Some More Progress..............

Today, I started to write my expository essay. It took me a while to figure out how to start my essay, but once I did, it was easy to write. One thing that made it easy to write was because of my blogs. I referred back to them and used the information I had posted, which was normally the information I knew I wanted to incorporate into my paper. This helped because I did not have to take the time to go through all of my notes about deforestation to find the majority of points I wanted to use. However, there were a few points that I had to refer back to my notes, but fortunately, this did not take too long since I had organized my notes.

I found it hard to decide what points or statistics to use to help each side substantiate their position. There are some percents that refer to the damage that deforestation has done, but they are not exactly saying the same thing. I will have to spend more time evaluating which facts and statistics are more powerful and would make my paper more convincing.

Since I need to use sources besides the internet, I checked out a few books from the library. I found several which present opposing viewpoints on deforestation, global warming, and conserving the environment. Two of these books were fairly recent (2005, 2006), but the book which had more articles specifically related to the vanishing rainforests was published in 1993. I will have to keep these dates in mind when evaluating facts and statistics.

Progress- Deforestation=exaggerated

Today, I read some articles in a book called “Global Resources, Opposing Viewpoints.” This was a good source because it gave me some points for the position that rainforests deforestation has been exaggerated and the rainforests are not in great jeopardy.

One of the articles talked about how the statistics and percentages of the destruction of rainforest are not always accurate and how there are false claims by environmentalists. Sometimes statistics include forests, not specifically rainforests. This means that I will probably have to define what a rainforest is in my paper and do further research to make sure the statistics I use are accurate and used properly.

This article also discussed the Amazon’s rainforests. The article said that 12.5% of Amazon’s rainforests that have been deforested are not in the process of regeneration, and that the public needs to be alert about the myth that the Amazon rainforests are endangered by development and deforestation. It even said that “there is a larger percent of the Amazon rainforest intact than there are most other forests in the world”. Another point mentioned was that oceans have a greater impact on global warming than deforestation.

This book gave me helpful information that will help me write the expository essay. The information will help me describe the opposing side.

More Progress...

I researched more about deforestation today. I searched was a website called Earth Observatory and it was sponsored by NASA.

This was a decent article. It substantiated much of the information that I had from Wikipedia. It also provided some new, useful information. I found out that although tropical forests only cover 7 percent of Earth’s dry land, they are homes to half of all the species on Earth. I thought this was very interesting and made me think how many animals there must be in the rainforest (A LOT). Tropical forests have more species than any other ecosystem.

I also read about how rainforests have plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria that could possibly provide cures for cancer and other diseases. I already knew this, but it can help support my paper. The new thing I learned was that these plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria can improve the yield and nutritional quality of food. Per this article, this could be “crucial for feeding the nearly ten billion people the Earth will likely need to support in coming decades”.

The last piece of information I learned was that that the trees in the Amazon contain more “carbon than 10 years worth of human-produced greenhouse gases”. This means that when people clear the forests with fire, the carbon that is stored in the wood returns to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This will increase the greenhouse effect and global warming. In addition, when the forests are cleared for crops or for grazing lands, the soils can become a large source of carbon emissions.

This article gave me some useful information that I will be able to tie into my final paper.

Progress

Today, I went to wikipedia.org and searched deforestation. The article was beneficial and gave an over view of the topic with statistics and facts.

I learned more about what deforestation is and what effects it has on the environment. I read that not only does it affect the greenhouse effect, but it causes soil erosion, landslides, and run-off. There are several causes for deforestation. They can range from slow forest degradation to sudden and catastrophic clear cutting, slash-and-burn, urban development, acid rain, and wildfires. It can even be caused by grazing animals.

I found several interesting statistic facts. The first fact I found that would be useful in my paper was that one fifth of the world’s tropical rainforest was destroyed between 1960 and 1990. According to Wikipedia, unless significant measures are taken on a world-wide basis to preserve the forests, by 2030 there will only be 10 percent of the forest remaining with another 10 percent in a degraded condition. 80 percent of the forest will have been lost and there would also be a loss of hundreds of thousands species. Wikipedia says that at the rate that deforestation is occurring, all tropical forests may be gone by 2090. I think that these statistics will help make my paper more persuasive.

This website was also useful because it talked about why deforestation could be a positive thing for a region (which would be the opposing side’s opinion). It says that developed and developing countries use the wood to build houses, make paper, and for heating and cooking. They rely on the wood for their economy to be successful.

I still have much more to research to do and I have other sources to read about deforestation, but I think that Wikipedia was a source to start from.

More Progress on Inquiry Project

After more thought, I finally decided what topic I want to do my inquiry project over. I decided that I wanted to do it over the effects of deforestation.

I know that deforestation affects many things. I still need to do much but, the three things I think I am going to focus on are how it affects global warming, how it affects the animals and their habitats, and how it could destroy possible cures for diseases.

This relates to me because I love animals and I do not want the earth’s environment to be destroyed or altered. Also, I am going to Costa Rica for January Term so I can get a hands on experience with deforestation since we are visiting a deforestation site and are going to a rainforest. We will also be planting trees.

I think this is a good choice for me because I am sure that I will not be bored or annoyed after researching this topic.

Progress on Inquiry Contract

I think I have narrowed my choices down to debating the topic of gas prices. For this topic, there is a lot of information to research and I would be able to find to find a variety of sources. I would be able to read about different opinions and views and would be able to come to a conclusion on what I think should be done. I could research what steps the U.S. should or should not take to obtain oil, and whether it should to do more to regulate improving gas mileage in cars and conservation of energy. I could not just only research about what the U.S. does about oil problems, but I could also search about what other countries do to handle the problem.

This topic interests me the most as it personally affects me more than any of the other subjects I was considering. Each time I fill up the tank of my car I see how expensive it is and how the price of a gallon of gasoline keeps going up. It seems that oil prices are influenced too much by the world producing countries. In addition, it appears the American oil companies are not doing enough to help consumers by keeping the cost down since these companies make more money if a barrel of oil costs more.

Ideas for Inquiry Contract

I have several ideas about which I could do my inquiry contract. The first issue I thought about was whether abortion should be allowed. This is a hot topic in politics that has much controversy. There are people who are strongly pro-choice, there are those who are strongly pro-life, and then there are many people who are in the middle and do not have strong opinions (most of the time these are men and do not have to think about making the final choice as they will never be pregnant).

The second idea I thought of was whether stem-cells should be used for research. This is also another controversial subject. Some people do not like the idea of using embryos or cloning for research. They do not believe in abortions and they are concerned that cloning might change the nature of the human race. They believe there is a limit to what scientists should do. Other people like the idea of stem-cell research because it will advance medical technology and it might help scientists find new and better treatments.

