Satire Proj. Checkpoint #1 — 3/19

               My partners and I chose teenage pregnancy as focus of our project. We want to shine light on how teenage pregnancy comes with a lot of baggage and how teens are required to grow up right away. We will be making a video of on a scenario where we are having fun with pregnancy and its positive aspects, and we will do a presentation on how teenage pregnancy isn't something we expected it to be. So far, we brainstormed other ideas and made a script.

Word Police Reflection — 3/4

             When talking about a sensitive or controversial topic, people tend to beat around the bush. They use language that makes them sound and appear less rude and insensitive. People want to promote a world that is free of racism, sexism, and hatred, which is nothing to be upset over. But the language they use when talking about hard topics, the euphemisms and politically correct language used minimize the seriousness and severity of an issue. When people use "nicer words," the real message is lost because it doesn't get translated properly to the audience. Using indirect language won't make problems disappear. In paragraph 25 of The Word Police, Michiko Kakutani asserts that, "Calling the homeless "the underhoused" doesn't give them a place to live; calling the poor "the economically marginalized" doesn't help them pay the bills." When people don't recognize the grave situation at hand, no solution or progress can be made. People may brush it off or turn the blind eye. If we want to advance our society and improve conditions, we should attack situations head-on and learn what we can do when tough circumstances are facing us.

Politics and the English Language Reflection — 2/5

         In his piece Politics and the English Language, George Orwell expresses his thoughts about what he considers "bad writing." He believes bad writing has unclear thoughts, poor sentence structure, and is filled with filler words. Poor writing also consist of elements such as dying metaphors, verbal false limbs, and pretentious diction. They stem from our "foolish thoughts" and bad writing habits. Orwell states, however, that these issues can be fixed if one were to take its time educating and correcting himself. In his piece, he uses an analogy to build his argument. He states, "A man may drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks." This analogy shows that reading and emulating bad writing becomes a cycle and can form bad habits. Poor writing is hard to read because the writer fails to express himself clearly and efficiently. It sounds like he or she is trying to fit in as many details as possible into a sentence, but the audience ends up feeling lost. I agree with Orwell's claim because I have seen "bad writing" in social media, everyday conversations, and even on published texts. Over time, people misconstrue the original meanings of some phrases and even overuse some phrases to the point where the statement loses its original definition. This makes it more difficult to understand what people are expressing.

Affirmative Action Response — 1/14

         In this world, not everyone is born into a white, wealthy family. Most of the time, the minorities in this country don't get to have a rich education or live a comfortable life. They also need to put up with racial discrimination and face stereotypes that may come their way. Affirmative action is a policy that benefits minority groups in regards to education and employment. When the government created affirmative action, it was aimed to level the playing field for blacks, Latinos, and other minority groups to make it easier to get a spot at a university or a decent paying job. Affirmative action encourages diversity in schools, which will be beneficial to students when they start working in the ever changing economy with other people. Being exposed to different races also increases performance. Collaborating with other students from different backgrounds opens your mind to different perspectives and ways of thinking. Another benefit of affirmative action is that it minimizes discrimination. Blacks, Latinos, and other minority groups all get a chance to show their true colors, and abilities because they are also given the guidance and tools for success. More people will be able to reach their potential and see their worth. Although banishing racism in the US is a long, and arduous road, affirmative action is a great step in the right direction.