AP REFLECTION

When i first started class in AP Language and Composition, I didn't know it would be that challenging. I was learning about all these different types of devices that I had never heard in my life before. I can say it was a challenge to me since the years before were not as challenging as this year: better yet not at all challenging. I learned many rhetorical devices and how to write essays: Rhetorical Analysis, Synthesis, and Argument. My favorite essays were the Argument and the Synthesis. I believe those where the best ones I could write. The Rhetorical Analysis was a bit of a challenge for me because it was very confusing to me. I followed the exact format but still was confused. I enjoyed doing the Socratic seminars: they were the best! The imitations were very interesting, though I feel that they didn't help us at all. I also enjoyed doing the vocabulary packets, as well as the dialectical journals for Huckleberry Fin and Fredrick Douglas. Reading Huckleberry was one of my favorite things to do, right after reading Fredrick Douglas. This year was a hassle but I enjoyed it. I really don't see where you could improve your teaching because you're just a great teacher. Maybe if you would have taught us the years before, the class would not have been such a challenge.

Beyond the Book

2. Great numbers of black Southerners emigrated to the cities of the North during the Twenties and Thirties. The new lives of these urban African-Americans in the industrial North were radically different from those they had led in the agrarian South. On the surface, they confronted much less prejudice. What were the differences in racial attitudes between the two cultures? Was the prejudice of the North less real because it was better hidden?

The African-Americans moved to the north during the WWI. By then the Great Migration had begun and continued for 20 years. Later, in 1970, about 5 million people moved to the North. This changed the whole map for African-American settlement. Even though the Great Migration helped African-Americans with education, it also caused a lot of discrimination towards them. With discrimination, it was hard for blacks to obtain jobs. The North was in fact less prejudice because slavery had been abolished, but there were a few whites that were racist towards blacks. Though the prejudice was less than in the South. The prejudice in the north was less real since it was hidden. With the prejudice being hidden, many African-Americans saw opportunities and a better future for them. In the North, African-Americans had a better opportunity of getting stable paying jobs, good education, and a nice place or piece of land to live in.

The Dangers of "Selfies"

What is going on with all these people taking “selfies” behind the wheel? It’s just insane how so many people are doing this without thinking that they could crash. In just a second or two they could end up causing an accident which would have injured people behind the accident. Now that Instagram has become very popular, just like twitter, everyone is taking these "selfies" behind the wheel.  But do these people ever learn that a little distraction may cause an accident that will probably take an innocent person's life or even their own? 
   Let me tell you what I think about people like this. You are stupid for doing this. Why?    Well first, you are risking your life as well as someone else's life. It's just ridiculous how so many pictures are taken behind the wheel and have the hashtag #drivingselfie. Although there are a few people that take pictures of themselves behind the wheel, they are not really driving, but most of them are. According to CNN investigations, there are 3,727 pictures under this hashtag. Some even have the hashtag #ihopeidontcrash. Are you serious? "I hope I don't crash." If you hope you don't crash then leave that phone in its place and don't take a picture. 
   People this is not a joke! I bet if a loved one was killed because the person who was driving was taking a selfie you'd be upset. Of course you would so stop these driving selfies because you are putting yourself in danger as well as an innocent person's life in danger. 

Immigration Reform

  Like many other Hispanics and Latinos, I am concerned about the immigration reform. Why you may ask, well because it's something important for us. Having an immigration reform will help the economy like Barrack Obama said in his speech. Not only will it help bring the economy up, but it will help many other Hispanic or Latino students continue with their studies. Because many of us don't have a social or the requirements needed to continue to college, most do not go to college. Our parents being immigrants don't have the opportunity to have a well-paid job to pay for any college fees. Why is that? It is because they don't have a social to work with and get enough money to pay it. 

    Can't these republicans see that it is essential for the economy? I heard once on the news that most of the jobs that help the economy are held by Hispanics or Latinos. Just like that time when Wal-Mart’s sells went down, the news said it was because immigration officers were there and no Hispanics/Latinos went to Wal-Mart. What if every Hispanic/Latino in the US went on a strike for 3 days at least? I'm guessing it would bring the economy down. Of course there are many African Americans and Caucasians working as well, but not as many of us.   

   My second guess of why the republicans do not want to approve it is because they are racist. Maybe not all of the republicans are racist, but the majority is. Why be racist to us if we can help you bring the economy back up? Why can't we all just get along? We are all men and women, no matter the color of our skin or race we are still the same. If racism and discrimination stopped, the economy would rise. Hopefully someone hits all these people in the head with some sense and ends all this racism and discrimination to bring up the economy.

