ALL FREEWRITES

FREEWRITES

December 2008:

Arguments
Treana Penn
English 201A
MW 1-2:50

Watching this video about arguments reminding me of the 1980s and 1990s videos that teachers used in class as "how to videos" that was very corny, but you couldn't help to laugh. I personally believe that an argument is a statement that you feel is correct, but yet is debatable. That argument has been researched in and out so that you can answer any question brought your way about the argument. A good argument will make the person you are debating realize that you are correct and they could possibly incorrect. An argument can also be very persuading and easy to understand. The person speaking on the argument should be able to provide all their evidence and sources. A real debater will be able to listen to the other debater and be able to restate any false information. I use to be on the speech and debate team, where there was interp (acting) and debate. I always stayed on the acting side and never crossed over to the debating side, because it takes a lot of consistent work. But I set back and watch their techniques and watch how they speak with such confidence, because every thing that came out their mouths just flowed.


November 2008:

Hurricane Katrina

In the short film, The Second Line by John Magary, a short film based on the damage of Hurricane Katrina and the affects that it had on what once was a community. Hurricane Katrina has tooken place three years ago and yet it seems as if all its damaged happened last week. There are so many stories that could have been shown, but The Second Line gives a general example of people who were apart of Hurricane Katrina living in a state of suffer, depression, hunger, anger and deprivation. I have personally heard stories from my family and friends and watching this movie, made me able to relate personally, because it hit home. The two main characters, Natt and Macarthur, who are cousins give it a humourous tone and dramatic. The movie starts off, with showing how people will do anything to get what they feel Katrina owes them. Some stranger comes into Macarthur's FEMA trailer and stills his secret money stash. So he go looks for the crazy character who stole his money, which leads to failure when they meet a man who gives them work so they can get money. They do not even know the guy, but yet they are willing to hop into his car without thinking that they will be in harm. After they work and work, Macarthur realizes that they have been cheated, when the man gives them $45 each instead of $90 each. The man says he does not have it, while him and his wife are sitting in a nice trailer with food and electricity. Only MAcarthur knows t this, his anger becomes greater by the day as he can't breathe in the house full of bad air because of the water damage causing low air quality. As, the day goes by and it is getting gloomier, MAcarthur has reached a point where his balloon popped and he exploded and took all his anger out on the man, who gave them the work. Everybody was at shock, everybody except Macarthur when he just went off and killed the man by beating him with one of the man's metal bar's. After, the damaged he caused, they slowly walked away back to a land of silence. BAck to their gloomy world, were they have to now call home.

“THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE”

Treana Penn
English 201A MW

"A Rose That Grew From Concrete" by Tupac: Love is Just Complicated

Theme: It is hard to express self love.

Analogy:
Even though, Tupac has so much love for his lover it is just hard for him to express it to the one he loves as if his feelings are lost away in a buried treasure.

Consequence:
Tupac has a lot of feelings for someone, but can not find the words to explain it, which makes their love complicated.

Definition:
In Tupac's poem he describes his urge to express his emotions, but reveals "[he] thought [he] knew [his] heart's desire'-(Love is Just Complicated (63).) because he does not exactly know how to express his love.

“Holler If You Hear Me: I Got Your Name Tatted On My Arm”

Treana Penn
English 201A
1:00-2:50

In chapter eight, "Holler If You Hear Me: I Got Your Name Tatted on My Arm" of Holler if You Hear Me talked a lot about the view of Tupac's tattoos and tattoos in general. Tupac's tattoos are a symbol of the journey of his life. I feel that he was on his own portrait of what he wanted to be. I don't think that when he was getting his tattoos, his point was not to make himself look like a thug. He was only being him and as one of his tattoos says "Only God Can Judge Me."

I always wanted a tattoo of a sun to represent how much I shine as a younger girl. As I grew older, I thought it was silly, it was just an excuse for me to write on something. Now today the only tattoo, I ever thought of is getting one in memory of my beautiful grandmother.

Arguments:

Disagree

1)"Beyond his natural gifts, Tupac fashioned his persona-particularly as homeboy and thug-through symbolic accessories: nose studs, earrings, head rags, low-sagging jeans... (232-3)."

2)" And thousands, perhaps millions, of young black males believed his body was their body (233)."

3)" Tupac was almost universally adored for his vibrant sensuality and his striking good looks (234)."

Agree

1)" If Tupac was in the position to sacrifice his body, especially for young black men, it was in large part because of the love he got from women (234)."