The last topic that crossed my mind was debating the issue whether America should explore and develop its natural resources, specifically oil, in the Alaskan National Wildlife Preserve (Anwar) and in the Gulf of Mexico. There are two groups at opposite ends: corporate America wants to make a profit and the environmentalists want to protect these areas at all costs. The rising cost of gas prices are causing American citizens to be upset and not have as much money to spend on other needs. Conserving oil is good but would it be justifiable to drill for oil in these areas to keep the cost of gas down and to make us less dependent on foreign oil? Or would this cause us to be less conservative? I know this topic would relate to me because I drive and have to worry about the gas prices. In addition, I am concerned about the environment.

I still have to search more in depth for the right topic, but tomorrow we are getting time to research. I hope I will be able to find a topic that I do not get frustrated with after several months of researching.

Effectiveness of Proposal

The essay I chose was the one written by Mark Bonicillo. It was a proposal for universal health insurance in America.

Bonicillo establishes credibility and adequately supports his thesis that America needs to change its employer-based insurance system. He effectively appeals to the reader’s pathos by relating a story about a college graduate who works as a waiter because the economy is bad. This graduate has hurt his back and has no insurance as the employer does not provide it and it would be too expensive for the person to buy. This example points out the desperate need for providing a way to obtain insurance. Boncillo further emphasizes this need by using statistical facts to show what percentage of people in certain age groups do not have insurance and that there are 39 million Americans without health insurance. He also uses pie charts, research studies, and a personal interview to support his case. All of these techniques educate the reader about some of the problems of America’s employer-based insurance. Bonicillo’s proposal shows that poor people and people who work minimum wage jobs will most likely not have health care because it is not included in their jobs and it is too expensive for the employee to buy. I think Boncillo is very effective in telling and showing the audience that there is a problem with the health care in America.

However, I do not think the solutions Bonicillo presents are very effective and they do not seem feasible. His proposals seem too general and would most likely raise taxes. His plan would hurt the insurance companies, and he needed more facts as to how the government and employees would be able to afford the premiums. He should have done a cost-benefit analysis to make the readers accept his plan. Bonicillo had me convinced that there was a problem with employer-based health care, but once he started explaining his solutions, he lost me. (Bonicillo even said that there are problems with his proposal.) His piece was no longer effective because the solutions he presented would not work. His solutions would upset the middle class and upper class because they would have to pay higher taxes. In addition, insurance companies would not want to pay out more. Therefore, Bonicillo’s proposals would not pass since the middle and upper classes, who have more power in the economy, would not accept these changes.

C.P. Ellis

Ellis’s story offers a credible way of overcoming misunderstanding and hatred between races. Ellis believes the solution to overcoming racial misgivings is to make the groups who are at odds with each other come in contact with one another. By so doing, they will get to know each other and hopefully realize that their prejudices are not well-founded. Through this personal contact, even if it has to be forced upon the individuals, the parties involved will see that stereotypes or labels are often wrong and not based on any valid evidence. For instance, the prejudice may be a result of one’s parents influencing their children to believe that the other race is inferior or hates them. It can also be the result of deciding you do not like the other race because you believe they might take your job away. Sometimes one group might blame the other group as a scapegoat instead of criticizing themselves for the problem. Once the groups have a better understanding of each other through personal contact, they will realize they are human beings with “things in common” (598). For example, they have concerns and feelings about racism, sex education, the qualification of teachers, the value of religion, and making a living. By talking and having a chance to understand each other, Ellis believes the misunderstanding and hatred between races can be overcome.

I believe this solution might work on a large scale as long as there is a way of getting opposing groups to talk to each other and for them to truly believe that through positive interaction there is a chance to start to understand one another. Unfortunately, many people are closed-minded and not willing to change their opinions, no matter what they are told or what they see. If there were some means of having them work for a common goal, such as improving the education of their children as Ellis was involved in, they might be able to break down the barriers of prejudice and be able to begin communication. They must somehow see that even though people have diverse backgrounds and beliefs, they are all human beings with feeling and emotions. They all want to have a chance to succeed and to give their children a better life.

The Mainstream Myth

Yoshino discusses the “mainstream” throughout his article. By “mainstream” he means the way people in America conform and behave as they believe the majority of Americans expect them to behave. They want to be assimilated into this dominantly white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant society. People want to fit the norm so they cover up any of their characteristics, which others might see as “obtrusive”. One can’t be too openly different because courts will not protect “mutable traits” or those which a person can change so the person can “fade into the mainstream”. Underlying this mainstream idea is that assimilation is a precondition of civilization. If people fit a mold, such as what comes from the traditional American “melting pot” idea, then there will be less discrimination because everyone is more similar.

However, Yoshino believes this “mainstream is a myth”. Everyone, not just traditional civil rights groups such as “racial minorities, women, gays, religious minorities, and people with disabilities” (605), tend to cover. Most everyone, in some sense, is “struggling for self-definition” (605). It is no longer just confined to civil rights groups. Generally, everyone wants to conform to what society views as normal, but as Yoshino says “it is not normal to be completely normal.” There is not longer a mainstream as human beings have many identities. We must all be allowed to be free “to develop our human capacities without the impediment of witless conformity” (606). The emphasis is no longer on equality but now it is on having the freedom to be who one is.

I believe Yoshino does a good job at persuading the reader to see the importance of being free to be yourself and not feeling you have to cover up. He gives good examples of conformity. He also shows how the courts ruled against people because they were not part of the mainstream (wearing cornrows, speaking Spanish, being a new mom, and marrying the same sex). Yoshino then appeals to all of our individuality by telling us no one is normal and that it is important to have the freedom to be ourselves. His essay was thought provoking.

Freedom from Slavery

Linda finally attains her freedom from Mrs. Bruce (Mr. Bruce’s second wife), the person for whom she worked. Linda’s freedom was at stake when Dr. Flint’s daughter and her husband came looking for her. They were in desperate need of money. Fortunately, Mrs. Bruce employed someone to negotiate with Mr. Dodge for Linda and her children’s freedom in return for 300 dollars. At first, the offer was declined as it did not seem to be enough money, but then negotiator said that if they did not accept the offer, Linda would go out of the country. Mr. Dodge decided that “half a loaf was better than no bread” and sold her to Mrs. Bruce. A bill of sale was drawn up and then Mrs. Bruce freed her.

At first, Linda was horrified as she had actually been “sold” in New York, which was a free state. She was afraid she was going to be sold again because she thought she was going to be “sold from one slave owner to another” (349), which seemed like slavery to her. She thought the obligation could not be easily cancelled. Linda also did not think she, or anyone, else should pay for her freedom and especially pay money to those who had made her suffer. Most of all, she did not consider herself an “article of property”. In the end, Linda is deeply grateful to Mrs. Bruce for buying her freedom. However, Linda despises those who demanded money for her, since she never rightfully belonged to them. Once free, Linda feels like a great weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and she is no longer afraid to “unveil” her face and “look at people as they passed” (349). Ironically, it was a white, sacred, friend who had freed her, not her family.

Passage Using Honesty to Establish Credibility

The passage I chose is from chapter 21 in the first paragraph.

