Posts by katia11

katia11

Mar 7, 2011

Essays / How to start - arranging hip-hop mash-ups, it's politics / sports reading [3]

I think they want you to describe your passion- not necessarily an extra curricular that you do for accolades, but something you really enjoy and are passionate about :)

I'd talk about why x is so amazing and how I feel when I do x and use a lot of great descriptions to capture those feelings. The mantra- show don't tell!

Try to have fun with it :) Good luck!

katia11

Mar 7, 2011

Book Reports / Critically Examine a speech in Plato's Symposium- Aristophanes' Speech- Outline [2]

This is a loose outline I formed while trying to work on my essay. I'm just looking for feedback on the thesis and support and whether it would make a compelling response to the prompt. Having a hard time getting started. Thanks so much!

I do have evidence, though I haven't typed the quotes up.

Prompt- Plato: Critically examine any one of the speeches made in praise of love in Plato's Symposium (except Socrates' speech).

Topic- Aristophanes and his speech

Why- I thought the inclusion of the hiccups was fasinating and wanted to defend Aristophanes' viewpoint

Thoughts-

Points of Aristophanes- We are all trying to find our other half. He doesn't really bring in Eros until the end. This is pretty romantic (and coincides with common modern views of love). I'm thinking of Jerry McGuire "you complete me" However, I think more correctly it would be "you complement me"?

I think the order is really important- elaborate framework. Aristophanes and Agathon are the last ones before Socrates to fall asleep
Aristophanes doesn't just accept Socrates at face value- he wants to comment but cannot. I think that's important.

Thesis/Claim- While Plato describes many incidences where Aristophanes might be portrayed as nothing more than comic relief, his speech is actually quite grounded and should be taken seriously. (this seems kind of vague)

Developing paragraphs-
-Initial reaction VS. Actual meaning- Hiccuping- might come off as Aristophanes being a comedian. Aristophanes was hiccuping all through Pausanias' speech and gargling and sneezing through Eryixamachus' speech- this could be seen as a way to discount Aristophanes' speech but I think it shows the weakness of the other two speeches. Aristophanes even remarks that it is strange that a sneeze is the right sort of Love according to Eryximachus. He pretty much makes Erximachus' speech look ridiculous.

-Aristophanes' speech- despite it being a very strange story, he describes things in great detail and uses myth to explain things about our anatomy and sexual orientation. He doesn't mean for us to take it literally. Aristophanes does the same things with his plays- he shows us ridiculous scenes, but the messages are much deeper.

-Aristophanes is the only one not completely swayed by Socrates' speech (in that he tries to comment but cannot). The fact that he wishes to question Socrates rather than just accept it at face value illustrates that he didn't just make the speech to be funny but feels strongly about his viewpoint and is not easily swayed.

-His view is supposedly completely dismantled by Socrates, but some things still hold- both show a desire for something they don't have, or, if they do have it, a desire to have it forever. However Socrates describes the ascent to Beauty. Aristophanes provides a more "human-centered" view of Love, which is not entirely incorrect.

Thesis/Claim Revised - While Plato describes many incidences where Aristophanes might be portrayed as little more than comic relief, his speech is actually quite grounded, emphasizing the human connection involved in Love.

Again thank you so much! I'm really nervous sharing on a public website, but I'm having a hard time getting started on an intro.

katia11

Mar 7, 2011

Scholarship / "responsibility" - What is the most important thing to you and why? [5]

I know it can be really tough coming up with a topic, especially once prompted by one. I would recommend getting a sheet of paper and writing down some things-

-What are some times you had to be responsible?
-What are some times you were irresponsible? (Since often we are irresponsible and then have to make a conscious choice to change behavior/etc
-How did you feel during these times?
-What images come to mind during these incidences?
-What images come to mind when you think about a responsible person?

Definitely hone in on a specific story, and even the most ordinary things can be great with engaging writing. The most important thing to do now is get as many ideas, words, and phrases down on paper.

I'm a little confused by the prompt- What is most important to you could be many different things. . are you saying it is most important to be responsible?

Good luck!