2)" But his breathing and walking body, his living and loving body, his rapping and acting body, his angry and defiant body, is the body that matters most, because without it, we would have no record of his spirit in our lives...(244)."

3)" Tupac never bragged about his good looks, never seemed to believe that he was all that special and therefore deserved someone special(242)."

“BUT DO THE LORD CARE?”

Thug Theology is defined as “to an extent…is willfully anachronistic or at least or at least staunchly traditional” as being spiritually gangster. A personal relationship with God and themselves. The Lord does care, because he will not put you in any situation that you can not handle. He does it to show you your strengths. He works miracles, but we have to learn to be patient.

Definitions
assailant-a person who attacks.

orthodox-of, pertaining to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, etc.

prophetic-of or pertaining to a prophet: prophetic inspiration.

edifying-to instruct or benefit, esp. morally or spiritually; uplift: religious paintings that edify the viewer.

heuristics-Of or relating to a usually speculative formulation serving as a guide in the investigation or solution of a problem: "The historian discovers the past by the judicious use of such a heuristic device as the 'ideal type'"

millennia-a period of 1000 years.

staunchly-Firm and steadfast; true. See Synonyms at faithful.

anachronistic-pertaining to or containing an anachronism.

inevitability-unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary.

demobilized-to disband (troops, an army, etc.).

Arguments:
Disagree
1) By his own admission, Tupac was “bitter” about the poverty he was reared in, but only later, through his lyrics, did the world discover just how much he had really suffered.(207)

2) “…You can’t rationalized what is really going on in the mind of a man who is not clear, and who is brilliant as he is…but I just know that he did have a very strong relationship with God” (207).

3) Such a view, however, over-looks the urgent spiritual crisis passed on to the hip-hop generation by older black generations (208).

Agree
1)There is in this arena of hip-hop a shameless glorification of figures otherwise stigmatized in society, including the player, pimp, the Mack, and the hustler (210).
2)The sheer repetition of death has caused black youth to execute funeral plans (227).
3) Death is also a staple of the physic landscape of poor black youth.



Social Entrepreneur Questions

1) Who is the social entrepreneur profiled?

2) What problem did the person identify?

3)What is the name of the organization they started?

4)Describe their relationship to the community that they serve?

-Why they decided to address this issue?

5) What is the local component?

6) How does the community own the process?

#1
1)Emily Taguchi-Cambodia
2)The countries contradictions that people live on less than a dollar a day, making it hard to survive. Their temples also are often flooded.
3)The institute for Khmer Traditional Textiles.

4)The community grew vegetables and weaved materials for money. Their main way to get money is by Cambodian silk making.

-Because they seen that silk grandmothers were receiving low pay for hard labor. The community knows the issues as well and works with the organization to help themselves.

5)The majority of the women and young women.

6)They rebuild their land planning Mulberry Trees where silk worms would nest causing than to make silk from scratch.

#2
1)His name is Dr. Leeberman working in Tibet.

2)The problem was The people of Tibet was facing serious health issues as cataracts.

3)The organization name was Tibet Eye Cam. Vision Project.

4)The Tibet's had an epidemic of eye vision problems.

-It was a serious problem that was taking over their land and spreading. Vision is very important.
5)Almost all the people of Tibet.

6)They own it because they are the reason for the organization. So they built camps just for their cause.

#3
1)Majorie McAfee

2)The need of Mozambique having new toilets.

3)Mozambique Guitar Hero

4)He has been affected by the toilet causing him to have health issues.

-The toilets that the people of Mozambique have to use are unsanitary. The contaminated water can cause polio.

5)The lower class of Mozambique that live in shacks.

6)A local Mozambique is raising money to get new cleaner toilets.


Barack Obama, YES WE CAN!

The three words that keep me uplifted “Yes We Can!” a slogan from our new President Barack Obama. This years election, has been the most talked about, because we had our first woman and African American male being a runner for to be elected for President. On Tuesday, November 4, 2008 we all made a difference and voted. By a great landslide, we as a people got our first African-American/Caucasian President. His speech was very authentic and he spoke to the people as he was one of us who voted. Some people say, what is the fuss it is not like Barack Obama is going to start walking on water, but neither did our former presidents. Barack Obama, is aware that we still have struggles that we have to face and is going to take work. Yet, some one has to help lead us to our change. He says, “who will still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer” and yes many people doubt him being President.

