Monday, March 4, 2013

Becoming a Warrior

In order to become a warrior or a leader with the Indians, one would need to go through a process called counting coup. There are four different ways to count coup. The first stage or way to count coup, was to steal one of the enemies horses.# One of the leaders Joseph Medicine, was the leader of the Crows after Plenty Coup died. Alive during the time of World War two, Joseph Medicine decided to go out and fight. Him and his crew were stalking a pack of SS officers. The officers tied up their horses, and went into a vacant house. Joseph Medicine, and one of his partners, snuck up on the corral in which the horses were tied up in, and Joseph Medicine untied one of the horses and started to ride off with it. Little did Joseph and his partner know, the SS officers had posted a guard posted outside of the barn, and soon a full out battle broke out. In the middle of the flurry, Joseph Medicine rode out proudly on the top of his horse.# Although he hadn’t tried, Joseph Medicine had just counted the first Coup.
The second Coup needed to become a leader, was to be able to touch the enemy with their hand, coup stick, or a gun.# If they escaped unharmed, then they would put a white feather either on their coup stick, or behind their ear. Although, if they got hurt trying to count coup, they would have to dip their feather in red paint, and the red feather would symbolize that they had gotten hurt.# Plenty Coup was in a battle against the Picante Indian tribe, and he saw a Picante indian behind a pile of shrubs. Sneaking up behind the other side of the weeds, Plenty Coup saw the indians Coup Stick sitting next to him, and it was in his reach. He knew the indian was stuck, if he tried to get up and shoot Plenty Coup, then Plenty Coup could kill him; if he tried to run away, Plenty Coup could also shoot him. Eyeing the Picante’s Coup Stick, Plenty Coup, gently grabbed onto it, and started pulling. The Picante indian grabbed the other side,a dn started to pull also. Plenty Coup was stronger though, and he ripped it out of the Picante indian’s hand, just as the indian leaped up out of the bushes. Plenty Coup also jumped up, and he pegged the Picante indian with his own coup stick!# Plenty Coup had just also counted one of the coups needed.
The third stage of counting coup, deals with touching the enemy also. in order to count your third coup, one must go up and touch the first dead enemy of the fight. Many of the indians that counted coup, would scalp the enemy, but would also always respect them in any fight.# Although Plenty Coup tried in every fight, he didn’t always get this coup. One fight that one of the Chiefs of the Crow indians, was Joseph Medicine, who fought in World War Two.  This Chief was walking along one side of the fence, and on the other side was an SS officer. They both came around the side of the fence at the same time. Chief Medicine knocked the guard over, and started choking him once he got over his surprise. The guard eventually died, and Joseph Medicine counted is third coup. Now he only needed one more coup to become a Chief.
The fourth coup needed to become a chief, was to be able to lead your own war party. This Coup was needed last, because in order to lead your own war party, the warrior had to get the other three coups, which proved he was worthy and brave.# Chief Joseph Medicine got this coup first actually, when he was fighting, and his buddies during World War Two, needed some dynamite to help them fight. Since he was a native american, and the runner of the platoon, he was asked to go to the platoon center and get the dynamite needed. Joseph Medicine got to the center safely and also got back safely. For this deed, Joseph Medicine was awarded his first coup.# During the 1700’s, the leader of the war party, would carry a pipe, that signaled, he was leading the party. Many of the great Native American leaders, warriors, and chiefs died in battle, and they often got hurt, but every single one of them counted their coup, and after counting, they admired the enemy.

