Table of Contents:

Introduction Introduction to Critical Thinking Critical Thinking: Love Game Introduction to Revising and Re-Seeing Revising and Re-Seeing: Rabbit-Proof Fence Introduction to Voice and Audience Voice and Audience: Discussing a Name Introduction to Writer's Choice Writer's Choice: You Know What Sounds Good Right Now...?

Writer's Choice: You Know What Sounds Good Right Now...?

You Know What Sounds Good Right Now...?

After handing someone their sandwich for the hundredth time, I couldn't help but speculate: what drives people back here, week after week? Lunch is the obvious factor, but outside of that, what makes someone choose a sub sandwich over, say, a burger or pizza? Looking at the trends, we (the “sandwich artisans”) are usually able to pin-point the “spontaneous” cravings people get for our food. Here's an easy one: a sunny day. Sunshine, especially in Washington, is reminiscent of picnics, and everyone knows that sandwiches are eaten at picnics. While most people don't pack up the basket and set out, there is still an inclination to go outside and relax, and that's close enough to make them think, "Hey, a sandwich sounds really good right now!" The funny part is when our customers don't understand why we're so busy. The concept that everyone "feels like" eating a sub at the same time is foreign to them --probably because they're caught up in the middle of it. The phenomena is undeniable though; our numbers spike with the temperatures (no wonder summer is our busy season). So conscious decision or not: if it's a nice day, go buy a deli sandwich.

Introduction to the Writer's Choice

This blog entry would have to be my writer's choice for the portfolio. I am not going to claim that it's my pinnacle masterpiece --no. I just had a lot of fun with it. It's purpose was to explore a tradition related to food in our culture, and the most prominent to me was, of course, related to work. What I liked best about this was that I didn't need to follow my usual format of intro, examples, explanation, conclusion; I just let my thoughts flow. I don't think the voice is too chatty either, because it stays on topic with every sentence. It uses a conversational tone like, “ Looking at the trends, we (the “sandwich artisans”) are usually able to pin-point the “spontaneous” cravings people get for our food. Here's an easy one: a sunny day.” Unlike most of my writings, this paragraph sounds like I'm writing because I really want to. That doesn't mean I despised writing the other pieces, rather, this one shows a side of my voice that would have been missing otherwise.

Voice and Audience: Discussing a Name

I find it hard to complain about my name, but that didn't stop me from trying. As soon as someone could get me to say it, I would be reassured, "oh, that's a nice name," which would then be my cue to explain. I would admit, Kimberly Rose Sangwin isn't an ugly name, but for a long time, I felt disappointed by it. While I couldn't complain that it's too common, I have had the sneaking suspicion that it's popularity ran out a while ago (oh, woe is me).

At this point, I could continue on about how both "Kimberly" and "Rose" are old-lady names but I never could captivate an audience by just complaining. Instead, I learned to bring up solutions: nicknames. Officially, I jumped from "Kimberly" to "Kimmie" to "Kim" but ran out of stepping stones in high school (the whole "Kimby" thing didn't quite work out). Not satisfied with twisting my original name, I encouraged others to name me and I've been honored with "Kiwi", "Bubbles", "Autumn", "Captain", and "Chelsee". This was usually fun and welcome, but despite going through as many nicknames as I did "fashion styles" in high school, I've had about the same success with them: nothing really stuck, but I like to think I made progress. Eventually, I thought I would change my name for good.

The best way I can think to describe what happened next is... an eventual epiphany.
I realized that despite any of the meanings my name has or associations made with it, it's really only a word that was given to me at birth. That's not to say that I'm viewing it as unimportant, but rather, previously undefined. I don't look at it as some symbol that I'm supposed to fulfill, but a word whose definition is "me".
If it felt stale before, that's only because I thought it was, whereas now, I feel no need to create something new, when I can reinvent what I've already been given.

"Kim" is still too short though; my friends call me Kimmy.

Introduction to Voice and Audience

 This piece stood out because it was aimed well for the audience. It was a posting about what my name means to me, and since everyone was writing and reading something similar, I altered my voice accordingly. The writing was more public, yet still focused, and since it was only a quick exercise, many of the lines are informal like,

At this point, I could continue on about how both "Kimberly" and "Rose" are old-lady names but I never could captivate an audience by just complaining. Instead, I learned to bring up solutions: nicknames.

The point of this casual writing is to pull the readers along as I would in a real conversation. This also serves to ease the reading along, since my audience was reading so many of these things.

