Portfolio
Self-Assessment
Personally, I’ve mastered the course of learning to recognize the role of language. During the course of recognizing the role of language, we’ve read various poems and books about language. And how everyone visualizes language in their own perspective. A poem that stands out is “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan. Its main objective was to demonstrate to the audience that broken English should not be considered broken because everyone has their own unique way of how they communicate to one another. This poem reveals how language is formed in many different ways. We’ve had the honor to write a language and literacy narrative about our own experiences in writing and language. My own experience was about me showing a lady where the train station was at. During the journey she talked about language. And how languages can sometimes build a barrier between you and someone who doesn’t speak your language. But what stuck out was “Words can uplift someone, or they can cause someone to crumble. It can also create connections with one another. It is what you do with those words that can cause change or make someone’s day better”(language and literacy writing, Jonathan Rosales). The spoken narrative was an opportunity to understand how others viewed language. In other words this course taught me the importance of language and how it builds bridges to other communities. It’s a way to express ourselves.
Composing as a process was a goal that improved my ability to revise my writing and my peers’ writing. It assisted me with improving my vocabulary skills, but also creating a strong connection with my audience. Creating a rough draft allowed me to receive feedback from friends and peers from my class. It gave me an idea of what I need to improve on. Overall it was an experience that will be useful in the future.
Compose with an awareness of how intersectional identity, social conventions, and rhetorical situations shape writing skills. This course was associated with the spoken narrative because it allowed us to share our own experiences with the audience. But also unveiling the message to the targeted audience. Its main purpose was to be aware of what we are writing or speaking. Lastly, my main takeaway from this course was to have my purpose of writing towards a specific audience.
Read and analyze texts critically is a course that goes more in depth of how we should analyze a text. But, also understanding how the author is trying to make us feel in certain scenarios. “Citizens” by Claudia Rankine is a book about multiple scenarios where people are racist towards the main protagonist. It makes you react a certain way. (Claudia Raine,By Dan Chiassen, October 20,2014)“A friend jokingly calls you a “nappy-headed ho” when you show up late to a date; a stranger wonders why you care that “he has just referred to the boisterous teenagers in Starbucks as niggers”; standing outside a conference room before a meeting, one of your colleagues tells another that “being around black people is like watching a foreign film without translation”. The author was trying to target a certain audience and make them feel a certain way. Eventually, we had to apply these factors of creating purpose in our writing and reaching an audience. But, also making them feel a certain way. A film I analyzed was a film called Elvis. It was about the life of Elvis and his accomplishments. “The Film director utilized his life as a roller coaster of emotions. Such as describing the pain he felt when his mother perished. “He trusted her like nobody else, and now she’s gone and who does he have now?” The author was trying to make the audience feel a certain way. Which created a connection between him and the audience. It taught me to be more humble and create trust between me and the audience.
Identifying and engaging with credible sources and multiple perspectives in my writing, has allowed me to give credit where credit is due. This course skill came in handy when I had to write my research paper. My research paper was about the prison systems in the United States. It definitely was a fun topic because I got to discover the dark side of this nation. But, also how the prison system promotes slavery and take advantages of peoples freedom. “ ( ‘Slavery by any name is wrong: the push to end forced labor in prisons, Micheal Sainato, Tue 27 Sep 2022 06.00 EDT)“A report published by the American Civil Liberties Union in June 2022 found about 800,000 prisoners out of the 1.2 million in state and federal prisons are forced to work, generating a conservative estimate of $11 annually in goods and services while average wages range from 13 cents to 52 cents per hour. Five states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas – force prisoners to work without pay. The report concluded that the labor conditions of US prisoners violate fundamental human rights to life and dignity”. Prison system is a system that needs to be reevaluated because it doesn’t support rehabilitation for prisoners but instead forces them to do free labor. This skill has improved my writing and it allowed me to strengthen my arguments.