by Lauren

Fighting and Healing for a Tribe


During times of the 1700s a lot of Native American warriors would go into battle to fight for their tribes. Although, while in battle, most warriors got extremely hurt by other tribes. Because there were lots of injuries, the victim’s tribe would gather together and follow the healing ritual to mend the wounds. The Native American healing ritual consisted of acting like animals, and using different types of medicines.
When a warrior was close to death or was in any kind of pain that would prevent the warrior from fighting, one method of healing was acting like animals. The Crow Indians acted like animals because they thought that it would spiritually connect them with the animal that they were imitating. In the story of plenty coup, it talks about how Swans-Head  was hurt very badly while in a battle against the Sioux indians. Because of this, He was taken to a nearby lodge, and the healing rituals began. An elderly man named Bird-Shirt, who was also the wisest, made sure everything in order for the ritual to work, was in place and was surely not going to be disrupted. Bird-Shirt finally started to beat the medicine drums and sing a song that went along with the ritual. Shortly after this procedure, Bird-Shirt took a wolf skin painted with stripes of red on his nose and under his eyes. Since the wolf was painted like he was, Bird-Shirt also painted himself from his legs to his knees, from his arms to his elbows, and also his nostrils with red paint. Bird-Shirt also made his head and his ears out of clay, to look just like the wolf skins. while playing the medicine drums slowly and steadily, each hit like a heartbeat, Bird-shirt sang. He sang his medicine song while everyone waited with both excitement and worry in their eyes. The beating became softer but much faster. Bird-Shirt started to both trot around Swans-head and whine like a mother wolf at the same time. After this procedure was done Swans-Head opened his eyes and was finally healed.
Not only did the Crow Indians use the method of acting like an animal but they also used different types of medicines. The medicines that the Crow Indians used in 1700s are a lot different than the medicines that we see and use  today in the world we live in. For example, The Crow indians would use plants and a lot of different kinds of herbs. When healing, The Indians first watched sick and wounded animals to see what they used to cure themselves. Because of this, the wounded and sick animals introduced the Native Americans to using herbs and plants as a medicine. The Native Americans used Tobacco in almost all of their cures and became one of the most sacred herbs. The Native Americans used flowers such as sage, to cure evil spirits, and animal skins to connect themselves with a specific animal and cure the wounded by the animals power. Although in our culture today, anybody is allowed to get and distribute medicine, in the Native American culture, it wasn't right for just anybody to give out the medicine to the wounded. It was apart of the ritual that the wisest man would distribute the medicine. In the story of Plenty coup, Bird-Shirt, who was the wisest man in the tribe, beat the medicine drums, which was also a form of medicine,  for  Swans-Head. Other Medicines that were used consist of Cedar fruit and leaves for coughs and colds, animal skins, singing, and the beating of the medicine drums.
These healing rituals were used for many years during the 1700’s by the Native Americans. It is said that the 80% of the time, the healing rituals actually worked. The Indians think that the only reason that sometimes the ritual didn't work, was because something went wrong with the procedure. For example, everything had to be quiet around the area where the healing was taking place. If one thing was done wrong, or even if one thing was out of place the healing ritual would not be successful and the warrior would not be cured. These are just a few examples of how Native Americans in the 1700’s used their own ideas like acting like animals and different kinds of medicines to cure the wounded warriors in their tribes.
By Lunden

Friday, March 1, 2013

The 4 ways to count coup


By stealing a horse, touching and enemy, leading a war party, and knocking enemies down are all ways to count coup in the native american culture.
The first way to count coup is by stealing a horse. the chief after plenty coup earned his coups in World War ll. One way he counted coup was by stealing one of the german’s horse. In the middle of the night he went to steal a horse. this only took a matter of minutes by using his knife to cut the rope and calming the horse with his smooth words. “Whoa, whoa now, whoa now,” said Joseph Medicine Crow. He would sneak by unharmed, but to find out he stole a mule not a horse, although this was counted as a coup.
Another way to count coup was by touching the enemy. After knocking the enemy down with his gun, Joseph grabbed the enemies neck. the enemy begged for mercy, and Joseph spared his life by letting go of his neck. This  was another way to count coup because of him touching or grabbing the enemy.# One of the battles between the Crow and the Sioux showed much of counting coup. For example when he-is-brave-without-being-married struck one of the enemy Sioux with his arm showed a way of counting coup.#
Next leading  a war party was a great way to count coup. For example when Joseph lead his party in World War ll to complete the mission and all come back fine. To Joseph this was a hard part of the counting coup process, but when Joseph was in the war he didn’t realize he was counting coup . Plenty Coup had lead many war parties into battle, yet not all came back alive, although many battles where a victory.
The last way to count coup was by Knocking your enemy to the ground with a weapon. Such as when Joseph Knock the enemy down with his weapon and started to grab his neck. This actually showed counting coup two times because of the knocking down enemy with his enemy, and grabbing his neck considered touching the enemy. Also Plenty Coup knocked down two enemies with his gun one time in battle showing a way to count coup. He also hit a man with there coup stick knocking them down and running away.
The few ways of counting coup showed honor and bravery to the Native American tribes.
by jaden

