Freewrite Cyber-Assignment
1. The Day After V-Day. Reflect on V-Day or the Day After and what comes up given Leymah's story. Eve Ensler is the playwright who started V-Day. See http://www.vday.org/about
2. Homework--Develop 3-5 essay questions re: Mighty. Post.
3. Bring in a published review of the book, Mighty, electronic is fine. Read the article before class. The article needs to have been written by a journalist or scholar. The New York Times is a good source, as well as Newsweek, Mother Jones, The Atlantic, New York Review of Books ( http://www.nybooks.com/ ), The LA Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, indymedia.org, Democracy Now!(a news magazine http://www.democracynow.org/) The Huffington Post (an on-line news source http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ )
This would be a great opportunity to use the COA library article database. Some of the sources above cost money to use, however, at the COA Library website, one can use these source free of charge on and off campus. All you need is the password and sign-in code. Get from the librarian if you missed the orientation.
The freewrite in the morning will be to write a three paragraph summary of the article using: 1. short citation, 2. a free paraphrase, 3. a block quote.
4. In groups students will write one part of a three part essay: thesis, antithesis, synthesis.
5. We will talk about the essay due in a couple of weeks and planning.
1. The Day After V-Day. Reflect on V-Day or the Day After and what comes up given Leymah's story. Eve Ensler is the playwright who started V-Day. See http://www.vday.org/about
2. Homework--Develop 3-5 essay questions re: Mighty. Post.
3. Bring in a published review of the book, Mighty, electronic is fine. Read the article before class. The article needs to have been written by a journalist or scholar. The New York Times is a good source, as well as Newsweek, Mother Jones, The Atlantic, New York Review of Books ( http://www.nybooks.com/ ), The LA Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, indymedia.org, Democracy Now!(a news magazine http://www.democracynow.org/) The Huffington Post (an on-line news source http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ )
This would be a great opportunity to use the COA library article database. Some of the sources above cost money to use, however, at the COA Library website, one can use these source free of charge on and off campus. All you need is the password and sign-in code. Get from the librarian if you missed the orientation.
The freewrite in the morning will be to write a three paragraph summary of the article using: 1. short citation, 2. a free paraphrase, 3. a block quote.
4. In groups students will write one part of a three part essay: thesis, antithesis, synthesis.
5. We will talk about the essay due in a couple of weeks and planning.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:02 AM
24 Comments:
Savannah Conley
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February, 2012
Free write: The day after V-day. Reflect on V-day or day after and what comes up for you given Leymah’s story.
V-day, which happens every year on February 14th, is often over shadowed by valentines day. This year was the second time I had ever heard about V-day. I think V-day is a very important day, because violence against women and girls is a very prominent issue in our world today. In my personal opinion, I think V-day needs more attention, because there are women, like Leymah, who have gone through struggles and suffering that most of us cant even imagine. Women, like Leymah, need their stories told, need the attention of the entire world in order to make a change. And to be honest, I don't think February 14th is the day that will make it happen. I think that corporate America will always out shine V-day and it wont get the attention is deserves and needs.
Essay Questions:
1)How did the war effect Leymah’s and other Liberian families?
2)Who suffers the most in civil wars like the one in Liberia?
3)What involvement has and does the U.S. have with Liberia?
4)What is the process of healing and going back to a normal life after the experiences Leymah and other Liberians had?
Analise Bostrom
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February, 2012
Free Write
A lot of people either really like Valentine’s Day or really hate it. A lot of people turn it into a big deal; they make fancy dinner reservations and buy expensive gifts for their lover, and if the day doesn’t end perfectly to the last detail it’s considered a failure. Then other people hate the day; they think it’s just another excuse to spend a bunch of money and make all the single people feel like shit.
When people ask me what side I’m on, pro-valentine or not, I have to tell them I’m somewhere in between. While I do support celebrating Valentine’s Day, I don’t make a huge deal out of it. I believe it a nice excuse to breach from your normal routine and to something special with the people you love.