Using conventions appropriate to the audience, genre, and purpose for writing allowed me to properly give credit to the author. But, also the professor providing multiple methods to give credit to the author has been useful. Although I haven’t mastered this skill yet, it was a good introduction to properly giving credit to the author. Also the structure and grammar of my sentences is not perfect but I continue to strive to improve in my writing. Hopefully, by the next semester my writing improves.
Finding joy or meaning to writing has been an experience because you start to understand the importance of writing. And how it’s the art of expressing your feelings. The professor taught me a lot about writing. And how it comes in different forms like poems. And that no writing is useless because every piece has a message for someone out there. This class was a fun class. And an experience I’ll never forget.
spoken narrative
A particular moment in my life that has impacted me is when I was heading to the gym in this gloomy weather. The air was thick and breezy, it was foggy as well. The autumn leaves fell as if they were dancing or twirling with one another. This lady was in a hurry, and she approached me as if she were going to steal my soul. However, she was an exceedingly kind woman who was just lost. She asked me if I knew where the A train was in Spanish. But I told her where it was. So, we departed. As I was walking, I was thinking about the last word I told her. And that’s when reality hit me in the face. I gave her the wrong direction. I felt guilty, so I was on a mission to find this woman because I know how difficult it is to ask for directions. Especially if you speak one language. I was sprinting, hoping I could catch up to her. And eventually, I was able to guide her to the right locations.
While we were walking over there, she was talking to me about how hard it is to find a Spanish speaker around her area. And how difficult it was to make a living in this nation because most people speak English. Which made her insecure and afraid of being judged by others. So being able to speak to someone who knows Spanish is a relief to her because she can be herself and ask for guidance instead of being made fun of. She provided me with one piece of advice that stuck with me. Words can uplift someone, or they can cause someone to crumble. It can also create connections with one another. It is what you do with those words that can cause change or make someone’s day better.
Once we got to the train station we departed. I was relieved that I guided her to the right station. The wise words that she told me stuck with me. It reminds me of my mother and the obstacles she faced because she was not able to speak English. And how my siblings and I had to translate certain documents or certain words that she did not understand. Having immigrant parents creates difficulties because we had to learn English and Spanish. However, I am grateful that not everything was handed to me because I know the struggle of learning both languages. Which creates some sort of humbleness.
She taught me the value of language and how it can create a Barrier to one another which can make it difficult to understand one another. But once you understand the other person’s language you become more reliable. Being able to speak two languages is a blessing because I can translate either language for someone which can make their life easier. Language is an art that can change your perspective about a certain person or a certain thing. Knowing two languages can make your parents’ lives a little easier, especially if they do not speak English very well. We are the bridge between a native English speaker and a native Spanish speaker. Even if our language is not perfect, we can still communicate with different communities. And be exposed to various cultures that may pique our interest. We can acquire new knowledge that can be used in our everyday actions.
Although language can create diversity it can also create unity, especially in the United States. Where you can learn a variety of languages. Having the option to learn a language and create connections with one another is a blessing. It can benefit someone who does not know 2 languages. Language creates an understanding of one another. Eventually, I would like to learn another language that can improve my speaking skills. And understand more groups of people and the slang they have in their languages. I do not want to limit my knowledge of certain cultures, but instead, I want to expand my experience. I want to be able to try new foods and experience many traditions that will help me have a better understanding of people’s cultures.
My main takeaway from this experience is to assist others in need who are limited by their surroundings. And to be open-minded to new opportunities that can benefit you overall. Also, be open to learning about other people’s experiences because they can tell you something that you needed to hear for a long time. Also do not feel pressured to pronounce something right because we are not all perfect. The moral of the story is to encourage you to learn another language because it can create some clarity and you can also make more friends. Finally, you can improve your chances of getting a job. So, it will benefit you in many countless ways.
