I returned many of the "Hip Hop Hurt/Dyson" essays yesterday and the remainder today. Use Monday to revise the essay and return to me Tuesday, October 25, 2011. With that revision, include a narrative as to what you had to do to make the paper better. Look at it like you did Pidd's essays in SPHE this semester.
We will also begin the next essay next week. Bring in Initial Planning Sheet and outlines per the schedule. Your evidence is Guy, Dyson, and 1 article on the topic. You don't have to cite from all three, just two. The last document can be a part of the bibliography.
I expect these essays to get passing grades the first time around.
Homework
Homework for Thursday, tomorrow, bring in a completed profile on Afeni Shakur to share. You will include this profile with your essay.
Post your summaries of the scholarly article here. Don't fotget the works cited at the end.
Weekend Homework
Now that you have completed the book, write a letter to Afeni Shakur reflecting on her life and what you learned about her that you didn't know, which perhaps changes how you look at her as a revolutionary, a woman and a mother. Choose minimally three specific aspects of her life to reflect on.
This cyber-assignment is homework for the weekend, due, Thursday-Friday, October 20-21, 2011. Comment on one student's reflection with a citation expanding the comment.
We will also begin the next essay next week. Bring in Initial Planning Sheet and outlines per the schedule. Your evidence is Guy, Dyson, and 1 article on the topic. You don't have to cite from all three, just two. The last document can be a part of the bibliography.
I expect these essays to get passing grades the first time around.
Homework
Homework for Thursday, tomorrow, bring in a completed profile on Afeni Shakur to share. You will include this profile with your essay.
Post your summaries of the scholarly article here. Don't fotget the works cited at the end.
Weekend Homework
Now that you have completed the book, write a letter to Afeni Shakur reflecting on her life and what you learned about her that you didn't know, which perhaps changes how you look at her as a revolutionary, a woman and a mother. Choose minimally three specific aspects of her life to reflect on.
This cyber-assignment is homework for the weekend, due, Thursday-Friday, October 20-21, 2011. Comment on one student's reflection with a citation expanding the comment.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:29 AM
21 Comments:
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
19 October 2011
Freewrite response to Nature vs. Nurture article
In the article "Determining Nature vs. Nurture," written by Douglas Steinberg, the argument of nature vs. nurture is explored. The field mostly discussed, epigenetics, gives an explanation to nature vs. nurture that combines them. Epigenetics is a field that studies how small molecules stick, or do not stick, from two center points in a cell's nucleus in DNA. These molecules determine whether genes can generate proteins through their prescene and abscene. In earlier science, it was believe this "sticking" and "unsticking" could only happen during fetal development; however, it has been discovered that "environmental cues can stimulate epigenetic changes in child and adult cells." These changes can help explain mental disabilities, as well as explain what is behind "many human behaviors." Moreover, when scientists conducted an experiment with rat pups who were either showered with affection, or were not shown any, from their mothers. Those who recieved less attention adopted fearful behaviorisms. Thus, as stated in the article, "the findings suggest that a mother's parenting style can affect the activity of a child's genes."
Works Cited :
Steinberg, Douglas. "Determining Nature vs. Nurture." Pyschology and Behavioral Sciences. Scientific American Mind, Oct. 2006. Web. 18 Oct. 2011.
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
19 October 2011
Summary of Article: “A Tale of Two Mothers”
Two mothers of the “thug life” have struggled with their on the outcomes of their sons. Afeni Shakur, mother of Tupac Shakur, and Voletta Wallace, mother of Notorious B.I.G, live with the loss of their sons to the surrounding stereotypes and industry. Afeni Shakur resents her absence in her son's childhood while Voletta Wallace struggles with the unanswered murder of her son. Tupac was raised by knowledge and the streets and left many admirable legacies behind. B.I.G was raised in a Catholic school and lost himself to the “thug life” leaving very little behind. The mothers now are dealing with grief, anger, and many unanswered questions. The mothers of the two have done many things to preserve their sons' legacy against the constant critique from their own pasts. Shakur has opened the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts and Wallace has went up against court rooms of policemen to bring the murder of her son to justice. Afeni admits to her effects on Tupac as an addict and a revolutionary and takes fault for his blessed curse. Wallace is still struggling to deal with her involvement in Notorious B.I.G's adult life while Shakur says, “They still haven't solved Malcolm's murder. They still haven't solved Martin's murder. When they solve those, then they can get to Tupac.”