In this passage, Jacobs talks about how she would rather be in total darkness sharing her “den” with rats and mice than to be living in slavery. She would rather spend seven years of her life not regularly being able to stand up, without being able to talk to her kids, or without breathing fresh air, than to be Dr. Flint’s well-kept slave.

She establishes her credibility with the reader by explaining how she was a well-treated slave compared to the many other slaves who were “cruelly over-worked”, “lacerated with the whip from head to foot”, “beaten and bruised”, had their “heel-strings cut to prevent” running away, “chained to a log and forced to drag it about”, “toiled in the fields from morning till night”, “branded with hot iron”, or “torn by bloodhounds”. She had always been treated kindly until Dr. Flint. He started sexually abusing her and made sure she knew she had no power or rights. However, even this was a life of little hardships compared to the majority of slaves. By comparing her situation to other slaves and stating how her condition was not so horrible physically, Jacobs establishes her reliability. She presents the facts honestly and without seeming to exaggerate. Jacobs becomes somewhat of an independent observer to describe the physical and mental brutality slaves endured since they were treated as mere possessions, not as human beings.

Jacobs lets readers know that her situation was not a typical “bad” situation for slaves, but yet just knowing she had no rights, she could not own anything, and she was controlled by someone else was cause enough for her to want to runaway. She describes other slave’s horrible situations and outcomes, and tells her own story. She is saying this to let people know that no matter how mistreated one is in slavery, not having any rights is enough for them to try to escape and do anything for freedom. They want to escape so they are no longer considered animals without any feeling. Jacobs wants the Northern whites to empathize with the slaves and see them as human beings. In this way, these northerners might help in the abolitionist cause.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Chapter 1-9

It is important that Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is autobiographical because it must be credible to show the injustices and horrible nature of slavery. It tells Linda’s (Harriet Jacobs’s) story of what it was like to be a slave and what tragic hardships slaves had to endure. By the story being a real account of a slave’s life, it appeals to ethos and pathos. It appeals to ethos because it has credentials since it is based on the personal experience as being a slave. It appeals to pathos because Jacob portrays the hardships she had to endure and it makes the audience have a better understanding about slavery. Through Linda’s stories of being a slave, the reader comes to comprehend the suffering, the degradation, the abuse, and loss of dignity that slaves encountered. It gives the perspective of the slaves and how they felt. By presenting the truth about the life of a slave girl, Linda hopes to “arouse the women of the North” (120) to see what abomination slavery is in the hopes that they might be able to help the women who are still slaves in the south.

It is important that the editor did not clean up the language or the content because it keeps the story more real with more feeling. It is convincing. By changing Linda’s account, the editor could have changed the emphasis or a strong feeling about a subject. It is important that the work be authentic so the reader is moved by the reality of Linda’s story.

What to the Slave is Fourth of July?

Douglass thinks that the Declaration of Independence was put together by great men even though he does not respect them. He states that this revered document grants the American ideals of liberty, justice, and prosperity only to whites; it does nothing for blacks. Therefore, the Fourth of July is a day of importance only for the white people and it “reveals the immeasurable distance between” the whites and slaves. From the slave’s point of view, by celebrating the Fourth of July, “America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future”. America’s idea of freedom is false as there is only liberty for the whites. The Fourth of July also reminds the slaves that they are not considered totally human and they cannot own anything. Douglass thinks that slavery is wrong and that all men should be free. He thinks that it is wrong to make men “brutes” or animals to treat how you please. It is wrong to take their freedom, to make them work without being paid, to beat them, and to sell off their families.

Douglas appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos to engage his audience. He gives striking examples of the prejudices towards blacks to show the injustice. For example, he shows the inequality of punishment. There is a double standard because there are only two crimes in Virginia which punish whites by putting them to death. On the other hand, there are 72 crimes that would put blacks to death. This is not fair. In addition, black people have to prove that they are men, yet they are given sentences as if they were animals. Douglass stresses the fact that blacks are men, but they do not have rights that white men have. He states it is wrong to make men “brutes” or animals to treat how you please. Douglass also appeals to ethos. His view is credible because he is black and was a slave who escaped. He had experienced the injustices of slavery. He appeals to pathos by asking the audience questions that will get a negative reaction out of them towards slavery and the treatment of blacks. He also uses contrasts to show how different the Fourth of July is for blacks. For example, he says “This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.” Douglass even says it is mockery to have him speak about this topic because American independence is a hypocrisy. Lastly, he recites a poem to appeal to pathos. It implicitly shows how slaves feel and how they dream about being free. In addition it infers that God’s will is that all men shall be free. Douglass’ speech has made an excellent case that “slavery is a sin and the shame of America.” It has shed a new light on the meaning of Independence Day.

Socialization Process

According to Parrillo, the socialization process is when people obtain “values, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of their culture” (586). This normally happens when a child learns from his parent’s conceptions about the world and its people. The child accepts his parent’s views because he knows nothing else. He assumes these views are valid and they become part of his values and beliefs. Parrillo says that prejudices are “taught and learned through the socialization process” (587) much like cultural values are taught. These prejudices can affect a person’s perception and attitude (whether good or bad) toward another group of people.

I think that prejudices and beliefs are predominately instilled in this manner. I one’s parents are prejudiced toward a certain people or group, then the child will grow up with these same beliefs. The child will hear his parents talking and expressing their prejudices, so the child will generally accept these views as correct since he has no alternative conceptions.

Fortunately, I do not think the child will always grow up and mature with the same short-sighted beliefs this parents have. If a child is well-educated, is exposed to a variety of cultures, and becomes aware of his surroundings, one will realize that his thinking (and parents) is wrong and will try to change it. It might take awhile to adjust his thinking, but at least he is conscious of their environment and is willing to change his ways. The key is to have close interactions with those against whom one believes one has prejudices. Through this close involvement, the child will get rid of his prejudices and be accepting of people with diverse backgrounds.

Jefferson

Many people in America perceive Thomas Jefferson as a person who was against slavery and who wanted equality for everyone because he is the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is considered to be one of the greatest documents of all time. In this document, Jefferson declared that all men are created equally and every human has an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The truth is that Jefferson was a hypocrite as he did not believe in equality for everyone. He only wanted equality for white men and not for anyone else. Specifically, he thought that blacks were “inferior to the whites in the endowments both of body and mind” (555). In fact, he stated that they had a “disposition to sleep” like an animal because their existence was based more on “sensation than reflection” (353). Not only is this comparison to animals degrading, but Jefferson went on to say that even Indians have better oratory skills and a much greater imagination than blacks. Jefferson used the excuse of the inferiority of blacks to say they should be emancipated gradually over time. Moreover, they should be colonized or sent away from white society. According to his “Notes on the State of Virginia,” Jefferson did not want to assimilate blacks into white society because he was afraid whites had too many prejudices and he had a fear of intermarriages. Perhaps his real fear was he had illegitimately fathered offspring with his female slaves and he did not want them around to remind him of his wrongful actions.