Rhetorical analysis
The film Elivs directed by Baz Lurhman questions the death of Elvis. Did his love for music gradually drain his life or did his manager lead him to his death? There was a deeper meaning to this question such as that we shouldn’t allow our passions to consume our lives and lead us to our demise. But instead, treat it as a hobby. Elvis was determined to make his dreams a reality and not see them as a hallucination. The ambition and the motivation to make it happen were very inspiring. Unfortunately, throwing your trust everywhere in every person would lead to your empire collapsing because not everyone is supposed to be seen as trustworthy.
The Film director utilized his life as a roller coaster of emotions. Such as describing the pain he felt when his mother perished. “He trusted her like nobody else, and now she’s gone and who does he have now?” Visually we see how dreadful it was to lose the one person who supported you. During this moment the film director was creating sympathy between the audience and the actors. They wanted the audience to relate to the pain that their favorite singer was feeling. And the importance of his mother. And how much he valued her. Elvis losing his mother was very traumatic and harmful because there was no one preventing him from overwhelming himself because his father really didn’t have a voice when it came to Elvis’ health. Therefore, the film director uses impactful events to convey certain emotions.
Another moment that demonstrated pathos was when Priscilla found out that Elvis had been having affairs with random women. When she confronted him he turned pale as a ghost. She was infuriated and depressed because she gave him all of her compassion and he didn’t appreciate her. Yet he was still pleading for her to stay with him. But there was regret in his pupils as soon as she left.In moments like these, we wish we can take back our actions. But his actions were a scream for help. Ever since he lost his mother he became numb. This moment creates betrayal within the audience because the singer was viewed as perfect, but once they dive in about his life. We see the two sides of the singer. There was a meaningful message to the audience that no one is perfect and that temptation can influence us to make the wrong decision.
Furthermore, as the film progressed we stumbled upon Elvis and his response to the death of Martin Luther King was impactful as a virus. His song “If I Can Dream” contained a ton of metaphors such as “As long as a man has the strength to dream he can redeem his soul and fly”. This particular lyric was to remind the audience that if we create a mistake or an error in our lives, we can still redeem our souls and soar as long as we have the strength to dream. The main purpose of this event was to recall the significance of the civil rights movement. And how brutal the civilians were during those times. It was to remind the audience that America’s past was troubled with pain. And it needed to repent. Many saw his music as threatening because it was giving the spotlight to minorities who inspired him and his music. Elvis was one of the few celebrities who addressed this corrupted system. He was a symbol to his fans. He was viewed as rebellious and vital because of his actions and the role he played in his era .
During, His tours Elvis was eager to tour worldwide. Touring worldwide in his private plane felt like he was the shooting star that was glimmering through the foggy night. Unfortunately, his manager prevented him from going on these tours. He was warning Elvis that the outside world was in danger and that he kept a promise to his daughter that he would keep his dad safe. But those few lines were hiding the true reason why he trapped him in a golden cage. It was because he wasn’t a citizen. As soon as he found out he was furious. His fury was reasonable because when someone earns your trust, you believe in them and their cause. Eventually, he was fired but they owed him money. “[Elvis] What is this? Well, that is what we owe the colonel. We’re broke. Daddy, I’ve been playing in this mausoleum for a hundred years. How could we be broke?” The cause and effect that the director used were Elvis trusting his manager led to him being manipulated and becoming broke. They demonstrate this to the audience as a warning to be careful with who you trust.
Lastly, the director uses tone to portray feelings of Elvis and how he felt when he was betrayed by the person he trusted the most. “Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare? Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there? Is your heart filled with pain? Shall I come back again? Tell me, dear. Are you lonesome tonight? Is your heart filled with pain? Shall I come back again? Tell me, dear”. In this scene we can see how depressed he felt because all the money he has earned has completely dissipated. This overwhelmed him so much that he died because of the pressure he felt, which is the sole reason why he relied upon drugs. This scene was to make the audience depressed and show compassion to Elvis. Seeing a broken person makes you feel guilty about the way no one was there for him. It truly makes the audience heartbroken. [Parker], “What killed my boy? The doctors say it was his heart. Others, the pills. Some say it was me. No. I’ll tell you what killed him. It was love. His love for you”.This scene was intended to resent the manager or to impose the question: Did his love for music gradually drain his life or did his manager lead him to his death? Now you as the audience can conclude that decision for yourself. At the end of the film we are left with this bitter taste in our mouths. So the question remains how did he perish?
