Research Proposal

As a past student enrolled in a public school, I felt entitled to meet the required acceptance of my teachers but ultimately the grading rubric of school testings. Not only does state testing determine our future college but the feedback we get from our friends and family. Therefore, we have to ask ourselves what are the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. I believe evaluating the positives and negatives of Standardized Testing is a hard topic to approach. There are many good and bad outcomes resulting from set standards but one can argue that the removal of set standards can hinder a students learning.

My personal experience with Standardized Testing wasn't the most ideal. I didn't feel inclined to get a good score on a test because a mere paper didn't make up who I am. There were also several other reasons. The grading system my city had was based on a few important tests instead of the majority of your tests. For example, if you score high in the SAT(Scholastic Assessment Test), your four year GPA wasn't viewed as more important. Thus, you can minimally pass your four years in high school but get a good SAT school and conditionally get into various universities. This ultimately discouraged me as a student and my viewpoints on our school systems. However, not only am I affected by this but, thousands of other student feel the same way. If the saying, a good college leads to a better job, therefore a better life, isn't it unreasonable to judge a tennager based on one soul test score.

Draft Proposal

As a past student enrolled in a public school, I felt entitled to meet the required acceptance of my teachers but ultimately the grading rubics of school testings. Not only does state testing determine the future of our future college but the feedback we get from our friends and family.Therefore, we have to ask ourselves what are the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. I believe evaluating the positives and negatives of Standardized Testing is a hard topic to approach. There are many positives and negatives resulting from set standards but one can argue that the removal of set standards can hinder a students learning.

From past experience,

Inquiry Questions

Who sets the standards in Standardized Testing? Professors, teachers, or should the students?

What gives the right for the Standards Tests to be the difference between going to a University and going to a City College.

How do we balance the financial inequality between different schools?

Are parents treating their children

What are the pros and cons of Standardized Testing for students?
- Perspectives of teachers and students that go through the public school system
- The question does imply a personal stake b/c I was apart of the public system
- Students should care for the way they are graded

As a past student enrolled in a public school, I feel
Therefore, we have to ask ourselves what are the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. I believe evaluating the positives and negatives of Standardized Testing is a hard topic to approach. There are many positives and negatives resulting from set Standards but one can argue that the removal of set standards can be


Draft Proposal Due Tues
(Why you're intreated in this topic)

Practice Write 10/25

Remind yourself of Fish + Zorn's arguments, type of article, + where/how they "road-mapped" their thesis. Ask any questions you have in your P.W.

After reading Fish's arguments against the standards of the school system, I was dumbfounded by his path of teaching. Fish wanted to implement his teaching on sentence structuring, but for the entity of a English class.

Annotation Blog #8 Young

Summary/Main Ideas:
- We all should know everybody's dialect, at least as many as we can and be open to the mix of them in oral and written communication.
- Black English doesn't make it own-self oppression
- Instead of forcing people to learn the Standard Language Ideology, we should teach language descriptively.
- learn the different cultural perspectives
- teach how to understand listen and write multiple dialects simultaneously
- enlarge our perspective on what good writing is and how it is used through our daily lives
- As a society be more flexible/acceptable to language diversity

Quotes:
"Teachin one correct way lend a hand to chopping off folks' tongues." (111)
I agree with Young's response to Fish, having one standard in languages limits the ability for potential tongues to forum.
"Cuz nobody can or gone really master all the rules of any language or dialect" (112)
How can professors grade their students justly if every students language is different?
"Everybody mix their dialect they learn at home with whateva dialect or language they learn afterwards" (111)
If everyone speaks their own language why does the school system implement a standard for every to follow?

Critical Questions: 
How would our school system fairly grade their students on English if there is no standard.
How do we change the structure of what the school teaches.

Practice Write 10/18

"Sigh of Relief" - open prompt after turning in Essay 2. (How do you feel about it?)

Definitely glad that the essay is over. However, I did enjoy writing this letter to my former teacher. Although the essay was more of a thing to do, it help me analyze the Young's text more in-depth and fully understand his stance against standard english ideology.

