Meeting

I found the conference most helpful with regards to my procedure section. I had been struggling to find a way to clearly express mathematical calculations in words so you suggested inserting a table and some sample calculation. None of the research proposals I had looked at had contained sample data so the idea had not occurred to me, but I believe that the addition helps to clarify that section of the paper and add validity to the proposal as a whole.

Rsearch Proposal

I feel much better about my research proposal than I did at the beginning of the week. I found the conference incredibly helpful and reassuring. My main concern had been that I was not formatting the proposal properly and/or completely fulfilling the requirements of the assignment. I am anxious to get more feedback once you have read it through thoroughly. Looking ahead to the next assignment am contemplating altering my topic again slightly, not sure if this is an option. I'm going to evaluate the essays we go over in class to hopefully get a better idea of what I am striving for and then reassess weather I want t alter the focus within my community.

Overview of Week 7

I found myself feeling a little lost this week. I wanted clear guidelines regarding expectations of the research proposal last weekend, but felt like I didn't have them until after the "brainstorm" in class at which point my paper was already written. Hence, I felt like I was blindly writing with no regard for what the class requirements were since I was not aware of them. Luckily, the paper I had written was applicable and I feel that it should meet the class expectations. Hopefully, I can get all of my questions answered during our 15 minute conference. The reading from rewriting made me feel more confidant about my paper as a piece of writing, but not necessarily as an assignment for the class.

Rewriting Ch 5 Questions

Coming to Terms:
I feel like this part of re-writing is fairly easy for me because I have a very hard time writing unless I know exactly where my essay is going, hence I tend to organize my thoughts in outline form and have the entire paper planned out before I begin to write. For this research proposal I started by providing some brief background and then immediately posing my question; all subsequent paragraphs provide information which directly supports my solution to the question. I wrote an outline before I began on the actual paper, during which time I struggled with posing an answerable question and formation the proof and conclusion in a logical and convincing manner. I feel like I mostly accomplished this step of rewriting in the outline stage before I truly began the paper.

Forwarding:
I am guilty of the “irony of rewriting” in that I tend “ to become so preoccupied with fixing what isn’t going right in the text” that I “neglect to build on what is.” I like this idea focusing on and improving the positive and I am defiantly trying to use it while I edit my paper, but because the concept is so new to me I think I’m going to have to spend a lot of time practicing before the additions I make will cease to seem forced.

Countering:
I thought about including a counter argument in my original outline, but shyed away from the idea because I was afraid it might seem more convincing than my argument. I feel like my topic is very open to debate, since it is rather ideological in origin. I am investigating counter arguments, but I’m still not sure how best to include one.

Taking an Approach:
I defiantly used this part of the chapter in editing my paper. I always have trouble creating a conclusion that doesn’t simply involve repeating myself. I feel that by using my concluding paragraph to expound upon my research and explain the potential implications it may have in the future, I maintain the reader’s attention by adding new information without differing from the main topic.

