Malinowitz

Malinowitz

Questions for Discussion and Journaling 

2. Personally, I don't think it should be discussed in the classroom. I think it's a more private matter. I've never had to speak about how I was heterosexual, and I don't think anyone who is the LBGT community shouldn't be forced to speak about it in the classroom if they are uncomfortable. Obviously there should be discussion but on the terms of the students. I've known many kids that (especially in high school) are still uncomfortable with discussing their sexual orientation. I believe there should more discussion on acceptance on different communities, not the discussion how different they are. The truth of the matter is, no matter what sexual orientation a person is, they're still human beings. They deserve to be treated with the same respect and not feel so aliened from the rest of society. But the presence in the classroom shouldn't matter, they shouldn't feel any different than heterosexuals. Teachers should still acknowledge that there is diversity in the classroom. 

5. Sojourner Truth's category of 'woman' was a comparison to the past of slavery. She felt that she didn't get any special treatment as women yet society still barred her in. The idea of a double standard. A woman must do the same work as a man yet there is no equal respect and right. She discussed how strong women are and what she's personally been through. In Truth's point of view, women were equal to men and deserved the same rights and respect.

11. My definition for queer was a very offensive word to call someone in the LBGT community. In my opinion I think it's a disgusting word to call someone. Even thought people might be wiling and 'proud' to be called a queer, if i was in the LBGT community I wouldn't be so thrilled. Sure you're proud of your orientation but why should there even be a name in the first place? By even having a name, it makes them this outer discourse, which is the last thing people in such a community need.They should feel accepted and not even have to face such harsh words. It's as if, someone called me a 'chink' and said "you should own that name. that's what you are'. But no, it's not right, there should be no name calling in the first place. After reading the article I still feel the same way I felt about the word before, I believe it's wrong to even call people names in the first place. It's disrespectful and unnecessary, no matter the context. 

Applying and Exploring:

2. An aspect of my identity is being an Asian American. When I want to identify with my community, it would be Mandarin Chinese. It was what I was taught as a child and my first language. When I speak to my parents or when I go back to Taiwan, I only speak Mandarin and anyone who didn't know me would have a hard time believing that I'm fully fluent in English as well. If I didn't have this 'language' I would have a difficult time relating to my family and even communicating with them at all. I've dealt with many difficulties when it comes to this language, my grandfather does not speak mandarin, he only speaks japanese and taiwanese. However, I can only understand Taiwanese yet don't speak it. So it's impossible to communicate with him.  If I didn't know mandarin at all, I would be unable to communicate with anyone in my family which cause a big issue. 

Meta Moment

I think my teacher would want us to realize the importance of acceptance in the classroom. Even thug everyone has different views, it's still important to realize that there needs to acceptance. The world is changing, the generation is becoming less ignorant to what's around them. In order to have the most of an experience, you need to have acceptance. Obviously not everyone is going to agree with what's going on, but they need to accept it. If you look back at the times of slavery and segregation, people didn't want to change, but it did any way. And it shows in history it's only for the better. The importance of this text is having an accepting and diverse classroom.      

Project#3 Proposal.

My discourse community I'm interested in is the community of celebrities.  I've always felt interested by the lives of celebrities and the pressures they have on their life. I think even though there are so much news on them, it's always interesting to think about how they act and how it is like being famous. I think it's such a different community and nobody really understands them unless you are one of them. My friends and I constantly stock up on gossip magazine and E! News, it would really fun to look more into this subject as a topic for english. 

A back up topic I would choose is the community in different cities, specifically London. When I'm older my dream is settle down in London and live my life there. It would be fun to see the discourse in such a influential city, and see how it's different from New York City (where I'm originally from). 

Devitt

Questions for Discussion and Journaling: 

2. There a ton of conflicts that seem to have a toll when switching genres. I think it creates confusion and difficulty for students. Conflicts I often have is the idea of connecting. When my art class wanted me to relate art to math, I found it so difficult because of the polar opposite ideas of both of them. Another difficulty I faced was my knowledge, I didn't know that much about art itself, now they wanted me to relate it to math, something i'm not that great in either. It was just causing me stress and a hard time. A writing class differs from all the other class because it has a certain set up, it calls for a different type of difficulty. Say for example math, writing is obviously so different from math. In math you solve equations and find the answer yet in writing there is no definite answer, its more of exploring to find an answering. These differences in subjects creates conflicts for students because they constantly have to turn on these different switches for different classes. It hardly seems fair for anyone to have to balance out all these different subjects that are given. 

