REHUGO+1st+Six+Weeks

Robbins, Alexandra. //The overachievers: the secret lives of driven kids//. New York: Hyperion, 2006. Print.
 * __REHUGO Entry #1__**
 * CITATION:**
 * PRECIS:** Alexandra Robbins, a journalist and alumni of Whitman High School, in her book, __The Overachievers__, implies that the overachiever culture has drastically altered the education of students and their lives by claiming that the system is harming students rather than helping them in preparing for college and that this overachiever culture is carried on to other aspects of their lives way beyond the education system. Robbins demonstrates this shift in education by collecting anecdotal evidence of the stress present in students' lives as well as research from various educational facilities providing information that supports the intensity of the educational and cultural shift. Her purpose is to make students and parents be aware of the many negative effects caused by overacheiverism and how to go about reducing the amount of stress present in a student's life. She is reaching out to students apart of the education system and their parents who influence their student's school experience to make better decisions which could possibly avoid excessive overachieverism not only in school, but in society as they embark into the future that contains constant pressure to overachieve.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** This book relates to my life A LOT because I tend to be an overachiever. It also reminds me of Coppell and how competitive our school really is. This book was kind of a wake up call to me that there is a limit to how much stress you should put on yourself and during the school process you can't lose sight of you who you are as a person because if you don't know who you are, you will not get any benefit of being an overachiever. None of it is worth it if you aren't happy.

Golding William, “Thinking as a Hobby.” //The Norton Reader, Shorter Eleventh Edition//. Ed. Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2004. 124-130.
 * __REHUGO Entry #2__**
 * CITATION:**
 * PRECIS:** William Golding, in his work, "Thinking as a Hobby", argues that there are three grades of thought that different people posses by claiming that certain people posses a higher intelligence level than others. Golding develops this argument by pointing out the flaws in the lower grades of thinking beneath him to prove that their supposed "logic" is actually illogical and also explains how he, as a grade one thinker, has the correct perspective on what thought really is. His purpose is to inform people on the different levels of thought and persuade people to change their idea of what thought actually is and also to prove the fact that he can think while those that think they can, actually can't think. He attempts to alter the perception of grade three thinkers who read this work and are critical of his ability to think and other grade one thinkers are his audience because they support his view of thinking.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** For me, this piece was very confusing. How many grade one thinkers are there today? What am I? I'm most likely a grade three thinker, but possibly a grade two. I have never really thought about "thought" this way before. I don't agree with how Golding arranged the statuettes at the end of the piece (see About Me tab for how I would arrange them). I agree with some of the things that Golding wrote about, but not everything. I didn't like how he degraded the other levels of thinking. Just because he thinks differently than I do doesn't make him a better person.

Friedman, Thomas L.. //Hot, flat, and crowded: why we need a green revolution-- and how it can renew America//. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Print.
 * __REHUGO Entry #3__**
 * CITATION:**
 * PRECIS:** Thomas Friedman, a foreign affairs columnist for the //New York Times//, in his novel, __Hot, Flat, and Crowded__, clearly argues that the world is becoming hot, flat, and crowded and could potentially cause the planet to be dangerously unstable by claiming that the world's bad habits have caused global warming, the rapid rise of middle classes around the world, and skyrocketing population growth through globalization to spiral out of control and that drastic measures have to be taken in order to slow down this process. Friedman develops this argument by collecting research showing the many negative effects of globalization and how everyone in the world has let this problem continue to grow instead of making an effective effort to not overuse our resources during this new time era known as the Energy Climate Era as well as explaining what needs to happen in order for the planet to be "saved". His purpose is to inform the people who have developed bad habits through the globalization process how they are negatively affecting the planet in order to change their lifestyles which would then change the future of the planet for the better. He is reaching out to young learners that have the ability to make a difference in the way our resources are used through reinventing the current systems that makes our world function and also higher ranked leaders that are capable of implementing laws that force the people to alter their lifestyle for the planet's benefit as well as average citizens who may agree or disagree with his views, but they can still assist in the process of solving these issues.
 * Personal Commentary:** There are so many things I can say about this book. I really loved reading it, but it was quite lengthy. I chose to read this book because I totally agree one hundred percent with everything Friedman says in this book. I honestly don't understand how some people can disagree with the fact that we are the cause of the change in the climate and the world. Global warming is very much so real and more people should read this book, so that they can understand what measures need to be taken to reinvent the global society.