This article has provided more insight into Jefferson’s “equality.” He obviously believed only white men were equal and had rights. It took years of suffering and fighting for civil rights before blacks, Indians, and women gained their chance at equality.

Comparing Cora Tucker and Willy Loman

Cora Tucker is strikingly different from Willy Loman. First off, Cora does not believe in Willy’s philosophy that success depends on who you know and being “well-liked.” In fact, many whites hate her for they have spit on her, slashed her tires, or soaked her bed with gasoline. This has not hurt her confidence nor stopped her from pursuing her dream. Cora’s philosophy is to work hard, learn as much as possible, and improve conditions for the blacks and the poor. Her actions and dedication have made her successful. She is respected both by whites and blacks as she has made a difference.

Next, it seems that Willy depends, not on himself, but on others for his success and for that of his sons. For example, he blames not being a better salesman on the fact that his first boss died. He believes Bill Oliver will help make Biff successful by giving him ten thousand dollars. In contrast, Cora does not depend on anyone to be successful and is self-motivated. She takes the initiative to get ahead by getting a job at a manufacturing company. Through her hard work at this job, she saves up enough money to buy her own land and build a house. In addition, Cora does not depend on others in the community of Halifax to change the poor treatment of blacks. She goes out and does it herself by getting involved. She lives by the saying, “the time doesn’t get right; you make it right” (359). Cora improves the conditions for the blacks and the poor (“the underdogs”) by fighting against racial discrimination, getting people to take an interest in voting, and lobbying for better healthcare. For example, she motivated the black people to write to their representatives in Washington about their voting rights. As a result of her efforts, five hundred letters were sent supporting the voting law. She even founded her own organization called Citizens for a Better America (CBA) which helps fight inequality.

Lastly, Cora Tucker had the courage to keep fighting and pursuing what she believed despite racial prejudices and lack of support from many family members. Willy, on the other hand, had given up. He realized he had failed as a salesman and his only last hope was to see if Biff truly liked him or not. The only thing left was for him to commit suicide so that Biff would get twenty thousand dollars from the insurance policy. Willy’s life did not amount to much, but maybe with this money Biff could get ahead. In contrast, Cora has much to show and to tell about her life. She has accomplished much and has improved the conditions for many in Halifax. Halifax is now hiring minorities, trying to solve discrimination in schools, and placing more blacks into school systems. Cora has persevered, and has “raised a little hell” to make a big difference.

Willy's Belief About Opportunity and Success

Willy believes being well-liked and personally attractive is the key to individual opportunity and success. He thinks one must not just be liked, but be well-liked or liked by many people, to be successful. Willy does not believe education gives one an opportunity, but “the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (33). He formed this philosophy about life from watching Singleman, a salesman he used to know. Willy believed this salesman was successful because of his attractive personality, not because he was selling a good product. The only thing the salesman had to do was pick up a phone and his clients would eagerly buy his products since they liked him. Willy was impressed and believed Singleton must have been successful as so many people came to his funeral. Willy tries to model himself after Singleman, but because of his wrong perspective, he is not able to achieve his wish. He dies with this false dream and no one comes to his funeral.

In the end, Willy realizes how wrong his dream is. He is not well-liked as he has been fired. Willy admits his life is “ringing up a zero” (126). His sons, whom he has taught to think that being well-liked will make you succeed, are failures. Happy, who has been in Biff’s shadow all his life, has not amounted to much as he is the assistant to the assistant at his job. He ultimately rejects his father. Biff does not have a steady job and he hops from one job to the next. He tells his dad, “I stole myself out of every good job since high school!” (131) Biff realizes he, like Willy, are “a dime a dozen.” Now, Willy’s last hope in life is gone as he realizes that Biff, his favorite son, does not believe he, Biff, will be successful. Willy commits suicide so the insurance policy will give Biff twenty thousand dollars.

Reaction of a Presentation #2

We finished up all the presentations in our block period of English today. We had a total of seventeen people present. One of the many presenters was Brittney Williams. I think for her being so nervous to get up and speak in front of the classroom, she did a really good job. I thought her speech was very powerful and she connected to the audience. She spoke with power and emotion, which drew in the attention of the class. Also, she could connect with her organization because she, herself, is a minority. This made it more personal.

Her organization was the NSHMBA, which was founded in 1988. The purpose of it is to help the poor Hispanic and their community. It helps the poor with leadership and financial management, helps them get accepted to college, and teaches them skills so they can be successful. She used good statistics and facts to open her speech.

Reaction of a Presentation

One of the five presentations today was made by Alex Meregaglia. He volunteered to present first. The non-profit organization he chose was Goodwill Industries. He explained to the class how Goodwill has helped the poor by getting them employed and by helping them stay employed.

Alex used many statistics and facts to help back up his argument. I found the fact that every 56 seconds, Goodwill helps someone get a job interesting. One of his rebuttals was that citizens do not have that much money to donate to Goodwill. He refuted this point well because he told how instead of giving money you could help by donating old clothes, furniture, cars, and other items. Alex also told a success story due to the help of Goodwill.

I liked how Alex moved from the podium, to the front of the room, and back to the podium. I thought he sounded somewhat like an actual Goodwill rep. His conclusion was catching when he said, “Goodwill. Good cause”. Overall, I think Alex did a nice job presenting Goodwill and I could tell he prepared for his speech.

Self-Reliance

Emerson believes in order to be successful, one must think for oneself and to trust one’s thoughts. One must be original and not imitate or worry about what others think. One must not compromise oneself by changing how one acts or thinks so they will be accepted by others or society. He thinks conforming is cowardly. The key is to have the courage to be an individual with original thoughts even though it may cause society to scorn you. After all, Emerson states that Socrates, Jesus, Galileo, and Newton were all misunderstood and considered outcasts, yet, they were geniuses. Thus to be successful, one must be an individual who does not conform to society so he can be creative, and one must have reliance on one’s thoughts and abilities.

I believe it is important to trust your thoughts and to strive to be original. However, I do not agree with Emerson’s idea that one should not conform to society because it takes away our individuality. People need to accept society’s expectations, laws, and customs so there is stability and mutual understanding. Without conformity, there would be chaos as I think many people are selfish and care only about themselves. In view of this, I do see how conformity can limit creativeness and individuality. There is a need for a very small percentage of individuals to go out on the limb and take a chance at being “outcasts.” This would allow people like inventors, scientists, artists, musicians, or writers to be themselves and express their opinions that are perhaps “way out there.” In time, these ideas may prove to be true and change the way society lives much like Newton and Einstein did. However, the majority of people need to fit into society and conform. If one is trying to get an average job or management position, then they have to be “normal” so they can get the job and be accepted by others. If they are known to react on their own thoughts and go against company policies, then the company will not want them as an employee as they might disrupt their business.

It is not easy to be an individual with completely original thoughts because it can sometimes cause you to be alienated from society. If you have different views some people do not accept you. This may wrongly cause you to hold back your thoughts or change them so others will not think you are weird. Even so, we should try to trust our thoughts and have the courage to express them openly. After all, America guarantees freedom of speech and stresses individuality.

