Monday, August 27, 2012

Aug. 22nd Socratic Seminar Response

Today's Socratic Seminar was interesting to say the least. Conner tended to be the only one actively participating and was very convincing in his arguments with occasional rebuttal from other students as well as Dr. Preston. It isn't really that I believe I have a right to my opinion, it's more that I feel it has some value. The fact that I have a mind that can form an entirely different opinion than the person to my right from the same exact information is astounding to me. I may not have the right to my opinion but I have the want to and fascination with it. Also I disagree with saying my right = your obligation. I have the right to life, doesn't mean in any way you have the obligation not to take that from me, nor protect it. You have the right to pick your own battles, I have the Choice to protect you or not. I even have the option of being on the other side of the fight from you. Right does not equal obligation and my opinion is my own whether it is respected by others or not it means a lot to me.

Vocab 3

Accolade: any award, honor, or laudatory notice. The celebrity received accolades from the press for their community service.

Acerbity: sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste. She had a certain amount of acerbity towards her little sisters actions at the party.

Attrition: a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength. The town has a high attrition rate due to people moving from their homes after the flood.

Bromide: a person who is platitudinous and boring. He is a bromide guy, never having anything interesting to say.

Chauvinist: a person who is aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory. His blind support of the war was very chauvinistic.

Chronic: constant; habitual; inveterate. There was a chronic storm that just would not let up that developed in the valley.

Expound: to set forth or state in detail. I continued to expound on the subject when I realized how many people weren't quite grasping the concepts.

Factionalism: of a faction or factions. Democrats and Republicans are examples of factionalism within the political system.

Immaculate: free from fault or flaw; free from errors. They were completely immaculate in the crime and no charges were pressed.

Imprecation: the act of imprecating; cursing. An imprecation came about and sparked a fiery argument between friends.

Ineluctable: incapable of being evaded; inescapable. The meet with her new in-laws was an ineluctable predicament that she could only clench her teeth and dread with anticipation.

Mercurial: animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted. They were very mercurial children which they inherited from their mother's snappy comebacks and fathers great intelligence and enthusiasm.

Palliate: to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate. The medication was simply to palliate the pain she felt.

Protocol: the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette. Everyone at the table knew the protocol, no elbows on the table, no chewing with mouths open, and no eating with simply hands.

Resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid. She was a resplendent sight for the men after a year out at sea.

Stigmatize: to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon. He dug up the mans criminal record to stigmatize him in front of the judge.

Sub Rosa: confidentially; secretly; privately. They gathered in a rather sub rosa way, venturing deep into the forest with no technology to track them down or pinpoint their location.

Vainglory: excessive elation or pride. She took her vainglory stature with her everywhere she went, standing atop an invisible pedestal she'd built from her success.

Vestige: a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence. There were vestige markings on the trees almost as if someone had marked a path to find their way back.

Volition: the act of willing, choosing, or resolving. There was a volition of problems as the men realized they had been wrong to fight over something so petty.