End of the Year Writing Reflection

The first essay we formally completed in class this year would be the synthesis on
libraries in modern day society. My writing from this essay embodies my earlier
writing techniques and my origins as a writer because of the common mistakes and
habits throughout the essay. Starting off, my thesis sentence is clear, but fails to
provide specific details in regards to my argument in the essay. I am writing that
libraries play an important role in modern day society with the thesis, “Libraries will
continue to serve the community as a reliable source of information and knowledge
while adapting to the evolution of the technological era to continuously fulfill the
needs of the community”. I make evident claims but I do not include evidence on
how libraries will serve the community or how they will continue to serve as a
reliable source of information. As the essay progresses, my counter argument is
unclear and I fail to delve deeper into “the bigger picture”. My explanation and
analysis is also lacking in regards to the main argument. Even though the essay is
undoubtedly flawed, the structure is clear and I address the prompt with evidence
that is properly cited from each source. Overall, the essay demonstrates my earlier
style of writing as I struggled with analysis in connecting the work to the bigger
picture and I struggled with clearly and effectively expressing my own argument.

A more recent AP essay that demonstrates my current writing skills is the rhetorical
analysis on Leonardo Dicaprio’s UN Climate Summit speech. In the essay, I focus
on Dicaprio’s use of logos, pathos, and imagery. Despite a few minor grammar and
spelling errors, my overalll prose is clear and my analysis connects to the larger
idea- that being the need for global involvement in protecting the environment.
In the essay, I overcame my previous struggle of providing more analysis while
effectively answering the prompt in tracing Dicaprio's argument through his use
of rhetoric. The rhetorical analysis traces my evolution as a writer as I improved my
AP score and adjusted my style of writing to fix the previously mentioned
issues.

This year was definitely the most I have improved in my writing skills. I strayed
away from a strict and choppy structure while finally being able to include deeper
analysis and connection in my writing. It was very challenging at first since the
AP essay formats were new to me but I adjusted gradually and learned more
about my style and diction as a writer. Analysis was by far my biggest challenge
coming into this year along with completing essays in a timed manner
but based on my writing throughout the year, I was able to overcome both of
those challenges. In regards to the future, I hope to deepen my connections in
writing while being able to include a more personalized or unique tone/style in
my essays.

The "Universal" Language

 Each language and dialect has the astounding ability to convey an almost limitless array of 

emotion in completely different ways. The variation of languages and dialects around the

world has allowed for the diversification of cultures and expanded the ability for individuals

to express an intended feeling or meaning.

Throughout my own life, I have developed multiple speech patterns or “Englishes” to match

those around me and express what I want to say as accurately as possible. The first English I

ever used was a Chinese-English mix. Growing up, I was exposed to two drastically different

languages: English and Chinese. As a child I would commonly replace simple words with the

Chinese translation saying “ I 要 (want) 水 (water)” or “This room 太(too) messy” mostly

because it was more work to speak in entirely one language or I knew people around me would

understand me better. I still replace some words with Chinese when I speak to my family but

for an entirely different reason. Growing up, I began to speak less and less Chinese and my

parents began to understand English much better. Now I replace certain expressions or phrases

with Chinese in a comical and almost exaggerated way. I could spill something and yell “糟糕”

or “啊呀” so my family would know I was mad in a less serious way.

The most common English I use would be how I speak to my friends. I tend to speak colloquially

but rarely ever with slang since I don’t find myself having a use for it. I don’t usually think

before I speak in these “everyday” or “casual” scenarios so I say what immediately comes

to mind. This form of English happens to be my favorite as it is unfiltered and the most accurate

accumulation of the speaking characteristics and overall personality traits I have gained over

the years. I often find myself yelling or complaining in this form of English which is unsurprising

since that's 60ish% of what I do.

My "formal" or "refined" English is how I write most of my essays and how I speak to

most teachers and adults. When writing an essay, I try to keep every phrase as direct and

sophisticated as possible. I'll throw in a few words that I had to look up first as an attempt

to seem annoyingly precocious or somewhat knowledgeable (I guess it just sounds better to

me that way). Teachers and adults tend to speak in a formal way so I try my best to reflect the

same tone of voice and diction. I'm not too familiar with most teachers and adults in my life

so I try to stay more distanced and respectful to avoid any miscommunication or possible

indications of disrespect. This "standard" form of English is what many expect from all

residents of the U.S. This English is clearly not the only one yet many perceive other Englishes

(possibly my Chinese-English mix) to indicate incompetence or lack of intelligence. As Amy

Tan's mother had experienced, people who speak "broken" or grammatically incorrect English

are unfairly mistreated and ignored. The truth is that different "Englishes" or dialects allow

for distinct differences in families, friend groups, or whole cultures that diversify people

around the world.