"World Vision"

The non-profit organization that I am choosing to do my class presentation on is “World Vision”. This group helps more than one billion of the children in the world who live in extreme poverty. It also assists the children’s families and the communities in which they live. This non-profit organization was founded in 1950.

I chose to research and to talk about “World Vision” because of how it helps the children who are in need. The people who want to get involved can do a variety of things to help. They can either donate a dollar a day to their sponsor child, write a letter to one of the sponsor children, or they can just volunteer their time. In my opinion, it seems like it is a great cause and I think I will be able to argue why this organization should get “donor bucks”.

I have read or seen several programs like this advertised on either television or in magazines. When I see what horrible conditions these children have to live in, it makes me want to take action and donate money to help them. In conclusion, I hope my persuasive speech about “World Vision” will convince my classmates that it is the right non-profit organization for them to donate their “donor bucks” to.

Horatio Alger- Extending the Critical Context #9

The Alger myth of rags-to- riches should be “interred” according to Dalton. To support Dalton’s claim and bury the Alger myth, one must present an argument and show evidence that not everyone has an equal chance to succeed, hard work doesn’t guarantee getting ahead, and America is not the land of endless opportunity.

To start with, not everyone has the same chance of success. In today’s society, having a college degree is a huge advantage, if not a requirement, for success. If one does not have the means to go to college one is automatically excluded from many jobs and many of these pay more money. An interesting fact to challenge the Horatio myth would be to investigate what percent of people earning over, say 50,000 dollars a year have college degrees and what percent of the total population this includes. Closely linked to this is the fact that social class does make a difference. If one comes from the middleclass or upper class, one will have more money and contacts to pay for education and to be exposed to job opportunities.

Another point to refute the Alger myth is that working hard does not mean you will get ahead. Take for instance Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed. Through her personal experiences she shows that even by working two jobs and trying her best there is no opportunity to get ahead. Her only hope is to make enough money for food and to pay the bills. She, like Dalton, points out that each person is not judged solely on their own merits. An employee’s manager has great control over a person’s advancement. This manager can be biased. He may hold the employee back because he is afraid the person might take his job, he may be prejudiced against the employee’s race or social background, or he may simply not like him. In short, hard work does not guarantee success.

Lastly, America is not a land of endless opportunity as Alger portrays. The job market is competitive and unemployment is a problem. Jobs and pensions are no longer secure as companies are bought, they go out of business, or they cut costs.

Thus, arguing Dalton’s point shows that a cultural myth can be challenged or revised if evidence or situations change. Today, America is different than during Alger’s time and the American Dream has been robbed of some of its mythical power.

Reality of "Roger and Me" Vs. "Ragged Dick"

The reality of the documentary shows how hard life is in poor communities. In Flint, there are layoffs and shutdowns of businesses. This makes people move, lose their homes, and go into debt. This turns Flint into a ghost town. Financial security and job pressure causes suicide, alcoholism, abuse, and violence rates to increase.

In addition, the people of Flint job situations are not fair and are inequity. The big businesses (in this case General Motors) sales and profits are increasing, yet the employees are getting laid off. Instead of using the money for their employees, they use it to buy other companies. The big businesses are transferring their operations to countries where labor is cheaper. The companies do not feel compelled to give opportunities to their American employees. If it costs less to use Mexican labor, for example, then they will outsource jobs there. The laid off employees are told that fast food places are their “dream jobs”. They are also given menial jobs to work in jails. Some of the other poor people have to resort to selling or killing rabbits for money. They have no opportunity to succeed and big business feels no obligation to help them.

For the most part, Ragged Dick’s situation is different. Just like the people in Flint, he has trouble getting a job and wants to be successful. Unlike the people in Flint, he gets the opportunity to be successful. He saves a business man’s son from drowning and is offered a high paying job. He is given the opportunity to succeed and be promoted within the company. He believes everyone in America has the opportunity to succeed and that hard work makes it possible.

I think the Flint situation is more realistic. In today’s world, if a boy would save a man’s son from drowning, the man would probably thank him but would not offer him a permanent high paying job. The man would probably just give the boy a reward or have him over for dinner. In contrast, Flint shows the bleak reality for the poor. They are working hard, but they cannot succeed as the companies do not truly care about their employees. The companies are making it difficult to succeed because they either pay them little or they lay off their employers to cut costs. The employees are not able to make it out of poverty. Big business is not fair as the only concern is to increase sales and profit at the expense of its workers. Thus “Roger and Me” is the opposite to Horatio Alger’s myth of the “American Dream”. America is not the land of equal opportunity where hard work allows success.

Stephen Cruz

The “American Dream” is perceived to be that anyone in America has an equal opportunity to succeed and be successful. Most Americans believe that through hard work, learning, and dedication they can achieve the dream that, in turn, will make them happy.

Cruz is saying that no matter how hard you try, how smart you are, or how far you’ve come, you may not be satisfied with your success. Money is not everything. Cruz did not come from money, but he made a life for himself. In other’s eyes, he looks like he succeeded. However, he is not satisfied because realizes that much of what he got early in his career was because he was a minority; he was Mexican. Although Cruz received many promotions they were for just more money. Cruz wanted to have responsibility and to use his leadership skills. He was stereotyped as a happy Mexican who could not make decisions. His experiences made him realize other flaws in the American dream. For example, businessmen do not care about society by wanting to help minorities be managers, and even “minorities are as bad to other minorities as whites are to the minorities” (350). Cruz also argues that the American Dream is not “governed by education, opportunity, and hard work, but by power and fear” (351). The higher job one achieves, the more one has to worry about losing the money. This fear makes people not want to lose.

I disagree with what Cruz is saying about how you will never be satisfied. I think he reached the technical “American Dream”, but he did not reach his personal dream. He made a successful life for himself and made fifty thousand dollars in the 1970s. Cruz is not satisfied because he did not gain the respect of his cohorts and employers.

However, I do agree on his point that the higher the job you have, the more you need to worry about losing that job. When you are poor, you do not have to worry as much about losing the money because you have so little. It is like you are trying to succeed with nothing to lose. Once you get the good paying job, however, you have to worry about losing it. You become used to having more. Also, as you move up the ranks in a company, you are dependent on the managers of a company. They are the ones who decide whether you are qualified for the job or not. They are the ones who chose in either yes or no whether you can achieve the “American Dream” or whether you will still be hoping for the dream. Cruz has added a valid twist on the American Dream. It is hard for the average person to make a difference in big business.

"Engaging the Text" #2 on p.322

I think that the main point of the essay is not that the wealthy are exploiting the poor, but rather there are class differences, which most Americans wish to ignore. Based on one’s class one has different opportunities and chances of success. Underlying the whole argument is that income determines class. Mantsios argues that there are huge economic differences between the classes, the middle class is not only shrinking, but only accounts for a small portion of America’s wealth, and the higher one’s class (income) the better chances of success and health.