3. The type of genres that are set in Ohio University are endless. From social aspects to global aspects. There are always different views of social scenes, even though Ohio University is apparently known for the party scene, not everyone is involved in it. Same with greek life and the way people are involved. A big genre right now is politics. Ohio University is a bit divided with Republicans, Democrats and the people that don't really care. Personally I'm apart of many genres, I'm in a sorority. I'm democratic. I'm also an out of state student. These genres set me apart from many OU students yet connect me to them as well.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

3. Throughout my life, I realized that you can never really understand someone until you walk in their shoes. I think it's important to explore and learn rather than just reading it. I think students can only absorb and memorize so much. It's way more productive and useful to go out there and go through it yourself.Take for example traveling abroad. Sure, you can easily get information about London from a book. But you'll never understand the vibe or speak to the locals until you actually go to London yourself. It's so important to travel and explore the globe because it opens your mind to new ideas and environments. It prevents ignorance and help banish the idea of just one "right" genre. It's the idea that researching through the world can lead to more information than reading and absorbing. 

Meta Moment:

I believe it's better to do Ethnogralph fieldwork, personally I've never been the type to understand readings and relate them to myself. I find it whole lot easier to experience things first hand than to read it. It might be harsher to experience but it can definitely be a whole lot memorable. I've always loved to travel and explore. i've been blessed with multiple opportunities to travel and it's taught and helped me experience things that I'll never learn from a book written by a scholar. Reading a book about tasting sushi doesn't give you the insight, knowledge, and experience of actually tasting sushi. That's how I feel about understand discourse communities. 

Wardle

Wardle Reading 

Questions for Discussion and Journaling 

1. The main three ways that 'newcomers' try to belong is engagement, imagination and alignment. Engagement is basically building a foundation, it could be as simple as finding something to talk about. Imagination is trying to to think outside of the box and go beyond from what you already know. Its basically taking what you know and multiplying it with new ideas. Alignment can be like engagement but basically finding these bases and relating them even more and finding more of a base than before.  Newcomers might not choose to participate because they don't always work, also the fear of rejection. It's often difficult to continue as a newcomer and it's easier to give up.

3. Personally, I've realized that you get what you receive. If you give off a certain vibe, you will receive it back. Point blank, if Alan didn't even try, why would others try. Everyone has things to do and especially in such stressful environments like a work. If Alan gave off a vibe that he didn't care or want to socialize, his coworkers could have easily took that as a sign to say 'forget him'. I think he could have easily changed the energy he gave off, he could have made small talk or try to be social. Alan didn't seem to care , so his co-workers didn't care as well. Nobody has the time as an adult to say "gee I think we should help the new guy". As an adult there are more things to worry about. If Alan wanted a different environment he definitely should have acted differently and let out more of a positive/social energy. 

5. I agree with Wardle overall. I think that it wasn't that he wouldn't have been accepted, it was the fact that he never tried. I think it's a lot easier as a newcomer who has a fresh slate to make something of yourself. Sometimes it's often overlooked but the way you come off is the way people will react to you. if you send out a negative puss face attitude nobody is going to be like "that person seems great to be around". But if you shed a positive light, and make connections, it is possible to set yourself up. Thousand of years have been set up with human interactions, civilizations and nations have been formed with the idea of socialization and finding a common ground. I have a hard time believing he couldn't have set up some connection and have a successful joining to the discourse. 

7. An example would be my teachers. I've dealt with many teachers, good ones and bad ones. I've realized it's what the teacher gives off the student that makes them work. I've had teachers that seemed to slack off, so my peers and I would just be like "why should we care when they don't". It didn't make sense, nobody wanted to feel like they're wasting their time. When a teacher seems to slack and uneducated they lose all their authority. Most times, teachers already have authority without any given reason. It's when they present themselves is when they lose their authority. Say for example a teacher constantly gives out tests and doesn't check it, a student decides not to study because they know the tests aren't graded. In that sense the teacher has lost authority.

