Harriet Tubman- Paragraph Writing

S E E L   P A R A G R A P H S

This week in social studies, we have been looking at SEEL paragraph structure, to show our knowledge on properly writing paragraphs using the SEEL structure, and to show what we've learnt about Harriet Tubman and slavery over the past few weeks. We started by outlining the components of paragraphs (Statement, explanation, example, and link), and then we wrote our own, based on the latest topic we've been studying in social studies- Harriet Tubman. After writing our paragraphs, we exchanged books with a partner and gave feedback on the use of words, information, and structure they used in their paragraphs. Using this information -keeping our partners feedback in mind- we then re-wrote our paragraphs. I was given the feedback of trying to use quotes to back up my information, and making the link in my paragraph a bit clearer.

Here is my final paragraph on Harriet Tubman:

Harriet Tubman was and African American woman and abolitionist, born into slavery, whose work with the Underground Railroad as a conductor helped to free over three-hundred innocent men, women, and children from slavery. Over the time span of ten years, harriet made 19 trips to plantations and other locations where slaves were kept, saving many people -never losing a single escapee along her journeys- and aiding them by providing food, water, and other basic necessities. She also kept these fugitives safe by hiding them in safe houses (more commonly known during this time as ‘Stations’, which were run by station masters and conductors such as Harriet), along with the help of many other people. Despite Harriet’s immense efforts, she never seemed to think it was enough. I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more, if only they knew they were slaves- Harriet Tubman. This woman was extremely brave and optimistic, and her achievements as a conductor freed the lives of many.

Chicken Leg Dissection

Yesterday in science, we did an experiment and dissected a chicken leg as part of our medical science module. We had to identify the bones, tendons, muscles, fat, and blood vessels and nerves (if we found any). 

Aim: Locate and describe the various tissues and structures of the drumstick and thigh of the chicken

Materials:

• Chicken drumstick with thigh
• Dissecting probe
• Scalpel
• Dissecting scissors
• Paper towels
• Forceps
• Dissecting Tray
• Gloves
• Disinfectant spray

Method:

1. Place the chicken leg on a dissecting tray and examine the exterior features. The tough outer layer is called the epidermis (skin). The small bumps covering the skin are where the feathers were attached
2. Examine the lower leg. This is called the drumstick and it is the equivalent of a human lower leg. The large muscle at the back if the leg is the same as your gastrocnemius. It also includes two bones - the tibia and the fibula.
3. Examine the upper leg. On both a chicken and a human this part is called the thigh. Ir contains a large bone called the femur.
4. Carefully pull the skin off by sliding it down and off the lower leg. You may need to use your scalpel to remove but, but be careful not to cut any muscle tissue.
5. The yellowish material under the skin is fat (or adipose).
6. The muscles of the leg, like all muscles, work in bundles. Separate a bundle if muscle by inserting your thumb into the muscles of the lower leg. You will notice that the muscle bundle is covered in a silvery lining called the fascia and this makes it hard to separate. Push hard enough and you'll find that separating the muscle bundles is easier.
7. At either end of the muscles, you will see white cord-like tissue. These cords are called tendons. Tendons attach muscle to bone.\
8. Using the scalpel, carefully remove all the muscles from the lower leg, Using your dissection probe examine and blood vessels you find and try to determine which muscles the blood is supplied to.
9. Near the bone you should see thin, thread-like strands. These are the nerves.
10. Using the dissection scissors, cut across the tendons that join the muscles to the bones. Be careful not to cut any ligaments that attach bone to bone. You should end up with all the bones still attached to each other, but no muscle tissue present.
11. Move the bones around the joints. The main joint between the bones of the lower leg and the femur is a hinge joint like the one in your knee. Note how the bones can move only in one plane.
12. Using your scalpel, carefully cut the ligaments, keeping the bones together.
13. In the joint between the bones is a piece of cartilage. Cartilage allows joints ti move smoothly and protects the bones against shocks to the body.
14. Break one bone in half and examine the marrow. This is where blood cells are made.
15. Clean up your work area. Ensure you clean your bench using antibacterial spray/disinfectant, and wash your hands thoroughly.

Here are some photos of the dissection, showing the removal of the epidermis and the inside of the lower leg, where you can see muscle, tendons, and the tibia.

