Grand Finale: Why I Write

Writing serves a purpose in every form it takes. However, each person has his or her own unique way to write the way they write, whether it is just an inspiration that pops in the middle of the night, or just because they love too. Many write to just simply write for the sake of it, while others write because they are told to. I, myself, have a different view to why I write. Why do I write the way I write?

I write to inspire a new generation, to the ones that comes after me. I write so they can explore my ideas, to create or discover their own. I write so that there will be past memories of me. I write to make history. I write to conquer up new ideas. I write to express my feelings, to just "spill it out." I write just because I want to and no one forced me too and that is where my true inside comes out.

I write the way I write because English is my second language and sometimes you just never know what you might discover when you write. I write because I was able to realize where I am weak at. I write because I want to be better. I write because I want to correct my mistakes. I write because most of the time it comes from the heart; it has meaning and not just words. I write because words have an impact no matter what form it takes.

I write because at times it is required for school assignments and I had no choice. Even then, I choose to write it my way and it make it my own and no one else. I write to be unique and to stand out from others. I write because I believe in many things in life. I write because I believe in hard work and perseverance and the outcome that might lead me to. I write because I want to prove a point. I write to remain neutral in a controversial debate. I write to take a stand. I write so that my writing can be VISIBLE and not invisible compare to everyone's.

I write for my friends and family. I write because I enjoy to send letters, emails to long lost friends and distant family members. I write because it is a lot of fun. I write because it is exciting and nerve racking to read what loved ones have to say. I write because it is old school and I want to go back to the olden days. I write because technology has changed our ways of communication and the special connection writing brings to each one of us. I write the way I write because this is who I am and it is the only way to express my true self. I write because I am Hannah Ho.

Article 6 Response: Plagiarism

For this week's blog, we were assigned to read an article on plagiarism. It presented three examples of plagiarism from three students explaining the misuse of digital copies of information online without an author. Many high school or college students intentionally or unintentionally plagiarize because they claimed that the information online was basic knowledge or there was no author therefore anyone could use that information. Plagiarism has been increasing ever since the development of the Web; it has made plagiarism so much easier, but knowing how to paraphrase and give credit separates the intention to plagiarize.

Here is a short passage from the article:
"'If you're taught how to closely read sources and synthesize them into your own original argument in middle and high school, you're not going to be temped to plagiarize in college, and you certainly won't do so unknowingly,' she said."

This passage is important because it clearly explain how to avoid plagiarism. It might seem harder than it looks, but paraphrasing is the key. Make it into your own words and summarize! Summarizing is easy and we do that everyday from grade school even until now. I definitely know that you should always give credit where it is suppose to be given as well as the fact that plagiarism is bad and prohibit in every school. However, I feel some people plagiarize without knowing so, which made me questioned a little.

Sample Projects Reading

One of Tom Romano's student's project I looked at was "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Trip Down the Yellow Brick Road." It is about the main character that played Dorothy, and how the idea of the movie came to be and how they made it. There are exactly twenty-five genres in this project; most of them are poems, and dialogues, but other than that there are formal letters, and an accident report. They are quite effective because it helps relate all of the genres together to fit the main topic. Through dialogues, words can be spoken between characters and the director.

Each genre has its own research because it includes historical information from the character that played Dorothy and the events that took  place while making the film. Some of the poems are purely out of the author's artistic license or imagination because the author did not include any actual facts. You can tell especially from the two voices poem that the student puts lots of effort and creativity in the poem. The author transition between pieces by doing one genre over the film and then the next on the main character. The transitions are effective because it went back and forth between the topics and it made it interesting to see what type of genre that author has planned next.

Overall, I loved the author's style, voice and creativity. You can tell the student did research and made it fit perfectly well together, and not only that but the author created an incredible and memorable voice within the  project. I did learn some new information such as the types of poems that you can do as well as the power of the voice within the project; it definitely made it 10x better! The formatting, font, page layout, page elements, style, and appeal of the project reflects the style in the time period where the topic took place. After looking at the student's work, I want to create more genre with better creativity and voice.

