"They Say, I Say"

Raghda Hanna

Professor Rinke

Writing 150

October 26, 2011

They Say, I Say

            Dave Eggers says in the article, “Serve Or Fail,” that colleges should be three year. He says, students do and do not deserve a time off because a good deal of the four years in college is spent playing foosball; and he says they do deserve a time off because finals week is stressful and they are sleep-deprived and possibly involves trucker-style stimulants. He says the many hours need killing, there was just too many; instead those hours should be for our communities in one way or another. He believes that colleges should consider instituting a service requirement for graduation. He wants colleges to give credit for service; a credit equals to one class period. What students will learn from all the volunteer work will sure equal the time that could be spent in a racquetball class. Dave Eggers uses his life examples to grab the reader’s attention, such as volunteering a few times in Urbana-Champaign – at a Y.M.C.A. and t home for senior citizens. These real life examples shelter his main points in the article. This article appeals to logic; he embodies his article with stats and facts about why school time should be reduces, why the time taken out should be put into the community, and how volunteer work will benefit a person.

            Judith Ramaley says in the article, “’Service Learning’ More Than a Fad,” do more and spend less. Tight money is erasing many line items deemed nonessential from higher education budgets. In “service learning,” the compact encourages colleges to do takes many forms. This can help in education and career in the long run. Judith Ramaley also presents that; it’s not something you figure out how to do when you’ve got extra time. He believes that people should get involved, when they do their sense of purpose grows. The three main points in this article appeal to logic because it is stating the service learning in a trend. It also appeals to emotion because it gives out a feeling of happiness and success when ones improve their sense of purpose after doing something good for others. These three main points include, service learning and how it can be done in various ways, have real world experiences and improving one’s sense of purpose when it comes to helping the community.

            The Monitor’s Editorial Board says in the article, “How to reduce student dropout rates: link volunteering to studies,” volunteering is up in American even in hard times. They say that service learning prevents kids from dropping out of school in his rural grape-growing district. People should start early, in elementary school he has them tend the school garden and hate trout for the depleted population in the San Joaquin River. In high school, they help immigrants study for citizenship tests. Also, service learning weaves volunteering with specific academic instruction. Students reflect on a project, not just check it off on their to-do list. The author here is appealing to ethics because it is in in a person’s belief to start to volunteer early or late. This also appeals to logic because it uses many stats that are backs up by examples. The three main point in this article are how volunteering should start at a young age, students will stay in school because of community work and how volunteering connect to academic success.

            I think the three main points in all of the articles combined are dealing with volunteer work and its benefits. They are all focusing on volunteer work in school and how school hours should be cut back and volunteer work should be a requirement for graduation. I agree with having cutting back hours in college to volunteer in the community because I feel that I would benefit so much more from it, rather just to sit in an class I am not interested in to fulfill the graduation requirements. By not spending so much time in a class that has no meaning or affect to my future career, and me I could be out there volunteering and expanding my sense of purpose. I disagree with starting volunteer work at a young age and it being beneficial with academics success and keeping kids in school. Kids should be focused on school at a young age. They should have a feel for it and figure out for themselves in volunteer work will benefit them later on when they are older.

            The three authors all agree that service leaning should be taking into consideration with everyone. They say that learning by volunteering will benefit you more because you are out there getting experience. Where they differ is that in one of the articles, they say that in college, volunteer work should be a requirement, where on the other hand in another article it says that volunteer work should start at a young age and keep growing. Also, one article brings up saving money, spending less. This differed from the other two articles.

A Letter to Myself Five Years Ago

Dear Raghda,

            You are growing up! Finally time for high school; what you will mostly be hearing is, “the most fun and best four years of your life before reality kicks in, make the best of it!” Don’t let that full statement get into your head because it will lead to mistakes. Before you start anything new in life, always think about the consequences that will follow in the future. You need to take one step at a time in life in order to prepare your self for the real one.

            Let me start by telling you, your freshmen year of high school was your best year. You had fun, connected with friends and enjoyed every bit of it. But, you never considered “trying your best” during that year. You simply did what you had to do to get by. Not saying you didn’t do well, you did; but it wasn’t your best. From the very beginning you should make school you first priority, after all you do want to becomes successful in the future. Start off by really understanding each mandatory subject you have to take, like: English, science, math, writing and a language. Don’t just do the work to get by in class. In fact, do not just study to get a good grade; study and understand the material to better your self for the future. Keep what you are putting your valuable time into stored in your mind. Put it to use.

