Category: Portfolio & Reflection (Page 2 of 7)

A Package Of My Writings + Final Reflection

December 16, 2020 / Zainab / 0 Comments

Test Anxiety at it’s Finest (Unit 1)

What I am changing about this paper is organizing my thoughts and having an outline prepared, so I can go with the flow. I’m going to keep in mind that it’s okay to have numerous amount of ideas, but for this piece in particular my main idea is on education and how tests defy the education process, but it’s there for a reason.

Whenever I sit in a classroom I tend to space out and look at the environment around me. I see bulletin boards, events on a calendar, a blue sky faded from the sun shone through the window, and classmates. I put down my school bad and take out my notebook filled with notes and doodles that I do when I’m not reading the room around me. I might as well address the elephant in the room, whenever there’s a test I’m least bit informed and confused. I’m confused because I don’t seem smart enough to comprehend material the way everyone else does, even though everyone is different. My perception on education let alone how I’m educated is not odd but there are so many things off about the education system which left me with a lot of questions. Forgot to emphasize, “stupid questions.” The scope of it all starts at the fact I have a late birthday which made me so sad because I was the younger kids in the classroom and such a disadvantage in the school environment. I was envious of “older” kids because they had early birthdays so they seemed to be learning fine, but for me there had to be some sort of guidance or help. In high school during my sophomore year of geometry, I really questioned why I needed to know the proof of a triangle because it’s not gonna help me prove a crime there’s no correlation to that. The wonder carries on that my anxiety for tests will increase, but I hoped things will be different in college.

High school was kind of a hell for me, since the learning seemed to be more extensive and I had to tackle new heights of education. I started to develop test anxiety, it was so bad that I looked at every test like a monster was about to eat me alive. I felt really incapable of learning as my mind went braindead everyday. Sometimes I didn’t have the energy to wake up in the morning and repeat the never ending of cycle of failing. Then came around that one class I took in sophomore year which was Computer Applications II which was a class that taught me the fundamentals of Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel. I knew of those applications but really understand those applications in depth, really changed my perspective in learning other than academics. I continued to do business classes, getting the feel of it all. A momentous occasion came at the end of junior year, I signed up for the business program. I applied for it, interviewed for it, and got accepted to it. I was really excited about something and I haven’t felt that way in a while. I tried to develop new skills by learning things hands on. I was a manager in the “virtual business” we were running so my job was to keep everyone in check by taking attendance, make sure devices were put away at the end of the class, and being everyone’s support to fall back on when everything gets tough. In the Human Resources department of a real life office, their job is be the ethical support of the company and employees can go to them when they are not feeling good. I was glad to be a part of something that taught me what it would be like to be a part of a team.

Senior year made me feel like a “king” because as pretentious as I was I devoted all my time into school work and college applications. Virtual Enterprise (business program) started to bloom like a flower and I was really invested in it. I truly feel as though the world was looking up at me because senior year of high school seemed to be a breeze. Quickly like a bee I was stung with SAT’s that creeped my test anxiety again. I was able to get a decent score on them, but it bothered me that most colleges require a “good” or “perfect” SAT to determine the next four years of my life. For me it sounds messed up, because why should one exam of hard questions be the pivot of college? I already suck at tests, so I get more tests thrown at me? Must be nice being smart, if I shouldn’t degrade myself by calling me dumb at least I’m mediocre to score 4 digits on my SAT’s. Why does it have to be me? Why does my brain not get anything? Maybe, I’m blind-sighted and distracted or I need to be alone.

I’m just going to say it very bluntly, the education system is flawed. One major reason it is flawed because school indirectly tells us that if we don’t pass a test we can’t move forward. The “me” back then believed that to be true, that it is factual, and 100% accurate. The “me” now knows that tests are not what make up intelligence and that it’s just a factor of the academic process. Why do we take tests, in particular end of the year exams? To evaluate what we learned in the school year and how much we remember the material. Even though I was weak and forgetful, I didn’t let that consume what I know and how can I apply my own strategies to get a passing score. My parents did not want me to falter and give up, and they knew I had low self-esteem and little to no confidence. But, all those factors aside I kept on going to school just to make it here (college).

I wasn’t one of those kids who have a “fixed dream” because I didn’t know who I wanted to be when I grow up. All I need to start my dream was education. As much as the education system is flawed, I went through with it because without it I would be unreliable in a lot of places. For example, if I got a job and without having any social cue’s at school how am I supposed to connect with folks in the “real world?” I know that in this era of social media and the constant development of technology school can be “useless.” But, that aside I learn a lot of things without education being in a category of school, whereas social media and Google telling me about real world problems that ancient textbooks can’t teach me about because all of that text occurs in the past. Overall, education is relevant for me and I need it to continue moving forward in institution and life.

Reviewer’s Memo:

I wrote this because I want you to understand my journey of how education began for me. I hope it would turn on that light switch of yours in your head and let your mind wander in a lot of questions and thoughts as to want I proposed to you. What I want you to take away from this piece is me reflecting on how education makes me agitated due to my test anxiety but focusing on education in aspects other than academics. What I feel about this project right now is that it’s in the making of a work I will be happy of later when I make edits and revisions to it. Do you think my piece works? Have I touched on a lot of points that seem to connect together? By any means does my essay give a theme rather two? Does my paper have a motifs? If this were your essay, what would you do next? I would like to have your feedback.

Earth’s Near Destruction (Unit 2)

What I attempt to change about this paper is explaining my quotes and having more of a structure to my piece. I feel as though my introduction is weak however that can be changed using the acronym PIE. Every time I use a quote I will try to emphasize and not repeat myself multiple times.

Question: What can be done about climate change right now?

We live on a planet where the Earth is made up of mostly water and have greenery which are the trees and bushes. Two parts of the Earth are water and land. What if there’s an imbalance which causes these two properties to shift? Maybe, it has to do with climate change or in other words global warming. Do you think Global Warming is real? Many thought it was just a theory, however it is so much more.

There are adequacy to global trends explained by NASA, a motivational speaker speaking up about climate change to engage a younger generation, and ten simple ways to act on climate change as well as possible solutions so Earth doesn’t meet its destruction. If I found something that is not in my itinerary, I plan to take that information and send it to a positive direction that way this information can be put to good use someday.

There’s a question I want you to keep in mind: what can be done about climate change right now? Using genres like environmental blogs, environmental literature, and social media lets brainstorm together and open doors for folks who do not understand that this is not a game, not a trivial matter, and not something to make jokes about. The Earth has feelings too and it expresses itself based on what we do and how we take care of it.

Part 1:

Buis, A. (2020, January 09). Study Confirms Climate Models are Getting Future Warming Projections Right – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2943/study-confirms-climate-models-are-getting-future-warming-projections-right/

*Cited in APA Format*

Part 2:

The beginning of the article starts off with an old saying that can measure the quality of something once put to the test. There are climate models which are mathematical computer simulations to interact with Earth’s climate. It’s been wonder for people on how climate models can make future climate conditions. The benchmark to good science is the ability to make predictions that can be testable. Climate models have been predicted since the 1970’s and it’s all a matter of how reliable it is to the climate conditions now. A research team led by Zeke Hausfather of the University of California, Berkeley conducted a systematic evaluation of the performance of past climate models. the team compared 17 model projections of global average temperature developed between 1970 to 2007, including some originally developed by NASA, with real time changes in global temperature observed through the end of 2017. The results are 10 model projections closely matched observations. Scientists using climate models to better understand how Earth’s climate changed in the past, how it’s changing now, and what future global trends will look like.

Part 3:

This text proved to me that climate models are accurate. The research we have right now (present) is going to affect research coming later because everything is blend of something. This information from a NASA article makes way for other researchers and scientists.

Part 4:

“To successfully match new observational data, climate model projections have to encapsulate the physics of the climate and also make accurate predictions about future carbon dioxide emission levels and other factors that affect climate, such as solar variability, volcanoes, other human-produced and natural emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols.”

“This study’s accounting for differences between the projected and actual emissions and other factors allowed a more focused evaluation of the models’ representation of Earth’s climate system.”

Part 1:

Hansen, J. (n.d.). Transcript of “Why I must speak out about climate change”. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.ted.com/talks/james_hansen_why_i_must_speak_out_about_climate_change/transcript?language=en

*Cited in APA Format*

Part 2:

James Hansen talks about the generality of climate change and why it is important to speak on it. Hansen states, “I was fortunate to join NASA and successfully propose an experiment to fly to Venus. Our instrument took this image of the veil of Venus, which turned out to be a smog of sulfuric acid. But while our instrument was being built, I became involved in calculations of the greenhouse effect here on Earth, because we realized that our atmospheric composition was changing.” Hansen talked about the greenhouse effect telling me, “… that gasses such as CO2 absorb heat, thus acting like a blanket warming Earth’s surface. In Hansen’s Ted Talk he states that, “By 15 years later, evidence of global warming was much stronger. Most of the things mentioned in our 1981 paper were facts. I had the privilege to speak twice to the president’s climate task force. But energy policies continued to focus on finding more fossil fuels.” There is a greed and desire for fossil fuels. Humans feel the need to have fossils but the effects of dire.

Global warming is affecting a lot of folks. Stated in the Ted Talk, “The Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico heatwave and drought last year, Moscow the year before and Europe in 2003, were all exceptional events, more than three standard deviations outside the norm. Fifty years ago, such anomalies covered only two- to three-tenths of one percent of the land area. In recent years, because of global warming, they now cover about 10 percent — an increase by a factor of 25 to 50.” Lastly he tells me why he is alarmed on climate change, how clear the science is, and communication is key to the urgency of the situation and how we can find effective solutions.

Part 3:

I agree with James Hansen on what he has to say about climate change as well as the individuals that are affected. He made points that are poised and believes that change is upon us. I thought it was excellent to provide data because data helps us have clarity in scientific information. One piece of data in Hansen’s Ted Talk is, “What sea level rise can we look forward to? The last time CO2 was 390 ppm, today’s value, sea level was higher by at least 15 meters, 50 feet. Where you are sitting now would be under water. Most estimates are that, this century, we will get at least one meter. I think it will be more if we keep burning fossil fuels, perhaps even five meters, which is 18 feet, this century or shortly thereafter.” He’s saying that burning fossil fuels are bad.

Another thing to note is that the ice caps are melting by stating, “Ice sheets would continue to disintegrate for centuries.” Hansen is not wrong because the previous point he made about the sea levels correlates with ice caps at their melting point which can add onto sea levels rising. He also states, “This path, if continued, guarantees that we will pass tipping points leading to ice sheet disintegration that will accelerate out of control of future generations.” Human beings are the root of ice caps that are at their tipping point. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have temperatures that are so high. Poles are even higher which result into glaciers that melt rapidly which go into land and sea.

Part 4:

“That is the equivalent of what we face now. Yet, we dither, taking no action to divert the asteroid, even though the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it becomes. If we had started in 2005, it would have required emission reductions of three percent per year to restore planetary energy balance and stabilize climate this century. If we start next year, it is six percent per year. If we wait 10 years, it is 15 percent per year — extremely difficult and expensive, perhaps impossible. But we aren’t even starting.”

Part 1:

Ortiz, D. A. (n.d.). Ten simple ways to act on climate change. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181102-what-can-i-do-about-climate-change

Climate Solutions. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://ucsusa.org/climate/solutions

*Both sources cited in APA Format*

Part 2:

The first article written by Ortiz tells me ten ways that are simple to act on climate change. One way he states is that, “The number one goal? Limiting the use of fossil fuels such as oil, carbon and natural gas and replacing them with renewable and cleaner sources of energy, all while increasing energy efficiency.” He’s not wrong since fossil fuel burns a lot. Ortiz refutes the claim folks made that renewable energy is expensive by telling me, “Actually, renewables like wind and solar are becoming increasingly cheap across the world (although final costs are subject to local circumstances). The latest report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) found that several of the most commonly used renewables, like solar, geothermal, bioenergy, hydropower and onshore wind, will be on par with or cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020. Some are already more cost-effective.” To sum it up, climate change will have an impact on lives and the actions we take will influence the planet for oncoming decades, for better or for worse.

The second article tells me about possible solutions to avoid the worst. They first talk about cutting emissions to reach “net zero.” As stated, “To achieve net zero emissions, we need a massive transformation in how we produce and consume electricity. We need a newer, better transportation system. We need to stop deforestation. We need a climate-friendly agricultural system.” It’s always best to prepare for the worst (in case it happens) and adapting. The unknown author says, “Cutting carbon is the only long-term solution for avoiding climate impacts. In the short-term, we need to adapt. That means everything from discouraging development in high-risk areas, to planning for water scarcity, to building more resilient cities and communities. Investments should be scientifically sound and socially just, and focused where the impacts are greatest—often in low-income communities and communities of color.” It’s great that they are including other sources to adapt other than the weather or relying on data. The article ends with them putting emphasis on “act” and how it is important for everyone to do their part to make the Earth a healthy place to live in.

Part 3:

I agree with the first article a lot and what is showcased about ten simple ways to act on climate change. As Ortiz puts it, “In a new report published in September 2018, the world’s leading climate scientists made their starkest warning so far: our current actions are not enough for us to meet our target of 1.5C of warming. We need to do more. It’s settled science that climate change is real, and we’re starting to see some of the ways that it affects us. It increases the likelihood of flooding in Miami and elsewhere, threatens the millions of people living along the Brahmaputra River in north-eastern India and disrupts the sex life of plants and animals.” Ortiz has a point, if we have a target and are trying to reach it, but no one is helping or understanding than it affects the lives of plants and animals in different parts of the world. Individuals need to exercise their rights both as citizens and as consumers, Robert and other experts say, putting pressure on their governments and on companies to make the system-wide changes that are needed.” This quote is telling me that everyone needs to be involved. It can’t be just the people it has to be people and the government.

I agree with the second article because all the points that the unknown author made were spot on. In the article it states, “The best policy ideas in the world aren’t worth much if we don’t have activists, experts, and everyday people fighting for change. From school groups to churches; from corporate boardrooms to mayors and local leaders: we need action.” This quote really helps tie the fact that we need everyone for change, yes it starts with one person then more people chime in to be the change. A good thing to point out is that disinformation really does mislead the public eye and can lead the topic to propaganda no matter how controversial or debatable it may be. As the unknown author puts it, “This barrage of disinformation misleads and confuses the public about the growing consequences of global warming and makes it more difficult to implement the solutions we really need. Until the influence of these special interests is sufficiently diminished, climate action will be that much harder.” Therefore, this article is a good read and has taught me so much about possible solutions.

Part 4:

“Climate change is one of the most challenging problems that humanity has ever faced. At stake are hundreds of millions of lives, innumerable species and ecosystems, the health and viability of the economy, and the future habitability of this planet.” (second article)

“Fortunately, climate change is solvable. We have the technologies. We have the science. We now need the leadership—and the courage to change course.” (second article)

What I learned was that not only is climate change real, it’s a dire situation that affects all human inhabitants on Earth. Scientific evidence is valid because scientists can use climate models to better understand how Earth’s climate changed in the past, how it’s changing now, and what future global trends will look like. The NASA article made me understand that past scientific research has been made relevant for the climate change going on right now. The Ted Talk James Hansen created, he made points that because he was very poised and believes that change is upon us. I thought it was excellent to provide data because data helps us have clarity in scientific information. Ortiz tells me ten ways that are simple to act on climate change such as limiting the use of fossil fuels. The unknown author talks about possible solutions to avoid the worse case scenario.

Climate change is not only a world problem, but a people problem! Meaning, we need to make individual changes. I really do question the future of the Earth. Earth is our planet to protect as if we are the guardians of it. So, why can’t people suck it up and care? Why is it hard for folks to recycle, reduce, and reuse? What is the point of celebrating Earth Day if Earth doesn’t get the appreciate it deserves?

We need to talk about this to the younger generations. Kids in this generation are resorting to social media for their information for what they can do to combat climate change instead of turning to their adult role models for help. This means that adults are not doing a good job instilling the idea in younger folks that climate change is a major issue to take seriously.

My Website + Artist Statement (Unit 3)

If I had all the time in the world I would definitely change up my website. I felt like I was on a “time crunch” when it came to completing it, but I received constructive criticism on what I could do better. I do like my artist statement, it was a scope of why I chose a website for my topic.

https://zainabjahan594.wixsite.com/climatechange

Ever since I was in Earth Science class in 10th grade, I’ve wanted to understand why the ice caps were melting, the greenhouse gasses were burning, and why pollution was still happening. For this assignment, I wanted to learn more of the basics about Climate Change, the “meat and potatoes” to make sure I understand what the actual causes of climate change are–if they are manmade, and if there’s anything we can do to change them. My teachers in 10th grade touched on the topic briefly, but since then, things have gotten much worse–not better–and I’ve been surprised that I haven’t learned about it at school.

My rhetorical question is, what can be done about climate change? I wrote in the genre of websites because it’ll convey my message better than a lot of other tools out there. I chose the audience that I did because adults have failed to educate kids on climate change/global warming so kids especially of this generation and ones to follow rely on social media and the internet to learn things about the world. I decided to talk about this particular aspect of my research to go in-depth with my findings and how I can incorporate that to the genre I chose. The purpose of my piece is to educate younger kids on climate change and what we can do as people to change the world and make it better.

As I scroll the internet and type in the search engine, websites would come up. I was intrigued in the sense that how do people this? How can someone make something so sufficient and proudly call it their own? In high school I tapped into the art of making websites and I know I didn’t do them from scratch, but templates made it easier for me to customize and edit the content on it. I think making a website will bring so much attention to younger kids because they’ll be so infatuated with how easy information is brought to them and they wouldn’t change it for the world, to learn something at the touch of their finger.

I think I did fine but what I could’ve done better was manage my time. I always fail to manage my time, so if I had the opportunity to do my project again I would orchestrate my time better. As for my website, I am glad that it turned out the way it did in a short amount of time.

FINAL REFLECTION

My time as reader, writer, and scholar has just started! Especially in this term I felt like I learned so much in a nick of time. All the writings and readings I did made me understand a lot that goes into something that connects with another thing. In the class I learned what a DEJ is and did them which helped explain quotes from stories. For example, from “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, a quote from the story is, “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.” What I wrote to explain this quote, This quote is important and possibly my favorite as well. As times goes on, social media arises, and how much I put myself out there, a lot of people feel the need to assume something about me. Whether it be a rumor or a lie, it’s out there in the public. Unfortunately, I can’t change the way people think about me, because I don’t have control of that. I can debunk many things about me that tend to irk me, but as I am growing, especially in the social media age, I don’t worry about online comments or “insults” thrown at me. I want my reader to understand that if you let people’s comments get to you, you’re isolating yourself and building this wall that you will not break free from. It’s okay to be upset, because your feelings are valid, but don’t burden yourself this way, otherwise you will not grow to understand yourself more. Despite the quote being short I was able to explain it based on what I thought and how it applies in the situation.

I will able to use what I have learned this term and transfer this knowledge to other writing situations either in college or in my community by keeping the fact at the back of my head that not every word needs to be “fancy” to mean something, because as the saying goes “simple is better.” Another thing I’d like to acknowledge is the amount of sources I used in my writing. When I read about Kyle Stedman’s “Annoying Ways People Use Sources,” I wrote, the things I shouldn’t do when it comes to quotes. I liked how he took a literal thing like driving and compared it to sloppy writing. Stedman states, “I hate slow drivers.* When I’m driving in the fast lane, maintaining the speed limit exactly, and I find myself behind someone who thinks the fast lane is for people who drive ten miles per hour below the speed limit, I get an annoyed feeling in my chest like hot water filling a heavy bucket. I wave my arms around and yell, “What . . . ? But, hey . . . oh come on!” I agree with this quote because if drivers are slow they will end up irking other drivers around them. Stedman also states, “But here’s the thing: writers can forget that their readers are sometimes just as annoyed at writing that fails to follow conventions as drivers are when stuck behind a car that fails to move over.” This is a good comparison in the slightest because the way a writer cites sources should be traditional like a car that should be driven within the speed limit. One comment I have on how to use sources is using sources that strictly go with your research or writing that way everything is pieced together and not all over the place.

I love the idea of speaking my mind but not to be overtly about it because there’s always so much I can say, but at times it doesn’t need to be said. When reading about “A Talk To Teachers” by James Baldwin, I wrote, I think that James Baldwin was saying in his entire speech about his self-image and how he was perceived by the world. This quote in particular, “It would seem to me that when a child is born, if I’m the child’s parent, it is my obligation and my high duty to civilize that child. Man is a social animal. He cannot exist without a society. A society, in turn, depends on certain things which everyone within that society takes for granted.” I feel like he’s saying that keeping a child civilized in their own home is one way a child can maintain themselves by having manners, but once you put them out in society all the things a parent taught to a child may not be the same way because society is cruel and menacing. I think he means when he says “the world is larger” that there is so much out there that people don’t know or understand the concept of. When stepping out of your home, you have entered in a society with people who are just like you that have inferior complexity or folks who have superior complexity. I also said, I think it’s a “necessity” to examine not an obligation to learn about global warming. It’s a broad topic, it’s controversial, can stir a debate, but outdated information in science textbooks are not doing enough justice to the climate right now. The ice caps are melting, the greenhouse gases are burning, and air pollution intoxicating planet Earth. I wish global warming was taught to me in school instead of sizing it as a small discussion/problem in Earth Science class. I want to know more about this topic because the future for planet Earth isn’t looking so great if we are not being the change right now. These two paragraphs of my writing explaining that story opened my mind a little more and it felt great pouring my words out because I was speaking my mind.

Overall, I thank Professor Hall and my time in this class and I am happy to spend it with her. The fun doesn’t end there though because I will Professor Hall next semester!

Final Portfolio

December 15, 2020 / Mian Hamza / 0 Comments

FINAL REFLECTION

At the beginning of my first semester, I was very overwhelmed and frustrated because my first semester was online. “ I am feeling Frustrated because it seems hard online to stay on track and especially when it’s your Ist semester in the college”. Therefore it was way different than going to college and work being in a class with your classmates and with the professor. Although I was overwhelmed, “Nice work, Mian. I like this idea that is valuable to remember WHATEVER stuck out to you. I don’t think we say that enough!”. when I met my English professor in an online class. I felt a lot of relief. It gave me hope and great courage to move forward even if we are not in school. My English professor is charming and great. She gave me the courage to move forward with my first semester and do good on my assignments. This semester in English class I learned a lot of amazing and interesting stuff about writing, reading, and how to deliver your message to the audience. Something important that I learned in this term was Peer review and editing. One of y classmates gave me a peer review. “I liked your essay because of your educational journey began from your father and it doesn’t seem “typical” in the sense that you didn’t write about school as your education narrative.” We checked our classmate’s work. And we gave thoughts on that paper that what are the things they did good, and what are the things they can do better. In addition to that, I learned about my favorite topics that I wanted to research and get information about it. “ My favorite topic is about soldiers”.All the information, strategies, tactics that my professor taught me in this subject are very essential. I can use those strategies to make my reading and writing skills good. Furthermore, I learned how to cite a source accurately and how important it is to write a specific genre. As my first semester was going every day I was getting more comfortable with my professor, and with my assignments. It was a great journey that I finished with my efforts and my professor’s guidance. For time being the last week of my semester is kind of stressful because I am giving my final exam this week. I am very confident that I will pass all my exams. And I am hopeful for my spring semester. That my spring semester will be more interesting and I will try to do better than my first semester. My first semester is a great experience to take classes online. I said that because I often heard about the online classes however I didn’t know how to take them. Now by taking online classes I know that how an online class experience is.

Unit 1

In unit 1 I changed my sentences into short-form by putting periods Next to it. Also, I used capitalization word and sentence combing. I also added some more information as my Professor told me in the feedback.

The first day when I came to New York. My dad told me that you are reborn. You are in the world’s best country. Here you can achieve anything. You just have to work hard and stay on your track. Nobody will ever try to cut you or try to be a hurdle in your progress. It will be all you if you can’t do something that means you are missing something. Therefore just be yourself work hard to achieve something. Then step back put someone else ahead and help them. I remember a moment that happened in my life back in 2004 and changed my thinking about Education.

I was hiding under a bunk. God save me, I won’t do it again. However, Oh my God this is the best banana I’ve ever eaten. It tastes like heaven. I was six years old going home from school. I was starving, and I knew that there was no food at home because there was no money. As I walked down the street I saw a man selling bananas and oranges. When I saw the bananas, the taste of the banana came into my mouth. But when I put my hand in my pocket, there was no money. My pants pocket was ripped from inside. I knew that I didn’t have money. But the way I was looking at the banana was the same as if I was looking at a beautiful girl. I wasn’t able to take my eyes off the banana; the banana seemed to be calling me, saying “come eat me, I know you are hungry.”

My family and I were financially poor. Now I was hiding and I ate the banana. I was still hungry. I went to my home and hid under the bed. My mom asked me, “what happened, are you ok?” I didn’t answer. I was a hungry 6 years old who didn’t know what to do when you are damn hungry. At night a man knocked at the door. He called my dad’s name, Ali. My dad opened the door and said “Greetings”. After that, the man complained to my dad about me, saying “Your son stole my banana.” My dad was silent, the man said insulting things to my dad. I was inside listening to their conversation, cursing myself and regretting what I had done. After the man left, my dad came into the room and started beating me. I was badly battered, my bones hurt the whole week. The very next morning my dad came into the room and told me he loved me and took me to the farm. While we were there, he told me why he beat me last night. He told me how hard he works. He told me he was depressed and worried about the future and that he wanted to send his children to the best school but he couldn’t, due to our poverty. He said poverty taught him a lot. He said, “Right now I am poor, I know people who want me to do well. I also know people who would wish to see me struggle forever. He said that poor people who have people around them who care are the luckiest. Poverty makes you work harder; it forces you to do any kind of work you can find, as long as it helps you to survive.” That day I learned a lot from my dad. I had seen my dad working very hard in the hot summer and the freezing winter without a sweater on and that day I understood that if you get an education you could work in a cool room in the summer and a warm room in the winter. Since that conversation never left my mind. As I came to NY. I promised myself. That I will do good in my Studies. I will become a man. Who always give people. Therefore, I worked hard in high school and graduated. Now I am working hard in my college to be a good student than I was in high school. And be the one whom my parent’s proud of. The older I get, the more I realize that I have to work hard. From that day on, almost every day I wake up and ask myself. What I am going to do with my future. Whenever I try to answer that question, suddenly I see the boy hiding under the bed and praying that God saves him. I promise myself every day that I will do what I must to achieve my goals.

Some day, I want to go back to my city. Where I committed that innocent mistake, find a boy whose family is poor like mine was, and help that family. Therefore getting an Education means a lot to me. Because for me the Education is the way to be successful and do all the stuff. That I want to do.

Unit 2

I changed a lot in the revision of unit 2. According to the feedback that I got from my professor. I missed two source entries and the information that I provided was not Informative. Therefore, In this revision, and fulfilled the missing parts.

Intro

What are the difficulties faced by soldiers and how they trained? how do they change in this process? I am interested in this question because that’s how I can know more about being a soldier and what are the qualifications that a person needs to become a warrior. I watched a lot of documentaries and movies based on soldiers. Every individual who becomes a soldier is a courageous and strong-minded soldier. A person changed after getting the training of a soldier. After getting the training. A soldier can overcome many of his weaknesses and especially his breaking point. Every soldier always stays ready to sacrifice for his country. I would like to find what kind of person can join the army is there specific people who can join or anyone can join I want to know that what are the tactics that a soldier use in warfare and his daily life. I also want to know whence the soldiers change over time and how? I assume to find this because that will help me to understand more effectively about my topic. It will also answer my research question. I don’t believe that the knowledge I will obtain can go versus what I have expected to find because the question that I have is pretty straight and I know that whatever erudition I will discover will be correct however if the information works against what I had expected then I will use that knowledge anyway and I will question my assumptions. I will try to overcome my assumptions and make it right. I think all the genres can give me good information. Furthermore, the genres in which I can easily connect my point of you to the reader and make him understand what I’m trying to say will be the best genre.

All Four Source Entries

1-The first source entry in the article that I used is by the Army university press. In this article, I read about army training. The article was written by Ist Sgt. Ian Trowers. He wrote on August 21, 2019.

Trowers, Ian. “Army Training.” Army University Press, William Morrow, 21 Aug. 2019, www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2019/December/Army-Training/.

In army training, every soldier should be ready to do anything for his country. Specifically, in this training, there is no choice of losing. Every single time whatever you will do you have to win it either win it or either die doing it therefore there is no point in losing anything “in the Warfare as well as in life. The article also talks about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. In both countries US Army sharpened their counterinsurgency skills by recruiting new soldiers and sending them there to get more skilled. In this training, a lot of counterinsurgency mission rehearsals were conducted. So that’s how every single soldier knew he’s weak and strong point therefore in these trainings they overcome their weak point and make it strong.

In the article. I got some of my answers and a lot of information. A quote where it says “The Army is a profession. Competent and confident leaders are a prerequisite to the successful training of ready units. It is important to understand that leadership training, development, and certification are integral parts of unit readiness. Leaders are inherently Soldiers first and should be technically and tactically proficient in their basic Soldier skills”. In this quote, I understand that to train men to be good soldiers you also need a brilliant trainer who can train them extraordinary. It opened y mind widely to think more about the training of a soldier.

Furthermore, I think in my research question I have to be more accurate like what I want to know about army training for example it can be like combat training survival training, etc. this article gave me wide thinking about my research question.

2-My 2nd source entry That I used is from a Movie called American sniper. There is also a book wrote by Chris Kyle. The book’s name is American sniper this book was written on January 2, 2012, the genres used in this book and the movie are biography and autobiography.

In this video, I saw a soldier shooting at an eight-year-old boy. It wasn’t just a shooting as I saw the video I observed and I felt very deeply how a soldier fights with him on himself to decide should he kill the boy or not. As I was watching the video I got a sense that how hard it is for a soldier to make decisions within no time. It was very hard for the soldier to decide. A soldier before becoming a soldier Took Oath that he Will protect his country he would sacrifice himself or will kill any kind of threat to his motherland.

Kyle, Chris. “American Sniper Movie Review & Film Summary (2014): Roger Ebert.” Movie Review & Film Summary (2014) | Roger Ebert, William Morrow, 2 Jan. 2012,

3-In my third source Entry, I used an article called “The Emotions of war”. In this article, I read about the different categories of mental illness. I also learned that How soldiers encounter mental disorders. Every soldier who comes back to his country after the war. He has to go through therapy to be normal again. Many soldiers suffer after a war. They face problems like depression, anxiety, etc. They suffer in the love of their country. As I read the article and watched a short video of veterans. That how they felt going to war and coming back from war. As a veteran was explaining what he did in far. He couldn’t able to tell. Like he started getting nervous and shivering. According to the article “Young soldiers in combat inevitably confront killing. They take life away from others, and in so doing breach one of the most fundamental moral values of their society, often with long-term consequences. Fighting for survival in Vietnam, Karl Marlantes often felt satisfaction when his unit killed the enemy. In later years, he felt haunted by those deaths, as do other combat veterans”. This evidence shows that after killing the people in the war. The soldiers felt haunted. Even they killed the people way back in the century. Still what they did is with them. They can’t able to forget it. They can’t resist their thinking.

Epstein, Michael. “The Emotions of War.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 20 May 2018, www.pbs.org/tpt/going-to-war/themes/combat-experience/.

4- My fourth source entry is about soldiers who fight with him in himself? I am interested in this query because I Know that being a soldier it’s not a cakewalk.

Mahoney, Kara. “WHOSE CHOICE? PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION AND THE ARMED FORCES.” Whose Choice? Psychotropic Medication and The Armed Forces Kara Mahoney, Kara Mahoney, 2013, winter, weblaw.usc.edu/students/journals/rlsj/issues/assets/docs/volume22/Winter2013/3.Mahoney.pdf.

In this Legal article called who is the choice? Psychotropic medication and the Armed Forces. The soldiers encounter many obstacles while performing a Mission a Soldiers face a lot of health issues in every mission especially for a long-term mission they use medication that can help them stay alert and focused on the mission. A Soldier is trained To ignore every kind of situation that affects the mission however if a soldier can’t ignore his pain or health issues then he has to take some medication like a drug so he can stay active and perform his mission effectively. As evidence, the author states that as evidence the author states that “ If mental health problems become impossible to ignore, there are pressures to quietly take psychotropic medications instead of any other mental health treatment, such as psychotherapy.4 There are also coercive pressures to take medications like stimulants to perform missions lasting twenty-four hours or longer”.They are for being a soldier it’s not easy however it takes a lot of courage and strength to be the one different person from all other than in the world.

After reading this article I strongly agree with the author that the soldiers Suffer a lot not just on the battlefield although with their selves as well. For example, as I read in the article “Walk into any of the larger-battalion-aide stations in Iraq or Afghanistan today, and you’ll find Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft to fight depression, as well as Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Effexor. You’ll see Valium to relax muscles (but also for sleep and combat stress) as well as Klonopin, Ativan, Restoril, and Xanax. There’s Adderall and Ritalin for ADD and Haldol and Risperdal to treat psychosis; there’s Seroquel, at subtherapeutic doses, for sleep, along with Ambien and Lunesta. Sleep, of course, is a huge issue in any war. But in this one, there are enough Red Bulls and Rip Its in the chow halls to light up the city of Kabul, and soldiers often line their pockets with them before missions, creating a cycle where they use caffeine to power up and sleep meds to power down.” Therefore as my research question being a soldier, is not being ordinary. My research question being a soldier he’s not being an ordinary person. Besides, soldiers miss their families. They can’t go back until they don’t perform their duties given by their country. The rhetorical factors that I learned in professor Hall’s English class are about genre like my purpose of writing this legal source and other genres about my research question are to spread awareness to the youth of this country so they know that being a soldier is not obvious.

A quote that triggers me and it exemplifies the document claim “ The military has acknowledged the problem and, as will be discussed, has made recommendations for dealing with the overmedication of its service members. Yet in practice, individual service members continue to bears the full weight of choosing to take care of their health while risking stigma and their careers, or choosing to hide their mental health concerns while risking their long-term health, their safety, and the safety of their fellow service members”. This quote explains that being a soldier is not easy it demands perfection strength courage this quote truly triggers me that what are soldiers what are the obstacles that a soldier face furthermore soldiers have to take pills medication so that they can restore their energy. And to sleep, they still have to take medication that will help them to sleep.

I agree with my source entries because it is similar to thinking. I think that Soldiers are tough to breakdown. However, they do fight in themselves. For example, as I explained in my 2 & 3 source entry. The most interesting part that I liked was in the video. I liked how a soldier decided by shooting a boy. It wasn’t easy to decide. I did it to save his soldiers.

I have a question that after the sniper went back to his country. Does he have to face any judicial case. What I don’t understand is when a sniper asks the command to give him an order to kill the boy or no. He got the order that it’s on him. Why the command said that? The more information can be in books although I understand a lot of what I watched in videos. I would say that the way he wrote a movie and an article is amazing. This document tells me how I think is it similar or different.

I found in my research that how a soldier fight in himself. The most interesting thing that I found is in one of my source Entry videos in which a soldier shot a boy just to save his soldier brothers and while he was about to shoot he had to decide in himself that should he shoot or not.

That was the most surprising action that a soldier took by shooting a boy. My question deepened because as I was researching. In my two entries, I found something that hit my mind was a soldier who shot a boy however a soldier himself has a son the same age as that boy. He got no other option.

I learned this Important because that pushes any person to think two ways like why he shot a boy? What could have happened if he let the boy live.

I think most likely the specific people who call soldiers are bad or they are remotes that played by the government. However, it’s not true a soldier has his feelings too.

Conclusion

I found a lot of information about my research question and topic. It was a great experience to know about my favorite topic. In this research, I found all the answers to my questions. Like how soldiers trained? How soldiers battle within their own self? And what are the difficulties that soldiers face? In all my research there was a lot of information that surprised me for example soldiers take drugs to stay alert on their post and perform their duties better. Even if they want to sleep they have to take drugs to feel better for some time. Soldier life isn’t easy. I believe all the information that I got in my research is very important. It is important because that was my favorite topic that I wanted to research. Therefore all the information that I gathered was amazing. I think that the young people should hear about that because they should know that being a soldier. Isn’t easy. Soldiers sacrifice there everything for the country. I believe that soldiers have a deeper meaning for being a soldier. When a soldier takes an oath and pledging that he will always put the mission first, even if it’s he is losing. Veterans who come back from war. They have a lot of difficulties to face. It takes time to be normal and live between peaceful people again. I truly want to thank the soldiers for the dedication to their great nation.

Unit 3

A soldier is a man or woman who fights for their government and carries the weapons risking their lives in the process to protect their country. Soldiers sacrifice their entire life to protect the motherland. Soldiers encounter a lot of difficult situations and put their self in huge risks. In this article, I sincerely grab the attention of the youth-adult of this nation because I deem that the youth should know. Who is it who protecting us without even knowing ourselves? In unit two I confronted many hindrances that a soldier faces on the battlefield as well as in normal life. In my sources. I also discovered that Soldiers use drugs to sleep and to stay alert on their jobs. Also, when soldiers come back from war they encounter many mental issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleeplessness etc.

A soldier always prepares himself to sacrifice everything for his country. Soldiers die for their patriotic ardor for their country. As a piece of evidence that “ A soldier killed the boy just to protect his country. The soldier didn’t want to shoot that boy However he had to sacrifice his feeling and do the hard job by shooting the boy. That’s what he did. He shoot the boy.” Therefore, this evidence shows that the soldier’s sacrifice their feelings. What he did will stay with him till his last breath. He will never forget it. He knows what he did is ruthless although he did it for his country. By shooting the child The soldier will always feel weak that he killed a child who was not strong enough. Soldier fought in himself by making that tough decision.

https://youtu.be/3nLhxO-z_Y8

Soldiers use different kinds of drugs that they take for sleep and some of the drugs that they use to stay alert on their post—this is part of the battle within themselves, going so far as to change their actual bodies.

According to an article “ Individual service members continue to bears the full weight of choosing to take care of their health while risking stigma and their careers, or choosing to hide their mental health concerns while risking their long-term health, their safety, and the safety of their fellow service members”. This quote explains that being a soldier is not easy it demands perfection strength courage this quote truly triggers me that what are soldiers what are the obstacles that a soldier face furthermore soldiers have to take pills medication so that they can restore their energy. And to sleep, they still have to take medication that will help them to sleep. Taking those drugs have a vast impact on their bodies. That is very risky. some of the soldiers who experience trauma or were hospitalized or injured during combat are at high risk for increased drinking or drug use. This relates to my thesis that even soldiers don’t want to take the drugs. They have to take it so they can stay alert. So that they can sleep for some time. By taking drugs soldiers can perform their work better. Even if they are fatigue because drug help their body to stay alert. Their service is really helpful on the battlefield. Taking drugs help to perfume better job although it has a lot of consequences.

When soldiers come back from a war. They have to go to a psychiatrist to come back and adjust to a normal life. However, for some soldier’s it’s very hard. They have to take it so that they can go back to their families and visit them. In the war whatever the soldiers encounter is very risky and dangerous. In war, they saw their friends losing their lives. They face a lot of scary scenes like getting shot or watching a lot of blood. Because of that, they can’t able to sleep. They face anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness etc. For that, they even have to go to a psychiatrist to be normal again. As stated in an article Ironically, it is only since the inclusion of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The field of traumatic stress has blossomed and been subsequently underpinned by a major body of neuroscience and clinical research. Despite the slow development of interest in the long-term consequences of the traumatic stress of war, many of the developments in mental health care in the 20th century emerged from the innovations demanded by the need to deal more effectively with the flood of mental casualties amongst the combatants of war.” Therefore, this quote explains that when the soldier’s come back from war. They face various mental disorders like (PTSD). It is approximately 37 to 50% of Afghanistan and Iraq war soldiers have been diagnosed with mental disorders. The stress of war always harmed soldiers. Also, some of the soldiers died because of mental disorders. That proofs that soldiers sacrifice their lives. \. To save their country no matter what the country demand. This point must be important for readers because the war isn’t just faced by soldiers. There is a lot of of of other things that come after facing the war. As stated above. The reader should know that soldiers are constantly surrounded by fear and risks. However, they still stay alert and always ready to sacrifice their lives for the country.

McFarlane, Alexander C. “The Impact of War on Mental Health: lest We Forget.” World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592659/.

In the end, I will emphasize to my adults that soldiers can do much better just staying in their own country and getting properly directed. Therefore we shall be thankful to the soldiers and their devotion to their country.

Artist statement

I am involved in this matter because since my boyhood. I am a big supporter of soldiers for instance. As I got older I realize that being a soldier and being a citizen are two different things. My inspirations where are the soldiers. Who gave their lives for their country. Furthermore being a soldier is a sweet pain. I said that because when a soldier lives far away from their family. Although they keep their family picture in their wallet. Whenever they missed them they just take it out and look at the picture. They also surprise their family after they’re done with their job and come home. The pieces fit together because I am still obsessed with the soldier’s life. I wanted to be a soldier however for some reason I can’t.

My rhetorical question is Why still America sending their troops to the Middle East? I decided to write in this genre because soldiers should protect their own country by staying inside of the country. So they can meet their family easily. However American troops get deployment in the middle east that is truly far. Some soldiers stay more than 5 years in the Middle East and they don’t get the chance to meet their family. I think that’s unfair. I choose the youth as my audience because the youth should know that being a soldier it’s not easy. As they live their life nowadays. For example, hanging out with friends, stay in the family etc. Therefore they should know that they are protected from the people who can harm them. Why? Because the soldiers are standing for them all day and night to protect them. I decided to talk about this particular expect of my research because that’s what I wanted the youth to know. That’s the significant thing that I want to tell the youth. That is my message. My purpose of this piece is to tell the youth that soldiers are humans like us but they sacrifice everything for their country people just to protect them.

I read it a lot of times. As I was reading again and again every time I get to Discover a new thing and understand it well. Besides, I used a dictionary to help me understand the meaning of difficult words. I think the most important part of the genre is to make yourself clear about what are you writing and what do you want your reader to get from it.

The topic that I choose has no end. However, I think I did good by gaining the important information. That I wanted to deliver to the youth. So they can understand it the way I do.

Time Reflection Capsule (partfolio)

December 15, 2020 / Casimir Colon / 0 Comments

When I first began this course, I was not very interested in participating. I feared it was gonna be the same boring routine like in grade school: you reading an old book that you may or may not like, annotate and then doing a complicated essay. I am beyond happy that this was not the case but was a more flexible course that ended up being my favourite course in my first year of college online. I believe this course spiritually touched me thus revealing to me what fuels the success of the type of writer I am.

(Unit 1):

In the first Unit we were assigned to explain our opinions and experiences in school. I did not take a liking to it because I had to talk about a traumatic period in my life within a class I believed I was going to dislike. However, despite my pessimistic assumptions, a thought clicked in my head that the mood might change when I learned that I typed over two thousand words and other students were struggling to reach 400 words. At the end of the assignment, I received a B which I was satisfied with because of the work and emotional energy I put into an assignment I found painfully exhausting.

Looking at Unit One in retrospect, I cringed. But despite it being my least favourite assignment, I did learn important details about my writing ability.

What I learned in retrospect:

– Spacing out words into multiple paragraphs: In the future, I will break up my big entries into multiple paragraphs per chapter/entry. It is more aesthetically pleasing and easier to read versus a giant paragraph entry.

– Clear and realistic Evidence: I naturally struggle with using evidence to back up my analysis. For this assignment, it was more difficult because I had to not only fight through short term memory but also dig up painful memories from long ago. From now on when I am assigned to elaborate on my life details, I will use evidence after my analytical explanation to make my points overall stronger and better.

(Unit 2):

Unit 2, was not only my favourite unit, but my favourite assignment for the entire year out of all my classes. The task was to use any subject and form it into a research annotated bibliography. I chose to do a bibliography on the Cold War which, ironically, was around the 2020 election so I believed it was a great opportunity to re-analyze some modern American history. I was highly passionate when typing this assignment and it resulted in a grade A. What this revealed to me is when I’m passionate about literature (or anything for that subject), I do an exceptionally fantastic job.

Main components of my research paper that I’m proud of is powerful mixture of point organization and thorough analyzation. Here is an example:

(Entry) – “Throughout the 19 year conflict, an estimated of over 58,000 US soldiers died and an overall estimation of 1-4 million people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed as a result of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is remembered as a failure as well as a human rights violation that America is negligent for.”

(Analysis) – “The Vietnam War is perhaps the most controversial proxy during the Cold War. It overall rippled the country leaving lasting scars on the United States as a whole. This ripple revealed to me one of many of flaws this country suffers: American prejudice and how it negatively impacts the world.”

(Important quotes) – “Psychologically, the effects ran even deeper. The war had pierced the myth of American invincibility and had bitterly divided the nation. Many returning veterans faced negative reactions from both opponents of the war (who viewed them as having killed innocent civilians) and its supporters (who saw them as having lost the war)…”

Throughout the entire assignment, I experience so much joy through writing that I have never felt before. Being able to use history, a subject that has provided me a sense of comfort through dark times, was very pleasurable alone. That pleasure fueled so much passion and motivation which ran deep in my literary skills. So deep that it created a masterful bibliography of over 5000 words. I worked late and had my father, who is also a historian, proofread the thousands of words I typed. At the end, I received an A.

(Unit 3):

Unit 3 was an assignment I was nervous to do but I had faith I would do well. The project was to use the information you attained in Unit 2, and use it to create an article that attracts your targeted audience. Although I was a little less enthusiastic about this Unit compared to Unit 2 because of having to narrow down my Cold War research to specific details and ‘talk in a way’ that I usually do not for my targeted audience (the youth) to understand.

Highs – After learning the importance of using organization from Unit one and seeing its success in Unit two, I utilized it by organizing and using titles.

Lows – Where I was lacking was elaborating and clarifying on the points I used while not using enough information in my article. Another minor issue was bolding the headings because it seems OpenLab does not utilize bold text.

*Unit 3 revision/corrections* (important note: half the revisions I did unfortunately got lost and deleted as I used the ‘Save Draft button and I could not recover it.)

2020 is going to remembered as a sour year for most. Things like the COVID-19 pandemic and rise of awareness of police brutality are main factors. Another factor may possibly be the result of the election for some fellow Americans. For older people, they may remember the 70s-80s as a tough and sour time to live. When bad things occur often, it’s best we educate people, the youth in this case, on these subjects. In this article will educate the reader on the importance of the Cold War by revealing its true nature on Modern America.

For the youth to grasp the important message of this article, we must begin with a brief summary of what the Cold War was. The Cold War was a global standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union (now simply called Russia) from 1947 to 1991. They both wanted to expand their opposing political influence to world thus creating various forms of conflict. In the history books, it is said the United States won the long standoff, but readers of this article will understand the enemy being fought was America itself, leaving a negative footnote for future generations. This is why:

Tyranny of the majority: when the majority population exploits and abuses their power over minority groups (smaller population). In America’s cases, tyranny of the majority is the majority white people in government positions. This majority was often a disadvantage in terms of economic and social progress for African-Americans. This flaw rippled and divided America during the Cold War.

Conclusion:

As this course ends, I am proud that I have grown closer with reading and literature as a whole because this course taught inspired me to not only read more, but to read more about topics that I enjoy. This is a joy I have not tasted in a long time. I proudly announce that in order to strengthen this new passion, that I have chosen to continue strengthening my English abilities through Ms. Hall, the one who made it possible for me to enjoy reading again.

Category: Portfolio & Reflection (Page 2 of 7)

A Package Of My Writings + Final Reflection

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Time Reflection Capsule (partfolio)

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