What/Who is WPA in the WPA Student Learning Outcomes?
First off WPA is Writing Program Administration. The writing program administration is basicly a list of expectations that should be met by every English Composition 2 student after the end of the year. The expectations include from rhetorical knowledge, Critical thinking, reading and writing, processes and knowledge of conventions. In rhetorical knowledge the student is expected to focus on a purpose and use conventions of format. Under critical thinking, reading and writing the student is expected to use writing and reading for learning, thinking and communicating. For processes the student should know that it takes several drafts in order to get the final draft done. Also learn how to critique others and balance out information. And for knowledge of conventions the student is expected to learn common formats for different kinds of texts and control spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Response to Chapters 1 - 3
The reading opens up with the several definitions of rhetoric and then goes into a statement on how important writin is in the four areas of a human being's life (Academic, Personal, Professional and Civic). I also noticed how SIMILAIR the reading is to the WPA reading online how Chapter 1 is broken down by Rhetorical Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing, Writing Processes and Knowledge of Conventions. The chapter closes with writing responsability and writing technologies. Technology is a system of practice that extends human capabilities. The system of writing that we use is actually a technology for extending human thought across time and space.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Extra Credit
Extra Credit Worksheet
Summer 2008
What did you do?
I went to a website called FreeRice.com and defined words. For each definition I match correctly I donate rice for free.
What did you learn?
I learned that there are organizations that want to help stop world hunger and want to help educate the minds of people.
Will you do it again?
Yes, I use freerice.com for my wikis and as a time killer
What did you do?
I went to a website called smithmag.com and made a six word memoir
What did you learn?
I learned that a lot can be said with a small amount of words.
Will you do it again?
Not particularly in my spare time, but I would like to make a challenging poem or story in a certain small amount of words.
What did you do?
I visited the Dali museum
What did you learn?
I learned about Dali’s view on women with his work of art. (A exhibition temporarily set up)
Will you do it again?
Yes, I plan on going again with my family and visitors
What did you do?
I went to youtube.com and found videos that related to my project two.
What did you learn?
That one in ten schools are considered “drop out factories” and that there is not motivational push for Latinos to achieve in high school.
Will you do it again?
I love to search on youtube, but not particularly this topic.
What did you do?
I went to npr.org and listened to the 24 hour online stream.
What did you learn?
About the future of minimum wage in the United States on how it plans to rise.
Will you do it again?
I do like to listen to the radio, but not particularly The National Public Radio. I might get more into it when I grow up and become more interested in the world news.
What did you do?
I opened a refworks account online and created folders of stuff I am interested in such as art and graphic design
What did you learn?
I learned that I can find several resources in any area I am interested in and save them so I can view them whenever
Will you do it again?
Yes, I will probably use this during college
Summer 2008
What did you do?
I went to a website called FreeRice.com and defined words. For each definition I match correctly I donate rice for free.
What did you learn?
I learned that there are organizations that want to help stop world hunger and want to help educate the minds of people.
Will you do it again?
Yes, I use freerice.com for my wikis and as a time killer
What did you do?
I went to a website called smithmag.com and made a six word memoir
What did you learn?
I learned that a lot can be said with a small amount of words.
Will you do it again?
Not particularly in my spare time, but I would like to make a challenging poem or story in a certain small amount of words.
What did you do?
I visited the Dali museum
What did you learn?
I learned about Dali’s view on women with his work of art. (A exhibition temporarily set up)
Will you do it again?
Yes, I plan on going again with my family and visitors
What did you do?
I went to youtube.com and found videos that related to my project two.
What did you learn?
That one in ten schools are considered “drop out factories” and that there is not motivational push for Latinos to achieve in high school.
Will you do it again?
I love to search on youtube, but not particularly this topic.
What did you do?
I went to npr.org and listened to the 24 hour online stream.
What did you learn?
About the future of minimum wage in the United States on how it plans to rise.
Will you do it again?
I do like to listen to the radio, but not particularly The National Public Radio. I might get more into it when I grow up and become more interested in the world news.
What did you do?
I opened a refworks account online and created folders of stuff I am interested in such as art and graphic design
What did you learn?
I learned that I can find several resources in any area I am interested in and save them so I can view them whenever
Will you do it again?
Yes, I will probably use this during college
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Issue
The issue I am concerned about is that our R.A. on our floor blamed my room mate and me and the people who live in front of us for attempting robbery and breaking and entering into her dorm. A police officer came and I decided to write a statement saying I had no idea what happened I believe my R.A. is responsible and should get in trouble with Brian since she made such a large mis judge on us and have reason to suspect us. I still wonder why she would blame us, but it shows that she clearly doesn't really like us or think we are on to something.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Knowledge or Information
Knowledge or Information
Archie Zariski opens his article by stating that Professor Hibbitts has convinced him that obstacles of self publication can be overcome with out to much difficulty. But there were some doubts Archie still had about the "knowledge of networks" through the technical and theoretical perspective. Archie makes the point on how one must learn by actually conversing with another person to actually learn material. Archie does not deny the statements of Hibbitts but does state that it will be a different world as known today on his approach.