Healing from Battle


While in battle, the Crows held strong to their healing methods ,but it didn't always work. The Crow indians, like many others, had their own way of healing and medicine.
Their methods aimed toward healing them spiritually, they wanted to restore one to a healthy and spiritually pure state#. When they would heal somebody it was a ritual, they had symbolic rituals  that would treat illness, and other remedies such as herbal would treat physical. A symbolic ritual could involve family members to beg the spirits to want to help heal the person; if a person is really sick they might hold a whole community ceremonie, there they would sing, paint their bodies, and of course dance. These things could last from hours up to several weeks. They never give up.For example, Plenty Coups told a story of when a fellow Crow warrior was shot , his name was The Wolf. Takes Plenty, a wise medicine man, that also was Plenty Coups uncle, immediately went to work. The Wolf was in rough shape with blood spilling from the whole in his breast. Takes Plenty opened what they called a medicine pouch and took out
The-flower-the-buffalo-will-not-eat and they watched him chew it up in his mouth and blew the contents upon The Wolf’s breast. He then took a few steps, about one-quarter round the body, and repeated what he just did. Then half round, next three quarters and every time he did  the exact same thing. Takes plenty then began acting as a buffalo-bull and snorted and jumped over the wounded warrior. The Wolf tried turning his body to watch but they never met eyes. he repeated this several times until he finally said “bring me a robe with a tail on it”. Now he was jumping over the man while waving a buffalo tail before him. He did this on purpose to try and make The Wolf reach for the tail. Still not looking at him he continued jumping and leaping over him. He then turned to walk slowly away while The Wolfs once weak effort to grab the tail turned into a must and he kept reaching farther and farther out until at last he was sitting straight up. Takes Plenty now looked into the wounded warriors hopeful eyes, but still backing away. The Wolf  reached further and further out until he was on his feet! They then opened his shirt and they told The Wolf to stretch himself and soon black blood spilled out over his body followed by red blood, Takes Plenty filled the hole with the same flowers and The Wolf was fine to live on.#
In order for these healings to work everything has to be exact  and by exact I mean if the ritual was interrupted or somebody messed it up and touched or went through something they were not aloud to it probably wouldn't work. See these things were also the Indians way of asking the spirits to help heal, so if it were interrupted it wouldn't work. Once a Crow Indian named Bird Shirt too got wounded severely and they did a healing ritual and the man did live for three or four days but then died and they said it was because of a violation of one of the first orders given.
Plenty Coups said “ our wise ones learned much from the animals and bird who heal themselves from wounds. But our faith in them Perished soon after the white man came, and now, too late, we know that with all his wonderful powers, the white man is not wise. He is smart, but not wise, and fools only himself.” Like us, the indians had many methods of healing and back then their methods might not seem so practical to us but the often worked very well.
by brooke

Counting Coup

The Crow had four ways of counting coup: stealing horses, knocking the enemy down, touching the enemy, and leading a war party.
The first way is stealing a horse from a different tribe. In the Native American Testimony, it describes how Joseph Medicine Crow counted all four coup in WWII. He went up to the German’s horse stable and walked up to a horse saying “Whoa, whoa, now, whoa now.” Joseph wrapped a rope around its snout and attempted to get on with his mud caked boots. He had some troubles at first but finally got on and rode to the gate that his partner will open at his whistle. Thats how Joseph got his first coup.#
Then, Joseph got a coup by knocking an armed German down. Another one of the four ways to get coup is to knock down and armed enemy while unarmed. They were both going the same direction and Joseph jumped up and knocked him down. There was another story Mr. Johnson told us about when Plenty Coup got on his horse, rode over to three armed Flathead indians, through his gun to the side, and jumped off his horse on to two of the armed Indians collecting coup. Then killed them with his bare hands.
The Third way is to touch an enemy. When he knocked him down he put his hands around the german’s throat but let go before he killed him counting one more unthought about coup. Plenty Coup also did this but in a different way. He dove to a man hiding behind tall grass trying to not be seen or hurt by the armed man or his feather would have to be painted red meaning he got injured in the attempt to gather coup. He reached around and grabbed the man’s coup-stick and struck the man with his own coup-stick then kept it, proof that he counted coup with someone elses coup-stick on pg. 222.# The final way to get the fourth coup is to lead a war party. In the Native American Testimony, Joseph led a war party earning his fourth and last coup required to be a chief. He took six men and led them up the hill covered in mines. they through a bunch of smoke grenades until the whole side of the hill was covered with white smoke. They didn’t know where the mines were so they just ran blindly up the hill while the Germans shot mortars at the hillside some coming awfully close.
There were four ways of counting coup that were required in order to become a chief that Joseph and Plenty Coup got and became chiefs.
by wyatt

