Anzaldua

Pre-Reading:

3. I've read many many interviews of Audrey Hepburn, and even watched some that were available. I think it changed how I viewed her as person. Not really her work. As an actress, I thought she was great. Even if she was a terrible person, it would still not affect the way I thought of her as an actress. But as a person, I think my outlook of her would be different. When I've read anything Audrey Hepburn, I thought she was a great person, she was a true lady. Classy, talented, and intellectual in every way. Maybe if she wasn't all of these things, I might not like her as a person, but I would not be able to doubt her as an actress just based on her work. 

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1. Personally I thought this piece was a bit confusing because it was so personal. I thought that by her not cluing us in, it felt like begin lead with a blindfold. For me, reading this piece without this information felt a bit too confusing. I didn't understand a good amount of it because of it. Even though I'm all up for being personal, there needs to be a line drawn. If you want readers to understand what you're saying and your piece, there needs to be a clear understanding. 

3. I think confidence is the key to everything. Even thought it's not nessarcy, it's a key part of being a writer. It's important to be confident in your abilities so there is no doubt in your own thoughts and abilities. Being a writer is close to being an artist, what you're giving out is your art. Even thought many might not view it as artistic, it is a good chunk of self expression and thoughts. I think being confident helps you do anything in life well. It not only helps me write well, but do everything else in life. My point of view is if you truly believe you can do it, then you can achieve it.  

Applying and Exploring Ideas:

2. I think for a topic like this, it's important to take a more traditional academic format. Even thought I'm all up for creativity and a different type of tone, it's only better if it's not confusing and displays the message without confusion. I thought as a writer, her piece should have been more of a traditional format in order to be a more affective piece of writing.  

3. I do agree that images are more direct than words, it's a lot easier seeing what's in front of you than imagining. Personally, I think every picture especially of places affect me more deeper than a text would. For example, if someone had to describe the effiel tower in paris in words, it would be hard to see the beauty of it. "A triangular building made of metal that has lights on it." But if someone instead given a picture, it would be easy to see why the tower is so iconic and considered beautiful. For a person who might not have the best imagination or ability to write, it may be more useful to use a picture than try to put it down in words. 

Alexander

Alexander Reading

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

6. The concepts of male/female stereotypes are very restrictive for all people because of the idea of stereotypes. Especially in writing, it can block a lot of true inner thoughts and creativity. For example, if a guy wanted to write about his feelings and 'sensitive' side, he would automatically be known as a 'pansy'. That puts a lot of restrict for anyone. I think since society is so harsh on people that have to follow the quote that the world has set up. Anyone who wants to defy stereotypes has to go pass the gender that is given to them. Now people seem to forget that gender is not chosen, yet when you take your first breath in the delivery room, they give you expectations. This can stop anyone from doing what they want to do. This stereotype given to all people can hurt the people of the planet as a whole. What if a women, wanted to become a doctor , but couldn't because society wouldn't allow it. Yet she could have cured cancer , but the world would never know because of the stereotype that was given to her and the restrictions she could not go past. It's important to realize that when people are restricted, it does not benefit anyone in anyway. 

7. Students, whether they know it or not reinforce gender stereotypes. I've been in the position where teachers have given students a topic to choose, and most of the male students have choose to write about sports and girls about ballet, fashion. To me, that's so stereotypical. I think as males and females, there is more to write about than what is usually thought of us. Even though we've come so far in technology, I think we still need to improve on gender roles and stereotypes. 

Applying and Exploring:

3. Many people don't realize that "normally" gendered students can gain as much as they want t from trans theory in their composition class. Being exposed to new theories and thoughts can always help expand the mind. It's like going to another country, it's adapting to changes and accepting what's different. It's important to teach students about this to raise awareness and block ignorance. I think people tend to be ignorant to what they don't know or understand, I think by introducing people to trans theory, it helps them understand. This also is true for every minority discourse in class, it's understanding a new type of discourse and way of being. Especially for something such as race, it's almost impossible to understand, unless given to us and explained. 

Deplit & Smitherman

Deplit & Smitherman

Delpit:

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1. Personally I don't think Delpit's race has anything to do with this article. It wasn't nessarcy for it to be revealed in order to determine anything about this article. I think it was part of her plan, to not reveal her race in article to prove a point. Since many can be judgmental about race and stick to stereotypes, not revealing her race helped prove her point even more than before. I think it's important to realize that it was all in her plan when writing this. At the end of the day, writing and race shouldn't have a connection. Writing is writing, it should not be judged on who you are rather how you write and express your thoughts. To me, her message wouldn't change my perception of her identity, I don't judge people's work based on their race, instead I judge on the facts that are given to me. 

3. I do agree with Delpit's arguments. She has factual arguments to back it up, and a personal connection to tie it in together. I believe the most effective part was when she pulled her own story into the argument. Instead of making it sound biased and unprofessional, she made it as a perfect example. The weakness are some of her arguments, I think she meant well, but I don't think she took it into the right direction. I don't think she told people to embrace what they had, she only encouraged equality and learning in a way. I thought she should have covered more about embracing who you are. 

Applying and Exploring Ideas

3. I do see generalizations in this text, I think you can see the generalizations in the overall reading. But I think her point throughout the writing. It's to show that generalizations can hurt people and writing itself. In my own experience, generalizations are always problematic and never end up too well. For example when you generalize in a paper, teachers will automatically assume you don't know what you're talking about and question why. Generalization doesn't help in many situations because they create more questions and assumptions that may or may not be true. It's important to put everything as clear as possible. 

Smitherman :

"Pre Reading"

During high school, I had to read 'Romeo and Juliet', like most students it was like reading a different language. I didn't understand any of the meanings of sentences, yet I could read the words. Even though many people may think Shakespeare might not be 'dialect', however it is in a way. There are words and sayings that are not used anymore. It would come to the point that our teacher would have to explain every sentence that was said in the book because as freshmen we were not expecting this 'language'. It made reading this story extremely difficult to understand and make sense of. 

Questions for Discussion and Journaling 

2. He's using Black Idiom rhetorically as an example and to prove his argument. Smitherman is using this to show the readers the connection that should be broken. Even though many people don't think in such a biased and negative way, he uses this example to make a point to people. Many may confuse for what he's saying as ignorant, instead of seeing his irony to convince the audience about the argument. 

Applying and Exploring Ideas

5. I don't think it has any difference in the meaning, just grammatically. I think anyone who would read this would realize the double negatives. However, in the generation we have today, it would be almost impossible to not understand the meaning even with the double negative. I don't think there is a significance in the title because it means the same thing. Personally I'm not fazed by the language. It's the idea of "text talk", writing what you think or say in 'real life'. Think of someone saying "lol" in a paper, it's unprofessional however, the message is still there "laugh out loud".