Journal #10 Reflect on your writing. Has it improved? Where is it stronger? Weaker?

To be honest, I don't really like writing essays. It's one of the things that I hate doing. However, if I do have to write an essay, I want to make sure that it's a good one. It always surprises me though because when im writing an essay, I always think that it's bad, lousy or just... crap, but when I get my papers back, it has a good grade on it and a good comment from the teacher. So, I think that I have improved in my writing and that makes me happy. I think that I have a pretty good essay structure. If I like what I'm writing and I know what it is about, I would have a good introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs and conclusion. The only thing I need to work on is to give more details and depth to my papers. I also need to work on transitioning from one paragraph to the next and keep the tenses together. I always mix my tenses up. I might start using past tense, then all of a sudden I'm using present tense or vise versa. But because I've learn my mistakes, every time I proofread, I always look out for those and correct my paper. I don't think that I have a problem with sentence structure, like grammar, comma splices or punctuations. Even though I don't like writing essays, I think that it's good because it makes me think and it feels great to be complimented on my hard work or even get corrected for my errors. There's always room for improvement and it helps me see the areas I need to work on.

Journal #9 Is peer group editing useful?

Yes, I agree that peer group editing is useful because you could get your peer's input on your paper. Your peers can give you advise. It may be on how to make your essay more convincing, how to make it flow throughout the whole thing or on your sentence structure. Your peers can correct your paper's flaws. It may be punctautions, words spelt wrong or grammar. Peer group editing is important because you need other people's point of view. Your essay might make sense to you, but the important thing is for the readers to make sense out of your essay. You have to make it so that the readers can fully understand the point you are making in your essay. Peer editing can make that part easy. You might get uncomfortable showing your essay to your peers, but its good to know what they think about it. Peer editing is not only for your peers to give you advise, but also for you to make the effort of looking through their papers as well. I admit that it's awkward showing my essay to my peers. However, it makes me feel good about myself when they correct me or compliment me for writing the essay well. It's all about learning and growing from it. You can never really learn unless you are corrected. It's good to see your mistakes. That way you can correct it and hand in a better essay to the teacher.

Journal #8 Do you like horror movies? Why or why not?

I guess you could say that I like horror movies because I watch them, but that would be the last thing on my list if I have to choose which genre of movie to watch. It's not really that I like horror movies, but I think it has something to do with curiousity. I know that I'm going to get scared if I watch horror movies and I would regret it sometimes once the movie is done, but I can't help but be curious of what's going to happen throughout the movie. I also think that it has something to do with being knowledgable about horror movies and just watching horror movies so that when I'm hanging out with friends I can share with them on what I've watched and I know what I'm talking about. Another reason might be because I don't want to get left behind. We always watch movies at home, so if everyone wants to watch horror movies, I really can't do anything about it, though I insist to watch comedy instead. I mean, I'm a scaredy cat so I won't stay in my room all by myself and everyone is outside watching the movie. Plus I can hear the sound effects and that makes it worse when I can't see what's going on because I start to imagine it and that's even scarier than watching it play out in TV. As what we've talked in class, watching horror movies is our outlet. According to Stephen King's "Why We Crave Horror Movies," we're all somewhat mentally ill and that we're potential lynchers. Through watching horror movies, we feed the alligators within us and keep them down there. I do admit that there's a thrill to watching horror movies. Sometimes though it's funny how the characters are so stupid and you keep screaming at them to not make a noise and just run for their lives, but apparently they can't hear you.

Journal #7 Write an entry about a song that takes you back in time.

It is true that songs can take you back in time. It triggers your memory of that particular time and brings you down memory lane. It surprises me everytime this happens, which is not that often. I especially like it when it takes me to a very memorable experience or event, like the song "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick. Everytime I hear this song it always reminds me of the time, almost five years ago, in the Philippines, when my friends are moving to a different location. I met these friends of mine in church. They were in our area because they sell books and stuff. At first, my sister, cousins and I met only three people from their group when we were walking home from church because they went the same way as we did. Then we kept seeing them in church and going home together. We then started hanging out with them more and got to know all of them from their group. Sometimes we hung out at their place and likewise. We would also go jogging in the morning then hang out the whole day. We also attended this Revelation Seminar about the Book of Revelation where three of their group, not the ones we met at first, but three non-Adventist got baptized to our church. After that, everyone started going to church with us. However, their stay is only temporary and they had to change location soon. Mind you all these events happened only in a matter of I think two to three months, but it seemed like I've known them longer. It was really sad because they had to leave before christmas and I was really looking forward to celebrating it with them. The day of their departure came and we went to their place when they were packing. We started singing the song "That's What friends Are For" and everyone started cyring. I remember vividly the tear that ran down my friend's cheek as he bowed down his head for us not to see him crying. It's a memory I hold dear as it is sad, but mostly a happy one.

