Argument for Grade

 

                Hello Mrs. Alley, I would like to first start by saying thank you very much for everything you have done, not just for me but for our class and not giving up on us since everyday seemed like we would lose more and more class mates. Anyways, all those other students missed out on a great class and great information that is very useful and will be very useful in our English 1A class that we will soon be using. Also I would like to thank you for not making class like any other English class that is just here, read this, and write a report! That was something I was fearing, you made class worth going again since each day not only did we learn something but we learned it interacting with each other and as a class. This class has made me not fear to as people for help that we are all here to help one another. As for my grade I think I believe I deserve a B+ or B, because I have learned so much here in this class. This class has shown me how to become a better writer, how to not just write a sentence and right away correct it, just to let it flow and then come back to it. I have also learned many helpful strategies for my essay writing s for them to sound better and solid. If it wasn’t for the four T’s that you showed us then I probably wouldn’t know how to construct my thesis into a solid one. Another helpful thing that I learned here is how to cite my sources although I didn’t do them at all before and this was my first time learning how to do it, I learned how to do so. As for the assignments I have done all ten thought papers and reading and writings, and also participated in our class, this class has also shown me to speak up and be part of the class academically so other classmates can also learn. Being open about my writing is something I leaned to do In this class because I was shy of showing others what I wrote since I didn’t like being criticized on my work but I leaned to be okay with it and take the bad and turn it into good and make my paper better.  I was a class clown but now that I have reached college I know that there is time for play time and time for class time, because if I goof off then that means I only loose not anyone else just myself. Since I have been doing the quick writes it has been very easy for me to write and keep on writing, at first I would just stop and have a brain fart, but since i have written more constantly it’s easier. Your class has also shown me not to be shy when it comes down to sharing what we have written on our paper because we all are but if one has the courage to stand and share then it will probably cause a chain reaction that will make other people want to read what they have wrote. You have been a great guide in my writing ways, to show us how to improve our writing skills, I love to write but I wasn’t good with the whole grammar and correct way to make a well written essay, but as I have been in your class I have learned how to make my writing more enjoy full for my readers. SHOW! Don’t tell, I remember that now when I’m writing because only in that way I know that I will keep my readers interested and that is a good thing because I don’t like to read books that just talk but it’s very exciting to have that picture in your head and placing yourself where the book is telling you. I have come so far as a writer in your class and I know that I will only improve from here on out, it sucks that you are not returning next term, but I will be looking forward to be showing you my success from my 1A class. The biggest thing I also learned is that we have to stand up for something we believe in and not only because we are only a few we can’t make a change, like our eco fest, it was a big eye opener how we can make a change in our world and that it only takes a group with ideas and an event to aware others about the worlds eco problems. If we don’t make a change now then who will? You can’t see change unless it starts with you. I would like to aware those who don’t know what global warming really means and what it really is affecting us and our world. The reason why I got into this was because you showed us about researching more thoroughly but what made it more fun was taking action and making a difference in peoples’ lives. This then led to me blogging about it with my group; I didn’t know what blogging was at all I was like who? What is that? But I learned that many people can learn what’s going on around the world and you can learn their thoughts and see their lives. Many things I have learned in your class, as you can see this is a great difference from my first argument for grade. I have learned all these things in your class and this is why I believe I deserve a B+ or B in your class. Also, thanks again for this class, I will never forget my first college English class.

Mi Muchacha ideal

 

Yo no pense que amor a primera vista era real,

Pero tu eras mi muchacha ideal,

Cuando te vi y te conoci,

En amor yo me perdi,

Tu era la unica razon,

De que mi pobre Corazon,

Se deretia cada ves que te veia,

Y desde ese dia yo supe que tenias que ser solo mia

The Other Half of Me You’re the data to my chart,

 You have the love that fills my heart,

 You are the one and only girl,

That rocks my world,

Without you, I’m completely lost,

To have you, I would go to any cost,

I want you to see, That you mean the world to me,

Because I know that you and I, Are truly meant to be,

 And there is no possible way that I will love you less,

So please be mine and say yes.

The Passion for My Game!

