Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Table of Contents

Table of Contents


Reflection Letter


My Critical Thoughts


What is identity maker?


Revisions and Revise


Community Group


Voice and Audience


Pop Culture


Writer’s Choice


The Change Is Coming


Conclusion


Reflection Letter

Reflection Letter

Who am I? In this class, English 101 having a chance to reflect on this question through discussion, writing, and reading. I perceive myself as a poor writer, before this class. This was a required class I needed to take to get my Associate in Technical Art in Early Childhood Education. My name is Nakesha Eruotor but you can me Nikki. Going part-time at Everett community college, my goal is to get my degree before we have to move again do to my husband is in the Navy. I have two wonderful loving kids an eight-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son; they are the reason why I would like to become a teacher. Becoming a preschool or kindergarten teacher gives me a better outlook on how I can help change a child’s life.

English is not one of my strong points but I really enjoyed most of the reading that were assigned in this class. The assignments where a great source of information, for instance the identity, community, traditions assignments help me over come a lot of emotions to allow me to come out of my shell so I can have discussion and write papers that not only help me understand the situation, but also allowed my audience to understand me. Which I was able to refer to when choosing my assignments to go in my e-portfolio.

Therefore, I have chosen these assignments for my e-portfolio assignment. For critical thinking skill I have picked “What is a Identity Maker” from the DB 3. The reason I chose this paper because I realize my identity has change because of this class. The Community Paper will be good for revision and reseeding, knowing how much this paper needs redoing I would like to revision and reseeding his paper. The peer responses that I received were very helpful to me in correcting my paper. For writing with awareness of audience and voice, I have chosen Pop Culture; many of my mates had a lot to say about how Pop Culture has affected us in the day world. The last paper is a chosen one, something that fit me. Therefore, the Tradition paper is the one in this paper I wrote how the tradition of marriage has change over the years. This paper had me thinking about my marriage and how glad I am to have a husband that loves me.

I was very interested in many different other topics but I felt those ones was a piece of my identity. Over all I am very happy with the choices I made and my progress throughout the semester. Knowing I will be able to use these skills while I am in college, and throughout the rest of my life. This class was changeling but with the help of my peers and my instructors I was able to have a good experience in this class.

My Critical Thoughts

My Critical Thoughts

Identity DB 3 I believe this assignment demonstrates my critical think and analyzing how there are many assumptions that identity is our personal choice but things can influence a person identity. This could be at a more personal level, in the context of family and friendship relationships, or at a more public level. Here is a piece that I took from my paper.

“The power you make over your own life is your freedom. You can choice what you want people to know about you. You can build your identity by living your life a good way or a bad way; whatever way you choose, you are the maker of your life. Your identity is the way you walk, talk and your overall appearance.”

The statement I wrote let you see how identity can change in a blink of an eye. This is something that many people has gone through and are going through to find who they are as a person. We ask our self Who Am I? The only person that can ask that question is you.

Revisions and Revise

Revisions and Revise

This is why I wanted to rewrite my community paper, and hope that I can make this right. I really thought I did well on this paper however, I was missing the whole point of the assignment, and I did not add my interview questions. The assignment was this assignment focuses on strengthening your skills in analysis—showing how and why something works the way it does. The general purpose is to help us understand how communities work. In addition, as a rhetorical strategy, we are asking you to demonstrate skills in presenting concrete and specific examples to help us see—the old “show me, don’t tell me” message.Rather than analysis and synthesis, it was narrative and definition with a lot of overuse of “you”. I did have a lot of problems trying to come up with this paper.

Community Group

The Navy Community Group


The Original paper

Community group are the primary vehicles of our life you can drive it the way you want it to be. Community is what brings the culture, languages, and people, together to form a group so we can unite as one. It is the feeling that the community gives us, that makes us come together as a family to help one another through those happy days and sad days. Somewhere you can go and feel included, safe and loved. To find people that share the same interests or values as we do, a place you can call home away from home. There are so many community groups out there that have issue with other community they fight for recognition and how is best. It is in our hand to find out what groups are good for us and wish one is bad, so we have to take our time to pick the right one.

