Classifications

Sabrina Brown

11.13.11

Period 1

Classifications

               Students can be classifies in many different ways such as age, grades, height, weight, or even gender. It all depends on how we classify them if we classify them on their age using their grades we could say that junior year is the hardest year for some students and that freshman year is the easiest. When you understand the reasons why we classify these students by their age we find out the difficulty level of school.

               School in general is a tough road to follow but high school is especially hard because while a teen is trying to learn they have to deal with the fact that they are growing as well in hormones and puberty and while high school is hard they are trying to not only get ready for college but get good grades to get in to college. By classifying teens this way we can understand the way they act because of all the stresses and comprehend their moods and understand them. As a teen I understand the confidence it takes to go through school and prepare for college and sometimes it seems like no matter how hard you try you just can’t get ahead and that is okay but unfortunately this is a great motivator or incentive for teens to give up or drop out of high school and therefore not go to college. This is why we classify these teens by age in order to understand the way teens react to certain situations. Staying up all night doing homework is a majority reason on why teens are irritable and with stress and hormones teens act up and cause more stress to their diet which could be why they act up.

               We classify teens by age to not only find out the difficulty level of school but also the stressors in their lives and psychologically help your future teens. I chose to classify teens this way because it is the simplest way to classify them without being too broad so you can help your teen. Teenagers at the age where their grades drop is also a sign if vulnerability in their years which could lead into drugs in their formative years and by recognizing this you can save a lot of teens from ruining their lives and furthermore killing themselves. Their formative years teens can feel the need to be perfect because everything they do will affect them later in a bad way but not all of that is true everything they do will affect them but not always in a bad way and sometimes in almost little way if nothing at all

               This is why we classify students in this way, preferably teens, it is to help them in the future and by classifying by age you are able to understand their reasoning if it seems irrational this will benefit teens in trying to understand their stress and to relieve it is crucial and beneficial to their younger years and will be useful in the future.

racism abstract

Sabrina Brown

11/3/11

Period 1

Define Racism

            Racism is a word of many definitions. It is all around us and is thought to be an okay thing to do to others but it is not. From the beginning of this country, there were conflicts with the Indians, slavery of blacks, and going against the people who immigrated here hoping to achieve the American dream.  Racism was a very fluctuated conflict in the nineteenth century and still exists today even though there are laws against it. When most people hear racism or racist they think of black people but even white, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, and Indians get discriminated against. This is a wrong injustice that we need to realize is happening everyday and we need to do something about it. Racism goes outside of just the color of your skin but also toward your ethnic culture and the way you look. Racism has been one of the most significant issues that people have been fighting for, and is still occurring around us without even knowing it.

            Throughout the history, racism has been a major factor in many of the important events in our country’s past. Racism is the man walking down the street getting stared at with discrimination because he is different. Racism kills and at the same time saves the people. It could kill them because it could discriminate them and hurt them in many ways. They could also be disadvantaged and become the victims of the society. But in another point of view, at the same time racism saves them, because through the discrimination, they become stronger and confirmed about themselves. How would you feel is someone discriminated against you because of the color of your skin, if they threw rocks at you just because it is funny? If they beat you up because you are drinking out of the wrong water fountain or sitting on the wrong side of the bus? How would you like it if other stronger, bigger people forced you to work rigorous labor only to receive little or no pay? How would it feel like if you were walking around and saw people laughing at you, pointing at you or making fun of you? How would you like it if you didn’t receive service from any stores because of the color of your skin? This is true discrimination and racism. Racism is a very sensitive subject in this world and makes people very angry when brought up but it is something the world needs to be aware about. It is something that needs to be discussed in classrooms and taught to be against because it is not fair to others. It is not fair to get beat up over nothing, to get treated like your less than the next person because you are a minority. It is just not fair. Blacks did not have the rights for free speech nor vote and many other laws that denied their rights. But through the determined people of blacks to get their rights, eventually they had the rights to get freedom of speech and voting. A key person to thank for this is Martin Luther King Jr.

         Racism is that thing in life where a person does not actually know what they are doing until it is done. Where you discriminate against something or someone and don’t realize it harm until the deed is finished. This is why it needs to be spread and awareness that it still exists today, in our schools, neighborhoods, and cities and it needs to be stopped after all, is it not against the law?

Causes and effects of high school

Sabrina Brown

Wight

10/26/11

Is High School Preparing Us for College

               High school has many purposes and factors toward and against it. The teachers who teach us, do they prepare us for college or are they just doing their minimum job for a paycheck? If they weren’t are their methods working on their students? Some teachers are trying to fail us and some just fail you because they don’t like you. Some that live paycheck to paycheck just give easy classes and make our lives easier. What are the real effects of high school on a student and how do they show that they are learning in college. There are many causes and effects of school after school, before school. Between grades, AP classes and students high school can be hectic. The real question is what are the causes and effects of high school and does it really prepare you for college?

