Socratic Seminar Reflections

The Socratic Seminar broadened my views and ideas on the purpose and theme of Huxley's Brave New World.

While answering a question in a group, a new idea that contradicted mine was presented. In my opinion, Brave New World was written as a warning to people who strive towards advancements in technology more than they strive for advancements in a balance of areas. Huxley was showing what such a society would turn into. However, another group member shared that they thought Huxley was writing to the people of his time as a prediction of what our booming technologically advanced society would soon turn into. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a negative prediction though.

During the discussion, ideas were also challenged. One person had agreed that Brave New World's society robbed the people of their individualism. By choosing what they will be for the rest of their life and forcing them to have the same beliefs as everyone else, allowing no room for each individual person to make even one decision about their life style. On the other hand, the statement that the people of the society never rebelled, so they must not have wanted individualism was presented. Backing it up, the people also never knew any different, so they may not even want change even if presented the opportunity. Also, if they were given freedoms, would they know how to make decisions? Since they're so accustomed to always having someone tell them how to live, they would probably continue following the "crowd."

Of the two questions I chose to discuss, only one included a subject I wasn't very familiar with. Henry Ford was chosen to be the god of Brave New World's society. They praised him and cursed him for the good and bad things that happened to them. Although I knew Henry Ford invented the assembly line for the mass production of cars, I did not know his beliefs on other aspects. While researching Henry Ford, I also found out he believed in keeping the best workers working his assembly lines just like Brave New World's society believed in only keeping people alive during their "best" years.

By preparing for the discussion, I learned how to plan and organize ideas and questions that were going to be needed for the discussion. I also learned how to verbalize my thoughts so that when I asked questions or made comments my words didn't come straight from a piece of paper.

Aside from preparing and discussing questions, I also learned how the Socratic Seminar worked. I think I did well. I took several notes and maked a couple of passages in the book. I also looked up information and notes that could be used to share.

The listening and paying attention to others' opinions part was easy for me, however, sharing was more difficult. I am usually a quiet when giving opinions, so I was challenged to speak up and share about what I thought of each subject. Another difficult part was having a limited time to be able to think and respond in a meaningful way to another's comment. I most enjoyed being able to speak my opinions instead of writing them down to be graded. When I sit down to write it takes at least ten minutes for my mind to get focused just partly on what I'm suppose to be writing about. With the Socratic Seminar, I could go directly from my mind to my mouth.

Next time, I will prepare more meaningful questions that cause myself and the group to think deeper into what we're being asked. This time, my questions weren't shallow, but I don't think they were on a deep enough level for us to engage in a very meaningful conversation. I would also prepare more notes than what I had this time.

I learned that I do a lot better by sharing my ideas verbally than when writing. I also learned that I need to organize completely what I'm going to say, and before speaking, I need to know what my finally point for the comment I'm about to make is. I found myself often starting a comment, but then forgetting what my final point I was trying to defend was.

I thought the Socratic Seminar was a great way to share ideas and interact with other students in class. Also, it was good to be able to evaluate and learn from the members of the other groups that were answering questions while I was not discussing a question. The only thing I would like changed is the time allowed to discuss a question. Although some topics are hard to keep a steady conversation going for eight minutes, others could be continued out for ten or twelve minutes, maybe even more.

1st Quarter Annotated Reading List

Aldous Huxley paints an image of our future world through dramatic and terrifying examples of life. This brave new world is a world evolved around technology and contentness. Since people are created in an assembly line instead of through the natural processes of birth, no relationships are ever made. Soma is the immediate escape from any uncomfortable feeling, and promiscuity is promoted. Bernard Marx begins feeling a sense of questionability. He wonders why he can't be with Lenina, the woman he has strong feelings for, and why he has to be with a different girl every night. He also wonders why ideas opposing what the Controller says are ban. When given to oppourtunity to view the outside world with freedom, a word in which he has never heard before, Bernard turns right back into everyone else: soaking up the care free life.