Government Shutdown “& Obama Care

Why can’t the republicans accept that Obama care is a very useful thing for those who are in need? It just makes me mad to see some of these republicans say so many stupid things and come up with stupid ideas to end Obama care. I mean don’t they stop for a minute and think about how it helps these millions of people out there? Why can’t the republicans come up with a way to pay all this money without having the government shutdown? This government shutdown is going to bring the country down. Why? Because of all the money the country has to give to those who have been laid off because they work for the government. With no job, there are many people who are filling for unemployment. As I watched the news, the reporter said that after October 17^th, there will only be $30 billion dollars to spend. This amount will only last until about mid-November or at least the beginning.  The news reporter also said that we will not be able to pay our bills. We may be expecting an economic crisis. If only they put themselves in the same situation as those who need Obama care, they would understand. I’d like to make them go through the same hardships these people go through so they can see that Obama care is helping them a lot. The country is just getting back up economically, and this will only bring the country back down. This is not only affecting those who got laid off, but their families as well. I don’t think they would like to get laid off and have to look for a job, have no luck on finding one, and have to file for unemployment. I know someone whose family is starving because their parents can’t find a job and have absolutely $0. Do you think that’s fair? I don’t think so. We should end this government shutdown NOW!

Education Is Important

Education is a very important thing in life. Everyone needs it, there’s no doubt about it. There are ways that education can be better. We the students need to be taught in a right way or a way where we understand exactly what’s going on. Many students need to be taught at a slower pace than others, but if teachers would thoroughly explain the lesson and give specific examples, the students would comprehend better. Think of a baby learning to talk. If you say choo-choo as the train’s nickname, the the baby will think that’s the name for a train. Eventually he or she will keep calling it choo-choo until you teach him or her that it is actually called train. That is the same way for students. If you teach them that a cow can fly, even though we know it’s impossible, then the student will believe a cow can fly. No one wants to be taught the wrong way because that will lead them nowhere. That is why a teacher should be thorough with his or her lessons and make sure that every single student in each class understands the lesson.

Education is also important because having a good education can lead you to a very successful life. With a good education, you’ll be able to find a good job that you like and get a good pay, or even be your own boss one day. In order for that to be possible you need to get your education and learn as much as you can to succeed and be looked up to by your own children. With good education, you’ll know how to manage yourself in this world. Your future depends on education, therefore you should take advantage of the education opportunity you have unlike others. 

Grades Shouldn't Be Abolished

Grades are the only way that we can know where we stand academically in each subject. If we are doing poorly in a subject, the grades we get can help us see where we are failing and need improvement. This way we can improve and do better the next time we see that problem or item on another classwork. Even though some students do their best in class, there are some students who are just plain out lazy. They block themselves from doing work and end up doing nothing; this leads to failing a class or two. The reason why some students are lazy is because they don't understand it quite well and prefer not to ask questions and leave them unresolved. Other students simply prefer not to do anything. Although sometimes the grades students get may be accurate, there are times when they're not. Why? Well it's because the teacher just gives out grades; some don't take the time to actually grade the work. Instead, they just take a look at the paper and decide what grade they'll get. Test grades are also a big part for us. Many students don't have good testing skills so when it's time to take a test and they do a little less than they would usually perform on their classwork. These testing scores are very important when applying for a job or any colleges or institutes. They look mainly at the test scores; from there they decide whether or not you get hired or accepted into college. Therefore I say that grades shouldn't be abolished. They're the only way teachers and students see their progress throughout the school year.

Truth and Reality

Truth, what is truth?

How about reality
Are they similar?
Are they different?

Truth is something most people fear
But why should they fear it
Why are people so afraid of it, why?
Well it’s because people don’t like to be told the truth
They can’t face it and see their virtues or what they have done wrong
They can’t face them like when they face themselves in the mirror

Because that is what their reflection is, their virtues
But also people fear the truth because it can sometimes hurt
And when the truth hurts there is no medicine to make the pain run away
But the truth is everywhere only that we tell our brain to block it out of our minds
And once it’s blocked, our eyes can’t see it anymore
The truth can be whatever you decide to make it

But only you’ll know deep down in your heart the real truth
Now the question that is left is
What is reality?
I say that truth is a bit different from reality
Reality is experienced by one’s body, mind, and eyes other than our own

Whereas truth is knowledge put in front of us to believe it 
As well as we could make something be the truth
Or make it seem like the truth to us
But to others it may seem as just a lie
That lie can be what we want reality to be
Sometimes we can make up how we want our reality of life to be

But it is just a truth in our eyes
Because to others they are just lies
And very different from reality
Reality is the world we live in
Not just a way of thinking or just a thought
Reality is when you believe that it is just so perfect
And don’t realize that you are falling
Instead of climbing each step in front of you

Until you find you’re just wandering around
And suddenly you stop and think
That what you’re doing is falling back down to the first step
That’s when you see reality
And you find yourself stuck in a ditch
Instead of flying to the top
Trying to reach that delicious, mouthwatering success
And now you finally realize that the reality you thought was good
Was actually rotten and spoiled
But this reality helps you to see that mistake
And ease yourself up to the next step

Until you touch that appetizing meal
And see the true reality
Is reality the same as truth?

Or are they different?