Letter
Dear
Reader,
Welcome to my blog portfolio! My name is Monica Garcia and I am on my way to finish my first year of college. At the moment I am still undecided on what I would like to major in. But I plan to find the major that I am interested in through everyday life experiences. Throughout my first year in college I learned so much about myself. I learned how independent and responsible I can be. I have grown as a person and as a student. Although I have improved my writing skills with the help of English 113, I know there is still room for more improvement.
In
my blog portfolio, I have chosen to include Project Text as my first essay and
Project Web as my second essay. Project Text is based on the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Project
Text is one of my strongest essays. The topic of the essay is also one of my
favorites. Project Web includes work I have done throughout the year in English
113. It states how much I have grown as a writer and overall as a student.
I appreciate the time you took reading my letter and I hope you enjoy reading both of the essays I have chosen for you to read. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Monica Garcia
Project Text
Changes
of Lifestyle
It
is hard to understand and obey any law forcing individuals to change their way
of living. In the book Persepolis by
Marjane Satrapi there were many changes in the way of living during the Islamic
Revolution in Iran. Persepolis was
written based on Satrapi’s childhood memories through her eyes as a child.
Satrapi explains the difficulties she had changing her usual ways and getting
in trouble for expressing herself with the things she liked. It was not just
Satrapi who faced changes but other families as well and even the society as a
whole. During the Islamic Revolution there were many changes in the lifestyles
of many; the military began recruiting young boys, women lost their rights, and
education became stricter for the adolescences.
To begin, the
military began recruiting teenage boys at age fourteen living in poverty which
created a change in the military. This was a change within the military because
at fourteen one is still considered immature and has not mentally or physically
developed to the fullest. To join the military one should be mature and fully
grown. Many of these fourteen year old boys were tricked into joining the
military. Once in the military, they were given a key painted gold representing
value. They were told if they were fortunate enough to die, the golden key
would open the door into heaven. They were promised a better life than the one
they were living in the lower class. As Mrs. Nasrine, Satrapi’s maid, explains,
“They told him that in paradise there will be plenty of food, women and houses
made of gold and diamonds” (100). The lifestyles of these teenage boys were
changed completely. At such a young age their teenage years of finding love and
friendship were taken away by a key painted gold. Not only were there changes
in the military, but women had their rights and freedom taken away.
Women
faced many changes during the war. At the start of the Revolution, women were
forced to wear veils over their heads. It was a change no one was used to.
Young girls were confused about the veils and did not take them seriously.
Satrapi explains in Persepolis, “We
didn’t like to wear the veil, especially since we didn’t understand why we had
to” (3). They were forced to do something they did not want to do. While some
women appreciated the veil, others did not. With the start of the veils women
lost their freedom and rights. There were also many situations when women were
yelled at and disrespected by men when seen without the veil. They were thought
of showing too much and going against the laws. Furthermore, Satrapi explains
how she was not able to express her style in public without getting into
trouble.
In Satrapi’s teenage
years, punk rock became the style in the United States but it was forbidden in
Iran. Although it was forbidden, Satrapi listened to the music and enjoyed
expressing it by the way she dressed. In the chapter “Kim Wilde” Satrapi
explains how strict the dress code was within her country. After the return of
her parents from their trip to Turkey, they brought back a pair of Nikes and a
denim jacket for Satrapi. As she walked through the streets with her new
clothes she was stopped by two guardian ladies. Satrapi states, “Their job was
to put us back on the straight narrow by explaining the duties of Muslim women”
(133). They judged her by the way she was dressed and wanted to report her to
the committee, “the committee was the HQ of the guardians of the revolution” (Satrapi
133). Having a strict dress code became unfair to many individuals. Many were
unable to express themselves without getting into trouble. They were forced to
change their lifestyles to not have to worry about living a life in prison. While
dress code became stricter, education also changed during the Islamic
revolution.
Satrapi explains in
her book how students were separated in school based on their gender. While the
boys were in one classroom, the girls were in another. Many were unable to see
their friends due to the new rules in education. In school, girls were forced
to wear their veils, remove any jewelry, and had to beat their chests twice a
day in honor of the martyrs. Students were also taught false information about
the shah and the prisoners. Teachers wanted to keep the truth away from the
students. Satrapi explains in the book how she often stood up and corrected her
teacher. Many times she got expelled for doing so. Satrapi had the knowledge to
speak the truth about the revolution.
Having to move to a
different country was one of the greatest changes in an Iranian lifestyle. Furthermore,
many teenage boys and girls were sent by their parents to different countries
for the sake of their safety. In Persepolis,
Satrapi discusses different situations in which many young teenage kids
were sent off to a different country including herself. This led to their
change of lifestyle. In the chapter “The Sheep” Satrapi states that her
childhood friend left Iran to move to the United States. It was hard on her due
to the fact that she liked him. In the chapter “The Passport” Satrapi discusses
the worries and sadness parents experienced when their children went off to
another country. If it was not for the revolution, the struggles and changes
made would have not occurred.