In the Basement of Ivory Tower
First off I will like to point is that I enjoyed and understood this reading so much more than Archie's article. I barely understood what happened in the article by Archie but I and clearly get the message in Professor X's article. He explains how he fails 7 out of 15 students in his two courses that he teaches, English Comp 101 and 102. Being a very strict grader on his students he waits each time to see if the College will contact him about all the students he is failing but they never do. Professor X takes an example from a student named "Mrs L", a student in her 40's who has never interacted with a computer before. She realized that she couldn't do the research asignment because she kept thinking in a high school paper mentality. Professor X knew that he was going to fail her the first day in the library when he saw how difficult it was for her to pick a topic and use a computer. It troubles in the mentality of the Professor to fail some one who is trying to live the dream, go back to school in a late age to get a diploma.
When I finished reading this I noticed that I really enjoyed Professor X's article so much more than Archies. I found it easier to read and thought a lot about it to, there is a lot of philsophy behind this article in how a teacher must to their job. This teacher simply grades the papers according to College standards and ends up failing 7 out of 15 students.
1) Why do you take such a strong approach on grading papers?
2) Do you get into arguements with your students about your grading system?
3) For the students who fail multiple of times, do they eventually pass the class?
Archie Zariski opens his article by stating that Professor Hibbitts has convinced him that obstacles of self publication can be overcome with out to much difficulty. But there were some doubts Archie still had about the "knowledge of networks" through the technical and theoretical perspective. Archie makes the point on how one must learn by actually conversing with another person to actually learn material. Archie does not deny the statements of Hibbitts but does state that it will be a different world as known today on his approach.
In the Basement of Ivory Tower
First off I will like to point is that I enjoyed and understood this reading so much more than Archie's article. I barely understood what happened in the article by Archie but I and clearly get the message in Professor X's article. He explains how he fails 7 out of 15 students in his two courses that he teaches, English Comp 101 and 102. Being a very strict grader on his students he waits each time to see if the College will contact him about all the students he is failing but they never do. Professor X takes an example from a student named "Mrs L", a student in her 40's who has never interacted with a computer before. She realized that she couldn't do the research asignment because she kept thinking in a high school paper mentality. Professor X knew that he was going to fail her the first day in the library when he saw how difficult it was for her to pick a topic and use a computer. It troubles in the mentality of the Professor to fail some one who is trying to live the dream, go back to school in a late age to get a diploma.
When I finished reading this I noticed that I really enjoyed Professor X's article so much more than Archies. I found it easier to read and thought a lot about it to, there is a lot of philsophy behind this article in how a teacher must to their job. This teacher simply grades the papers according to College standards and ends up failing 7 out of 15 students.
1) Why do you take such a strong approach on grading papers?
2) Do you get into arguements with your students about your grading system?
3) For the students who fail multiple of times, do they eventually pass the class?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
letter to editor
Dear Editor
When you state that 35.4% of Latinos fail to earn diplomas and point out the false excuse of “well, what can you expect from inner-cit schools? Those poor, minority kids just can’t or won’t do the work” As much as I agree that it is a false excuse and I believe that there should be a solution attempt in providing the future of Hispanics with more graduates, I do believe that there is a lack of motivation in the Latino community. So by stating that they won’t do the work, I wouldn’t call it a full false excuse.
Then when you state that there is no big mystery to why kids drop out, you list all these reasons in which I agree completely. There are so many reasons why kids drop out, but you conclude the paragraph by saying that they are lured by gangs, which is one of my main points in my research paper, and I believe that’s the main reason why so many Latino kids are dropping out.
Sincerely Danny McDonald
When you state that 35.4% of Latinos fail to earn diplomas and point out the false excuse of “well, what can you expect from inner-cit schools? Those poor, minority kids just can’t or won’t do the work” As much as I agree that it is a false excuse and I believe that there should be a solution attempt in providing the future of Hispanics with more graduates, I do believe that there is a lack of motivation in the Latino community. So by stating that they won’t do the work, I wouldn’t call it a full false excuse.
Then when you state that there is no big mystery to why kids drop out, you list all these reasons in which I agree completely. There are so many reasons why kids drop out, but you conclude the paragraph by saying that they are lured by gangs, which is one of my main points in my research paper, and I believe that’s the main reason why so many Latino kids are dropping out.
Sincerely Danny McDonald
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Los Angeles Times: Stopping the Dropouts
Los Angeles Times
July 19, 2008 Saturday
Home Edition
Stopping the dropouts;
State statistics should boost efforts to reduce the number of students who quit before graduation.
SECTION: MAIN NEWS; Editorial pages Desk; Part A; Pg. 18
LENGTH: 591 words
It wasn't true, what the critics said about half the students in Los Angeles Unified School District dropping out. One in three do. The first state database to count dropouts in a more realistic way revealed this week that although the district's numbers weren't as bad as feared, neither were they statistics to inspire a happy dance.