As he talked, he recognizes us all as a people. Obama is now President, but he is also one of us, so his speech very personable. He did not grow up with a silver spoon, so he is relatable and that is why he was elected. I personally, feel that Barack Obama was nervous, but he had faith, because he is human that is just of our nature. Even though, he is in power, he acknowledges all the people who helped him get to the point of becoming a President. I admire his class, as he respectfully acknowledge his fellow candidates and he did not have to do it the way he did. Our new President symbolizes change and peace. Our history repeats itself just like life, but by the year we see change for the better, for a better common goal of peace. He stayed on point, while explaining his journey and the journey that he plans on to pursue. His plans on having more equality within the country for every single ethnicity, old, young, disable no matter their situation. President Obama talks on the fact that we are not just not "blue and red states" we are all one. He is basically saying that, being apart of the democratic or republican party does not matter, were just a country as a whole. He knows that he can not just come and clean up the mess that we are currently in and he is aware that it will take work. The work will consist of the country working as a team while he leads us. I am happy to see Obama living in his Grandmother's dream. It motivates me to do the same and not have any excuses for failing.


October 2008

"Me Against the World" by Tupac Shakur

In class, we listened to “Me Against the World” by Tupac Shakur, young male, African-American rapper and we annotated parts that stood out to us. Tupac is widely known for his gangster rap, but he is also known for his outspoken lyrics about the issues of the lower class society. In the song, “Me Against the World” he speaks about the problems of his hood and other hoods and how there is no change. He quotes “Stress in the city, the cops is hot for me, the projects are full of bullets, the bodies is dropping” in the cities, so people there is no hope for the community. I consider Tupac as a victim of the city he grew up in and he has been affected like everyone else struggling. While he is saying “Me Against the World” I feel like he is really speaking for every other infected person who could relate.

Just like in many of Tupac's songs, the themes are always vivid and explicit. He always sets a main audience for his songs and accomplishes to get his point across. Tupac sent messages not just to his fans, he was sharing his life story "The message I stress: to make it stop study your lessons, Don't settle for less, even the genius ask-es questions, Be grate full for blessings, Don't change, keep your essence, The power is in the people and the politics we address, Always do your best, Don't let the pressure make you panic, And when you get stranded, And things don't go the way you planned it, Dreaming of riches, in a position of making a difference" his music lives in many of us, because we can relate to the struggle. However, he was sending out a message, it is advice that he is passing from his own personal life experience. Tupasc was very optimistic throughout all the darkness he was always searching for the sun.


In Tupac's lyrics of “Me Against the World" he shows another visual of himself at war with hurt and paint, trying reconstruct himself for the better. He says "Every day there's mo' death" showing that life is repetitious and there is no change, so if the government will not help they are forced to come accustom to the lifestyle to continue to struggle. Tupac explains how he is hungry for the better things in life, but if the only way to get it is the illegal way, then let it be. He is blaming his environment for his actions to act out against the world and be apart of the world's negative actions. Even though Tupac felt as if everything around him was going to end he continued to fight his battle like a true soldier.

September 2008

The Qualities of Being a Good Writer

Being a good writer, starts off by writing from the heartache and how you genuinely feel. It is better to start off with a plan, is always the way to go, because you don't just want to jump in cold, it would be rather warm up and not have the reader surprise at what is going on. The problem that I have is getting the main idea across without getting off subject and making the reader confused. To be a good writer, you should be able to answer any questions to any information provided in the paper. Another quality of being a good writer is to have every written word visual as if you are watching it instead of reading it. A good writer will make you feel as if you are experiencing the story first hand.


Interview

Today in class, I interviewed Albert a.k.a Al, he would prefer more. He dressed casual for a very hot day with a blue button up, black slacks, "Stacy Adams" shoes and a nice smile. I found out that Al is "very" spontaneous, actually unpredictable, and he has high blood pressure, something I would not have known unless he told me. Crazy! Al writes and speaks in English fluently. He picked up some Spanish from a former job where he had to use his bilingual skills. Since he has been out of High school for 5 years, he attended Merrit College in 2003, when he realized he needed to be in a new environment. The favorite season of his, would be the summer; Party, party, party! Can't forget that his summer is also in the season of his birthday, even more celebration. He also loves the winter, he say "the season of love" awww how romantic. Al as I can see enjoys reading, that last book that he read that had him breathless was "Holler if You Hear Me", by Nathan McCall. It interested him that the author came from the streets, but he did not let that stop him to do something positive with his life.