Essay Questions
1. What role do women play in bringing peace to Liberia?
2. How do men and women differ when it comes to dealing with the war.
3. What is it that Leymah gains in her lifetime, what does she sacrifice.
Samantha Swain
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
The Day After V-Day Free Write
I was told V-Day stands for violence day… I’ve never heard of that, and don’t understand how anyone could associate a day about love and romance with violence, but ok… To me violence is sad, angry, full of hate. Nothing I want to associate with Valentine ’s Day. It does make me think, however. With the book we just finished reading, “Mighty Be Our Powers,” and how violent it us, how sad it is, all of the stuff women have to go through in the time of war. It’s horrible. While reading the memoir, I kept thinking about what I would do if these things started happening in the United States, and that scares me. I hope nothing like that ever happens. I think our government is set up where dictators can’t come into power, but still. You never know what could happen. It would be horrible to have to experience something like that, and I admire the Liberian people for surviving such a catastrophe.
kenneth Windham
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 Feburary 2012
I learned that a lot of females hate this holiday ,see it as a chore an attempt to commercialize love by the greeting card companies.According to a study by CNN over half of men alse hate this day any many relationships are deystroyed on this day you should love the person your with 24/7 not just on Feburary 14 your loveshould be expressed everyday
V-Day
Susan Kelly
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Valentines Day, February 14th, what does it mean to me? Greeting cards, plush bears, box of chocolates and hues of pink and red EVERYWHERE. Overwhelming but over quickly. This year I was the lucky recipient of three greeting cards (two were from my boys, cutest cards ever) and a giant box of chocolates, I'll be lucky if I have any chocolates left by the end of the month. I hear that V-Day is not just chocolates and hearts, it is a day to reflect on violence against women. When I think back about Leymah's story I remember the rage I felt as I read on about the ruthlessness and cockiness of the ex-boy soldier who bragged about raping women. Oh, how I fantasized gripping his little neck when he described that the older ones were his favorite. And I recall how absurd it was to learn that in Africa women are called "mothers", beautiful thought but how hypocritical! So you rape and kill your "mothers"?
Ana Vasquez
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
February 15 2012
Free Write V-Day:
Valentines Day is known as the day you give love to people espcially if you have a significant other. Usually gifts are distributed to girls. I never really understood why women and girls liked valentines day so much more then the guys did. But, i have recently read the theory as to why poeple celebrate Valentines day. And indeed it is holiday celebrated for women. Women from all over the word have been abused at least once in there life time. SO they made this holiday to make women feel good and special.
Questions:
1. Why is Leymah still feel insecure about herself even though she is now a successful women?
2. Why does it seem that Leymah suffered way more then other Liberian families during the war?
3. Did it take Leymah a long time to heal from all the bad situations in her life?
4. Did leymah have to sacrifice alot in her life to be who she is today?
5. What was the womens goal in Liberia?
Mark Jansz
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Free Write V-day
Yesterday was Valentines day. It was a nice day, simple, wasn't stress-full for me. What did i do? well... i went to accompany my girlfriend for her root canal, because she is terrified of needles, and i watched the dentist while she did the operation on the tooth. It was quite interesting and something i have not experienced before. God blessed me with pretty healthy teeth so i cant complain. After the root canal, we went back to her place and i cooked some stir-fried noodles for the both of us. It turned out pretty good, and it was a surprise for her since she always tell's me that i never cook for her. So people think that valentines day is always supposed to be over the top and all but, i think showing affection in a small way can make the day perfect in every single way. It's nice to just spend that day with that special someone, that's what i think valentines day is for. To give your full attention to that special someone, and make it their day, not yours.
