Scribe November 20, 2014

Group quiz on 451 136-end 

Work time on Symbol Project 

Introduces Final: Spoken word poem performed in front of the class

I bet poem: targeting a group of people

Honest poem

Rock Out poem

Memorization

Time: 3:10

SCRIBE 11-13-2014

Quiz on Farenheit 451 pages 41-68

Went over SAT questions: Exercise 3 question 2,3: thrusting in, thrusting out, verbatem, verbose, killing words

Turn in Othello, LOF, LWG 

Work time on Symbol

Homework: Read 451: 68-91, Fishbowl, SAT quiz, symbol project 

Larissa I. Summary Response Act 4

    Act 4 of Othello, by William Shakespeare, demonstrates the power of anger.

Anger has come to rule lives of the characters. The play is fuilled with anger and fuels the actions of everyone, especially Othello. Anger can make someone act out in ways that do not portray their true character.

    Act 4 of Othello written by Shakespeare gives an accurate representation of how anger can fuel decisions. Othello's actions, hitting Desdemona, can not be overlooked and be punished in some way. Even if during that time period it was normal that woman were treated badly, striking Desdomona is not to be ignored. Othello and Desdomona are told that Cassio is beign sent home and will be appointed governor, “Lodovico, Maybe the letter moved him, for, as I think, they do command him home, deputing Cassio in his government. Desdemona, Trust me, I am glad on 't. Othello, Indeed! Desdemona, My lord? Othello, I am glad to see you mad. Desdemona, Why, sweet Othello- Othello, (striking her) Devil!” (Othello,Shakespeare 224- 232). Just before Lodovico had given them the news of Cassio's departure, Iago had tricked othello into thinking that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. When Iago was talking to Cassio about Bianca Cassio had laughed and said that he did not care about her. Othello had but watching them, and Iago told Othello that he and Cassio were talking about Desdemona. With Othello already enraged, when he heard that Desdemona was upset about Cassio leaving he lost self-control and hit her. Othello acted out of anger, and should have been able to control his actions.

     However, it was wrong for Othello to strike his wife, he was fuelled with anger and had been tricked into thinking his wife was cheating, should be given forgiven. Othello was deceived by Iago, he should not be completely blamed for his act of anger. Othello was angry and hearing Desdemona's care for Cassio made him irrate, "Desdemona, A most unhappy one. I would do much T'atone them, for the love i bear to Cassio. Othello, Fire and brimstone! Desdemona, My lord? Othello, What, is he angry?” (Othello, Shakespeare 221-223). Lodovico asked about Othello and Cassio's relationship, and Desdemona explains that there is a rift between them and that she would do anything to bring them back together because she cares so much about Cassio. His actions are what anyone would do in his situation. 

     At first glance, it seems that Othello is just acting out of anger and should be forgiven. We can not deny that Othello is acting on anger, and that his response is some what understandable. However Othello's actions cannot be overlooked and dissmissed so quickly. All though Othello's actions were fuelled by anger he could have kept his self- control or acted in some other way. Hitting Desdemona was not an exeptable way of showing his anger, a grown man should be able to keep his emotions controlled. Anger can fuel anyone's actions, even the most honorable people can loose their tempers.

Larissa I. and Abbey H. Summary response act 2

Summary Respose

Summary:

Topic sentence: title, author, strong verb, main idea 

Othello by Shakespeare entails many different levels and examples of deception. 

Supporting ideas and explanations t prove main ideas

Iago deceives Cassio to make him think that he is on his side. Iago also deceives Othello to make him think he is honest and caring. 

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Deception is the main tool used in this play to manipulate to outcome of this situation.

Response:

Topic sentence: title, author, strong verb, agree/disagree (correctly portrays/ incorrectly portrays) because ___________ .

Othello, by William Shakespeare, demonstrates how deception can change the course of a person's life, because the Iago uses his lies to get what he wants. 

Claim 1: Iago's lies ruin the lives around him.

Set-up: Iago deceives Cassio to make him think that he actually cares about him getting back on the good side of Othello.

Evidence: Iago makes Cassio feel like he cares about him,“As I am and honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound.There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and los without deserving,” (Shakespeare, 2.3.254-257).

