Author: a.lee6

03/31/16

Research-Based Argument Proposal

Based on my literacy narrative, I’ve always been wondering if it’s necessary for an Asian Tiger Mom to have complete control over her child in order for the child to “succeed”. On a larger scale, I want to research how different styles of parenting affect the growing child currently and in the future. Using evidence from my research and personal experience, I would like to argue that it is not necessary to have an Asian Tiger Mom. The child can still succeed while growing up mentally healthy. I began a little research and I would be using journals from various psychological associations and a credible source describing what an Asian Tiger Mom is. I hope that through my argument, there would be less Tiger Moms enforcing strict schedules on the children due to a change in mentality coming from the Tiger Mom.

03/24/16

Literacy Narrative

Born to an immigrant Taiwanese father and Chinese mother, I am a second generation Asian immigrant that embodies the stereotypes of Asians. I have high achieving grades, am good at math, and wear glasses.  As a child, I was expected to achieve high grades. But it was almost a natural process; materials taught in school were digestible no matter the subject. I was as good in English as I was in math. However–like many other second-generation immigrants–I was placed into an ESL class despite my coherent English. Fortunately, I exceled in ESL materials and was quickly placed out after less than a year.

However, it is quite mistaken to assume that I am the way I am due to a “Tiger Mom” or the insane schedules that Asian parents force onto their kids. The pressure that some parents place onto their kids can only force them to become robots that achieve high scores; it cannot foster personal growth. Growing up, I lived in a family without the same cultural stereotypes. My mother did not cook–it was my father who did. It was quite reasonable due to the fact that my father was simply a better cook. Due to this, I don’t see the stereotype of a woman being in the kitchen at home, sowing the seeds to my feminist side.

More importantly, I credit my success to the support of my family. Throughout my life, my parents haven’t forced me into activities I disliked and always respected my opinion. Many Asian children enroll in test preps to achieve high SHSAT and SAT scores to get into good high schools and colleges. After asking for my opinion, I decided to try it out. When I felt that the test preps did nothing to help, I quit and my parents respected my reasoning. During the college application process, I admitted that I didn’t prefer to apply to Ivy Leagues. Asking my working class parents to pay for my college tuition was something I did not want. Growing up with this background has allowed me to properly think ahead and decide how I want to do things. The choices that I make are my responsibility. I wouldn’t be who I am without my supportive family.

 

03/22/16

Mother Tongue

Growing up with a bilingual background, Amy Tan serves as a translator/interpreter for her mother. While her English is characterized as “broken” and “limited”, Amy feels those are a pejorative term. It’s as if there’s something wrong with the way her mother speaks English. She hints that people’s perspective of somebody’s fluency in English is based on how familiar the person is with someone who’s ESL. The title “Mother Tongue” is both literal and metaphorical. The literal “mother tongue” is when her mother is using her tongue to actually speak English while the metaphorical “mother tongue” is a person’s native language.

As she states, Tan wrote this essay for her mother. It is written with simple diction. As her mother commented, she can understand the majority of what’s written. She bluntly states that any critic has no impact on her other than her mother, Tan’s primary audience. It’s to highlight the struggles as an ESL person and how the way the sentences are formed is how the person is perceived. Based on Tan’s mother’s experience, she faced discrimination for her lack of ability to form perceived grammatically correct sentences. Tan’s mother’s English is English; however, it’s considered to be fragmented English due to a lack of consideration for grammar. Because Tan has the experience of how English is read based on the audience, Tan knows how to phrase words for a better understanding for the reader.

As I read through “Mother Tongue”, I can vividly imagine my mother doing the exact same as Tan’s mother. With her broken English, she can only communicate simple thoughts and not more complex ones. Like Amy Tan, I have always served as a translator and interpreter for my mother. At home, I rarely speak English. If I ever do, it’s because I’m trying to translate a word into my mother’s language and failing to do so. With friends, I’m quite comfortable mixing the two languages and making a new one: Chinglish. With teachers and employers, I have certain diction to seem more professional and mature. It would be inappropriate to be informal and speak casually (slang).

03/14/16

Acts of Revision

Revising is every writer’s secondary job. The piece hits on the key points: the dreadful feeling of having to do revisions. Revisions is a tiresome process, a process that all writers have to go through again and again for a piece. However, the author of “Acts of Revision” suggest to end the endless cycle of revision before you, the writer, come to start hating your own piece.

I feel that at any time after the first draft, I slowly start to hate my writing. It’s hard to do revisions. It’s like deleting half the draft and starting over at the other half. However, after feedback from others (my peers and professor), there is a path to the revision. But it’s only the start. To get to the path to a final draft, a lot of revisions and more killing of brain cells would be required. “Acts of Revision” didn’t really change my mind about revision. It’s a necessary process, but also a process I dislike as it is for an essay.

