Essay #4 Rough Draft

Topic: Should Toshio and Kiyoshi be responsible for their family's debt

Toshio and Kiyoshi, both of Japanese decent come from a family that upholds their cultural values to the fullest. From their living environment on a plantation, the foods they eat, to the son values that one most uphold are from their culture. Due to Kiyoshi and Toshio’s grandparents and parents debt, they are expected to pay off this debt due to traditional values. I do not believe that anyone, including blood relatives should be responsible for paying for others debt. The person who made the debt is therefore responsible for this debt, regardless of culture values.

Toshio, unlike Kiyoshi has a more modernized view of his environment and culture. He respects his parents as the other men from his culture but does not agree with the rules of being a good son. He does not believe that in order to be a good son, he is entitled to pay his parents debt. Again, the emphasis is on his parents debt, not his own.

Fortunately, through luck and skill Kiyoshi was able to give his family the money to pay back their debt. He lived up to his family’s relentless culture value and joined the military, in hopes to earn back the money for his family. Kiyoshi is known as a filial, a good son who follows and lives by his parents values. Although Kiyoshi in no way should be responsible to pay his parents debt, but did not want to go against his tradition.

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part III, Dialogue

The Meaning of the title "All I Asking For is my Body"

Tosh, who states All I asking for is my body is not only referring to his family situation in regards to tradition but also to his personal life. Tosh, in his culture is meant to be fulfill the requirements of being a filial, in other words he is to uphold respect for his parents by repaying debt. Tosh's parents are in debt due to his grandfathers debt. Tosh's parents live almost paycheck to paycheck and are barely making ends meet. In order for Tosh to bay pack this debt it will take years. He will be unable to start his own family since he will be spending so much time repaying back the debt that was not his. And, by living on this plantation its almost impossible to pay this money back.

When Tosh says all he wants is his body, I think he is speaking about his youthfulness. He doesnt want to be 40 or 50 years old when he is ready financially to start a family. And, in order to fulfil the filial tradition this is how long it will take.

Writing Topic: Chapter 51

Since last time I chose to read and write about plagarism, I figured knowing how to evaulate your sources would be a good idea. Therefore this week, I picked Chapter 51 which focuses on how to evaluate resources. First off, you have to get a well broad idea of what you are researching. You have to know what you are looking for in order to get the sources you need. Then, when browsing through all the resources that will come up, especailly online through servers, or periodicals you must pick the ones that will benefit you. Briefly read through them, evaluate the information including the source and the organization it comes from. You always want to make sure the information you are citing benefits your argument and that its a current article. Outdated articles from 20 years ago will not be a valid sources for a current topic. Also learned the difference between primary sources and secondary sources.

I found this chapter helpful and interesting as it gave great information on how to evaluate a resource. When I type in my sources into google or yahoo, thousands of related articles come up. With the information I have learned in this chapter, Im now able to narrow my searches to resources that will help me in my writting and/or argument.

Week 14 All I Asking For Is My Body, Part I, Dialogue

Makot, is a young teenager who lives in Hawaii with his family. His family is the only Filipino family inside the Japanese camp. Not only does his family have the known factor that they dont share the same ethnicity of the others, his parents are outcasts of the camp. His mother is a well known prostitute and his father is always absent. His family always seems to have more money than the others, and this causes talk within the camp.

Makot, is unable to be friends with kids his own age, due to the fact that kids his own age are not allowed to be friends with him due to his parents poor status in the community. Kiyo, one of Makots friends actually confronted Makot with the fact that he no longer can be friends with him due to his mother and father. It didnt take much from Makot to get the point that the community looks at his family so horribly.

I feel extremely sorry for Makot. Yes, he does treat his mother poorly. Yes, he does disrespect his parents and unappropiately handle certain situations. But, his parents are at fault for his wrong doings since they are so absent in his life. I believe Makot is acting out due to his lack of affection from his own parents.