I appreciate Mantsios’s perspective and he saw some valid points but, I think he is somewhat misleading in his definition of lower, middle, and upper-class. He seems to define “middle class” as those “household earning between $25,000 and $75,000” (RA, 335). I am not sure how this is really representative. Why isn’t middle class those whose income is between $50,000 to $100,000? Who decided what income level determines middle class? This income level might make Mantsios’s arguments more persuasive.

It seems that Mantsios might be manipulating the numbers. He throws out many different facts which seem to support the point he is making at the time, but it does not seem the numbers or percentages add up. For example, in one sentence he says the poor and upper class each account for one third of Americans. This means the middle class population accounts for one-third. Then he states the “wealthiest 20% of the population versus the poorest 20% is approximately 11 to 1” (334). It appears he is swamping the reader with statistics to make a point. However, if one steps back one can see these figures are not linked. He is changing the basis and the group he is comparing. It is deceiving for Mantsios to say that this ratio (11 to 1) is so high and that in Japan and Germany it is 4 to 1. Perhaps Japan and Germany do not have as many “poor” as their population is only a fraction of ours. Mantsios uses so many numbers that it is confusing to the reader and bombarding the audience into believing the author’s stance.

Nonetheless, I believe like Mantsios, that America is not a classless society. Class makes a difference in one’s opportunity and chance for success. If one has money to spend on better schools, if one’s family owns a business and has advantageous contacts, and one has higher expectations because one does not have to worry about making enough money to feed the family, then one has a better chance at succeeding. In this light, assuming money dictates one’s social status, the higher the social status, the better the chance to succeed. This seems like more a fact of life, than en exploitation of the poor and middle class by the wealthy.

note: I have an older version of this book, so the referenece pages might be off.

Evaluating "First Place: A Healing School for Homeless Children"

The sample essay I am evaluating is from “First Place: A Healing School for Homeless Children” by Marybeth Hamilton. It is an argument that is saying that First Place should continue getting public tax dollars to support their alternative school program because it helps the homeless children become more self-sufficient. It is an essay using the refutation strategy.

In Hamilton’s argument, she does a good job summarizing what the other’s point of view is. She talks about how people think that the school is too expensive, how they criticize the use funds on social services for the students instead of on education, how they don’t believe the short stay at the institute has positive long-term effects , and how they question removing the kids from mainstream classrooms. Hamilton takes each point logically and refutes them will her opinions. For example, she says that First Place will save money in the long run; it will help the family help the child; it will improve the self-esteem of the child even if they only stay for a little bit, and that it will help the child feel less alienated and more accepted when they return to the mainstream schools.

Her approach is to show the readers there is another side to the story. She is trying to convince them of the importance of the long-term benefits of this program and how it will improve the children’s lives beyond the classroom. I thought her arguments were valid and her logical approach made it easy to follow.

Hamilton was aware of the opposing views and offered credible benefits to the program to convince me it was theoretically worth the money. However, I do not think that Hamilton gave enough actual facts. She did not give statistics to show how First Place helps the homeless children succeed and how specifically they improved. She only gave one example, saying according to a teacher that “some students actually made a three-grade level improvement in one year”. This is a bit vague. Also, she did not give any numbers for how much the program costs for the child. It would be nice to know about the specific programs, number of teachers, and the candidates so we can make our own judgment.

Visual Argument

Visual arguments are more persuasive than verbal arguments as the audience is in tune with or aware of what the writer is trying to convey. Visual arguments are brief and to the point. As a result, the author must take great care to understand his audience and know how the visual arguments will be perceived. He must make sure the verbal and visual elements of the argument work together to achieve the desired result.

Carefully planned, visual arguments can be more effective than long, wordy documents. This is true because our society has become visually oriented. We have been conditioned to get many of our facts and values from physically watching television, or from reading a poster, flier, or brochure, or from looking at a cartoon or advertisement. Most people would rather spend a minute or two understanding a clever or poignant visual argument, than spending fifteen minutes or more trying to decipher the logic behind a verbal argument. Thus, a succinct argument that conveys the message has strong appeal and saves time.

Besides saving time, visual arguments can be more persuasive because of the techniques they use to create visual appeal. For example, choosing a vivid picture to portray suffering or poverty has more of an emotional impact than trying to verbally explain how a person has been maimed or abused. In this same fashion, presenting data by using a pie chart or bar graph can give more weight to the story behind the numbers. Graphs allow for a quick comparison between groups over time. This could easily show whether unemployment is going up or down, or how the marital status of females by age-group is broken down. In addition, visual techniques such as the size and type of fonts, the use of color versus black and white, the blending of pictures and words, and the use of layout and orientation are effective ways to create a vivid point of view. These help draw the reader emotionally to the argument. In conclusion, visual arguments are more persuasive not only because they are short and to the point, but also because they create images that have strong emotional appeal.

'Ethos' and 'Pathos'

Ethos is the credibility. It shows how true or accurate an argument is. If the author writes from their own true experience or if they use facts and statistics, then one can be more confident that what the argument is stating is accurate. If the author also demonstrates their knowledge on a subject, then it will increase the credibility. The writer must also mention the alternative point of views and be fair and understanding towards them (empathy). The author should share his values and assumptions to show you that he is trustworthy. These things will strengthen one’s ethos in the argument.

Pathos can create positive emotions by getting the audience to identify with the writer. They must have legitimate appeal or else they will confuse the issue instead of clarifying it. It is good if these devices “intensify and deepen our response to an issue” as opposed to diverting our attention from it. If concrete language is used, then it will increase pathos. Photos or images are also useful tools that help engage the audience emotionally.

I think both our media and government use ethos and pathos to influence the public. When it comes to the War on Terrorists, and especially in Iraq, the media shows us clippings that cause us to become emotionally upset. These pictures graphically show soldiers dying, people rioting, or innocent civilians being killed. It makes U.S. citizens wonder why we are still in the war and why we are not bringing our soldiers home. These clippings have a strong emotional appeal. They make Americans wonder if the war in Iraq is really worth the deaths and uproar. It also points to the fact that we are not winning the war in Iraq and causes us to question the need to send more troops there.

The media and government also do not live up to the expectation for ethos. I believe that they do not always tell all sides to the stories. In Iraq, they only give us the negative parts. They are not showing how we are helping out the government or the people. It seems the media is always blaming someone and giving their points and saying they are right. However, you never hear other sides to the arguments, unless you either go to the right T.V. channel (where it gives both sides) or if you search for it on internet (blogs). Personally, I do not trust the media or government much as they each have their own agendas, and are well-versed at using ethos and pathos to influence their audiences.

A Real World Pseudo-Argument

A pseudo-argument that I have encountered in the real world is an argument over whether NBA or college basketball is better. I have had this argument with many people, of whom I do not remember. My stance in this argument is that college basketball is better.