Journal #6 Reflect on what you learned doing group work.

I didn't really learn anything from group work because we were pretty quite and no one really said anything except editing our papers, so I'm just going to reflect on what I learned or my ideas on the topics we discussed in class. We talked about texting and how that affects the romantic relationship between partners. The class thought that it's okay to a certain degree. Since we are in a generation that is technology oriented, we find texting a convenient way of communication. Especially in cases of long distance relationship when you rarely see your significant other, texting seems an easy solution. However, there's a limit on how you depend on texting as your primary way of communication. Natalie Y. Moore's "Rule of Thumbs: Love in the Age of Texting" talks about her boyfriend using texting as a primary tool of communication. It started off as sweet text messages and it got to a point where all he does is text her. When she tries to call him he doesn't pick up or he's too busy to talk to her and just texted her saying "I'll call you later." I can understand that texting is way easy and its more fun, primarily because I'm not very fond of talking on the phone, however, there should be a limit to texting. It's good to spice up your relationship a bit. Flowers here and there, calling just to say "hi" or "how u doin?" or simply to hear their voice. Going to the movies won't hurt or even going to the park. Communication is important in a relationship but it's also important to BE with that person, seeing and talking to that person face to face. The class also talked about breaking up via text or email. Peronally, no one should ever, and I mean ever do that to someone. No matter how hard it is, it should be done in person. Make time and effort to actually schedule a meeting. Breaking up through text or email is such a cowardly thing to do. As one in the class said, "If you had the guts to start it, have the guts to end. Talk it out." If you're ending it anyway at least end in clean and without guilt or regrets.

Journal #5 Reflect on one of your papers.

Generally, when writing an essay, it almost always depend on how interesting the topic is and what the person's view on the topic. I especially liked my first essay, "Current Obsession," which was about my current obsession with a Korean boy band named DBSK. I was excited to write an essay explaining the reasons why i fell in love with them. I do not think that I'm a good writer but I do think that I have good sentence structures and that my essays make sense. One thing that I have to work on though is that I tend to confuse my tenses. Sometimes my essay would start using the past tense, then without me noticing it I would be using the present tense or the other way around. I get that comment a lot from my teachers every time I get my papers back. However, I think that I am improving in that area because now that I know about it, I specifically look for it every time I proof read my essays. I also think that sometimes I have a good sense of transitioning from paragraph to the next, but other times, I don't know how to connect my paragraphs so it seems like I'm just throwing things out there that doesn't even relate to each other. Overall, I had fun writing this essay because it's something that really interests me and I didn't even have a hard time writing it.

Journal #4 Reflection on why people get tattoos and piercings.

Personally, I don't think that tattoos and piercings are bad, it's just that sometimes when people go over board with them then it doesn't look appealing. People get tattoos and piercongs to make a statement. Sometimes, it tells you who they are, what they represent or maybe even what's important to that person. Other times, people get tattoos and piercings just to look cool. I also think that it's cool but only in a small scale, like earings and a couple of tattoos that are actually important to that person. Some people have tattoos and piercings on unnecessary places and it bugs the hell out of me. For example, why the hell would people want piercings on their nipples, bellybutton, or even on their eyebrows?? I'm not saying i don't respect them, but it doesn't look appropriate or appealing and it really looks like it hurts. I like it when people have tattoos like a heart, a star, or a person's name that they care about or something that means something to them, just something small. I don't like it when people have their arms or back full of tattoos. Like what was mentioned in class discussion, getting tattoos and piercing can be addicting, everything can be addicting and it's on the person to make the desicion. I don't think I'm going to get a tattoo. I just think that it's bad for you, especially for people who go over board and because when you get older, oh man, that sure wouldn't look too good on your saggy skin. But then again, who am I to judge. If you want tattoo or piercing, go right ahead, my point is that think of what those represent to you and how those affect other people's opinion about you.