Stephen Yang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Free Write Valentines Day & Violence Against Women Day
Valentines Day was, and is, always one of the sickest holidays of the year in my opinions. It's the one day where couples flaunt their love towards one another in public with over 200% of the annoyance compared to any other day of the year. Every time February 14 comes up during the year, all I see are disturbing or sometimes trashy couples everywhere. If "Love" were to be a religion, it'd be the worst religion in the world. It should be revered and dreaded because for every rejection is another heart broken. Couples who get married early usually end up divorced, which according to some studies, 50% of newly weds in the U.S. end up divorced. If those couple had kids, those children may end up traumatized again more victims to love. Love is not something people should unconditionally praise for with love comes conflict. In fact there are restrictions to love according to some religious group or political law, i.e. same sex marriage, "holy" books, etc. Valentines Day or love in general makes me sick to the stomach, literally, because by the 15th couple I've seen making out in public, I vomited right in front of them. Good riddance I say.
How I celebrated or reflect Violence against Women Day was by being more aware of the abuses women take from men or women. Women are seen as an object to most men as sexual toys or stress relievers. I could hardly care less about sexual desires and when I see a women, the only difference I see is the XX chromosome. Sure I may had have desires when I was going through puberty, but now I could hardly care less about them. Violence is never the answer in one's opinion, but violence against violence is definitely the best option in my opinion. Power controls everything in this world so if women were to gain more power over men, there would be less rapes or domestic abuse towards women.
John Sills
Professor Sabir
English 1A
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Pre-amble: Must have woken up on the revolutionary side of the bed this morning...
Yesterday was February 14, the oh so bitter sweet day that capitalist America decides we should show affection toward people we care a lot about through material gifts. I have never heard of V-Day before, but it all honesty it seems like a much better use of my time. The first thing that came to mind was the time I spent in Morocco as a small child watching a small girl being beaten by an older man in to complete submission. I had just witnessed the repercussions of an action that seemed so petty.
Then I realized I had witnessed oppression right here in the United States. It is hard to spot but it can easily be found just below the surface of our society. Women get taken advantage of in similar ways as Leymah does, trapped in an emotional cages. Inescapable relationships that seem to feed on the void left behind by independence and self confidence.
As a majority of the world population, women should not stand for this! I call for a revolution of the majority to over through the minority that has been in power for the last five thousand years. We men have had our shot, I say we pass the buck...my two cents.
Essay questions:
Why does Leymah seem more open to the idea of helping child soldiers that the other people around her?
How have Leymahs relationships with men and her children effected her work, more specifically her focus?
Had Leymah never left Daniel, do you think that the Liberian revolution would have been resolved in the same way or at all?
Kenneth Magno
Professor Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Free Write: V-Day
Yesterday, was Valentine's day. A day filled with happiness, laughter, memories and especially, love. I spent the day with my girlfriend and we had such a great day. Creating more memories that will hopefully keep our relationship strong. Since I finished the book later that night, I spent some time reflecting on what Valentine's day was really about. I had no idea that February 14th was also a day where we dedicate awareness on violence against women. I wish that they would have taught us this in grade school. Educate the people so that they become aware of the on going violence that women suffer all around the world. They should really teach more about women like Leymah who fight for peace by uniting together and showing them they mean business.
Daniel Escudero-Whitney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
V-Day Reflections
V stands for violence, W stands for woman, and M stands for man. They do not make a word, and as far as I know, they do not make a cute little acronym. Yet somehow, they go together. They go together in such a way that can ruin a life, or ruin the lives of an entire family. But why is it they cannot go together in another way, such as M healing W?
The only thing I have read about, talked about, written about in the past three days is V against W.
Most domestic V is M against W. Because of this, it seems likely that the best healing for this would be W to W. But do all W really feel this way? Because an M was responsible for their pain is it then formulaic that another, non-abusive M cannot help to right the wrongs done?
The past four years of my life has been centered around helping children -- I teach kung fu, but it is really so much more for me than that.
A big part of martial arts training for children is life lessons. I try to be there for anyone who needs someone that is not mom and dad. This is good, however, the only people that seem to seek out my help are the boys. Whenever someone gets sent to me after they got in trouble in our after school program, it always happens to be a boy, or a group of boys.