Gee Reading

Gee Reading

Questions for Discussion and Journaling 

3. Gee's definition of a discourse is the main idea. In exact quotes he feels that discourse is the way of being in the world. Discourses are the bases of yourself and how you react to the environment around you. His definition of discourse seem to be a bit confusing, I understand what discourse is, however the way he presents the information is a bit confusing at times. He explains how discourses are affected by other discourses, so there is no such thing as a full "pure" discourse. It's the idea again that nothing is original and everything is an embodiment of it's own. 

5. Primary discourse is the initial discourse. It's the way we first use make sense of the world and interact with others. According to Genn the primary discourse is our original and home based sense of identity. We don't learn about this discourse but by being apart of it with family. Secondary discourse is the idea of 'school', the whole idea of learning through an institution. Dominate discourse are basically the mastery of secondary discourse at a place and time with social "good" basically shallow points. While non dominate discourses  is society at large. 

11. Metaknowledge is gift of understanding what discourse is and how to relate it to yourself and society. The value is basically not being ignorant. It's the sense of knowledge and understanding that few people don't seem to understand or overlook. Metaknowledge allows valuable abilities that include understanding that many people often overlook. 

13. A discourse I would love to be apart of is the world of doctors. I've always found the topic extremely interesting. However useful it is, I know because my lack of skill in science will forever keep me out. I always found the idea of understanding the human body so interesting. It's an incredible skill, almost talent to have. I don't think I will ever be accepted because the fact that my understanding will never full be there. I can never process that much information. I think i wouldn't be accepted because the foolish questions i might ask, or the fact that i constantly use WebMD when I'm sick. I've never tried to really become part of this discourse, I've learned through my chemistry grades, it would never work out. i've never felt like a pretender at all, I've always accepted my grades and faults.

Applying And Exploring Ideas

3. Dear Mrs. Katz,

Even though my grades weren't great in Chemistry. I've always felt that you shunned out of the discourse community for chemistry. It's unfair and inevitable that I realized I had no future in the medical field. Unfortunately you've never realized the importance of being a community, discourse or not. it's important to realize that not everyone is born into the same talents as you are. Your way of teaching and explaining did not reach all students, for the most part it never reached me. I've never had as much trouble as I had in that class. The idea of a discourse is differences and strengths. I never felt you understand that, and i just wanted to let you know that I've always wanted to be good a chemistry and I'm simply not because your non existing efforts to help me reach my goal. If I ever go back to high school again, it would be great for you to include me when you're teaching. Hopefully with a ton of practice and tutoring I would be able to understand chemistry. 

Sincerely, 

Joy Trinh

4. Two different discourse I belong to is the discourse of myself at home with my family and the other when I'm with my parents. All my life I've always spoke Mandarin with my parents. I'm extremely polite and respectful with my elders. I've never raised my voice or even disobeyed. However when I'm with my friends I'm loud and obnoxious, i only speak english. Anyone who saw who I was with my parents and how I am with my peers would be in full blown shock. Even though it's difficult I understand there are boundaries and I constantly jump in-between them. Sometimes I'll act up around my parents and sometimes i'm super polite with my peers. It's difficult to 'navigate' these discourses but overtime, it becomes easier and more expectable. 

Glenn Reading

Glenn 

Before Reading:

1. An advertisement I could think of is Taco Bell’s dog mascot. I don’t think it’s recent, but I can still remember the “te quiero taco bell” from the tiny dog. When I was younger , I actually made me want to go to taco bell. The mascot was this tiny cute dog that I wanted, and taco bell was pretty good. I never really thought about the meaning of having the dog until now. I realized that now, it did have an effect on how I saw the company. It was a cute helpless dog that sponsored a mexican chain restaurant. Obviously it made me feel (at the time as a child) like taco bell was a good company. Back then I didn't realize it was a giant cooperation wanting nothing more than profit. Overall I think how a company uses image affects how they're viewed, thus providing a 'brainwash' for the consumers of the world. 