Huxley's twisted view of the future is a great read. He knows how to not only make the reader question what they truly wish the world evolved around, but also intrests the reader in the discriptions of the future world. Huxley's book might also have been written as a warning for the people in his time whose new ideas seemed to be completely revolved around technology.

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins, 1932. Print. 259 pages


Katniss Everdeen lives in the nation of Panem in District 12. She lives with her depressed mother and little sister, Prim. Because of her mother's condition, Katniss has taken responsibilty of providing for her family. She hunts illegally because of the poor conditions of her family, but still manages to provide for them. The Hunger Games is a nationwide, very gruesome event. 2 people between the ages of 12-18 are chosen from each of the 13 districts to compete in a "war." This event is a broadcasted fight to the death between the 24 contestants, and greatly feared in the minds of the proposed fighters. When Prim is chosen, Katniss volunteers to take her spot. Katniss realizes her family will never be able to survive without her, so she promises Prim she'll come home. Althought Katniss is the underdog in the competition, she shows her true self when she lets her emotions get the best of her at the first competition. Now, Katniss has a sense of confidence that will hopefully carry her through the games.

I highly recommend this book. Although it is not a very deep read, I do think it's very enjoyable to read just for entertainment. The Hunger Games has a very interesting and intense storyline that allows the reader to get involved and want to read the book whenever they can.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print. 384 pages

Abundance Analysis

Pink's amazed interest reveals his view of Americans being more obsessed with material possessions currently than they were dependant on necessities in the past. Pink uses the example of people buying candles for light before light bulbs were invented, however, 2.4 billion dollars a year are still spend on candles. Although candles have no real use to Americans currently, they still purchase them for scents and beauty for the buildings they spend time at. This leads to the thought of Americans being too concerned with how products will effect their status in the world rather than how the products will be beneficial to their needs. Pink's second example is introduced when he says, "while living standards have risen steadily decade after decade, personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't budged." This statement provokes a slightly different view of the obsession with material things. Pink is saying that by purchasing many material things, and planning for these things to bring happiness, these possessions in the end have not been beneficial to happiness at all. Since Americans have access to the necessities needed to survive, they have begun looking for even more things that will bring purpose or satisfaction to their lives. I agree with Pink's view of Americans which leads me to ask the question, if it came down to a necessity or a desirable, which would the majority of us choose?

Smartwater Ad Analysis

The Tom Brady Smartwater ad was a clever choice for the Smartwater industry. In many ways, pathos, logos, and ethos are used to attract and convince the viewer to purchase Smartwater.

In some ways, Logos is one of the more convincing methods to selling water. Most buyers think of water being one of the healthiest choices of beverage, so when Smartwater added more of an in depth descripition, buyers will be convinced this isnt just any water. The facts about water presented in the ad and the bottle of water are the only colored pictures which helps them stand out the most. "Electrolyte inhanced hydration. Vapor distilled purity. For takeoffs and touchdowns," is the description given in blue. Since the background of the entire photo could be distracting for the text, this Logos information now stands out.

Ethos is the most obvious use of Aristotle's persuasive appeals in this ad. Tom Brady's appearance in this ad connects Smartwater to athleticism. Tom Brady drinks Smartwater and is a very famous and great football player, so if you drink Smartwater you will also become famous and athletic too. This ad also claims at that Smartwater is "the answer for Tom Brady." Now not only will Smartwater help you become famous and athletic, it will also help you answer your other problems.

The use of pathos is seen the most. The obvious use of pathos is also the choice of Tom Brady. Many women, and some men may admit, that Tom Brady is very attractive, a trait almost everyone in our society strives toward. Now, Smartwater helps bring about attractiveness. Although Tom Brady is most famous for his football career, this ad also attracts nonathletic people too. Tom Brady is on a football field, however, he has just been dropped off by a helicopter, is carrying a briefcase, and is dressed in a nice suit. His face shows preparation and focuse. Smartwater has not only helped with his looks, but also helped him achieve wealth, success, and a high-class status is the world.

Aristotle's persuasive appeals have helped Smartwater not only attract a certain type of person to buy their product, but a person of any type.

