StACC ENGLISH 100
Student learning outcomes
1. Write cogent, well-developed arguments that clearly articulate a thesis supported by textual evidence
Why is it important to have an identity?
For me the word "Identity" means a lot. I had always struggled with my authentic voice. I never knew how important it was to have one. Throughout the first years in high school, that was were I truly learned to speak up for my self and voice my opinions.
"So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become" (The Danger of a Single Story).
This excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED talk spoke levels to me. Although I could not directly relate to her story, her underlining theme of the video is what I could relate with. The theme of people assuming things after hearing one story. That is what I had to deal with for most of my life. Many teachers assumed I could not pass a class, or bullies assumed I could never fight back. It is a dangerous cycle that most should learn to break by challenging the stereotypes they are faced with.
For me the word "Identity" means a lot. I had always struggled with my authentic voice. I never knew how important it was to have one. Throughout the first years in high school, that was were I truly learned to speak up for my self and voice my opinions.
"So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become" (The Danger of a Single Story).
This excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED talk spoke levels to me. Although I could not directly relate to her story, her underlining theme of the video is what I could relate with. The theme of people assuming things after hearing one story. That is what I had to deal with for most of my life. Many teachers assumed I could not pass a class, or bullies assumed I could never fight back. It is a dangerous cycle that most should learn to break by challenging the stereotypes they are faced with.
2. Read critically by summarizing, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating college-level texts
"I will overcome the tradition of silence" (30).
One of my favorite texts from this semester had to have been a excerpt from "Readings for Revolutionary Writing"
The text was Gloria Anzaldua's, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" The author in this section in the book boldly talks about the oppression Chicanos face in their culture, in the language that they speak; the native tongue that they use. It touches on the topic of self-conflict and empowerment in facing these struggles of having to adapt to the American pressures to fit in their societal mold. The author talks about the different variations of her language, what identity means to her and what she chooses to define herself as regardless of exterior influences. She also talks about the history behind her culture and language, with the help of drop-quotes, how it has changed throughout many years, and her hopes for the future. Her hopes for the future include to leave behind the laws, and customs of Americans on Chicano natives, and how it should not and will not change her and united people, the mestizos.
"I will overcome the tradition of silence" (30).
One of my favorite texts from this semester had to have been a excerpt from "Readings for Revolutionary Writing"
The text was Gloria Anzaldua's, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" The author in this section in the book boldly talks about the oppression Chicanos face in their culture, in the language that they speak; the native tongue that they use. It touches on the topic of self-conflict and empowerment in facing these struggles of having to adapt to the American pressures to fit in their societal mold. The author talks about the different variations of her language, what identity means to her and what she chooses to define herself as regardless of exterior influences. She also talks about the history behind her culture and language, with the help of drop-quotes, how it has changed throughout many years, and her hopes for the future. Her hopes for the future include to leave behind the laws, and customs of Americans on Chicano natives, and how it should not and will not change her and united people, the mestizos.
Some of my annotations from the essay.
3. Select, evaluate, interpret, and synthesize sources in the service of an argument;
"Although identity can be simply defined as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual” (Webster’s new collegiate dictionary, 1979, p. 563), it is a construct with broad meaning. It has social as well as individual elements and has meaning at the intra-psychic, interpersonal, intergroup, and international levels. It is a dynamic construct that undergoes change at various stages of one’s life and in different historical eras (Erikson, 1986) Traditionally, identity is linked with self-concept and self-reflection, and includes beliefs about who we are as well as who we hope to be. It is, in part, a way of locating oneself in the world (Baumeister, 1997; James, 1892/1984). It describes who we are like and unlike, to whom we are connected, and from whom we are separate. It is also laced with an evaluative element, describing who is worthy and who is worthless, that can motivate biased perceptions and interpretations in an attempt to bolster one’s sense of self-worth. We form a sense of ourselves based in part on the feedback we receive about ourselves from others (Cooley, 1902; Mead, 1934), resulting in an identity that can be self-generated as well as imposed from the outside" (Justice and Identity: Changing Perspectives on What Is Fair).
This essay argues the definition of identity and what could define it.
"Although identity can be simply defined as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual” (Webster’s new collegiate dictionary, 1979, p. 563), it is a construct with broad meaning. It has social as well as individual elements and has meaning at the intra-psychic, interpersonal, intergroup, and international levels. It is a dynamic construct that undergoes change at various stages of one’s life and in different historical eras (Erikson, 1986) Traditionally, identity is linked with self-concept and self-reflection, and includes beliefs about who we are as well as who we hope to be. It is, in part, a way of locating oneself in the world (Baumeister, 1997; James, 1892/1984). It describes who we are like and unlike, to whom we are connected, and from whom we are separate. It is also laced with an evaluative element, describing who is worthy and who is worthless, that can motivate biased perceptions and interpretations in an attempt to bolster one’s sense of self-worth. We form a sense of ourselves based in part on the feedback we receive about ourselves from others (Cooley, 1902; Mead, 1934), resulting in an identity that can be self-generated as well as imposed from the outside" (Justice and Identity: Changing Perspectives on What Is Fair).
This essay argues the definition of identity and what could define it.
analyzing past assignments
5. Use effective strategies for pre-writing, composing, and revising of essays.
The changes between my essays from the beginning of the semester until now have vastly improved when it comes to contextual content. The feed back I received for my Narrative essay and Blended Literary Synthesis essay's have shown the academic progress so far.
Although there is things that I could improve on, I am proud of the good praise along with the critique because I can learn from the mistakes and work on what needs to be fixed for future assignments.
"Recent research has suggested that bullying behavior may be understood as a group process, where those involved act in ways predicted by social identity theory (Ojala & Nesdale, 2004). One relevant phenomenon is the black sheep effect, whereby individuals evaluate deviant members of their in-group more negatively than that of an out-group" (Rotten Apple or Rotten Barrel? Social Identity and Children's Responses to Bullying).
This quote resonates with me because when I was writing about my personal experiences, at the time, I did not realize how those experiences could of affected my own identity.
This quote resonates with me because when I was writing about my personal experiences, at the time, I did not realize how those experiences could of affected my own identity.
What I've learned as a reader, writer, and critical thinker
One of the many things I have learned about as a reader is that it is easier to annotate and read at the same time than it is to “chunk” all of the reading in one session. As a writer, I found that the benefit of annotating has helped with my development of my topic and thesis statements. As a critical thinker, analyzing texts has now become an easier thing for me to do. When you analyze something, the hidden details in a text can be subconscious clues from the author to the reader. Over the course of the semester it was difficult to adjust to the workload at first, but now I find that it is a challenge that it not only good for me, but for my other courses as well. I say this because in my other course, College 1, we also had the opportunity to analyze several texts. I found that my analyzing techniques from this class helped me find things that I probably would have overlooked before.
"It is impossible to come down on one side or the other of the endurance/perdurance debate without a clear and unambiguous understanding of what ‘endurance’ is. ‘Perdurance’ is clear enough" (What is a one-level criterion of identity?).
Perdurance meaning the philosophical idea behind identity and endurance.
Perdurance meaning the philosophical idea behind identity and endurance.
has my mindset changed?
Yes my mindset has changed, especially for English. The mindset I had from the beginning of the semester to now has changed from a set mindset to a growth mindset. I have noticed that when I am faced with an assignment I’ll put more effort into setting time aside and finishing it faster than I probably would have if I had just done it last minute. Much like an authentic voice, the effort that you put into anything must come from within.
Quotes from other readings
"The secret of seeing, then, is the pearl of great price" (115).
"I knew I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life" (288).
"I knew I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life" (288).