"Only 4 The Righteous"
by Tupac Shakur

Tupac focuses more on himself building up self confidence, also the poem demonstrates his psychology ability to uplift his voice. This poem was written to illustrate his goals and to bring recognition to readers informing about his intelligence. He portrays, appreciation of his artistic ability, by writing a poem as if he is in an interview. In reality he is interviewing himself and he is confident in the way the conversation is going. In this poem, "Only 4 the Righteous", by Tupac he shows a more confident voice out of all the other poems in the book.



The world is Yours--Free write

In the song "The World is Yours" by Nas featuring Pete Rocks, Nas is expressing about how he feels about the world with a helping hand of Pete Rocks. From the very beginning of the song, Nas claims what is his and he is saying the world is his. If you speak out and claim something it, naturally it will feel as if you own it. This song has a 1990's vibe, where everything just flows and wasn't about who had the hottest beats. It was more about who was the realest, because back then Rap was more political and spoke about what was going on in the world. Nas, is a very conscious rapper, not being literally afraid, but making sure that his lyrics contained a message inside to teach the people about history and what is going on in the world. When he says that " It's Our World" he is reminding us that our world was provided wit many resources all we have to do is go out and reach for it. No matter where you come from or who you are, the world is yours. Also, in the song, he gives a shout to where most of Hip-Hop originated and evolved from. Saying as if they are the creators of Hip-hop that the world belongs to them, referring the world to Hip-Hop.


CHAPTER 1: DEAR MAMA


"Dear Mama"

In Michael Dyson, "Holler if You Hear Me", in the chapter of Dear Mama, tells the background of Tupac. People are a certain way mostly, because of their background and the way they are raised. Tupac and his mother had a relationship that is indescribable, "No ones emblematizes this truth more than Tupac Shakur, was evoked as if was turbulent" (21) a relationship that had its ups and downs. Tupac's mother Afeni life changed her and her family's while being apart of the street of life. She placed herself in a position, where she was placed in jail, while being pregnant with Tupac. Even though, the lifestyle was not something that he invited himself into he always thanked his mother, just for being a mother. It is like I was once told, you can not choose who your family is and you have to make the best out of a situation. Tupac, is an example of not letting his mother bad behaviors be the excuse of the way things are.

Tupac did not grow up with a father in his life that he was forced to be his own man. In fact, Afeni was not for sure out of two Black Panther members, which one was Tupac's real father. Afeni, was the substitute of the father figure. Afeni later own having a daughter in 1975, which she now had two children to take care of, both without a father. Tupac was forced into a situation, were he had to be the man and take more responsibility. As days turned into struggles as they moved from home to home, because she did not believe in staying in shelters. With his mom moving into a world of drugs, he felt abandoned and suddenly everything was thrown onto his shoulders. For example, his music might be interpreted pain it was a message of truth, "There's no question that Tupac used his brain early and vigorously to question his surroundings and challenge his mother." (39) he wanted to prove to his mother that he was the intelligent man that she brought him up to be. Throughout all the addictions, Afeni had a purpose to educate and help her people to stay strong and educated, something that was in Tupac's blood as well.

They finally placed their selves in a shelter, called White Plains, Because she realized it did not pay to be stubborn, they felt she already hurt her children enough. As tupac got older, he was in the Baltimore School of Arts, but with his mother's drug abuse he faded away from it to get through his pain. It did not stop him, even though his jail sentencing, he still lived out his dream by being apart of films and proceeding his rap career. He tried his best, but Tupac was still crying out for help in his music, that created effective songs. This motivated Afeni to place herself in rehab to prove her son and daughter, that she can be a better mother. That was something that Tupac couldn't get over, she could not erase her mistakes and past. Tupac was still bruised from his past, but the love for his mother will never die "Above all he praised her unsparing honesty: ` "You never kept a secret/always stayed real." '. Lasting peace, however, seemed to elude to Tupac" (44) he even dedicated a song called "Dear Mama" that spoke about their personal relationship. That was one thing, their family did really hide anything and was taught to talk about their problems and deal with them. Afeni allowed her children and their friends to call her by her first name, allowing them to feel welcome and come talk about any problems that they were having. Tupac's life was the back bone for all his poems, albums and acting roles, a cry for attention he felt that he did not receive and anybody whom could relate. Tupac lived his life as nobody, but himself, a strong man dealing with the worlds different obstacles.


THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE,Sept. 8, 2008 Cyber-Assignment"

Vinsun Lieu, Francisco Marcial, Treana Penn, Stephanie Tu, Erika Zavala
English 201A
1:00-2:50

"Under the Skies Above"
After the Miscarriage

Paraphrase/Thesis:
The love shared between a Father and an unborn will always last forever.