L.A. Unified is finally taking meaningful measures to keep kids in school, a formidable task. But how did we get to this place? By ignoring our dropouts with great thoroughness for many years and even by covering up their existence. If researchers questioned the high numbers of youngsters leaving inner-city schools, district administrators would respond that this mostly reflected families who had moved away.
The district does in fact have an alarmingly high mobility rate -- each year, 27% of its students move -- but until this week there was no regular system in place to track where the missing had gone. It didn't help that both the state and federal departments of education paid most of their attention to test scores and very little to dropout rates. In fact, a school could look better under the No Child Left Behind Act by having its low achievers leave.
As a result, dropout rates at some Los Angeles schools don't just reach half, they go beyond. Nearly 60% of the students at Jefferson High leave without diplomas. But L.A. Unified is hardly the only district in the county where dropout rates exceed the statewide number of 24.2%. The new database lists Inglewood Unified as having a 43.9% dropout rate, Compton Unified at 43.3% and Lynwood Unified at a whopping 49.5%.
Throughout California, black and Latino youngsters have higher dropout rates, and that's reflected in L.A. Unified as well, where 35.4% of Latinos and 40.2% of African Americans fail to earn diplomas. Numbers like that lead to such false excuses as, "Well, what can you expect from inner-city schools? Those poor, minority kids just can't or won't do the work."
Then what to make of Santa Ana Unified, where 92% of the students are Latino, many of them from impoverished families, yet the dropout rate is 9.1%? It's worth noting that, in L.A. Unified, the dropout rate for white students is more than twice that high.
There's no big mystery to why kids drop out. They fall behind in their studies to the point where catching up seems hopeless. They feel stupid, and even dropping out seems better than being reminded daily of their stupidity. Their schools are chaotic, even dangerous. They fall into a habit of truancy that no one helps them break. They are lured by gangs or are overwhelmed by financial and personal problems.
Under Supt. David L. Brewer, Los Angeles schools had begun contacting apparent dropouts, trying to coax them back into the classroom. Now, Senior Deputy Supt. Ramon C. Cortines is mapping a more comprehensive intervention. Schools would receive financial incentives for raising attendance -- something the district could afford because it gets more money from the state for each day students are in class. By the end of the first grading period, ninth-grade teachers would have to report on failing students and provide an immediate remediation plan. Schools themselves would get regular report cards based not only on their test scores but on such factors as whether students feel safe.
Most important, the state each year will reveal and refine the dropout data. Just as the No Child Left Behind Act led to major reforms in urban education, so should putting these bleak numbers before the public eye.
July 19, 2008 Saturday
Home Edition
Stopping the dropouts;
State statistics should boost efforts to reduce the number of students who quit before graduation.
SECTION: MAIN NEWS; Editorial pages Desk; Part A; Pg. 18
LENGTH: 591 words
It wasn't true, what the critics said about half the students in Los Angeles Unified School District dropping out. One in three do. The first state database to count dropouts in a more realistic way revealed this week that although the district's numbers weren't as bad as feared, neither were they statistics to inspire a happy dance.
L.A. Unified is finally taking meaningful measures to keep kids in school, a formidable task. But how did we get to this place? By ignoring our dropouts with great thoroughness for many years and even by covering up their existence. If researchers questioned the high numbers of youngsters leaving inner-city schools, district administrators would respond that this mostly reflected families who had moved away.
The district does in fact have an alarmingly high mobility rate -- each year, 27% of its students move -- but until this week there was no regular system in place to track where the missing had gone. It didn't help that both the state and federal departments of education paid most of their attention to test scores and very little to dropout rates. In fact, a school could look better under the No Child Left Behind Act by having its low achievers leave.
As a result, dropout rates at some Los Angeles schools don't just reach half, they go beyond. Nearly 60% of the students at Jefferson High leave without diplomas. But L.A. Unified is hardly the only district in the county where dropout rates exceed the statewide number of 24.2%. The new database lists Inglewood Unified as having a 43.9% dropout rate, Compton Unified at 43.3% and Lynwood Unified at a whopping 49.5%.
Throughout California, black and Latino youngsters have higher dropout rates, and that's reflected in L.A. Unified as well, where 35.4% of Latinos and 40.2% of African Americans fail to earn diplomas. Numbers like that lead to such false excuses as, "Well, what can you expect from inner-city schools? Those poor, minority kids just can't or won't do the work."
Then what to make of Santa Ana Unified, where 92% of the students are Latino, many of them from impoverished families, yet the dropout rate is 9.1%? It's worth noting that, in L.A. Unified, the dropout rate for white students is more than twice that high.
There's no big mystery to why kids drop out. They fall behind in their studies to the point where catching up seems hopeless. They feel stupid, and even dropping out seems better than being reminded daily of their stupidity. Their schools are chaotic, even dangerous. They fall into a habit of truancy that no one helps them break. They are lured by gangs or are overwhelmed by financial and personal problems.
