for you regardless, but in terms of a teacher or mentor…things weren’t as clear.  Don’t get me wrong here because every one of my teachers has helped me in some way, but in a serious time of need is a different story.  I have always been a good student who is more independent, but in thinking back, there is someone who didn’t necessarily help me in a time of need, but rather changed my mind on a huge decision that has affected my life in a very positive way.  When I was in 9th grade at Columbia Junior High, I was in the Wind Ensemble band and hated it.  I played percussion and couldn’t stand the teacher, let alone the class.  I had been in band since the 5th grade, and each year, my interest seemed to decrease.  Now my mother, being a music teacher, insisted I be in some music program throughout my school career, but this year I had decided I had enough.  Even though I was the lead drummer in the junior high band I decided it would be my last year playing percussion.  I knew the basics and figured I could take it on my own.  I informed my band teacher and though he was disappointed he knew I was set on my decision…or so I thought.  A few weeks before the end of school, the high school band director, Mr. Sorenson, came into class to share info about the high school bands and choirs.  He said he needed a sophomore drummer in the jazz program, and my name came up.  I told him I was no longer interested in percussion, but I wasn’t really sure who I was dealing with.  Mr. Sorenson, a very large bald man, took me into a practice room and told me that I would play for the jazz band, that I would stick with it all through high school, and that was that.  I was very upset at the time, but had no choice.  Three years later I am still drumming in the award winning Fife High school jazz band, with best rhythm section awards under my belt, and two years in the lead position.  Not only that, but my skills and technique have evolved to points I could have never imagined.  I have a love for music, which is now a huge part of my life, and knowing I almost quit something I feel so passionate about is hard to comprehend.  If it weren’t for the forced entry into the jazz band, I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing, but all I know if Karl Sorenson saved me from having an empty void in my life.

A.

Critical Thinking is more than just memorizing information.  It is asking questions and probing to learn more.  A critical thinker does not just sit back and learn, but pries to gain further knowledge for the subject at had.  One who seeks more knowledge to better their own personal education.

B. (I know these words but I need to pick three for definitions and these are three big ones)

Ethnocentric -the belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture.

Proficient – advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject; skilled

Implication – something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood

C.

Why is “she” used to describe a critical thinker rather than he/she?

Do you think you are a critical thinker?  Why or why not?

Throughout the essay the description of a critical thinker goes into depth with much detail.  Could the same point be made with less detail?

A.

Within this article the author speaks on no only reading between the lines, but also writting between the lines as well.  With writting as you read you connect more fully with the book and it enters your “bloodstream.”  Through writting on margins or papers you are able to connect in a better way.

Golding places thinkers into three categories.   Love (the Venus de Milo) Nature (the leopard) and pure thought (Rodins thinker).  His head master placed them in certain order but he disagrees by the end of the essay.

B.

Dilapidated – Fallen into parial ruin or decay

Remoreselessly – Distress arising from a sense of guilt

Depravity – Corrupt or pervert

C.

I’snt reading about relaxing and getting lost rather than writting as you read more enjoyable?

What is an alternative if you dont own the book to connect through the “bloodstream?”

What in what order is it correct to place Golding’s “thinkers?”