writing reflection 3

Writing has never been a strong suit for me. I always try to get out of writing when I can. I guess the schools I attended were not geared to teaching students to the fullest. I have not written so much then I have in the last 4 months. I can say that I‘ve improved a little. I have a long way to go to get to the level I want to be. I have a hard time finding the right thing to say at a particular moment. Words on paper are such a challenge for me. Some speakers can make it look so easy to speak and find the words to say or write. I wonder sometime how they can find words from out of nowhere. Is it a gift that only some people have the privilege to behold? I wonder how it feels to be able to speak so fluently and with the greatest of ease. As I read more and communicate more with people, I find more interest in getting better with my words, on paper and oral. In recent years, I can say language and written communication for me has become more important. Some days I want to be able to speak to thousands of people and have some wish they could speak as well as I do. Until then, I will continue to work on my writing skills and communication abilities. I guess I have a little interest in words. Words will always be a challenge for me. The attraction is not totally there yet. I feel in my heart that words will come to me with ease and I will be that speaker that everyone admirers. English 111 has been a stepping stone to my goal of writing with purpose.

WEBLOG 5

Will Okun focus is on the influence of ethnicity in the classroom. How crucial is personal experience to knowledge and understanding. I feel that it helps to experience what you are teaching to a group of students. Teaches can offer more to the subject then just what’s in a textbook. Personal experience can help others to understand what they can’t understand in a text. It’s not crucial to have personal experience, but you can get more in-depth with whatever you as a teach with something you seen first hand. I believe racism still exist in America. Racism is something that makes no sense. Racism even reaches our classroom. Some teachers racially profile students just by how they dress or how they carry themselves. Some teaches feel more comfortable with teaching their own race. So, those teachers give more to the students they identify with them. They show more concern with students of their own race. I have experience this in high school. Most of my teachers were white and some went out of their way to help to make sure white students were ready for college or trade school and so on. When it came to me and my peers, we were not given as much help with college preparation or advice on the work force. However, I have had white teachers that were color blind and gave 100% to all their students regardless of race. White teachers can honestly and effectively teach African Americans students when some can eliminate race and focus on teaching our future leaders. And that goes both ways when it comes to white and black teachers. We are for the most part guilty of some kind of racism and we all need to fix this.

WRITING FELECTION 2

George Orwell has a list of great motives for writing prose and believes they exist in every writer. I’m motivated by many different reasons and purpose. I don’t typically write that often. But when I do, there is something pushing me to write with sheer egoism. I feel the motive of writing for me would be the desire to seem clever and for people to talk about my story. I seek to please my readers in every way. I want readers to thirst for more. I believe most people crave for others to except or enjoy what they have to say. I write simply to make readers think in a wider spectrum. I write not only to help people see the obvious, but to see things that are not obvious… but the biggest motivation for writing would have to be potential grade on my weblogs and essay assignments. When students are assigned writing assignments, their sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse or political purpose are put into full gear

WEBLOG 4

Stanley Fish has his own opinion on students writing about ideas or themes. Idea and themes that produce arguments on specific topics can help students with thinking skills. I disagree with what Fish says about focusing on just content. I think form and content go hand and hand to create clear and coherent writing. Composition courses in my opinion teaches students to read a topic, evaluate what the topic is saying and learn to use critical thinking skills to discuss or argue over the topics at hand. That involves more then just sitting around a dorm room or a coffee shop. Most people just say what’s on their mind at that moment when sitting with friends. For the most part, critical thinking does not come into play when you have simple chit chat with friends over coffee. I’m currently in a composition course that requires students to write with form and content. The assignment that I’m working on now focuses on producing argument on a specific topic. I don’t think that boring at all. As a student in this class helps you with annotate as you read, analyze what you think the writer is saying and produce what Fish calls dull arguments about worn out topics. I believe that reading stories, novels, newspaper articles and the New York Times, contemplate over what you read then write your opinion on the piece of writing can be extremely challenging. When you have to take what someone else has written, understand what they said and come with a way to reply develops your critical thinking and simulates your mind. Fish is entitled to his opinion and can say what he wants to about ideas, themes, and dull arguments and how content equals to coffee talk. Opinion is all he offers you.

Weblog 3

Harold bloom claiming that reading J.K. Rowling’s books only prepares children for reading Stephen King’s books is the same as saying kids that play with guns will grow up to be a gun collector or use a gun to kill someone. I totally disagree with his assumption with kids and what they read now will influence what they read in the future. Most kids read what is interesting and what is popular. As you grow into adulthood, you tend to read types of material that is relevant to you and your everyday life. We read types of books that keep your attention for more than a few minutes. I believe that reading is a very important tool in life no matter what kind of books you are reading. Every book does not have to be English literature or written by novelist Saul Bellow to be consider adequate writing. J.K.Rowling writes fiction novels for people to enjoy of all ages. Bloom does not know what “Harry Potter” will lead children to read later in life. My daughter has read all of the “Harry Potter” books and read each of them that range from 700 to 800 pages in a matter of days. They were reading material that improves a person reading ability and speed. She takes advance classes in high school and reads all material that is assigned to her with no problem. She reads a wide variety of books but not Stephen kings books. She does not like most of his scary novels. Most people I know don’t start learning to read English romantic poetry. I think people who love to read will seek more in-depth literature written by the likes of William Blake and Samuel Taylor. Just to get a child to pick up a book on their own is great thing weather it’s Shakespeare or its “Harry Potter”. We need to encourage kids to read more and their love for reading will grow in many different directions.