03/2/16

Responding to Others’ Writing

As a student who undergoes review or is the reviewer, I have always dreaded one thing: vague comments. “Good intro”, “there’s no intro”, “needs more details”. These comments don’t really help me in my writing and I more often find myself rolling my eyes, and muttering: “well duh, it’s only a first draft”. Straub hits on these points in his writing about talking about how to respond to other’s writings. When giving such vague comments, it is better to not give those comments than to give.

In addition, Straub points out to not be a grammar Nazi, something that I admit that I am guilty of. Straub points out to take into consideration of the stage of draft. If it’s a first draft, there is a lack of need to focus on grammar. Being able to put the loose thoughts into a concrete format is of more importance in a first draft. In a sense, Straub is persuading the reader to take into consideration of kairos. There’s a time and place for everything.

After reading this, one can generally become a better reviewer/reader. Generally, the reader is like a second eye for the writer. Because the reader is not as familiar with the topic compared to the writer, the reader can have better questions. Of course, that would generally depend on how strong of a reader the person is and the medium that the reading is being presented on. Generally speaking, readings presented in a digital screen is subject to more skimming. Straub doesn’t mention this point.

02/29/16

Shitty First Drafts

Picking up the writing, I expected a list of tips–tips to avoid shitty first drafts basically. But Anne Lamott embraces the fact that shitty first drafts exist and that there’s no escaping this reality. Lamott begins by destroying the fantasy that praised writers have their thoughts all pathed out in their mind, and that they’re simply putting those thoughts onto paper. No, even the best of writers have faced the dilemma of being worthless in the fact of a first draft.

As Lamott pointed out, a first draft serves to bring about better drafts–hopefully–unless you’re that one prodigy that every writer hates. A first draft serves as a basis for the writer to get their thoughts out, the drafts the proceeds are basically after the diamond gets polished by a jeweler. Lamott indicates that even at the final stage, not everybody’s going to like the piece, as shown by the un-subscription by readers after her review gets published.

“Shitty First Drafts” serves as an indicator that you are not the only one experiencing the feeling of writing the horrible first draft that you wrote. Most writers experience the same thing. It’s almost therapy in the form of writing. telling you that it’s okay to write such trash. After a few recycles, the trash will become something useful–an expensive and praised piece of paper. Basically, “you need to start somewhere” (2) in order to get anywhere.

02/25/16

Rhetorical Essay Topic

Topic #1: Analyze a short film from the animal rights/rescue group: Big Cat Rescue. Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit organization located in Florida that directs its fundings towards saving wildcats from abuse in USA.

Topic #2: Analyze a popular 3DMMORPG, Blade and Soul, as many of my friends are currently playing it. I would like to know how Blade and Soul uses rhetoric to attract the players they attract.

02/22/16

Rhetorical Analysis

During the time that Baldwin produced this piece of literature, it was a time of struggle for African-Americans hoping to obtain racial equality. African-Americans were confused as to which path to go to obtain racial equality: violence or peacefulness. Many of the older generations of African-Americans prefer to go the peaceful route while the younger generations of African-Americans prefer to use force to obtain equality, leading to Baldwin’s argument in his letter to his nephew. In his writing, Baldwin hopes to persuade his nephew to not use force to obtain equality, citing various references from socialization to common sense. Through this, he hopes to illustrate the point to his nephew that it is pointless to force the white people to accept them. Baldwin understands that equality cannot be obtained so easily after generations of suffering through the form of slavery.

In his letter, Baldwin is primarily speaking to his nephew, but to others with the same thoughts as his nephew as well. When written, he doesn’t address the “you” in the familiarity of a relative. Rather, it’s as if the “you” he’s speaking of is to the people trying to use force to enact equality. That is more explicitly felt in the phrase: “You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were black and for no other reason” (9). He’s speaking to every Black person that feels the unjust.

The constraint in Baldwin’s piece is the fact that he cannot see the future. Due to this fact, he wouldn’t be able to believe the fact that Barack Obama, a black person would be able to become President. In a sense, Baldwin sees no hope for a future in which a Black person can hold the same possessions as a White person. Baldwin hopes to make the reader to let go of the thoughts of equality and to simply accept the facts as facts.

02/17/16

Letter to my Nephew

In the “Letter to my Nephew”, it details a writing by an uncle to James. The writing demonstrates the helplessness and desperation the older generation of African-Americans have, trying to persuade the younger generation of the same. Many African-American minds were broken by the socialization that their ethnic group was a “worthless human being” (9). There were no expectations from them and they were forced to accept the mediocre life that is being handed to them. The numerous younger generations of African-Americans are obviously unable to accept such a fact–the fact that their life was already decided before they were born. They want to be able to have the American dream life like the Whites and have them to be able to accept that they are equal. In the letter, the uncle desperately pleas that James doesn’t do such a thing.