Under Supt. David L. Brewer, Los Angeles schools had begun contacting apparent dropouts, trying to coax them back into the classroom. Now, Senior Deputy Supt. Ramon C. Cortines is mapping a more comprehensive intervention. Schools would receive financial incentives for raising attendance -- something the district could afford because it gets more money from the state for each day students are in class. By the end of the first grading period, ninth-grade teachers would have to report on failing students and provide an immediate remediation plan. Schools themselves would get regular report cards based not only on their test scores but on such factors as whether students feel safe.
Most important, the state each year will reveal and refine the dropout data. Just as the No Child Left Behind Act led to major reforms in urban education, so should putting these bleak numbers before the public eye.
Media and Risky Behaviors
Soledad Liliana Escobar-Chaves and Craig A. Anderson immediatly state two points, one is that the United States youth is spending to much time with electronics daily and that they can lead to unhealthy behaviors that can lead to societal costs.
As they state that "health risk behaviors identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—obesity, smoking, drinking, sexual risk taking, and violence" can occur from the the activity from over use of electronic devices.
The article takes each risk behavior into its own category and explain individually in detail how the risk behavior plays its role in the addiction to electronics. Obesity has a large section portion identifiying that part of the reason that obesity has reached its climax internationally is because of the amount of electronics that get played daily and the amount of advertising for un-healthy foods. Through out the article there are also large quotes to give an effect of the point that they are trying to express. Obesity has its own links through each kind of electronic addiction, from video games, movies and the internet. Obesity is making its impact due to the amount of food that adolescants are eating and to the fact that they are not getting enough exercise. The article then takes a shift in how adolescants are the largest amount of new smokers to smoking.
"Many studies provide clear and strong evidence that youth are more susceptible to viewing smoking favorably and to becoming smokers as a result of exposure to smoking in the media."
After the impact on how smoking is largely inspired by the media, the artcle takes another shift into how adolescants are getting addicted to alcohol. The most common advertised drug on the media that seems to be making a large impact onto adolescant society is alcohol. After the commentary on alcohol the article takes another shift into the amount of sexual intercourse that is occuring in the adolescant society. Sexual influence is inspired everywhere in media this day, from advertising alcohol to soda. "Virtually no attention has been given to the ways in which the sexual content of advertising may shape adolescent sexual behavior."
After the impact on how sexual intercourse has largely increased in the adolescant society, the next shift is into adolescant violence showing the largest statistics in the article so far. Youth violence resulting in death or injuries has a direct and indirect cost of $158 billion a year. Media exposure has shown violence inspired from movies, advertisements and most of all video games. The article shows that there is a percentage of adolescants playing video over 15 hours of video games per week. Television and movie violence has been one of the most common types of films and shows to be shown on TV and for the public to buy. There is studies that violent games leads to violent behavior. "Despite many reports that exposure to violent media is a causal risk factor, the U.S. public remains largely unaware of these risks, and youth exposure to violent media remains extremely high."
The article concludes by expressing that media has a very high influence on the behavior of adolescants in American society. All the behaviors were covered with percentage in how they are increasing per year. A solution that the article ends with is stating that studies have shown that positive behavior that is played or shown can influence positive behavior. So a shift in channeling more positive behavior can be looked upon as a solution.
Is That Just Some Game? No, It’s a Cultural Artifact
Heather Chaplin
The history of video games impressed me in how it can be perserved and cherished more instead of being violated to be shut down. I noticed some of the games there that created its name in history such as Warcraft being the first real time strategy game. Video games is a sign of the advancement in technology this day to the technology of the world. Mr. Lowood has a passion and pride to the advancement of video games and wants to protect it by avoiding emulators to steal the games and have them played for free on the internet.
As they state that "health risk behaviors identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—obesity, smoking, drinking, sexual risk taking, and violence" can occur from the the activity from over use of electronic devices.
The article takes each risk behavior into its own category and explain individually in detail how the risk behavior plays its role in the addiction to electronics. Obesity has a large section portion identifiying that part of the reason that obesity has reached its climax internationally is because of the amount of electronics that get played daily and the amount of advertising for un-healthy foods. Through out the article there are also large quotes to give an effect of the point that they are trying to express. Obesity has its own links through each kind of electronic addiction, from video games, movies and the internet. Obesity is making its impact due to the amount of food that adolescants are eating and to the fact that they are not getting enough exercise. The article then takes a shift in how adolescants are the largest amount of new smokers to smoking.
"Many studies provide clear and strong evidence that youth are more susceptible to viewing smoking favorably and to becoming smokers as a result of exposure to smoking in the media."
After the impact on how smoking is largely inspired by the media, the artcle takes another shift into how adolescants are getting addicted to alcohol. The most common advertised drug on the media that seems to be making a large impact onto adolescant society is alcohol. After the commentary on alcohol the article takes another shift into the amount of sexual intercourse that is occuring in the adolescant society. Sexual influence is inspired everywhere in media this day, from advertising alcohol to soda. "Virtually no attention has been given to the ways in which the sexual content of advertising may shape adolescent sexual behavior."