 

UNWIND Destinations

D E S T I N A T I O N S

This section opens up with Lev in a pawnbroker's. What does this tell you about how his character is changing? Lev came from a fairly wealthy family, this shows you that his financial situation is changing quite noticeably, as he went from theoretically being able to buy something whenever he wanted, to being so desperate for money he has to sell stolen goods just to afford food. This also shows he's becoming a lot smarter when it comes to survival tactics and how to make money and use bribery to his advantage. He's basically learnt how to bribe and trick adults into doing what he wants them to.

While being transported to possible safety, some of the kids on the run wonder, "Would it be better to die or be unwound?" If given the choice, which would you choose? Why? This response requires more than one or two sentences! Put forward at least three reasons why you think what you do.
I have absolutely no idea. If I were unwound, would I be extremely sad my parents signed a form allowing my death? Yea. Would I hate them? Probably. But at least I'd know that someone who is in need is getting my organs. Death, on the other hand- even if you are a donor, they don't donate every single cell to someone else, however that is because in this current time no one has figured out how, and nothing is technologically advanced enough to perform such a procedure. If I were given the option between dying peacefully, or being unwound for no logical reason, when I could live a long happy life, then of course I'd choose death. The thought of someone deciding whether another innocent human being get's the right to live or die is TERRIBLE!

I mean. I'd rather neither. Living would be more ideal...


Another question the kids in the book discuss is, "If every part of you is still alive but inside someone else, are you alive or are you dead?" They also wonder if consciousness can exist even if it's spread out, and if the soul remains intact. What do you think? Read Thomas Hobbes' Ship of Theseus puzzle to help you make a decision. Be sure to reference it in your answer! http://metaphysicist.com/puzzles/ship_theseus/

If every part of you is alive, but inside someone else, then you're technically still alive. Evidence from later on in the book strongly suggests that you can also still think and feel and control your body, or more, the person which certain parts of your body are in's body. But, you don't know you're 'living in a divided state', it's like you're dreaming. So are you really alive if you're not living you're life, but more so co-piloting in someone else's? I don't think you are.

The question to ask, is if something is slowly but completely taken apart and then rebuilt somewhere else, while other replacement pieces are substituted on the original, which one is the original?

If you were born whole (which... You are... Usually), and lived your life in your own body, then that should be the original. When people are unwound in this dystopian world, and their organs and other cells are put inside other people, it's no longer their life that they're living, it's someone else's. Therefore, I think that if every part of you is still technically alive but inside someone else, you aren't truly alive. You're dead.

This section of the novel sees Lev and Cy-Fi finally make it to Joplin. As they get closer, Cy-Fi's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. What are some of the things he does, or things he likes, that are not his own behaviours or memories? The most prominent behaviour is the need to steal. More specifically, steal shiny expensive things. Cyrus's accent also changes, although at this point I'm not entirely sure which accent is Cyrus and which accent is Tyler (ITS TYLER NOT TAYLOR MY BAD). He starts to talk less, he no longer leads the way, and his face and hands, and sometimes the rest of his body too, start to uncontrollably twitch.

What was Cy-Ty hiding in his backyard? Pg 185-194

Lots and lots of very expensive jewellery, which explains the urge he had to steal shiny things as he and Lev got closer to Joplin. Because that's what Tyler did, he stole things. And that's why he went back to Joplin, because he wanted to fix what he had done

The section ends with Cy-Ty reaching his destination. What do you think of his parents' behaviour? What does Lev's support show you about his character?

I feel like if my dead child, who is my dead child, but at the same time isn't my dead child because it's my dead child's mind in someone else's not so dead child, I'd be a little scared too. Wow that made no sense. I think the shock was warranted, however they should've understood that he was scared too and at the very least tried to comfort him. But they didn't, not until Lev very urgently begged them to tell Cyrus what he needed to hear.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

For the last few periods of social studies, we've been doing our own individual research projects on Harriet Tubman, explaining her achievements, what she's famous for, general information about herself and her childhood, plus any other interesting information or facts we found along the way.

I've always found the topic of slavery quite interesting, but have never really gotten the opportunity to learn much about it, so I really enjoyed this module/topic. I enjoyed learning about Harriet Tubman, and found it interesting- surprised too- to find out that she not only played a rather vital role in freeing many innocent and unfairly treated people, but that she also later became a scout, a nurse, and an intelligence agent during the American Civil War.

UNWIND Transit

T R A N S I T

In the course of the book, Connor and Risa get separated from Lev, who travels for a time with another character.

Why do you think Shusterman chose to split the narrative into two distinct threads? Because it's an opportunity to introduce new characters and new perspectives. For example, Cyrus (or Cy-Fi) and his story are different from the three main characters, as he has a part of another unwound child inside of him, which is causing him to do things that are out of character for him, and pick up behaviours that were normal for the other child.