WEek 13: Rough Draft of Essay 3

Lovey, a young Hawaiian girl is often seen referring and comparing herself to people or images seen in mass media. She comes from a lower class family, lacks a formal education and yet is still able to find comical relief in her life. She has a very sharp way of thinking and is able to add humor to her daily activities. She takes images in the media like Shirley Temple, rich kids on contestant shows, Oompah Loomphas and compares herself to these images, only to end up with a feeling of low self esteem. She finds herself lacking in many areas, mainly physical beauty due to what she sees on the television. Lovey takes what she sees in the media and incorporates this information to what she is not.
In the short article, “Happy Endings,” Lovey is infatuated with Shirley Temple. From her hair, lips, bright eyes to her very own happy ending. Lovey wants to be just like her and even mimic her lifestyle. Lovey and her best friend Jerry watched Shirley Temple movies every Sunday and would often mimic their own happy endings. Lovey states, “ And I used to wish I was just like her, with perfect blond ringlets, and pink cheeks, pout lips, bright eyes and a happy Ending every Sunday…” Lovey jokes that her own happy ending would involve her never having to attend Sunday school and her and Jerry lost in New York City. Shirley Temple and the way Lovey idolizes and compares herself to her is just another way the media points out what Lovey is missing.
Lovey comes from a lower class family, and although happy and compassionate about one another, large income is a lacking factor. Lovey’s envies the “rich Honolulu kids” in the television contestant show The Checkers and Pogo Show. Lovey states that’s there’s no way she’d ever be able to go on the show due to lack of money. She says “What I would give to be there sitting on those wooden bleachers in the studios of Channel 9 with all those rich Honolulu boys and girls.” She longs to be those kids and actually states “Maybe I could be the Merry Unbirthday girl.” These rich Honolulu kids are just another representation in the media that Lovey compares herself to.
What Lovey sees in the media negatively shapes her own identity. Like many girls her age, she is constantly measuring herself up to unrealistic characteristics and only can focus on what she does have, like income, education, beauty, clothing, etc. This comparison of herself and images in the media continue to affect her everyday life which is seen when Lovey compared herself to a fellow classmate, Pillis. “If I were a girls size 12, I figure she must be a girls size 6. So small. Sometimes I wish I could have a sweater with a chain like hers.” ( Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers). She also calls herself Oompah Loompah due to the Toni perm her mother gave her. Lovey stated, “I want curly, fine baby hair. I want Mary Magdalene wavy hair. I want to look like an angel.” Even Lovey’s mother plays into the images seen on television, stating to Lovey “When I pau, you gonna look just like Farrah Faucett or if you change your look, Angie Dickinson or if you put ringlets, just like Shirley Temple.” But, instead of beautiful curly fine baby hair, Lovey was given an Afro. She says “Not like Shirley Temple but tighter. Like get Christie Love. Frizzy and borinki.” There is not one positive image that Lovey has described that has made a positive influence to herself image.

This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona

For this weeks dialogue I chose a quote from the reading and will write my critical response to it.

Once their travels come to an end and they arive to the reservation, Thomas goes into a long story about what he's going to do with Victors dads ashes. He states that Victors father will rise like a salmon. Victor states " I was planning on doing the same thing with my half, but I didnt imagine my father looking anything like a salmon. I thought it'd be like cleaning the attic or something. Like letting things go after they've stopped having any use." Thomas states: "Nothing stops, cousing, nothing stops."

Victor has not had a relationship with his father in numerous years. He has unresolved problems with his father due to the fact that he left him and the rest of his family on the reservation. Therefore, Victor seems to feel his relationship with his father has stopped having any use. But Thomas makes a good point, yes his father has passed on and a relationship living is unatainable. But, a relationship with him gone, is still possible. He can let go of his harsh feelings and forgive. The memories, feelings, pain, happiness and all those emotions and feelings will never end, it will never stop.