2. I don't have much of a connection to farm animals, I've grown up in New York City all my life. I've never had any connection to any type of environment that called for animals in general. To me, seeing a cow or a chicken around would be a huge deal because it's not something I see ever. Overall I don't have any knowledge or exposure to any of the farm culture that there is in the United States. I know more about the way skyscrapers are built than how farm animals are raised. 

Questions for Journaling and Discussion:

1. According to Glenn, the main characteristics of a 'factory farm discourse' is the idea of the creation of a falsehood that then becomes the 'truth' in the world. It's the idea of propaganda of how the lie slowly becomes the truth. Factory Farm discourse is definitely a good example for this because it's so easy to think that animals are being treated in a nice way and have a nice home with open space. But in reality farms more like factories with packed animals. There is no such thing as only open farms. The media has given us this general imagery so we don't feel guilty and continue with our savage choices. The term 'ignorance is bliss' is a big part of it, people don't want to realize the consequences of their actions, they want a blind eye so it's easier to go to bed at night. In my point of view these discourses are not ethical at all, there is no reason for the lies, and if people want to have it this way, they should be well aware of the consequences. Everyone should be allowed to have their own feelings and perception but there needs to be facts and truths provided. 

Applying and Exploring Ideas:

2. The company I choose is tyson. Tyson as a company is probably one of the worst companies out there. They make advertisements about healthy chickens and how they're raised well. Tyson might be one of the creators of the "factory farm". I could tell because I watched 'Food Inc' and they interviewed a ton of farmers and showed how the chickens were really raised. And yes tyson does pretend to be a family farm, marketing how their chickens are healthy and well raised.

4. One of the companies I've chosen is Apple. Apple has many factories in China. Obviously as everyone has an iphone and macbook, there needs to be people behind all these products. Recently a picture has come out as the production of the iphone 5 has come out, that they forced workers to stay until products were made. They even had a safety net outside incase any workers wanted to jump and commit suicide because of their overworked conditions. I think people will overlook these conditions because they want the Iphone or Macbook so bad. Heck, even I've done it. I've willingly bought a mac AND iphone because I wanted the products that badly. 

Literacy Narrative

                Throughout my life, I’ve had many people that have helped in my sponsorship in literacy. Since English was not my first language, I had a hard time earlier on in elementary school keeping up with my peers whose families all spoke perfect English.  A literacy sponsor would be the support of my parents, even though they felt helpless at the time (since their English weren’t the best as well), they would always buy countless numbers of books for me. Even if I never asked, my dad would come home with a new book for me to read every day.  I grew up reading many books, and I still have 13 large boxes of them in my basement. Although my parents didn’t speak English very well, I know they tried their best to make sure that I had the best education they could possibly provide. Sending me to private school and hiring tutors. My mom often brings up the fact that she would always put on PBS kids for me, and at night during dinner we would watch wheel of fortune and Friend’s (still one of my favorite shows).  Looking back now, even though my parents aren’t great examples for literacy sponsorship, their support is large reason I’m so fluent in English.

                Another sponsorship would be my teachers throughout my entire life. Every teacher, good or bad, young or old has affected me in some way. I would have to give my Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher the most props. They took a little girl who didn’t speak a word of English to an extremely chitty chatty child. Many of my teachers took time out of their lunch hours, giving me extra homework but most importantly giving me time and confidence to succeed in such a difficult task. Without such dedicated teachers I wouldn’t have been able to complete each grade with failing. My teachers all have inspired me in some type of way to do what I want to do. Each teacher has challenged me in some type of way, showing that I must work for the grades I want.  All my English teachers in high school have showed me the importance of writing and understanding. But also thinking beyond the words and finding the deeper meaning than what’s just on the page.

