REHUGO+1

**CATEGORY ** : Reading **PRECIS ** : Alexandra Robbins, a journalist and author, in her book, The Overachievers, criticizes the chilling world of the "overachiever culture" present in American high schools by providing statistics and anecdotes that demonstrate how the desire to be perfect damages people's lives. Robbins exposes the flaws in several parts of the process of getting into a desired college; she criticizes the SAT often, building her argument with quotes from experts who explain how the test is flawed and exerts stress on students. Her driving purpose is to show a student's true life and explain how the problem of the overachiever culture is growing at a concerning pace in order to urge parents to calm down about their child's success and encourage students to stop obsessing over their test scores. She attempts to change how success is viewed by parents, students, and their teachers.
 * REHUGO Entry #1 **
 * CITATION: **Robbins, Alexandra. __The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids__. New York: Hyperion, 2006.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY **: As a high school student, Robbins was easy to agree with in this book. The pressure to do well in school can be incredibly consuming when you and your friends feel the need to take several AP classes in order to get into a decent college.

** ﻿ REHUGO Entry #2 ** **CATEGORY ** : Reading **PRECIS ** : Neil Postman, an author for over 200 articles for several papers and magazines, in his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, makes the claim that we are heavily medicated and addicted to television, and therefore voluntarily sacrificing our rights. Postman begins with the claim that complex thoughts could never be expressed through smoke signals and compares the idea with the way that television is not a suitable way of informing the public because the visual aspect of it degrades any message to mere show business. His purpose is to inform the public of the dangerous path they are headed down in order to stop the creation of a society similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This book is aimed at people who watch television often.
 * CITATION: **Postman, Neil. __Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Buisiness__. New York: Penguin Group, 1986.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY **: I understand the point that Postman is trying to make, but I think that as long as we are able to recognize the significance of a "Huxleyan" society, we will never allow the issue to escalate to that point.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #3 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">: William Golding, author of numerous books including Lord of the Flies, in his essay, Thinking as a Hobby, argues that actual thought has become uncommon among people. Golding builds his claim through several anecdotes from his life that allow him to categorize all humans into three groups based on the way they think. His purpose is to point out how prevalent ignorance and unfounded criticism is in society in order to promote higher levels of thinking. This essay is aimed toward people who are both heavy thinkers like Golding and people who are controlled more by their emotions.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **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.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Golding is very smart, I felt that this essay made him seem cold and arrogant, as if he believed that many people were beneath him.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #4 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Phyllis Wheatley, an educated former slave and George Washington, the first president of the United States, in a series of letters, demonstrate Washington's desire to publish a poem Wheatley wrote for him. Wheatley writes a poem that recounts Washington's recent success in the American Revolution and Washington, feeling flattered, writes in response that he would like to publish her poetry, but that he is also afraid that people will assume that he only published it because it depicted him as a hero. Wheatley's purpose in writing the poem seems to be for appreciation and Washington's response is mostly a thank-you letter. The conversation conveys the idea that not everyone of this time period was racially prejudiced.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Wheatley is very clever and intelligent. It made me happy to see that she displayed such confidence in her character during a time of racial discrimination.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #5 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Steve Rushin, a journalist, in his article "Give the Kids a Break" claims that children in elementary schools no longer have the free time they need. Rushin supplements his argument with statistics that show the decline of recess time in the United States and specific examples of schools that have completely done away with recess for the sake of time and safety. His purpose in writing the article is to urge school districts to allow kids to have time for recess each day in order to improve education in the United States. The article is targeted towards parents of young children and teachers.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Rushin, Steve. "Give the Kids a Break." __Sports Illustrated__ 2006
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: As a child, I loved recess because it kept me from having too much energy when I actually needed to learn. I believe this break in my day was an important part of my education and it'd a shame that so many districts are putting a stop to it.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #6 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Film **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Rachel Dretzin, a journalist, in her documentary "Growing Up Online" claims that adolescents are constantly exposed to dangers while online that drastically affect their lives and self esteem. Dretzin's film consists mainly of personal anecdotes told by students and their parents about frightening online encounters or safety threats. Her purpose in creating the documentary is to urge parents and their children to learn to be careful with what information they put online. The documentary is targeted towards adolescents and their parents.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **//Frontline: Growing Up Online//. Dir. Rachel Dretzin. Perf. Frontline. PBS, 2008. Film.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Like many high schoolers, I often use the Internet for entertainment during my free time. This documentary exposed me to a world of abuse and bullying that I had never personally experienced.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #7 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Film **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Bill Maher, a comedian, in his documentary, "Religulous" asserts that religion, as a whole, is absurd in modern society. Maher builds his claim by discussing historical inaccuracies that are concerned with religion and by citing horrifying examples of religious extremism. His purpose in creating this documentary is to convince people to examine religion from a more critical point of view, in the hopes that people will stop ignoring its occasional shortcomings.The film is targeted towards religious people, but also to non-spiritual people who want to learn more.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Religulous. DVD. Lions Gate Entertainment, 2008.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: I think that Maher's claims are very harsh. Religion is an important part of many people's lives, but I can see the point he is trying to make through this film.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #8 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Speech **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Patrick Henry, a politician and leader during the revolutionary era, in his speech to the Virginia Convention claims that Virginian representatives should support a revolution because it is necessary for the survival of the American colonies. Henry's speech was successful because it was moving and swayed the mood of the delegates through emotional appeals and rhetorical questions. His purpose in delivering the speech is to plead for revolutionary support from the large, powerful state of Virginia. The article is targeted towards the representatives of the Virginia Convention.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Patrick, Henry. "Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention." Virginia Convention. Virginia Convention. St. Johns Church, Richmond, Virginia. 23 Mar. 1775. Speech.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: This speech played a key role in garnering support for a fight for colonial liberty. The quote "Give me liberty or give me death!" is one of the defining quotes in the United States' identity.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #9 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Thomas Paine, an author and British citizen, in his essay, "Common Sense" claims that the treatment of the American Colonies by the British government is unfair. Relies on deductive reasoning to explain how a revolution is the only possible way to preserve their liberties without following all of the unjust laws imposed by the British government. His purpose for writing is to sway the public opinion in favor of the revolution. The essay is targeted towards American colonists who are neutral to the idea of a revolution or who are still loyal to the British Crown.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Paine, Thomas, and Thomas Paine. //Common sense//. Charlottesville, Va.: University of Virginia Library ;, 1993. Print.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: I think that Common Sense was an important factor in bringing more people in favor of the Revolution. It is certainly an important piece of American history.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REHUGO Entry #10 ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CATEGORY ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Thomas Jefferson, a gifted author and politician, in the Declaration of Independence expresses the desire of the US delegates to completely dissolve all political ties with Great Britain. Jefferson reasons that it is a government's duty to protect the liberties of the people it governs and then lists out a series of grievances enacted by the royal crown. His purpose in writing the article is to urge school districts to allow kids to have time for recess each day in order to improve education in the United States. The Declaration is targeted towards Americans who are unsatisfied with British rule, foreign countries who would be willing to assist the new country (in order to weaken Britain), and King George.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Jefferson, Thomas. __The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America__. Philadelphia: The Continental Congress, 1776.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: I think that Jefferson was an incredibly talented writer. His belief that a government should be revised or even abolished if it fails to protect its citizens is a key idea in the identity of the United States.