Religious Healers

“There is no man alive today that is as religious as the indians where.” This was said by Chief Plenty-Coup. What he said is very true, the Native Americans whole life was centered around the spirits. Everything thing they did was somehow connected to the spirits. Today you don’t see religion like the Native Americans had.

Religion in the Native American culture has always been a way of life, and therefore made the Indians very religious, because religion was the reason for everything they did. For the Native Americans medicine was always about healing the person, and less about the health issues they were undergoing. Whenever someone falls ill in the tribe it is believed to the Indians as spiritual problems. So when the medicine man in the tribe would come to help the ill person, they were mostly trying to balance the sick person back to a pure state of spirituality. Some healing rituals could go on for days and during these days the sick person’s family would be around the whole time for the healing ritual contributing mostly by pray. The family members could also join in the medicine man’s singing and the chants. Some of these rituals are still practiced today.#

In the book “Plenty-Coup; chief of the Crows”#  by Frank Linderman, Plenty-Coup tells the story of a battle he was once in where one of their men got shot. The medicine man (also known as a Shaman), of his tribe at that time, performed a ritual for the shot man by the creek. He made a path the creek and told everyone in the tribe they where not to pass it or else the spirits would be upset and something bad might come to the wounded warrior. Before the ritual could begin the Shaman put on a wolf’s skin and made clay wolf ears. He also painted  the injured man Blue.The Medicine man placed the hurt man on the ground and skipped around four times like a wolf does. He would jump over the man repetitively and howling at the same time he soon lead the man slowly towards the creek down the path until they where standing in the creek. The man soon began to bleed rapidly turning the calm water a dark red,the shaman hurried to clean his wounds. Four days after this ritual the wounded warrior passed away sadly, the Crows explanation for his death was that somebody must have walked over the path causing the death of the man. Religion circled the Native Americans life with everything they did.
Death in the Native Americans perspective was not seen as a scary doom to them. Death was apart of everyday life, and they faced it with dignity.
by riley

Monday, February 25, 2013

Importance of Animals

In the crow tribe animals were an important part of their life and religion. One way animals were a vital part of their life cycle was because they provided everything they needed for life. For example, buffalo nearly ran the Crow’s life. They followed the buffalo around to hunt them for food, shelter, and clothing. Whenever they killed a buffalo the Crow always treated them with respect and honor. Another way animals were an important part of the Crow life was because many natives had names of animals. For example, in Linderman’s account of Plenty Coups vision. there were names such as Coyote Runs, Yellow Bear, and Plain-Bull. These people helped interpret and figure out the dream, so one can see that having a name like an animal is a great honor for Native Americans especially Crow. Another example would also be from Vision Quest Structures. Plenty Coups was on his first vision at the age of ten. While on it he saw many buffalo pouring out of a hole in the ground and spread over the plains only to pop into nothing. Many more spotted buffalo (cows) came out of the hole and covered the plains.  Another example of an animal in Plenty Coups vision was the chickadee. In the end of his vision Plenty Coup saw a dark forest, and in that forest one tree with a lone chickadee. This bird taught Plenty Coup to be wise and to listen to others just like the chickadee does in real life. It never barges in and always hears with a steady mind. The inclusion of animals in Crow culture was huge and important and to be put on a vision quest with that much animal interaction was very honorable.
by Mavrick