Explanation of quotation to prove claim: Iago makes Cassio's position seem unimportant, when Iago really wants his position as lieutenant. 

Counterclaim 1: However, Iago is trying to achieve his goals.

Set-up: Though Iago may have a sinister plan, he is just trying to get what he thinks he deserves. 

Evidence: Iago thinks that he is the right one to be in the position of Lieutentant but since Othello choose Cassio over Iago, he no longer solely wants the position. What he truely cares for now is getting back at Othello for his poor choice in the first place. "How am I then a villain to counsel Cassio to this parallel course,” (Othello, 2.3.368-369).

Explanation of quotation to prove counterclaim: Iago is saying that he isn't the villian because hes not the one commiting the crime. He is just trying to achieve the goals that he set for himself and he is completeing his mission. 

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument?

At first glance you would think that Iago is just trying to get his postion as lieutenant. He gets Cassio fired and the position is now his for the taking. However, Iago wants to use deception to get Desdemona and take down Othello. 

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Deception is a reoccuring theme in Othello and is used to control other people's lives.

Larissa I. and Abbey H. Summary Response act1

Summary Response Outline

Summary:

Topic sentence: title, author, strong verb, main idea 

Othello by Shakespeare illustrates the improbable future of love between a biracial relationship in the 1500's.

Supporting ideas and explanations to prove main ideas

Othello and his love Desdemona go aganist the will of Desdomona's father, Brabantio, to continue their relationship. They unknowingly have to withstand the plot of revenge of Iago.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Othello and Desdemona have proven that even a war can't keep them apart. 

Response:

Topic sentence: title, author, strong verb, agree/disagree (correctly portrays/ incorrectly portrays) because ___________ .

Othello written by William Shakespear demonstrates how prejudice can affect somebody's opinion of another person's character and wits because they are blinded by what is on the outside instead of who the person really is.

Claim 1: Prejudice can blind how one sees and portrays another person by what they look like.

Set-up: Barbantio is convinced by Iago that Othello used "black" magic to win over his daughter, Desdemona, and tries to keep them from being with each other.

Evidence: Lead-in: Brabantio does not want to believe that Desdemona really loves Othello so he decides that Othello used magic to make her fall in love with him, “Judge me the world if 'tis not gross in sense that thou hast practiced on her with foul charms, abused her delicate outh with drugs or minerals that weakens motion.” (Othello, 1.2.74-77 ).

Explanation of quotation to prove claim: Brabantio accuses Othello of using charms and drugs to make Desdemona fall in love with him because she has turned down every other white suitor that her father approved. If Othello was white Brabantio wouldn't have had any problem with Othello marrying his daughter. Brabantio considers Othello inferior because he is black and thinks that his daughter could never fall in love with a black man.

Counterclaim 1: However, the Duke does not discriminate agaisnt Othello or Desdemona and always lets them speak their mind. 

Set-up: The Duke let everyone talk and fairly listened to whatever anybody had to say.

Evidence: Lead-in: He did not favor the Senator becasue he was a white male, he fairly heard both sides before making a decision. Niether Othello or Desdemona were ever cut off when they were revealing their side of the story and no one in the room ever tried to say that what either of them were saying was false. “'How I did thrive in this fair lady's love and she in mine.' 'Say it, Othello'” (Othello, 1.3.127-128)

Explanation of quotation to prove counterclaim: The Duke never cuts off Othello, instead he makes sure that Othello tells the entire story and encourages him the continue when Othello paused. He always makes sure that everyone's point is heard, and heard in a fair way with no favoritisim. 

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument?

Although the Duke did hear out Othello and Desdemona that doesn't mean that discrimination is completely off the table. Other men could react in a completely different way and could've potentially changed the entire outcome of the play. 

Concluding sentence: Predjuice is something that can shield people from the truth of what is really going on.

Rebuttal Progression:

At first glance you would think that Othello is an equal world were it doesn't matter what your skin color is becasue ths is how the Duke acts. He treated each person as equally as the next and heard everyone out just the same. However Othello's world is stained with signs of discrimination.