Catch-Up Day!

Today in class, we got caught up on all the work that we needed to complete, including blogs. I am actually pretty contempt that our teacher is allowing us to do our blogs in class, and other homework that we need to do! We don't really have much to do besides our blogs and maps. I hope that we get to do more homework in this class more often, even though I know we need to be educated in this class. I also hope that we discuss something else other than maps, because it was a little boring, I hope we learn more about the history side of Human Geography! Today in class I will be working a little on Algebra maybe and possibly English. Our teacher really wanted us to be quiet because he wanted us to work hard and concentrate on our blogs.Which I think is good, because the class can get very noisy sometimes, but I also don't want to be in complete silence. Again, I had a pretty good time in class today!

Map Assingment

Today in class, we worked on a map assignment, and specific tasks we had to complete on the maps. We had to write down our orgin of place, the Prime Merdian, the Equator, and the International Date Line. I haven't really been experienced with Human Geography, and topics related to that, so this is brand new to me. At first, I had a little trouble understanding it, but I finally got a hang of it, and completed it throughly. We had to label three maps, all of them were different, so it was even harder to label them. At the first couple minutes of class, the teacher was not present in the classroom, so everyone was socializing, and having fun in class! We had to finish the maps for homework for our refrence, but it was not a grade. I hope that next class we do something a little more different and interesting, since the last class was a little insipid. 

Maps and Globes

Today, we talked about maps again, but we also talked more on globes. We took some notes on the slide presentation created by our teacher. Maps are not to be on globes, for they are inaccurate. You can't have a map on a flat surface. We discussed a little more about our next test, which I don't know when it will be, but hopefully, later rather than sooner. Every single map is inaccurate because it is impossible for humans to calculate the entire world and where exactly everything is. We also discussed time, and different timezones, and why the start of day is at twelve and not at one. I don't think humans really found that out yet, because it is impossible for them maybe. When we are counting a quantity of something, we don't just start at twelve, we start at one. Our teacher was really questioning that, and possibly making a conspiracy on time. Sometimes, class really gets off topic, but in a good way, because we start to question life and its defects. 

Mercator and Peters Projection Map

Today in class, our teacher wasn't present, for which he was taking his Television Production class on a field trip to the Newseum in Washington, DC. I re-watched the video that talked about the Peters Projection and Mercator Map. I think that the points being made in the video were very valid and evidential. The Mercator Map has fostered Europeon imperialist attitudes for centuries and created an ethnic bias against a third world. The Mercator Map was also designed in 1569 as a navigational tool for Europeon sailors. It distorts the relative size of nations and continents. Greenland and Africa appear to be roughly the same size, but in reality Africa is 14 times bigger than Greenland. Also, Alaska appears three times as large as Mexico, when Mexico is larger by 0.1 million square miles. The Peters Projection Map shows and describes where the continents and nations are on the map. There are many, many differences bewteen the two maps, these differences could affect the way we look at the world. 

Discussion on 'Maps'

Today in class, we talked about different types of maps and map scales. Relationship of a features size on a map to its actual size on Earth. Relationships are presented in three ways, in a ratio or fraction scale: Ex: 1:24,000. A graphic scale usually consists of a bar line marked to show distance on Earths surface. The Scientific Method of transferring locations on Earths surface to a flat piece of paper. The four types of distortion, is the shape of an area can be distorted, distance between points may increased or decreased. relative size or different areas can be altered, and direction between points can be distorted. It was interesting to think about how maps changed significantly over time. Also to think about how maps can cause social injustice. I had a great time learning about this topic and watching a educational episode off Netflix. I hope we get to learn more about this topic and more on social injustice. 

I missed class!

The blog that I am going to write tonight is why I missed class, I missed class because I had to be early dissmissed because of a soccer game. The soccer game was against Archbishop Curley, one of the best soccer teams in Maryland! Unfortunately we lost the game 3-0, I wish that we would've at least tie them, because I knew we weren't going to win. The players tried they're hardest, and hopefully won't let them beat us back at home! Some of the things that we needed to work on that game was, passing the ball, communicating with our teammates, and taking a shot on goal. Our team also needs more chemistry, and to be more positive towards each other. Because, we are in this as a team, not a single person. We hope to work on these things during practice and games. I hope we can improve as a team, and take home the trophy! 

Test Thoughts

I think I did a decent job on the test, I really wish we didn't already have one! But that is the way high school is, I just hope I got a 'B' or higher. Hopefully not a 'C'. I knew most of the questions, but some of them I didn't know. I studied all day for the test, and I feel like I deserve a good grade, but I probably did good on the test anyway. I'd rather have quizzes than tests, but I guess the teacher likes to do it that way. I'm certain the test was a total of 100 points, each question was four points and the essay portion of it was 80 points. For the essay part, I think I did really well on the question, the question was: What does Socrates mean when he said, "The unexamined life is not worth living", the test asked what my opinion was on that quote. Overall, I think I did a decent job on the test and hope that I got a good grade.

Test on Monday!

On Friday, we talked about our big one-hundred point test on Monday. I am a little nervous about it, I won't lie. I wish we didn't have a test in this class already! Especially, it being one-hundred points. I hope that I can do well on the test and achieve a better understanding of what we have been learning in class so far. I think the test is mostly on Socrates, the Athenian government, 'Excellence', and 'A message to Garcia'. I am going to study very hard on this test and hopefully get the grade that I want and deserve! It will take a lot of time and work to get an 'A' on this test, but I think I'm up for it! We have 'Human Geography' at the end of the day, so maybe I can get some extra studying during the lunch time. I am determined to take my high school work seriously as the year starts off, I am going to prove to my parents and myself that I am serious about school. My education at John Carroll is very important.