 

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

 Albert happens to be the name,

And soccer is my game,

As I first saw it being played,

It was love at first sight,

And so I stepped on the field,

My true skills were revealed,

I dribbled left, I dribbled right,

In my head I knew I would never go down without a fight,

And to play with passion means to play with heart, and soul,

And so I went on to score my goal,

Thought paper (revised)

Thought paper

            In the 50 essays by Samuel Cohen there is a story called “Two ways to belong in America.” In this story it talks about two women who descended from India and came to the Americas to have a better life and succeed. They had a life planned to come for only two years and secure their degrees and go back to their country and marry their chosen grooms. Instead of following what they came for one of the girls Mira married an Indian student just two years after. After them both acquired their green card and became legal immigrants. Mira had become a well known pre-school teacher and became a citizen but her sister did not but after 30 years her boss reported her as an immigrant and she did not like that because they made new rules for immigrants and it was also for the old immigrants, what I think the author was trying to say is that you should fight for what you believe in no matter what happens. I believe what he says is true because we shouldn’t have to be treated different if you are an immigrant.

            ?How it Feels to be colored me” by Zora Neale Hurston talks about a young girl who  grew up with other colored people in a isolated town called Eatonville, Florida.  The only white people that he say around there were just people passing by in their cars and that was the only times. She then turned thirteen and went off to a school specifically for colored in Jacksonville. She knew what was going on there at her school was all wrong and not right being separated. What I think the author is trying to say no matter what is going on you must stand up for what you believe in even if times are hard. I would surely stand up for what I believe in  even though times were very hard back then in the day I would also know that what was going on was not right.

Cite Sources:

50 Essays by Samuel Cohen. “Two ways to belong in America.” by Bharati Mukherjee pg 298-301.Boston. New York. 2007

50 Essays by Samuel Cohen. “How it feels to Be Colored Me.” By Zora Neale Hurston. Pg206-210. Boston. New York. 2007

up draft (revised)

Up Draft

                                    “Crunch! Crunch!” was the sound while I was eating captain crunch from my power ranger bowl. Getting ready for the first day of school, putting on my uniform that was blue pants, white shirt and a stomach filled with nerves. The clock struck 7:30 and we were off to school a block away I didn’t know what to expect in my first day of school of the third grade, who’s going to be there or what was going to happen all I wanted to do is to run back to bed and wish it was all a dream. The first day of school in a new class with new teachers and classmates was my biggest fear; many people are intimidated and scared of change and new beginnings. “Will I make new friends? Is the teacher going to be cool or an evil teacher that will not be fun and do nothing but pound us with homework?” I asked myself these questions as I was walking on the cracked up sidewalk. I had no idea what I had in store in this new school and as I arrived to Marina West I saw a big sign with a white seagull blue and white buildings that seemed like tall sky scrapers , I saw new faces little kids and big kids, I squeezed my mom’s hand harder anxious with what would happen next. I finally got to the line we had to stand on before we entered my new class I remember my mom letting my hand go and remembering what she said “Andale mijo no tengas miedo”; “go on don’t be scared” is what she told me.

                                    As I walked towards the red line where the new kids stood I could tell that they were nervous like I was I had a feeling of relief, I thought I was going to be the only one when I got there. The teacher arrived a male with black hair and a funny tie that went by the name of Mr. Lopez led us to the classroom and as soon as we went into the room i saw a huge room filled with toys activities, pictures on the wall and all the nerves faded away because it was nothing like I thought it would be. The day went on with fun activities such as making little houses with Popsicle sticks, making new friends in recess playing tag and soccer, learning new subjects, that day was a day that I knew I would never forget. In the end I had nothing to worry about my mind was too scared of nothing but new things and change. I learned that there’s nothing to fear and just things to gain in a new experience.

                                    New school, new class, new teacher, and new friends these are things that run through our mind before that dreadful day comes. Will I fit in? Is there going to be anyone I know? What will I wear? These are things that we constantly think about but in reality we have nothing to worry about we just have to move on forward, and challenge our selves. All this means is that we have to be comfortable with ourselves with change and see it as a new beginning. To be ready for this you just have to be ok with yourself and go with confidence and look forward because you will only gain with this experience we worry about what or who’s going to be there but we are all there for all the same reasons and that is to learn and to help one another to be able to succeed in class and in life.  Not only do we learn new subjects in class but we make long term friendships with our fellow class mates; having projects together, completing homework, and having side conversations that will make us laugh and get in trouble but these are moments that wait for us in this new class. So school and a new classroom a new chapter in life is what is opening up and we have nothing to be scared just knowledge and friendships is what if waiting for us. So next time before you go to a new class remember this be welcome to be open because as you are nervous so are others and this will just make it comfortable not just four yourself but for others.