Smoke Signals- Relationship of Victor and Thomas

Victor and Thomas developed a strong relationship after they took a road trip together to Arizona to pick up the ashes of Victor’s father. The beginning of the boys connection began at a young age when Victor’s dad actually saved Thomas life by rescuing him from a fire. As they grew up it seemed like Victor was the more reserved one, almost getting annoyed by Thomas at times, while Thomas was the more outgoing, storytelling type. What kepy their bond strong, even when at times this bond was not visible was their poor relationships with their fathers. Victors father, Joseph left him at a young age and Thomas father died at a young age. They both lacked a father figure, and turned to each other for support. The boys trip to Arizona was full of arguments, actually Victor getting annoyed of Thomas by his story telling and his liking of a female they found along the way. In the end, Victor actually gives Thomas part of his father ashes. Thomas was thankful for Victors father, cared for his father and was thankful to take such a intimate part of somebody.

Chapter 16- Rules for Writers

I chose this chapter because I often find myself using "filler words" or uneccessary words in a sentence. The text states these words are repetitive, redundant and inflated. This chapter gave us tools, such as conside words and strong verbs to strengthen sentences without a bunch of repetetive words. I always thought that in order for a sentence to be too wordy, it must be very long. But this is not the case, any words that are just fillers or unneccessary make a sentence wordy. If you are able to condense a sentence to a more precise one, then do so.

Like I said earlier, I have a hard time constructing my sentences. I also find myself saying things like "I believe that...", which according to the text is unecessary. One of my issues is using unneccesary words just fill up space. With the help of some of the consice words given in the text along with the some of the strong verbs I hope I can better my essay the next time.

Chapter 51

I chose Chapter 51 because it focuses on plagiarism. Plagiarism basically means to use sources in a paper without properly citing them, almost like cheating or stealing. The best way to avoid plagiarism to keep a good record keeper. Meaning, keep track of all the sources that you use. A good tip the text addresses to help achieve a good track of sources is by printin them or photocopying them. A way to avoid plagiarism, is to remember to use quotes when using direct sentences/words from your source. Also, its important to note not just the words you directly quoted in your paper, but to also include all sources used in a paper for your bibliography.

I chose this chapter because I needed clarification on what exactly plagiarism is. I didnt realize that if you summarized a paragraph from a source that it needed to be included in your works cited. I thought the only way you need to list a source is if you copied word for word from a source. Also, I really liked the idea of keeping a record keeping of all sources used. I wouldnt exactly print or photocopy them but I will keep an ongoing log of the sources I use.

“Happy Endings,” “Obituary,” and “Oompah Loompah” Dialogue

Chose Question F, Came up with my own Question. How do you relate to the character Lovey?

Lovey grew up with a family that limited who she was and who she was going to be. She went to a school and was taught by an awfully hard up, strict, rude, restricting teacher, Mr. Harvey. She was teased by the other children, and also used defense mechanisms to tease other people like she did the sweat Japanese young girl to avoid getting teased by other classmates. She realized that her native language made her sound uneducated but didnt have the means to change it. Her family spoke it, friends and the teachers she spoke up were not helping her in a useful way, instead they were critizing her. Also, she was very close to her Grandma and reflected on her Grandma when writing their fake obituaries. There was also a part in the stories where she was given a Toni Perm which was a hilarious scene.

Lovey's experience reminds me similarly of my Fathers traditions that he strictly enforced on myself and siblings. For example, he used certain words to describe things, big words that a 7 year old had no idea what it meant. He forced us to use these words, which caused us to use them at school. But, because we werent old enough to trully understand the context of the word, we would end up using them incorrectly and our teachers would call us out on it. Also, my father made us eat certain Canadian dishes, or at least he said they were family tradition dishes that made me want to purge. Im also very close with my Grandmother, and without a doubt would include her in my obituary. The Toni Perm scene reminds me of my father who forced me to cut my hair when I was 10, and gave me a bowl cut. Literally, it looked like he took a bowl, stuck it on my head and cut around the edges. I can relate to Lovey's sarcasm also. Sometimes, when times are head its easier to make a joke out of it.