Book Club Blog

Summary/Main Ideas:
The novel begins with our protagonist, Janie returning to her home town. However her return isn't what you expect. Instead of being welcomed she is gossiped about and laughed at. In spite of that, the women mocked at Janie because they are jealous of her physical prowess leading to a subjective view on her return. Even the men judgement of her return is subjective. They changed their way of judging her based on her physical body. As the book progresses, the setting of the novels visits the past. As we learn, Janie's first husband is Logan. Janie's main reason for marrying Logan however is that Logan provided is that he is well off and can financially support her. His qualities of honesty and hardworking helps their marriage but on the other hand it hurts their relationship. Throughout their marriage, Janie constantly tries to find true/real love in their relationship. Thus Janie seeks the advice of her Nanny. Her nanny a who believes in God and a former slave, defends Logan and their marriage. In spite of that, I believe the nanny perspective/view is different to Janie's. Because her nanny is a former slave, one is justified to say that her view on a husband that can support the family, content. Because her privileges of human rights was taken away from her due to slavery, her goals in life are very different for Janie's goals.




Quotes:
1) "Ships at a distance have ever man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men" (Hurston 1).

After reading the first few chapters of the book, the first paragraph of Hurston's novel begins to seem more critical to the main theme of the book and to its title. The main protagonist Janie goes through several marriages searching for a idea of love, but with that other life values or the qualities of the "pursuit of happiness." This quotes shares Janie's values in life or for her instance her husbands (for now). The horizon symbolizes the values Janie's second husband has which is Ambition.

"Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly."

This is the second paragraph to Hurston's novel. I believe this quote has the same value if not more to the first paragraph. This quote main describes Janie's reasoning behind several husbands. And even some of the reasons Hurston wrote this book. It also points out the difference of goals between Men and Women. (I'll elaborate more on this when I read more).

*Currently adding more quotes :)

Annotation Blog #6 From Inquiry p. 32-46; 241

Summary/Main Ideas:
Analyzing the Text Rhetorically
- identifying the writers purpose
-separating the parts of an argument
Identifying the Situation
-what moves the writer (motives)
Writers Purpose
-to respond in a particular situation
-what they're trying to accomplish
Writers Claims
-assertions that must be justified with evidence
-thesis should also point to solution
Writers Audience
-author's language helps identify audience
-certain genre
Major or Minor Claims
-claim of fact
-claim of value
-claim of policy
-acknowledge multiple point of views


Quotes: 
1) "To be culturally literate is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world"
Is the author arguing against being socially literate?

2) "Creating any curriculum if by definition a deeply political act"
Does establishing a curriculum in school create a fair system for all students to learn and follow?

3) "We eaten ethics foods in my childhood home, but these were all borrowed"
Does one create their own ethics when grown up?

Interpretive and Critical Questions:  
What if the writers claims on the can not be justified in your view but to others?
How do we create a fair school curriculum if every kid has their own style of language?

Practice Write 9/27/16

So we don't have to compose Essay #2 in an unfamiliar genre (a traditional rhetorical analysis), what other ways can we describe our close reading/language analysis to someone. Who would an appropriate audience be? How would they help motivate your purpose? (I have some ideas, but I want to hear yours.)

We can describe our close analysis to someone by connecting our opinion after reading the paper and describe through oral communication. The appropriate audience would be people that relate to the topic.

IDEA DRAFT

IDEA Draft

Anzaldua: How to Tame A wild tongue

Argument:

Different tongues in a certain language doesn’t make you inadequate in the language itself.  

Quotes/Paragraphs:

1)So if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ehtnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity. I can not take pride unless I can accept my own language and other languages I speak Pg39

Ethnic Identity vs Linguistic Identity: How she was raised vs how she was taught?

2)I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice. Overcoming the tradition of silence pg 40

She stating her claims and not accepting the social norm but her individual priorities 

Practice Write 10/4/2016

Ms. Maroun,

Hi Ms. Maroun, this is Clinton from your first period English Class 2015-2016. I want to tell you Im sorry about the way I expressed my feeling towards you in class. I never realized how fun and productive of a class you were teaching. I apologized for my grouchy mood and and my consistent tardiness. I remember hating waking up for school and getting to class on time thus all that anger was put towards you and it really shouldn't have been. Thanks for dealing with me and the rest of the entirety of the class but I wish you the best of luck with future students and the times you're with Galileo.