Article 5 Response: The Secret to Being Memorable and Persuasive

For this week’s blog, I read an article named “The Secret To Being Memorable and Persuasive.” In this article, Joe Romm mentions many incredible ways to be remembered. The overall point of this article teaches readers how to be memorable and persuasive by using figures of speech to his or her advantage. Using figures of speech catch people’s attention and it makes the person using figures of speech stands out. It has been proven that it tends to stick in people’s brain because it can be catchy. Advertisement, songs, and famous sayings all have a catchy phrase and that phrase usually what helps it become memorable.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“Popular songs have a catchy “hook” or phrase that is repeated many times. Last summer’s monster hit ‘Call me maybe’ has one of the cleverest, hardest-to-get-out-of-your-head hooks you can squeeze into three words, ‘Call me maybe.’ The words ‘me’ and ‘maybe’ have both rhyme and alliteration.”

This excerpt is important because it is true that there are tons of songs on the radio or in movies that are catchy. I can relate to this because just recently I have listened to a song named, “Feel this moment,” and the beat, rhythm, and lyrics as well as the way the singer sings the song stays in my head for several days. It is so catchy, and the repetition and the rhymes of the lyrics made it quite memorable just like any other song.

Article 4 Response: Dave Barry on College

This is has to be the funniest article I have ever read. I literally laughed at every single section of this article. The humor and the truth within every single line made this article extremely interesting. College is, in my opinion, a very scary thing. I am personally scared to go to college because the classes, the tests, the subjects, and the teachers are going to be harder. There is a lot of stress involved due to the amount of work as well.

I thought the portion about English, philosophy, psychology and any other subjects that have actual facts are extremely hilarious. However, what Dave Barry says about each of these subjects is completely true.

Here is a short excerpt in the article:
"...Be sure to choose a major that does not involve Known Facts and Right Answers. This means you must not major in mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, because these subjects involve actual facts. If, for example, you major in mathematics... If you don't come up with exactly the answer the professor has in mind, you fail."

This excerpt relates very well with any of the mentioned subjects in high school because in all of the classes like chemistry or biology, if the teacher asks the student a question, the answer must be exactly what the teacher has or it is wrong; there is no such thing as partially right or wrong. It is either one way or the other.

I really enjoyed reading this article. I hope there is more article like this in the future :)

Article 3 Response: 7 Bogus Grammar 'Errors' You Don't Need to Worry About

For today's assignment, we were assigned to read another article about grammar and this article totally contradicts what the other article was talking about. However, I like this article because most of the rules they mention are the types of rules I frequently use in my own writing: ending a sentence with a preposition, using which, begin a sentence with a conjunction, and using the passive voice in my writing.

Ever since middle school or so, I have been told to not begin a sentence with a conjunction because it is improper grammar. However, this article says it is okay to do so, but I think it depends on the teacher and how the teacher wants the paper to be written.

Here is a short excerpt from the article:

"In any case, there is no basis to the rule in English grammar, and, once again, great writers have ignored it with no great loss to their prose or reputations...."

This excerpt is important because it explains that even though English grammar can be tricky, confusing, and frustrated at times, ignoring the rule can do more good than harm.

Article 2 Response: 7 Grammar Rules You Should Really Pay Attention To

For this week's blog, we are assigned to read "7 grammar rules you should really pay attention to." While I was reading this article, I often questioned and ponder on some of the rules presented. The first rule is about the subjunctive. It states that when a sentence in about a non-true situation following the word if or wish, the verb should be were. I personally think that is really weird because the original sentence, in my opinion, is correct. However, it is not if the sentence is followed by if or wish. So, pretty much all of the singular subject is replaced with a plural verb. Therefore, this rule really bug me.

There are several grammar rules I worry about, but two particular on this article worries me; they are the verb and pronoun problems. With the verb problems, I constantly choose the wrong lay or lie. I always have trouble telling them apart because the meaning for each one of them is very similar to each other.With pronouns, determining the differences between using you and I and a person's name and I always give me trouble.

Rule number five, the 'dangling' conversation, is a new rule I have never heard of. The rule the author's presented and the order to correct a bad dangling conversation is really neat. I will definitely try out this rule next time I write a dangling conversation.