Debtal draft of a paper i wrote for class.

Time to Take Charge!

 “Who is to say that robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?” says Ray Gwyn Smith. Culture is an amazing thing when it comes down to various different ones from our own. Now a days it’s easily practiced here in the States but wasn’t that easy a few years ago. It was a bad thing to talk any other language besides English in the 1950’s. A language that was not welcome was Spanish; people who spoke Spanish would be discriminated. “If you want to be American talk English or go back to where you came from.”(44) This was told to a young Chicana girl by the name of Gloria Anzaldua, who grew up here in the United States. In her essay “How to tame a wild tongue” Gloria Anzaldua, a young girl who grew up in Rio Grande of South Texas, was discriminated about her culture and her language. She tells us about how it was growing up knowing to speak English and mostly Spanish as a first language in her home. She was told by her mom that why would it help her speaking English if she had a thick accent when she talked. While she was at Pan American University all Chicanos were required to take two speech classes purposely to get rid of their accents. “Attacks on one’s form of expression with the intent to censor area a violation of the First Amendment,” said Gloria Anzaldua (52). This is very true; we should be able to express ourselves and our culture without being penalized for what we are or where we originated from. We should have the right to practice what has been passed down to us and keep it going to our children and our children’s children. Therefore, if we are told to stop and change our ways, who will keep our old ways going? As we go on and nothing is being practiced, our culture or old ways of life, will soon be terminated. Many people had this on their mind, being able to do whatever everyone else could do and not penalized because they were different. While this would be happening a lot of people were against it, which led to The Chicano movement also called El Movimiento in the 1960’s. This was an extension of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement of the 1940’s. The goal was to get our rights as Mexicans American empowerment here in the United States. They united as one trying to get more rights as a Mexican American and have “social Liberation.” Chicano was labeled to those sons and daughters of the Mexican descendents. The movements slowly but surely gained more momentum as time passed many people stood up for something that they knew was wrong and so they spoke up and went all out fought for what they believed in. Many inspired by all these movements went on and made famous organizations like the League of the United Latin American Citizens which originated in 1929 and still is up and active till this day. This organizations goal was to be protecting Mexican Americans from being discriminated. Time passed on and thinking back that only one big movement, made many people come out fearless and fight to get what they deserved and that was to be a Mexican Americans with rights. Many Mexican American activists won several major legal victories one was the Mendez vs. Westminster Supreme Court ruling that segregating children of “Mexican and Latin descent” was unconstitutional. Many went on and fought for freedom, being able to work like Cesar Chaves, politics and many won their battles and if it wasn’t for them who knows where we would be at today. I can also compare this to amazing Martin Luther king, he to stood up for what he believed in. That was to not just stand up for himself, but for all his people’s rights as Americans. He like other people knew what was going on at his time being was all wrong, to segregate people or to be treated in an injustice way just because his color of skin was different. Like Gloria she was also being mistreated for being from the Mexican descent, not only was she from there but spoke that language and many people did no tolerate that. Martin Luther king and Gloria Anzaldua have many things in common even though Gloria was not as famous she did her part to stand and represent what she has to offer even though she is from another location. Many people like Rosa parks also stood up for her rights and not getting up from her seat, and an event like that changed the world completely. If it wasn’t for all these great people standing for what they believed and fought for what they rights, how would it be at this time? Would I be sitting in this very place or be segregated like the old days which wasn’t too long ago. I am thankful for what all these people have done for all of us. If I was to be in this time span, I would also stand up for what I believe in and also support the movements. Like all other Mexican Americans I would like to have my own rights and be able to fight for what I want and that’s to be accepted for who I am and where I’m coming from. We are all equal no matter what we look like in the outside and that doesn’t make us any different we all have our beliefs and a heart. I still believe there is a lot of this still happening today all over the world and this time in more ethnicities. Many people are dying because they stand for something that they know is wrong and so they fight for their people and especially for themselves. As the movements happened before our time, they still go on till this day, fighting for equal rights being able to walk into public places and not be discriminated and get stared at or judged. “Identity is the essential core of who we are as individuals, the conscious experience of the self inside” says Gershen Kaufman .(52) We are who we are and there is nothing wrong with that, like Glorias Anzaldua is trying to say we have many ways of talking but we are who are in the end. We must not change no matter who tells what’s right or wrong no one can tell us that our culture is wrong.” Los Chicanos how patient we seem, how very patient.” Gloria tells us that we have taken so much from others but we still stand as one and fighting for we believe in and not take anything anymore. “We know how to survive. We know what it is to live under the hammer blow of the dominants norteamericanos” she tells us, that no matter how things can get or hard we still have our tongues and no one will ever take our roots away from us. I may have been born here in the United States but thanks to my parents I still know where I have come from and I will stick with that no matter how things can get I will stand as a strong Mexican American. Sited Sources: Azaldua, Gloria. 50 essays. “How to tame a wild Tongue” Boston. New York 2007 (pg 43- 55) Smith, Gwyn Ray. 50 essays. “How to tame a wild Tongue” Boston. New York 2007 (pg 44) (Quote) Kaufman Gershen 50 essays. “How to tame a wild Tongue” Boston. New York 2007 (pg 52) (Quote) Www.Google. Com -search Chicano movement: Wikipedia-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicano_Movement