                Last but not least, a literacy sponsor that has greatly affected my life is music. Back as a kid, I used to idolize Britney Spears ,N’sync , and the Spice Girls. Looking back now, I don’t think I have any idea of what they were singing about. Yet my mom plays back the tapes of me blindly singing along. I will always remember how music has given me a large amount of sponsorship. It’s inspired me in more ways than I can ever describe. To this day music has been the best part of living at times. Music is such an important part of literacy and without it, my way of interpretation on life would not be the same.  

Wysocki

Joy Trinh

Wysocki Questions

Questions for Discussion and Journaling:

2. Wysocki seems to be changing the idea of writing for her readers. Her writing seems to be more visual than anything else. I think she displays a vast amount of visuals to entice her readers and attract them in.  She sets the text in a way so the readers don’t get side tracked or bored, she’s constantly changing to get readers more interested and involved in her writing. Unlike most of the other writers in “Readings on writing”, she seems to be very experienced in the field drawing in her writing. She also uses visuals as proof for her ideas; she doesn’t simply just state a statement without any proof or backup. She uses visuals to not only attract readers but prove a point as well. I think it does make a high visual text as Bernhardt explained earlier on, I think that this piece was a perfect example of what was explained.

Applying and Exploring:

2. In this world, I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I do not agree with the idea that the definition of beauty is ‘universal’, I think since everyone on this earth/universe is so diverse growing up in different environments and having different taste is the reason why beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. That’s the reason why people have different taste in clothing, music and food. Nobody ever has the exact same opinion on ideas. Beauty can often be debated and often is. A good example would be art; there are a lot of times that some art pieces are looked as “ugly” or “boring”. But just cause one persona in the room thinks that, doesn’t mean everyone else will. There is nothing wrong with having different taste and believing different people and things are beautiful.  It would be an awfully boring world if everyone thought the same thing was beautiful. 

Meta Moment:

I believe that quote is perfect for her article. She understands the needs for visuals and uses it into her writing. It’s a bit unusual because I think many writers overlook the idea of visual journalism. Sometimes in order to reach a reader isn’t the same way as the reach another reader. It’s easier to provide images that paint a broader picture that gives the reader some freedom and understanding. At first I thought the article would be the same as every other article I’ve read so far, but it proved to be far more interesting. And I think that’s what writers need to realize. Not only writers but teachers as well. Visuals if used correctly and well can be rewarding not only for the reader but the writer as well.

Baron

Joy Trinh

Baron Writing

Questions for Discussion and Journaling:

2. I agree that’s one of his messages, however I do not agree with it. With technology, I think writing has been changed forever. Take for example Microsoft word, without it (or spell check) I would probably end up sounding like an 8^th grader. To be honest, I can’t imagine living in a world without spell check. So if you think back about all the past writers, such as Shakespeare, you have to realize what it phenomenal it is to be able to not only write all books by hand, but having no help in grammar and spelling. I think technology has changed how it easy it is to write. There isn’t any worry about how much mistakes you may make, instead it’s more about what you’re going to write about. Another way technology changes writing is words. With the invention of websites, there came to existence thesaurus.com, which I will admit I use. Websites about words make writing easier, it makes finding the right words easier. It makes everything overall just easier. To me, I believe that technology has given this generation mass amounts of slack. I never want to picture a world without spellcheck and grammar check because without them both, I would not be the writer I am today.

4. I think a technology that’s commonly overlooked is the computer. I think since this generation is so used to having such mass amounts of technology around, they find it hard to imagine it without it. I think specifically, Microsoft word is often overlooked. When it first came out, Microsoft overall was a big deal. It made computers more personal and user friendly. However, as word came out, and the generation soon became “accustomed” to having a document server correcting grammatical mistakes. The idea that there is such technology out there still shocks my parents. They always lecture me about how they never had something like Microsoft word. They had to hand write all their papers, and they didn’t have the beauty of spellcheck. So when they would get their papers back, it would go from white to red. It shows much the generation doesn’t realize what an amazing piece of technology we have around. I think every technology has in common, is the fact that it’s often overlooked. People often forget that these parts weren’t here before, and without them life would be a lot more difficult.