Lit. Review

Literature Reviews
Today’s youth must be educated about peaceful action and solutions since they are maturing in a time of war and conflict. The Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, has practice peaceful expression of spirituality since its inception. Quaker testimonies are a shared view of principles and practices that express how Quakers should relate to the world in both words and deeds. Four testimonies are recognized by all Friends which are indeed interrelated: Peace, Equality, Integrity, and Simplicity. The Peace Testimony, the testimony most commonly known to the world, is a belief that Quakers are to live as peacemakers: within the family, with colleagues, with neighbors, and now more importantly than ever, with the international community. By teaching Peace Education to our youth, we give them tools with which to guide their personal conduct and help them strive for community justice and peace.
George Fox (1624-1691) is regarded as the founder of Quakerism and although it was originally established as a Christian movement, many Friends now consider themselves universalist, agnostic, atheist, realist, humanist, postchristian, nontheist , and many do not accept any religious label. Quakers have openly accepted non-Christians as members as far back as 1870 and this practice has become increasingly evident during the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Modern Quakers are generally not concerned with theology, but are committed to using nonviolent strategies for conflict resolution.
Quakerism is group-oriented and does not place focus on an individual. At a Friend’s traditional meeting for worship, all members are considered equal and listen together during meeting, speaking only when, and if, they are moved to do so. Sometimes a meeting is entirely silent. Usually someone will rise and share a message with those gathered, but this is not a prepared speech. After someone has spoken, it is expected that several moments of silence will pass before someone else speaks, and there is never debate.
Quakerism is synonymous with Peace and is considered to one of the historic peace churches. Friends believe they should not participate in violence in any way including preparations and funding for wars, regardless of the cause. They have historically refused to be soldiers, pay taxes for the sole purpose of war, or make weapons. As a result, they have suffered imprisonment, loss of income, and even death because of their adherence to the Peace Testimony. Today in America, some Friends pay their income tax into an escrow account and the IRS can only use the money for peaceful purposes.
The Peace Testimony has been the basis for Quaker views and actions throughout its history. Beginning in 1661, Friends issued a declaration of peace to assure King Charles II they would not raise arms against him which provided the outline for the Peace Testimony. In 1682, William Penn proved a province (Pennsylvania) could survive without an army, treat Native Americans as equals, and offer religious freedom. In 1754, most Quaker politicians resigned from government rather than support The French and Indian War. During the Revolutionary War, Friends took a neutral position, but raised money and sent supplies to civilians. The Civil War was not as clear since, Friends philosophically opposed slavery on the basis of equality among all. Therefore, many were tolerant of the Union army because they were fighting for emancipation, but the official position of Quakers remained unchanged. When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Quakers organized the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to help citizens establish status as Conscientious Objectors (Cos). They were still expected to serve in the army but as noncombatants, usually in the medical corps. The AFSC also did relief work in France and Germany, feeding one million children daily for which they won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947. Between the two World Wars, Quakers supported the League of Nations, conducted peace education, and helped bring persecuted German Jews to the United States. Quakers opposed the nuclear arms race and during the Vietnam Antiwar Movement they sought to prevent violence and the use of force during protests. Similarly, they opposed the Persian Gulf War and the current War on Terrorism.
History demonstrates that although Quakers are pacifists they are not passive. Quakers are continuing to have a positive impact on society through peaceful actions, but under current circumstances the message is not being supported. Today’s youth are being raised in a time of fear, war, and terrorism. Quakers hope that by teaching our youth the principles of Peace Education further atrocities against mankind can be avoided. Opening the eyes of our youth to a greater world view and providing them with an arsenal of skills rather than one of weapons, is a profound task, but it can be accomplished. This alternate form of education has had greatest success when taught by those who understand it best, Quakers. Quaker schools are a center for not only academic learning, but community formation, service learning, and peaceful resolutions. Students work with teachers to reach compromises regarding policies and expectations. Teachers are there to support and facilitate while children learn peace by implementing skills of negotiation when dealing with their peers. If we teach something as innocent as a child to find resolution only though conflict and violence, what hope does their generation have?


Bibliography

Bennett, Douglas. "What Can a Pacifist Say, Today?" Goddard Auditiorium, Earlham College. 24 Sept. 2008.

"How Did the Quaker Peace Testimony contribute to the negative attitudes of non-Quakers towards the Society?" 24 Sept. 2008 .

Lord, Mary. "What We As Quakers Can Do." Can Love Really Overcome Violence and Hate. 15 Mar. 2002. American Friends Service Committee. 25 Sept. 2008 .

Nickalls, J. L. "Religious Society of Friends, London." George Fox (1952): 399-400.

"Peace Education." 25 Sept. 2008 .

"Peace Testimony During and Between the World Wars." 24 Sept. 2008 .

"Religious Society of Friens." 27 Sept. 2008 .

Samuel, Bill. "Friends (Quakers) and Peace." 27 Sept. 2008 .

Smith, Allen. "The Renewal Movement: The Peace Testimony and Modern Quakerism." Quaker History. 1996. Haverford College Library. 27 Sept. 2008 .

"US Military History Companion: Quakers." 26 Sept. 2008 .

Rewriting

I know you gave us a warning in class that the reading was going to be dense, but wow. I felt that the author was mildly repetitive for the sake of driving home his point. While reading I was reminded of a professor teaching to a large lecture hall, trying desperately to convey his incredibly important point, yet feeling ignored by his pupils so he continues to reiterate himself in hopes his ideas will be heard by another set of ears each time.

Library Week

I found the library tutorial very helpful. It was interactive enough that it kept me engaged for the entire class period, but it was also incredibly informative. I have acquired many sources though the library, both during and outside of class. It was also comforting to have the librarian so easily accessible. Whenever I hit a block in my research she had an alternative key word or search method for me to try. I took notes on the suggestions she gave me and have found them incredibly useful as I have continued my research. I'm still struggling slightly and feel I may need to broaden my topic even farther, but I at least have a starting point from which to make this decision.