I understand gender separation, gender roles, role models, and all that, but I cannot help but wonder if the girls are getting the help they need. I would love to believe that girls are born perfect without the need for guidance, but this simply cannot be so.
I suppose that we are all enculturated and socialized right after birth and on through our lives to expect certain things from certain people. Sisterhood and brotherhood. Why don't we have a like word for M to W siblinghood?
Colleen Low
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Free write: V Day/Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has always been considered the one day that we must show love, because it is a commercialized opportunity to spend excess money, which is a form of expressing love. Why should one spend $100 on a dozen roses when you could buy flowers 5 times during the year? Love is not a show, but feelings and one should strive to be able to express affection throughout the relationship. Valentine’s has been a day to which men are pressured to perform. I don’t know how many times I hear women talk about their men, “He better come up with something, or he’s in trouble!” I would compare V-Day to the “honey moon” phase in relationships as in the book “Mighty Be Our Powers,” to which Leymah expresses in her memoir, “the cycle of domestic violence: how in an abusive relationship, there is a romantic honeymoon period followed by hitting, which led to apology, and making up and another honeymoon period” (Leymah 50). The situation with Leymah is that she mistook lust for love, and became confused which was unfortunate. She needed to love herself, which would strengthen her confidence. Relationships should start with mutual respect that could blossom into true love, and women need to see the pitfalls of false love, so that domestic violence does not continue.
Flora Diamond
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Valentine's Day Free write:
On Valentines Day, people in America generally observe it to be a time of love, excuses for romantic dates, make excuses to buy stereotypical romantic things, such as flowers, chocolates; and even sharing small cards with candy attached to them amongst elementary school children. Despite the extravagance and happiness attached to such nice things, one would think to consider doing such things on any day. It is no question now that Valentine's Day serves as a day to celebrate love. A concept in itself that comes under much scrutiny, to define what love really is.
Thanks to much media, peers, and cultural influence, love and Valentine's Day go hand in hand. The entire Valentine's Day is just a marketing scheme, just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. To illustrate my point more, I will have to give a little history lesson.
The origin of Valentine's Day lies within the Catholic Church. When a Christian martyr died, they we're regarded as St. Valentine then celebrated on February 14th. Each Saint celebrated, had nothing to do with love. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote in the love part much later.
Fast forward to the 19th century. Children would go about handing out little cards, singing merry tunes about love. These would be the makings of the first Valentine's card. These Valentine's cards became so popular, that late into the 19th century, they became mass-produced in factories. Now in the year 2012, the mass production of Valentine's Day related products creates substantial revenue.
Sadly, like almost all Holidays in America, if you don't observe it you are subject to social tension and in some cases isolation. The Holiday non-discriminanently targets everyone capable of love. Thus if one refuses to celebrate, they are seen as loveless people or lonely. A prime example of such claims is in the well-known Christmas story about Ebenezer Scrooge.
I find it interesting to trace the roots of a Christian Holiday, to what it is celebrated as now. It makes me wonder what people in the future will take and construct into something completely different.
Jovita Wechsler
Prof. Wanda Sabir
English 1A
2/15/2012
Day After V-Day
As Valentine’s Day approaches we see all these advertisements about sales or special gifts, or even movies about love, that pop up every year. While the advertisements are on the TV or on a billboard, it’s always selling you the idea of how their product demonstrates “real love”. All of them with a fairy tale story to them. Really?
Many argue that Valentine’s Day is useless, just an excuse for big companies to make big money during these dates. For some it is a special date where one can be with their loved one, give them gifts, do something special or out of the ordinary. Others despise this date, since for them it is a reminder of their “failure” to be in a relationship, of how they are alone and single on such day, but lets be honest, if you were alone on that particular date, you’ve probably been alone every other day of the year, so why give it so much importance?