These tragic stories illustrate the strength of socialization at a young age has to define the future attitudes of any children. In the letter, the uncle tells of the socialization of the Whites, they are brainwashed, in a sense, to believe that they are the superior race compared to Blacks. After being told numerous times at a young age, it became reality to them, something natural. Obviously in nature, nothing is written that Blacks are inferior to Whites–it’s a social construction. As said by the uncle, “they have destroyed and are destroying hundreds of thousands of lives and do not know it and do not want to know it” (8). It’s socialization at its finest. Even when reality is breaking for them, they refuse to accept it.

02/16/16

Apple’s Ad

Apple’s ad begins with a crowd of people that seem to behave like drones. They all act the same way, with the same expression, as they filed into the room to watch the screen. The exigence is to get the audience watching the commercial to buy the Macintosh which would revolutionize their experience with computers. The audience is the potential buyers bored with their current computer experience. This type of audience is illustrated through the drone-like people.

The constraints would be the time limit of a Super Bowl ad. It probably wouldn’t be as expensive back then as it is now, but commercials often have a time limit. There was no conclusion after the lady destroyed the screen. It didn’t show how the drone-like people responded to the broken screen or the action of the guards that ran forward.

The subject is the macintosh with the purpose being to persuade the audience to buy it. Their argument is that the macintosh experience will be nothing like the current computers. It would be revolutionary–like how the lady was for the screen in the ad. The credibility is the company, the pathos is quite possibly the boredom the audience has for the current computers, and the logos is that the macintosh will change everything. As for the bonus, kairos, perhaps it’s the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl would have an audience.

02/10/16

What is Rhetoric?

The piece “What is Rhetoric?” is a shorter version of Bolin Carroll’s “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis”. “What is Rhetoric?” summarizes the main points of the other pieces and reiterates Bolin Carroll’s point that when rhetoric is used purposefully, it can get something done in the world (1).

Nothing really surprises me in this piece. However, there is one item that was included in this piece that was not in Bolin Carroll’s piece: it’s the importance of the arrangement of the text. I have been exposed to the fact that order in a certain piece is necessary and can influence how the piece is absorbed by whoever the audience is. In here, it is given a more fancier term: “rhetorical appeals of style”.

02/10/16

Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Step Toward Rhetorical Analysis

As I was reading the piece by Bolin Carroll, it was only towards the end that strikes me the most. Bolin Carroll concludes her piece with the sentence: “individuals who understand rhetorical analysis and act to make change can have a tremendous influence on their world” (57). Throughout the piece, Bolin Carroll informs the reader of what rhetorical analysis is and various elements of rhetorical analysis. Carroll teaches the reader how to identify certain elements of rhetorical analysis.

Though, it is clearly evident that despite knowing what these certain elements are, there is no use unless the rhetor can actually use it in practice. With that, the last sentence, “individuals who understand rhetorical analysis and act to make change can have a tremendous influence on their world” is what I consider the most important sentence in her piece. A good rhetor can actually persuade people to act and make changes to the world. If used correctly, the world can change for the better. We have seen examples of rhetor using his talent for the better of the world such as Martin Luther King Jr., as well as examples of rhetor using his talent for the destruction of the world such as Hitler. They are people that speak and actually influence people to make changes, compared to certain speakers that can barely create such movements. It isn’t necessary for an individual to become like Martin Luther King Jr., but having the necessary skills in rhetorical analysis can certainly benefit any individual’s career and life.

02/9/16

Everybody’s a Critic. And That’s How It Should Be.

The recent outrage over Oscars nominees and winners has fueled many to publicly denounce the Oscars as White Only. A.O. Scott joins the crowd as one of the many critics to question the authority the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has to decide which movie, which actors/actresses, and other staff members is the best. A.O. Scott dismays over the fact that critics no longer hold the important position it once held that was similar to a high priest in the past. A.O. Scott is alarmed at the fact that consumers passively accept what is being fed to us by production companies. Scott argues that it is not enough to have a broad opinion: “It’s all good!”, “I like that”, or “It wasn’t really my cup of tea” (3). Scott demands the attention of the reader by bluntly stating “Listen to me!” (3).

Critics are beings that do not receive the appreciation of others. They are seen to be people that simply spoil the fun of your favorite media. That is how I see Scott. Does it need to be said that movies these days are simply recycled plots? By seeing how all the movie plots are being recycled, the film industry seems to be going green more than any other. Scott doesn’t need to be Captain America. The Oscars has never been too fair. Yet, people pay an enormous amount of attention to it. Scott demands that we be our own artists, our own critics. I already am. That’s why I don’t watch movies that don’t interest me, and watch movies that really do. Shouldn’t we be able to enjoy whatever art however we like? Who is Scott to be our judge, a contradiction of what he is trying to persuade us to do?

