Children in America’s Schools” (141 – 156)

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I have to admit, I am very grateful for my education when I read about the children in Camden. We have maybe one drop out a year, and yet they have hundreds. How can people just let this happen? What ever happened to no child left behind? Wouldn’t that work out there? My school is like a university compared to Camden, and we have far few students. The only issue we have is teacher salaries, and most teachers are barely scraping by at our school. The principle however makes about 60000 a year; a teacher is lucky to get half of that. There is something wrong there, anyone can point that out but nobody really says anything.

I always had good teachers for writing and reading, but it was not until high school when I got interested with it. Mrs. Harden was one of my favorite teachers, she could find the best in anyone, and she always made us laugh, thanks to her, I really enjoyed writing stories and reading.

With college, I did know what to expect for my education. Long nights of studying for countless test, days without any sleep, struggling keeping grades up, but it is worth it in the end. To get that college degree is my goal, but its not just earning your degree but what you do with it.

The best thing about my high school was that the teachers actually cared what happened to us, they helped us in everyway possible, about 4/5 of my graduating class is in college right now, that’s a pretty impressive number

How I Learned To Read And Write

When I think of Douglass’s story of how he had to teach himself or find creative ways to be taught to read and write, I see that it’s so much different than when I learned to read and write. Unlike his time period, ours’ we are demanded to read and write to do anything with our lives, that wasn’t the case back in the 1800’s. By law he wasn’t allowed to have anything to do with reading or writing. He is a good example of self-determination. He set his eyes on learning to become free one day. He is considered a inspiration to our time period, with all that he had to go through just for a basic education. Not to mention how creative he was, when he had writing contests to get the kids to write out letters so he could later use them to his own benefit.

For me, I had teachers and mentors to teach me, and honestly he learned at a faster pace than I. I didn’t really understand reading until the 5^th grade. Before that I was constantly sounding out words to understand them because I really didn’t pay much attention in class to be taught, which only hurt me in my education back then.

There are a few similarities though when you think about it. Like we demand everyone to speak English, just like back in the 1800’s. If you couldn’t speak accurate English then you were considered stupid.

Savage Inequalities, question 1

Why are you going to college?

I am going to college to do what I want to do for a career for a long time. My field of study is convergent media. With this degree, I will become a radio dj, and talk show host. A career I have wanted since I was in 8th grade. I get to play music, talk about music, and meet bands for a living. I could not think of a better career for me.

peer review for task two

Peer Review for Task Two

1)      How does the writer introduce the subject of the paper? What is the thesis for the paper? Write the thesis in the space below?

By describing his mother and their relationship. The thesis was "you know how you wonder if your parents are really yours?"

2)      Write in the space below who the subject is and what the focus is for this paper?

The subject was scotty and his mother.

3)      What is the significance of the person the writer has chosen as a subject?

His relationship with his stepmother.

4)      Write in the space below supporting details that pertain to either the thesis or the subject.

How he was told he had another mother.

5)      Where in this paper would you like more information to explain the significance of the subject to the writer? What seems to be “missing” for you?

Its missing details to the mother and the father.

6)      Is it clear to you, as a reader, that the writer has edited and checked his/her paper? What are two errors that really “jumps out” at you?

Yes it is, and he had a few errors with spelling.

7)      What does the writer do most successfully in this paper?  Decribes how he felt.

task two rough draft

Notes of a native son

I think Baldwin had a very rough child hood and life. To have a father that abusive would have to be horrible. I did get the belt when I was younger but I deserved it. I didn't get it for unreasonable acts. He could have changed his future, he knew what kinda life his father had and was living and he took the same path. He had too much hate built up and it took control of him. He could even have the same deasie his father had. The fact thou that the father still prayed and hoped, even during the bad times shows how much faith he really had.

Sister Flowers

Hum, I can remember a teacher who totaly turned my life around. Back in 4th grade, I was a horrible student. I literally did whatever I wanted. I never did any homework and I failed most of my classes. If she gave me a paper to sign for my parents because I didn't do the homework, I would forge my parents names. I wouldn't even participate in class because I just didn't care about school. My teacher Miss Weedle sat me down and we talked. She told me I had to change my ways or I wouldn't get anywhere in life. After that I finally started doing homework and I got alot better in class. I tested out of reading in the college level thanks to her insperation. My senior year of high school I wrote her a thank you letter for helping me out so much in school to make me the person I am today. Without her I probibly wouldn't even be in college right now.

self-evaluation

What is the thesis for your paper? That I had no idea what was truely waiting for me.