What do you think this achieves?

It shows you how other people who aren't necessarily being unwound are affected. Yes, he got to live because this other boy was unwound, but he also paid a price for it.

How does this affect the evolution of the characters?

Cyrus is quite a street smart and intelligent boy, with different morals from Lev. During the time that Lev is with Cyrus, he learns how to defend himself and keep out of the spotlight a lot more. As for Risa and Connor, they assume he's dead, which even if not a lot, still affects them too. Connor holds himself responsible for not being able to persuade Lev that being tithed/unwound isn't okay, and kind of beats himself up about it throughout the book, until they run into him again at the Graveyard.

On p125 & 129  the novel touches on same-sex relationships. Has the attitude toward same-sex couples changed (for better or worse) in this futuristic society? Explain your response. It's hard to say. But from the small amount that was described about interactions between people and Cyrus's Dads, people seem at the very least a little more accepting. Lev was surprised when he found out, but he didn't seem to be against it.

P130 begins our journey into understanding a little more about Cy-Fi. Through his character, what do you learn about the effects of unwinding on both the donor and receiver?  That for a donor, being unwound is like dreaming. You never seem to notice that something isn't right and that you're actually dreaming until you wake up. You never seem to pick up on how unrealistic, and usually ridiculous, things are, until you wake up. The difference is of course, you wake up from a dream. You don't wake up from death. The boy who donated part of his brain to Cy still thinks he's alive. As for receivers of organs or body parts, if it's an important organ like your brain, it would seem the person who donated it comes with it. Cyrus explains that the boy who gave him part of his brain (I think his name is Taylor... We'll go with that) didn't speak to him, but instead made him feel the same things that he feels, and make him do things that Taylor would do in certain situations. Like for example, stealing jewellery and other shiny things.

What is the real reason Cy-Fi need to get to Joplin, Mo? Pg 131

Well at the time, Cyrus didn't know. He just knew that for some reason the boy in his head had to get there (Assuming this is where he lived), and he wouldn't be able to go back to his normal life until he had done whatever Taylor needed to do. He later finds out that Taylor went back to his home town so he could return everything he had stolen over the years, and apologise to his parents. Taylor also begs his parents not to Unwind him, which is when you find out he doesn't know he's already dead.

Joplin, MO, USA

What is the significance of Connor holding in his anger around Roland? Pg 147

Because Connor losing his temper around Roland and lashing out or doing something stupid is exactly what Roland wants him to do, and that when he did, Roland would try and kill him.

Connor's anger and lack of impulse control is often a problem for him, until he learns to control and channel his emotions. Do you ever feel like your impulses are stronger than your will? What strategies do you use to control your feelings? Do they work? I'd like to think I'm a pretty calm person most of the time. I do however get extremely annoyed -to say the least- when I'm drawing or doing something along those lines (even school work), and someone tries to tell me to 'stop trying to make it perfect' or that 'it looks fine'. I don't know why. Probably cause I'm a slight perfectionist when it comes to certain things. Sometimes small things really get to me too, which is rather annoying. I like listening to music a lot, and that usually helps when I'm nervous or angry or upset or anything like that. But I never have any real problems controlling impulses.

UNWIND Storked- Connecting the Dots

S T O R K E D

C O N N E C T I O N S

Connection One 'The Baby Box'

Once common in medieval Europe, 'The Baby Box' is a slightly (very, very slightly) more acceptable way of getting rid of your child without leaving them in a dumpster to die, which has become increasingly more popular of the past 10 years. These so called Baby Boxes are small insulated boxes, closely monitored nurses- or, at least you'd hope they are if people are leaving new born babies in them- where people, as I said, can leave their babies. The United Nations argue- and rightly so- that this is a violation of the child's rights. 

To learn more about 'The Baby Box', visit the following site:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18585020

Connection Two 'The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a highly illegal abolitionist organisation, formed sometime in the 1830's by renowned abolitionist and conductor Harriet Tubman. This organisation aided more than 3000 slaves before the American Civil War, both by freeing those in bondage, and by hiding escapees (or in the eyes of the law, fugitives) in safe houses throughout the country, more commonly known as stations. Harriet Tubman was an African American woman who was born into slavery and helped to lead over 300 people to freedom. 