In my Mighty it is hard to see what is or whether she fully feels such a strong feeling or any of her partners. First we have Daniel, and when she speaks why she is with him, one doesn’t hear a romanticized story at all. This man is the father of her children, but we don’t hear her mention the word love. She states that she is with him because of financial support and because it is “right”. We know that there is no happy ending to that story. Second, there is Tunde, who compared to Daniel is a major improvement. The possibility of coming to love this man is mentioned, he was a good man and a good supportive friend, kind to Leymah and her children. Even though he is better than the first, this one doesn’t last until the end of their lives, instead they begin to drift apart, and finally end their relationship. Last one to come along is James, with whom, until this day, she mantains a relationship with and with whom she had daughter.
Now, from my point of view, there is no Disney magic in any of these stories. There is no love at first sight, no raising the children together, no growing old together. The only thing I noticed that mattered to Leymah was not growing old by herself. Maybe there are cultural differences I don’t understand, maybe the circumstances gave no space for those things to happen, or maybe what is considered the standard of what “love” is has a whole other meaning to Leymah.
Kathleen Adams
Professor Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Free write
The Valentine’s/ Violence Day
What wonderful reds I see; Light, dark and even some bright pink;
What is it about this day? That makes people think “Love “Violence”
Is it the love that blooms in the hearts or is it the arrows he shoots from darts?
Happiness that flows so effortlessly out from her Valentines smile or eyes
While violence plaques the body and his Valentine’s tell lies.
What becomes of that black and blue Valentine that fades within time?
Several friends knew all about it, but never gave her parents a clue
It’s too late they said, yet always too soon
In the coming weeks, the Valentine will jump the broom
Valentine’s Day and Violence Day often came too soon
For her Valentine’s Day came with Violence
It was too late; her parents will never see her bloom.
If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship, offer to help in any way you can.
Mike Lieu
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Yesterday was V-day. There are a couple different meanings for it. One of course is Valentine's day. The next is Vagina day. And the other is Violence against women day. I had a good Valentine's day. I made my girlfriend a card and she made me a card. She also made me dinner. I wanted to take her out to eat, but she didn't want to go out of the house. I don't know anything about violence against women day. I didn't even know it existed until Professor sabir brought it up. I'm going to look it up on google and check it out.
James Espinoza
Prof. Wanda Sabir
English 1A
2/15/2012
Valentines Day Freewrite
Yesterday I got up and went to school. Then I went home and got ready for work and worked until 8:30. Then I talked to my girlfriend on the phone for awhile. I didn't get to actually see her on valentines day so I'm leaving to go pick her up after class. Ditching Psych and Math. Math sucks. Today should be really nice. Sex. I got her roses and wrote her a card amongst other things. Sex. Valentines Day sucks though because it generally means spending money on a holiday that doesn't need to exist. But also, sex. I don't really have any plans for what we're going to do today. Sex. Maybe see a movie. Sex. Or get some dinner. Sex. I'm honest;y not sure but it should be grand.
Jamie McNair
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
V-day Freewrite
Today is the day after V-day. Valentines Day, vagina day, violence against women day , or whatever you want to call it. Perhaps this day would be a perfect day for Leyma because her book is mainly about raising awareness about violence against women and women empowerment. An example of violence would be how Leyma's husband Daniel would beat her and mistreat her all the time. Eventually she overcame that. Violence against women day is a perfect holiday for Leyma to celebrate. There was also a lot of rape throughout her novel and, vagina day, another name for V-day, would be a great day to raise awareness against violence towards vaginas.
De'janae Bates
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
17 February 2012
V-Day free-write
Well I celebrated Valentines day with my family such as my mom and my siblings. My mom bbq and I made oreo cheesecake with chocolate drizzled on top.This year Valentines day was a regular day to me. I didn't take it as a romantic day because I feel like if you love some you should celebrate that everyday not one day out the year. So that wraps up my v-day.
