Senior Project Update

       Since I completed my project during the summer as I spent a week in the Dominican Republic with Somos Amigos Medical Missions, translating (and recording data from each patient visit) in a medical clinic for a pediatrician, I have not done a whole lot for my senior project in the last few weeks. In the next week I will need to get in touch with my mentor (the Executive Director and Founder of Somos Amigos) to complete the mentor contract. Keeping in touch with my mentor may be a bit tricky - everything will need to be done over the internet since my mentor lives in Seattle. 
       This week I will also need to conduct the interview. Although I verbally asked him many questions about the organization and when/how it was founded, back in June, I will ask him questions that pertain more to my project. This will include questions regarding the average age of the patients we saw throughout the week in June and their illnesses (since formal data was recorded), and I will inquire about the amount of surgeries that Somos Amigos provides for children (specifically those that I translated for). I will also ask him some more basic information about the start of the organization, and what his inspiration was for founding the clinic.
        I will also begin to compile research about health in the Dominican Republic, with an emphasis on health in rural areas for my research paper. I plan on including details about the cost, availability, and overall level of their healthcare system. 

Drugs by Gore Vidal - writing #3

        I agree with Vidal's statement that "each man has the right to do what he wants with his own life as long as he does not interfere with his neighbors pursuit of happiness" (par 3). However, if his actions are illegal, he must accept the legal consequences if caught. Although many may think that it is the government's job to enforce the laws and make people abide by them, people will still become drug addicts. No law will stop them from acquiring the illegal material.
        I have examined Vidal's assumption that those with drugs are not threats to their neighbors, and I partially agree with this statement. Personally, I would not feel comfortable living across the street from someone that has easy access to drugs. Most likely, dangerous and not mentally stable people would visit their home to buy the drugs. However, a recent article on CBS news about a teenager in Ohio that sold $20,000 worth of marijuana, states that his neighbors were not aware of his actions. It was not until authorities went into his home and confiscated the drugs that his neighbors were informed. To address my worry about dangerous people roaming around the neighborhood, one neighbor was interviewed and said, "We just thought he has a lot of friends." Clearly, the neighbors lives were not negatively affected by the teenagers actions.

Response to Banneker

link

Politics and the English Language

I enjoyed reading Politics and the English Language by George Orwell and I agree with his harsh critique of language in the present day, especially when it pertains to political speeches.

The structure of the essay began by outlining his argument and viewpoint and then included several sub-headings, Dying Metaphors, Operators or Verbal False Limbs, PRetentious Diction, and Meaningless Words. Although the piece is known to use many examples, these sub-headings divide the types of “bad writing” and classify them as being part of one of the 4 types. The category that rang most true for me was “pretentious diction.” Many times, I have tried to improve my writing by inserting “flowery” words, and I agree with Orwell in that this use of diction usually just makes the writing vague. Shorter, more concise diction is more effective in pinpointing my exact thought or purpose.

  Throughout the essay, Orwell includes many examples of passages he considers to be “bad language.” The most effective example is the verse from Ecclesiastes. Orwell includes a translation of this verse into modern or “bad” language. The modern passage includes big and sophisticated words (“pretentious diction”) but it seems to have no relation to the verse it is translating due to its vagueness. Here, Orwell shows the effectiveness of clear, concise language.

A rhetorical device that Orwell mentions is metaphor. Simply put, metaphors often times serve to create more confusion. Instead of directly addressing an object or abstract idea, it is described using other words that draw the reader’s attention to something completely different, clearly contributing to the vagueness of a phrase. 

Another main aspect of this essay is Orwell’s comments about how such bad language affects politics. He states that politicians become machines as they deliver their boring, vague speeches. They lack fresh and vivid language and to the audience it is as if they are watching “some kind of dummy.” Orwell’s comments about speech givers can be paralleled quite well to church-goers who utter the prayers and responses “almost unconsciously” without thinking about the meaning. As a church goer myself, I know that this is very true and I have caught myself doing this on numerous occasions. 

It is interesting that he comments on how political speeches are a way of covering up the truth. It is very common for politicians to cover up events of war and destruction. But are they to blame when every normal citizen does this on a daily basis? As a society, we have become very concerned with others’ sensitivity; for example, we often choose to say “pass away” as a euphemism for death. A person does not pass away, a person dies, but society chooses to use the sugar-coated version.

The Hairpin

     The blog I have chosen to focus on is The Hairpin. Within are numerous subtopics, such as fun experiments, culture, politics, youth, pets, and beauty. Although they could be relatable to both genders, it seems that most of the articles are aimed at capturing the attention of females (the name of the blog also hints at this). Within each subtopic, there are many articles that comment on common issues, questions, and concerns that women have. One article in the beauty section, is a question and answer titled, "Mystifying Dress Codes and the Great Bra Hunt." The title itself is humerous and the article contains information about everything from hair dyeing to bra sizes to popular stores such as Forever 21. Within each article, there are many links, such as a link to the "best salons" that are helpful and informative.
     The Hairpin contains funny, cute projects such as How to Make Albino Black Widow Spider Deviled Eggs, and generally strays from serious controversial topics. This makes it light and fun to go on. While scrolling through, many article titles caught my eye. I began clicking on each title that I saw, and then realized I had spent too much time just aimlessly reading. Although many of the articles are somewhat "useless" on an intellectual level, they are fun and interesting. If a female needs a light read, or some advice on what to wear or how to do her hair, this is the blog to go to.