 

Signs You're Probably an Introvert

-FuzzBeed Staff

An introvert is a quirky, shy individual, who often prefers to stay at home and to themselves.
They are not the most vocal or eager to communicate. But how can you tell if you are an
“introvert”?

Here are a few signs that you are:

1.The thought of public speaking frightens you.
The idea of bringing yourself to the front of a room to look everyone in the eyes and speak
is distressing. You don’t want all the attention on you as you struggle to get a strain of
words out. It is unnerving and you would much rather be doing anything else.

2.You love it when plans get cancelled.
Going out with friends is never the ideal scenario. Why go to a restaurant, the mall, or a
movie when you can just stay in and read a book? Socializing is overrated anyways.

3.Small talk can seem boring and repetitive.
Whenever you’re asked about the weather, school, your family, or almost anything,
you just cannot act interested. Communication of almost any form seems tedious and you
would much rather sit in a dark, cold hole.

4.You appreciate things that others do not.
Everyone seems fixed on superficial and futile aspects of life. You just can’t help but feel
alone in a crowd of brainwashed animals. You are a much more complex individual who can
never be understood by the simpleton population that is the whole of society.

5.You love cats

6.You often lack empathy. You just cannot bring yourself to show a single speck of emotion
for another living being. Your cold and disconnected personality is just who you are and you
seem to suck every bit of happiness and joy from the room, leaving it gray and sad.

This list of “Signs You’re Probably an Introvert” mocks the style of many online
articles and the types of “signs” introverts commonly express. Introverts are thought
to be very antisocial and closed off people who have a negative personality and
attitude, which is not always true. Similar to Brady’s satirical piece “I Want a Wife”,
the characteristics become more exaggerated as the list progresses. Brady begins
with examples like her wife “...[keeping track of the children’s doctor and dentist
appointments” to “...quit working and remain at home so [she] can more fully
and completely take care of a wife’s duties”.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 2.0

I enjoyed being away from school, Miss Watson, and the Widow. There was no need for the proper clothing and proper talk around Pap in the cabin. But even then, I missed Tom Sawyer a whole lot and Pap warn’t always the best to be around. He would always knock me around and come home drunk, and yellin. I could never go no where when he was gone, he’d lock up the cabin’n keep me in. I eventually got to sawing a way out, but without telling Pap I was doing so. He somehow found out about the hole I was making and he wouldn’t have it. He went on saying:

“You ungrateful boy, try’n leave here and goin back to your life of frills!”

He picked up an old whiskey bottle to hit me over with and I soon began to runaround and avoid a hit.

“You think you’re better’n your father, now, don’t you…”(Twain 30).

I was gettin more angry and said back to him:

“I know i’m better than a no good drunk!”

Pap came at me a whole lot quicker, but with his knife this time. I got pushed to a corner with not a way out. But just then, my hand felt the edge of the saw. I grabbed it and hit Pap on top of his head as hard I could. He fell right back and a-mumbled a bit as he was stumbling up again. I gave him a good hit one more time and he warn’t movin after. I got to panicking so much I realized none of it was real. I sat up quickly from my bed in a sweat. I could hear the Widow and Miss Watson havin a talk in the other room. Guess it was a dream all along. Just another quiet night alone in St. Petersburg, Missouri.

Witches-Communists-Actresses

“A modern day witch hunt”, the phrase is used to described the irrational fear of a group that lead to false accusations.The era of McCarthyism is an understandable example. Any whisper of a political figure being communist would shatter their reputation. Simply wearing red was a sign of communism! The word “communism” itself “...had been so demonized that like the word ‘witch’ it signifies something that didn’t really exist in its popular meaning” (Navasky 102-105). Most would agree that the majority of the people accused during that time were innocent and the irrational fear and hysteria at the time caused the surge of accusations. But today, the term “modern day witch hunt” is being used again-but to describe the accusations of sexual harassment in Hollywood.         

