User:AmandaS

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Contents 1 "The Contexts that Make Me" 2 Feedback 3 The Stork Arrives Friday the Thirteenth 4 Art? I Object 5 Gay Rights 6 First Reflection Letter 7 Second Reflection Letter 8 Final Reflection Letter

[edit] "The Contexts that Make Me"

The writing prompt that I decided to choose is “The Contexts that Make Me”. This format deals with defining one’s self based on their background and history. I believe many of my ideas and opinions are influenced by the experiences I’ve had and where I grew up. Growing up in Springfield, MA has exposed me to many things that I believe some of my classmates have never been exposed to. Writing this essay will help me further understand how the places, people, and culture I’ve experienced shape who I am today. I also think it’ll be a great opportunity for my classmates to get to know me on a deeper level and is a great chance to tell people about my history. I am excited to do this format and have many ideas for it.

                                                                               AmandaS 16:19, 20 September 2007 (EDT)

[edit] Feedback

See the feedback about the personal essay I wrote!

[edit] The Stork Arrives Friday the Thirteenth

Had I ventured down another path in the journey of my life, I might not have had the privilege of meeting Amanda Spakanik. As I pondered the questions I would ask in my interview with Amanda, I found myself a bit overwhelmed listening to her speak about what I consider to be the most moving, near-tragic experience I have heard of in my life. Eight years ago, Amanda was faced with adversity that few people ever come to know. The near loss of both her mother and sister would dictate her priorities for the rest of her life.

Amanda began by telling me that she was born on the fourth of September at the Providence Hospital in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Amanda lived in Springfield, Massachusetts with her father, mother, brother, and two sisters. Amanda was an accomplished third grader at the time. She became president of Student Council at Fredrick Harris elementary School; defeating the entirety of the fourth and fifth grade candidates who ran for the position. She continued schooling at Chestnut middle school, and later Central high school. Now she sits in front of me in the Blue Wall at the University of Massachusetts. The solemn look on her face foreshadowed the fact that the story she was about to tell would be unsettling for her to speak of.

Amanda, in third grade, had just gotten off the bus from another day of school. She was accustomed to her mother’s daily embrace outside the door, but once at home, her mother was strangely absent. Amanda hurried anxiously to the door, hoping to find her mother inside. Upon entering the room, she was relieved to hear her mother’s voice.

When I asked what happened next, Amanda replied that she remembered her mother’s words exactly. “Amanda, sit down with your brother and sister…I have something important to tell you.” She took off her backpack and took a seat in between her siblings. “Kids what do you think of having another baby brother or sister?” Amanda was enthusiastic at the thought of another sibling joining her family. She had always enjoyed helping her mother take care of her younger brother and sister. Months of anticipation and preparation for the baby came to follow.

Sixth months passed since the day Amanda’s mother announced that she would be having a baby. In school that day, Amanda received an A+ on her science project and was eager to show her family. For a second time, her mother was nowhere to be seen. She hurried to the door only to be greeted by her aunt. Confused, Amanda questioned where her mother was. Her aunt was visibly distressed, as she explained that her mother was fatigued and in strong pain throughout the day and was rushed to the hospital by Amanda’s father.

As Amanda would later learn, there had been some complications in the pregnancy and her doctor had been monitoring her for months. The placenta, an organ designed to provide nourishment and oxygen to the baby, was separating from the lining of the uterus; this potential division placed both the lives of mother and child in grave danger. With her mother hospitalized, Amanda and her two siblings stayed with their aunt for what they were told would be two short weeks. Her father stayed with her mother in the hospital, coming home for a few hours every couple of days to check on the kids. Two weeks became four weeks, which in turn became six. Two months later, Amanda was still living with her aunt while her mother maintained her prolonged stay in the hospital. Over time, she had taken on much of the responsibility of her family’s well-being. Amanda tried her best to keep her siblings’ minds off their hospitalized mother and sister, especially when she learned that her mother was scheduled for a premature delivery to protect both her life and that of her unborn child.