Reflections 1: why i sing

I sing to praise the lord. I sing when I’m happy. I sing when I’m sad. I sing when I feel afraid. I sing to comfort me. I sing because I love to sing. I sing when I’m lost. I sing to my wife. I sing to make love. I sing when a loved one passes away. I sing when I’m bored. I sing to encourage god’s children. I sing with a great passion. I sing to motivate. I sing when I can’t sing no more. I sing to strengthen my heart and soul. I sing for the joy that it gives me. I sing for the cheers. I sing for the criticism. I sing to grow in spirit. I sing to learn god’s word. I sing to inspire. I sing to captivate. I song when I’m tired. I sing when I’m energized. I sing when I’m worried. I sing when I’m care free. I sing when I’m in love. I sing when I’m lonely. I sing when I’m hungry. I sing when I’m full. I sing for that feeling of excitement. I sing for the blood rush. I sing to soothe the mind. I sing to carry on a family tradition. I sing because I was born to sing. I sing to teach. I sing when no one can hear me. I sing when I wash the dishes. I sing when I clean. I sing when life is unbearable. I sing to win. I sing to lose. I sing to gain wisdom. I sing to satisfy. I sing to the world. I sing to spread love. I sing because its fun. I sing to myself. I sing to my family. I sing because my soul is free. I sing because Jesus loves me. I sing to express my feelings. I sing with every part of my being. I sing when I reach my last breath. I sing to give god the glory.

Weblog 2

Making a hard decision

It was the summer of my senior year in high school. Sweat beading from my forhead while I stood in front of lower classmen waiting for my leadership. I should have no problem with something I’ve been doing for five years and something I grew to love.my mind wondering here and there about what the future holds for me. Band camp was near its end for the last time . I hear the military recruiter in my ear,” Military is the best thing out here for you. We pay for your education, we give you money and three square meals a day.” That was fine, but marching band was the one thing I loved and wanted to do in college and drum corp. I had to decide by the end of the year, because my father said,” you go to school or you move out and find a joband a place to stay.
The beginning of my senior year, I was named drumline captain and during concert season, I was earned first chair on trumpet. I played solos with my trumpet and wrote percussion music during marching season. the military was the last thing on my mind. Marching season was coming to a closes and concert season soon after. Graduation was fastly approaching. I had no clue what to do about college. My father didn’t gave me guidance on what to do. I know I wanted to perform or teach music, but how to pursue that was another story. The recruiter’s voice was even louder in my ear. It made a lot of sense to join the military, but I was so afraid to go into something you hear horror stories or how hard it is to get through basic training. I loved music and the band, but I had to choose and real soon.
In the fall of 2008, woodside marching drumline looks at me before their performance. As a first year drumline instructor, I remember the time I was in their shoes. Sweating bullets as they wait to go on. I gave them words of encouragement and confidence I learned in the military.

Weblog 1: Embracing Manhood

People define manhood in their own unique way. Manhood is what most boys try to achieve. Fathers are usually the ones who teach their sons how to become a man. What it means to be a man. What makes you a man? When do you become a man? Some boys never reach manhood for one reason or another. Some try to reach manhood, but it always seems too far to grasp. Some haven’t been taught what manhood stands for. Hence, some of us start on this journey with no idea which way to go. So far from reaching, touching, embracing and becoming a man.

John Nick Arrington Jr. was my father’s name. I knew him my whole life. The time I lived with him, I can’t remember one time he sat me down and talk to me about what it meant to be a man. I knew my dad, but he was not the best role model out there. I didn’t know what a man was in this crazy world. I raised myself for the most part of my life. A lot of time to myself. My father was either with his girlfriend or with his other friends. I had to learn thing in life on my own. As a young boy, that could have been the worst thing for me. I know now that god had my back. I left my father’s house and entered into the military.

Time in the military, I was able to see a lot of thing when it dealt with manhood. I experience difference cultures. I saw how men from difference backgrounds were. This was a big eye opener. I learned their values and beliefs from their culture. The military is where I found my wife and daughter. Jaylen , my son, comes later. This was a big step towards manhood. I learned more from my family on manhood than from any other source. I thank god for my family.

I believe, when it comes to manhood, you do what’s right for you and your family. It’s hard to do right by your family, when you had limited teaching. You learn as you go in life. Life teaches you and helps you to understand more everyday. I’m learning to be a better husband, father, worker, son and brother. I believe that’s what manhood is all about. Make yourself better than yesterday. We choose to do what we do. No one’s to blame but us. Be a better man than the one that brought you here. Embrace manhood.

hello class

Hi. My name is Andrae Arrington. This is my second semester with Tidewater community college. I’m majoring in business admin specializing in accounting.  I’m married with two kids. One is 16 and the other 5 years old. I work with the US Postal Service. I’ve been with the post office for 5 years. I’m looking forward to taking and completing English 111.

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