Research


Vision Quests
Vision Quests for the Crow Indian Tribe were very spiritually personal for the person taking it, but  there where also plus sides for the tribe. There were many reasons why a person would go on a vision quest. Obtaining their guardian spirit power was one reason they went. Another reason some people went was it was a ceremonial tradition.Plenty- Coups went on many spirit quests in his lifetime, his first one at age ten.#He went out into the wilderness with no food, water, or rest in order to receive a vision from a spirit. eventually He received a vision that helped him shape his and his tribes futures #.  Many things happened on a spirit quest to a person that was lucky enough to get a visit from a spirit. first of all, in order to get the vision, they would have to go days without sleep, food, water, or a fire. Sometimes an individual would self harm themselves to “increase susceptibility” to a guardian spirit.# When he/she would receive an appearance from the guardian spirit, they would be led to another world where he would be introduced to the supernatural spirit forces. After that, he/she would usually receive his power from a bear, eagle, or bison. Plenty-coups said, “he pointed,and from the peak of the Crazy mountains i saw a buffalo-bull standing where we are sitting now. i got up and started to go to the bull, because he was the person who wanted me.” Linderman was talking about Plenty-coups vision and his experience with the spirit quest. Vision quests of the Crow indian tribe were very spiritual and often a personal experience.
By McKenna

Spirituality (or that word I can not say)

The Native Americans depended on one thing always which was their spirituality. The Male Native Americans went through vision quests and one of the most popular and well known is Plenty Coups’ vision quest. Vision quests are is the practice of praying to obtain a spirit power. The quest was performed with males and the men were sent to a isolated place where they would encounter a guardian spirit. For four days and nights the adolescents males would go without food water and fire and their bodies longing for the spirits. The spirits were called little persons or guardians. In the quest the men would see supernatural spiritual forces. They would receive their powers from three different types of animals an eagle or a bear or even a bison. Some of the most common places and where archaeologists found remnants of the vision quest is the Pryor Mountains.# # One of the most famous visions quest is Plenty Coups’ his vision quest occurred in the Crazy Mountains. When Plenty Coups was 10 years old he headed up to Crazy Mountains with nothing but him. It was midnight and he heard a voice then saw a person not just any person but the spirit his elders talked about. The person was gone but then he saw a buffalo bull standing right in front of him. The bull then turned into a man in a buffalo robe. “Come” The man said directing Plenty Coups to follow him. The shaking of the mans rattle lead Plenty Coups to a knoll and made him sit. “Look” the man pointed outward. There was a hole in the ground, where the buffalo came out of the hole, but as soon as all the buffalo were out of the hole they disappeared all of them were gone. Not one was in sight on the whole Plains. The mans rattle was shaken again and he yelled “Look!” Again Plenty Coup looked at the hole in the ground and more bulls and cows and calves poured out of the hole, but they were different. The unknown type of buffalo had spots ate grass and laid differently than any ordinary buffalo. Just like the buffalo before they disappeared back into the hole in the ground. “Do you understand this which I have shown you, Plenty Coups? The man asked him. Plenty Coups was confused so he replied with a quick no. The two men traveled through the hole in the ground they reached an house. At the house there was an old man dozing away. The man talked to Plenty Coup asking him if he knew this old man if he recognized him. The reason why he asked Plenty Coup is because that old man was him. The old man with the house was Plenty Coup in the future. The house then disappeared with the other two men. The trees around Plenty blew down except one. The man then came back and explained to him why this one tree was still standing. It was the home of a Chickadee bird. # The spirituality of the Native Americans is what made their lifestyle different from everyone elses they put religion first its what made Chiefs such as Plenty Coups.
by Kacyee