Applying and Exploring

3. There are both pros and cons to keeping record of conversations. The good part is having something you can often look back on. Before, it would be so easy to lose and paper and basically be “screwed”. But fortunately now it’s so simple to save a document and print it out if you ever needed it. But overall I think there are more cons to the keeping record of conversations because most times you don’t get a choice. Everything nowadays seems to be monitored and kept forever, so anything you say on any social media website can be easily attained and kept forever. Take example, Twitter, if you say negative things about a person, once it’s out there’s no taking it back. Since it’s so easy to screenshot an entire window, it makes it easy for anyone to keep your not so nice talk forever. Sometimes keeping literacy conversations are a good idea, but it seems in this day and age it would just be simpler to lose the paper.

Meta Moment:

Personally I don’t think of writing as a technology, I think writing as more of an art form. Sure writing can make life easier and makes transferring ideas and information in a very efficient way. But at the same time I think its better that I don’t see writing as technology because if I thought it was more of “technology” I wouldn’t be as personal about it as much. I think it’s important to think of writing as a subject or art form.  If I thought of writing as a piece of technology, I don’t think I would have as much respect for it. It would be more overlooked than it already is. Writing is bigger than technology.

Project 2 Lab Work.

Group Topic: The Major Influence of Families in Literacy Sponsorship.

Question: How family effects not only literacy but all interpretations of everyday life.

My group plans on having a brochure, so I'll make sure to make sure to set organization and ideas. My job is to make sure to write the argument is.

Malcolm X, Alexie, Hooks.

Malcolm X

Questions for Discussion and Journaling:

1. Malcolm X's audience back then could have been any oppressed person. Back in Malcolm X's day, there was tons of racism. His book/article could have been to help struggling young black individuals that needed a push towards education and reasoning. Since Malcolm himself dropped out of school in 8th grade, it's a good guess to say he's trying to help individuals that were in his position. 

3. Malcolm's literacy sponsors were (but not limited to) the Charlestown Prison, and this person 'Bimbi', Malcolm seem to see knowledge and envied it. From there he seemed to start having a passion for wanting to learn more and more to educate himself. I also think books helped Malcolm, the fact that he couldn't understand them at first made him want to work harder. Then Norfolk Prison Colony school that provided a dictionary, tablets, pencils. But a big part of Malcolm's literacy sponsor was Muhammad. Since Malcolm X was a very spiritual man, he learned a lot of his ideas from Muhammad. I think the biggest sponsor was Muhammad, who didn't really have a reason for sponsoring other than having a 'follower' and someone who can possibly pass down his ideas.

6. My motivation is my family and my past experiences. Even though I don't always love reading and sometimes I just rather sleep or eat… or clean. I remember that my family has put a lot of work in so they could put me through school. Also the fact that they want me to get an education for my future. I think that really pushes me to read that extra chapter and endless pages. Every time I want to stop, I remember the point of school and the point of these readings. It's the point to get an education and move forward in my life. Another thing that helps is my past experience, based on past experiences I've realized how much I can take and how much I can read on one sitting. I know my limitations and possibility of continuum.  

Applying and Exploring Ideas:

1. I think technology really shapes what it means to be literate. In many different ways, in a way it makes meaning of literacy more defined. For some people in order to be considered literate, you have to understand the basic concepts of english and have a common 'sense'. Common sense also seems to be using a computer and knowing how to use the technology given to you. In a sense technology has crippled the definition of literacy to a very ignorant meaning. Yet all this technology helps expand literacy.The way that it's so simple to learn from technology and how it's so simple to share ideas. It's the idea that all this technology gives us the power to share information in seconds, helping the human race learn more and more. Because of technology shaped and shortened the definition of being 'literate' in the United States.

