Journal - Satire

I loved learning about Satire! Satire plays an important part in media today; because of the gradually shrinking distance between other societies and cultures in the world due to technology and internet. Using Satire; people are able to say what they want to say without being directly offensive and also is used to raise awareness of the plight or situation or bring to light something that isn’t well-known without worrying about consequences. I think there’s a limit though of what you can use satire and humor for; because some things are sacred or consecrated to a society or culture and making fun of it may draw their anger and hurt. For instant, the Danish publication of cartoons about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) those where absolutely defaming and many Muslims around the world began boycotting Danish products because Denmark would not apologize or didn’t show remorse for their actions; because that is what satire does; it hides the direct insult behind humor and exaggeration.

Reflective Journal - Bloom's Taxonomy

    Are you keeping up with your reflective journal? In this journal response, comment on your ability to successfully interact with Bloom's Taxonomy. How successful were you in terms of your ability to comprehend and demonstrate higher order thinking skills?

   I loved Bloom’s Taxonomy. It organized the steps of higher understanding in very easy steps. Now every time I learn something; I try to put my knowledge through these steps to further my knowledge and gain confidence in it. I think using the taxonomy; I was more able to recall and remember things and ideals and how they correlated with other ideas and opinions and facts that may or may not be obviously related. I believe everything is connected; just as the Hmong believe in Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.

Argument Points – The Portrait of Youth

A lot of people do not report the medical malpractices of the local hospital. I love in a sort of bad area; with the population mostly black and welfare-dependent and the attitude and treatment services they have for these destitute people is just wrong. I have witnessed many Mexicans come in and as they do not know how to articulate their problem; they are made to sit and wait till the room is clear before the customer service would call in an interpreter. I’ve also experienced long waits and rough handling; I was fainting from the sight of my blood being drawn which is a genetic disorder; and the nurse kept shaking me and nudging me while I slowly lost conscious. I felt sick and didn’t know what was going on, and I felt that the nurses agitations further caused me to fall unconscious.

I think this also reflects the dwindling patience in people. We are so used to the lightning fast responses due to technology; we feel impatient with goo old human power. The fact is that we are beginning to rely on technology more and more into a total head on collision into the future of no value of human life and effort.

I think it is safe to say every teenager goes through a hormonal change that affects him or her, physically, emotionally, and mentally. This biological response causes teenagers to exhaustively question or test the boundaries of society and social values.

Reflective Journal – NonFic&Fic

I am a very factual person; so working with fiction was a difficult and interesting process to go through. I do believe the fiction we worked was wasn’t so fantastical and imaginary; set in contemporary times and places; it was easy for me to relate and understand the underlying meanings and points that the authors and poets were trying to make; yet I still was hesitant in forming opinions because fiction unfortunately is not so clear or straightforward in declaring opinions and ideals as nonfiction is.

Argument Points - Foxfire

Oates' work speaks to issues of conformity and gender equity, as another example.  Williams' work, too, addresses parent-child relationships.

In a timed writing situation, it is prudent to rely less on fictional characters, but you are on solid ground to refer to author's perspectives. Thus, to support an opinion, recognizing what an author says or believes adds much to your own credibility.

Today; I think society still faces gender exploitation and recent news reports show that racism is still alive in America despite it becoming very diverse in the last century.  We would never rid ourselves of this injustice until we think of each other as equal or above ourselves. This is proven in the Moorish Spain; where the Moors let the Christian and Jewish inhabitants of the occupied country practice their religion peacefully and even rebuilt their places of worship when an earthquake destroyed them. This type of mutual understanding and tolerance is sadly disappearing in our fast-paced, self-serving world. Joyce Oates’ Foxfire brought to light the ugly injustices done to innocent children and woman simply because they were helpless and dependant on a male independent who exploited or misused his power to abuse or mistreat his subordinates. Therefore we can see how Foxfire was so vital in giving the girls their confidence and protection against society; yet when they lost sight of what the group really meant and fell for the same things; just as the Moors also became corrupt with the power they wielded; they were conquered, and thus so did Foxfire fall apart.

ARGUMENT POINTS – Entertainment in Society

Today; society has become all about entertaining and entertainment. The people who are considered respectable and reputable in society are actresses, singers, movie stars, and musicians; the good old heroes who depended on cranium power are slowly being eradicated from the minds and positions of society. The purpose of entertainment is to present a fictional ideal that is based in reality; just enough for the viewer to relate to and thus become engrossed and attached to that certain show or movie, etc. etc. Therefore when we present of relate an universal truth or ideal that is actually a fact; we are careful to give the credit of that presentation to the author or director; because the character is not real and is there for the main purpose of entertaining; not making sensible and profound statements; that are anyways not his or hers at all; but the one who is responsible for the whole performance.

REFLECTION

The discussion board in my AP course is fundamental in creating a sense in me to think broadly and thoroughly. I think my teacher’s support is also paramount  in supporting me and motivating me to do my best. My classmate’s responses to my discussions made me think and gave me an opportunity to further develop my ideas and thoughts. My goal is to finish this course as soon as possible because I already took my AP test for it and thus the test prep areas are kind of unnecessary now to do.

Journal - Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was an amazing era in literary history. The rise of self-expression and self-actualization by the minority in America was paramount in promoting their humanization; and eventually giving them a respectful position in society which before; used to consider the blacks nothing more than in the servile sense.

I learned a lot of the things about the situation the blacks went through and what they actually felt. It was eye-opening; I never thought that a simple word could have such an effect on a person as it did in the poem “The Incident.” The ideal of physical and mental as well as verbal abuse that the African Americans sustained during the Jim Crow laws is just heart-rending. I couldn’t believe the inhuman conditions they experienced at the hands of the whites in America. Yet the powerful way they expressed themselves was absolutely beautiful and moving. I am glad that the minority were able to finally break through so many social stigmas when they promoted and caused the Harlem Renaissance.