Happy Endings," Obituary," and "Oompah Loompah

 "What is your response to Harvey?"

Harvey has good intentions. He seems like a passionate teacher that wants the students to be the best they can be. I do understand why he wants his students to learn to talk proper English. Talking in pidgin is not professional in the corporate world and it will only get you so far. However, the way he speaks to the students can be adjusted. When he stated, "cut the crap, stop playing these goddamn plantation games," did not sit right  with me. I felt that he was impatient and rude. The students need to feel comfortable.

Harvey has to understand that these students talk the way they talk because that is who they are. Pidgin is their comfort zone. It's their family, culture, home and everything that reminds them of where they come from. To me it sounds like Harvey doesn't like who the students are in general and wants them to be more like him. American. I think that  Harvey has to ask himself, is there a way to teach these students to speak proper English without making them feel dumb and small. Without making them feel like the American way is the only way and right way. Why does he get to say that the American way of talking is the correct way anyway. The students feel small because of how Harvey speaks to them. He seems to get agitated and that anger and negative energy won't get through to the students. I actually understand if the students rebel against him and his way of teaching.

My response to Harvey would be to stop being so impatient, stop acting like the bully and make your students feel comfortable and excited about learning English. Make them feel like they are learning an additional language and not trying to change their language and who they are. You have to understand where these kids are coming from and not belittle them. If you get so upset because the children are not catching on as fast as you would like, change your teaching style or get a new job. You say, "you need me more than I need you," but the kids actually don't need you if that is the way you are going to be.

Rules for Writers Chapter 48

This topic was about evaluating arguments. When evaluating arguments you have to look to see if it is fair or not, if there is logic and if there is reasonable, relevant evidence that supports the argument. Knowing between reasonable and fallacious argument tactics is key. Fallacies are not true and misguided. Logical fallacies is a number of reasonable argumentative tactics.
Generalizing happens all the time. This is when we make a conclusion from an arrange of facts but it is not certain. It deals with what is probable. Hasty generalization is when a conclusion is based on evidence that is insufficient. In order to avoid from hasty generalization you have to make sure that the evidence is representative, sufficient and relevant.
Drawing analogies can be helpful in an argument to make your case. An analogy is when the writer points out what is similar between two things that are otherwise different. Lawyers use this as a strategy all the time. They will bring up a previous case that was won and attempt to show how that case is similar to the current one.
Deducing conclusion is when we put all of the given information together to see if it is true. A conclusion is when all of that information is true. The premise and all supporting content must be true in order for the conclusion is to be true. With all of the information that is given to make a conclusion, you have to decide whether the information is legitimate or unfair emotional appeals. Some arguments can get emotional. It is alright to use an emotional argument as a tactic. However, you have to look out for unfair emotional appeals that will try to make you feel sympathy.
I will make sure that when I evaluate arguments I will not untrue and misguided information. I want all of my statements to be true and proven so that my argument captures the audience that I am trying to reach and sides with me. Another thing that I will make sure I do when I evaluate an argument is make sure that I mention the opposing parties view. I want my audience to gain some kind of respect for me so that they will believe in my argument. I want to state the opposing parties view point so that I can put all of the information on the table so that the audience can really understand why my views are better.

Writing topic: Writing about fiction

To write about fiction, you have to really understand what you are reading. Reading closely allows you to actively and critically engage in what you are reading. There steps that you can use to actively read your text. The first step is highlighting your text. Don't over use the highlighter, only highlight key phrases. When you highlight something, make sure that you are making notes in the margin. Another step is annotating the text. Write any comments, questions or critical thoughts in the margin. Keeping a notebook to do freewrites is also a step when reading closely.

Avoid the following pitfalls when writing about fiction. Plot summary syndrome is when you recall the story in details. Right answer roulette is when the writer attempts to guess the "right answer" instead of applying critical thinking and ideas. The everything is subjective shuffle is another pitfall. It is the need to have prove each idea to specifics of the text. The how can you write 500 words about one short story blues. This is when you just write the essay without applying critical thinking or ideas to the text. This will lead to repeating the same ideas in different words.

When developing your thesis, use your notes. Write about your questions and ideas and answer them. Once you have found your answers to the questions, you have your thesis. You can use activities to help with drafting your essay. Review, freewrites, research and evaluation is a way to prepare yourself when doing a draft essay. Technieques such as inserting quotes, summarizing and paraphrasing can be used when writing the essay. Quotes are used to make an important point on the thesis, paraphrasing is putting the author's text in your own words, and summarizing is summing up the large text into smaller sentences.

I plan on taking good notes when I read. I find that it is helpful and allows me to get the true meaning out of the stories I read. I also plan on using quotes more often. I will use only quotes that will give strong support to my thesis. When I write, I am going to put more critical thinking into my work. I tend to be the victim if pitfalls. Specifically, the right answer roulette. I have to understand that there is no right answer and I have to make sure that I express my thoughts, ideas and critical thinking questions.