Ch. 48 Summary

This chapter gives us tips how to evaluate a reading, including fallacies, assumptions, and more. The text teaches us how to pick out the un reasonable arguments like fallacies. In order to do, we must pick out the facts or generalizing by inductive reasoning. We also learned how to recognize stereotypes, a biased opinion on a large group or population. Lots of times the writers make assumptions without sufficient evidence. A lot of times, we assume things without enough evidence.

I will use this info for my future writing as I often can see myself making assumptions or stereotypes. I often may have a pre dispotion of a topic and may make a claim without sufficient evidence. I will be more careful in the future and will also make sure to have facts to back up my claims. Also, it makes me more aware as a reader.

Shooting Dad by Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell, the author of Shooting Dad faces the struggle of a relationship with her father due to his extreme admiration for firearms. Vowell, although allowed to voice her own opinion on politics and beliefs (she is a democrat and father is a republican) has a hard time relating to her fathers view points. She loves the arts, he loves guns. Vowell noticed even more of a seperation from her father when she watched her twin sister follow her fathers passion for guns.

Vowell remembers her experience with guns as a child. Her father taught her and her sister at the young age of 6 to hold and shoot a gun. She states that "holding the pistol made me feel small" and that guns were not for her. She describes the experience not as traumatizing but as a lesson learned.

Vowell and her father do have the same passion for "goofy projects and weired equipment." The equipment she is referring to is not a gun, but her tape recorder and microphone. And her fathers is obviously his cannon. Although they struggle with their relationship, they both have similar passions.

Coming Home Again

In the story of Coming Home Again, the author Chang-rae Lee perfectly uses food as a true representation of the importance of family. Lee, and his family are of Korean descent and stay true to their cultural background, including the traditional foods. His mother represents their culture perfectly, by the way she speaks, traditional values and cooking. Food is a source of socialism for this family, conversations are at their peak at the dinner table. While Lee’s mother is terminally ill from stomach cancer, he uses her traditional Korean foods to comfort her. Even though, he knows his cooking will never compare to his mothers, he tries and that’s what makes her happy. Some of Lee’s most prominent memories involve food, including when his mother brought food up to him at boarding school and he missed it so much that he made himself sick from eating so much. Like many traditions and cultures, such as Italians, food is a sense of comfort and family and Lee’s family is no different.

Ch. 47

Chapter 47

This chapter discusses how to construct an argument. A persuasive argument must be backed up with credible information. Therefore, extensive research must be done prior to writing your argument. To write a credible argument, it must involve statistics, examples and note the sources. The argument, like any other writing, must include the main properties, an introduction, thesis and conclusion. It’s important that the thesis state your main point and side of an argument. Also, it’s important to provide information for both sides of the argument, including the opposing side.
I will use this information in the future when writing a persuasive paper or an argumentative essay. I think in the past I focus solely on my opinion and not address the opposing side. I also will use this information as I will research more on my topic to make it more credible. I will also remember to include my main argument in the thesis of my future paper.

I had the luxury of growing up in one of the most beautiful place in the world, Monterey, California. This may be a very subjective statement, but in my opinion nothing beats the lifestyle, entertainment and beauty that Monterey offers. Beaches, waves and casualness are a few words that sum out Monterey to me, and The Great Wave by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai depicts that beauty. This artwork reminds me of the large waves in Monterey, especially along the wharf leading up to Lovers Point, a cliff that outlook the water.
While The Great Wave depicts excitement by the large, rushing waves, I see this artwork as calming as it reminds me of home, Monterey. The Great Wave illustrates tiny humans being tossed around in boats by the waves with Mt. Fuji in the distance. Yet, when I look at this artwork all I can picture is calmness, serenity and safeness. It reminds me of the numerous early morning runs along the wharf, listening to the waves crashing, seagulls and otters. I can literally smell the clam chowder and feel the mist in my face when I look at this painting.
Beyond being a memory to me, The Great Wave is a motivation factor in my life. I wasn’t a good student, always in trouble, made my parents lives a nightmare and didn’t have much impetus in my life. I moved to the Bay Area when I was in my later years in high school and then realized how lucky I was to have had the experience of Monterey. Although I didn’t take advantage of the magnificence of Monterey, I’m now old and wise enough to know how lucky I’ am for the experience.