Live and Love

F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Offshore Pirate" is a short story written in the 1920s. "The Offshore Pirate" is a story of a young, rich lady, Ardita, who is captured along with her uncle's boat by a group of pirates. Ardita is very stubborn, so when the pirates give her the chance to escape to shore she refuses and agrees to go with them. Curtis Carlyle, the leader of the pirate group and the only white man, begins speaking to Ardita. They find they have much in common, and maybe even are reaching for the same goal in life. Throughout this short story, two main parts stood out.

In one part Ardita says that, "all life is just a progression toward, and then a recession from, one phrase--'I love you.' " Although I believe Ardita would be a very intelligent lady, I do not agree with her bold statement. Many do fall in love and many find very much happiness in love, but not all find love. If life was just a progression towards and recession from having the sense that someone is in love with you, then some people would not be living at all.

Ardita says that she once realized, or "found something",--courage. Ardita claims that the characteristic of courage is what attracted her to her past idols so much. She then says that "my courage is my faith." These statement made by Ardita then challenged me to ask myself what attracted me to my idols and what my life was built on. Although I'm still pondering that thought, one main characteristic that I've realized is thankfulness. My dad is one of the main people that I look up to and the one character trait that he portrays in my mind over all is thankfulness.

"The Offshore Pirate" may have been meant to be a cute, short love story, but it challenged me to think about my opinions on life and what my life reflects.

Wasted Time

“Recipe for a Tasty Life” by Ellen Hopkins reminds me of my pattern of living.

She begins by pondering why people make plans to begin something brand new when they never really finished the thing they’re in the middle of doing. Hopkins shows this idea by using the imagery of a person throwing away a half baked pie and then having to start a new pie from scratch. Thinking about it this way makes it seem unreasonable as compared to a vague idea of someone starting a new project instead of finishing another one.

Another example used by Hopkins further explaining this idea is picking weevils, or beetles that usually ruin stored food items, out of flour for long amounts of time when in reality, they will never completely be gone. This idea takes it from a different point of view by saying no matter how hard you may work at something it will never be completely finished. This example could also explain the reason people never finish projects, but always seem to begin new ones.

I go through my life beginning new projects over and over, but finishing very few. Ellen Hopkins has challenged me to stop wasting my time and instead putting it to good use by showing more in depth examples of how ridiculous is to begin something and then throw it away just to begin something else that will soon be thrown away half way through.

Slavery: Evil or Good?

Many argue that slavery is an awful way to treat others and maybe even a mistake made by our ancestors. However, I recently listened to a podcast, Addicted to Bondage, an episode of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History series that challenged the evilness of slavery. Two quotes were supported by this podcast; one, "slavery retarded technology" and the other, "slavery was an advance in human morality."

"Slavery retarded technology" helps support the idea of slavery being undeserved or terrible, but also unhealthy for our world. Dan Carlin stated that slavery stops some technological developments because slaves present people with reasons to not find a way around problems. He gives the example that during the times the southern parts of the United States struggled with slavery, some slave holders did not put in water systems because they had slaves to do those types of jobs for them. This thought then also creates the question of how far our world could have come today if we had not had slaves in past times and also certain slaves, or "forced workers" today.

I began agreeing that slavery was definitely a mistake made by our ancestors until the next quote arose. "Slavery was an advance in human morality" backs up the idea of slavery being helpful and beneficial. Carlin again gives an example to suppose this statement. During the gladiator times when fighting was a popular past time, the living people from the losing side would be put to death. One person, or maybe more than one, soon realized that these people would be worth more dead than alive, therefore, turning the survivors of the losing side into slaves. Another example mentioned was the Hebrews of biblical times. Many are familiar with the story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of slavery from the Pharaohs. Some scholars believe that the reason the Hebrews were first sentenced to slavery was because they were starving and the Pharaohs made the deal that they would feed the Hebrews if the Hebrews in return would do chores or work for them. Looking at this side of slavery compares the choices of the life of slavery to death.

Although I could never decide which statement I agreed with more, it will make the think before I "bad mouth" our ancestors who were involved in slavery and question their decisions.