After the impact on how sexual intercourse has largely increased in the adolescant society, the next shift is into adolescant violence showing the largest statistics in the article so far. Youth violence resulting in death or injuries has a direct and indirect cost of $158 billion a year. Media exposure has shown violence inspired from movies, advertisements and most of all video games. The article shows that there is a percentage of adolescants playing video over 15 hours of video games per week. Television and movie violence has been one of the most common types of films and shows to be shown on TV and for the public to buy. There is studies that violent games leads to violent behavior. "Despite many reports that exposure to violent media is a causal risk factor, the U.S. public remains largely unaware of these risks, and youth exposure to violent media remains extremely high."
The article concludes by expressing that media has a very high influence on the behavior of adolescants in American society. All the behaviors were covered with percentage in how they are increasing per year. A solution that the article ends with is stating that studies have shown that positive behavior that is played or shown can influence positive behavior. So a shift in channeling more positive behavior can be looked upon as a solution.
Is That Just Some Game? No, It’s a Cultural Artifact
Heather Chaplin
The history of video games impressed me in how it can be perserved and cherished more instead of being violated to be shut down. I noticed some of the games there that created its name in history such as Warcraft being the first real time strategy game. Video games is a sign of the advancement in technology this day to the technology of the world. Mr. Lowood has a passion and pride to the advancement of video games and wants to protect it by avoiding emulators to steal the games and have them played for free on the internet.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
New Orleans: After the Deluge
The very interesting graphic novel about the tragic event that Hurricane Katrina caused made me see a different view of the event, especially towards the end when the people of New Orleans felt that the government blew up levees on purpose. The drawings were very neat and made me realize that I really enjoy reading a graphic novel more than a article or book. The novel showed the effect that the hurricane only provided a small flood from its own rain, but that since it broke the levee's is what caused the main tragedy of New Orleans. The several story lines showed people who left a night ahead of everyone else, people who wanted to stay and survive the storm, people who ignored it and threw a party and people who just went home regulary. It was interesting seeing the people's decision in what they were going to do and the reader already knew what the smart decision and what was not. The graphic novel also showed the amount of confidence that people had that the hurricane was going to turn or it was not going to be as bad as they thought. The change of color for each chapter represented the different story lines that were in the graphic novel. I enjoyed reading more about Mansell and Nafeesa because they seemed to be kind of the comic relief in the graphic novel although they still got a really bad experience from shifting in the store to the top of the roof and getting mosquito bites. But it also showed a sense of team work and frienship on how they helped each other and took water bottles to other people who were in need. They seemed to represent the good man of America that made me enjoy to see how they acted to such a extreme event. I would like to know more about what happened to Mansell and Nafeesa after they got settled. I also want to know if the family who left to Florida and split up their kids, when did they get re-united? THe man with the de-hydrated baby, did the baby live?
Satrapi and Root interview
Satrapi gets interviewed in more detail about herself and her graphic novel, Persepolis. Satrapi explains that she can not write a book because she looses all of her sense of humor in her and can not write something interesting. That by drawing she can express her humor and make a better writing in saying that you can express more in a graphic novel than in a book. I probably agree with this completely, I understand situations better with imagery but that doesn't mean a person can be multi-talented. If Satrapi can write a successful graphic novel, I am sure she can write a successful book too. Satrapi also explains how there are 2 other women in her situation who also write memoirs, that all these women come from the same back ground and believe that their story should be told. Satrapi though seems to just write the story and puts it out there, if a person wants to read the story then they can read it, but if they want to hear the truth "they need to go to Fox News or New York Times". Satrapi also explains about her drawing technique in how in her first book it was about her child hood so she choosed to draw like a child to add the effect into the story. Her second book is when she is grown up, so she draws more mature with an adult artistic taste. Satrapi expresses more about her book and when this interview was conducted, she was in the middle of her filming. So Satrapi expresses her excitement of her movie coming out.