Writing Topic: Rules for Writers chapter 4

Paragraphs are made up of a topic sentence that describes your main points of your following paragraphs. Chapter takes you through the main goals of writing a paragraph which includes being clear and concise. From the beginning of the writing, the reading should be able to get a clear idea of what the message is. Once the message is clear its important to create a pattern of organization that links one main to another.

I plan on using this information in my own future writings as a reference on how to organize my work. I often get off topic and this chapter really emphasized the importance of the process of organization. In my future writings I will remember that its my job to make the reader understand my direction of writing and attempt this within the first paragraph. This chapter also used good descriptions on how to create a process of organization through transitions and examples.

“The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” Dialogue

Education can serve as a life saver by providing options for one when they feel stuck or in helpless situations. Having an education gives you multiple pathways in not just career options but with a broad spectrum of knowledge which can also better your communications skills. These communication skills can assist you in everyday relationships. Alexie is a perfect example of how education saved his life. He lived on the Spokane Indian reservation in eastern Washington which gave him limited options of a future outside Indian culture and traditions. Instead of struggling with English and writing, singing powwow songs he spent his day reading everything he could get his hands on.
Alexie is now a writer although he was planning on being a pediatrician. He goes to schools and teaches the Indian children creative writing. Alexie knows that writing is beyond the Indians, so he provides these children an opportunity to a new world, a new opportunity in life. He teaches them poetry, short stories and novels. These children look up to Alexie, they are now reading books and engaging more in the writing process.

Rules for Writers Ch 2-3 Summary

Rules for Writers Chapters 2-3 Summary
Chapters 2 and 3 of Rules of Writers explain the beginning steps of the writing process. These beginning steps include generating a rough draft and then produce the revisions. In order to create a rough draft, the writer must keep in mind that it’s just a simple rough draft, it does not need to be near perfection. First, begin the writing process by writing the introduction which includes the thesis. Then, formulate the body of the writing with paragraphs that follow a topic sentence pattern. The conclusion should wrap up the ideas and possibly leave the reader with a sense of “aw”. Once the rough draft is formulated, revisions are necessary. The point of revisions is to clarify points, correct grammar and punctuations.
I plan to use the information from Chapters 2 and 3 from Rules of Writers in my future writings to help guide me in the writing process. I learned that formulating a rough draft doesn’t mean making a final draft, its just the first step. The information in these chapters in regards to how to start with an introduction and how to include your thesis was extremely helpful. I will remember this information in the future when writing. I’m also someone who revises within the rough draft, rather than letting that be the next step. In my future writings, I don’t intend on repeating bad habits.

Week 1: Introduction

Week 1: Prestons Introduction. Hi class, my name is Preston and this is my second year at SRJC. Im currently enrolled in the SRJC Police Academy at the Windsor campus. Its a 5 month full time program Mon- Fri 7-4 pm. Im really enjoying the academy so far, keep in mind Ive only completed my second day. Im taking this course because my educational goal is to continue on with my education and go to a CSU. Im not sure if I want to major in criminal justice or something else. I spend a lot of my free time excercising, especially running, with my 4 year old pit bull, and with my girlfriend and friends. I love Mexican food and Im down to try anything new!. I hope to walk away with this course with a better understanding and knowledge of english. I know English is one of those subjects that I will use in my future, and will also be useful in the police force. Cant wait to read all your blogs. Thank you, Preston.