Vision Quest

Young adults of Indian tribes went on spirit quests and had dreams that were prophetic, or predicted the future, such as Plenty-coup’s dream. During the ten year old’s dream, Plenty-coup was led to a hole in the earth. After arriving at the top of the hole, buffalo streamed out of the earth, but they charged in all directions. Plenty-coup saw the buffalo fade away. Something else came from the hole, though. Like the buffalo, another creature came from the hole. It was countless cattle.# As seen in the dream, the buffalo would disappear do to them being slaughtered, and white men would replace the land with their cattle. Later on in Plenty-coup’s dream, he had seen his future. The spirit who was leading Plenty-coup through his dream stopped at a house. A feeble old man had been sitting in the shade. “Do you know him, Plenty-coup?” the spirit inquired the boy. Of course Plenty-coup had responded with a “no.” Once he replied, the spirit continued, “This old man is yourself.”# It is true that Plenty-coup had grown to be very old. As the old man he had seen in his vision, Plenty-coup lived on the land he saw himself on. At the end of his dream, Plenty-Coup saw epic destruction showing the future of the tribes of Montana. A mighty forest was before him when the winds came, forcing chaos onto the trees. In the end, one lone tree held firm, a chickadee perched on one of the branches.# The trees of the forest were symbolizing the other tribes, and if they fought the invaders to come, they would fall. Still standing, the lone tree represented Plenty-coup’s tribe, the Crow, and if they befriended the invaders, they would keep their land. Not every dream is a prophetic one, yet Plenty-coup’s dream had been; it may have even saved the Crows.
by Brenna

Friday, February 22, 2013

Research Paper


Plenty Coup’s future: Shaped by vision
Jaylyn Massie


Plenty Coup’s Vision shaped his future, and his tribe’s also. because of his vision, Plenty-Coup’s future was predicted, and his life story came to no surprise. As told in his vision, Plenty Coup would have no children. Although Plenty Coup tried, the two children he had died at birth. When Plenty Coup was having his vision, the spirit-man showed him who he was going to be when he was older. he brought Plenty Coup to an old tree and pointed for Plenty Coup to look. there, underneath the tree, with a head dress sitting on his head, sat Plenty Coup. in this hallucination, Plenty Coup was very old and it was obvious that the old man was a chief. Sure enough, Plenty Coup grew up to be a chief, and lived to an old age. having that vision meant gaining spirit power.#In addition, Plenty Coup’s vision helped his tribe a ton and maybe even saved their lives. His vision taught them not to fight the white men, but to be friends with them. When Plenty Coup was telling his vision to the elders, one of the old men said, “the tribes who have fought the white man have all been beaten, wiped out. by listening as the chickadee listens, we may escape this and keep our lands.”# he was able to tell this by Plenty Coup’s dream. As was guessed, the Crow tribe did get to keep their lands when the whites came and formed a friendship with the whites, agreeing to be their allies. not only did Plenty Coup’s vision shape his future, but his tribe’s as well.        

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

comma story thingy

As the hunters of the Sioux Indian tribe scourer the land for food, they come across a heard of buffalo. Since the buffalo were near a river, the Indians could easily go in for the kill. The Sioux Indians close behind the buffalo, yet one spooked and they had all scattered, making it harder for them. The buffalo stampead he ground but the Sioux are closing in fast. The Sioux closed in, as they separated one buffalo from the heard. Hooves beating and hearts thumping. A Sioux pulls his bow back, as the arrow launches into the air, piercing the hide of the buffalo. Falling to the ground, the hunt is over.
                    BY WILLIS!!:)

comma story thing

The war chief searched for he plains buffalo, while the winter inched closer and he need for food grew stronger. As his tribe followed, the search became more difficult. As soon as a buffalo was seen, it was killed and put on the back of here horses. While he buffalo were grazing cross the river, the furry well fed animals were easy to see, and the tribe lingered behind them. Although the buffalo were fierce, they could but beat the Indians, and it would be a good fight. Their hooves dug into the soil, and the buffalo frantically tried to run away. The tribal hunters speared every buffalo hey could, but they were large creatures, hard to catch as well. One after the other, buffalo plopped to the ground. Te earth shook. Hunters did not mind, as they were used to it.
                   By: Mckenna(:
 

