Improvements

Adrienne K. Figueroa

Professor Lennon

English 1

1 December 2015

Improvements

This semester I have really improved on my writing skills. I have learned to be more concise about the topics I am writing about and how to stay within that topic. My professor this semester has also taught me to be aware of what it is that my professor is looking for in an essay. There are some professors who prefer more details than others and there are professors who want things to be as specific as possible and straight to the point. Writing has always been easy for me, however, I do tend to include too much unnecessary information. Professor Lennon has taught me how to write about what is important and necessary. One strength that I have in writing is my grammar. I like to always double check my grammar to make sure everything is correct and flows properly. However, one weakness I do have is my organization. Throughout this semester I have improved on my organization but it is still something I have trouble with and do need to work on.

D.Q. #6

01 October 2015

Memoir Discussion Question

6a. Before I read this selection, the title suggested to me that this selection was going to be about a woman who lived in fear of someone or something. The title implies that she could never fully relax or even sleep because she had to constantly be watching her back. The woman could have been paranoid because she antagonized someone and might have caused them to retaliate against her.

b. After reading this selection, the title ties into the meaning of the cuento that was told during the selection. The cuento is about a women who marries one of the vicious gang members that terrorizes her community and attempts to kill her. She out smarts him and he finally asks for her forgiveness but because of that she always sleeps with one eye open. She doesn’t necessarily do it out of fear but she does it because of her courage and intelligence. “But as a writer, I choose to interpret the tale of the women who outmaneuvers the killer, who marries him so she does not have to fear him, as a metaphor of the creator” (80). “The transaction that took place between Maria Sabida and her assassin husband was a trade off on macho….. He understood that” (81).

c. I believe that the writer was trying to tell us that we need to be courageous and wake up from the person or thing that is keeping us hostage in fear. I believe that she wants us to have the courage to look at fear in a different way and have it work for us not the other way around.

“It is easier to sleep while life happens around you. Better to dream while others do. The writer recognizes the poisoned fruit. She may pretend to sleep and bear the pain of hot wax as she prepares herself for battle.” (81).

d. The title helps me figure out the significance of the selection because as my professor once told me, “Writers but purpose into the title” and so it helped me see that his selection was going to be about a women who slept with one eye open and not necessarily because of fear like I had originally thought but out of courage. It helps give away a piece of the selection without giving the whole thing away.

D.Q. #7

3 September 2015

Memoir Discussion Questions

7a. A character that really caught my interest was the Bishop because it surprises me to see how some people can be really stuck in their ways and not want to make a change for the better. It astonishes me how these people can have such a one-tracked mind and not be willing to understand why change is necessary to grow. They are stubborn and stuck in their ways and this character reminds me of my grandfather. My grandfather is a very old-fashioned man who believes that he is always right. In better terms “it’s his way or the highway”.

b. A major conflict that I can identify with within the book are the narrators misunderstanding and disagreements with her mother. I can personally relate to this because my grandmother and I share very opposite opinions about social issues like gender equality and gay marriage. For example, I once asked my grandmother what she would do if I was a lesbian and I remember her telling me that she would have kicked me out of the house. It shocked me to see that my own grandmother is one of those people who are stuck in their own beliefs and do anything to depend that no matter what the cost.

c. Some major problems that were raised in this selection were issues regarding women’s rights, women’s need to serve men, and issues within the Catholic religion. The problem that was solved was the issue regarding women’s rights and it was solved by Sister Rosetta. Sister Rosetta began a campaign to support the change in the traditional attire for a nun. The campaign was a success and in the end the nuns were able to change the way they dressed.

e. Something I have learned through the narrator is that it is okay to question the beliefs you were raised with. When I began to question my own beliefs, it felt extremely wrong but im starting to see that in order to grow as a person and choose my own future, questioning your beliefs is sometimes necessary. Through writing about this particular conflict of women’s rights, I have learned that as a women is it crucial that I stand up for what I deserve and what I believe is the right thing. Women are a minority even in this time and era of the twenty first century and that is something us, women, need to change. 

“Taking the Macho” In-Class Essay

            In the essay, “Taking the Macho” by Judith O. Cofer the narrator writes about empowering women artist. She uses a legend about the “Caribbean warrior women” and different scenarios to support her main concept of showing how women artist should have the courage to work towards their goals no matter what.  I learned two important and valuable lessons while reading “Taking the Macho” and they are: being a courageous independent women is rare but possible and that having fear is natural as long as you do not let it stop you.