The day of the delivery, Amanda and her siblings waited anxiously by the phone for a call from the hospital. As they were about to sit down for dinner, they received a call from their father saying that the doctors decided to postpone the procedure till the next day. Friday, February 13, 1998, the Spakanik’s welcomed the newest edition to their family. Months of agonizing wait and worry concluded with the birth of a healthy baby girl.

Amanda shouldered many responsibilities not commonly tackled by ten year olds while dealing with the near loss of Amanda’s mother and younger sister. She took the initiative in helping her family in their time of need. To this day Amanda uses her experiences to help her move forward in her life. She takes every new responsibility with the same integrity she showed during her mother’s pregnancy. She is the young woman who sits in front of me in the Blue Wall at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is Amanda Spakanik.

Ash 14:32, 29 November 2007 (EST)

[edit] Art? I Object

The main ideas expressed in Jeanette Winterson’s Art Objects had a strong impact on my opinion of art. Winterson thinks highly of art and finds it beautiful and inspiring. I, on the other hand, do not connect with art. It was a subject I never took interest in. I know very little about the arts and wouldn’t classify myself, by any means, as an artist. Although my opinions of art have now changed, one could argue that prior to reading Art Objects I disliked art and found it boring and irrelevant. I dreaded participating in it, hated learning about it, and loathed observing it. Reading Winterson’s essay made me reflect on my opinion of art, however. I used to think art was boring and irrelevant to me, but now I realize art is an amazing thing that affects everyone’s life. Before writing Art Objects, Jeanette Winterson had a similar take on art as I previously had; she didn’t understand it. After visiting a little gallery in Amsterdam, she found herself running out after looking at an oil painting of a “haunted woman in blue robes.” Winterson escapes from the gallery and admits “she knew nothing about painting and so got very little from it.” She then looks back on this experience and says she realized her lack of interest in the arts was due to her ignorance. This conclusion made me rethink my opinions of art. Did I too criticize the subject because I was not familiar with it? Was it ignorant of me to pass judgment on a topic I knew so little about? As I continued reading about Winterson’s story, the answers to these questions became clear: Yes I did not appreciate art because I did not understand it. In order for Winterson to value and appreciate art, she completed two tasks. First, she spent an entire hour just looking at one painting. She admits giving all her attention to a painting for this long was difficult, however she realized experiencing art in its entirety was the only way to fully appreciate it. Winterson says, “The only way to develop a palate is to develop a palate.” Second, she researched everything about art. She read books like Ruskin’s Modern Painters, Pater’s Studies of the History of the Renaissance, and Whistler’s Ten O’Clock Lecture. Her favorite author, however, was Roger Fry, the person credited for the term “Post- Impressionist.” When reflecting on Winterson’s Art Objects, I realized the way her opinion of art changed as she read Roger Fry, was similar to the way my opinion of art changed after reading her essay. When both these responsibilities were completed, Winterson came up with several conclusions, which, in turn, impacted my take on art. A main point Winterson declares in her essay is, “we have to recognize that the language of art, all art, is not our mother-tongue.” It was this sentence that made me consider the possibility that my lack of art appreciation could be due to my lack of art understanding. Winterson was correct. Art is not a “language” everyone automatically recognizes. Before considering this thought I believed I just didn’t enjoy art, now I feel I didn’t enjoy art because it was another language to me. It is difficult to value something if it is confusing to you. Also, Winterson finds that “love takes time”. This went hand and hand with her first conclusion. If I do not “get” art, I have obviously not taken the time to understand it. If I cannot even give some of my time to “understand” art, then I am clearly not giving art enough time to “love” it. She concludes that people in this modern age, simply do not have the time or patience to try to appreciate art. I learned I must give something a chance before I judge it because I will never really know how I feel about something until I take the time to fully experience it. Winterson also had this to say about people’s appreciation of art; “We are more moved by a past we are busy inventing, than by a present we are busy denying.” I never thought about this view before, and when it was presented to me, I realized it was true. Some of the most famous paintings are from our past. Even I, who knows very little about art, have heard of the Leonardo Da Vinci Mono Lisa, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. I haven’t, however, heard of any famous paintings or famous artists from the twenty-first century. Art Objects made me question the quality of art. Is art only beautiful if it is painted by a famous artist from our past? Lastly, Winterson’s Art Objects impacted my life by helping me realize that art is everywhere. Art is everything thought up and created. It is fashion, politics, nature, photographs, fiction, music, and movement. It has existed since the dawn of time and will continue to do so. Everyone experiences art without even realizing it. We, as people, must learn to accept all art because all art is “relevant to our lives.” Before reading Jeanette Winterson’s Art Object, I did not fully appreciate art. I was bias towards it because I did not understand it. I have reflected on this way of thinking, however. I do understand art because it is part of my life. I do, however, have so much more to learn about it. Reading Winterson’s essay overall increased my interest in art. If it can bring so much happiness to someone’s life, then it must truly be a beautiful thing. Art Objects has challenged my way of thinking and I am ready to let my guard down, and give art a chance.