Dental draft of “The Dreadful Day”

 

“The Dreadful Day”

“Crunch! Crunch!” was the sound that echoed throughout my house as I ate cereal on my first day of school. Having a uniformed outfit that consisted of blue pants, white shirt, and no style filled my stomach with nerves as I thought of going to school. The clock struck 7:30 a.m. and we were off to school a block away, I didn’t know what to expect in my first day of the third grade, who’s going to be there or what was going to happen. All I wanted to do is to run back to bed and wish it was all a dream. The first day of school in a new class with new teachers and classmates was my biggest fear; many people are intimidated and scared of change and new beginnings.

“Will I make new friends? Is the teacher going to be cool or an evil teacher that is against fun and do nothing but pound us with homework?” I asked myself these questions as I was walking on the cracked up sidewalk. I had no idea what I had in store in this new school, as I arrived I saw a big sign that read Marina West with a white seagull on it, blue and white buildings that seemed like tall sky scrapers. I saw new faces, little and big kids also wearing our tasteless uniforms. With an anxious feeling, I squeezed my mom’s hand harder having no clue what would go on next. I finally got to the line we had to stand on before we entered my new classroom, I remember my mom letting my hand go and saying to me, “Andale mijo no tengas miedo” “go on son don’t be afraid” is what she said.

With my palms sweaty as I walked towards the red line, I could sense the nervousness within my new class mates; I had a feeling of relief, thinking I would be the only one with nerves. The teacher Mr. Lopez arrived, a black haired male with a funny tie on. Leading us to the classroom, the halls darkened, filled with fear, a huge room opened before my eyes, stocked with toys, activities, pictures on the walls thus the nerves fled from my consciousness because it was nothing like I thought it would be. The day went on with fun activities such as building little houses with Popsicle sticks, making new friends at recess playing freeze tag, soccer, and learning new subjects in class. This day was a day that I knew I would never forget. In the long run I had nothing to worry about; my mind was too scared of nothing but fear of change. I learned that I should not be scared of days like these; I will just gain new experiences.

Now that I have been through a day like this, no matter how young I was, I now know what to expect when it comes down to the first day of school or first of day anything. As I have entered college, I still get that particular feeling in my stomach, but I know I must go on and be myself. Just like the author of “how you became you” by Bill Bryson in the book 50 Essays, we have done so many things in our life to get where we are today. We all have been through a lot and it hasn’t been easy, you can say harder for others; and so as our experiences come together is what has made us, us. Meaning, my past experience I know that by being open to new obstacles and people can have its rewards. I try to go on and help others by introducing me self to them so we both will be comfortable when it comes down for us to work together. Till this very day I use these tactics so I won’t be a nervous wreck, since I know that being shy won’t get me anywhere.

Also I can compare this to “How To Tame A wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua In 50 essays. She talks about how she has to be changed because she is another place and is told to change. I don’t want to change when I get to this new school just so I can fit in, I want to be accepted for who a really am not for what I’m not. I had different type of clothes from the new kids and they looked at me funny because I was with a tasteless style. I feel just like Gloria being told to change or to go home, even though I was stared at I kept going as me and no one else.

