who hates eng 101...
Thread started by
aksendz at 12.19.08 - 9:46 pm
I DO.
2 hours before my final is due and i'm only half done. 2.5 pages to go!
what else can i write about?
American national identity is not defined by the similarities of ethnicity, language, religion and custom like in other countries but the differences. This is because America was not founded by one group of !@#$?genous individuals like other civilizations but by radically different individuals who depended on the exchange of ideas to survive. Consequently, this nation has been changing since the first English colonist set their feet on Plymouth Rock and encountered the tribes of native Indians. The colonist, in order to survive, adopted many dietary aspects from the Indians. They began to eat Indian foods that they initially thought of as poisonous; tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, etc. And so, the American nation identity changed for the first of many times. Over the years, the identity changed even further due the high rate of immigration from Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and currently Latin America. The new peoples, ready to be assimilated, brought new form of religion, custom, dress, diet and tradition. And the national identity changed even more, naturally implementing these new variation into the root culture of America.
Over the past 50 years, there has been a record setting rate of immigration from Spanish speaking countries from Latin America. The rate is so high that American society cannot successfully assimilate these new immigrants fast enough. Consequently, the Spanish speakers are forming pockets of predominantly Hispanic culture in American cities, like Los Angeles which is becoming a Latin American capital” (Rodriguez Par 2). Everyday these pockets multiply and a Spanish speaking nation is being born within the belly of America. The nativists in this nation demand the end of multiculturalism through discriminatory ‘English only’ laws. Yet what they don’t realize is that “Spanish is the unofficial second language of America because of dishwashers and gardeners and logically so: If the laborer speaks Spanish, then the contractor needs to learn Spanish. If the housekeeper speaks Spanish, then the upper-middle class children also begin to hear it and know it” (Rodriguez Par 8) If we impose ‘english only’ laws then a huge sector of our economy will collapse and hoards of people will be alienated. The Spanish language is good for American national identity only if it is adopted as the second national language of the United States because it assimilates an integral and vast portion of the population.
Although currently the Spanish language is not officially recognized by the American government, it is currently the second most spoken language in the United States after English. In the coming years it will be even more prevalent where as the “number of Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States will reach 40.2 million, up from 27.8 million” (Valle 6). This mean that if nothing is done, America will stratify into Spanish speakers and non Spanish speakers changing our national identity for the worst. Even then, those Spanish speakers will have a further division of their own, based on each individual nationality. Consequently, one day, our national motto, e pluribus unum, will change from its original meaning and will be interpreted as "from one, many." If this happen, the American way of life would lose its traditionally defined form of a root culture branching out into a tree of international conventions. Instead there would be two roots, the initial American root of natural identity and the newly formed root composed of a combination of Hispanic and American culture.
If the Spanish language was recognized as the second official language by the federal government, the American national identity could be redefined once again for the better. The native born citizen and the assimilated immigrant would both view the Spanish speaker as an American because they share the same national identity. Although they have different languages they are recognized by the same nation. This could break down the many tensions currently present between English speakers and Spanish speakers in America.
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Me fail English? That's unpossible!
-Ralph Wiggum
pretzels12.19.08 - 9:50 pm
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Is the first part something you are supposed to edit, or your own composition?
NixonTwin12.19.08 - 9:52 pm
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all my own.
why is h o m o a bad word?
aksendz12.19.08 - 9:53 pm
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This is why I'm going for a paramedic certification.
Academic projects were always the nail-in-the-coffin for me.
bentstrider12.19.08 - 9:56 pm
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Nope. Lets just say this piece doesn't convince me that you are ready for 102 yet :)
NixonTwin12.19.08 - 10:19 pm
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i'm writing about something i have no opinion about. what do you expect.
aksendz12.19.08 - 10:23 pm
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At some point, you should probably clarify that the U.S. doesn't actually have an
offical language in the technical sense. Some states (including California) have English as the official language, but there's no official language for the country as a whole. In any case, be clear about exactly what you mean when you say "second official language." Are you talking about a Canada-like situation where labels and signs have to be bilingual, or simply requiring that Spanish be taught in the schools? You might want to back up your proposal with some more concrete benefits than just reaffirming the "national identity," while you're at it.