            I grew up in a culture where men are superior to women and in reading this essay I have realized that, that is a norm I will not be a part of. The legend of the Caribbena warrior women is about these women who took charge of their own lives and did not serve men. The narrator uses imagery to project how the women’s attire itself was empowering and different; they were “dressed for battle”. Reading this essay opened my eyes to seeing how it is a possible to be a courageous independent women in a society that is superior to men. Although I was raised in a culture where I should serve a man their food first, I will take charge of my own life and not let my choices be because of a man. These women were attacked by the Christian men and “put up such a fight” to defend themselves and their values. Just because they were unknown to the rest of the world, they did not give in to the difference. They fought and paid no attention to the difference between a man and a woman. Being an independent women is very difficult because there are constant challenges that we face by men, but just because they throw me a curve ball, I refuse to be overthrown. I will not live by this norm that women will serve men I will be an independent and courageous women like those from the legend.

            Fear is a very powerful emotion that many people let take charge pf their lives, myself included. In this essay, I read about the constant struggles and fear that the narrator herself faced as a writer (artist). She describes it as a “paralyzing fear” that exposes her to the world and dares it to accept her even though she is constantly pointing out its flaws. However, she does not let that stop her from writing what she desires and writing about the truth. Fear has been a big part of my life because of my past and I almost let it stop me from continuing onto my future aspirations. In reading about the struggles that the narrator faced, Ive come to the realization that I cannot let it stop me. I will push through this fear because everyone has it, and although not everyone overcomes it; I will. I refuse to let fear rule my life any longer and although I will be “flying without a map” as the narrator says, I will march on. The narrator uses different allusions like Charles Lindbrgh and Christa McAuliffe to project ow there are other people out there who face the same issues but have the confidence and courage to overcome it. Now I have faith in myself to be able to say, “if they did it, I can too”.

            This essay is full of important and valuable lessons that I have stayed with me. However there are only two that I value the most and have made the biggest impact on me. Being independent and courageous are to personal traits that I did not always have and now that I do I am happier and have faith in who I am today. I have realized that not many women have these traits and it has caused me to value them all that much more. Being a child with a hard past, I have let fear run my life for a very long time. In reading this essay I now know that it is time I stop letting it take charge and stop letting the fear of my own past keep me from doing what I want to do.

Reader Response Questions for "My Rosetta"

Reader Response Questions:

7a. A character that really caught my interest was the Bishop because it surprises me to see how some people can be very adamant and unwilling to keep an open mind. It astonishes me to read about people who cannot or wont be willing to step outside the box to try and understand why change is something necessary for growth. This character reminds me of my grandfather because he too is a very "old-fashioned" man who believes it is his way or the highway.

b. A major conflict that I can identify with within the book is about women having to different rules or standards than men. When the narrator talks about how as she grew older she was allowed to spend less and less time outside because it was unsafe for a women, I could completely relate to her. There have been many times where my grandparents refuse to let me go out with my friends at night or go to a party because I am a girl and it is dangerous for someone my age to be out at that time. However, whenever my cousin who is a male asked, they allowed him to go.

c. Some major problems that were raised in this selection were issues regarding women's rights, women's need to serve men, and issues within the catholic religion. I felt like none of these problems were fully resolved. However, the problem that was to an extent resolved, was the issues about women's rights. It was resolved by Sister Rosetta's campaign to support the change in the traditional attire or a nun. Because of Sister Rosetta's campaign, the nuns were now able to wear a "reasonably lightweight, slate-blue outfits that did not come in the one-size-fits-all pattern of the old days" (Cofer18).

e. Something I have learned through the narrator is that it is okay to question the beliefs you were raised with. When I first began to question my beliefs, it felt like I was betraying my family. However, I am starting to realize that in order to grow as a person and choose my own future, questioning your belief system is necessary. Through writing about this particular conflict of women s rights, I have learned that as a women I hold more power than I think I do. Although it is up to me to stand up for what I believe in and use that power towards creating a change and balance between people within society.

"My Rosetta" by Judith O. Cofer in Women in Front of the Sun

"My Rosetta" by Judith O. Cofer in Women in Front of the Sun

Memoir Discussion Questions:

1a. Two main characters that I was introduced too during this chapter were Sister Rosetta and the Bishop. Two things that i learned about Sister Rosetta is that she is an unattractive nun and that she was the one who did all the routine work in the convent to help keep her busy and out of trouble. Two things I learned about the Bishop were that he held a very powerful position at the narrator's church and that he was someone that preferred "old traditions" and goes against change.

b. Two things I learned about the narrator herself was that she is someone who questions traditions. I also learned that she looked up to Sister Rosetta as a role model and supported Sister Rosetta's campaign to change the traditional attire for all catholic nuns. 

3a. The story for today was set in 1966 during the 60's era. 

b. This story took place in Patterson, New Jersey

4a. This chapter is about fourteen year old girl who begins to question traditions regarding her culture and religion. She tries to find her own path to her future. 

9a. Socio-Cultural issues are conflicts within certain traditions or norms in a society and cultural. 

c. Listing of Socio-Cultural Issues:

      1) Catholic religion

      2) Women's role to serve men

      3) Women's right

      4) Educational system