Your former student,
Clinton

Unit 1 Reflections

Academic writing is not a linear, 'cookie-cutter' worksheet-type process; it involves trial and error, taking risks, experimentation, and sometimes struggle, but ultimately discovery and growth.  I recognize that academic reading and writing can be difficult!  

In 2-3 paragraphs, using examples from your experience over the past 4 weeks, reflect on this definition of academic writing in your own process of Essay #1 and the class activities that led up to it.  Be detailed and honest, as these reflections not only help you grow as readers and writers but help me design future courses (that yes, will involve processes of experimentation, struggle, and growth

Academic writing, I believe is a platform to express your personal thoughts to the world by using a structural format for the connivance for others. It gives you the ability to express you're thoughts on a subject and put your mark on the world. In addition, it gives you a deeper connection through conversation and research on other people perspectives. Thus enlarging your point of views. I really enjoyed reading the articles but not doing the annotation blog. I feel like I would got the same understanding of the articles if I didn't annotate them. 

I also enjoyed the open guidelines on writing Essay 1. I believe this gives us a freedom to share our own experiences more openly. 

Practice Write 9/15

The way I do peer revision whenever someone asks me is usually more opinionated than academic. I often tend to give my views, what I support, and what I don't. For example, if I think that one subject should be talked about more, I would write that down. I find peer revision very useful for improving my writing.

Practice Write 9/8/16

How did you approach the Idea Draft for Essay #1? What did you do? How do you feel about it moving forward?

I approached the Idea Draft for Essay #1 by relating my personal experiences with the writings of Amy Tan. Then I focused on the main experience I connected with throughout the different writings. My plans are to expand more on the points I wrote and exploring the relationship between me and Malcolm X.

Book Club Blog #1 Predictions

After reading the first few pages, my first impressions on the book are the different tongues they speak in their conversations. However, the first chapter was very dull, the book didn't start out with as I predicted. Some predictions I have for the book are that Jaine and Pheoby are going to do something  bigger than through Jaine's experience with her husband Tea Cake.

Essay Draft 1 Idea Draft

-Lost of meaning through different language

- A language barrier not only stops you from communicating with another person, the translations does not fully translate every meaning and emotion within a conversation

-After reading Amy Tan writing, she gave me the impersonation of multiple identities. For example if you are religious, you might speak in a different language in church than you do at school. You might even act differently because different norms/values are in each environment.

- Similar to Tan, my mother did not speak english very well so she asked me to translate most of her conversations between her and her employee. Whenever my mother asked for a pay raise she would tell me in a very serious and demanding tone. However, I didn't fully express that when I was taking to her Employee because I wasn't feeling the same way she we feeling.

- My church community really set me apart for the values of the real world. I was taught different ideals/morals than what my school was teaching me. But it made me see the difference between me and other people, it made me different from other people.

- Some few things that gave me motivation are: My mother, my church family, and close friends.
About one year ago, the start of my Senior year in high school my mom started feeling depressed, to a point where it was so serious that it drove her to a point of where I could no longer see a living human being insider of her. At that point of my life I had nothing to lose, no hope, no purpose in life. After this experience it made me see that at some time life is sometimes depressing, but overall theres beauty in life

Practice Write 9/6/16

1) Did you personally relate to any of the readings? How? 

2) Did you enjoy any author more than others? Why?

3) How did the video 'add to the conversation'?

I related to mainly to Amy Tan's writings culturally due to the fact that both of our mothers are Chinese. After reading Amy Tan's writing on her mothers tongue, Amy Tan realized that there is a sense of lost communication between two languages. I enjoyed Malcolm X more than others because he showed more of a commitment towards learning a language so he can express himself elaborately with other people. The video add to the conversation by expressing everyones identity or what makes a person who s/he is. 

Annotation Blog #3 (Learning To Read - Malcolm X)

Summary/Main Points:
Malcolm X's biography on how he learned how to read is an unusual one. During his time spent in prison, Malcolm needed a way to express himself though literature. Thus, he spent most of his time reading book form the prison library. Later he finds that his time in prison gave him more freedom in reading than reading in college.


Quotes:
Q: "Immensely proud to realize that not only had I written so much at one time, but I'd written words that I never knew were in the world."
R: Malcolm deeply wanted to express himself to a point where he copied each and every page of the dictionary.

