Portfolio:Final Exam Frame II

-----Development of thought can be is accomplished through an infinite number of ways. Some ways are through song, brainstorming, writing, discussion, contemplation, examples, or acting out the development that is taking place. Every person adapts the above processes to their own style or mutation of the original idea. One of the most adaptable of these processes is writing, because every person writes with different feelings, passions, determinations, and goals. Some think that the best way to develop thought through writing is to depend only on a person's own knowledge and the first-hand knowledge that only they can acquire, but against such practices are people like Optimism One, who believes that thought can be developed better through peer review, communication about writing, and a forum-like discussion about the ideology presented.
-----Peer review and discussion can help to sharpen and hone the blade that is a writer's words and thoughts. With the input of others all around the world or even just the person across the table, an idea can take on a new level of insight and depth. "Of course, the writing process would be greatly improved if students had a group of peers with whom they can share their writing" (Optimism One). There is only so much that a single person can think of with the biases in their own life and the life they have had. By combining these experiences and thoughts with others then we have a new worldwide view on a certain subject that never could have been thought of by a single biased person.
------Through discussions with my peers, many of my own beliefs and thoughts have changed. By hearing the multiple sides of the Bush administration, I have become knowledgeable of what the Republicans, Democrats, and anyone in between thinks of Bush, his ideas, and his actions. I used to think that he was an amazing man who had don nothing but right for his country. Now, I believe that he has made mistakes, but he made them thinking that they were the best for his country and people. By combining my thoughts and ideas with those around me, a new discussion was born. Not how good was Bush for America, or how bad a President was he, but what were his thoughts during such mistakes. The combination of thoughts lead us from opinions and biases to a want to understand an overall view of what has and what could happen.
-----Unfortunately, I have not always voiced my thoughts to those around me. It was not until recently that I realized the advances in my own thought process and ability to understand that I had gained by listening to others and asking questions. Along with this revelation came a hunger to understand more, which fueled me through my first essay, Bacon's Rebellion. Researching as many sides of the arguments I could, I began to form my own opinion based on on the slight information that I myself had, but upon the information I had gathered from the discussions between and with others. Peter Elbow spoke the truth when he said, "If you are stuck writing or trying to figure something out, there is nothing better than finding one person, or more, to talk to."
-----Through group discussion, ideas can be created to rival the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence. Such greatness was born through the combination of the minds of a few great men. Consider what could be born out of the enlightened thought of a generation linked by instant communication. Many say we are a generation striving for it's own destruction. I say we are a generation creating new things that have never been seen before. We are a generation with the envy of all others. We are a generation of change. We are a generation of mental revolution.

Essay 2 reflection

-----In this essay I felt much more rushed than in the last essay. This may have been because we had 4 weeks on the first one and a week and a half on the second. All in all, I was not happy with the finished product of my essay and would have liked to do a few more rough drafts to complete and organize my thoughts. Though this may be a wekness of mine, I find it hard to organize my thoughts while I do have the analytical skills to complete a very good essay. I may need to shorten the amount of time it takes me to organize my thoughts and i would rather have a much more comprehensive meeting with Craige like we did on the first essay. Again, I do not believe that my essay does it's points justice or fully informs the readers in a comprehensive easy to understand way.
-----On the other hand, I thought it was good to be able to research the full reaches of technology to harness for our use in this essay. Unlike the first essay, where we were given much of the information that we would be using by Ben and Craige with a few outside sources being used, I fully enjoyed the research side of this essay and turning my views to fit the Loyalist ideals. It was a good experience for me being rushed and having my side chosen for me but I thought that with what I was given, my paper was sub-par. I believe that nothing more than a B would serve my essay justice, but of course if you give me a higher grade than that then I will not complain. If I do get a higher grade than that, then maybe I can learn some things that I did right that I did not think I did.

