Reyes, Delilah

Instr. Gross

English 103

February 25, 2011

The Power of Speech- I Have A Dream

            Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech is well know and has been a symbolism of freedom for many years.  The power of language against injustice captivated many people to take action and regain their natural rights.  His speech is hopeful, inspiring, assertive, and very repetitive, which allowed him to use his language in a very powerful way.  “I Have a Dream” was delivered in the Lincoln Memorial which was dedicated after President Abraham Lincoln.  President Lincoln was most memorable for the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery in all the southern states.  The Lincoln memorial was created to commemorate his achievements and stands in Washington D.C. as a symbol of freedom.  Dr. King’s speech was delivered in a very appropriate place, as the monument stands tall with symbolism of the hard work and dedication president Lincoln did.  The strong message perhaps would not have been as memorable or impact if it would have been delivered in New York City, a free state, or in California’s vast plains.  The speech had to be delivered in the most memorable and significant place, The Lincoln Memorial.  Dr. King’s speech makes his audience relate emotionally.  He reminds the audience that although they are “free,” how free were they when they were being persecuted segregated and treated under very shameful conditions?  He stresses the fact that the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, written by our forefathers, gave them the right of being free men.  It also guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  He uses an analogy of a check as being a promise that these rights would be guaranteed to every man and women in the country.  Since African Americans have not been given privilege to exercise those rights, they have traveled to the nation’s capital to cash their checks.  His speech highlighted the little to no change that had occurred since the Civil War and Lincoln’s Proclamation which had occurred more than one hundred years ago.  He was proposing change, the end to violence form both regular citizens and law enforcement.  The use of repetition of “I have a dream,” imbedded his view of an equal society, one which everyone, black or white, could live together and prosper.  He urged people not to be satisfied with the minor accomplishments they had reached and only to be satisfied when they had truly reached racial justice.  His memorable speech made a strong footprint in the fight for equality, an excelled the passage of the Civil Rights Act.  The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in public places, integrated schools, public places and made employment discrimination illegal.  Dr. King’s efforts had made a huge impact in the fight for civil rights, but unfortunately there was huge opposition to the Civil Rights Act.  Violence against African American’s could still be seen in many parts of the South.  Dr. King’s speech will continue to inspire change against injustice and promote tolerance amongst others, regardless of race or gender.   

English as a second language

Reyes, Dalia

Instr. Gross

English 103

February 15, 2011

English as a Second Language

            It was third grade when I first realized that I had a huge disadvantage in the language known as English.  Coming from a Spanish speaking household, reading, writing and speech were my weakest areas.  I was no ordinary child, the daughter of a single mother, my younger sister’s role model, and with no other family to depend on, asking for help and receiving that help was never easy.  My mother worked a full time job and would normally arrive around six or seven a clock at night.  We would have dinner and then I would work on any remaining homework I had not yet completed.  It was very difficult for my mother to provide any assistance with school, although she would always do her best to help with whatever little she could.  She attempted to help me with math, but unfortunately reading and writing was always left for me to do on my own since we were both facing a language barrier.  Regrettably there were no cousins, uncles, or a father for that matter that could be of any assistance.  I faced a learning barrier, one which I would have to overcome all by my self.  With the help of the education system, I knew that I had to continue to give school my best effort, as it was my only survival method.  Shortly after I was placed in ESL classes, which helped simplify and allow me to understand the material that was being taught in class.  Looking back now, it is no surprise that as an elementary student, I would completely forget all the information and instructions given to me in order to complete a homework assignment.  School was not a big interest.

            I disliked going to school everyday, due to the fact that I was unable to complete all my homework because of lack of understanding or fear of not being able to accomplish what was asked of me.  I was never successful with any writing assignment given in class.  My grammar was horrible and the shame of receiving a bleeding red ink paper was unbearable, as it was a reoccurring matter.  One of the things that I am truly grateful for, is my mother’s efforts to help improve my grammar.  She would take all the misspelled words and have me write each word a minimum of ten times.  Homework, including the extra work that I would receive from my mother was awful.  I became very jealous of my younger sister's freedom and care free life.  I became very shy when chosen to share my written work with the class.  My pronunciation was terrible, writing skill was very minimal and I became discouraged as my writing assignments were never on the excellence boards.  I can relate to the short story by Leonard Michaels, My Yiddish, because of the struggle the character faces in school with English being his second language.  Originally, his mother was unable to help him with his schooling due to the language barrier.  Living the similar situation with my mother, it brings vivid memories of long and endless nights sitting at the kitchen table attempting to accomplish homework.  It is also very relatable in the sense that English later became his primary language and Yiddish becoming his second, began diminishing.  By the fifth grade, the ESL classes no longer needed, Spanish had also become my second language as I began to show great improvement in my reading and writing skills.      

Reyes, Dalia

Instr. Gross

English 103

February 11, 2010

Analytical Thinking

            The long and thoughtful process in which the brain is acquiring, sorting and determining meaning and comprehension is my definition of critical thinking.  Thinking out side the box, listing facts and comparing and contrasting are also helpful in developing concrete ideas.  Depending on the subject matter, such as medical health, I can easily dive in and read any type of relating material.  There are other subjects on the other hand, such as history that I absolutely can not read through.  When situations such as these occur, I am overwhelmed with procrastination and laziness.  After over coming those feelings I begin the aching process of dissecting the material and retrieving vital information.  A subject matter, such as history, that is not appealing goes hand in hand with a trip to the dentist.  It is always put of until the last minute and becomes that most excruciating task on hand.  Although, there are other scenarios in which a non-appealing subject must be dealt with in a timely manner, such as work.  Seeing that I am not self employed, I depend on my job for a monthly income.   Therefore like or dislike I must accomplish any task at hand with 100 percent accuracy.  In my future nursing career, there is minimal reading to be done.  With an average of thirty patients coming in each day, critical thinking is the key since I am responsible for administering the proper dosages to each patient.  Improper dosages can further complicate existing health problems, cause serious bodily injury or even death.  I also research broader subjects that not only concern me, but the whole country as a whole.  The economic recession is very alarming, as the national defies continues to grow.  The state of California is finding that necessary cuts and adjustments must be made too many state programs due to the economic state. Seeing first hand how it is affecting retailers and every other profession and business alike reinforces that fact that I must continue saving money, as my job is not guaranteed.  Daily monitoring of sale trends and brainstorming on how to increase traffic is needed to ensure budget sales are being met.  The decline in sales affects staffing hours, which has many, including my self, worried seeing that the number of Americans loosing their homes continues to rise.  Thus, I continue motivating my self to finish my schooling and achieve a higher demand career such as a registered nurse. 

            This class will hopefully improve my critical thinking skills and provide me with a different way of analyzing information and improving my research.  One thing that I do look to change this semester is the environment in which I do my reading and brainstorming.  My home is a loud environment, with two children; I am never alone with my thoughts.  I aim to reserve specified time to ensure I am reading, comprehending and enjoying any type of material I may be reading at the time. I will also continue to reinforce the way I view the world, to question everyday events and to never become content with the knowledge I hold.