Good luck.
nathansnider12.19.08 - 10:24 pm
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Also, it's usually best to start with an intro and a thesis (e.g. a main argument to your paper) in the first paragraph, have a 3-4 body paragraphs supporting that argument, and a conclusion paragraph summing everything up.
Without some structure, your paper's going to be a little confusing, so if you have a main point to tie things into, it will be easier for you to write it, and easier for people to read it.
Good luck!
JB12.20.08 - 12:28 am
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jeez..even i could do better.dont post this kind of stuff again
mandingo12.20.08 - 12:52 am
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If I didn't know better, I would be quick to point out that this sounds a bit plagiarized when placed side by side with some of your other written works I've read. I'm not saying you're not capable of writing it but from what I've previously read from you this is a couple steps up.
When writing a paper there are rules that one can follow that will ensure, not only sustaining the readers' attention, but clarifying your stance on the subject helping you connect with your readers. I suggest you follow them. Or at least some. Keep in mind this is all constructive criticism towards your development as far as writing goes.
R@WKIT12.20.08 - 1:03 am
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They began to eat Indian foods that they initially thought of as poisonous; tomatoes, squash, pumpkin
mandingo12.20.08 - 1:05 am
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wtf fkn facebook messed what i was going to write.
anyways.
mind you i write much better and I don't know the other works that you are bringing up. This is an out-of-the-ass paper answering an ambiguous prompt. I disregarded grammar, style, and voice through the paper because my main objective was length.
aksendz12.20.08 - 1:42 am
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hahaha
!@#$?genous is a bad word
!@#$?genous milk you bitchez
is this gonna be apart of finals aksendz?
shit, i thought i was the last one to be done with finals.
KiMS112.20.08 - 3:22 am
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this was my final. but i have a paper due for the same class tomorrow night.
yay me.
aksendz12.20.08 - 1:17 pm
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native indians? There were people from India in America?
You should change that to Native Americans, and get rid of the use of indians altogether. That'd be a quick annoyance if in a paper I was reading they were using an incorrect term.
I'd say you need two more revisions for it to be good enough to turn in. It rambles all over the place. More like Montaigne's
Essais than a formal essay.
Jaz12.20.08 - 4:55 pm
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" I disregarded grammar, style, and voice through the paper"
Good idea, you're totally not going to be graded on those things in an English class.
JB12.20.08 - 5:20 pm
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You need to spend some time with someone who knows how to write an essay, if you want to do well. These comments on the MR site won't get you very far. Go to the writing center....or tutoring place at your school. I know they have one. That is my input. Okay, thanks, goodbye.
tern12.20.08 - 5:33 pm
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I also have a feeling that you posted this 'draft' to get a rise out of people.
But, that is just an inkling. Sometimes inklings are wrong.
tern12.20.08 - 5:41 pm
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rofl @ "eng 101"
I hope you're getting this education for free
professor fate12.20.08 - 5:50 pm
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oh it's english 101 not engineering 101
k I pity you now, that's what you wanted right
professor fate12.20.08 - 5:51 pm
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professor fate..is askends. no?
tern12.20.08 - 5:56 pm
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Well, I already know, so it doesn't matter. Churn. Churn!
bye.
I have to work tomorrow.
tern12.20.08 - 5:58 pm
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Sounds coherent, you're cookin with fire!!
Structure is just a crutch for writers lacking in creativity. And it just makes grading more formulaic for the instructor.
- Thesis (check)
- Supporting arguements (check)
- Repeat thesis because the reader wasn't paying attention the first time 'round (check)
fizzle that shizzle
Let us know how you did!!!!
Eric Hair12.21.08 - 12:30 pm
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for the record: I wasn't criticizing your writing, askendz. I didn't even read the full draft. I just know that writing centers / tutoring centers and colleges and universities are helpful. They've helped me. So, there you go....no pity from me.
tern12.21.08 - 5:53 pm
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