First off, a couple of reminders for your in-class essay:
1) Here is the list of problems you'll be choosing from
1. The fact that a student’s race/class is a contributing factor in determining the type of education a student receives.
2. Overcrowding and/or teacher shortages
3. Success rate dropping in regular public schools
Sub-point: Regular public schools having to compete for students with charter schools
Sub-point: Compared to schools in other countries
4. Unmotivated students (Lack of parental involvement)
5. Unmotivated/underqualified teachers
6. School resources not allocated well
7. Too much emphasis on standardized testing
8. Diverse populations face different barriers to learning (like language)
2) I forgot to mention this in class, but the back of your Writing Effective Counterarguments and Rebuttals handout from last week has a short excerpt from a sample in-class essay. The things I wanted to highlight about the excerpt are the clear statement of a specific problem, clear thesis, topic sentence that explains how that paragraph will support the thesis, the overall flow of information from general to specific within the body paragraph, the set-up of the quote, the commentary after the quote, and the counterargument+rebuttal pair in the bottom paragraph.
3) Once again, bring your database articles, Rereading America (if you're going to use it), a pen, and plenty of blank paper. You will not be using anything else.
HW Change:
As announced in class, you do not have to read "Horatio Alger" or "The Black Avenger" (although I highly recommend reading them if you have time--they will help you think through some of the issues in this unit). Instead, read pp. 7-11 in Researching and Writing and jot down several potential research questions for Paper #3.
Rewrite Opportunity for Paper #1:
http://www.sartuno.com/classdocs/Paper1RewriteOpportunity.doc
Finally, here is your blog topic:
After reading Ch. 19-26 of LOP, search for a specific passagethat intrigues you from that section (anything from a short phrase to several sentences). Then, analyze the passage. What exactly is it saying and how did you arrive at your interpretation? Why do you think that passage is important? We'll be unpacking some important passages together next week.
Due: before our next class meeting
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When Pi said "I would like to be baptized and i want a prayer rug", it really shows his eagerness and maybe immaturity. It appears that when he is interested in something he goes all out. whether it is swimming, animals or religion and this passage shows it. However this does not mean he is dumb whatsoever. His critical thinking and clever debate is often exercised when he really wants something.
ReplyDeleteAfter Pi’s parents find out that he is a Hindu, Muslim and Christian, they worry for a bit. After the news settles in, Pi’s father makes a comment, “I suppose that’s what we’re all trying to do- love God”(69).
ReplyDeleteI find this part of the book interesting, because it shows all religion’s goal, no matter which religion you are. It doesn’t matter how you practice religion, or what rules you follow or what foods you can’t or can eat, the ultimate goal is to love and fear God unconditionally. I think this idea is very important in the novel, because the novel describes many different religions, but the point of the novel is to “make you believe in God,” as the author says.
Pg. 67
ReplyDeleteThe priest looked askance at both of them. “Piscine”, he nearly whispered, “there is salvation only in Jesus”.
“Balderdash! Christians know nothing about religion”, said pandit.
“They strayed long ago from God’s path”, said the imam.
“Where’s God in your religion?” snapped the priest.
“You don’t have a single miracle to show for it. What kind of religion is that, without miracles”
The three Wiseman are arguing with one another. They are all trying to convince Pi to stick with their own faith (which ever one of the 3 they believe in) and drop the remaining two religions. I feel that this passage is important because you have three well-known religions going at it with one another. Not the way you think they would either. You would think that the three Wiseman would try to point out things that make that particular religion unique and intriguing enough to make you want to fallow that faith. Instead they degrade one another’s religions by point out all the “faults”. Most importantly I think it’s a strong passage because it dealt with religions and the way the three Wiseman handled the situation, doesn’t seem to be in a manner that God would approve of.
I thought it was interesting when Pi asked his mother, "If there's only one nation in the sky, shouldn't all passports be valid for it?"
ReplyDeleteI interpret it as why does it matter what religion you believe in as long as you believe in a God. Pi seems frustrated when he is being constantly told that he can only believe in one religion without a convincing explanation.
I would like to analyze the passage in chapter 26 throughout pages 71-73. Pi confronts his parents that he wants to get baptized to become a Christian. He tells his father that he believes in God but his father somewhat sarcastically laughs in his face. His mother doesn't take him any seriously either, she sort of shakes it off by telling him to ask his father. As Pi is being very serious, his parents take the time to teach him that you can only be one religion and believe one God. And as custom, Indian's are not usually Christians. Pi then compares his religious ideas and practices to Mamaji having two passports for both India and France. Pi's mother then explains to him that nations are not and cannot be compared to something such as religion. I believe this passage will be important for future references as we finish up the book because so far Pi seems very curious and questionable YET unsure about his religion and which he ends up choosing.
ReplyDeletethe most intriguing part of these chapters to me was when the three men of different faiths are trying to convince pi to choose each one of their religions and they are all saying that the other is wrong. but pi still decided to stay on the path that he felt was correct and worshiped all three. I like that he was not afraid by the religious pressure, which was strong upon him.
ReplyDeleteChapter 25 sums up everything Pi felt about religion and the reality about religion as seen today. It shows the hypocritical way people show off their practice of religion “They are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God( who is all powerful)….these people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise….and think business as usual.”The self -righteous try to prove how ‘good’ they are by following religious practice to the book. Yet fail miserably at performing the smallest righteous acts like taking care of the weak, poor and those around them needing their help. To Pi the main battle and true religion/belief is from within. Once this is achieved it can be reflected on the outside without much struggle.
ReplyDeleteThe chapter further tries to show Pi’s situation after the incident in chapter 23, where his practice of the three religions was revealed to his parents. Pi was shunned by the very people who represent Gods love and faith on earth by giving him a cold shoulder. His freedom was limited to choosing only one religion since all three faiths are mutually exclusive. This is the limiting factor on religion where one does not follow the rites and rituals of that religion fully, he fails completely at being a ‘good’ person; more so ,he is seen as a non believer who should not be among the righteous. This could be the main reason why more people are losing faith in their religion despite being introduced to it as children.
When Pi states,"All religions are true.' I just want to love god," I found this to be very interesting. Although it appears that the "3 wise men" are fighting over what indeed pi is a muslim, hindu and a christian they have forgotten about pi's true believes and feelings. He simply as he states through out the textbook simply wants to love god no matter what religion he is.
ReplyDeleteI think this section of the textbook is important because it elaborates on how people get so caught up and lost trying to fight and debate religions among others when in fact we should all unite and seek gods love.
"an intellect confounded yet trusting sense of presence and of ultimate purpose."
ReplyDeletei think the author was trying to say that even the most intelligent people question about god and higher powers and it's rationality but the persons faith and beliefs out weigh those doubts and give them a sense of purpose.
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ReplyDeleteChapter 21 on pg 80 I think holds a lot of value. It's only a two-three paragraph long chapter, but it talks about important points. It's right after Pi has been with Kumar and he is writing down his thoughts about what just happen. I think it's important we know what is going though his head while this is all going on, because it helps us understand on a different level. It's very philosophical.
ReplyDelete"If there's only one nation in the sky, shouldn't all passports be valid for it?" (93)
ReplyDeleteThis passage brings such an important message to those following a religon. Why can there be numerous religons when there is basically one heaven in the sky? From this passage we readers can see how deep the author is about religion and "going out of the box" so to speak. This passage is important because it gets readers thinking about their own lives and not just Pi's life. Religion is something most people will be impacted with, and questioning religion is always a sensitive topic. Hence, this is a foreshadow on how the author touches on sensitive topics for the readers.