Reflection, week three

a. At what moment did you feel most engaged with what you were learning?  Be specific.  Was it while reading, writing for the online discussion forum, while thinking about the class, or while talking to others about it?   Why was this the moment when you felt most engaged?

I felt most engaged while reading my committee’s essay “what is an American?”   It is great to know and learn what everyone’s opinion’s are about what it meant to be an American.  I also liked writing the comments and the discussion forum, genre of ghost thrill stories.

 b. How do you feel when you post your work and an audience outside of a professor reads and comments on it?  Does it change how or what you write?  It is nice to get comments on my work from anyone; it helps me to improve my writing skills.  So far I didn’t get a comment on my blog site but will read the committee’s comments.
c. What action did the professors or another student take that you found most helpful or affirming?

Currently there is none but I hope for the future.
d. What action did anyone take that you found most puzzling or confusing?  Why?  How did you overcome your confusion?  I was confused about the assignment to read my “big picture” essay for the week?  It might be a simple thing but I thought was confusing to me because I couldn’t find the reading.  I will ask Dr. Brandon in class.
e. What about the reading and discussion has surprised you?

The discussion didn’t surprise me but I had to read some of Poe’s work and biography to be familiar and write on the discussion forum.  The reading as always cannot understand because of the style of writing but I try anyways.
f. What new thoughts did you have about being an American from writing on the subject and reading the essays of your committee members?  What did you think about that you hadn’t thought for a long time?  

 I don’t have any new thoughts about being an American but as I was writing a lot of thoughts came to mind that I didn’t think about lately.  Reading my committees essay was a great way to have a diverse opinion of what it meant to be an American.  It helped to express a common share of our opinions whether it is positive or negative.   I wasn’t born in the U.S. but I am a naturalized citizen, so being an American Citizen means a lot to me.  I always thought about it but never expressed it out loud or in writing until now.    

Maryland Committee comments "What is an American?"

Katie’s essay includes good examples as America operates like a big ship and every sailor (citizen) has a job or to complete their obligation.  Katie also mentions the freedom and how people can express their opinions without any fear of punishment.  I liked these points she pointed out, but he essay could be elaborated more and add details rather than generalization.  I really liked Austin’s essay it is well explained and clear to understand.  The freedom and independence in America, the federal and state laws, the distinct classes in U.S. tells a lot of information.  The format of his writing is great and accomplishes the main purpose also tells the history of immigration and current conditions.  David’s essay expresses how America is conveyed through the news media and by other countries.  David’ telling the history of past wars changed America and learned from the mistakes.  I like how David describes how Americans are not as what the media says. The format is good but could be more of the present day America as giving information on what to expect to a possible immigrant.        Brad’s Essay meets the letter format but the font is too small to read.  Overall I enjoyed the essay; he made good points about being an American.  Brad used his Boy Scout law experience to describe what an American is.  The eleven points he described are true American values.  I know I do most of them automatically and reading this made me aware of the things I could do more often.  I think the essay gives good description to what an American is, but it might also help to add more information about the Country.   These are the completed essay posts except for Gregory’s from my committee of correspondence Maryland.  I will add the one when Gregory’s essay post is completed.  It is interesting to read others opinion and what it means to them to be an American. 

Eng. 241. Week Two Reflection

A) At what moment did you feel most engaged with what you were learning?  Be specific.  Was it while reading, writing for the online discussion forum, while thinking about the class, or while talking to others about it?   Why was this the moment when you felt most engaged?

B) At what moment did you feel most distant from what the class was doing and what you were learning?  Again, be specific and explain why.

C) What action did the professors or another student take that you found most helpful or affirming?

D) What action did anyone take that you found most puzzling or confusing?  Why?  How did you overcome your confusion?

E) What about the reading and discussion has surprised you?

A)    I felt most engaged when Dr. Brandon was lecturing specially about the (Native Indians) Cherokee story telling tradition, and how they solve a problem comparing to Europeans.  I am interested to know and learn American History and it is part of this class. I was also interested and engaged when listening Early American songs, e.g. “Battle Hymn of  the Republic” 

B)    I have not felt distant in class from what the class was doing or learning so far.  I had a little bit of a challenge trying to interpret while reading the “Letter 111” and the Poem.

C)    Since it is only two weeks there hasn’t been that kind of action from teacher or student.  I want to say though I like how Dr. Brandon encourages us to ask questions and learn from each other’s opinions and discussion online or in classroom.

D)    Like I mentioned above there hasn’t been any incident so far where someone took action to help solve confusion.  I look forward to that in the future where we feel comfortable to learn from one another and help when it is needed. 

E)     The reading wasn’t a surprise because I expected it would be difficult to comprehend.  I didn’t think I would like reading “Letter 111” but as I read slowly and repeatedly it became interesting. I could relate to what he is trying to tell about America but in different time and style of writing.

What is an American?

                                                 

An American can not be defined by wealth or skin color, culture and language.  An American doesn’t have one skin color, it can be of many colors and sizes and shapes.  Regardless of someone’s appearance or looks, culture, money and fortune anyone can be an American. 

An American is anyone who comes from different parts of the world or speaks many other languages.   America is a “melting pot” of all different kinds of people, tradition, culture, race and religion.  America opens the door for those who knock for opportunity and for all to work hard and achieve “The American dream”.  An American does not settle for less but works hard to improve and wants more than average wealth than started with.  An American is hard worker and believes to have a better future and accomplish the American dream, big house, cars, and family.   

There is opportunity for everyone, it does not matter whether you are rich or poor there is a chance to make a successful career and life.  The advantage of scholarship and financial aid and loans will help to get an education even if someone could not afford to pay for college.  So these different programs benefit and assist someone through life.  There are many chances and choices for education through different institutions that are offered by public, private and government.  Anyone who wants an educational goal and dream to become someone can achieve it by working at it and trying hard.  It is possible that everyone has a chance to make something of them in America.

An American is, generous, honest and kind who like to help any individual, neighbors, community and even another country in need.  Being an American is to have freedom of speech, whether it is in the form of public media or for any individuals who like to express their opinions about the country, government, politics, the economy or news.  

 An American can be a person whose religion is Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Jewish.   Is free to practice any religion, also has a right not to follow or practice any religion at all.   There is acceptance of gender and sex preference to whom a person whishes to love or be with.  Open mind to all different homosexual and gay individuals to have a right like heterosexuals.   Gay couples can adopt children and in some states they can get married.

  An American culture is all about entertainment from movies, music of different kinds, electronic gadgets like cell phones and computers, fashion trends, sports, games and amusement parks.   A lot of choices and supplies for anything one wants and needs to buy in stores from materials and tools to basic household items 

The food in America is easy, low price and convenient to buy if you work too much and do not have time to cook.  There is always fast food and snacks of course lots carbonated drinks.  Someone from a different culture without their knowledge could get used to or addicted to these processed foods.  It is not healthy to eat fast food on a daily basis and better to eat a healthier choice whether at home or in restaurants.  This is very important here in America because of the increasing number of obesity rates.

In America, there are wider roads, highways, huge bridges and great transportation systems.  A lot of industries, factories, Hospitals and shopping malls/centers and grocery stores in every county in one state this creates jobs also help the community and country.   

There are a lot of crime and drug use that happens in America, it might be more or less in some states and cities.  On the news there has never been a time where they did not report any kind of crime.  Everybody has to be careful and watch out from becoming a crime victim, sometimes no one knows where and when a bad thing is going to happen.  Just like all the nice things someone hears and sees about America this is the bad and the risk someone have to take.   America is the best country in the world and I am proud to be an American.