Concept for TEDTalk

Good afternon, Creators. My name is Ashanti Marshall, amatuer poet and wild sunflower. Poetry is the possibility of language. Language is the most common form of communication. Free thoughts equate to free lips. In this TEDTalk, I will explore prose poetry. Writing prose poetry is much like painting a picture, there is an artistry to it. Start with some form, create a general picture, paint with adjectives to give depth, incoporate texture and add a little mystery. Here's an example of prose poetry....(poem appears on screen). I will proceed to point out identifying, unique characteristics of this genre of poetry. The audience will interact by identifying these characteristics. Then, I will read my prose poem. To conclude with why prose poetry is important and needed.

My Prose Poem (Rough Cut)

You’ve been in bed all day.

Allow me to indulge myself in you.

If I were to be graced with your presence

in this very moment, I would

disrobe you and adore your every glorious curve,

bathe you in scents of white jasmine and mint…

lay you down on that same bed that has

gotten to know you so

intimately and

explore your garden….

with my childlike innocence and pursuant curiosity.

I gather up the sunshine of your smile

when I caress your skin

and partake in the sweet nectar

produced betwixt your aureate thighs.

Rhythmic stimulation made your

sunflower’s petals open.

I lay with you, content in your warmth and fullness.

Solar flares.

We personify Light,

beaming brilliantly.

List of ideas for a TED Talk

1.     nail art tutorial

2.     how to write a haiku

3.     lesson on how to write prose poetry

4.     tips on how to care for small children

5.     how to swaddle a baby

6.     how to conduct yourself properly in a place of business

7.     how to style hair

8.     how to mix foods

9.     public speaking skills

10. how to orient yourself around Chicago

11. how to hold your feelings in

12. how to jump a car

13. how to speak your mind respectively

14. how to take the ‘L’ (using public transportation from a tourist’s perspective)

15. how to thrift

16. how to clip coupons

17. how to make friendship bracelets

18. how to tweet

19. how to create a captivating Prezi presentation

20. how to play the guitar

Thoughts on J.K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Speech

Rowling's speech was honest and pure. When she recalled her past failures and experiences, the audience related. She was a great fit for this event, she was inspiring and captivated the audience with her wit.

Thoughts on Pranav Mistry's TEDTalk

Will sixth sense technology do away with the basic functions we learned when we were younger? As technology progresses forward, will things like writing a letter and using the Dewey decimal system become a thing of the past? Education will forever be transformed by this technological advancement as the world is embracing the wonders of the "digital age". If information and content are King, where do our own, individual thoughts rank?

Spirituality vs. Religion

Ashanti Marshall

Interdisciplinary Writing

Period 5

March 19, 13

Everything meant to define people, divides them.  Truth is only truth if one believes, right? Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forwards.

You alienate yourself from the world when you act as if you know it all, none of us know everything, we just know a little. A growing number of people are beginning

to identify with spirituality as opposed to claiming a specific religion.

            Majority of individuals have been introduced to religion at some point and

time in their life. Whether you have gone to church, watched a sermon or joined in on a casual conversation about religion, you have been exposed to it. Religion provides people with individual instinctive behavior thus cultivating moral support amongst the followers of the religion. In contrast, religion also limits free thinking and stunts personality growth. People blindly believe in things due to convenience. People don’t question, they assimilate.

According to a study conducted by Neil Greenberg, a professor of ecology and

evolutionary biology, spirituality can be defined as “that which gives meaning to one's life and draws one to transcend oneself” (Greenberg). The way, the truth and the light is within one’s self. To find truth one must be free. To be free one must have no limitations and be full of faith. Don’t be afraid to question, don’t be afraid to doubt, don’t be afraid to soul search. A person won’t be content until they find true peace.  Some realize that their mind, heart and spirit are too free for the restrictions of religion. If your life is not at peace, maybe there’s a reason why. Instead of faulting one’s self for not pleasing “God”, seek peace elsewhere. Instead of blaming one’s pain and “mistakes” and “struggles” on the “Devil”, take more control of your life and have more faith in yourself. 

There is no moral, no story…we all write our own. Be the change you want to

see. The eyes are better students and more willing than the ear. Mind over matter,

soul before flesh. All love, all ways. Emit positive energy into the atmosphere and it

will come back to you. Your aura is everything.  All energy is contagious, be positive.

Lao Tzu is quoted as saying, “The key to growth is the introduction of higher

dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” Religion and spirituality are

really synonyms. They share more in common than difference. “Both connote belief

in a Higher Power of some kind. Both also imply a desire to connect, or enter into

more intense relationship, with this Higher Power. And, finally, both connote interest in rituals, practices, and daily moral behaviors that foster such a connection

or relationship.” (BeliefNet) In this world kindness is the loudest voice in the house

of love, those who wish to speak harshly, are shown the doorway to understanding. 

Peace individually, collectively, and universally.

Greenberg, Neil. "Can Spirituality Be Defined?." religiousworlds.com. N.p., 12 13 2007. Web. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://notes.utk.edu/bio/unistudy.nsf/935c0d855156f9e08525738a006f2417/bdc83cd10e58d14a852573b00072525d>.