2. Throughout the rough times I've had with literacy I think the biggest sponsor to my literacy were my teachers. Since both of my parents were not born and raised in this country. My mother, born in Taiwan and my dad , born in Vietnam. They never spoke to me in English as a child. According to my mother, I did not speak a word of  english of my first year of nursery. I only started to really understand a bit of english was Pre-K. I don't remember much, but my mother always claimed that the teachers at school would always take me off to the side to help me with my english. I was an extremely shy child, so every time the kids in my class would speak in groups, I would apparently hide. I don't remember much from my early childhood, but I do give credit to my literacy to my teachers. I do remember my kindergarden teacher, who was extremely strict about handwriting. Ms. Escopia had crazy heels , makeup and hair, taught me how to write words and follow the lines when writing. Throughout the years, I've realized that my teachers have taught me all I've known about writing. Without them, I wouldn't have the skills I do today. It's unfortunate that I never remembered what my teachers did for me, my mom always reminded me on the extra care they took of me. From taking steps slow and easy so I wouldn't feel 'overwhelmed' as a child. The most recent teacher that helped me the most with my writing skill was my college writing teacher, Ms. Kohli. She was the hands down hardest teacher I've ever had. And the biggest critic when it came to writing, she was the women to win over. She would constantly bring down my writing, from making comments like "did you even try?" or "work harder or don't turn a paper at all". Even though as a junior in high school I felt angry and discouraged. It made me want to work harder, I've always been the type to love a challenge, and she was it. I still remember working on my last essay for her. I had to write a completely false story yet had to have a historical background. It was completely crazy and I was so frustrated throughout my work. But after an entire month of working on the essay, I turned it in, three days later I received an 'A' with a comment "you tried, good job". It completely gave me the confidence in my writing and my skills. Even though many would question Ms. Kohli's method of teaching, it worked. To this day, she's one of the most influential teachers on my writing. Every sponsor has served their purpose to my writing and experiences in being 'literate'.

Meta Moment

Personally what you get from the reading is the importance of education. Malcolm X promotes that educations is an essential to the life we all live. That education opens doors that weren't there before. Without education we all wouldn't be in the society we are in today, good or bad. It's important to realize that it's extremely important to have education and the passion to educate yourself. There area always going to be people affecting your education, but at the end of the day, there needs to be a passion and reason to pursue education. 

Alexie Reading:

Applying and Exploring:

1. Personally I think it's very possible to overcome all odds when it comes to education. Even though it can more difficult for others, if theres a will there is a way. If a person feels it's "impossible" then it will be, but if they have a passion and WANT to get it done, then it will. There are always ways, even though they're not easy. Even though it can be difficult, I don't believe in the word impossible. Throughout Brandt's research you understand even more that there are always obstacles to overcome and there needs to be passion behind the reasoning. I've had my difficulties especially when it comes to adjusting to University, but I've realized that I'm willing to work for my degree. Everyone is facing difficulties, but excuses don't help any situations only solutions will. 

Hooks Reading: 

As You Read:

1. When it comes to memory, I consider it my forte. But sometimes, I get my memory completely mixed up with someone else's. Sometimes my mom will tell me stories of her childhood, and I would get confused with my own. For one instance my mother told me a story of how she fell off a horse as a kid. So one day, I did fell and joked "it was cause I fell off a horse as a kid". My mom looked at me with a questioning glance, stating that she would never have let me on a horse due to her own bad experience. I quickly stated that she said, I was the one who fell off the horse. She laughed it off and said, there was no possible way, I grew up in the city, there was no place to ride horses in the first place. She stated that when she told me about her bad horse riding experience , it was when I was a kid because I wanted to learn how to ride a horse.  Even though I was confused, I realized I had mistaken her childhood for my own. 

Question for Discussions and Journaling

4. When it came to Hook's writing style it seemed unsure and 'shaky'. She's a bit worried about what's she's writing about. She states that with her childhood experiences she feels it's difficult to write because she has learned that her family secrets have been between her and her family. She didn't realize it at first, but it was a main reason for her trouble of writing. With a bit of practice and memory she gradually opens up. By the end of her writing, you can tell her confidence in writing has skyrocketed that has also affected the quality. She feels it is easier to express herself without any hesitation. 

Applying and Exploring Ideas:

3. When it comes to writing an event, instead of just reciting the memory, you take emotions and mix it all together. None of your information could be just purely factual/eventful. It's the idea of having emotion in your story, sometimes its difficult to leave out emotion of a specific event because it's been embedded in your mind. It seems almost impossible because your emotions make up most of the event itself. The act of writing changes an memory overall with it's presence of emotion and thoughts.