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Essay 2 Final

-----In December of 1773, the Patriots of Boston, Massachusetts threw 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. In retaliation, British Parliament saw fit to punish the people of Boston by blocking up their harbor with warships. As a mother punishes her son or daughter, so Britain punished America. All the British government wanted was for the Bostonians to replace the tea and apologize, but the arrogance of the Bostonians would not allow this. Did the residents of Boston not take into account the consequences of their actions? It was not the offences of the British that caused this war, but the offences of the Americans. British rule has afforded economic stability and has maintained a fair leadership in the colonies, but especially in Massachusetts.
-----Over the past 100 years, Massachusetts' colonists' material goods have not lowered or rose in value. "We cannot as yet measure farm income in early New England, but we can measure the value of farmers' material goods, and from the evidence so far collected, that value did not decline" (Main 101-102). Though the Patriots have used this against the British, saying that Parliament is holding us back economically, this also proves that Parliament has kept us steady in our times of need. If in order to keep all thirteen colonies functioning Britain must regulate the economics of Boston or Massachusetts Bay then so be it. The good of the many is more important than the good of the few. Again, Patriots see this regulation as monarchical tyranny that Britain has assumed.
-----In order to stop the tyranny Patriots say Britain has assumed, the Patriots took it upon themselves to assume their own form of tyranny, democratic tyranny. In this tyranny, it is not the will of one or a few that is being fulfilled, but the will of the majority, for that is what the Patriots are, the majority. "the wayfaring American [,]though a fool[,] could not err in reading, in very crimson letters painted on the air in front of him, the tidings of the arrival of a race-crisis altogether transcending those ordinary political altercations which had from time to time disturbed, and likewise quickened and clarified, the minds of his British ancestors" (Coit Tyler 25). This majority preys on us, the weaker and lesser people of our respective communities, but t is not outsiders that prey upon us, but our very neighbors. Assuming the law upon themselves, every man has called upon his neighbor to either unite with him under the flag of anarchy, or to torture him under the flag of justice. Justice has been twisted in the sight of these monsters, including tarring and feathering, and dragging their very neighbor across town, displaying him to the world. I ask, would the British have allowed such mistreatment under their guiding hand? No, such oppressions would be punished just as Boston was punished, with Acts of taxation and withdrawl. Where is the order that Britain would have assumed but in Britain itself. This anarchy is the result of the desires of the colonists and the colonists alone.
-----In this anarchy caused by the desires of the Patriots there are piles and piles of Patriotic documents, reveling in the total destruction of everything that has been built by and for the British. I implore, where are the letters contradicting such action? Where are the letters saying that what the Patriots are doing is wrong and unjust? They are nowhere, and if they are somewhere it is in a cupboard of a building burnt down by these anarchists that call themselves Patriots. The loyalist writers were afraid to express their views, not expecting open minds from their fellow colonists, and why should they? They had already seen government officials and nobles of the like strung up just for being for the British. "[S]o many of the ablest conservative writers refrained, in that stage of affairs, from engaging very actively in the discussion"(Coit Tyler 25). Where could they write without being met by only hatred, injustice, and violence but within Britain itself. The discussion of the rationale for war had no controversy -- not because the Patriots had the perfect argument, but because the Loyalists were silenced.
-----Who is to say that the rationale of Britain is unjust? I see no understanding of reason by the Patriots, or asking of questions by those who believe this does not affect them. I see only anger, violence, hatred, and closed minds. If this is the soil that America will grow from then I wish to be far from here. If we start our world with blood and violence then we will live in a world of blood and violence, only requited when there is a monarch to rule over us and for us to unite under. This is what Britain stands for, a monarch to unite the people and the people to rule themselves. This is what Britain stands for, and this is what I stand for.

Citations
Coit Tyler, Moses. "The Party of the Loyalists in the American Revolution." The
American Historical Review 1(1895): 24.

L. Main, Gloria. "The Standard of Living in Colonial Massachusetts." The Journal of Economic History 43(1983): 101-108.

Rough Draft 2

-----In December of 1773, the Patriots of Boston, Massachusetts threw 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. In retaliation, British Parliament saw fit to punish the people of Boston by blocking up their harbor with warships. As a mother punishes her son or daughter, so Britain punished America. All the British government wanted was for the Bostonians to replace the tea and apologize, but the arrogance of the Bostonians would not allow this. Did the residents of Boston not take into account the consequences of their actions? It was not the offenses of the British that caused this war, but the offenses of the Americans. British rule has afforded economic stability and has maintained a fair leadership in the colonies, but especially in Massachusetts.
-----Over the past 100 years, Massachusetts' colonists' material goods have not lowered or rose in value. "We cannot as yet measure farm income in early New England, but we can measure the value of farmers' material goods, and from the evidence so far collected, that value did not decline" (Main 101-102). Though the Patriots have used this against the British, saying that Parliament is holding us back economically, this also proves that Parliament has kept us steady in our times of need. If in order to keep all thirteen colonies functioning Britain must regulate the economics of Boston or Massachusetts Bay then so be it. The good of the many is more important than the good of the few. Again, Patriots see this regulation as monarchical tyranny that Britain has assumed.
-----In order to stop the tyranny Patriots say Britain has assumed, the Patriots took it upon themselves to assume their own form of tyranny, democratic tyranny. In this tyranny, it is not the will of one or a few that is being fulfilled, but the will of the majority, for that is what the Patriots are, the majority. "the wayfaring American [,]though a fool[,] could not err in reading, in very crimson letters painted on the air in front of him, the tidings of the arrival of a race-crisis altogether transcending those ordinary political altercations which had from time to time disturbed, and likewise quickened and clarified, the minds of his British ancestors" (Coit Tyler 25). Assuming the law upon themselves, every man has called upon his neighbor to either unite with him under the flag of anarchy, or to torture him under the flag of justice. This justice included tarring and feathering, and dragging their very neighbor across town, displaying him to the world. I ask, would the British have allowed such mistreatment under their guiding hand? No, such oppressions would be punished just as Boston was punished.
-----In this anarchy caused by the desires of the Patriots there are piles and piles of Patriotic documents, reveling in the total destruction of everything that has been built by and for the British. I implore, where are the letters contradicting such action? Where are the letters saying that what the Patriots are doing is wrong and unjust? They are nowhere, and if they are somewhere it is in a cupboard of a building burnt down by these anarchists that call themselves Patriots. The loyalist writers were afraid to express their views, not expecting open minds from their fellow colonists, and why should they? They had already seen government officials and nobles of the like strung up just for being for the British. "[S]o many of the ablest conservative writers refrained, in that stage of affairs, from engaging very actively in the discussion"(Coit Tyler 25). Where could they write without being met by only hatred, injustice, and violence but within Britain itself. The discussion of the rationale for war had no controversy -- not because the Patriots had the perfect argument, but because the Loyalists were silenced.
-----Who is to say that the rationale of Britain is unjust? I see no understanding of reason by the Patriots, or asking of questions by those who believe this does not affect them. I see only anger, violence, hatred, and closed minds. If this is the soil that America will grow from then I wish to be far from here. If we start our world with blood and violence then we will live in a world of blood and violence, only requited when there is a monarch to rule over us and for us to unite under. This is what Britain stands for, a monarch to unite the people and the people to rule themselves. This is what Britain stands for, and this is what I stand for.