Satrapi and Root interview
Satrapi gets interviewed in more detail about herself and her graphic novel, Persepolis. Satrapi explains that she can not write a book because she looses all of her sense of humor in her and can not write something interesting. That by drawing she can express her humor and make a better writing in saying that you can express more in a graphic novel than in a book. I probably agree with this completely, I understand situations better with imagery but that doesn't mean a person can be multi-talented. If Satrapi can write a successful graphic novel, I am sure she can write a successful book too. Satrapi also explains how there are 2 other women in her situation who also write memoirs, that all these women come from the same back ground and believe that their story should be told. Satrapi though seems to just write the story and puts it out there, if a person wants to read the story then they can read it, but if they want to hear the truth "they need to go to Fox News or New York Times". Satrapi also explains about her drawing technique in how in her first book it was about her child hood so she choosed to draw like a child to add the effect into the story. Her second book is when she is grown up, so she draws more mature with an adult artistic taste. Satrapi expresses more about her book and when this interview was conducted, she was in the middle of her filming. So Satrapi expresses her excitement of her movie coming out.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Persepolis
The reading of Persepolis and the review of Hilary Chute on Persepolis expressed the emotional maturation of Marjane Satrapi, the author of Persepolis, in a graphic novel that will show her life in Iran in how her life changed in 1 year from 1979 to 1980. It opens up on how wearing a veil will be required for every girl to wear at school and then the girls and boys will be seperated from each other in school. The actual graphic of this scene though kind of confused me when I saw it because it showed the girls using the veils for different reasons such as a jump rope and to ride on another kids back like a horse. I think its showing the confusion of wearing a veil to school and starting to notice the first difference in their lives in effect from the revolution. The reading then takes a different turn and confuses me when the girl shows that she was born with religion but then claims herself as a "the last prophet". I learned more about what the girl was concerned about, such as family holidays and good health, but it still made me wonder where this reading was taking me. The girls parents will be found protesting the veil and the girls mother will be caught in a picture protesting and will be published in magazines. The mother will cover up by dying her hair, this shows a sense of power that the government holds and paranoia, that by protesting, their lifes are on the line. "The Bicycle" had a weird way of simply stating that a revolution was happening in Iran because it showed the girl dressed up in military clothes with a weapon and idolizing Castro, Guevera and Trotsky. Then the girl says that God looks like Marx and then we find the girl talking to God. This just made me confused because I had no idea what exactly was going on, I just saw the main message that there was a revolution going on in Iran. It leads to then a local current event on a movie theater that got burned down with people inside and the police standing outside, the girl over hears her parents and she feels motivated to participate at a protest with them. "The Water Cell" explains a story told by the father to the daughter on how the girls grand father was a prince, he was tortured and but inside a water cell and it depressed the girl in how horrible he was treated. She then sits in a bath for a long time to see how her grand father would have felt. "Kim Wilde" showed how the girls parents went to Turkey to bring her back modern gifts such as a denim jacket, posters and nike shoes. They had to sneek them in and when they give the gifts to the girl, it first of all makes her very happy and wants to go out and buy some tapes from the black market. The "Gaurdians of the Revolution" find the girl on the street wearing a denim jacket, nike shoes and a Michael Jackson pin on her jacket. The gaurdians wanted to take her away but Marji just ends up crying and lying about how her parents were dead and she needed to be home on time. The message of "Kim Wilde" shows the few rights that women have and how the new modern era is not accepted in their culture.
Hilary Chute Review of Persepolis
Hilary Chute does a complete review on the whole graphic novel on Persepolis and focuses more on parts that I didn't get to read. Chute gets into depth on the meaning of Persepolis on how dramatic the actual story is and its success. Chute observes on how there are constantly dead bodies through out the story and how majority of the drawings seemed to show more black. Black seemed to have represent the depression of the time in Iran during the revolution and war. Chute also does a review on the movie of Persepolis and its success as a low budget and experience movie. Chute then does a comparisson of the two. Chute also states the controversy that the movie made in Iran by having the President call the film "ant-Iranian" in how it doesn't show the true meaning of the "glorious" revolution.
The Chute review seemed to be more complicated for me actually talk about because majority of the article I couldn't relate to since I havent read the whole graphic novel and I haven't seen the movie. It was more interesting for me to read the acutal graphic novel that was provided for me. I enjoyed the reading and learned more about the history of Iran and see that they were headed to a more modern direction until 1980. I can't actually relate the reading to myself since I never really had a experience like that. I could kind of relate to the part when Marji finds out that her grand father was a prince when my father explained to me that my grand father was more than just a war veteran, but he was actually a very important under cover FBI agent after the military. I had that same reaction of picturing my grand father as a amazing hero as Marji had. I found the reading to teach me also about the very little rights that women have in these countries. If I could ask questions to Satrapi I would ask:
Hilary Chute Review of Persepolis
Hilary Chute does a complete review on the whole graphic novel on Persepolis and focuses more on parts that I didn't get to read. Chute gets into depth on the meaning of Persepolis on how dramatic the actual story is and its success. Chute observes on how there are constantly dead bodies through out the story and how majority of the drawings seemed to show more black. Black seemed to have represent the depression of the time in Iran during the revolution and war. Chute also does a review on the movie of Persepolis and its success as a low budget and experience movie. Chute then does a comparisson of the two. Chute also states the controversy that the movie made in Iran by having the President call the film "ant-Iranian" in how it doesn't show the true meaning of the "glorious" revolution.
The Chute review seemed to be more complicated for me actually talk about because majority of the article I couldn't relate to since I havent read the whole graphic novel and I haven't seen the movie. It was more interesting for me to read the acutal graphic novel that was provided for me. I enjoyed the reading and learned more about the history of Iran and see that they were headed to a more modern direction until 1980. I can't actually relate the reading to myself since I never really had a experience like that. I could kind of relate to the part when Marji finds out that her grand father was a prince when my father explained to me that my grand father was more than just a war veteran, but he was actually a very important under cover FBI agent after the military. I had that same reaction of picturing my grand father as a amazing hero as Marji had. I found the reading to teach me also about the very little rights that women have in these countries. If I could ask questions to Satrapi I would ask:
- What experiences did you have with friends, I notice in the reading that you never seem to be with friends that believed in the same way as you.
- How do you feel by having the President of Iran state your novel to be "Anti-Iranian"?