            As you go on through the years, you will make massive mistakes. That because you want to “get the high school experience before college starts.” Reality check Raghda, if you put your full attention into what you are being taught In high school, it will guide you through college. Teachers are not loading you up with work and wasting their time for nothing. They have a life too. You spend over six hours a day, five days a week, for four years of your life in high school. Why not make the best of it bye getting to know your teachers? By getting to know your teachers, you will be more comfortable when it comes to needing help. Speaking about help, when you have a question about something you don’t understand, ask it! Don’t just ignore it because you are too shy to raise your hand, you need to come out one day. By asking questions, it will expand your knowledge. What you want to do is, apply the basic skills you learn in high school through life. One major skill you will need to perfect before moving on to college is time management. I cannot stress enough how important that is. If you are not so good with time management by the time you are in college, quit before you waste your time. Not trying to scare you, but it is not a joke. Time management is basically the most important thing in life, if you want to succeed of course. Never forget the skills you learn in high school.

            Raghda, you should always put school before any friends, fun, parties etc… Yea, you will feel like you are out of place when you don’t attend something because you have a huge paper due the next day; but that will not matter later on. Just stay positive throughout high school and find your self. I promise you that if you put your time and full effort into learning what teachers are trying to enforce on you before college, and you master it, you will thank me when you get there. Be happy and have fun, but don’t forget to make school your first priority!

Sincerely,

Your future self

Mini Pop-Culture Analysis

Fashion and beauty make up Forever 21! This artifact started off in Log Angeles, California and grew all over the world from how popular is became. The reason why is it popular, because it met the needs and requests of teenagers and middle-aged women. It makes ladies as well as men feel happy with what they are wearing and feel good about not spending so much to get that look. Most want fairly prices clothing and accessories that are decent; that’s what Forever 21 provided.

The population the artifact became most popular with was women, and now they are growing big in men’s clothing and accessories in their larger stores at bigger malls. Forever 21 caught many consumers’ eyes with what they have displayed. The popularity for Forever 21 grew overtime, but when it got to a certain point, it exceeded the exceptions of the consumers, so it grew massively.

What is spreading the word about Forever 21: advertisement, conversations that are occurring between people, Internet pop ups and the official website of the store. Despite the advertisements and such, just people wearing and using their merchandise makes it popular, because a huge number or people use and wear their products as well as their clothing. It seems like this artifact will be a growing trend. Though, it is very similar to other artifacts like Love Culture, DEB, Papaya and so on; but these artifacts have their differences in price, style and how present their merchandise. It fulfills people’s need in fashion and beauty.

The cultural issue the popularity of this artifact raises are class and economic. One of the issues is class, that’s because as time is going by, the merchandise of Forever 21 is only getting more popular which makes it even more expensive and that overall makes it difficult for the middle class to purchase things from there. Dealing with economics, people are spending too much money on things they don’t need rather than the thing they do. As prices go up, people would be way to into purchasing items from Forever 21, price won’t even matter. People don’t realize that they are spending money on things that could be cheaper, but this artifact is getting more popular and they want what is popular, which puts people in an economic issue.

This artifact mainly falls under the lower/middle end of popular culture. That is because most of the goods they offer satisfies the prices lower and middle class demand, or can afford. This is very important to consumers because their merchandise has been worn everywhere and bee favored by many. Though, if one looks at Forever 21 now and reviews their prices, it has increased and could fall under the higher class.

            A benefit society gained from Forever 21 is a better taste of fashion and beauty. Also, it brought the art of mixing different cultured together to create clothing and accessories that satisfies people all around the world. They do not have specific patterns, sizes or details. Forever 21 brings different things together to represent fashion, beauty and diversity. The way some people view it, is as a positive influence on society. In the future, this artifact will only expand massively. 

Education Needs a Digital Upgrade

Throughout elementary, middle and high school, teachers did not prepare student for the tech requirements in college.  Teachers could have bettered their teaching skills with the use of technology. For example, instead of having a student turn in a hard copy of a paper, they should have made it due online. If I were to write an email in regards to teachers about changing their curriculum, I would suggest that they should start having students use laptops in class, turn in some homework online and doing in class activities that involve technology use.