Summary of Article: “Nature vs. Nurture: Are We Really Born That Way?”
Kimberly Powell refers to “nature” as heredity and “nurture” as the environment. This debate has constantly been a debate topic of determining the motives for human behavior. Some argue people are products of their genes and others argue people are products of experience. Both are right in certain areas but it would be hard to say that a person is solely built from one or the other. Many have come to the agreement that people are of “nature” in the adolescent years and more “nurture” in the adult years.
Works Cited
Coates, TaNehissi. “A Tale of Two Mothers.” (2006). Print.
Powell, Kimberly. “Nature vs. Nurture: Are We Really Born That Way.” (2010). Print.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 October 2011
Article for Afeni Shakur
The estate of Tupac shakur is under attack. C. Delores filed a suit in Philadelphia asking for 10 million from Tupacs estate. She claims that two songs on his album, All Eyes On Me made unacceptable comments toward her. Tucker says that Tupac’s lyric ‘s in the song affected her life tremendously and caused her love life to be unstable. In one song the lyrics say, “ Got your legs up trying get rich. Keep your head up and your legs closed, dear Ms Delores Tucker.” Tupacs biological father is also suing for more than 20 million. Attorney Richard Fischbein believes that this is totally unfair because Tupacs father was a deadbeat dad and wasn’t evolved in Tupac life. Afeni Shakur says, “ She will not settle and will go out fighting to protect Tupac’s estate.
Vigoda, Arlene. “Law Suit Go after Shakur Estate.”final edition: 1997. Print.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 October 2011
What Is Nature Versus Nurture?
The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. Nature vs. nature is about genetic inheritance. Plato and Descartes suggested that certain thing is pre determined regardless on environmental influences. John Locke believed in what is known as tabula rasa, which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate. All knowledge is determined by expierence. Today the majority of experts believe that behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture.
Cherry, Kendra. “Nature vs. Nuture.” Print.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am-1150am
19 October 2011
Summary to about Nature vs. Nurture in article “Politics of Biology”
In the article “Politics of Biology” by Wray Herbert he writes about how nature versus nurture molds our decisions on public policies. He talks about the debate on biological determinism, is it all genetics or does the environment play a role. The four main topics that he covers in politics are issues on gay rights, health care, juvenile justice, and welfare reform. An example of how nature versus nurture play a role on public policy is whether or not homosexuality is a choice or biological. The article suggest that if homosexuality is biological then homosexuals should be protected and have equal rights as heterosexuals. The article argues about how much does genetics play a role in who we become and the decisions we make. In the article it states, “Behavioral geneticists suspect that several genes may underlie the illness, and that some environmental stress--perhaps a virus or birth complications--also might be required to trigger the disorder.” Herbert argues that just because genes are identified in certain individuals to make them more susceptible to a certain kind of behavior does not mean the person will ultimately become that way. For example, having a gene that says your likely going to be addicted to alcohol does not necessarily mean you will become an alcoholic. However, being in an environment that condones alcohol and other environmental stress factors can steer a person to alcoholism if they usually like to drink as a way to comfort themselves. The article concludes that the politics of biology is an ongoing study, and one cannot blame merely nature or nurture for a persons behavior, and they both play major roles in human behavior.
Works Cited
Herbert, Wray. “Politics of Biology.” Student Research Center College of Alameda Website. 27 April 1997. Web. 19 October 2011.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am-1150am
19 October 2011
Nature vs. Nurture: Summary to article “Politics of Biology”
In the article “Politics of Biology” by Wray Herbert he writes about how nature versus nurture molds our decisions on public policies. He talks about the debate on biological determinism, is it all genetics or does the environment play a role. The four main topics that he covers in politics are issues on gay rights, health care, juvenile justice, and welfare reform. An example of how nature versus nurture play a role on public policy is whether or not homosexuality is a choice or biological. The article suggest that if homosexuality is biological then homosexuals should be protected and have equal rights as heterosexuals. The article argues about how much does genetics play a role in who we become and the decisions we make. In the article it states, “Behavioral geneticists suspect that several genes may underlie the illness, and that some environmental stress--perhaps a virus or birth complications--also might be required to trigger the disorder.” Herbert argues that just because genes are identified in certain individuals to make them more susceptible to a certain kind of behavior does not mean the person will ultimately become that way. For example, having a gene that says your likely going to be addicted to alcohol does not necessarily mean you will become an alcoholic. However, being in an environment that condones alcohol and other environmental stress factors can steer a person to alcoholism if they usually like to drink as a way to comfort themselves. The article concludes that the politics of biology is an ongoing study, and one cannot blame merely nature or nurture for a persons behavior, and they both play major roles in human behavior.