- Did you kept wearing your denim jacket and shoes after your experience with the Gaurdians?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Mathias reading and Filmore reading
Frank Mathias is a military veteran and a writer, by organizing all of his documents from his time in the military he is able to write his books and memoirs in an organized manner to create an accuracy and effect in his writings. As Mathias talks more on how he wrote his memoirs in the military he expresses more on how a memoir is more unique and more powerful than any other memoir. Mathias says after talking about his third writing that "there is something about a military memoir that chills the heart of most historians." When I read this I managed to reflect a part of my life with it because my father is in the military for almost 30 years and he majored in history in college, military literary was always around my house, so when I read that quote I managed to picture how different a military memoir is to a regular one due to its emotional effect it can create. Mathias also explains that he doesn't have a lot of experience in memoir writing but since he is a front man military soldier coming from a dramatic point of view, his simple words can be turned into a dramatic piece of literature that is appreciated from all angles. I wonder though, since military memoirs are not as appreciated as they were before, how popular do Mathias memoirs and books really get? Does Mathias' books and memoirs influence more military veterans to write memoirs or publish their memoirs of their experience? Now that Mathias has experience in being a good writer, would he want to re-write his memoirs that he originally did when he said that he didn't have that much experience when entering the field of writing.
Nicole Filmore manages to grab the attention of the reader in the first paragraph by explaining a regular weekend with a giant twist in how her sister found out that she was pregnant. She explains on how she has never seen her sister cry and creates a image that most people can picture about a sad girl who found out she is pregnant infront of her family. Nicole shows a lot of what she was thinking during the situation and seemed to have been more worried about her sisters baby then she was, but it creates a very interesting reading that does not bore the reader. Nicole keeps talking about what went in her head and how all the attention of the house was going to her sister. Week by week the date for the baby approaches and it creates an opinion of Nicole on her sister and having a child in how she never wants to do it and that she doesn't like her sister. But when the baby finally comes she forgets about everything and says how beautiful the baby is and its become her passion in life. I can really relate to this reading because I have had friends who have had kids at a very young age to and I always play a role in support for them. But it is different for Nicole since she is the sister and she plays a bigger role that will change the life of everyone in that family. I really enjoyed this reading and if I could ask questions to Nicole I would ask if the baby is still her "everything" to this day? After helping to raise this baby so far does she feel that she can raise one on her own? When does she plan on having a baby?
Nicole Filmore manages to grab the attention of the reader in the first paragraph by explaining a regular weekend with a giant twist in how her sister found out that she was pregnant. She explains on how she has never seen her sister cry and creates a image that most people can picture about a sad girl who found out she is pregnant infront of her family. Nicole shows a lot of what she was thinking during the situation and seemed to have been more worried about her sisters baby then she was, but it creates a very interesting reading that does not bore the reader. Nicole keeps talking about what went in her head and how all the attention of the house was going to her sister. Week by week the date for the baby approaches and it creates an opinion of Nicole on her sister and having a child in how she never wants to do it and that she doesn't like her sister. But when the baby finally comes she forgets about everything and says how beautiful the baby is and its become her passion in life. I can really relate to this reading because I have had friends who have had kids at a very young age to and I always play a role in support for them. But it is different for Nicole since she is the sister and she plays a bigger role that will change the life of everyone in that family. I really enjoyed this reading and if I could ask questions to Nicole I would ask if the baby is still her "everything" to this day? After helping to raise this baby so far does she feel that she can raise one on her own? When does she plan on having a baby?
Monday, June 30, 2008
6/30/08 Reading Reaction
Response to Is writing a memoir therapeutic?
More than memoirs itself, Jerry Waxler seems to describe more on how words itself have an effect on the human mind. It is very interesting on how Jerry looks back into the process of who influenced him and motivated him to create the charactersitics of who he is. Jerry makes memoir writing seem more like a way to connect the emotions and the mind to cause shifts. Almost seems that it is his way of meditation or his zone to relax. Jerry states tha t reading a memoir is like having another person describe how they feel, the power of telling someone how they feel can cause a change in the emotion of the person. Jerry finally states and answers the question that he opened with saying that writing memoirs is therapeutic and it can cause a change into healing the emotions and mind of the human body. Jerry concludes the blog by describing how all his years of research and studying on the connections of wiriting memoirs has led him to the same conclusions as other writers have also found. If I could ask Jerry some questions I would first ask him
Response to Hurricane Katrina Witness
As Antoinette and Iriel Franklin discuss their experience from Hurricane Katrina, the first question that they responded was not how the hurricane was or how they are living now, it was looking back and asking what was the hardest part that Hurricane Katrina brought to them. The reaction of Antoinette was very deep on how she described that her mother broke down and cried and showed that even the strongest of people in families can not stay strong all the time. Then Antoinette showed her emotional side of her family, she also noticed that she still has her family with her and that is the most important thing. So the worst experience of Antoinette then becomes how Katrina destroyed the historical city of New Orleans and it was no longer there. Antoinette also expresses her most important lesson she learned which was "that love, family and faith is the most important thing in the whole world". Antoinette and Iriel express how important they mean to eachother and how much they have grown into the people who they are now.