[edit] Gay Rights

Over a span of a few hundred years, our country has progressed greatly. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and his congress abolished slavery with the passing of the13th amendment. During the 1950’s and 1960’s a civil rights movement took place, granting equal rights for all African Americans. Women are also considered “equal” in the eyes of Americans. In 1920 women received the right to vote with the help of Susan B Anthony and are now capable of accomplishing anything a man can. We even have a hate crime law which punishes anyone who victimizes a person do to their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation. It is these beliefs of equality that make the United States the powerful country it is today. That is the reason why is it so perplexing to me why homosexuals, in America, are not given the same freedoms as heterosexual individuals.

Prior to writing this paper, I knew very little on the topic of gay rights. I was aware of the current controversial debate concerning whether or not gay couples should be allowed to marry, however, I wasn’t knowledgeable of the other rights issues the homosexual community faced. While researching the topic, I learned new facts that were not only shocking, but disgusted me as well. I am personally not gay, nor do I have any family members who classify themselves as gay, and therefore there is no bias to my beliefs. It is my aspiration that when finished reading this essay you too will become more educated on this topic, and hopefully, to those who don’t agree with my views, your opinions will be changed.

The most common known matter concerning gay rights today is the topic of gay marriage. Currently, in the US, there is only one state, out of fifty, where gay marriage is legal. Other states only permit civil unions such as New Jersey, Connecticut, and California. Although this is progress, civil unions are not good enough. When two people are in love, no matter whom those two people are, I believe they should be permitted to get married if they choose. Not only is marriage necessary in order to obtain certain rights, for instance joint ownership and medical decision-making capacity, but it is also a symbolic ritual that allows two individuals to express and show their love for one another. Denying a couple this right, based solely on their sexual orientation, is a prime example of discrimination. According to US law, the American public is prohibited to discriminate against a population based on several criteria, one being one’s sexual orientation. This therefore, does not make any sense to me. How can a country break its own law? Also, our constitution says that religion and state are to remain separate from one another. Marriage is a religious ceremony and hence our government is violating the religious freedom of homosexuals. How can our government single out a harmless group of people and take away their rights? The US government is contradicting itself.

I personally could not see any reason why one would oppose gay marriage. How horrible can it be to allow same sex couples this beautiful right? To answer this question, I began researching the logic of those against gay marriage. I am sorry to say I did not come across valid arguments. Instead all I found were excuses and ambiguous explanations.

One main reason why some individuals oppose gay marriage is because “it is abnormal and unnatural.” How unnatural is it? About 25 million people living in the US are either gay or lesbian! That’s 10%! How can such a large number be “abnormal” and who’s to say what is “normal” and “natural”? This reason is simply ignorant. It is not backed with hard evidence and is merely one’s opinion. To those who believe this, I ask you to be open-minded. If homosexuality isn’t the way of life you have chosen, why should it matter if someone else has? How you live your life is your decision, and how an individual attracted to the same sex lives their life should be no concern to you. Why must you try to dictate how another human being should live their life?