Revising and Reseeing: "Rabbit-Proof Fence"

Kim Sangwin

In Rabbit-proof Fence, the outsiders are people who do not fit in because of their race, and while the existence of this boundary is wrong, it is a real example of what it means to belong.
“Othering,” in this film is prevalent, as Mr .Neville works to “absorb” the half-caste children back into white culture. Most notably, Molly and her sisters feel like outsiders during their time at Moore's. Because they were new, they still belonged to the Aborigine culture, so their language, appearance, and religion set them apart from the group. The other girls had already adjusted to the culture presented to them, so when they all woke up in the morning, they knew the schedule and made their beds, took out the bucket, and stood before breakfast for prayer. Molly, Gracie, and Daisy were apart of a different culture, and therefore, were outsiders at the institution. Another person who didn't belong was the tracker. He was forced to work for the whites at Moore's, and, in a way, betrayed his own people to do so. At the same, he was not accepted by the whites because he was an Aborigine. They only kept him there because they needed his skills. If they really cared about him, they would have listened to him when he asked to leave.

The whole process of keeping the natives out or in white culture is a perfect example of what outsiders and insiders really are. The whites excluded the Aborigines because their native appearance and lifestyle did not meet their standards. This is the basic justification behind any instance of “othering.” For whatever reason, an outsider fails to meet some standard within a group. This is made even more clear in the film, as Mr. Neville explains his duties. He believed that through correct marriages, the half-caste bloodline could be “elevated” to that of a white person. He showed a picture of acceptable white people and explained that the native blood could be “stamped out,” meaning his intention was to keep the natives under control until they were white enough to meet the community's standards. His attitude isn't much different than a popular teenage girl, judging her peers for worthiness. Of course, the standard doesn't have to be something as shallow as appearance. Even within a family, the insiders are together because of their compliance with family standards. Some members could be shunned due to lying or unacceptable actions.

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In Rabbit-proof Fence, the outsiders are people who do not fit in because of their race. While the existence of this boundary is wrong, it confirms how belonging really works.

“Othering,” in this film is prevalent, as Mr .Neville works to “absorb” the half-caste children back into white culture. However, certain people at Moore's were out of place in the white culture. Most notably are Molly, Gracie, and Daisy. Because they were new, they still felt a part of the Aborigine culture, so their language, appearance, and religion set them apart from the group. The other girls had already adjusted to the culture presented to them, so when they all woke up in the morning, they knew the schedule and made their beds, took out the bucket, and stood before breakfast for prayer. Molly, Gracie, and Daisy were unfamiliar with this. They were apart of a different culture, and therefore, were outsiders at the institution. Someone else who didn't belong was the tracker. He was forced to work for the whites at Moore's, and, in a way, betrayed his own people to do so. At the same, he was not accepted by the whites because he was an Aborigine. They only kept him there because they needed his skills. If they really cared about him, they would have listened to him when he asked to leave.

The whole process of keeping the natives out or in white culture is a perfect example of what outsiders and insiders really are. The whites excluded the Aborigines because their native appearance and lifestyle did not meet the whites' standards. This is really the justification behind any instance of “othering.” For whatever reason, an outsider fails to meet some standard within a group. This is made even more clear in the film, as Mr. Neville explains his duties. He believed that through correct marriages, the half-caste bloodline could be “elevated” to that of a white person. He showed a picture of acceptable white people and explained that the native blood could be “stamped out,” meaning his intention was to keep the natives under control until they were white enough to meet the community's standards. His attitude isn't much different than a popular teenage girl, judging her peers for worthiness of friendship. Of course, the standard doesn't have to be something as shallow as a clique. Even within a family, the insiders are together because of their compliance with family standards. Some members could be shunned due to lying or unacceptable actions. The overall rule is that meeting the standards grants acceptance, and failing to do so causes exclusion. This basic system is affirmed entirely in “Rabbit-Proof Fence.”

The movie has prime examples of what it means to be an outsider, and these examples line up perfectly with the truth. Molly and her family as well as the tacker are outsiders at Moore's because they belong to their original culture, but live in the midst of another. Their culture does not meet standards, and therefore they do not belong. This system can be expanded and seen all throughout human culture. In general, if a person or group are not good enough for the local majority, then they are cast out.