Jounal #3 Opinion on cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery might be important for other people who are overly conscious on how they look like, or there are certain circumstances where people have cosmetic surgery, not because they want to but because they have to. I, on the other hand, would not have cosmetic surgery because it shows that you are not confident of who you are and how you look. I also would not have cosmetic surgery becasue I'm thankful to God for giving me what I have. To have surgery would mean that I'm ungrateful towards God and His blessings. Now, its not to say that I wouldn't have cosmetic surgery at some point but it would take really, and I mean a really serious sitaution for me to even consider cosmetic surgery. Nobody knows whats going to happen next. I might get into serious accident and might get burned. Maybe then I would consider cosmetic surgery. Other than that, I'm happy the way I am. Well, we all know there's issues that everyone has to go through, mine is not as bad as to want cosmetic surgery. I also strongly believe that cosmetic surgery is bad. You really don't how good a surgeon is even if they tell you or show you their records of success in that area. There's always a first to everything and you might just be that first in that aspect. Take Michael Jackson for example, I'm not saying that his surgery was not a success, but it sure looks like it. He has way too many surgeries that when you compare him to the way he was, you wouldn't see the resemblance at all. Also in My New Nose by Dan Barden, he got cosmetic surgery on his nose because he had difficulty in breathing due to a deviated septum. But the operation failed. His breathing worsen and his nose looked like he's been boxing for years. Then he became overly conscious by his nose and started thinking that he IS the nose. He then got another surgery, and this time it's a success. His nose is better, his breathing is better and he felt better about himself. My point is that cosmetic surgery is not for everyone and I'm sure I am in that group. Just be happy and satisfied of who you are. Let's face it, you would just look too fake if you have cosmetic surgery. If you don't appreciate yourself, who would?

Journal # 2 Impression of culture and ethnicity when growing up

I spent the first 14 years of my life in the Philippines. I didn't really have any impressions on my culture or ethnicity because those are a part of me. I was surrounded by it and lived with it. It's not until I moved here in the US, approximately 4 years and 3 months ago, that I really noticed my culture. Being kinda like thrown to a different environment is really overwhelming. I noticed that I'm different from others. Of how I speak, act and see things. I wouldn't say that Americans are rude, but when I first came here, the way they interact with each other is really different. That's probably because I live in an environment where the atmost respect is towards your elders. I was really surprised when I went to high school. I really didn't feel the respect towards teachers from the students in school. I was taken aback as to the attitude the students brought to class, especially towards learning and doing homework and projects and how they always complain about everything. The kind of fashion and style they wear was new to me, but I liked some of it. In my old school in the Philippines, we wore uniforms. Short shorts and skirts, tube tops and strapless shirts are prohibited. So when I saw kids in school here, wearing clothes that barely cover themselves, I felt ashamed for them. Now, I'm not saying that to all students. Of course, there is a vast majority that doesn't do that and I respect everyone no matter the style they have. As time went on, I become more aware of my culture as I become more aware of other cultures. I've never seen cultures come together as I see here in the US and I'm surrounded by it and adopting to it. Somehow, learning different cultures taught me my culture and how important it is. I have a very rich culture and the need to preserve that culture intensifies the more I adopt other cultures. One of the cons of diversity is that you're surrounded by tons of cultures and you somehow forget some of your own. But as I see it, that makes my culture more important to me than before. There are a lot of things that I miss because I felt that a major part of me was left behind when I migrated from the Philippines. Now, I'm craving for the things that I had that I took for granted, the people that I've known and love in the Philippines and my culture. I always look forward to gatherings to taste my favorite foods and to really feel at home. I thought everything would stay the same and it never occur to me that I would go to such a change that would take away what I've known my whole life. My culture and ethnicity are both important and unique to me and I want to share them that others may know how wonderful it is. I don't want to forget the culture that makes me, I don't want to forget who I am. I want to pass it on and keep it alive. I would like to visit Philippines again someday and go back to what I really call home.

Journal #1 Is Pop Culture a good theme for composition?

I believe that discussing and learning about pop culture is a good theme for composition because its a popular topic. Discusing pop culture in our generation today is important because we can relate to it more. It is something that we are a part of, something that we have a say on. As we have discussed in class, pop culture is a culture of one's generation, so by discussing pop culture, we can have different views on things, differents ideas, aspects and different pont of view. Also, discussing pop culture, we can compare our pop culture today from older generations and we can see what lived through time that we still see today. It is also important to be aware of what is happening around us. We can have different topics because each of us has different opinions or different issues that we need to voice out in the open. I also think that everyone would be most interested in pop culture than some other theme because we enjoy talking about something that we know of because we're living it and it affects us rather than talk about something that doesn't really concern us, therefore not really producing a good discussion in class. It's also exciting to hear other people's opinion on topics discussed in class and you can learn new things from them as well.

I was kinda nervous for today because last tuesday, the teachers told us to get our books for their classses, but i still don't have my books yet because of, well, we don't have the money as of today, hopefully I'll get my books for next week and that I'll be all set ^^

Today's class is kinda interesting just because i have to think of what to write and i have to make it long so I would have 500 words, but that's okay, it's not really that hard, its just hard trying to find the right words.

I'm so used to wirting comments in my facebook and i always put smiley faces on them >.< and abbreviating words and stuff like that..lmao, but now i have to write everything in whole sentences with the right punctuations and stuff T_T, well, that would be hard...ahaha

Im hungryyyy..can't wait for this class to be over so I could go to the cafe and eat lunch ;] ahahah..mad random, well Ms. Montez did say to write anything, so here you go :P