Nezha Abdelrahman
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
19 February 2012
Freewrite: V-day
When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of love and happiness. However, I believe that love and happiness should be celebrated every day, not just one particular day. Love isn’t about just loving a significant other, or spouse, it’s about loving everyone who is in your life such as your family, your children, your friends, co-workers and etc. I don’t know the real meaning of Valentine’s Day, but I believe that it is an anniversary for people to stop and show love to the ones that they love. Valentine’s Day consists of gifts such as chocolate, teddy bears, flowers, balloons, if some want to be really romantic they set up dinners, book hotels and set up the room with rose pedals and candles lit everywhere. Given Leymah’s story, it doesn’t seem like there is any love in Liberia. Leymah, herself, tried to give love to her family, her children, and the people of Liberia. At first, she wasn’t successful because she, herself, didn’t know how to love herself and she wanted to give up because of the things that she was going through. But then reality hit her and she was able to stand strong. From what I was told was that V-Day was a national women’s holiday because of what Leymah did for her country and for the women of Liberia.
Suelekha Yussuf
English 1A
Professor. Sabir Wanda
17 February 2012
V days, Free write.
The v days as Valentine day or Vagina day all seems exotic to me. I do appreciate the meanings behind especial vagina day as we have “Might” book in our hand. I think that is more conspiracy day than Valentine day but I don’t want to be a bitten student to students who like Valentine day. I never celebrate Valentine day before. For me I feel love should be our every day priority. However I appreciate to see a person takes his/her time to show love. But I would love to see people do this more often and be part of their lives routine.
Abel Abyu
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 February 2012
V-Day Freewrite from 2/15/2012:
Yesterday (Valentine's Day) was very odd for me. A day where everyone is probably doing you-know-what had to fall on the same day as my mother's birth! I had a lot of make-up work to do for my classes, so had to wake up early, thus putting me in a grouchy/tired mood all day. I thought this year's Valentine's day would be the same as last year; I thought the day would go by like any other regular day. But this time around, realizing how my parents are aging and how I am as well, put me in this awful, dreadful mood. And anyways, the girl I had any intention of getting with now hates my guts. So Valentine's this year sucked! If Leymah was around yesterday, I probably would've invited her to a cup of coffee so that she may share her life story with me. Maybe then I wouldn't have felt as bad that day.
Essay Questions:
1) What is the connection between domestic violence and civil war?
2) What role do women play in war, especially in third-world countries?
3) Is domestic violence a taboo subject in Liberia?
Danishia Mahomes
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 February 2012
Freewrite
Valentines Day is a day for love. Many people celebrate V-Day to share romance and gifts. V-Day isn't for everyone some like it snd some don't. Married and dating couples usually share this day, with the signifacant other to show how much that person means to them. If you dont have a significant other to share the day with, it could be really boring and lonely. Every year i get my children gifts and we go out and do things. My children are the loves of my life.
Adriana Ultreras
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 February 2012
Post-Valentine’s day Freewrite
Oh Valentine’s Day, the day of love and friendship. A feeling that might’ve been lost to our author Leymah, as she finds herself struggling with her relationships. Given the hardships that she faced in life, she found herself staying in a relationship that was destroying her inside. The abuse that Daniel put her through was one that followed her for many years: disrespect as a woman, as a mother, and daily abusive behavior. Through it all I wondered, if he isn’t doing anything for her, why maintain herself in the relationship? The simple wish to have a father for your kids does not deserve such humiliation. At one point, she thought this too.
Though her love with Tunde was not quit perfect either, it was one that was very beneficial for her life and her achievements. Her guard was kept up for most of the relationship; fearing that what happened with Daniel might happen with Tunde as well. But both men were very different. Daniel never respected Leymah. In contrary, Tunde treated her with the upmost respect. The cause of the downfall of the relationship was that Leymah grew successful and no longer dependent on Tunde. Tunde liked his role as the provider; when she no longer needed him to provide, he found another weak women to transform and help. In the end, her journey was never dependent of a man to feel complete. Leymah’s independency left her with no time for love, but time for the passion which she had for peace building.
essay questions
Compare child soldiers in world to the ones n Liberia.
Compare women’s role is society to the women from Liberia.
How was author Leymah a hero in the book Mighty Be Our Power?
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