Introduction to Revision and Reseeing

This piece was a timed write and it's purpose was to display “othering” from the movie “Rabbit-Proof Fence,” then explain whether it challenged or affirmed my beliefs. This was the obvious choice for a sample of revision, since I couldn't do the paper any favors the first time around. While it did pull some good evidence from the movie and made it's point quickly, the paper skimmed over the second part of the prompt, and didn't really connect the evidence to my views. To fix this, I started by finishing the paper. Before, in my timer-induced panic, I rushed through the last paragraph and wasn't too careful. I abruptly ended the last body paragraph with, “ Some members could be shunned due to lying or unacceptable actions” but in the revision I tied things up with, “The overall rule is that meeting the standards grants acceptance, and failing to do so causes exclusion. This basic system is affirmed entirely in “Rabbit-Proof Fence.” Also, finishing the essay was good because it added a much-needed conclusion. Now it's more of a real argument, and less like a hit-and-run English paper.

Critical Thinking: Love Game

Love Game

The media has an interesting view on love. It can be decoded. It can be a fairytale. It can take four issues of US magazine to hear the whole story behind Madonna and Guy Ritchie's break up. Without a doubt, this portrayal of love impacts the view and dynamics of it in America. The media has taken us past traditional relationships by simplifying how they work, changing our standards, and causing them to fall apart.

Pick up a girl's magazine. There's probably some phrase like, “10 Easy Steps to..!” or “7 Ways to Know if...!” plastered across the front cover. The relationship articles in particular affect how we view love. The bold, dazzling titles promise readers tips on everything between getting a guy's attention to knowing if he really likes you. The actual content of these sound like medical warnings or prescriptions; descriptive yet condensed. They inform readers with the same authority of a stroke-prevention pamphlet, only pink-er. It is hard to know how much of this insight is put to use, but it is certain that these messages change America's attitude toward relationships. With a manual, relationships become less personal. Instead of looking for an answer within oneself or learning more about the other person, Seventeen magazine will diagnose the problem. Furthermore, when the personal aspects are covered up, relationships become more superficial. Acting a certain way will start a relationship, acting another way cues it to end, and so on. There are so many scripts and quick-fixes, that complexity and depth are taken out of the equation.

Moving out of the magazines, icons in media influence the American attitude towards love by encouraging people to find someone who is “best” for them. Shows like the Bachelor (and the Bachelorette) revolve around someone finding the perfect spouse out of a pool of contenders. Other media icons, such as celebrities, influence our attitude as well. The presence of this is undeniable. As pointed out by Heather Havrilesky in “Stalking Celebrities,”

In 2007, the massive, multimillion-dollar celebrity gossip industry that was once the passing fancy of People magazine suddenly began firing all pistons, demanding to be fed a steady flow of angry outbursts and meltdowns and breakups and mishaps.

(447)

As soon as such drama occurs, the tabloids follow stars through the entire process: a break up, confessions, recovery, moving on, and discovering a new love. This implies a standard to the lives of normal people, encouraging them to keep looking for their true love. This effect is further amplified by the flourish of online dating. To pull in customers, the websites advertise compatibility matching or show an array of available singles. This plays on the idea that a perfect match is out there, waiting to be selected, and then strengthens that mentality of “shopping around” for a partner. The new standard is basically a self-centered twist on traditional love.

The last major effect the media has on relationships is that it causes them to break. This usually happens to superficial relationships. In some situations, a couple will split because they were not truly connected in the first place. The media paints a picture of how things work, and there are plenty of writers to help singles get there. In “Real Rules for Successful Gay Dating”, Singleton comments on the relationship advice for women, saying,

Fool the hell out of him if you want your shot at the goal, which according to “The Rules,” is a “Leave it to Beaver” marriage with a bread-winner husband, lovely children, fidelity forever, and a yellow brick road.

(354)

People (especially women) are fed these ideas and methods, but even after fooling “the poor worm down the aisle,” they don't really get anywhere; the relationship will always fail in the end (Singleton , 354). Micheal Sangwin, married for 22 years and father of five, commented on the topic in a recent interview, explaining, “there's a disillusionment... three years down the line they 'wake up' and realize, 'I never really loved you!' and everyone wonders why they didn't say so earlier.” In another instance, the media causes couples to fail due to expectations like the ones mentioned earlier. The belief that someone perfect is out there, so if things aren't “working out” then move on. In this case, people expect to find a relationship that works for them instead of working out problems. A woman in her thirties may notice her husband's flaws, and decide she could do better. Wedding vows notwithstanding, she could easily marry into a better lifestyle. So through disillusionment or lack of commitment the media prevents a real connection, and causes couples to split.