             

To learn more about The Underground Railroad, visit the following site:

https://www.historynet.com/underground-railroad

Or, if you want to know more about the incredibly brave and heroic Harriet Tubman, go here: 

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harriet-tubman

Connection Three 'Suicide Bombers'

Suicide bombers, although the name is rather self-explanatory, are people (well. Terrorists.) who carry out bomb attacks with the intention of killing themselves and others. This relates to the term used in Unwind, 'Clappers'. This is the name for suicide-terrorists who replace their blood with a nitroglycerin blend, and then detonate it by clapping their hands, blowing themselves and everyone up in the process. 

Below is the link to an article on an attack that took place early last year in the capital of Afghanistan Kabul. The attack, which killed 95 people, was carried 

out by a military organisation called the Taliban, founded in 1994 and 

led by Mawlawi Hibatullah:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42843897

UNWIND Storked

S T O R K E D

This section opens with a mother abandoning her newborn infant on the doorstep of a house in a good neighbourhood. As she leaves, she thinks "How wonderful it is that she can get a second chance. How wonderful it is that she can dismiss her responsibility so easily."  

Risa overhears two nurses debating law and human nature. Which argument do you think is the stronger? Why do you think this? Write a paragraph explaining your thoughts on law and human nature.
"You can't change laws without first changing human nature"- Nurse Greta.

In this story, laws are created and legislatively enacted by the people of the public. Therefore, their human nature has to change before the law can, as human nature is the main component in controlling what we do, decide, and find ethical as human beings.

In your opinion, by allowing new mothers to give up their children so readily, does it take away from the value of a child?  In my opinion, children shouldn't have a value. All human lives should be priceless, there shouldn't be anything that could match the value of a human life. Although I agree it is entirely up to a mother whether she keeps her child or gets an abortion, this is a bit different. People shouldn't be allowed to dump their kids on someone else's doorstep who is unwilling to look after them and love them.

What is the role of a mother? Do you think the title of mother is something that should be earned, or a natural right of the woman who gave birth?
The role of being a mother should be earned by wanting and doing whats best for your child/ren. Very often, parents don't stick around or stay in their children's lives. Some people give their children up for adoption when they're born for various reasons (e.g financially unstable or too young to look after it), but make an effort to see them whenever they can. That's what being a mother is. If you're a mother, you should support your child, love them and be there for them, or at the very least, not kill them as soon as they turn 14.

What skills or attributes do Connor and Risa have that work well together?

In most ways, Connor and Risa are opposites. When they first meet, Risa is quite a careful person, whereas Connor makes impulsive decisions. Having Risa around seems to change Connor. He starts to think more before he acts, and makes better choices. They're both quite intelligent, for example when they pretended to argue in front of Lev to test his loyalty and see if he would run. Yet, neither of them were 100% sure whether the fighting was real or not. They both find it difficult to trust other people, which is a strangely helpful insecurity to have when you're in their position.

Connor and Lev have very different experiences with storking. How has this helped shape each of their attitudes toward the society they live in?

Lev's experience with storking didn't end in tragedy, whereas Connors did, and he held himself accountable. Because of this, Connor has empathy for children who have been storked. Lev on the other hand doesn't really think about it, because from what he's seen it always ends happily.

Connor is concerned the baby won't be loved, and ultimately will die, so he takes it. What does this show us about him as a person?  
It shows you that he is very kind and understanding, and puts other peoples needs ahead of his. He's empathetic for those who are in similar situations as him, or those who are in similar situations but with extremely different backgrounds and stories as to how they got into said situations.

What makes Lev realise he doesn't want to be unwound? P79

When he realises that his life has been a lie, and that his so called "Holy mission" was a scam. He starts to feel lost and confused when Pastor Dan picks up the phone, and explains to Lev that he had managed to convince his parents that him getting kidnapped was 'God's plan'. Lev still believes it's hid duty to be tithed. But then the Pastor tells Lev something he'd never been told before: "Don't you see, Lev? You can save yourself. You can be anyone you want to be now."

I think this is the point in the story when Lev starts to realise he doesn't really want to die.

Each of the other characters on the run has a tragic background story. Why were Hayden, Roland and Mai set to be unwound? Which, do you think, is the most tragic? Explain your response.

In my opinion, Hayden's story is quite sad. His parents didn't really care what happened to him. They hated each other so much, they'd rather watch their son be killed than let the other have him. Hayden's parents didn't see him as a human, or even as their son. They just saw him as an object, an object they only wanted and fought over for so long, to ensure the other couldn't have it.

What tattoo does Roland have?

He has a shark tattooed on his forearm.