Some individuals argue the only purpose of marriage is to be productive to society by creating offspring. One could dispute this point in several different ways. First of all, in this modern age a gay couple can produce children. In a lesbian couple one could be artificially inseminated, while in a relationship with two men, they could produce a baby by finding a surrogate mother. Furthermore, if a person believes marriage is just to produce children, then they also must believe that infertile individuals, woman who have undergone menopause, and those who just do not wish to have kids, also should not be allowed to get married.

Another standpoint some have favoring against same sex marriage is, “it is hated by God” and “it is not God’s will.” These people have found examples in the Bible that “prove” their opinions to hold true. I have read these examples and I am not impressed. The first religious reasoning can be found in the book of Genesis; the creation story. Apparently since God created Eve to be Adam’s wife, it means He made women to be the companion to men. This is just a random assumption. God did make Eve to be Adam’s companion but nowhere does it imply that every man should then have a woman companion. If Eve was believed to be a Caucasian Woman does that mean every man should only marry a Caucasian woman? Or if Eve had long hair does that mean every man should have a companion with long hair? To take this story and create a hidden message is absurd. One cannot assume that just because Adam and Eve were in love that every man is allowed to only love a woman.

Also in the book of Genesis, there is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this story, God destroys these entire cities because of, according to believers of the opposition of gay marriage, “homosexual behavior.” When I read the story I interpreted it differently. I believe God destroyed the cities because the inhabitants’ uncharitable and brutal treatment of strangers and the poor. They raped innocent people and where uncompassionate towards those in need. It is a better argument to say that the rape not the homosexuality provoked this punishment. Another reference pointed out to me was Leviticus 18:22. In this passage it is said, “homosexuality is an abomination.” I found it odd to be one random sentence criticizing same sex relationships and believed there must be more. When actually reading Leviticus from the Bible, I found it is condemning homosexual behavior in a pagan temple. Obviously this would be condoned for any type of sexual behavior in a pagan temple, whether in be gay or straight, is disrespectful. Lastly, in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10, it says homosexual behavior is such a serious sin that anyone who commits it will not be allowed into heaven. This statement is, however, directed towards the sexual abuse of young boys by grown men. Never does it state any reference to a healthy loving gay relationship. I just want to point out that the Bible, undoubtedly, does talk about love, justice, and freedom for ALL.

Although gay marriage is the central issue homosexuals are fighting for, there are also other battles they must win to obtain equal rights. One hot topic is adoption. In twenty-two states a gay couple can, if they choose, adopt a child. In Massachusetts, unfortunately, regulatory code allows delaying or denying an adoption based on sexual orientation. Although this number may seem high, it isn’t even 50%. What about the other states? Why is it illegal for a same sex couple to adopt? Several studies have found that there is no evidence to suggest lesbian and gay men are unfit to parent. Home environments with gay parents are as likely to successfully support a child’s development as those with heterosexual parents. Basically, good parenting is not influenced by sexual orientation.

There is another right gay individuals are hoping to obtain. That is to openly be enlisted into the army. The U.S military admits that it has discharged soldiers for being gay. In World War I, the military law prohibited homosexuals from joining the service. It wasn’t until 1998 when President Bill Clinton issued an executive order prohibiting anti-gay employment against federal works, that progress was made. He created the “Don’t Tell, Don’t Ask” policy. Under this policy a gay man could be enlisted in the army if he didn’t openly admit he was gay. In return, the military was prohibited from asking a man’s sexual orientation. Once again, yes this is improvement, but why a “Don’t Tell, Don’t Ask” policy. What is wrong with men who are openly gay fighting for our country? One’s sexual preference shouldn’t matter. It is ironic that someone would volunteer to risk their life defending a country that forces them to hide who they are.

The United States is a country that prides itself for the freedom and equal rights it provides for its citizens. However, we, as a society, still need improvement. It is my hope that in the near future our country will provide equal rights to everyone. This will entale granting gays and lesbians the right to marry, the right to adopt, and the right to openly enlist in the army. Then, the United States will have something to be proud of.