               High school is a place where children become young adults as their education forms who they are. High school, although sometimes challenging, usually will leave a goods mark on your reputation. There are good causes and effects that come out of high school. First, many if not all colleges will not accept you, college is your head start on a good education. Then if you take college and your grades seriously, this will give you a good chance to get into a good college. Playing academic sports and being involved with your school gives you a much inclined advantage over your peers at getting a scholarship. High school is where you make everlasting friendships and learn new faces to take you into college. One of the best things about a good high school is the fact that they help you apply to college and get jobs or even apply for scholarships. High school is also the place where you learn key things to take you through college. The AP classes are vigorous but the teachers are only trying to help and prepare you for college.

               High school also has its not-so good effects. When a student gets out of working their butt off in high school and then working harder in college, they end up being burnt out. They don’t want to work anymore and shut down. High school is supposed to be about half fun and half work but are our teachers doing too much and pushing us too hard for something where we are going to have to work again? We are people not machines and some of the students don’t get to go out and get fresh air because they are stuck inside doing home work and the sad part is if you fall behind it is nearly impossible to catch up,  especially in high school. Its effects are everlasting and to ask us to push harder is very discouraging. Something that high schoolers question is why do we learn this stuff if we are not going to use it ever again but that is the purpose of high school is that you will learn it in high school and it will show up again in college even though your major will not be centered around it but you will use the material for the next ten years.

               In the end high school is proven to have less harmful effects than most high schoolers think. High school holds one of the most prominent and successful years of a persons life and set the standards that you will hold for the rest of your life.

Connotation of the word "Gay" what does it mean?

Sabrina Brown

9/22/11

period 1

Connotation of a Word

                Words in different countries mean different things. The word gay, for example, is a word with different meanings around the world. the word gay is a sore subject for some people only because of the ways they interpret the new meaning of it but, there was a time when everyone was gay.

                The dictionary definition for gay is happy or exited. the American definition for gay is to be homosexual or to like the same sex. The U.S is trying to pass a law allowing same sex marriage in our country and this proved how distorted our country's definition of gay is. Gay has other definitions today too. As a high schooler, gay also means stupid or corny such as; "Dude, that shirt is really gay" or "hey quit being gay!" right now calling a person gay is an insult and instead if it being an adjective, it is now a noun.

                In the early seventies- late eighties, our countries definition of gay was happy or exited, this was because it was the hippie period and no one cared about problems. Smoking weed made you gay and peace made you gay. At this point in time, being called gay made you happy because it was a compliment now a days, saying that you're gay is makes you seem lesser than everyone else and maybe that’s why they're petitioning for rights because they want to show everyone that they are equal even though we don’t treat them that way.

                As it is obvious that throughout time our language has changed and become worse we as Americans, have become worse and negative toward each other.  n order to improve our lifestyles we need to respect others and what they choose to be. if others choose to be gay then respect their decision and move on because we treat people the same way we want to be treated.

Everything is an argument.

                                                                                                                                          Sabrina Brown

                                                                                                                                          Wight

                                                                                                                                         Period 1



Is everything an argument? Can we argue about just anything or only things worth arguing about? The answers only depend on what you argue about and for what reason. Most people relate the word argues to fight but really, to argue is to discuss or debate about something that has been put forth. I believe anything can be made into an argument no matter how simple or complex the subject is. Now what starts an argument? Only one word can describe it and that’s an opinion. Opinions tart arguments because one person has their opinion and another person has theirs and these people are trying to convince the other person or crowd of people that their opinion is better.

            People argue about different things in such cases there are different types of arguments. The type of argument depends on what you're arguing about. Informative arguments are usually related to signs or writing. For example, pictures on bathroom doors to inform which are for ladies and which are for men. Informative arguments can be used to warn or used as advertisement as well. Billboards are usually used for advertisement. Some of the biggest ways to start an informative argument is through the internet, newspapers, or magazines. Some verbal informative arguments are the “don’t do drugs” speeches or maybe conferences at your job informing the selling rates of this toy and make decisions to make more of that toy.  This is another type of argument, making decisions.

            Important arguments happen every day. For example, Congress has to pass or void laws but in order to make the decision, they have to hear the argument weather to pass or void the law. They use arguments to make decisions. People decide on everything whether to eat the healthy snack, whether or not to call your mother today, or even should I do my homework today or tomorrow. There are arguments to help you make decisions like teachers whom tell you to do your homework first, or the car sales man who tells you that this is the best car you will ever find, these are people who make arguments to convince you to make decisions. To make decisions based on arguments you have to weigh out the pros and cons, then analyze the decision then make your choice.