Be it through magazines or television icons, the media changes the traditional view of love by hiding it's depth, giving us new standards, and breaking couples apart. Like many things in America, a relationship is simplified and “solved” by the all-knowing magazine writers. Furthermore, people are told that some partners work out better than others, so lives can be improved by looking around and trading up. In the end though, our lessons from the media leave a trail of broken bonds. The tradition of true love is constantly in our sight, but not as straightforward as it used to be.

Introduction to Critical Thinking

This essay was designed to show how the media (an innovation) affected traditional love in America. This prompt was more complex than most and required the most critical thinking. For example, when I analyzed the quote from “Stalking Celebrities” in the third paragraph, I had to draw conclusions from the information to make my point. Rather than describing my argument, I explained,

As soon as such drama occurs, the tabloids follow stars through the entire process: a break up, confessions, recovery, moving on, and discovering a new love. This implies a standard to the lives of normal people, encouraging them to keep looking for their true love.

Another strong conclusion was tied in later on in the paragraph. As I moved on to the online dating scene I explained,

To pull in customers, the websites advertise compatibility matching or show an array of available singles. This plays on the idea that a perfect match is out there, waiting to be selected, and then strengthens that mentality of “shopping around” for a partner.

There are several reasons why I like this paper, but the critical thinking still takes the cake. Compared to my other pieces, it took full advantage of it's potential for analysis. In most assignments, my goal was to go in, make my point, and get out. Usually, some examples were sufficient, but in this essay, the deeper analysis gives it a deeper purpose and makes the points more credible. If I didn't make any conclusions, then my essay would only repeat information like a summary. On the other hand, if I wrote the essay without explaining my conclusions, I would only be repeating an opinion.

Introduction

I have always been skeptical of introductions because a person's behavior tells me more than a list of hobbies and interests. On the other hand, some context would be ideal before I unload my deepest thoughts and opinions. That being said...

Primarily, I am a thinker and a storyteller; if I'm not caught up in a rapid monologue, then I'm quietly working or observing. I'm also analytic of everything that catches my eye --of course, with everything else, I'm utterly oblivious. In life, I'm a 19 year old college student and during my free-time, I'm a painter and a sandwich artisan at Subway (that's right: artisan). I'm also learning the ways of the engineer and the ninja. One could say they are childhood dreams of mine, so I'm majoring Computer Science Engineering and taking Judo classes in my spare time (laugh all you want --we'll see who laughs last).

Looking at writing now, it has little to do with my major or direction, but everything to do with life. If I can express my thoughts about something, not only do I influence others, but I develop who I am in the process. When I approached the topics of identity, community, and tradition, I was forced to explore my own views before writing about them.

Focusing on identity, I learned that people do not control who they become –at least not entirely. Before, I viewed identity as something conscious and decisive. During the unit, however, I reflected on challenges to forming an identity, as well as my own name. “Masks,” for example, showed how people are formed through forces out of their control. As Grealy recalled, “I hadn't realized how meek I'd become, how self-conscious I was about my face until now that it was obscured.” In this case, Grealy's identity had been formed around her appearance without her even knowing. I also found something similar while focusing on names in a discussion board. There, I realized that things beyond one's control (like a name) still impacted identity, while at the same time, provide an opportunity to respond. I didn't like my name for a long time, and while I couldn't really change it, I learned to change my attitude towards it. In this way, I was still impacted by my situation, but instead of just letting it define me, I chose how it did so.

The community unit was a bit challenging for me. I have never been a “group person,” and make most of my friends by talking to them one-on-one. Because of this, I had little experience with communities, and really had to examine our readings to fully understand them. My thesis for the community paper was a result of this. One of the main functions of communities, I found, was to support their members and sometimes, the outside world. Before, I only knew them to be large groups joined from some common cause, but exploring the topic has since expanded that.

As our course came to an end, I hit the most difficult topic yet: tradition. This was particularly difficult for me because I could not think of a single tradition. I never took into account what was normal –only barely when it was challenged. Luckily, when it the essay was assigned, I was able to unearth a topic by going through my culture-pet peeves. I discovered that traditions weren't limited to bringing home a real Christmas tree or eating turkey on Thanksgiving; they extended to bigger everyday things, often taken for granted. Reading the other essays showed me this too (a bit late, to my annoyance) as they covered topics like massive chain stores versus family owned ones, or microwave dinners versus traditional ones. So overall, the concept of tradition is anything that's become normal in our culture.

With all that said and done, here's a heads up for the actual portfolio. Each of the following pieces were chosen as samples of certain writing elements. Included, are discussion board posts, blog entries, timed writes, and full-fledged essays (okay, there is only one of each). So, without further ado, welcome to my final reflection!