Works Cited

[edit] First Reflection Letter

Dear Self…

When I looked over all the writing samples I have completed, I learned a lot about how I am as a writer. I’ve already grown in my writing skills in this short time and have learned new techniques to improve my work. First, as a writer I am very conventional. I stick to a basic format; starting with an introduction that states the main points I want to address, followed by body paragraphs that elaborate on these points, and ending with a basic conclusion. I have yet to take a chance and write using a more edgy format. Also, I often use the same vocabulary and found I have words that I use in almost every paper. I need to work on this so all my papers do not sound the same. Not only do I use a certain format when I write, but I also have a certain routine I follow. When I write something that is informal, such as a blog entry, I sit down and type it in one sitting. I then go back and re-read what I have just written and make corrections as I go along. When I wrote a formal long essay, however, I lie in my bed and write it out on paper first. I usually write one paragraph at a time and make numerous corrections. I edit a long essay way more than I edit an informal piece of writing and then I type it up. I also always write the title after my entire paper is completed. So far in this class I have learned several new things about writing. I have been taught the importance of a good title. Every title should have a hook, synapses, and reflect the author. This is an important skill to acquire because the title is what the audience first reads and what grabs their attention. Along with creating good title, I have learned to be more aware of my audience. When I write I think about who is going to be reading my paper. Because of this, on my blogs I write more casually than I do on formal essays. So far, I am content with how I write and what kind of writer I am. I do have certain skills I would like to improve upon however. I will work on these and I look forward to learning new techniques in class.

[edit] Second Reflection Letter

Dear Me…

Since the last reflection letter I wrote in September, my writing has improved slightly. I have improved upon some skills and have learned new techniques in class. I still do, however, need improvement in some areas of my writing. In my first reflection letter, I discussed a few habits I wanted to change about my writing. First, I believed my works were very conventional. In the seventh grade I learned a format for writing a long essay, and ever since then I’ve been sticking to that same format. I always have started off with an introduction that states the main points I wanted to address, followed by body paragraphs that elaborated on these points, and then ending with a basic conclision. Lately, however, I’ve been taking a chance and changing the way I write a paper. For example, in my civic rights paper, instead of beginning with a standard conclusion, I began with a short anadote about our nation’s history. My essay began with, “Over a span of a few hundred years, our country has progressed greatly,” and my thesis sentence wasn’t stated until the end of the paragraph. This is different from how I used to write my essays; always starting the essay with my thesis sentence. An example of this is a post a made on my Wiki user page. I started the post off with my topic sentence: “The writing prompt that I have decided to choose is ‘The Contexts that Make Me.’” Clearly, not sticking to my old conventional format has improved my writing and made it more interesting. Also, in my first reflection letter I said I wanted to change the vocabulary I used. I wrote, “I have words that I use in almost every paper. I need to work on this so all my papers do not sound the same.” Since that letter I have improved my vocabulary. Since my word choice is so limited, I often check a thesaurus to find synonyms and aviod using a word more than once. I have stuck with some techniques that I described in my first reflection letter, however. In that letter I wrote about my routine for writing. I said “when I write a long formal essay, I lie in bed and write out my paper first. I usually write one paragraph at a time and make numorous corrections…and then type it up.” Currently I have stuck to this rutine. I know some students, unlike me, who type long essays right off the bat. I want to try this in the future. I am not saying my way of writing is insufficient, I just believe I should try different rutines before I decide which works best for me. I have found new skills I would like to develop, that I had not noticed before. I relized that when writing an opinionated essay, I sound too harsh. I have a lot of passion and it is extremely evident when I write. When Steph commented on my civic rights letter, she pointed out to me that in my paper I have to be more aware of my audience. I was very harsh in that paper, calling those who disagreed with me “disgusting” and “ignorant.” This is definetly something I would like to work on. Lastly, since September I have learned some techniques in class. For example, I used to use several contractions while writing, but now I shy away from that. I also have stoped using adverbs such as “very” and “really”, and stopped using vague words like “things.” Since the end on September I can see a great improvement in my wrioting and know in a few months it will be even better.