Cage Of Gold
Cage of gold
The prison system is a controversial topic among the citizens of America. Not many are aware of this corrupt system that still lurks in the shadows of America’s dark past. The prison system is perceived as a dungeon, where civilians who have committed a crime rot in their prison cells. However, many believe that prison systems have their purpose. But, they were created to force prisoners to do free labor. Many companies abuse this system because if they have to pay them the minimum wage then there is no need to hire more workers. The prison system should be revisited and created to help those who committed crimes to come back to society because many are arrested because of false accusations. Officers abuse their authority which leads to some prisoners committing suicide.
The prison system is overpopulated with citizens who have committed no crime and citizens who have committed a crime. ( Comparison of United States incarceration rate with other countries, July 2016) “The United States has the highest prison and jail population (2,121,600 in adult facilities in 2016), and the highest incarceration rate in the world (655 per 100,000 population in 2016)”. This is alarming because having the highest percentage of prisoners is a concerning matter because it means that many of them will be traumatized by these officers. Therefore, we should implant a system that would rehabilitate them and shape them so they can be ready to reenter society. But, instead, we are forcing them to work for companies that abuse their lifespan. These companies prefer to make a profit off prisoners. ( ‘Slavery by any name is wrong: the push to end forced labor in prisons, Micheal Sainato, Tue 27 Sep 2022 06.00 EDT)“A report published by the American Civil Liberties Union in June 2022 found about 800,000 prisoners out of the 1.2 million in state and federal prisons are forced to work, generating a conservative estimate of $11 annually in goods and services while average wages range from 13 cents to 52 cents per hour. Five states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas – force prisoners to work without pay. The report concluded that the labor conditions of US prisoners violate fundamental human rights to life and dignity”. Furthermore, this topic is overshadowed by other events or topics that try to hide this matter because if the majority were filled with this information, then many would protest over this absurd behavior and manipulation by the government. These prison systems violate the human rights that the US has promised us. It’s like these systems promote slavery because being paid under the minimum wage is something that needs to be
addressed.
In the summertime of 1971, a few psychologists conducted an experiment where college students received the role of prisoners and officers; this would lead to the Stanford experiment. On the first day of the experiment, they had to act out their role. (Stanford prison experiment, summer of 1971) “Guards referred to prisoners by their identification and confined them to their small cells. At 2:30 am the prisoners rebelled against guards’ wake-up calls of whistles and clanging of batons. Prisoners refused to leave their cells to eat in the yard, ripped off their inmate number tags, took off their stocking caps, and insulted the guards. In response, guards sprayed fire extinguishers at the prisoners to reassert control”. On the first day of the experiment, everyone was performing their roles great. But as we can see the officers started to enjoy this role, which surprised the prisoners because most of the officers became abusive and aggressive, even though some were never aggressive before this experiment. (Stanford prison experiment, summer of 1971) “Guards were allowed to abuse their power to humiliate the inmates. They had the prisoners count off and do pushups arbitrarily, restricted access to the bathrooms, and forced them to relieve themselves in a bucket in their cells”. A couple of days later the guards abused their authority and traumatized the prisoners. Some haven’t recovered to this day. Thus, we raise the question of why we create these oppressive systems that harm civilians and their social status.