02/9/16

Officer Peter Liang, on Stand, Breaks Down as He Recalls Brooklyn Killing

The article talks about the testimony of rookie Officer Peter Liang who testifies on his role in the tragedy of man shot in the heart. Officer Peter Liang was doing a routine police patrol that simply went wrong. Officer Peter Liang explained that the area was statistically a high-crime rate area, so he held his gun unholstered. Officer Peter Liang claims that something went by to his left, maybe it did, and fired his gun. Officers are required to report any gun shots, but Officer Liang and his partner did not do so. It was only until a cry was heard that they knew somebody was dead.

The metaphor “breaks down” is used to describe the emotional state of Officer Peter Liang. He is a top graduate of the Police Academy. Perhaps down the line of his future, it would’ve been bright. But at the start of his career, an incident like this happens and he became anxious. During his testimony, Officer Liang squirmed. One look at the victim’s family caused tears to stream down his face. His mental state was broken down–his mind couldn’t stay strong any longer. It’s as if he was kicked in the back of his knees and he just crumbled.

02/9/16

The Egg and the Sperm

Based on the name, I assume Emily Martin is a female. Before even reading the content, the title says it all–an article based on the reflection of stereotypical male-female roles on science. Martin criticizes the fact that scientists/researchers, the people that should remain objective, choose certain dictions with cultural innuendos to describe a biological process that has nothing to do with culture. Martin highlights the gender inequality where the egg is seen as a passive biological part whereas the sperm is seen as an aggressive biological part. Even more so, the diction used for the female process of menstruation is seen as “stockpiled germ cells by birth and is faced with their degeneration” (487) compared to the celebration of continuous production of sperm in the male body. Martin points out further contradictions: the female eggs are considered wasteful, but the definition of “‘waste’ implies and excess, too much produced” (489). In that sense, sperm should be considered wasteful as the excess production of sperm is unnecessary.

However, this is not the main point of Martin’s argument. By calling attention to the way scientists/researchers choose to describe certain biological process, the cultural background of the scientists/researchers become an interference to the research produced. In an old belief, sperm is described as an aggressor with a powerful, forward thrust. Yet, new research indicates that the “forward thrust of the sperm is extremely weak” (492). A better reflection of the fertilization process would be that the sperm is constantly on the run from the powerful egg. Even so, the researchers continue to imply that the sperm is a powerful aggressor when in reality, it is not. Martin strongly criticizes the fact that the scientists/researchers are applying different kinds of personalities on biological processes that have no personality. Martin hopes to persuade the reader of the article to become aware of the metaphors being used. In doing so, it will improve the ability to fully understand and research the biological processes.

02/3/16

Metaphors We Live By

George Lakoff and Mark Johnson begins by listing a list of credentials in the acknowledgements, as if to assure the reader that they have the proper authority to write about the topic. Lakoff and Johnson gets straight to the point–that “our conceptual system is largely metaphorical” (3). According to Reddy documents, 70% of the English language that we speak contains metaphors (10). Lakoff and Johnson list examples of metaphors such as “argument is war” and “time is money”. Lakoff and Johnson states that metaphors are relative to the culture that is being used. Metaphors are dependent on the context or it would be meaningless.

There is another perspective as to why metaphors are so heavily engrained into one’s culture and language. By definition, metaphor is a figurative form of speech used to compare two objects. Metaphors can allow the listener to see a comparison and determine the relative importance to a concept that would be hard to grasp without a metaphor. For example, “time flies”; flying is a motion that allows for rapidity. By comparing time to flying, the listener can get a sense of the pace of time–it’s fast.

“Time flies” would be considered a conduit metaphor by Lakoff and Johnson. If hearing it for the first time, “time flies” is a confusing phrase. After all, time did not grow a pair of wings and start flying. Though, after hearing it for a few times, it’s easy to get the sense without the context. It’s been engrained into our knowledge. In that sense, conduit metaphors do not necessarily need a context unless the listener is being exposed to it for the first time.

02/1/16

Amanda Lee

I am a Baruch Undergraduate student, intending to graduate the year of 2019. I plan on studying accountancy and get my CPA after. During my four years in college, I plan on going overseas, most likely to Europe. One of my reasons is that I want to go skydiving. I’ve mentioned it to my friends before but they respond with a face of shock and ask one simple question: “Do you want to die?” No, I still want to enjoy my life very much. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go after this view?

Skydiving

On top of that, I find it to be stress-relieving. It seems like it’ll be an amazing experience for my college life.

Digital Literacy Narrative