Here is a short summary of rule number five:
"Dangers are inexplicable attractive, and even good writers commit this error a lot...in their first drafts. Here's a strategy for smoking these bad boys out in revision. First, recognize sentences that have this structure: MODIFIER-COMMA-SUBJECT-VERB. Then change the order to: SUBJECT-COMMA-MODIFIER-COMMA-VERB. If the result makes sense, you're good to go. If not, you have a dangler."

This rule will definitely help me out a lot from now on. Reading this article creates many thoughtful insight about grammar rules; however, some of the rules bugged me, while others are totally new to me.

Multigenre Research Proposal

For the multigenre research proposal, I am doing a career interest as a pediatrician. I will interview my own pediatrician (Dr. Tuyet Vo) and a pediatric patient such as my sister (Jessica Nguyen). I am uncertain of the dates of the interviews, but it should be no later than next week or two. All I know about pediatricians are the basic facts about their academic schooling as well as their role within the pediatric field. I definitely think the theme of children will be my main focus through this topic. During the interviews, I think lack of questioning or preparation will hinder the interviewing process. I find this topic personally meaningful because I want to become a pediatrician myself and I feel passionate about this topic. I will probably do Medical Explorers, or any science related topics as my alternate project if something prevents me from doing my first choice.

Ten to Twenty questions categories:

1. What does it take to become a pediatrician?
2. What is the role of a pediatrician?
3. What does a typical check-up look like?
4. How long do you have to go to school to become a pediatrician?
5. How long does a typical residency last?
6. What it is like in medical school?
7. What make pediatricians so unique compare to all the other doctors?
8. What do you enjoy most being a pediatrician?
9. What it is like to treat a terminally ill child?
10. What type of problems do you faced on a typical day?
11. What skills are needed to become a pediatrician?
12. What it is like on the first day of being a pediatrician?
13. How do you feel on that first day?
14. What is the age range of your patients?
15. How important it is to work with other medical assistants?

Things To Do to Make the Informant Feel Comfortable

1. Ask a lot of questions.
2. Smile and be polite.
3. Introduce opening topics that might lead into better questions and answers.
4. Have the interview on a day that is available for the informant.
5. Email or phone the informant on available dates and time that I am available.

What To Do If There's Nothing to Say

1. Ask questions related to the previous question.
2. Make conversation with the informant related to the topic.
3. Ask questions leading to the topic.

 Factual Details-Want to Know

1. Daily Life
2. School Life
3. Health Care Life
4. Multiple Perspectives
5. Economic Factors
6. How to Information
7. Future Plans
8. Patient Care
9. Licensing 
10. National Trends

Academic Topics

1. Psychology of Children Past and Present
2. Growth Development of Children.
3. Psychological development of children.
4. Psychological development of a terminally ill child.
5. Psychological effects of prescribed drugs on children.

Multigenre Blog Post

Dear Ms. James,

I am very excited about our next project. Multi genre is a great project involving creativity within one's own topic expressed throughh a variety of genres. I cannot wait to begin this project, but searching for a topic to write/create multi genres about is difficult. I don't know what my topic should be; it's very difficult, I think, to choose a topic I am passionate about as well as finding primary resources. I originally wanted to research my career pathway (pediatrician) because it was convenient since I already have a primary resource for that topic. However, I feel like there won't be a lot of information except the basics on pediatricians.

If I can't find another topic, I will probably write/create mutlti genres about pediatricians. I think it is a good idea and I am really passionate about it. I guess we will see. Some of the genres I will probably choose would be an interview with a pediatrician, poetry, PowerPoint, interview with a pediatric patient (my sister), etc.. I think after choosing a topic, I will feel better to start researching. After writing this post and venting out my thoughts, my guts are telling me to choose pediatrician the career to be my topic. I already know a lot about it and I love the topic; so, I think pediatrician the career will be my topic.

Sincerely,
Hannah Ho

Reflection For Cultural Essay

Dear Ms. James,

I have enjoyed doing this paper because I have never done this type of paper before. It was very new to me especially the analytical part. The research was very interesting because I was able to learn a lot through my topic. I chose Fat Cat, the book, so that I can write about teenage obesity. I also chose Fat Cat because Fat Cat is one of my favorite books and it related well to an issue in today’s culture.