My community is the US Navy, we can come together when our love ones is gone overseas, or when our love ones have passed away, do their work. There are many different kinds of people in the navy community group; it changes as we move from state to state. I have met many wonderful people in addition; I have hated a lot of them to. There is this wonderful lady that I been known for a while now she is about 39 years old; she is in the US Navy. I call her my auntie and when we go out, she wants me to call her my big sister. She love and hates the navy community group, the reason she love the community is that when she goes out to sea and she cannot call her family the community group will inform her family about her and her ship if there are any issues. The reason she hates the community group is because when she gotten in trouble because she had yield at her Commander Officer about some issues she had with him. The navy community group told her husband what had happen to her, that was okay but when they spread the whole story to the community group everyone was in there business asking them is she okay, is she in trouble things like that. She was very upset with the community group and she stops communicating with them. I think that was her chose to stop communicating with the navy group but I think she should have just talk to them about the issue and ask them to stop spreading her business. I do not think she should have stopped communicating with them because what if something happen to she when she goes out to sea again and they do not have any information about her family so they cannot tell them what happen. The community can cost you your privacy and it can cost you your job and family. You have to remember that if things are going wrong in your family the Navy Community will find out. The only way to keep your privacy from them you need to only inform family member or real, real close friends. I am also in the Navy Community group, I learn from other to keep thing to a minimum, and to not put my business out there for other to be nosey in. I do like the navy group because of the information I can get from them when I move from state to state. They also help me find jobs and find good schools to get in to, and they also help me with daycare and find schools for my kids. To me it is a good community I love it but I make it the way I want it to be for my family and me, and not the other way around.

When you hear the word community, we think protection, friendly people, family oriented; some might think nosey, gossip, no privacy, and competition. Many people think community can drive you to the place of insanity, but that are the price to pay when you are in community. According to “It Takes a Tribe: David Berreby, “Human beings will give a lot, including their lives, for a group they feel part of- for “us”, as in “our nation” or “our religion” (120). We cannot complain about anything that happens in the community because you should already know what goes on in community. Communities have been around for a long time we should start to do researches about the community that we are trying to get in. Some people out there will do anything for their community group, just so they can get that recognition from the leaders. As David Berreby put in his essay, “It Takes a Tribe” quoted by Professor Banaji “We Know that human beings identify with social groups, sometimes sufficiently to kill or die on their behalf” (122). We need to learn how to do thing our way and not the way that makes people happy to accepted us in there group. There are some good things about community group for instants the community groups will allow more people to have an opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions about the group. Involving young people in a community group brings with it certain responsibilities for the young ones to learn from them, giving them jobs and asking them for their opinions as well. Each community group will develop their own map for their objectives for their community to abide by while in there group so take your time and pick wisely.

Therefore Community group are the primary vehicles of our life you can drive it the way you want it to be. We can befit from the community or we can pay the price of losing our identity to them, we have to be the one in the driver seat. Not the passenger waiting on them to drive our life the way they want it to be. Community can be good for us, they can be your enemy, or they can take over your life, pick the one that fits your life. Do not rush and just jump in one that does not fit us, take your time moreover, we can found one that is just for us. Community is our vehicle it can mess up on us and it can break down when we need it the most. Remember communities are vehicles you can change them if they do not fit your needs.


The Revised Version

Community groups are the primary vehicles of our life; we can drive it the way we want it to be. However communities are somewhat base on culture, languages, and people, together to form a group so that can unite as one. There are so many community groups out there that will not accept people that do not sure the same value as the community.

Alex Espinoza, in “My Filipino Roots,” describes his community by saying “I think that growing up in such a homogenized community like mine, where at least 80 percent of the population is white, didn’t really allow me to delve into my cultural identity because people don’t celebrate their backgrounds. Usually when my peers are asked about their respective heritage they respond by saying, “I don’t know what I am, I am white” (131). Having issue with his community, Alex Espinoza has recognize that his community has deny their Filipino Heritage and choice to claim there white Italian side.

One type of community I belong to is the US Navy community. The only people that are allowed in this community are the retired and active navy families and also other military community. There are so many different kinds of culture, religion and people that care about others. You will see a lot of people that will migrate to there own cultures and religious because they do feel more comfortable. There are some people that will look down upon a person because they do not think, feel and act the way they do. This is why there are so many groups in this community that a person can choose from that can fit their needs and wants. Once you are in the community we will receive an ID badge that has your face and other information on their so you can get on the base. This community is a fun and safe, welcoming place to be.