       People (predominantly white men *shocker*) are accusing the women of lying and simply attempting to ruin the reputations of powerful men. I admit, the “parallelisms” can be identified: a group of women making an accusation, the reputation of anyone accused is ruined (what a shame), and women working together to acquire more power. But what do the women gain from these accusations? What benefit is gained from accusing these specific men of sexual harassment? And how come so many have come forward if it’s a lie? Some may argue it was peer pressure similar to in The Crucible. Abigail Williams would even threaten the girls that if any of them were to "...breathe a word...[she] [would] come to [them] in the black of some terrible night and... bring a pointy reckoning"(Miller 355-358). But rape culture is an acting force that would result in the girls being labeled as liars (like what is ACTUALLY happening) and risking their own reputation. Also, many of the accusers are not in close relation with one another, unlike the girls in The Crucible. It seems a bit unlikely that all of the sexual harassment accusations were faked and everyone is just hysterical.    

       These men have abused their power in media for far too long and people are finally beginning to wake up. Unlike in the past, these allegations should be taken seriously and not as a "modern day witch hunt".

Upon the Leaving of My House

In Friday night when rest I took

Lit up my phone I did not look
With every message heard the sound
And then the noise came all around.
I checked to find that dreadful sight:
Of texts inviting me at night.

I, starting up, began to drive

And quite soon I was to arrive,

But then my mind began to roam

Considering going back home.

I was convinced to stay some more

But still looking towards the door.

And when I could no longer stay,

And was socially drained away,

I looked towards the coming days

For I had time to sleep away.

So stayed some more I did with friends

Then to myself on the weekends.

In Anne Bradstreet’s “Upon the Burning of Our House”, she writes about the fire and the items she lost along with her home. She later realizes that her material belongings are meaningless, and her house in heaven awaits her. She places God above all else and praises him for his greatness. Overall, Bradstreet portrays how religion was the center of Puritan communities and how it shaped the literary era. She uses juxtaposition, end rhyme, meter, personification, and other literary devices to give her poem rhythm and communicate her purpose that God is all powerful and worldly goods are meaningless. In my mini poem, “Upon the Leaving of My House”, I mimic the work of Anne Bradstreet. I describe the exciting  start of my Friday nap, when it is interrupted by a text. I am convinced to sadly leave my home while I am in no extroverted mood. I make the realization that I have the whole weekend to sleep and “recharge”. I integrated the beginning line in the first three stanzas of Bradstreet's poem into my own. “In silent night when rest [she] took” (Bradstreet line 1), the fire started to burn her house down. Relating the fire to the text message, I changed her silent night to the “...Friday night when rest I took” to parody her work. I also used iambic tetrameter, end rhyme and inverted syntax to mimic her style.

We Need to Talk About Columbus..

The online world is an infinite source of information that allows even the most isolated hermit to stay connected. Through my own exciting journey of online exploration, I ended up getting lost within the dark and unpleasant history of Christopher Columbus. I quickly discovered how society has been lied to, and not only once, but twice! The idea of the heroic navigator who peacefully founded North America has been debunked for years, even in the eyes of many kids still in elementary school. But, the story of Columbus does not end with him practically causing the genocide of millions. The many accomplishments that are still linked to Columbus are also untrue. After poorly calculating his intended sea route, he arrived in the area of the Caribbean Islands- not North America. In fact, Columbus never sailed to any modern territory of the United States. He was also beat by the viking, Leif Eriksson, in arriving in the West. Instead, he violently murdered the Native population while robbing them of everything they had. So, Columbus died without accomplishing anything but mass murder and discovering land that was already inhabited. In the end, he was not the first European to reach the Western Hemisphere and he did not set foot in North American territory. He did, on the other hand, cause the death of hundreds of thousands of Taino people and the millions of Native Americans after him.

      

 The celebration of Christopher Columbus is especially absurd when indigenous culture is being ignored. People today know  “...little about the thousands of years of indigenous civilization that existed before European colonization”(npr). The constant overshadowing of native culture puts Native Americans at a disadvantage in being heard. In Indian Education, Sherman Alexie reveals his struggles of growing up in a white dominated world. He shares his “...most valuable lesson about living in a white world: Always throw the first punch”(Alexie). Alexie is acknowledging the importance of his voice and standing up for himself and his culture. From someone like myself who shies away from speaking out, Alexie's work is inspiring and contributes to greater representation of native culture. The celebration of writers like Sherman Alexie along with the history and contributions of native people should replace the admiration of Columbus and his horrific actions.