When I was doing the research, I thought that it was very easy to find information because teenage obesity is such a popular issue. However, since I was proving that the book did not depict accurate ways teenagers lose weight, it was a little hard to find statistics. Overall, it was intriguing to find how teens dealt with weight loss.

I really like conferencing as well as reading my classmates' papers because I was able to get feedback to improve my paper. Writing this paper was very intimidating because it involved research as well as basic analytical skills. However, when I peered review, I felt so much better about my paper.

Throughout the writing process, I thought writing the introduction was very easy because it was already planned out in the proposal. However, the conclusion was a bit difficult because it had to be a reverse funnel of the introduction. The writing process that I loved the most was revising and editing the paper because the paper was already written and all it needed was additional information or grammar check. The hardest part of the writing process was putting all of the research together in written format.  In the end, this paper was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to do more like this.

Sincerely,
Hannah

Article 1 Response: Is Google Making Us Stupid?

For this week’s blog, I am reading the article titled, “Is Google Making Us Stupid.” While reading this article, I’ve found myself distracted by my surroundings, bored out of mind, as well as the undesired to keep on reading. At times, I would ponder at my past reading habits and think to myself, “Has my reading habits changed?” Reading this article has made me realized my reading habits have changed. I tend to get sidetracked with long articles, or uninterested subjects. I would find myself rereading previous passages because it is uninteresting. This article is clearly right because my brain did want to skim through the reading.

The main point of this article is that our brains are being influenced by the easy access of the Web. The Web has made it easier to search information as well as simplifying it to the point where we don’t have to think. When we have a question or a research in mind, web search can answer it with just a simple click. However, the web is making us stupid because the information it gives us is not out of our own knowledge but the Web’s. Although this is very sad, I think what the article is saying is true.

Here is a short passage from the article:

“The company has declared that its mission is ‘to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.’ It seeks to develop ‘the perfect search engine,’ which it defines as something that ‘understands exactly what you mean and gives you back exactly what you want.’ In Google’s view, information is a kind of commodity, a utilitarian resource that can be mined and processed with industrial efficiency. The more pieces of information we can ‘access’ the faster we can extract their gist, the more productive we become as thinkers.”

I think this passage is important because it demonstrates what Google is trying to create out of its search engine; while on the other hand, it is actually making us stupid. Google is trying to improve its search engine to where all of the results are exactly what the people’s want. Its job is to simplify the search from complexity to the main basics. However, by doing so, it is implying that we are not intelligent to gasp the main points without something or someone simplifying it.

My first reaction is amazement. I never thought that Google would make us stupid. I always thought that searching for answers would increase my knowledge. Whenever I have a question, my first immediate response is “Google Search.” However, I think it is also second nature for us to have things simplify. It makes life a little easier without thinking.

Reading Response 2: Mockingjay

For this week’s blog, I have decided to do Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games series is one of my favorite series besides the Harry Potter series, of course. Mockingjay is the continuation of Catching Fire. Mockingjay begins with Katniss being rescue by the rebels of District 13. Katniss is, then, convinced to become “the Mockinjay”: a symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol. Along with the agreement, she demands the president of District 13, President Coin, to grant all rights to kill President Snow, the dictator of the nation of Panem. However, Katniss soon realized that she is being used as a propaganda for the rebels. Not only that, but Peeta, her fellow District 12 member, is being used by the Capitol because he was captured during the Quarter Quell. Will any of these obstacles stop them from continuing their rebellion? What will happen to Peeta? Will the Capitol finds out about their rebellion? I guess you will have to read the book and find out.

Here is a short passage from Mockingjay:

"'We had to save you because you’re the mockingjay, Katniss,' says Plutarch. 'While you live, the revolution lives.' The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst to flames. I am the mocking jay. The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion."

This passage is extremely important to the book because it is the rising action of the plot. Not only that, but it’s the main point of the whole book and without it there would be no foundation within this plot. It is also important because Katniss is representing herself as a symbol for all citizens that want to rebel against the Capitol. She is their “mockingjay” and without her, there would be no rebellion.

The way Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games trilogy is unique compare to all the other authors because she expresses the darkness within the trilogy. She shows the darkness of humanity in all its horror. There isn’t any “we’re all born good” sentiment, but rather the expressive idea that evil is a concept humans are capable of and it is shown at all angles throughout this book as well as the other two.