After listening this very emotional clip I noticed how strong love, life and faith can be to a human being. I can compare my views with Antoinette and agree on how important it is to have that strong connection with family. Antoinette talked about how she cried when she saw her mother break down and mentioned that if the strong back of the family broke down how could anyone else stand up. It reminded me of when my God father died and at the funeral I saw my father cry for the first time, I personally did not cry because I set my mind to stand as a strong family like my God father would have wanted but the view of my father crying was the sign that even the strongest of the strong in the family can not hold in the emotions that can come in a tragedy. I can compare myself more with Antoinette than Iriel because of our views and I enjoyed hearing her story more because I learned the very important lesson about how important family is.
I would want to ask Antoinette that although the most important part she misses of New Orleans is the city itself, has she played her role in repairing the city so it can be once like it used to be? To Iriel I would ask that after seeing what happened to the city does she plan on helping repair the city and spend her life in New Orleans? To Iriel and Antoinette I would want to ask how did they personally escape and survive the actual hurricane itself and what has been the most inspirational stories of people coming from their background who also experienced Katrina?
- How does it feel to finally find an answer to what he has been researching for all that time?
- Writing memoirs is therapeutic, what shifts did writing memoirs personally do to Jerry?
- Has Jerry found a way to show his view on how writing memoirs is therapeutic in a unique way unlike the other authors to spread this personal view on writing memoirs?
Response to Hurricane Katrina Witness
As Antoinette and Iriel Franklin discuss their experience from Hurricane Katrina, the first question that they responded was not how the hurricane was or how they are living now, it was looking back and asking what was the hardest part that Hurricane Katrina brought to them. The reaction of Antoinette was very deep on how she described that her mother broke down and cried and showed that even the strongest of people in families can not stay strong all the time. Then Antoinette showed her emotional side of her family, she also noticed that she still has her family with her and that is the most important thing. So the worst experience of Antoinette then becomes how Katrina destroyed the historical city of New Orleans and it was no longer there. Antoinette also expresses her most important lesson she learned which was "that love, family and faith is the most important thing in the whole world". Antoinette and Iriel express how important they mean to eachother and how much they have grown into the people who they are now.
After listening this very emotional clip I noticed how strong love, life and faith can be to a human being. I can compare my views with Antoinette and agree on how important it is to have that strong connection with family. Antoinette talked about how she cried when she saw her mother break down and mentioned that if the strong back of the family broke down how could anyone else stand up. It reminded me of when my God father died and at the funeral I saw my father cry for the first time, I personally did not cry because I set my mind to stand as a strong family like my God father would have wanted but the view of my father crying was the sign that even the strongest of the strong in the family can not hold in the emotions that can come in a tragedy. I can compare myself more with Antoinette than Iriel because of our views and I enjoyed hearing her story more because I learned the very important lesson about how important family is.
I would want to ask Antoinette that although the most important part she misses of New Orleans is the city itself, has she played her role in repairing the city so it can be once like it used to be? To Iriel I would ask that after seeing what happened to the city does she plan on helping repair the city and spend her life in New Orleans? To Iriel and Antoinette I would want to ask how did they personally escape and survive the actual hurricane itself and what has been the most inspirational stories of people coming from their background who also experienced Katrina?
First Free Write
List occurences that directly led you to USF St Pete
Completing my high school education
Packed up my house and moved to Florida
Said good bye to friends
I was first declined from USF but then offered the FSI program so I am going to USF instead of St Petersburg College
I am here because I wanted to go to USF St Pete
I got scholarships but then did not use them for this program
List occurrences that almost took you away from USF St Pete
I almost got accepted into Virginia Tech
I got accepted into USF St. Petersburg College
Thought about working for a year
Didn’t have good enough grades for the fall semester
Who directly influenced you to continue your education
My mom and dad provided a college education for my by saving money since I was a baby but I plan on using that money for grad school
My family always supported my and my Dad is a USF Alumni and my cousin is to
Who directly influenced you not to go to College
Stephen Thompson told me that I should have gone to community college in Northern Virginia
I was told to not go to USF and go to George Mason University
Some of my family thought I should have gone to Georgia instead
Completing my high school education
Packed up my house and moved to Florida
Said good bye to friends
I was first declined from USF but then offered the FSI program so I am going to USF instead of St Petersburg College
I am here because I wanted to go to USF St Pete
I got scholarships but then did not use them for this program
List occurrences that almost took you away from USF St Pete
I almost got accepted into Virginia Tech
I got accepted into USF St. Petersburg College
Thought about working for a year
Didn’t have good enough grades for the fall semester
Who directly influenced you to continue your education
My mom and dad provided a college education for my by saving money since I was a baby but I plan on using that money for grad school
My family always supported my and my Dad is a USF Alumni and my cousin is to
Who directly influenced you not to go to College
Stephen Thompson told me that I should have gone to community college in Northern Virginia
I was told to not go to USF and go to George Mason University
Some of my family thought I should have gone to Georgia instead
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