Context: Encountering conflict discussion thread

[vashappenin]

Ok this might be a stupid idea, but I reckon it'll be useful to have some kind of an ongoing discussion about anything related to encountering conflict such as movies, books, historical events, important individuals, current affairs, etc. to keep it going fresh in our minds and to also express our own opinions and ideas.. I don't know about anybody else, but I know that personally, I constantly get stuck for ideas when it comes to essays (particularly expository), so I guess this'll be somewhat useful for us all!

P.S. Past students can post here as well; In fact anybody can really! Anything is better than nothing after all

[McFleurry]

great idea

Gun laws (USA)

[vashappenin]

Yes! Someone at least approves
Sorry, I should've written down something myself ahah :S
Maybe we should also state what type of conflict it is, and elaborate a little too

Hmm, theres so much! How about the civil rights movements? They're an example of racial conflict; specifically looking at the segregation of black and white people in america and the events leading, including the montgomery bus boycott, the sit-ins, freedom riders, etc. Whoa, this can relate to so much! Then there's the novel to kill a mockingbird, and important figures such as rosa parks and martin luther king jr...

[TheAntiSocialist]

Hmm, theres so much! How about the civil rights movements? They're an example of racial conflict; specifically looking at the segregation of black and white people in america and the events leading, including the montgomery bus boycott, the sit-ins, freedom riders, etc. Whoa, this can relate to so much! Then there's the novel to kill a mockingbird, and important figures such as rosa parks and martin luther...

Man, encountering conflict seems like one of the broadest contexts...conflict, after all, practically occurs ALL the time + all the different implications it has towards people.

This fact can be interpreted two different ways - hard because there's too much to consider or quite manageable because there's such a variety when it comes to examples we can give 

[vashappenin]

Exactly why encountering conflict is such a good context!! There's sooo many different ways to interpret and express opinion about the same issue, be it something large-scale or small-scale

[TheAntiSocialist]

I wanna try keeping this thread alive - does have potential - though it seems like no one has done anything so far

I think a way to improve our discussions is to narrow down the topics we discuss - that way we know what common subject/conflict/issue we could discuss - makes it easier to relate to schoolwork.

It would be helpful if we let each other know of what books we're doing for context.

For context, I'm doing The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif (civil war/international war/personal conflict) and Paradise Road (which I've yet to watch - got the DVD though)

[vashappenin]

I wanna try keeping this thread alive - does have potential - though it seems like no one has done anything so far

I think a way to improve our discussions is to narrow down the topics we discuss - that way we know what common subject/conflict/issue we could discuss - makes it easier to relate to schoolwork.

It would be helpful if we let each other know of what books we're doing for context.

For context, I'm doing The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif (civil war/international war/personal conflict) and Paradise Road (which I've yet to watch - got the DVD though)

Aw I'm happy that you're so keen, GOOD ON YOU :')
Can you give an example of a narrowed down topic?

And I'm studying the Quiet American, the Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif and Life of Galileo

[TheAntiSocialist]

Aw I'm happy that you're so keen, GOOD ON YOU :')
Can you give an example of a narrowed down topic?

And I'm studying the Quiet American, the Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif and Life of Galileo

Good, we have a common text!

I reckon an example of my so-called 'narrowed' down topic would be something like -

"How individuals are affected physically and mentally due to war in their homelands - how conflict shapes their lives and minds"

Don't know whether that is specific enough for you, but I have used something like  that to do some research - for example, I managed  to read about a young boy of six who escaped from becoming a child soldier in war-torn Sudan.

The boy was captured at first, and was subjected to living in a suffocating tent for weeks, experiencing unwarranted brutality  "None of us wanted to be beaten up by the soldiers every time we had to go to the restroom"

He also became used to the consequences of conflict, "Death was a part of life in the prison camp. With time, I got used to it"

And here's a quote that is similar to that of Najaf's experiences from the Rugmaker, "If I spent too much time thinking about home and my mom and my dad, all I wanted to do was cry."

The part about him escaping involved running barefoot over rough terrain, jungle, etc...until they reach the border of...um...can't really remember...but it was the border to another country where there were massive refugee camps - or something like that.

That was a bit - hopefully it relates back to the context! Or it may not...   

[vashappenin]

Whoa that's really good!
I came across similar research the other day, about a child soldier from the Sierra Leone war whos family was killed leaving him forced to become a child soldier, and how conflict had affected him so deeply that killing became a norm for him. He began to feel good about having authority over adults, etc.
It also further talked about how it's hard for surviving child soldiers to settle into everyday life, as they've become so accustomed to war and killing that it becomes a way of life, and they even begin to miss the sound of gunshots and yearn to go back.
I guess in a way this relates to your statement, "How individuals are affected physically and mentally due to war in their homelands - how conflict shapes their lives and minds" , particularly in terms of the mental/psychological implications

For the rugmaker, you could also look at related stories of asylum seekers, I'm sure there's plenty!
And I guess any discussion is better than no discussion, so even if it isn't REAAALLY specific, as long as it generates some kind of idea related to encountering conflict, it can be moulded and worked on to fit any prompt

[TheAntiSocialist]

Whoa that's really good!
I came across similar research the other day, about a child soldier from the Sierra Leone war whos family was killed leaving him forced to become a child soldier, and how conflict had affected him so deeply that killing became a norm for him. He began to feel good about having authority over adults, etc.
It also further talked about how it's hard for surviving child soldiers to settle into everyday life, as they've become so accustomed to war and killing that it becomes a way of life, and they even begin to miss the sound of gunshots and yearn to go back.
I guess in a way this relates to your statement, "How individuals are affected physically and mentally due to war in their homelands - how conflict shapes their lives and minds" , particularly in terms of the mental/psychological implications

For the rugmaker, you could also look at related stories of asylum seekers, I'm sure there's plenty!
And I guess any discussion is better than no discussion, so even if it isn't REAAALLY specific, as long as it generates some kind of idea related to encountering conflict, it can be moulded and worked on to fit any prompt

NICE...i guess you're definitely right about "any discussion is better than no discussion." I was only worried about what happened last year with my Context pieces - although I had good examples they didn't really tie in with the books (lack of skill, I guess) - got marked down because of them.

Anyway, gotta do some study for Biology - will come back in a day or so....

[vashappenin]

It really depends on the prompt, what ideas you want to talk about, and your articulation.. so maybe you can work on those things
Come back whenever you want to! Don't feel as though this is some sort of compulsion, it's just something we can all contribute to whenever we feel the need to in order to help everyone out

[TheAntiSocialist]

It really depends on the prompt, what ideas you want to talk about, and your articulation.. so maybe you can work on those things
Come back whenever you want to! Don't feel as though this is some sort of compulsion, it's just something we can all contribute to whenever we feel the need to in order to help everyone out

LOL, don't worry, I would do anything that could help me with CONTEXT - as it is part where I normally have less marks (opposed to Text and LA)

[brenden]

Remember that you have 3 very different styles to utilise for context! If you're struggling with one...