Don't FRO Around

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Subject: English 2150 MW 12:00pm- Question regarding grade

Hello Professor Anonymous,

this is Youssef Mamdouh from your MW 12:00pm English class. I noticed that you gave me a B- in your class and I was wondering if we could discuss this? I checked my grades on blackboard and I have not received any grades below an 85 on any homework assignments, tests, or quizzes which makes me believe that I deserve a higher grade such as an A. I understand that you are very busy but would it be possible to meet during your office hours to discuss this further. Please let me know what time is best for you. I appreciate all your help in advance. Thank you!

Youssef Mamdouh ([email protected])

To: [email protected]

Subject: Monday 11:30 a.m. class: Question About Homework Assignment

Dear Random Professor,

Good Afternoon, this is Judith Quilapio, I am a student in your 11:30 a.m. Monday class. I am sending you an e-mail to inquire about the homework you gave us this week. It’s a little bit unclear as to what you want us to do exactly. I wanted to know if you could clarify it in class tomorrow or via e-mail? If possible. Thank you once again.

Judith Quilapio ([email protected])

To: [email protected]
To:
Cc:
Subject: Student from Friday 1pm Class

Professor,

I apologize for taking up your time. I am Sheila Sohayegh from your 1:00pm Friday class. I have noticed that you have given me a B- for the class. However, aftering reviewing the grades I have received during the course of the semester on homeworks, quizzes, and exams, I believe that I deserve a higher grade- perhaps something closer to an A. I understand that you have a very busy schedule but I would like to meet with you in order to discuss this further. I understand that these are your designated office hours (the fake office hours). Please let me know which time is best for you.

Thank You,
Sheila Sohayegh (phone number)

Sarah Kay – Point B (If I Should Have A Daughter)

Note: I’m slightly biased in this review because Sarah Kay is one of my favorite modern poets. If you’re bored and curious, check the link. It’s an 18 minute presentation, but her first poem, my favorite poem (called Point B) is only three minutes long. It’s really fantastic.

Though this video has been out for 5 months now, I think, a friend of mine who is just as big a fan of Spoken Word Poetry sent this to me a couple of days ago. I would rank her four in every category (except the Q&A portion because there was none). Though it is an extensive speech, I feel like she is completely engaged with her audience. She expressed enthusiastically and clearly her journey and her love and her belief in the ability of Spoken Word Poetry to change lives for the better. She was well organized; everything she said compiled and related to each other. She was not stationary; there was some movement (hand gestures, walking) in her speech. And she didn’t sound like she was trying so hard to impress the audience. She came off as very genuine. Effortlessly interesting.

I remember listening to many public speakers through out my life so far. One that I can remember clearly was during my senior year in high school. A guest speaker had come to our school to talk about bullying and the effects of it. At first, I was not interested in what he was saying and had no intention of listening. However, there were certain key phrases that he said that instantly caught my attention. If I remember clearly, I think it was because of a personal story that caught my attention. I guess when speakers relate their topic to personal stories, it catches the audience’s attention and makes sure that they are really listening. It was evident that he was a professional public speaker. His words were very clear and he delivered his point across without overusing unnecessary words. He was very calm and and it seemed as if he didn’t have any nervousness in him. He used his space by walking up and down the aisles in the large auditorium and tried to maintain eye contact with many of the students. Although his speech was very long, he mad sure it wasn’t repetitive and he didn’t try too hard to make his point.

The last public speaker I listened to and that I clearly remember was at my graduation. An African-American woman from New York City who graduated from Yale came to tell her story to the class of 2011. Although I cannot remember her name, I can remember that her story was very inspiring and emotional. She stood before us on stage and told the whole audience how she struggled through her child, especially living in a poor neighborhood and not having both her parents around. The speakers body language was great as well. Even though she was behind a podium, the audience could still see her engaging and moving around enough for it to not be distracting. Her expression also helped reflect her story. Overall I thought her speech was moving and very successful, and it was one of the best that I have sat through.

If I had to grade the speaker on what she did, I would give her a 4 for the overall purpose of her speech. She came and she told her story. The speaker had great eye contact with the audience and the whole time she looked at us and not at the ceiling or floor. She seldom read from the paper she had and this made her speech much more effective because she could engage with the audience. The speaker was extremely enthusiastic about her story, making sure to emphasize certain points and really get her story to resonate in the audience. Overall I’d say that the speaker did an amazing job at telling her story, and that he speech was great.

Who do I think I am? Well to answer that question literally, I am Kevin Zhang. I am chinese, 18 years old, and lived in Chinatown until last year. Now I live in the Marine Park area. I kind of miss that, commuting to Baruch would be so much easier because it would only be like 5 stops on the subway.
On broader terms, I’d say that I am an easygoing, laid back, and supportive person.  I like to keep things simple in my life. Family and friends are all you really need. Food too. If you support your family and friends they do the same. However food doesn’t expect anything in return haha.

My 3 concerns in Baruch are pretty much the same as everyones. Time management, GPA (getting them A’s), and just trying to make the most out of every day.
Right now, my college experience is not that different from high school since the schedules are basically the same. Go to school at 8 ish and leave around 2. It’s like high school, but not like high school at the same time. The classes are longer and should be taken more seriously. One things that’s different though is that there are fraternities and sororities now. My older friends encouraged me to join theirs, so if I get in, and keep my job, I’m going to have to do some serious time managing.

Hopefully my first year of college will change me a little, but not too much you know?  I like it when things stay the good old way that you remember it.