The feeling that a community can give people, that makes them come together as a family to help each other get through good and bad times. People do want to belong to a community group no matter how small or how big the group is. The reason is to feel the need of belonging and the ability to be needed by somebody can make a person feel good about them. To find people that share the same interests and values can make the community an easier place to be. There are millions of families in the navy community that change over the year or months. To see people come and go can be hard, but it can be also fun to meet a new person that comes from all around the world. As a person traveling through the group to find the one that fit them, they will find some nice people on they way.

I interviewed an older lady who has been in the navy community for about 15 years now. She knows a lot about the navy community then I did. She said it was “a community that has potential to change a person life and the way they see the world. The navy community can give you that experience of what you are looking for no matter how hard it is. It can be hard to see people all in your business but “they are there to help”. Also you have to always watch your back because there are some people that do not like to other exceed over them.” (Smith).

Will my travels in the navy community started 8 year ago. In resent year I have see a lot of people come and go in my life. I have learned that with out the navy community I would not have met those wonderful people. I have seen changes in the last year or so, the community are have more family nights and helping the military spouses get jobs and get in to schools. The thing that this community is missing is privacy. Having a lot of people in your business can be upsetting even if it is suppose to be good. To me I think that many people do not go to their military community because they are afraid of what they say. The navy community is not there to judge, they are there to help those who can not help themselves.

In the essay by John A. Hostetler,” The Amish Charter, regardless of any possible cost to themselves, the members are required to put into practice what is required by duty, honor, personal loyalty, and religious calling. The fundamental values and common ends of the group, recognized by the people and accepted by them, have been designated as the charter” (140). Community group are there to support you no matter how they feel or think. If you open up to them members can share painful issues and positive experiences involving their families, friends, and colleagues with you.

People play a special role in community groups they can assist people to manage difficult times in their lives and to be as independent as they can be. However, when hear the word community; people think protection, friendly people, family oriented, some might think no privacy, and competition. There are a lot of communities out there we just have to find the right one that fit your needs so we can drive it the way we want. In communities there are intent, beliefs, resources, and preference, needs and ricks but at the end of the day we are the ones that have the degree of cohesiveness.

What is identity maker

What is identity maker?

The power you make over your own life is your freedom. You can choice what you want people to know about you. You can build your identity by living your life a good way or a bad way; whatever way you chose, you are the maker of your life. Your identity is the way you walk, talk and your overall appearance. In the story by Queen Latifa, she says, “we have the power to set that man straight. If you don’t feel like a bitch, no one can call you that and make it stick” (34).

I make My Identity to be how I am today, I am a mother, and a wife, I put my identity out there to be who I am. I speak what I know and do whatever I want to do as Gloria Anzalda says “A language which they can connect their identity to, one capable of communicating the realities and values true to themselves” (79).

I have the freedom to build my life the way I want it to be, no matter what color I am or what age I am, the way I am because of my identity maker. Identity can change and shape to our own desire, so it is the individual you. It is a matter of knowing who you are, and what you want in this life. Standing for what you believe in is your real self.

awareness of audience

Pop Culture

Choosing my Discussion Forum #2, from the Visiting Pop Culture was the best one for awareness of audience and voice. I write that pop culture reflects the most current interests and trends. Seeing that many people are aware of what is going on in the world, when it comes to clothes, entertainment, and thing like that. Reading some of my peer paper let me know that they had a lot to say about pop culture and how it is all around us now. In addition, I did enjoy many of my classmate discussions.

Pop Culture

Voice and Audience

Traditionally, Pop culture reflects the most current interests and trends it was generally been reserved for the younger demographic. Now it is the evening news, board games, and even children’s cartoons are beginning to integrate various pop culture items. For example, The Simpsons, in which the cartoon characters mock themselves, celebrities, movies, books, and just about anything else in the cultural mix. Pop culture has become overtly tendency in society. Pop culture do reflects the most current interest and trends of society, by not staying in the limits of their medium, and why should they?

Samuel L. Jackson, In Character says ”We‘ve been successful in role as doctors, lawyers, teachers, policemen, detectives, spies, monsters-anything that we have been able to portray on-screen in a very realistic way that made audiences say, I believe that , and that brought them into the theaters to see us do it’(455). Individuals are now pursuing academic careers, publishing in prestigious journals, and teaching seminars - all in the name of pop culture. Pop culture is the true voice of the people. Samuel Jackson says in the essay In Character” But it’s difficult to do a film that’s of a serious nature and that does not have guns, sex, and explosions in it if it’s ethnic” (455). So long as society subscribes to pop culture, it will remain, well, popular to us.