In the medical field, there is way too much technology used; like the computers and their software, CT scans, MRI machines, medical robotics etc. I think my schooling here at Oakland University will prepare me for some. That’s because classes are partially online; with that professors have us use different programs to create what we need for the class.

I feel like I write better in a more relaxed setting, like a blog or email for many reasons. When I am alone I like to write. When I do that, I do it in a blog or email. It helps my thoughts and idea flow better. If I were to write in a different setting, it would be because I was forced to; that won’t make my writing piece as great as it would be if it were in a relaxed setting.

If I were a teacher, a science teacher to be exact, I would do anything I could to better prepare the future generation for these super high-tech jobs we might not even be able to imagine. I would have my students take their quizzes online instead of wasting so much time in class doing them. Also do small activities that require learning how a program works online. Those types of things will benefit them in the long run.

I agree with the main thesis. Using the web is a great way to get students familiar with technology and how it works. As careers now a days increase, technology does along with it. No one knows what is going to happen in the future, but there is no going wrong with learning how technology works. All in all, I believe that by keeping up with todays and all the upcoming tech use, it will better prepare for future careers.

My Timeline

• Up to age nine I was born in Baghdad, Iraq

• Spoke Arabic

• Completed the third grade there

• Learned speaking, writing, and reading through school & family

•  Came into the U.S. not knowing a single letter of the English language

• I spent my first few month with my cousins who spoke English fluently

• There were a few years younger, but always spoke English, so I picked up some words and phrases

•  Always would be watching cartoons which helped me pick up more things

• 4-5^th grade I was surrounded by people who spoke both English and Arabic

• They helped me out with some of my assignment and answered any questions I had

• I started listening music, it motivated me

• I would print out lyrics and just sing along

• With the lyrics, I caught on more words

• I started becoming literate through looking at pictures and re-writing words and sentences over and over again

• By then I knew a little bit, but not enough to understand what my teacher is fully saying

• I had a tutor up to the end of fifth grade

• By the time I got to the 6^th grade, I had picked up enough to communicate well with others and be in regular classes

• My family was the biggest impact on be becoming literate

• I have a cousin who would always sit and teach me a few things every now and then

• Throughout the years, I was laughed at and made fun of because I wasn’t fully literate, but that’s what made me determined to be literate

• I’d always ask questions, whether it was to my teacher or a family member

• I would stay and talk to my teacher

• With a little bit of time, I learned quick

• I was being motivated by my family, and what pushed me harder were the people who made fun of the way I was literate

• At home, two languages were being spoken

• When I’m with friends, my language differs than when I am with family

• When I’m with family, I mix both languages together

• In high school I had the best teachers who helped become even more literate

•  Learned to become literate through many things: Books, family, music lyrics, television, friends etc.

Wednesday's Freewrite questions

1. The way we read print and digital texts differs. Thats because when people are reading print text they tent to pay more attention and try to understand more of what they're reading. On the other hand, when people are reading digital texts, they tend to just look at it and find a way around it instead of actually trying to comprehend exactly what it is saying.

2. In my opinion, I think that there is a difference between acting as a participant of the digital realm versus being an active, critical and digitally literate. Acting as a participant doesn't make a person as involved in the digital realm, where as if a person were to be an active participant of the digital realm, they would be using online sources in their everyday main work.

3. I think that Facebook allows people to contribute, distribute and consume to their friends on their page and possibly people who aren't their friends. This aspect of Facebook changes my perception of social networking because it is a personal that allows you to express your thoughts on certain thing. Also it keeps people updated and if you wanted feedback on anything you post, some people to give feedback.

4. I feel that one must first be literate before becoming digitally literate. Both require everyone to analyze, distribute, consume and communicate.

Why is Writing Important?

Since my career goal is to become a Physicians Assistant, the use of writing and communication is needed to become successful. A Physician’s Assistant is responsible for accepting and reviewing a patient’s medical history as well as being able to make medical evaluations and procedures. A PA has the same responsibilities as a physician, but usually a PA is working under a doctor of physician’s office. I believe some of the work that comes with being a PA is prescribing medication, diagnosing diseases, and order lab testing. Without choosing my words wisely and having communication skills that will allow my patients to be comfortable with me, anything could go wrong and with this type of career, messing up is not just another thing that will go away, it is a huge responsibility. With all that going on in a PA’s path, being able to communicate well with the patients as well as having the best writing skills as one can achieve is required to becoming successful in my career path.