 * __REHUGO Entry #4__**
 * CATEGORY:** History
 * PRECIS:** The communication exchange between General George Washington and African American, abolitionist Phillis Wheatley in 1776 depicts how a writer can use language to achieve a secondary, less obvious purpose. Both Washington and Wheatley strategically praise one another in order to impress one another so that each one of them can get what they want from the other person. Their purpose is to not only gain support for each of their separate causes, but to also make a change in the way the system is currently working. Their intended audience are each other as well as the groups they represent to show their true feelings and what actions they want to take place because of their communication with one another.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** Washington and Wheatley both wanted something and both praised each other to earn the respect of one another. Sometimes you have to continually praise someone, but also hint at the thing you really want from that person. Don't get me wrong, they both think highly of one another, but sometimes those feelings are exaggerated so that their will be a personal gain from communicating with that person.

Rushin, Steve. "Give the Kids a Break." //Sports Illistrated// 2006. Print.
 * __REHUGO Entry #5__**
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** Magazine
 * PRECIS:** Steve Rushin, in his magazine column "Give the Kids a Break", featured in Sports Illustrated, argues that recess for young children should be a necessity and that it should not be taken away due to possibly causing problems for schools such as lower test scores, playground bullying, and fear of lawsuits over injuries on school grounds. Rushin develops this position by using statistics to show the dramatic changes in percentages of schools that have recess and by showing the unfair reasons why many schools are taking away this opportunity for kids. His purpose is to not only show the importance of recess for students, but also to let the reader see that kids really do need a break. Rushin is reaching out to parents and the school districts around the country to not compromise recess for less important, various reasons.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** I think that kids in elementary school should have recess every day for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Everyone needs a break and it is especially important for young children to get all of their energy out after sitting in a classroom all day. There's only so much a school can do to drill in information repetitively into students' brains without giving them a sufficient break. If they had a break, it could potentially turn into better performance in school because of the better ability to focus in class.

__**REHUGO Entry #6**__ //Frontline: Growing Up Online//. Dir. Rachel Dretzin. Perf. Fronline. PBS, 2008. DVD.
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** Universal Truths
 * PRECIS:** The PBS documentary, "Growing Up Online", implies that misusing the Internet as a lifestyle could potentially lead to harmful behaviors by claiming that some Internet content may not be suitable for young teen users and that parents are unaware of the possible dangerous activities their child could be involved in due to the excess exposure to the World Wide Web. This PBS documentary develops this position through anecdotal evidence that reveals the confidential secrets of several teens along with the uninformed parents' point of view on this topic as well as expert testimonies that describe the dangers of the Internet through facts and statistics which cause a sense of fear for the parents. The purpose is not only to inform the parents of what their child could be involved in through the misuse of the Internet, but to also show the perspective of the teens who engage in suspicious behavior. This documentary reaches out to parents who may not know the significant influence the Internet can have on their child so that the parents will be motivated to regulate their student's use of the Internet out of fear for the safety of their child's behavior.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** I agree with this documentary because as a teenager, I am aware of the overuse of the Internet. While I don't partake in dangerous online behaviors, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are very time consuming and not necessarily safe. I feel like kids are constantly growing up online in the hope to reveal themselves through someone they're not. Kids are always striving for attention that isn't givent to them in real life, so they feel the need to express themselves through the Internet and misuse its purpose.