The Change is coming

The Change is coming
(Tradition of Marriage)

Marriage simple is two hearts combing as one. “Marriage general means a social contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically, and emotionally.”(Sheri & Bob Stritof, About.com). Married traditions are becoming less important in our changing of society.

Traditional marriage has served all nations and all cultures well since the Garden of Eden. Marriage is a very ancient idea. The Bible suggests it goes right back to Adam and Eve, who were 'made for each other' in (Gen 2) Jesus teaching on marriage, is exclusive, unbreakable and forging a new family unit drew on this original blueprint.

Marriage is my family is not so hot; many people in my family are the Christian type, they will arrange a person that they think is right for you. They do not care how crazy he or she is as long as they fit their Christian tradition you will get married. My sister and I could not let our family tell us who to marry it is our choice and our life. Here’s an example: “I couldn’t let my parent arrange my Indian marriage from Indiana. I would have to find my own suitable boy. Or perhaps even an unsuitable one.” (Jame 382). Marriage is our own choice we pick and choice who we want to be with marriage is not the same now.

Even though, marriage tradition is about our culture, region, and law, many people are not biding by that tradition at all. Homosexual are among those people. Homosexual do not celebrate the tradition way of marriage. Do to the fact that they are not a loud to get married in some states. According to Paul Varnell in, Do Gays want to marry, “Keep in mind that some gays are not allowed to marry at all. Gays and lesbians in the U.S. military are not allowed to marry. In most Protestant denominations gay and lesbian clergy may not marry and keep their jobs.” Still yet, heterosexuals in those same positions marry in high numbers anyways because they know change has come and their still more to come.

Another change in tradition marriage is divorces; it is running traditional marriage on it last leg. Divorce is the legal breakup of a marriage. Like every major life change, divorce is stressful. It affects finances, living arrangements, household jobs, schedules and more. Termination of a traditional marriage that is canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage. The economy is also helping running the traditional marriage. Do to the fact that losing your job is tough for both men and women, especially if the man strongly identifies with the traditional role of provider.

Will divorces do runs in my family; they cannot pick the right person if it kills them. We have a lot of baby dada and baby mama problem then the whole word put together. Do not let us get together at someone wedding all we hear is you had better make sure you love him, do not let he cheats on you. The whole thing is crazy. People are suppose to work hard to not get divorces, they push the tradition marriage vows out the way because it is the easy way out. According to Ellen DeGeneres, in this is how we live, “On the other hand, some things that don’t need to be easier are being made easier (640). That statement is just like how divorce is in my family. It is not suppose to be easy it suppose to be hard so you can work on the marriage.

The economy is also helping running the traditional marriage. Do to the fact that losing your job is tough for both men and women, especially if the man strongly identifies with the traditional role of a provider. The employed partner, meanwhile, may become frustrated by the spouse's lack of get-up-and-go on the job and the home fronts. Both partners may find themselves more critical of their spouse than before, which in turn makes them unhappier with their relationship and that can turn in to divorce.

Despite all of the changes in tradition marriage, like Homosexuals, divorce, economy, and Family. Married traditions are becoming less important, but change can be good and it can be bad. Couple looking to get married, the most important thing in this kind of change in tradition marriage is to fulfill your life requirement.

The Change Is Coming

The Change Is Coming

I know right away that this will be my final paper for “Writer choice”. This paper I had put a lot of time in and rewriting it repeatedly because I had something else to say about it. I through the tradition of marriage have changed over the year. In addition to the bad grade that I received on my last paper, I made sure I gather all of the information that I had to try to make this paper the best one out of all of my other papers. I think I did well on this paper and I consider it as being a new me in the writing sence.

Conclusion

Thank you for take the time to read my portfolio “My Adventure.” It's been a long 11 week ride and it has been great fun, but as with so many other things in life, it has to end, and I just wanted to say thank you and goodbye to our teachers and classes mates. I have learned a lot over these weeks, and I have met a lot of nice exciting people. Even through I needed this class for my major it has been an experience that I would never forget. Thank you and take care.