I LOVE U!~~Madi

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Monday, February 4, 2013

During the book Witness someone shot a little girls father and killed him. Harvey is guilty of it, on page 29 he joins the Klan.The Klan is a huge group of racists that do whatever they want. After he joined the Klan he was going to trash another mans business; it was so bad that no one came to Harvey's store to buy anything also on page 92 the Doc was refusing to do anything for Harvey, but Harvey then said Klan will see to him if he does. He was basically threatened the Doc.  Page 102 Harvey smashed a bottle and said that it felt good breaking it in his Klu Klux Klan clothes and doesn't care if it hurt anyone. Another reason why Harvey is guilty is because Johnny and Merlin didn't do it. Johnny isn't guilty because he left the Klan on page 113 and wanted o redeem him self with God because he was ashamed of what he'd done when he was with the Klan. Merlin also didn't do it; on page 115 Merlin was handed a bottle of poison and was told to dump it in the Sutter's well water. Merlin couldn't do it, he refused to take the  poison and kill someone. Harvey Pettibone is the man that shot that little girls father he doesn't feel the pain when he ruins something.

Final Speech- If you were absent on Monday start this today


Civil Rights Movement Final Speech
Topics

You will give an informational speech for the class. The topic of your speech is the Civil Rights Movement. You may do any of the following options:
  1. Choose a Martin Luther King Jr. quote and use the quote to describe the Civil Rights Movement.
    1. Begin with the quote
    2. Analyze the quote while giving specific anecdotes about what the quote connects with.
  2. Choose a Langston Hughes poem and use the poem to describe the Civil Rights Movement.
    1. Begin with the poem
    2. Analyze the poem while giving specific anecdotes about what the quote connects with.
  3. Choose an event, method or person in the Civil Rights Movement to describe. These are examples.
Pers0n
Event
Method
Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville Sit-ins
Speeches
Malcolm X
Selma Marches
Civil Disobedience
Rosa Parks
Bus Boycott
Marches
Thrugood Marshall
Central High- Little Rock Nine
Education
James Meredith
James Merideth – University of Miss.

John Lewis
Freedom Riders

Jim Zwerg
March on Washington

Medger Evers
Children’s March

Langston Hughes
Freedom Summer – Mississippi



Steps
  1. Choose the type of speech you want to do.
  2. Choose the topic, quote or poem.
  3. Brainstorm all the information, examples and anecdotes that you can think of.
  4. Prewrite your speech.
    1. Introduction
                                                              i.      Use the poem, quote or an eyewitness story.
                                                            ii.      Add a thesis that clearly states the three points that you are going to make.
    1. Body
                                                              i.      Topic sentences clearly tell each point
                                                            ii.      Fill the body with your best anecdotes and examples
    1. Conclusion
                                                              i.      Clearly restate your points
                                                              ii.      You may finish with repeating the poem or quote or a part or it.
  1. Final speech
    1. Put your final speech on note cards
                                                              i.      You may write out the introduction and conclusion.
                                                            ii.      The body is notes. One note card for each main point (star idea)
                                                          iii.      The conclusion may be written out.
  1. Practice your speech
    1. Pay attention to the points on the rubric.
    2. You cannot practice to much.
  2. Giving your speech
    1. You will give your speech in front of  language arts or history class.
    2. You will be expected to dress up for your speech
Speech Prewriting
Introduction






T-Chart
















Conclusion







Thursday, January 31, 2013

MEMORIES

what happens to a memory that's forgot?

Is it like when you cant remember the cold of winter in the heat of summer?


Or does it randomly pound in your head like a drummer?


Do you remember it with a scent?
and it stays in your head like cement.


O does it wilt away?
never wanting to stay.

Is it like an obsession
that causes aggression?

Or does it make a connection?


                                                     By Rilayyyyyyyyyy :)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Witness Argumentative by Melissa

During the book Witness someone shot a little girl's father and killed him. Harvey is guilty of it, on page 29 he  joins the Klan. The Klan is a huge group of racists that do what ever they want. After he joined the clan he was going to trash another man's business; it was so bad that no one came to Harvey's store to buy anything, also on page 92 the doc was refusing to do anything for Harvey, but Harvey then said, "Klan will see to him if he does." He was basically threatening the doc. On page 102, Harvey smashed a bottle and said that it felt good breaking it in his Ku Klux Klan clothes and that he doesn't care if it hurts anyone. Another reason why Harvey is guilty is because Johnny and Merlin did not do it. Johnny is not guilty because he left the Klan on page 113 and wanted to redeem himself with God because he was ashamed of what he had done when he was with the Klan. Merlin also didn't do it; on page 115 Merlin was handed a bottle of poison and was told to dump it in Sutter's well water. Merlin couldn't do it, he refused to take the poison and kill someone. Harvey Pettibone is the man that shot that little girl's father; he doesn't feel pain when he ruins something.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Merry go round

