EvanJ's English1 Blog2

1. Emma - research update 2. J C - my research topic

Topic:     For my research topic, I decided to research merchants. The goals of my research paper are to show a connection between merchants and the Age of Exploration, and discover how merchants affected the medieval economy. Also, I will prove that technology would not have progressed and developed at the rate that it did without merchants. To do this, I will focus on how merchants in the middle ages spread foreign cultures; I will mention laws that were passed to help or hurt merchant travel, and how merchants inspired exploration. Facts:     During the Middle Ages, merchants were making a fortune off of trade. Some nobles and other government officials saw this as a way to boost the amount of money that they had. So, they made deals with the merchants, like they would give the merchant free passage and men for a portion of the wealth. Although this may seem minor, long distance merchants were able to make deals with kings and nobles, who grant...

  Warning Possible Spoilers If You Have Not Read to Page 101 do NOT Read             Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been quite an enjoyable read thus far. This is due to how Junior reacts to the situations that his new life, outside the reservation, throws at him. One memorable reaction that he had was after he punched the "alpha dog" in the face. The incident begins when a group of big white kids is making fun of Junior. One day, the pushed it too far, and Junior punches the leader in the face. After he throws the punch, Junior is confused as to why the other boy had not punched him back, and then he precedes to theorize how they might get their revenge. Finally, he asks his grandmother for advice, which the reader knows is right, but Junior decides that she is crazy. This scene is particularly comical for several reasons. First, I find it humorous because Junior's reactions and responses are opposite of how mos...

1. Grace S: Free Post 2. Gregory: Research Update

Blog Comments: Q3: W1    Tucker- Research update  Saad-New Semester Reflection

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day was this past Monday. In the mist of the third quarter, it has been a beacon of hope for a day off of school. Since Monday, we, the students, have hit the Jackpot of unexpected days off. So, it has been great to get some time off.     Aside from the Emergency Closure Lessons, I spent the time off catching up with friends and relaxing. It is essential to have a balance between work and play in one's life. Relaxing can be extremely beneficial, by giving someone a fresh start and a clear head when they come back to school, but it can also lead to laziness. Over this break, I am trying to balance my days by not doing too much of one thing.

     My research project was about Merchants in the Middle Ages. At first, the research was fairly easy and each question that I had was leading to another. Now that I have pulled most of those strings, I do not know if I have enough information fill the final paper (when it comes). Thus, I am at a point where I do not know if I should find more sources or just try to muster everything that I can out of the ones that I have.      On the brighter side of things, I am still interested in my reaserch topic. Secondly, the sources that I do have are strong and have allowed me to develop not only basic information but also to make a valid argument about merchants. Overall, my research is continuing to develop but still needs work. In conclusion, I have a strong idea of where I intend to carry my research too, but I am unsure if I have enough sources to meet the page requirements of the final paper.

     A utopia is a place that possesses the most desirable qualities for the people living in it. When I think of a utopia, I think of a place that first has perfect weather. I would want warm summers and enough snow to ski it during winter. It would also not be crowded and would need to have everything that is necessary for healthy life wifi, stores, etc... I would consider these qualities to be as close to a utopia as I can imagine because they represent a perfect balance.      On the other hand, there is no set utopia. This is because the idea utopia is often predoctoral, and no one likes every single day to be the same. The ideal utopia, in my opinion, should always change that it is not predictable but yet not difficult to adapt to. This is because if anything changes to quickly then, it will most likely throw one off and result in an injury of some kind. Thus a utopia can never be a set thing or place but must always be changing.

     After the first semester, I learned how to prioritize my time and seeking help. For me, time management includes everything from efficiently using my study hall to spacing out homework assignments. It is important to learn time management because it allows more freedom and less overall stress. Secondly, I learned how to seek help. This includes anything from seeing a teacher at a tutorial to asking a friend for notes if you miss a day. It is important to find help when you do not particularly understand a concept because most classes build on previous lessons, so if you are unclear on an earlier lesson then that sets you up to struggle for the rest of the semester. By getting help not only are you learning the concept better but you are also showing that you care about that class.       Aside from getting good grades, one of my goals for the upcoming semester is to remember what I learned during the first semester so that I do not make ...