What was the most helpful advice you received from your peer evaluation? That they understood what I was saying and how I felt. They said I really needed more detail, but overall it was good.

What was the most helpful information you received in class for your paper? Not to stress out over your papers. You will make way more mistakes and your just waring yourself down for nothing. You need to relax and let it come to you.

How many drafts of this paper do you think you wrote and how/when did you write them? For example, did you compose at the keyboard, did you write lots of notes to yourself, did you pre-write or outline, did you write in small chunks of time or sit down and produce an entire draft at one sitting? I wrote about 3 total drafts for this essay. I did everying on keyboard. I dont really write notes to my self I just type it on the paper. Id write in small chunks of time. It really helps me, because I get stuck on something, so i'll come back to it later and ital just come flowing out again.

What would you do differently with this paper to make it more effectively, or what did you try to do that you just don’t think you got a good handle on? I would have put more detail into it. I'm not really good at puting detail into stuff, and it bugs me if I don't.

What are most pleased with about this paper? Humm I think you mean "what are you most pleased with about this paper" lol. I am glad after a long time without a english class that I could put together a story and put everything into it. I am just glad I got it over with and now I can start on the next one.

How it feels to be colored me

The book really makes you think... What do you think of yourself? How do others think of you? What does your family or friends think of you? Everyone would like to think good of themselves but maybe thats not how others see it. I've been labeled alot of things and I only accept half of the comments. I've been called goth and emo because of the clothes I wear and the music I listen to. In a way I see their points, but that term isn't positive. They're telling me I'm anti social and I harm myself for fun. Yeahhh I really fit that describion now don't I. Just because you can't understand what the band is singing doesn't mean everyone else doesn't, others actually hear and can feel the emtions comeing from their songs.
Another term I've labeled and I do agree with is a smartass. I have my points and I'm wrong from "time to time" but I dont like being pointed out just to look like a dumbass, and I will come back with remarks that you won't want to hear from a student.
Labels are honestly useless. Aren't we all human? Don't we all have to breathe? Everyone has more alike than they know and if they'd take that time to see it then fighting and war wouldn't be a problem. Yes you would have your conflicts but nothing much would result from it or any harm done. Everyones trying to compite with each other to make them better, but isn't that just tearing us apart in the long run? It doesn't matter what color, or what nation, or what religion, we all are the same. One person who truely got this was Bob Marley. If you listened to his words and what the true meanings where, they'd tell you to love everyone, theres no need for harm.

topics for task 1

I've thought up a few ideas for task one, and I think I've found one. Growing up, my mother tryied to put me up for adoption when I was born. For reasons that I do not know, she couldn't take care of a child. I also came to find out that I have 2 more brothers and a little sister, all of them put up for adoption. I couldn't even tell you their names, cause I have no idea. Meeting her for the first time was kinda depressing. That I was just a problem to her. Even with this experiance, I can talk to people with certain family problems and connect with them, knowing how they feel.

This isn't something that I'd write about, but overall it has the most change in my life. Its kinda weird to even think about, and put it on paper. This "project" will be nice to vent out, and I will not need any help on this. My only problem with writing is that I tend to jump around the page. I will be working on making my papers more clear and to the point.

intro

My name is Scotty Hanway. I graduated from mid Buchanan high school. I plan to get my degree in convergent media. I played baseball for my freshman and sophomore year in high school, but I got in a car accident and was taken off the team. Then, I played football for my junior and senior year, I just wanted something to do. I enjoy music, its my passion. I will use my degree to become a radio dj and start a talk show. I hope to one day own my own record company to help new bands get started. I enjoy concerts and hanging with friends. I work at interstate McDonalds, I've been there for about 2 years and I hate it, but it's a job.


I do enjoy writing music, but only when I feel like it. Writing is not my favorite class but I do enjoy writing about peoples opinions and how I see society and how society works, I don't know why but I love it. Reading isn't my strongest class but sometimes I do enjoy it. Especially when Im really bored.