Whenever I have this argument with someone, I tell them that I think that college basketball is so much better than NBA in every perspective. For example, the college players are playing for their college team and hope to win the NCAA Championships. IT is for pride not for money. They play together, run plays, use teamwork, and are not selfish. Most of the NBA players seem to play for the money and the fame. They have no heart for the game anymore. They care only about personal statistics. If once watches a professional basketball game, one sees basically no teamwork or defense. It is all about showing off and scoring as many points as possible. College ball is more engaging to watch because of the team effort and the crowd appreciates this.

After I state my opinion that college basketball is more engaging than professional basketball, my opposition declares that NBA is much more exciting to watch because there are more tricks and dunks. The athletes are more gifted performers. Their tricks consist of beating a defender, doing behind the back passes, or completing some insane dunk. Another point they would make is that some of these athletes are role models for younger kids because the kids want to play basketball. It gives them hope of being a great basketball player someday.

This pseudo-argument is debating about whether NBA or college basketball is better. It is based upon opinions. There are no reasonable participants in this argument. No matter what arguments one presents, it will not change the other’s mind. It shows that the participants in the argument believe in what they do just because they say so. There is no sharing of ideas nor any chance of opening up one’s mind to a different opinion. It is not possible to have a genuine argument.

Pathos

Pathos is a strong rhetorical device because it appeals to the audience’s feelings and emotions as opposed to their intellect. By using the persuasive appeal of pathos, a writer engages the reader’s “imaginative sympathies”. This is a way to get the audience emotionally involved or to walk in the writer’s shoes by appealing to their senses. It helps the readers to see and feel what the author does. If one uses this emotional appeal technique, it will help win an argument since it intensifies and deepens the response to an issue. It makes the issue come alive. The use of pathos could convincingly persuade the reader to take the writer’s stance if it successfully appeals to the reader’s values and interests. Pathos helps create an emotional impact as the reader realizes the issue has personal meaning and significance. Appealing to someone’s emotions can cause the person to become disregard the truth and facts. They do not use logic or evidence to in formulating their stance. A prime example of this is the piece, “A Case for Torture”. Levin used the technique of pathos to make his case that in some instances it is necessary to use torture. Specifically, by appealing to parents’ emotions he argued that if a terrorist kidnapped their child, then torture was necessary. This shows the power of pathos as a rhetorical device.

Response to the AP Exam

After reading the AP English Course Description and doing the multiple choice section, I am nervous about the exam. The course description said that the exam is three hours long and has multiple choice problems and essays. I do not think I will have enough time to do everything on the exam because it takes me awhile to process my thoughts. Just doing the practice multiple choice section took me two hours to do, where as the course description says that they allow sixty minutes on that section. In addition, it was hard to concentrate as I got tired and frustrated.

I am not comfortable with either parts of the exam. Even though in the multiple choice section there are answers given, it is still hard and I missed 14 questions, which is a 74.5%. It seems that they put 3 obviously wrong answers, but they leave two answers that could possibly be correct. It is hard to figure out nuances. Also, the questions and answers of the problem sometimes contained vocabulary words that I did not know the meaning of. Therefore, this made the process of choosing the correct response hard. I was not sure when to guess as there is a 0.25 point reduction for each wrong answer. I need to have a better grasp of rhetorical strategies, author’s style and tone, and literary devices. Perhaps by doing more practice tests, I will be better able to figure out the correct answers. It would be nice to understand the logic behind choosing one answer over another, when they are similar.

In the essay section, I will probably figure out something to write, but it’s the time that is the problem. I have to read the sections, think about them, outline points to write about, and then compose my response. Two hours does not seem to be enough, so I will have to write my responses quickly, which means they might not be as good. In conclusion, I think that every part of the test is going to be a challenge. I hope that through the course I will gain knowledge and the confidence I need to be successful on the AP English Exam.

"A Case for Torture"

I agree with the point Michael Levin makes in his piece “A Case for Torture” about how there are certain circumstances when it is okay to torture someone. I think it is appropriate to torture a terrorist in order to save many of lives. The mass killing of innocent people is far worse than torturing someone who has chosen to be a terrorist. A terrorist hurts people on purpose as he has “volunteered for the risk of his deed”. A terrorist does not care about individual rights so why should our society worry about his individual rights? His act is cowardly as he strikes his victims secretly and without warning. The threat of torture is a great deterrent as it keeps the “innocents from being dispatched”. Lives are too important to let one person endanger them. If one has the ability but does nothing to stop a terrorist situation, then many people could die. One should have the courage to torture the terrorist. Torturing the terrorist is not killing and if it proves to be successful, then no one has to die in the end. It is a win win situation. Torture is the only way to save innocent people in situations like terrorist attacks and it is a way to prevent “future evils”.

Comparing Ad to Cartoon

The cartoon and the ad present different perspectives about genetically engineered food. The cartoon uses visual picture to elicit a response from the audience. It suggests an implicit idea that the overweight hippie, who wants to help the world, is blind (has sunglasses on that could be symbol of being blind) to the fact that issues related to genetically engineered food does not matter to the starving person. The famished male only wants calories and food. The obese do-gooder wants love and world peace. This cartoon makes the implied argument that it does not really matter if the food is genetically altered. What is important is to feed the starving population. It does not matter what type of food is feeding their mouths. This cartoon allows for

On the other hand, the ad tries to appeal to the reader’s logic and reason, especially those people who like natural, organic foods. It states facts so that one can agree with the author’s point of view. It explicitly asks the question “What if everything was labeled like genetically engineered foods?” to which it blatantly says “None of Your business”. The author is advocating that genetically engineered foods should have to labeled so that consumers know that they have been altered. The author suggests that genetically engineered products may be potentially dangerous and should be subjected to more testing. It is implied that that GE foods may be harmful to one’s health, to the environment, and to the “future of farming”. On the surface this appears to be a logical argument, however, there are no facts stated in the ad that would prove that GE foods are harmful.

Both forms of arguments have merit. The cartoon has more room for interpretation and has visual appeal. The ad is more to the point and appears to present facts to persuade one to agree with the author. However, under close examination it does not provide enough facts to substantiate the claims it makes. Both types are effective in that it makes the reader question the point of view.

Explicit Vs. Implicit

Arguments must justify the claim they are making by seeking the truth and using the art of persuasion. Arguments can be either explicit or implicit. Explicit arguments state their claim or stance directly. They use evidence and reason to support their position to persuade others to agree. Implicit arguments do not look like arguments as they are implied. They can take the forms of poems, short stories, photographs, cartoons, personal essays, and autobiographical narratives. However, they are similar to explicit arguments in that they try to persuade others to take a certain point of view.

Two examples of implicit arguments are the Veterans Day Photograph and the “Dulce et Decorum Est” poem. They portray two different opinions about war. The photograph is trying to make an argument about how it is good to honor one’s country by serving in the armed forces. Even though the one soldier has an artificial hand, he appears strong and proud of what he has done. The older veteran’s embrace suggests that he is proud of the younger soldier and at the same time understands and sympathizes with him as he knows the pain and scars wars leave.

The poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” makes the implicit argument that war is horrible and pointless. It does this by describing in great detail how a soldier drowns in mustard gas because he did not get his mask on in time. The author, Wilfred Owen, says this experience is not something one would tell children to make them feel dying for one’s country is honorable or glorious. Instead, he views “Dulce et Decorum Est propartria mori” is a lie.

Both these works make persuasive implicit arguments. They are not explicit arguments as there is no position or thesis stated, followed by reasons and evidence to support this position.

Memory Activity

It was a Friday night basketball game and my team was playing Oldenburg Academy. The gym was hopping as it was “Pack the House Night” and the Jazz Band was jamming. The school invited eight graders from Orchard who were bug-eyed watching the upperclassmen be wild and crazy. The game was very tight and Oldenburg was a close match up. I remember I was running up the court knowing there was little time left on the clock. It was at the end of a quarter. I got the ball and was nervously dribbling up the left side of the court. The clock was ticking down and the crowd was yelling 5…4…3…2… I decided that I should shoot the ball, but I could not shoot it with my right hand because of a defender. I had no choice but to shoot it with my left hand. I got past the half court line and did a cross over dribble and let the ball fly with my weak hand. The defender even bumped throwing me off balance. I went up and just threw the ball hopelessly not expecting it to reach the basket. After I let the ball go, everything felt right. I kept watching and praying. The ball was going straight towards the basket with the right velocity and arc. It went in!!! I made the shot with my left hand from just inside half court. While I was watching the ball in the air, it felt like it took 10 minutes to travel to the basket. But when it finally did go in the basket, I felt ecstatic. I leaped up in the air and then I ran to the bench while everyone was cheering. My teammates gave me high fives and everyone was smiling, yelling, and hugging me. This was the highlight of the game. We ended up playing very hard and winning only by a few points. It was an awesome experience.

After the game, there was a winter dance. We took showers in the locker-room and then went to it in the cafeteria, where it was being held. My boyfriend at the time was named Nick and I went with him. I can just imagine the funny first impressions the eighth grade basketball girls that were coming University must have had after watching me dance. They saw me grinding with Nick and this is what they remembered about me. They told me what they thought about it at the Illinois Basketball camp in the summer our basketball team went to. All the girls gave me a hard time because they remembered me at the dance. They were joking with me and imitating my dance moves on Nick. It was a good thing that this happened because it broke the ice with the incoming freshman, so they did not see my shy and timid side. The basketball camp was a memorable event as we all bonded. We had a great time laughing, joking, and making fun of each other. It was as if we had known each other for a while. I attribute much of our success during the basketball season to the moments we shared at basketball camp.

Reflections on Class

In the past few days, we have talked and discussed the purposes, the evidences, the personas, the audiences, and styles of pieces we have read. For Nickel and Dimed, we came to the conclusion that the purpose of the book was to let people know about the problems of low wage jobs. Barbara writes in first person and proves the purpose from her personal stories because she actually went out there and experienced the lifestyle by taking low wage jobs. She also gives facts and statistics to prove her point. She writes this book for the middle to upper class people in America to let people know how bad the situation is. These would be the people that could make changes and sadly enough, are the ones who have enough money to pay for the book. The style of Barbara’s writing uses humor and sarcasm. She also uses great description with imagery and metaphors.

For The Great Gatsby, we determined that the purpose of the book is to show that the reality is that reality of society is appearance. The evidence for this is that Gatsby creates a new self for the society because he makes himself rich. Also, it is the story of Gatsby versus all the lies and gossip about him. The story is told through Nick and the book’s audience is for the 1920s exuberant upper class. Fitzgerald uses the style of vivid description, imagery, and manipulation of time to make this book interesting.

For the Carlos Fuentes piece, we came to the conclusion that it had two purposes. They were that he was trying to show how language is important to express culture and history and about the creation of cultural identity. The selection was a told by Carlos and he gave his personal experiences to prove his point. The audience of this piece is Americans and he uses description to show his story, instead of telling. In conclusion, we have had in-class discussions over three pieces and talked about their purposes, the evidence, the personas, the audiences, and the styles.

Purpose of "How I Started to Write"

The purpose of “How I Started To Write” is to show how history and culture influence language and literature. They are intertwined, as language and literature are part of history just as historical events such as the Holocaust are. To write good literature, one must have knowledge of historical events, the culture, and customs of the people one is writing about, so one can understand a country’s identity and traditions. “There is no creation without tradition” (445). Carlos Fuentes refers to many historical figures like famous writers and political figures from different locations in the world and different eras make the point that literature and language are universal. A country’s identity is shaped by contact with many other cultures. Fuentes said “Mexican literature was important because it was literature, not because it was Mexican” (445). Language is the key to giving an identity to oneself and to one’s country. Writing is taking all of one’s experiences, readings, and culture and creating a work of literature, which becomes a piece of history for future generations to read.

Reflections on Red Sky In The Morning

I have several responses to the Red Sky in the Morning and about our class discussion over it. First, the quote “I could tell you stories”, could mean different things. When the woman in the story says it, it sounds like she has countless stories about the romance with her husband, but she just doesn’t want to tell people because it is sacred to her. However, if any person said the quote, it could be taken to mean the person is well traveled, has gone through hardships, or that they just have interesting stories to tell. Also, depending on how this is said, it could mean they want to gossip. Another thing I took away from this piece is that stories cannot live up to the actual experience, but they are the closest thing we can get to the event. One can’t grasp the meaning of someone’s completely, unless one was there. Not only is it important to remember meaningful events in one’s life, one must included one’s inner feelings and how it affects them emotionally. Lastly, I think the scene of the two lovers was penetrating. The narrator was lucky to have seen it. It made her realize she “lived on pride, not love.” Perhaps she was more in love or having someone to call her own than really loving ht person for what he was. Her relationship was a “romantic idyll” whereas the two lovers appeared to be genuinely in love. They were not afraid to show their emotion towards one another. Physical appearance did not seem to be important, as the woman was middle-aged and stout while her husband was young with golden curls. They were an odd couple, but obviously in love. This couple shows true love because they don’t care about what others think about their relationship and they seem to live it to the fullest with lust and understanding. Most people would be envious and wished they have such a story to tell.

Reflection of Classes so Far

I really enjoy going to AP English class and we have done several things so far this year. I think that the conversations that we have in class are very deep. They make us think about how the world is and how humans act. Sometimes I even feel like the conversations are over my head because of how intense they are. We have had discussions over Nickel and Dimed and The Great Gatsby. In our group discussions about Nickel and Dimed, we talked about how people might help with the poor to make themselves look better and they feel like its the right thing to do. They do not really care about helping the poor, but just about how it makes them be perceived as a good person. In our conversations about The Great Gatsby, we have spent much time talking about Gatsby’s lifestyle, his intentions, and his love for Daisy. When I read these two novels, I did not think that deep about them. Talking about them in class helped me realize why they are considered great literature. They make you question human nature and their motivation.