Today's Notes

Today, we progressed more through the 'Excellence' slide, We talked about Athens, traditions, corruption, and Socrates. Athens was a great city which attracted brilliant thinkers and visitors from all over the world, shared their knowledge of astronomy, medicine, meterology, literature, philosophy, and all things scientific. This was often at odds with traditional teachings which centered around the Greek Gods, which got young people thinking and questioning about their terms. Socrates was charged with two crimes, corruption of Athen's youth and impiety which is not believing in the Gods of the state. His defense was stated "It's my job to be gadfly to the lazy, sluggish horse that is Athens." He also stated, "I should actually be rewarded with free dinners for life." As a jury of 500 male citizens found him guilty, he was sentenced to death by poison 'Hemlock'. He had the oppurtunity to escape, but he refused, proving his loyalty to Athenian democracy. An 'idiot' in Athenian democracy was someone who was chracterized by self-centerdness and concerned almost exclusively about nothing. In Athenian democracy, idiots were born, and citizens were made through education. If you were to decline in taking part in the public life, such as democratic government of the public (city state) was considered dishonorable. 

Transcription of Notes

We learned about some key terms and their significance in class, we also learned more about different revolutionary's and the background of them. Two of the key terms were Agora and Polis. Agora means gathering place, assembly, and marketplace. It is the center of athletic artistic, spiritual, and polictical life in the city or state. Polis means that political entities ruled by their bodies of citizens. The orgin of the worlds politics, metropolitan, and poll. Some times that citizens have revolted against their leaders are, in the United States in 1776. France, in 1789. China in 1851, and 1949. Russia, in 1917. Iran in 1979, and Egypt in 2011. And of course, there are many others. We also learned about this historical figure named "Socrates", as a young man, he worked as a stonesmen. He fought heroically in the Peloponnesian war. His working class background and battlefield experiences may have shaped the way he viewed the world. He met with young students in workshops just outside the Agora/ Socrates' method was that he would ask a series of questions to determine their underlying beliefs, and the extent of their knowledge, this led to the 'Scientific Method'. I really enjoyed learning more about some the revolutionary's that occured during the years. I also really liked learning about Socrates, and who he was as a person.

Arete

In class, we learned about the overall history of 'A Message to Garcia' and some aspects of it. We took notes on when it was published, the characters, setting, and the backstory. It was written during the 'Spanish-American War'. A character named "Rowan" finally delivered the message to Garcia. Garcia is the general of Cuba. It was published as an inspirational essay in March, 1899. 'A Message to Garcia' sold over fourty million copies, and was translated into 37 langauges. It was reprinted as a pamphelt and a book. It was written by Elbert Hubbard, and made into a movie twice! The slang "Take a Message to Garcia" became a popular expression for taking initiative. The story is mostly about a revolutionary seeking Cuban indepenedence from Spain. "Rowan" is an army officer of Westpoint, class of 1881. I really enjoyed reading more about this, and learning new information!

'A Message to Garcia'

I believe that 'A Message to Garcia' relates to my high school career because it shows what it takes for high school. Honeslty, from what I can say, is that tonight is a good example of the message the essay is trying to portray, because I was really stressed out because of all the homework that was assinged for me tonight. I also had a soccer game, which I was exausted from. But here I am, typing out this essay at eleven o'clock. I could've not completed the task, and use that I wasn't at the full class as an excuse. But, I didn't I perservered through my homework, and finally got it done on time. That is what I call taking inititative, that is hard work, that shows how much I care for school. In high school, life will be like this, you can't shy away from it or you will not succeed. For those who do take initative, pay attention in class, and get homework turned in on time. I'm happy that I am one of those people, I want to be a leader, not a follower. It is my second day of freshman year, and I already feel stressed out. That's how you know that your working hard to get that grade you've always wanted. Like the essay said, there are people who can deliever the message to Garcia, and those who can't. And I will remember and charish this night and everynight, because I will be doing schoolwork, I won't be playing videogames or sleeping too early. No I will stay up all night if I have to get my homework done. I all in all, love staying up late to do homework, because it truly shows me how strong I am. I am comitted to succeed in all four years of being a patriot...

First Day at John Carroll!

Today was my first day at the John Carroll high school! I am officially a patriot! I am really excited about this school year and the years to follow! At first, my experience so far with the John Carroll school was hard to get used to. The good thing was that I wasn't late to school at all, I knew where to go and at what times. The only thing that was confusing at first, was my locker. I was struggling to get it open the first few times, but then, I eventually got around to opening it easily. I went to a private school for grades sixth, seventh, and eighth. But my private school was fairly small, now this school compared to my middle school is much bigger! I couldn't believe how big this school was at first! Now for my classes, I did pretty well in each and every one of them. For my first period, I had Biology, my teacher was Mr. Grzanna. I was a little confused in that class though, I did eventually come around and do well in it. Another one of my classes is Spanish, I did really well in that class, I participated in class, trying to answer every question.  I hope to be very successful in that class, and help guide others to be too! I was only late for one class, and that class was your class, which is ironic. I was late to this class because I thought I had an 'unscheduled' MOD, but then my friend told me that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will try to be more diligent in paying attention to my class schedule. All in all, I was really nervous about today, but by the end of the day, I felt welcomed and much more confident.