//Super Size Me//. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Morgan Spurlock. Sony Pictures, 2005. DVD.
 * __REHUGO Entry #7__**
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** Universal Truths
 * PRECIS:** Morgan Spurlock, director and main character of the documentary "Super Size Me", implies that the United States is in the midst of an epidemic of obesity and health related problems and that people shouldn't eat too much fast food by claiming that a diet that consists of excess amount of fast food will probably lead to numerous different health problems and a lack of overall fitness. Spurlock creates his position on this issue through expert testimonies, statistics, and by conducting a thirty day experiment involving a fast food binge, also known as the "McDiet", using himself as the subject in this experiment with the supervision as well as the opinions of medical professionals to oversee this process. His purpose is not only to inform Americans of the effects of consuming fast food, but also to let the consumer know that it is his or her responsibility to resist the harmful temptation of fast food. This documentary alters the perception of its viewers who are most likely regular fast food consumers to portray the actual information beneath the surface of fast food companies.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** This documentary was very repulsing, but at the same time, I think it was a great thing that I watched it. I know that fast food is bad for me, but I never realized the damage it could do to my health. Will I stop eating fast food? Absolutely not. I like it too much, but from now on I am going to try to limit the amount I consume and make healthier eating choices. I believe that America is suffering from an obesity epidemic and fast food companies really shouldn't be allowed to serve that kind of unhealthy food because it is a huge factor in why so many people are overweight and unhealthy.

__**REHUGO Entry #8**__
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** American Rhetoric
 * PRECIS:** In Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention, Henry implies that there is no other choice but to become independent from Britain and go to war by claiming that the colonists need to fight for what they believe is right. Henry develops this position by the usage of rhetorical questions to the keep the Convention thinking about what would happen if they listened to him and logically justifying why they need to do so. His purpose is not only to gain support from the colonists of what he believes in, but to also create a sense of unity among the colonists in order to become a more patriotic society. Henry's primary audience is directed to the delegates of the Virginia Convention in hope that all of the colonists will rebel against Britain for independence.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** I agree with Henry's argument in the sense that the colonists need to rebel against Britain because they had previously tried to come to terms with Britain peacefully, so now they had no other choice but to start a war. It is evident that Henry knows what he's talking about and does a great job at targeting the audience. The rhetorical questions do a great job of keeping the audience engaged and considering all the possibilities of what would happen if they went to war with Britain.

__**REHUGO Entry #9**__
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** American Rhetoric
 * PRECIS:** Thomas Paine, author of //Common Sense//, implies that theoretically all government is corrupt, but since that isn't logical, the people should have a say in who regulates the government system that rules society by claiming that an aristocratic government like that of Britain's is flawed and should not rule the people. He develops this position by emphasizing the importance of a government versus society with his good use of diction and by logically showing his audience that the people need to be the foundation of the government. Paine's purpose is not only to inform the people of what a government should look like convey to the people of what they are being deprived through the British government. Paine alters the perception of the colonists and wants them to desire independence from Britain so that they can start over with creating a more just and efficient government**.**
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** Paine does a great job of showing his audience what a correct form of government is ideally supposed to look like. He connects to the audience's emotions by inspiring them to become independent from Britain so that they can have a say in how the government regulates the people of society. He gives insight on how a more stable government would be run.

__**REHUGO Entry #10**__
 * CITATION:**
 * CATEGORY:** American Rhetoric
 * PRECIS:** Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the //Declaration of Independence//, claims that the colonies are no longer going to be ruled by Britain by claiming the rights of the American people that king of Britain has failed to acknowledge. He develops this position by first stating the unalienable rights of the people and then goes in depth into the grievances that which the colonists have toward the king. Jefferson's purpose is to state in writing why the colonies are going to war with Britain in order to stand up for what they believe in and what they think they deserve. Jefferson sets an example to other nations in order to allow the colonies to be recognized as an independent nation and is also telling the American people of their rights that cannot be taken away.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY:** This document is one of the most important documents ever written in the history of our country. After reading it, it is apparent that this foundation of government is still used today and that we have come a long way since this was created. This was the first time the rights of the American people was written down and it still represent our society today. I agree that the colonies had many reasons to want independence from Britain and I'm so glad that we became the country we did way back when Jefferson wrote this document.