REHUGO+4th+Six+Weeks

**Education**
In this competent excerpt, Ralph Waldo Emerson stated that teachers need to respect their pupils and not limit their thinking but let them follow their own passion with a friendly guidance and encouragement, not harsh punishment, by letting God and Nature help lead the pupils to the road of success.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, and Howard Mumford Jones. //Emerson on education; selections. //. New York: Teachers College Press, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1966. Print.

**Work**
In this deliberate passage, Thomas Carlyle pointed out about the loss of spiritual connection and community because of the rise of an urban, capitalistic society, by claiming that a change of attitude in work is needed by knowing oneself with God's help.

I agree with the author. Today, people are so burdened by work that they tend to lose happiness and don't know their own desires.

Carlyle, Thomas. "Labour." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 209-211. Print.

**Community**
In this thorough essay, Jane Howard discussed the importance of family, saying that family is necessary for everyone to gain happiness, by listing the characteristics needed in order to form a good family.

I strongly agree with Howard that family is very important. Today, many families are ruined due to complicated problems within the family, such as divorce, death, fight, no communications, etc., and lack of love. I really makes me sad to hear these kind of things on the news.

Howard, Jane. "In Search of the Good Family." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 283-288. Print.

**Gender**
In these private letters, Abigail Adams exhorted her husband, John Adams, to grant women rights by expressing her desires with eloquence and confronting his husband back with his belief in liberty.

I have known that women have no rights back in the old days and it took a long, hard time for the women to gain equal rights as men. I am impressed by the First Lady's courage to challenge the male-dominated society around her.

Adams, John and Abigail. "Letters." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 363-366. Print.

**Sports and Fitness**
In this noteworthy letter to his son, Theodore Roosevelt informed his son that studies should come first before sports by telling him that character counts a great deal more than either intellect or body in winning success in life.

I totally agree with Teddy Roosevelt that building one's education and character is more important than sports.

Roosevelt, Theodore. "The Proper Place for Sports." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 449-450. Print.

**Language**
In this thoughtful essay, Amy Tan sends a message of not to view people by their shortcomings but their beautiful side by writing about how normal English and "mother tongue" English has shaped her first outlook of life.

I know what it is like being in a bilingual family since I am Chinese like Amy Tan. Though I am fluent in Chinese, I can understand what she went through and how she overcomes it.

Tan, Amy. "Mother Tongue." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 542-546. Print.

**Science and Technology**
In this thought-provoking essay, Steven Pinker argues against tabla rasa models of the social sciences by stating that human behavior is substantially shaped by evolutionary psychological adaptations.

This was a deep essay. I have to pause for a moment or two every time to try to get what he is saying. It was interesting though.

Pinker, Steven. "The Blank Slate." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 630-639. Print.

**Popular Culture**
In this interesting essay, David Denby states that teen movie genres portraying the lives of students are dramatic and different than the real lives of students at school by describing common themes in the movies like loners become heroes while the popular become villains.

The essay is very true. Some teen movie is very addicting of how the losers win over the popular ones, however, real school life is not that dramatic.

Denby, David. "High-School Confidential:Notes on Teen Movies." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 709-714. Print.

Nature
In this sentimental message, Chief Seattle shares about how the white men ignore the beauty of nature and take over the land that was once belonged to the Indians by describing the nature and how it is affected by the white people.

It is really sad and depressing of how white men cruelly took over the Indians' land and move them to reservations. The whites get all the benefits and destroy nature, while the Indians get poor land and mistreated.

Seattle, Chief. "Message to President Franklin Pierce." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 823-824. Print.

**Politics**
In this insightful essay, Oliver Goldsmith argues that it is impossible to love one's own country without hating the natives of other countries by stating that the love for one's own country is understandable, but the inevitable growth of it is unacceptable.

I agree that every person love their native country more. It is inevitable to hate other countries since you have pride in your own country.

Goldsmith, Oliver. "National Prejudices." __ The Language of Composition __. Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 932-935. Print.