New school, new class, new teacher, and new friends are things that run through our mind before that dreadful day comes. Will I fit in? Is there going to be anyone I know? What will I wear? These are things that I constantly think about but in reality we have nothing to worry about I just have to move on forward, and challenge myself. All this means is that I have to be comfortable with myself, change and see it as a new beginning. To be ready for this I must be confident, head held up high, look forward because I will only gain with this experience. I worry about what or who’s going to be there but in reality we are all there for the same reasons and that is to learn and to help one another to be able to succeed in class and in life.  Not only do we learn new subjects in class but we make long term friendships with our fellow class mates: having projects together, completing homework, and having side conversations that will make us laugh and get in trouble but these are moments that await for us in our new classes. So, school, new classroom a new chapter in life is what is opening up and I have nothing to be scared of, just knowledge and friendships is what is waiting for me. I’ll Just think, next time before I go to a new class I’ll keep this in mind, be open to my classmates because as I am nervous so are others and this will just make it easy and comfortable not just for myself but for others.

Thought Paper #3

Thought Paper In 50 Essays by Samuel Cohen, there’s an essay called “Never Just Picture,” by Susan Bordo talks about teenagers or adolescents today are influenced too much on the media. The media sends messages to the kids about how they should look and how they have to be to be good looking or cool. This is a bad thing because many girls tend to be like the girls on the television or the magazines and starve themselves which leads to bad medical illnesses. What I think the author is trying to say is that we shouldn’t care what’s on TV and do our own thing. Ii we do our own thing then we won’t have to be so conscious about what we have to wear to be labeled cool or pretty. I believe we are cool with or without the things that they show on the TV those things are luxury not needs we don’t need to look like that we just have to be ourselves. Another essay called “Television The –in-Drug,” Marie Winn talks about how television is not what many people thought it would be when they saw commercials about them. Showing how the families would sit together to watch it but in reality it was just something people would watch on their own. Many people have become addicted to the television because they can just watch it for hours and focus on that and only that. Many little kids watch way too much TV and are influenced by it and want to do everything that is going on in there. What I think the author is trying to say is that we can’t depend on the television so much we have to get out and not let the TV separate our families and our culture. I think we have to just live on without watching so much TV and exercise more. In Chapter 8 of Nowtopia talks about how television and video games there is also something else that people are addicted to and that is the internet. Many people love to be on the internet and like to surf it and see what’s out there. The first uses for the internet was for the U.S. military to communicate with others and for basic research to build weapons. Many people have become really dependent to the internet when it comes down to looking up information. I believe that what the author is saying is that we can be too dependent and we shouldn’t be like that because one day it can be gone and what else they are going to do if there isn’t any more internet anymore. I believe that we can have limited time for our internet and then focus on other things. Works Cited: Susan Bordo. “Never Just Pictures.” 50 Essays. Boston New York. 2007. 85-92 Marie Winn. “Television: The Plug-In Drug.” 50 Essays. Boston. New York. 2007. 457-466. Chris Carlsson. Nowtopia. 2008.

Thought Paper #2

In chapter 10 of Nowtopia by Chris Carlsson talks about how the nowtopians have risen up to make this world a better place. He tells us that we can make this world a better place and not be dominated by big corporations. This means that burning man is something really great that many unite us and be one reason to make it a great awesome world. Carlsson also talks about why he made this book and why he made it, and that’s to show what was  and is going on today in this world. The author is telling us about many people who are making the effort of changing our communities with the activities said on this book. What I think the author is trying to say is that we have to become one in order to change our ways because our world is in danger and in a wrong path since pollution and other life threatening things are happening. I believe what the author is trying to say is true because if we don’t stop what’s going on who is? We must stop our pollution ways more because that’s our biggest problem I think now because we are feeling it more and more each and every day.

            In 50 essays by Samuel Cohen talks about two different people and shows us how people may react at a certain situation. Telling us how a woman is at a corner with her baby and a male with certain clothes intimidates her and grasps the stroller harder in order if something happens. So she reacts by giving him a dollar or the other women who gave the homeless food. The question here is did the women give that out of compassion or fear? Did they judge before anything else? I think the author is trying to say do people judge others before anything; or they think of the worst thing and fear comes over them. I believe what the author it trying to say is true because many may be scared of a certain person dressed at a certain way because they have fear but yet don’t now anything about them. We shouldn’t judge anyone unless we know anyone; in that case we should just move on and not judge right away.

Work Cited:

Chris Carlsson. Nowtopia. 2009

“On Compassion” Barbara Lazear Ascher. 50 essays.2007. (56-59)