Q: "Months passed without out me even thinking about being imprisoned.  In fact, up to then, I had never been so truly free in my life."
R: Your first thoughts of a prison usually entails some criminals lifting weights, not a single image of someone reading in the library.

Q: "My homemade education gave me, with every additional book that I read, a bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness, and blindness that was afflicting the black race in America."
R: I believe in what Malcolm says about homemade education. Even though college is meant for you to explore and digest new ideas, some of the best times I learn something is when I'm at home.


Critical Questions:
1. Will every single human being ever be given their human rights, if not realize their rights.

2. If you can spend a life time reading books, wouldn't nobody be 100% right if theres still knowledge to be attained.

Practice Write 9/1/16

How was your first 'formal' reading process for this class? Any difficulty, breakthrough, 'Ah hah moments'?

My first formal reading process was exceptionally long due to the transitions from summer to college.
However, it was relatively easy getting my thoughts and writings back into a orderly fashion. After reading the Inquiry and Introduction to They Say/I Say, I started enjoying taking notes/annotations to my text. It gave me a better way to summarize the main points, quotes, and critical questions.

Practice Write 8/30/16

8/30/16

What is academic reading + writing? List some assumption about 'academic writing' text you had before last week. Then, explore, brainstorm, + refresh your Thinking on some new concepts the you have learned since then.

Academic Reading and Writing is a way of communication on a skilled level between several people. The assumptions I had on reading and writing was really broad. I though of it as a higher level of writing, relating to the structural practices from Elementary school to High School. Thus academic reading and writing is just another point in the structure of academics. After reading the inquiry and intro of They Say/I Say some new concep

Book Club

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Annotations Blog #2 (They Say/I'll Say, Introduction)

Annotations Blog #2 (They Say/I'll Say, Introduction)

Summary/Main Points:

The main points of the introduction, the the art of conversations. Having a meaningful conversation consist of various things. It would be pointless if a conversation isn't meaningful, thus making the conversation dull and ending it. However disagreeing and agreeing at the same time isn't a bad thing. It allows you to avoid a simple yea or no give you a thoughtful conversation. The involves listening close to other and not just saying with our principles.  It engages in other peoples perspective. So to say, academic writing is an argumentative writing. 

Quotes:

1. Q: "(To) write the voice of others into your text" 

R: It give power not only to your work but to the work of others. 

2. Q: "Many of our students complain that using templates will take away their originality and creativity and make them all sound the same"

R: I believe using templates give a back-bone to our thought and a structure to our writing.

3. Q: "In our view,however, the template in this book, far from being "third-grade-level stuff," represents the stock in trade of sophisticated thinking and writing, and they often require a great deal of practice and instructions to use successfully." 

R: He might be true or false but ultimately defending is template and us buying his book. 

Critical Questions:

1. If it si plagiarism to use a language, is it stealing if we ask to borrow someones pencil but without a template. 

2. If templates stifle creativity, what doesn't everyone use it in every matter? 

Annotation Blog #1 (From Inquiry Pg 1-14)

Annotation Blog #1 (From Inquiry Pg 1-14)


Summary/Main Points:
Academic Writing ultimately needs several ways of achieving. But first of all the definition of Academic Writing is given in the chapter Starting with Inquiry, is the what scholars do to communicate with other scholars in their field of study. In other words academic writing gives you a different conversation leading into a new perspective, analyzing your perspective, persuading your audience. It does not only give you an advantage over your opponent in an argument but it give you better way to connect/communicate with your fellow friends, family, and citizens.


Quotes:
1) Q: "From many different perspectives, and many interesting intellectual of what they discover in research."
R: If there are many different perspectives, wouldn't a academic wring always be rhetorical, because everyone has some kind of different perspective.

2) Q: "Writers often find that writing a fist draft is an act of discovery, that their ultimate focus emerges during the initial drafting process."
R: I do not really find my first drafts as an act of discovery, i find it as more of a stepping stone were discerns are explored and explained.

3) Q: "Any initial difficulty you have with academic writing will pay off when you discover new ways of looking at the world and of making sense of it."
R: Doesn't this apply to everyday life, that the beginning will often start our hard and gradually get easier.


Critical Questions:
1. If different people give you different answers by using different approaches but the answers varies, how do we know which of them are correct?

2. If empathy is the ability to understand ones perspective, then would every idea require empathy for it to be true?