[edit] Final Reflection Letter

"Life Long Lessons in a Short Time" As my first semester of college comes to an end, I look back and realize I have learned many skills that I can use in the future. In the English 112 class alone, I have developed several new techniques to improve my future writings. My college experience as a whole, however, has taught me lessons that I will use in life. Before I wrote this final reflection letter, I read over most of the essays and blogs I have completed for this class. I am pleased to admit my writing has definitely improved. The very first paper I wrote for English 112 was titled “Relating to The Wall.” Already, just by reading the title, I have found growth. My title is obvious and boring. I have learned that a mgood title should have a hook, synapsis, and reflect the author. As I wrote new essays, my titles have become more interesting. After “Relating to The Wall,” I have had “1, 2, 3, 4! We adore Steven Shore,” “Dear Self…” and “Art? I Object.” In each title I tried to apply at least one of the techniques I learned, hopefully pulling the audience into my work. Before this semester, I would probably have titled this essay “Final Reflection.” Instead I have chosen the title “Life Long Lessons in a Short Time,” because it uses each one of the techniques I have learned. Using antonyms “long” and “short” creates a hook, referring to lessons learned is a synapsis, and my audience consists of my peers who have also learned similar lessons. In that first essay, I wrote in a conventional format. Before taking this writing class, I always wrote the same way; starting with an introduction that states the main points I want to address followed by body paragraphs that elaborate on these points, and ending with a basic conclusion. In ‘Relating to The Wall,” I stuck to this format. My introduction stated, “The Wall, by Pink Floyd, is a film with several scattered scenes and images which each depict a different theme that can relate to anyone’s life. These themes include loneliness, violence, and war.” I then had three body paragraphs; the first discussing loneliness, the second describing the violence in the movie, and the last talking about war. Ultimately, I end the essay with the sentence, “The main themes found in The Wall, loneliness, violence, and war, can relate to anyone’s life.” I now can conclude that writing in this way is boring. Half way through this semester I began taking a chance with my writing. I try not to use “rules” when writing a paper. This final reflection paper clearly does not follow that format. The second written piece I worked on was a personal essay about one of my classmates. When I read this essay over, I can see it contained facts that were irrelevant. The main story I was trying to tell was how Steven Shorr became a strong leader. To convey this message, I discussed the obstacles Steve had to overcome. I did, however, also add facts about his family. Reading the essay now, I realized the essay would have made more of an impact if it did not contain unrelated points. Since that essay, I have learned a technique to help my work get straight to the point. I find that essays that are “short and sweet” can sometimes have more of an impact. My most recent essay, titled “This I Believe,” had a limit of up to 500 words. In this essay I had to discuss an action I felt strongly about, tell why I felt strongly about it, and try to convince others to perform the action as I do. When I first wrote this essay, it was too long. I had to then go back and delete and combine sentences to make the paper shorter. In the end, my “This I Believe” essay was only 365 words. Even though it was short, I felt it conveyed what I wanted to express. When Steph gave feedback for this personal essay, I learned new grammar techniques I previously was unaware of. In Steve’s essay, I used contractions numerous times. I was never told, in all my years of schooling, that a formal essay should not use contractions. I also used the abstract noun “things” in that paper. For example, I wrote, “During my time with Steve, we discussed his family, hobbies, and other important things.” I then changed the sentence to, “During my time with Steve, we discussed his family, hobbies, and the important events he has experienced.” I now never use the word “things.” It is clear during these few short weeks, my writing skills have improved. I also am glad to say I have learned lessons I can now use in life. Attending UMASS this semester is the first time I have lived without my parents. Living on my own has taught me how to be more responsible. I am now in charge of myself. There is no one to tell me when to go to class, when to do my homework, or when to clean my room. Whether or not I do these things is up to me. I have to be responsible because now I am on my own. This same lesson applies in class. The majority of my classes have more than two hundred students in them. If I do not understand a topic, it is my responsibility to seek help. My professors are not going to keep tabs on me. My education is up to me. Basically the lesson I learned is, my success is in my own hands. So far I am happy with my college experience and the education I am receiving. This first semester has only been four short months, yet I have learned many important lessons.