Citations

The Party of the Loyalists in the American Revolution

• Moses Coit Tyler
• The American Historical Review, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Oct., 1895), pp. 24-45
• Published by: American Historical Association
• Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1834014

The Standard of Living in Colonial Massachusetts

• Gloria L. Main
• The Journal of Economic History, Vol. 43, No. 1, The Tasks of Economic History (Mar., 1983), pp. 101-108
• Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Economic History Association
• Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2120268

New intro

-----In December of 1773, the Patriots of Boston, Massachusetts threw 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. In retaliation, British Parliament saw fit to punish the people of Boston by blocking up their harbor with warships. As a mother punishes her son or daughter, so Britain punished America. All the British government wanted was for the Bostonians to replace the tea and apologize, but the arrogance of the Bostonian Patriots would not allow this. Did the residents of Boston not take into account the consequences of their actions? It was not the offences of the British that caused this war, but the offenses of the Americans. British rule has afforded economic stability and has maintained a fair leadership in the colonies, but especially in Massachusetts.

Rough Draft #1

-----In May of 1773, the Patriots of Boston Massachusetts threw 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. In retaliation, our founding British Parliament saw fit to punish the people of Boston by blocking up their harbor. As our mother country, this was supposed to show the rest of the colonies and the people of Boston that this kind of insolence would not be tolerated. In no way were the actions of Parliament or the King unconstitutional or otherwise favorable to the British residents. British rule has afforded economic stability and has maintained a fair leadership in the colonies, but especially in Massachusetts.
-----Other than Maryland, Massachusetts has had the greatest economic stability of all the thirteen colonies. Over the past 100 years, the value of Massachusetts' colonists' material goods has not changed much. "We cannot as yet measure farm income in early New England, but we can measure the value of farmers' material goods, and from the evidence so far collected, that value did not decline" (Gloria L. Main, 101-102). This dislodges the argument that the British have squandered the wealth of the Americas. In order to keep the economic balance and to keep the peace, sometimes the mother must punish the child. America has acted out in such a way that could plunge itself into economic decay, and in order to halt this decay, Boston has been used as an example to the other colonies to not become insolent or self-righteous.
-----In order to stop the tyranny the colonists say Britain began to assume, the Patriots took it upon themselves to assume their own tyranny, but only over those that did not share the same ideals as them. "the wayfaring American [,]though a fool[,] could not err in reading, in very crimson letters painted on the air in front of him, the tidings of the arrival of a race-crisis altogether transcending those ordinary political altercations which had from time to time disturbed, and likewise quickened and clarified, the minds of his British ancestors" (Moses Coit Tyler, 25). Tarring and feathering of their fellow colonists or taking advantage of the chaos to kill a disliked neighbor, this was almost a state of total anarchy.
-----In this anarchy there are piles and piles of Patriotic documents, reveling in the total destruction of everything that has been built by and for the British, but where are the letters of contradiction? where are the letters saying that what the Patriots are doing is wrong and unjust? They are nowhere, and if they are somewhere it is in a cupboard of a building burnt down by the patriots. The loyalist writers were afraid to express their views, not expecting open minds from their fellow colonists. " so many of the ablest conservative writers refrained, in that stage of affairs, from engaging very actively in the discussion." The discussion had no controversy because it was the perfect argument, but because all the people who could stand against it were silenced.
-----