Works Cited
Herbert, Wray. “Politics of Biology.” Student Research Center College of Alameda Website. 27 April 1997. Web. 19 October 2011.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15629096
Listen to Story.
Work Citied
Richman, Joe of Radio Diares, "www.npr.org" October 25, 2007. Web 19, October 2011
Kyle Tay
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 October 2011
Article Summary: "A Tale of Two Mothers"
In the article "A Tale of Two Mothers," the mothers of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. struggle with the deaths of their beloved sons. The article emphasizes on the contrasting ways in which each mother mourns her son's death. Afeni Shakur aims to ease her sorrow and continue her son's legacy through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the arts, where youth can come to to express and build on their artistic creativeness. While Afeni Shakur was more focused on keeping her son's memory alive, Notorious B.I.G.'s mother, Voletta Wallace, seeks truth and justice for her son's passing. Wallace believes that her son's death was no coincidence, and believes that Death Row Records CEO, Suge Knight, collaberated with the LAPD to take Biggie down. Though these two mothers had contrasting views on how to continue their son's legacies, their love for their sons is one in the same.
Kyle Tay
Forgot the Works Cited! Here it is.
Coates, TaNehissi. “A Tale of Two Mothers.” (2006). Print.
Javier Flores
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
20 October 2011
Summary of Article: “Education: Nature v. Nurture”
In the article "Education: Nature v. Nurture" Dr. Skeels talks about the the effect of putting a foster child into a family of wealth. The effects were surprising! In a case study of 100 children Dr. Skeels found that all foster children that were put in wealthy families had an IQ above average. Another professor did a similar study with children in different school the children in bad schools did not have their IQ's lowered or raised but children in good schools had an IQ above average as well. Therefore it is the opinion of the article that both nature and nurture play a role in the type of person someone may grow up to be.
Works Cited
"Education: Nature v. Nurture." Time Magazine. Monday, Mar. 11, 1940: 1. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .
Marcel Rollock
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50AM
20 October 2011
Summary of Article: “A Unique Look at Nature vs. Nurture”
“A Unique Look at Nature vs. Nurture,” gives an unparalleled view of the nature vs. nurture debate through the lives of Lily and Gillian, identical twins separated during adoption. What makes their situation so uncommon is that most twins up for adoption either grow and live together or have no contact with each other at all. Lily and Gillian’s respective families did not like the idea of completely separating the two so they decided the twins would see each other on a regular basis. Although the girls were being raised in two totally different households the families noticed the girls’ personalities develop almost exactly the same. “The girls got chicken pox within a day of each other, both are scared of clowns, and without knowing what the other was wearing, both dressed up as ballerinas for Halloween one year. The girls sound alike, the girls cry alike.” Lily and Gillian share all these similarities despite developing in such different environments. “Lily has no siblings; Gillian has two. Lily’s family is Presbyterian; Gillian’s is Catholic. Lily’s neighborhood is ethnically mixed; Gillian’s is not.” The store of Lily and Gillian really bolsters the nature side of the ongoing debate. “The fact that these girls are showing such matched patterns of development speaks strongly to genetic factors.”
Work citied:
“A Unique Look at Nature vs. Nurture. www.abcnews.com. 17 August 2005. Web. 19 October 2011.
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11- 11:50 am
20 October 2011
Topical Invention response to "If There Be Pain."
Comradery is a mutual friendship where one can help the other when are down. Comradery is always having a stable person to aid you in your fall; like a soft mattress always there to cover the hard ground. Comradery leads to strong friendships and relationships in which each person involved as someone they can count on. In Tupac's poem, "If There Be Pain," he explores this topic: "If there be pain, all you need to do, is call on me to be with you."