Proposal: Fat Cat

I will write an essay on the book, Fat Cat. Fat Cat is about a teenage girl named Catherine who is in all AP classes because she is super smart, and super funny. Not only that, but she is obese with a self-esteem issue. However, it is all going to change when Mr. Fizer, her science teacher, assign the class their seven month science project on whatever random picture they pick out out of his Stack. Catherine picture is a prehistoric picture of Homo erectus. Looking at the picture made her realize that back then, people were not obese; they ate healthy foods and therefore are healthy. Catherine, then, use herself in her own science experiment to live and eat like our earliest ancestors to lose weight.

Fat Cat is a Gateway book that addresses the current cultural phenomenon issue on teenage obesity. In this essay, I will argue that the book does not accurately depicts realistic ways teenagers deal with obesity in the 21st century. Even though Catherine eats healthy foods throughout her science experiment, most people in our culture do not usually go the healthy way. They either want to lose weight and not do it because of weak determination or they will want to lose weight and go to the extreme (such as those that are anorexia). There are very few teenagers that will actually go the healthy way.

I will begin my essay with statistics of the rising rate of teenage obesity in America. Then, I will introduce my thesis statement (The book, Fat Cat, unlike any other books, addresses a popular cultural issue in America: teenage obesity. However, the way the main character lose weight does not portray accurate depiction on how real teenagers lose weight.) Next, I will incorporate several paragraphs summarizing the book, as well as explaining ways many teenagers in our culture go the extreme way or not at all. Finally, I will end with a counterargument and my conclusion--where I will restate my thesis statement."

Questions:

1. Does the book accurately addresses the cultural issue of teenage obesity in America?
2. Does the book accurately depicts realistic ways teenagers will do to lose weight?

Reading Response 1 for 2nd Semester: Beautiful Creatures

For second semester, I have decided to read a new book called Beautiful Creatures for my first blog of the semester. I have only started reading this book about a week ago and it is quite interesting. Beautiful Creatures is about a guy named Ethan Wate who lives in Gatlin, South Carolina. Ever since he can remember, Ethan has been counting the months and hours until he graduate and leave Gatlin. Gatlin is one of those small towns where no one would ever expect newcomers to move to. Lately, Ethan has been haunted in his dreams by a beautiful girl he has never met. In his dreams, he could not see the girl’s face or even know her name. However, when Lena Duchannes, a new girl, moves to Gatlin, Ethan is immediately drawn to her. She is unlike anyone in Gatlin; she is mysterious as if there is a secret. What it is about her that is so intriguing?

 Here is a passage from Beautiful Creatures:

“Lena Duchannes didn’t speak to me again, not that day, not that week. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about her, or seeing her practically everywhere I tried not to look. It wasn’t just her that was bothering me, not exactly. It wasn’t about how she looked, which was pretty, even though she was always wearing the wrong clothes and those beat-up sneakers. It wasn’t about what she said in class-- usually something no one else would’ve thought of, and if they had, something they wouldn’t have dared to say. It wasn’t that she was different from all the other girls at Jackson High School. That was obvious. 

It was that she made me realize how much I was just like the rest of them, even if I wanted to pretend I wasn’t.”

I chose this passage because this is when Ethan realizes his hypocrite self he did not know before he met Lena Duchannes. This passage is also important because it represent the importance of both characters within each other’s life and the difference it will soon to make. Beautiful Creatures has a similar text-to-text connection with Twilight, in my opinion. Both books have very dull and gloomy setting to begin with as well as mysterious characters that either enter the town or are already present within the town. In Twilight, the mortal is Bella where as in Beautiful Creatures, Ethan is the mortal. Both books also contain secrets from the main characters, which are an essential tool to make the book a page-turner.

Personal Blog

My reading goals for this semester are to read more books, and allow more time to read. The first book for the semester I will be reading is Beautiful Creatures. I chose to read this book because it seemed very interesting and appealing. I am on page 30ish right now and it is quite interesting.

After high school, I would like to go to college at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and major in Biology. After ten years of high school, I am hoping to complete medical school and residency to be a pediatrician.