Lastly, Persepolis comes to an end with Satrapi
moving to France. Marji’s parents decide she would have a better future and a
safer environment in France. This was a change Satrapi was not expecting. She
left her family and friends behind knowing she would not be seeing them as
often as before. Satrapi states, “What I had feared was true. Maybe they’d come
to visit, but we’d never live together again” (152). As Satrapi waited in the
airport she witnessed her mother faint from sadness as Satrapi was getting
ready for her flight. The revolution changed the lives of many.
In
conclusion, there were many changes during the time of the revolution. Young
boys were getting recruited into the military while women were losing their
rights and freedom. Education became stricter and students were being taught
false information. There were many changes in life which became very unfair to
some individuals. During times of hardship, people should stay strong and
strive for the best with a positive mind. Persepolis
is a reminder of staying strong and standing up for one’s own beliefs.
Works Cited
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis.
New York: Random, 2003. Print.
Project Web
Improvements
Made My Freshman Year
Transferring
from high school to a university can be tough with a lot to get used to. There
is a lot more homework and reading assignments than there was in high school.
Students also need to learn to become more responsible and independent. The
first year of college can be very stressful and hard to get used to. With the
help of teachers and classmates, students can become more comfortable on their
campus. English 113A and B has taught me a lot that will greatly benefit me in
the future. English 113A and B have prepared me for the next couple years in
Cal State Northridge. English 113A and B have helped me become a more
responsible and confident student, and with the help of the ethnography
project, studying rhetoric, and analyzing different information I have learned
to become more observant.
To
begin, English 113A and B have helped me become a better student. It helped me
become more aware of my surroundings and it showed me how to look at things
deeper with an open mind. As a freshman, English 113A and B gave me an
understanding of what college is all about. The deadlines, projects, essays and
group activities done in English 113A and B have made me become more comfortable
in the college setting. This class prepared me for my next couple years in Cal
State Northridge; the things I learned in this class will help me in the long
run. This is important for me because it has helped me grow as a student and it
helped me prepare for the upcoming academic challenges in the future. It also
helped me on becoming more confident and independent. Transferring into college
after high school was an achievement but it also brought the fear of failing or
the thought of college being too challenging. English 113A and B showed me that
working hard and striving for something you want can help you become
successful. I have gained grades in this class that I am very proud of. Doing
every homework assignment has made me realized how it is all up to me. I made
the effort and pushed myself to earn good grades by always doing my
assignments. This is what helped me become more responsible. I know this will
definitely help me in the long run whether in school or in a future career. It
helped me become independent because I earned good grades by showing up to class
everyday and staying after class to ask for help. While English 113A and B has
helped me become a more responsible student, it has also helped me become observant
by teaching me about rhetoric and how people use different techniques to grab
ones attention.
Rhetoric
consists of three strategies: Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. Pathos is used to make
the person being persuaded feel emotion. Ethos gives credit to someone of
authority such as doctors or judges and finally Logos is used when showing
logic or statistics. Studying rhetoric made me realize how much it is used each
day, from commercials and advertisements to my niece asking my sister for candy
and soda. Studying rhetoric has taught me how to observe people and what their
intentions are. When using Logos, it is very easy for people to be persuaded
into believing something is true. It can easily convince people to buy a
product. While Rhetoric has helped me understand the strategies used in
everyday situations, English 113A and B has also helped me analyze and think
much deeper when studying and reading.
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| Rhetorical Triangle |
The
poem, “It’s a Woman’s World” by Eavan Boland, is very interesting when studied
carefully. Studying this poem has showed me how to deeply analyze readings and
information given to me. The importance of knowing how to analyzing information
helps me to better understand reading assignments that lead to class
discussions. When reading the poem, “It’s a Woman’s World”, it is hard to
understand what the speaker is trying to say. It can also be very difficult
interpreting lines in the poem. After carefully analyzing the poem I got a
better understand and realized how important the topic really is. The poem
“It’s a Woman’s World” encourages women to be strong and independent. Although
women should be strong, the poem states how a woman’s sensitive and fragile
side is shown with the thought of her children. This is described in the tenth
stanza, “By night our windows / Moth our children / to the flame”
(Boland 38-40).
Knowing how to analyze text helped me on how to better
understand what is being said. English 113A and B has also helped me understand
material being taught in my classes and perform well in all my classes when
doing exams and quizzes.
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| Santa Monica Pier |
Over
all, English 113A and B has made me grow as a student. It has showed me how to
become more observant, responsible, and hard working. The things I learned in
English 113A and B will not only help me in my academics but in the future
after college. It has helped me to know how important it is to analyze my
surroundings. Every bit of information learned in English 113 A and B has made
me improve my role as a student.
Works
Cited
Boland, Eavan. “It’s a Woman’s
World.” (Course Handout)