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11- 1150 am
21 October 2011
Letter Response to Afeni Shakur
Before I began reading this book, I knew nothing about Afeni Shakur and her revolutionary activities and ideals. Moreover, I did not know much about her childhood and her as a mother. A revolutionary is someone who goes beyond the ideals of society and seeks to improve and/or change these ideals. Afeni has had a revolutionary mindset since a young age. Her first smell of revolution, or resistance, was in her hometown when native Americans rushed the Klu Klux Klan out of town. From this point on, Afeni knew that she had a choice to not take anything from anyone. In New York, she found the Black Panther Party which put her revolutionary ideas into words and helped her to become the strong revolutionist she is today. I feel that her time in the Black Panther Party was a difficult, turbulent time in her life, yet the Party taught her a lot about herself and about how people work. From her experiences with them, she learned to trust nobody; more importantly, she came to realize her brilliant mind and the differences she can make. With poverty and humility always at the foreground of her mind, Afeni channeled these into making a difference in people's lives. She opened twenty-eight schools, that white teachers attempted to keep closed; as well as, began welfare programs and assisted impoverished people in finding jobs. After her son's death, Afeni did not stop in developing good out of her revolutionary ways; for example, she opened an arts center for the youth, to keep them off of the streets.
Afeni's childhood shaped her entire life. This time in her life being the time that she is most receptive to her surroundings, or the nurture aspect that built her personality. As a young, poor black girl in the South Afeni experienced hatred and racism at a young age. I feel that this shaped her revolutionary ideals, and helped her to grow as a person who is outside of hate. However angry she has acted in her life, she is respectful of other people and not narrow minded. Her parents relationship helped her grow through seeing her mom's journey of womanhood, and her father's heartless treatment of the family. Overall, her childhood is what fed into her accelerated life in which she learned a lot in a short period of time.
Afeni is a mother who has taught a lot of lessons through her absence and presence. During Tupac's life, before Afeni began using drugs, she taught him a lot of lessons and told it to him straight. However, her daughter Sekiywa was neglected from the start, not being as favored as Tupac. During Afeni's crack addiction, she abandoned her children in a time of need. I feel that the inadequacies Afeni feels about her personality, and her past, effected the way she raised her kids. Although being a literary stimulating influence, she taught her children more what "real" life is. Meaning that they have to take care of themselves, and there is not many people to count on. Afeni's own demons effected her children greatly, and made them grow at a similar accelerated rate as Afeni did.
Tyler Currie
Professor Sabir
English 1A
20 October 2011
Summary to Kevin Davies PBS article on Nature v Nurture.
In the article "Nature vs. Nurture Revisited" by Kevin Davies dicusses the differences of genes and the environment and how they tie into DNA. He evaluates genetics and the recent discoveries in the Human Genome Project. The evidence from the project gives a estatic advantage in favor of the theory that nurture is the influence to the actions of life.
NOVA Nature vs Nurture Revisitied. Davies, Kevin. 04/17/01 PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/nature-versus-nurture-revisited.html
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
23 October 2011
Tropical invention strategies: Loyalty
Definition: Loyalty is to prove you are faithful to another person.
Analogy: Loyalty is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The two pieces of bread are inseparable once they meet.
Consequence: Teamwork and dedication is the result of loyalty.
Testimony: Tupac says, “regardless of how popular I become you will remain my unconditional friend”.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
23 October 2011
Dear Afeni
After finishing your book I learned a lot about you and the struggles you encountered in life. Afeni Shakur, a troubled child growing up in the impoverished south, encountered many obstacles during your childhood. As a child you were very angry and arrogant. You struggled with the issue of self-hatred, which was caused by the insecurities you developed from getting teased by other kids at school. You were raised in a broken home where her father abused her mother, which led to you developing a deep hatred toward the mean arrogant man. Witnessing your mother leave her father introduced you to the act of fighting back and Rebelling. While living in New York, you used fighting and partying as a way to channel the anger you inherited from her father. Your early relationships with men were very troubling and as a result, wounded your ability to trust and settle. As young women, you sought to find a man to protect you, considering you never had a father figure around. As a result from all this chaos, you began to experiment with drugs as a way to quiet the trauma in her life.