Countless companies have taken advantage of these prison systems. And many use it to pay their employees. (Here are 6 Companies That Get Rich off Prisoners FEBRUARY 21ST 2015 By Ashley Nicole Black) “Several corporations make huge profits off prisons. It costs an average of $23,876 annually to house a state prisoner for a year. To save money, cash-strapped states (aka, us, the taxpayers) pay companies to deal with their prisoners. Companies make money by running prisons as cheaply as possible and squeezing the prisoners and their families for money for necessities and fees. As a result, private prisons are a $70 billion industry”. Many companies take advantage of these private prisons such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Walmart, and Victoria’s secret. During the pandemic, the country relied on prison labor to sustain its economy. Also, The government allows this corruption to manifest and control our country. So I urge the people of this nation to vote for the right candidate who would represent this nation and to speak about this corrupt system that needs to be reevaluated.
In this society, minorities are most likely to be arrested for being deemed dangerous. Many stereotypes have arisen that label certain groups of people as burglars. ( Report: Black People 7.5 Times More Likely to Be Wrongfully Convicted of Murder than Whites, Risk Even Greater if Victim was White, Posted on Sep 30, 2022)“The report, Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States 2022 reviewed the cases of 3,200 innocent defendants exonerated in the United States since 1989. Black people, the researchers found, were 7 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted, were more likely to be the targets of police misconduct, and more likely to be imprisoned longer before being exonerated”. Furthermore, police officers are likely to abuse their power and harm regular citizens who did nothing wrong. Black Americans are likely to be pulled over by the cops because they perceive them as burglars or terrorizers. Most are convicted of false charges and are put in jail. Society label black Americans as terrorists because of the way they look and the way they talk. Since it’s not seen as normal, Many prefer to see them in jail.
Many prisoners are locked up for false accusations. The prisoner who stood out the most was a man named Kalief Browder who was beloved by his community. He was also attending Bronx community college. On May 15, 2010, Kalief and his couple of friends attended a party. After this party, they were stopped by police because they received a call that two black men who had stolen are on the loose. (Wikipedia) “Police officers were responding to a 9-1-1 call placed by Roberto Bautista about the theft of a backpack containing a camera, $700, a credit card, and an iPod Touch. Bautista had said, “Two male black guys … they took my brother’s book bag.”[4] Browder told the attending police officers, “I didn’t rob anyone, you can check my pockets”. Kalief was trying to communicate with the officers about this incident. He explicitly told them that he didn’t do it. The arrogance of these officers decided to not believe his testimony. A couple of days later he was put on trial, unfortunately, he was sent to prison. Kalief mentioned that his days in prison felt like an inescapable hell. (Wikipedia) “After his release, Browder continued to have symptoms of depression. He said: People tell me because I have this case against the city I’m all right. But I’m not alright. I’m messed up. I know that I might see some money from this case, but that’s not going to help me mentally. I’m mentally scarred right now. That’s how I feel. [There] are certain things that changed about me[,] and they might not [change] back. … Before I went to jail, I didn’t know about a lot of stuff, and, now that I’m aware, I’m paranoid. I feel like I was robbed of my happiness”. He felt that prison stole his happiness and it made him depressed that he felt like committing suicide. Unfortunately, a couple of days later he committed suicide because prison left him an unhealable scar. A couple of days later protest arises and a new document series appears to share his story. And how corrupt this system is. When he was free his voting rights were stripped away from him.
In Norway, the prisoners don’t do any labor but instead are given a room that isolates the person. And these rooms were designed to reflect the actions that were committed by the prisoners. They also provide them with therapists so they will be ready to reenter society. These are the systems that we have to implement in the American prison system. Lastly, our main purpose should be to lower the number of prisoners we hold because many were falsely accused of doing something wrong.
Overall, the prison system should be reevaluated because many suffer mentally from these horrific systems. Minorities are targeted by these systems because companies rely on these oppressive systems to make them a profit. These oppressive systems promote slavery because prisons force prisoners to work. After work, they only get paid 80 cents per hour which is devastating. But, as a society, we can change these oppressive systems by sharing stories of people stories like Kalief whose lives were dramatically changed by these American systems.