I feel my eyes grow wide as i walk closer to the spinning merry go round. I cant believe it! Its so cool! The happy music makes me feel happy. The sweet smell of cotton candy comes up into my nose. While i wait in line, because my daddy said i could ride, I think of my friend in Alabama. Don where me and my family live blacks ain't aloud to sit by whites. We cant sit side by side. Me and my colored friend go to school with the other colored boys and girls. My daddy said i was never to become friends with a white. When i asked why, he told me why? I look up and see that i am so close to all he colors and all the fun. I can barely stand still. I am so excited! then i remember. Their is no Jim crow section. I might not be able to ride. My heart falls to the floor. But... I have waited all this time. My daddy walks up o me and kneels down, looking into my brown eyes. His brown fingers wipe the single tear that wiggled down my cheek. "go ask, baby its your turn." After he kisses m cheek, i walk on shaky legs to the man in charge. "where is the jim crow section on this merry go round? i wanna ride."
                                By Eva :)

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Still Strong


Been alone and wondersome
my heart has made me wonder
the heavens did take her
my father does miss her

looks like between the 'em
they did tried

to shake me, stay strong, stay happy, stay loved
my mother tells me so 
I Listen

by zina

Still alive

Been run down and saved.
I wish my mom was here.
Shock has froze me,
Black has saved me.

Looks like the night saves the day with no respect to pay.
Stop wantin, stop waitin, stop wishing.
But i dont care.
Im still alive.
                By Wyatt

Still running booze

Been running booze and ignorent.
The laws i have been breaking.
Booze has made me,
The law has not stopped me.

Looks as if my life is set and stone
nothings gonna change me.

Stop runnin, chasin, sellin.
But that wont stop me,
Im still sellin.
                    By Ashly

Still Single

been bruised and abused
my daddy got lost in work\
man has angered me
father has scarred me

looks of man
tried to phase me

soften up, give in, lose everything I work for
I DO care
but I remain unmarried

by Nicole

Still angry poem

Been craby and sarcastic
My dream that Harvey diminished.
His lies has hurt me.
His eyes deceive me.

Seems all between he don't care
Trying to change me.

Stop yellin, stop buggin, stop thinkin.
But it dont matter
im still angry.
                   By Macy

Still Preaching

Been troubled and frowned
my faith the people done downed
water has hurt me
fire has empowered me

looks like I'm the klan
i tried to lead

Keep prejudice, keep racism, keep segregating
and I still care
I'm still preaching

by Steven

Little rock interpret poem

The nine brave teens did it.
They stepped forward in dark times
of all the high schools.
It was central high school they chose.
Led by officers like myself.

Nathan, a boys a boys name whispered in the crowd,
son of another hard working man,
and his skin,
his personality,
were white as snow and stone cold.
For he was another racist white, like them all.

The students, nine black teens, enter through the massive doors.
Students watch with baited breathing,
they might have to change tradition.
Said they wanted education
since they were young.
                                          By Mackenzie

Still Watching

Been watching and waiting
my town the klan done scattered
blacks has friz me
whites has baked me

looks like the town has
tried to make the klan

stop prayin, stop fighting, stop being
but I don't care
I'm still watching

by Joe

Still Married

My faith in him swallowed down
stupidity drowns me
stress buckels me down

looks like I haven't done much
tired to change him

stop messin, stop buyin, stop foolin around
FOR PETE'S SAKE
I'm tryin

by Allie

Still scared

Still scared,
My braveness has flown, ut, away.
Fire has caught me,
Train has chased me.

Feels like between them
been tryin to make me,

Stop feelin, stop breathin, stop dreamin.
But i sink lower in my chair,
Im stilll scared.
        By lauren(: