English 100 Review

I was really pleased with the class.  You as a teacher helped us learn more with your teaching style than a lot of teachers who just hand us paperwork and want us to learn from that.  I really enjoyed writing each one of my essays, I felt like each one was a remembrance of my past.  I enjoyed most of the stories that we read out of our textbook along with Kozal's book.  The class discussions helped with a lot of the papers and blogging's that we had to do.  I appreciated each time you helped outline a paper for me to make it more effective in what I was trying to say. 

Task four evalutation

• What is the thesis for your paper? How people forget about reading as a past time instead of watching tv or gaming.

• List the main points you make in your paper.    More times than most, people will trade in reading a good book for watching a television show or playing video games.  Reading not only stimulates your mind, but takes you places you may never have been or able to go to, and makes you feel a handful of emotions.  I explain how reading can make you feel love, loss, and friendship.

• What was the most helpful advice you received from your peer evaluation?   the only I was told was that my story was good.  Didn't ever give me advice on what needed changed,

 

• What was the most helpful information you received in class for your paper?

• How many drafts of this paper do you think you wrote and how/when did you write them? For example, did you compose at the keyboard, did you write lots of notes to yourself, did you pre-write or outline, did you write in small chunks of time or sit down and produce an entire draft at one sitting?

• What would you do differently with this paper to make it more effectively, or what did you try to do that you just don’t think you got a good handle on? I don't think I explained my personal experiences very well that I compared with the book I talked about.

What are most pleased with about this paper?  I really liked talking about all the books and authors that I love.

The Lonely, Good Comapany of Books

I absolutely love to read, I did not read as much when I was younger as I do now, but I did pick up a book every now and then.  I would say over the past five years is when I actually started reading books weekly.  I love all books, but most off all I love books that tell stories of life lessons, lost loves, heroic adventures, fictional books.   Sometimes I catch myself reading aloud and realize no one is listening.  I do read children’s books to my niece and nephews, that’s as far as that goes.  My first book I read five years ago was, “The Secret Life of Bees” by, Sue Monk Kidd.  While reading the book, I was brought to tears several times and upon completion of it, I wanted to know more.  That was when I started getting a new book every week.  I have fallen in love with several authors, Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, Carrie Adams, and Ceclia Ahern!  All of these books have taken me places that I’ve never been but felt like I had.  They all made me feel loss, love, and friendship without even talking directly to me.  I would have to say that my favorite book of all time is “Rosie Dunne” by, Cecelia Ahern.  It is a book that is like no other book I have ever read.  It is nothing but little notes, letters, phone calls, and instant messages between life long friends.   It is story that takes place in Ireland between two friends at the age of seven and takes you through their whole lives separate and apart.  I read four hundred some pages in five hours because I could not put it down.  I cried uncontrollably, I laughed hysterically, and was amazed at how their lives compared to my own.  So in answer to the question.  I feel that reading is a big part of my life.

Literacy Autobiography question

What about your present educational story? Is college what you expected? Have you learned or gained anything?  Have your perceptions of learning been changed or challenged?
College is more than I expected.  I knew it would be tough since I have been out of school for so long, I just didn't realize that I would need to adjust my life around it as much as I have.  I no longer have "down time", if I'm not doing something involving family, cleaning house, shopping, or reading my books that I have, I am doing homework or studying for classes.  Now all my work is basically done online and it is up to me to complete it.  When in high school it was done in the class.  I read more now than I did in high school also.  Reading I don't mind, because I have always liked to read, I just feel as though I read more school than I do for leisure.  I hope to catch up on some reading over Christmas break.

Experiences with reading and writing

Before this course I thought that it would be more reading than writing.  I'm glad that we got the chance to write, it prepares you for your future classes.

There was not anything I was unsure of prior to this class.

I read a lot, I have always been a reader.  I enjoy sitting for hours reading a book, most of the time I will stay up till two or three in the morning just because I can't put a book down.  My house is like a library.  I took a writing class in high school, but we never had to write anything on our own, it was always a group story we would write.  I took English 104 in high school also and the only essay I remember writing was a summary and analysis on "Othello" by William Shakespeare.  I'm sure we wrote on other stories also, but that particular one I remember, because I liked it so much.

Self Evaluation for Task Three

What is the thesis for your paper? I am still unsure what my thesis on this paper was...

List the main points you make in your paper.  I describe how I was flunked and compared it to how teachers need to follow through with that instead of passing the students.  Also I explained how it has affected my life today.

What was the most helpful advice you received from your peer evaluation? My grammar 

What was the most helpful information you received in class for your paper? The outline, how my paper should flow.

How many drafts of this paper do you think you wrote and how/when did you write them? I wrote three different drafts over a period of four days.  I kept remembering different things so I'd have to go back to add them.

What would you do differently with this paper to make it more effectively, or what did you try to do that you just don’t think you got a good handle on?  The hardest part was where I had to enter the quotes.  I don't think I had enough.  I didn't feel like the quotes I used went well with the story.

What are most pleased with about this paper?  Writing this paper made me remember to try hard everyday in all my classes so that I don't have a repeat of history.

Task Three Reflection.

I plan to use "In Praise of the F Word" by Mary Sherry.  I can relate to this story, because in a way, my history teacher used the F word on me.  In my Junior year of high school, I failed my history class because I did not apply myself.  As a senior, I applied myself because I knew what the consequences would be.  Even though I past the class, barely, I was called in the day before graduation and was told that I had to take the final to graduate.  I remember at the beginning of the year, he told us, "history repeats its self".  At that time, I really didn't understand what he meant by that.  On my final he wanted me to write a one page essay about what I learned.  I started the essay with, You told us at the beginning of the year that history repeats its self, well here I am back in history class.  A class that I have already taken.  I continued for a whole page explaining what I had learned.  After the final was over Mr. Freiling told me that the only thing in my essay in his opinion that made me pass was my first line, history repeats its self.  I think that because he used the F word with on me and actually did it, made me realize that you have to be accountable for your actions or in my case accountable for the things I did not do my junior year.

Why I decided to come to college

After high school, I moved to Aurora, CO to begin a life on my own.  Yes, I have family there, but thought if I moved away from the comfort and security of my parents I could learn more, be more independent.  I worked at two different jobs while living there that only paid enough to pay my bills due to the higher cost of living there.  One year later, I moved back to St. Joseph.  In the past nine years, I have worked as a nanny, customer service representative at different department stores, worked in factories, and finally working for the state as a counselor for college students.  During the three and a half years of being a counselor, I began to envy them, began to wish that I could somehow afford to go to college myself and pursue my dream of getting a higher education and a job with security.  Once the budget cuts came in this past June, I knew it was a sign to go for it.  I will probably struggle throughout school as I seen most of my clients that I helped, but in the end, I will know that it will be well worth it and I will have the satisfaction of completing my dream.

Self evaluation of task two

• What is the thesis for your paper? How Jay did not graduate and his views on me going to school.
• List the main points you make in your paper. How education can improve your life.
• What was the most helpful advice you received from your peer evaluation? Repeating things.
• What was the most helpful information you received in class for your paper? Capitalization of things that arent suppose to be.
• How many drafts of this paper do you think you wrote and how/when did you write them? For example, did you compose at the keyboard, did you write lots of notes to yourself, did you pre-write or outline, did you write in small chunks of time or sit down and produce an entire draft at one sitting? I had three drafts.  I had notes first, then I wrote on the computer, then made addtional notes on the paper draft, then re-typed.
• What would you do differently with this paper to make it more effectively, or what did you try to do that you just don’t think you got a good handle on? Get more supporting details
• What are most pleased with about this paper? I'm pleased with the fact that I got a chance to talk to my father about his life without education and how beneficial it is to me that I will have one.

Interview Process

I do not have any additional questions to ask him right now.  He really didn't understand why I was interviewing him, once I explained why I was asking these questions he said, "Oh so you want to interview a drop out."  He was just joking though.  I interviewed my dad at his house.   I actually learned a lot from him about his decisions, I've always  wanted to ask but never knew how to.  I plan to explain who my father is and lead into his decisions to drop out and how he provided for his family, then ending with his thoughts on education and how they compare to mine.  The only concerns I have is trying to keep it less than six pages! :)  I will probably leave some of the less important things out, like the stuff he said jokingly.

Becoming Educated

An education to me, means being self sufficient.  In the past 14 years of working, I have always been asked what my school background was at every job I've ever had.  I've only  been able to say that I completed High School.  In my past job it was required to have a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, I was fortunate enough to get the job without it, due to my previous work history.  Now that I am no longer employed there, I find it crucial to continue my education to receive the job I desire.  The job that will make me happy and become self sufficient.  I do not want to be someone who has a family down the road and can't afford to provide for them.  I do not want to live on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  I want to get everything I get by working for it because I continued my education.  Now days you can not get the job that pays you well without a degree.

Task Two Questions

1.) Did you drop out of high school to help you family when your father and brother passed away?
2.) Do you feel that you have achieved all your goals in life without continuing your education?
3.) If you had the chance to go back now, would you and why?
4.) Do you think that furthering your education is crucial in today's world?
5.) What did you enjoy most about school while there?

All of these questions I have wondered throughout my life and it seems appropriate to ask them now.

Cuentos

This story was very hard for me to follow, I didn't exactly enjoy the story so I couldn't follow along very well.  I know that a Cuentos  is a story or a tale of some sort, but I do not recall ever being told any folktales growing up.  I really do not even know what to write about. Im sorry

Sister Flowers

I think that she felt that Sister Flowers was a genuine, smart, nice person who she admired.  She states that, "She was one of the few gentlewomen I have ever known, and has remained throughout my life the measure of what a human being can be."  She looked up to here and enjoyed the smiles she gave her.  She liked that she had invited her into her life even though she was a stranger.  She encouraged her to read and remember poems, to read aloud and know what each word meant.  She felt respected by everyone once she spoke to Sister Flowers.  I think of my father when I think of a measure of what a human being can be.  He did not graduate high school, therefore people would think he is not smart and could have had a better life.  I disagree with this because he has come a long way in life regardless of his educational background.  He taught me the values in life and to never give up, something they don't teach in school.  He has always been so kind, he would give his last dollar to someone if they really needed it, leaving him with nothing.  I compare him to all men in my life whether its a boyfriend, a friend, a co-worker, whatever the situation.  He showed me how I should be treated and how I should treat others.

Task Two

• Why are you interested in these subjects? I am going to interview my father because he has come far in life even though he did not graduate high school.
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• What makes him/her interesting and unique? My father had a very rough life growing up and always made sure that our family was happy and taken care of.
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• What sort of questions would you ask and why? Why he dropped out of high school and I would like to know if he had the chance if he would continue his education now.
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• What sort of problems do you think may arise for Task Two? Honestly the one situation that I can see arising from this is that it might make my father think about his life in a different way even though I'm proud of the way he is now.
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• What do you anticipate? Why? I hope that my father will be honest with me and be proud of me for what I am trying to accomplish by  interviewing him.
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• What questions do you have for Task Two? I do not have any questions at this time for the task.

Peer Review

What would you like to see changed? I just wish there was more time to get to everyone, maybe make the groups smaller.

How would you like for it to be done?Make the groups smaller

Is there too much time in class that is devoted to peer review? Just based on last weeks peer review I didn't feel like there was enough time but if we have smaller groups I think it would be enough.

On Becoming a Chicano

I wouldn't define my racial identity as anything other than a White girl.  I have never been called any names that associate with being white.  Ive heard the labels people use, such as Cracker, Honkey, White Trash, etc.  As for myself I have never been called them.  I do however have mixed nephews and have heard several labels thrown out in conversation.  Not so much directing it towards them but in general or as a joke.  I personally do not appreciate those jokes nor do I find them funny.  I don't want my nephews to grow up to use those words or to think that it is okay to say those kind of things to people, whether it's joking or not.  In my eyes everyone is equal and should have a fair chance at everything, whether you are White, Black, Hispanic, or any other ethnic.  The color of your skin, hair, or accent that you have does not define who you are.  I want my nephews to grow up being treated equally and not be expected to for sake of argument, "Sit at the back of the bus".   I do not want them going through life have racial slurs thrown at them and think that it is okay. I just don't believe that you should have to grow up with the stereotype that people believe others have based on their ethnicity.

How it feels to be colored me Reflection and Writing Question 1

I give myself the label a homemaker.  I know that sounds like a 1950’s women who stays home, makes sure that things are in order and dinner is on the table at 5:00, but that is how I feel.   I like to know that my house is clean, beds are made, dishes done and dinner cooked to perfection at a decent time.  It affects me daily, I wake up every morning and begin cleaning house, making the bed, doing laundry, putting dishes away, and setting out the meal that I have planned for each night of the week.  I love to cook, if I had time I think I would write a cook book, I rarely make the same meal twice.  I compare myself to families who eat out all the time because they don’t take the time or have the time due to children’s activities or activities of their own to prepare a decent meal for them.  I believe that your home shows people who you are.  If you don’t keep up appearance on your home or your belongings, then people assume that you are a slacker, procrastinator, a slob, etc.  I  choose to be like this because I don’t want those labels.  It has actually gotten to the point that I have OCD from being like this.  I make myself a to do list for my house daily.  I guess I compare myself to the 1950’s housewife or a Betty Crocker if that makes any sense. 

Rite of Passage Question, What I remember of my grandmother

This story reminded me a lot of my own grandmother.  I remember her house always being the place to go for family dinners, Holiday's, Birthday's, etc.  She always made the best food.  I loved walking into her house and thinking I love that smell, the smell of fresh apples and cinnamon.  She always had apple crisps for us.  To this day when I smell it I think of her.  She was her families "Rock".  Her husband, (my grandfather) died from lung cancer at the age of 50 so grandma had to take care of the 9 children alone.  She learned to be strong in every situation.  A few years later one of her sons died in a car wreck at the age of 19.  I never got the privilege to meet my grandfather or uncle, I just get to hear the stories and see their pictures.  After that she tried to keep the family together the best she could.  As my dad, aunts, and uncles got older they moved out, moved away, got married and began families of their own.  She would have Sunday dinners every week with those of us that were around.  As time passed we started noticing she didn't know who we were or where she was.  She would yell about things that no one knew she was talking about or talk to herself.  All of my aunts took turns caring for her until one night she woke up in the middle of the night and took off walking.  After a long search the police found her walking down a street.  The next day she was taken to a nursing home where we visited her every week until she passed away in 1996.  I remember going to the funeral and watching my family cry harder than I've ever seen.  To this day we still talk about her at family dinners like she is still here.

Task One

I plan to write my task on a specific person in my life.  I am writing it about my nephew who has made a big impact on my life.  He has been through more in the first year of his life than most people go through in a lifetime.    The only problem I see with this, is that I wont be able to keep it short.  :)  I hope that it will bring awareness to childhood illnesses to everyone who reads it.  Cant wait to get started.

Letter of Introduction

My name is April, I am 29 years old born and raised here in St. Joseph, MO. I have 4 sisters and 1 brother,  5 nephews and 2 nieces who I absolutely adore.   I graduated in 1999 from Lafayette High School and have been working the past 3 1/2 years as a Adult Career Counselor at the Missouri Career Center.  In June our funding was cut and I was layed off.  I considered this lay off to be to my benefit because it has given me the opportunity to go to school to achieve a degree in Elementary Education.  In high school I took World Literature, Creative Writing, and English 104 my Senior year.  In those classes I wrote several essay's, wrote a book, and read Othello as our big essay for English 104.  I love to read in my spare time.  My favorite author's are Nicholas  Sparks and Jodie Picoult, I have read all of their books.