            Arguments take a huge part in convincing. Like making decisions, using arguments to make decisions, whether good or bad, you’re convincing the other person to go with your decision. Sometimes when a person is trying to convince you to do something because it works, it’s because they don’t want to be incorrect.  Every single commercial on t.v. is an argument. They are trying to get you to drive their cars, or take their medicine, buy their toys, watch their show or movie, or maybe call this person. Usually commercials are related to money, they want you to buy their product so they can make money. This type of argument is very well related to supply and demand as far as marketing goes.

            Arguments are made about explorations as well. An example is Christopher Columbus who tried to tell the world that the Earth was actually round instead of flat but no one believed him. This was his argument. Some arguments can be personal and some can save lives every day such as Louis Pasteur who discovered pasteurization to kill bacteria in drinking fluids. Scientists have arguments every day about discoveries and cures, does it work or not? These are all arguments made every day. Exploration arguments can have more than one category (past, present, and future) and are often used by scientists.

            A state of time creates many arguments. The past is arguable on who did what, especially for scientists and lawyers. All lawyers do is ask the prosecuted about their past in order to find them guilty, or to put them at the scene of the crime. Lots of scientists argue did Thomas Edison invent the light bulb or Nicholas Tesla? Who really discovered cream cheese? Arguing about the past is about the same as arguing about explorations, scientists ask themselves questions and answer them with facts. The present is something to argue about. One can argue about what is causing global-warming or if it even exists. Arguments about the present are often associated with widespread propaganda, they argue about it because it was brought up in this morning’s news or newspaper. The future as well has arguments such as; when will someone finally invent the flying car? Debates about the future are called deliberative arguments. Whatever happens in the past and present will influence the future. Will we all die in 2010? This was only a guess from a few people but it is interesting how these smaller people can make millions of people question something so improbable but this is the point of arguing.

            Appealing to your audience is a good way to get your argument across. Finding something interesting to discuss then using pathos, logos, and ethos, to construct a solid argument. To make the argument appealing, you have to use feeling in your position using emotion appeals, logical appeals, and ethical appeals. To appeal to your audience do research so you are not arguing about something not worth arguing about and steer clear of attempting to persuade the audience. Use these methods to appeal to your audience.

            The purpose of an argument is all of the types of arguments. The purpose of an argument is to inform people, decide what to do, convincing others to make decisions, to explore, discover and learn, and to learn about your past, present, and future. Some people believe that arguments are expressed to win over someone or to prove theories incorrect but this is not true in all cases, some are just made to learn. There is a distinct difference between arguments and persuasion, you can use arguments to persuade but they are not persuasions. An argument is used to discover a truth and persuasion is used to know a truth. This is the true meaning of argument and yes, everything is in fact an argument.

What does it mean to be a reader?

Sabrina Brown

Wight period 2

Reading is the most important skill a person can learn in their life. People read everyday weather its finding the bathroom or finding a dead body, most people associate reading with books but reading can go to much greater lengths. You don’t have to be intellectual to be a reader but you have to be a reader to be intellectual.

The definition of a reader is someone who loves to read. Being a reader means that you understand not just words but sentences in whole. It also means that you comprehend everything you are reading. There are different ways to read in the world and different forms of reading. Reading is not just words in a book you can read clues to a mystery, directions through the sun and stars, or even reading body language from a friend. Reading is all over the world and can make others see what you see. By writing a book, changing the language, and selling it to other countries, you can share your opinion with others. Reading is a way of communication as in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe. Achebe wrote the book to inform others about the destruction of such a unique culture only for their natural resources. With this book being spread around the world informed the destructors and had a huge impact on Africa.

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This is why people write it’s because everyone is forced to read every day. People write to entertain, or inform, persuade, or make decisions about something to someone and when people write people read. Being an active reader is not the same as reading books frequently but joining a book club or discussing with friends and analyzing the author’s text and understanding the author’s purpose. By analyzing and discussing the book the reader gets a better view of the meaning of the text and also learns as well. One of the main ways of learning is through reading.

Reading uses all of your six senses. We taste to read food and their ingredients, we touch to read brail, we smell to read our environment, we hear to listen to what is being read or told to us, and we see the words everywhere we go to get to where we are going to. The most important sense with reading is imagination, put yourself in the authors shoes and feel through the book, flow with its problems and this will help you become a great reader.  This is the best way to communicate because we can’t get far without reading.

Mostly, being a true reader means that you love to read between books, billboards, magazines, or newspapers. A true reader can stay up all night and curl up with a good book. They can sit down and thoroughly analyze everything and understand what the author is saying. And most likely, in the future they will become the author and write some of the best novels.  This would be a true reader.