Evidence:
Quote from "Under the Skies Above"

Under the skies above, waiting anxiously 4 u and me, 2 bless it with our love" line 2-4



Summary:
The poem, "Under the Skies Above" by 2pac, talks about an unborn child he lost. The love he feels toward his unborn child will protect the child. He expresses his feelings about how he imagines if the child was born how life would actually be. It also talks about, if the child was born no matter what the situation was between them, he wouldn't let anything get in the way of raising him. Tupac is saying that the spirit of his unborn child is still alive with him in his heart. Tupac knows in his mind that one day they will meet up again, when it his time.


"The Rose that Grew from Concrete"

"The sound and the rhythm of words do not intimidate him"

In Tupac's mind, there was nothing that you can or do to get it into his head and change his state of mind. It was like, no matter how something is broken down or laid out, he will not soak in the world's point of view. For example, Tupac stands as a strong man and if you felt that you needed to get a point across. Your way was by bringing an army, it will lead to automatic failure, because he will not be scared at whatever you bring him. He has been and seen so much that he can nearly complete any obstacle thrown his way.

"Sometimes I Cry"

This poem shows the vulnerable side of a man, especially a man such as Tupac who displays such a hard image. It shows the human being in each and everyone of us. Because as much as everybody puts a smile on their face, when we are all alone and lonely we want to just cry. Sometimes we fear pain and don't face and hold in our tears which isn't healthy. He showed bravery, because many people do not like to admit when they are at their lowest times. To cry is to share something personal with ourselves to release all the pain and turn it into something good, like a wake up call.



August 2008

"Hurricane Katrina Stories Cyber-Assignment"

Treana,English201,afternoon class
In the short film, The Second Line by John Magary, a short film based on the damage of Hurricane Katrina and the affects that it had on what once was a community. Hurricane Katrina has taken place three years ago and yet it seems as if all its damaged happened last week. There are so many stories that could have been shown, but The Second Line gives a general example of people who were apart of Hurricane Katrina living in a state of suffer, depression, hunger, anger and deprivation. I have personally heard stories from my family and friends and watching this movie, made me able to relate personally, because it hit home. The two main characters, Nat and Macarthur, who are cousins give it a humorous tone and dramatic. The movie starts off, with showing how people will do anything to get what they feel Katrina owes them. Some stranger comes into Macarthur's FEMA trailer and stills his secret money stash. So he go looks for the crazy character who stole his money, which leads to failure when they meet a man who gives them work so they can get money. They do not even know the guy, but yet they are willing to hop into his car without thinking that they will be in harm. After they work and work, Macarthur realizes that they have been cheated, when the man gives them $45 each instead of $90 each. The man says he does not have it, while him and his wife are sitting in a nice trailer with food and electricity. Only Macarthur knows t this, his anger becomes greater by the day as he can't breathe in the house full of bad air because of the water damage causing low air quality. As, the day goes by and it is getting gloomier, Macarthur has reached a point where his balloon popped and he exploded and took all his anger out on the man, who gave them the work. Everybody was at shock, everybody except Macarthur when he just went off and killed the man by beating him with one of the man's metal bar's. After, the damaged he caused, they slowly walked away back to a land of silence. Back to their gloomy world, were they have to now call home.


"How To Mark a Book Cyber Assignment"


Personally, I just read books and don't understand why I do not remember a third of what I read. I never really thought to write in my book until reading "How to Mark a Book" a essay by Adler. He notes that it is okay to write in your book for helpful notes. He also give tips for example, your book should at least look worn out with dog flaps on the pages. This essay was very helpful and now I feel like I have to write, underline, or highlight everything that I read.

RESPOND TO LETTER: FIRST ASSIGNMENT

Dear Proffesor Sabir,
After reading your letter, I can pretty much tell that you are serious about your work and that means you are serious about your students. It was very long and I can tell you had fun with it as well, which shows a humor side to your teaching. I enjoy reading and writing, but I do not practice it enough, to understand my own mistakes. So I am prepared to recieve all the help possible from your class to improve my writing skills. Your style in teaching is very different and I admit it is a good technique to keep us students in the class. As far as the field trips, I got excited, because I haven't had to many of those since in like forever. So I hope I get a chance to make it to all the field trips with the class. Im ready to finish off the semester with a great bang! I plan to at least have a B in your class by commiting myself to my work. Can't wait.