Rules for Writers Chapter 47

In chapter 47 it discussed arguments. When writing an argument you are taking a stand on an issue. You have to do some research to see if the argument is in a social or intellectual context. Social arguments will be conducted in public places with groups that both have competitive arguments. In intellectual debates, specific field specialist help contribute by refining other viewpoints. Understanding the context of the argument will be an advantage.

You have to imagine your audience as a panal of jurors that has a variety of opinions. You can't ever assume that your audience is automatically on your side with the issue. Knowing your audience and who you are trying to reach.

In the introduction of the argument, you want your claim to be obvious and clear.  You want to use that opportunity to connect with the audience and show them why they need to consider your issue. In the body of the argument, that is used to show evidence that supports your essay. Using statistics, facts, and experts opinion are all examples of evidence that will back up your claim. Facts and stats are good to use because they are known to have been verified. When using expert opinions, you have to make sure that the expert has credentials and is in fact an expert in that field.
It is always good to research opposing claims so that you can be prepared. Having opposing arguments in your argument shows that you are examining both sides and that you are a well informed reader.

When I write an essay I will definitely make sure that I have strong evidence that supports my claims. My evidence will be facts and stats because I want to have the satisfaction of knowing that my premises are strong and true. I will put opposing arguments in my essay after my thesis is clearly states but before my supported argument. The reason why I want the opposing viewpoints in my arguments is because I want my readers to know that I am reasonable and that I have did my homework and looked at all sides. In my introduction, I want to catch the audience and clearly state my claim. By the time that I am done with my introduction, I would like my readers to be fully engaged and be seriously considering my claim statement.

Essay two

Family plays a huge role in shaping a person’s identity. It starts with experiences while growing up that a person either agrees with or disagrees with that will shape a person’s identity. For example, if a child constantly sees his parent’s fighting, that child can either grow up to never want to fight in front of their children or can become distant and not even want to get in a relationship in fears of being like their parents. A person can also go to a certain college and have goals of being a doctor just because their father and grandfather did just that. That is another example of how family contributes to the characteristics of identity. Some things are not controllable for example a person’s I.Q. or body shape. Family genetics that are passed down also helps shape a person’s identity.

In the Joy’s of Reading and Writing this character experienced while growing up that he lived in poverty, in fear and that he, as an Indian boy, probably would not amount to anything. His father loved books and because he loved his father he wanted to like books as well. He became very smart, good reader and determined to be different.

His identity was definitely shaped by his family. He actually learned from his family in the sense that he didn’t want to be like them. He didn’t want to end up like them and he wanted to break the barrier of what was expected of a “typical Indian boy.” He wanted to be smart and achieve something in life. He didn’t want to have a minimum wage job like his parents. His father was the one that introduced him to books shall I say and because of that he became the person he is.

In the story, Shooting Dad Sarah’s father in particular was a Republican and an advocate for guns. He had strong beliefs and would stand up for what he believed in. He would not hold back just because someone else didn’t agree with his belief or way of thinking. Guns would lie around the house, around the kids like newspaper.

 Sarah’s identity was shaped by her family experience and just like the character in the Joy’s of Reading and Writing became somewhat opposite of her family. She was the opposite in the sense that she didn’t believe in the same political views and guns as her family. She grew up to not like guns at all and to be against the idea of having them lying around the house. However, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She was actually like her father when it came to standing up for what she believed in and speaking her mind. Also, being passionate about projects and hobbies that she was into was another characteristic that was something that she took from her parents.

In the story Coming Again, his mother taught him how to cook. Although she wanted him to grow up and not be in the kitchen so much, the kitchen was the place where he felt comfortable. He watched his mother cook and found that was something he enjoyed as well. Just like the rest of the characters the experiences and actions that occurs around him, he learns from and applies to his life. For example, eating around the table with family was really important to them. That was the time for family bonding. He will then grow up and do the same with his children or not, either way his family initially shaped his personality.

 Personality is a result of the interaction with family and the environment that family has created. A person grows up to learn to be like family or learns from family. Whichever the case may be initially family shapes a person’s identity.

Insufficiency of Honesty

The example that Carter made with the husband who finally told his wife, after 35 years, that he was unfaithful. The husband told his wife while on his deathbed just to clear his mind before he dies. I agree with Carter. The husband may have been honest but he was selfish. If he wasn't on that deathbed, he wouldn't have be as honest. He didn't care about his wife's feeling at all, he only cared about himself.

Being honest with someone when you know it will hurt them is not integrity. Integrity is keeping a secret because you know that secret will hurt that person. The husband was honest but was acting with no integrity. Just like when a person is being honest about an opinion they give but if they know that giving such an opinion will hurt that person that is not integrity. It's honestly expressing how they feel but theirs no integrity when it's spiteful.