Research Paper Topic Post

Topic: Stem Cell Research

Controversy: Stem Cell Research has the potential to be the cure to many life threatening diseases. However, many of the stem cells are taken from aborted fetuses. The argument is, does it make sense to kill a life to save one? And, should humans be messing with what is natural?

Resources: I will use print sources and those on the internet. My dad knows someone who has conducted research on stem cells, so hopefully I would be able to come in contact with him and ask about his work.

Emotional investment: I am very interested in science and medicine, so this would be a good opportunity for me to learn more about cells and the human body. Perhaps I will conduct research of my own in the future.

Popularity: I am sure this topic has been done before. If I can come in contact with someone who actually is involved with stem cell research, I would bring a purely scientific and firsthand account of an advancement in science.

Is all the aforementioned okay? Should I narrow it somehow?

Personal Chocie Blog - Compare and Contrast

        

SAT vs. ACT?

        Everyone who intends to go to a four year institution knows that the SAT is a key component of an application. However, many are not familiar with the ACT, another standardized test very similar to the SAT. Colleges accept either test, but each test has some stark differences. Certain qualities about the SAT and ACT may be favorable to one student, but detrimental to another.
        One of the main differences is in the scoring. The ACT is scored out of 36, while the SAT is out of 2400. In terms of the subjects within the tests, both include math, reading, and writing, but the ACT also has a science section. Is previous knowledge required to do well on this section? The answer is no; most of the questions involve analyzing a graph or the results of a scientific experiment. The SAT and ACT also differ in the structural breakdown of the sections. On the SAT, there are 3 math sections, 3 reading, and 3 writing, plus an essay, that are numbered in a random order with most sections lasting 25 minutes. In the ACT however, there is one section for each subject; therefore, each section ranges from 35 to 60 minutes.      
        Before taking both the SAT and the ACT, the proctor goes through instructions that last for roughly 30 minutes. This includes, "no phones, no writing after time is called, or else..." Both are extremely strict; students cannot even reenter the room after a bathroom break without showing their admission ticket and ID. It seems a bit over the top, but in the past their have been numerous cheating scandals in which older students (college level) have been paid by high schoolers to take the SAT for them. This can be attributed to the very high stress level that the SAT and ACT imposes on students. Both tests are a crucial part of the college application process, and can often times make or break a student's acceptance into a college. 

         After finishing this five hour test, some students feel relieved and confident, while others find themselves with an even lower self esteem and more stress.

Let's face it, both of these tests are difficult; but a lot of studying and practice tests can result in high test scores and eliminate some of the stress.  It's a drag, but it just might be worth it when you get an acceptance letter from a great university.

Just don't write in pen...



Teenager (Girl imitation essay)

Teenager (in the style of Girl by Jamaica Kincaid)

I Want a Husband

My own mother is a wife and a house-maker. She had a job in the past, but now she gets to enjoy her time leisurely, cleaning and cooking. She has a husband, and is therefore supported financially, and does not have to worry about how to pay the bills. Upon seeing the huge benefits to having a supportive male counterpart, I decided that I want a husband. 

I want a husband who will fix anything and everything that needs fixing. I want a husband who will fix the television when static comes on the screen. I want a husband who will fix the computer when the screen dies. I want a husband who will take out the trash before it begins to stink up the entire kitchen. I want a husband who will mow the lawn. I want a husband who loves to play catch outside with my son for hours to get the children out of the house. 

I want a husband who will always act out of his own interests before thinking of mine. I want a husband who will throw his dirty clothes and shoes on the perfectly vacuumed floor. I want a husband who will always leave the toilet seat up after urinating. I want a husband who does not bother to wipe remains of urine off of the toilet seat. I want a husband who constantly forgets to flush the toilet. I want a husband who will come home from work exhausted, and then lie on the couch for hours to watch football. I want a husband who cannot cook nor do laundry. I want a husband who believes that I will make him a sandwich whenever he pleases. I want a husband who belches and performs other bodily functions after a meal. I want a husband who cringes at the thought of changing my baby’s diaper. I want a husband who snores loudly to ensure that I do not fall asleep. 

I want a husband who will support me financially. I want a husband who makes enough money so that I do not have to work. I want a husband who buys me gifts like diamond earrings and necklaces to buy my happiness. I want a husband who wastes an entire year’s salary on a sports car that he does not need. I want a husband who spends his bonus on a new motorcycle. 

With all the benefits a husband brings to the household and to the family, I cannot imagine why anyone wouldn’t want a husband.