Your childhood experiences made you strong and gave you the desire to think optimistic. Although you were very unhappy growing up as a child, when you got older you embodied a revolution to end black oppression. You joined the Black Panthers, which is where you were reborn from Alice Faye to Afeni. You loved the Panthers because it gave you something to fight for. They educated your mind and gave you direction. You used the arrogance and anger you inherited from her father to fight for Black Panther beliefs. After finishing this book, I realize that you didn’t have many choices growing up as young women. And because of that, your family history, the environment you grew up in, and your childhood experiences were big influences in determining your destiny. Although you were a product of your environment, your desire for social change was what drew you to the black panthers.
I understand your addiction to drugs and what caused you to gravitate into that direction. Your life was very hard and you used drugs as a way to block out all the trama in your life. I now understand why you left your kids to learn and experience life for them selves. You figured that they would become stronger people. You wanted they to be strong and not have to depend on anyone. I understand your logic of thinking.
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
24 October 2011
Letter to Afeni Shakur
Dear Afeni Shakur,
Before reading the book about your son by Michael Dyson and the book about your life by Jasmine Guy, I really did not know anything about either you or your son. I had only heard a few of your son's songs and that was it. To be honest if it weren't for my English class I probably would have never read either book but I am so glad I did. It is very interesting to read about Tupac's background and childhood, whether negative or positive, to see where he came from and how that molded him. It was even more interesting to go back a generation and read about your childhood and how that reflected how you raised your children. Your motives seem very dynamic yet reasonable. It seems like you took what you had, which was little and used it to the best way you knew how. It really makes me sick how some of the people were in your story. Like the kids that called you names. I really admire your strength through your childhood. Even through horrible times you responded the best way you knew how and took every experience as a learning process. Your time during the Black Panther Party seemed filled with good motives but was personal egos split them up. The experiences you had sound almost unbelievable crazy. The part of Evolution of a Revolutionary where you told about your friend Sandra really gave harsh perspective into how things really were trying to survive in this time period. Your story of Sandra is something I will never forget. The was you raised your son a daughter was unique but somewhere it paid off. Tupac made an impression on the world and clearly still live today and Sekyiwa took her experiences and did what she could with what she had learned. As much as you taught you children not to do things that you did, like drugs, your children grew up to be ironically similar to you. It shows that no matter how someones childhood they can grow up to be whoever they want to be. You really were a product of your environment. I am really happy I read both of these books and I got to learn about some of the addictions that run in my family. You have taught me a lot about some of my own family members and answered many of my questions. Learning about you and your sons life was very educational and I am really appreciative of these two stories.
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
24 October 2011
Topical Inventions for “My Dearest One” by Tupac Shakur
Theme: Love
Definition: Love is a complicated yet rewarding feeling that despises distance.
Analogy: Love is like a tunnel, it may get very dark but there is always a light at the end for everyone.
Consequence: It may take trial and error with many painful experiences but most of the time love will be found.
Testimony: Tupac Shakur says, “ My heart has never known the Joy you bring 2 me” (39).
Jesse Pinkney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11AM-11:50AM
25 October 2011
Topical Inventions for-Loyalty
Analogy- Loyalty is like a relationship with a dog, no matter how bad your day goes when you get home your dog is always there to cheer you up and make you feel better.
Definition- Loyalty is understanding, commentment, love, respect, and a desire that creates a bond hard to break.
Consequences- Through loyalty one can determine his friends from his enemies and establish a unconditional love for the friendship in return for good memories and happiness.
Testimony- In this poem Tupac wrote that he would give his last breath for his friend life due to the loyalty he received from this person.
Tyler currie
Melody Webster
Javier Fores
Theme is love and devotion
Definition: Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause
Analysis: In the poem "My Dearest One," Tupac conveys his gratitude to God for granting his wish for a sweet love.
Analogy: devotion is like the fraternal bonds of men in the service
Samuel Yihdego
Professor Sabir
English 1A
05 November 2011
Nature versus Nurture
The nature vs. nurture debate is a psychological conflict over whether human behavior is preprogrammed into us by our genes - nature - or whether it is learned from our environments - nurture. It’s the ongoing debate centers on “the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.” Plato and Descartes suggest that most behavior is governed by genes, but also believe that some behavior is learned. While John Locke “ believed in what is known astabula rasa, which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate” Those who support John Locke’s idea reject all theories of genetic predisposition, saying that every behavior a person exhibits is one learned from the environment. However, today’s research shows that, both nature and nurture help to create a person’s behaviors.
Works Cited:
Cherry, Kendra. “Nature versus Nurture.” Print.
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