Ma

[] **Please complete the online evaluation for this class. You must have received a link from the university. Thanks/5/2/12** Also, post your culture brochure immediately/5/2/12
 * Sociocultural Learning**

Summary of School vs. Education

Russell Baker's invention strategies probably included simple observations along with his opinions on the education process. He may also have gotten opinions from other people or interviewed individuals that deal with the education system. Baker argues that students do not learn or gain valuable knowledge from the educational system. He brings up topics that students learn from being in school other than things they would learn from a text, such as racial discrimination. Baker thinks that to become educated one must have a curious mind and read, think, and experience life for themselves, rather than just writing what the testers want to hear. Baker organized his writing by chronologically going through what a student learns throughout different stages. In other words, students are expected to absorb information and spit it out on a test, rather than really getting to think for themselves. Overall, I support his opinion because I believe that school is revolved around memorizing stuff that you get tested on. It is all about testing and memorizing. Rather than learning for the sake of learning like school was originally intended for. All school does is teach you stuff to pass the test, to pass the exams, and other forms of testing. We are being tested for the wrong reason. The test is just telling the teachers what they want to hear. We are getting educated for the wrong reasons. The end doesn't justify the means.

Five questions 1. Gaining valuable life experience and getting perfect grades, which one is the most important? 2. Have you felt that the work you did in school was disconnected from your life outside of school? 3. What kinds of things does baker say children learn before going to school? 4. Do you think that a reference from someone who has a brain is more valuable than a list of past accolades on a resume? 5. Did you think about why I am learning this when you sit in classroom? Chapter Presentations Kalpana M. Iyengar/EN 1313

Chapter Presentations Your chapter presentations are due on April 24th and April 26th. Everyone must read all the chapters as listed below because I may quiz you on any day on any chapter! Please use the following guidelines when you present**. Please bring a draft of your presentation to my office on the 19th (anytime between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) or Wednesday, the 18th (anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) (20 points)**
 * 1) Use technology (power point, prezi, and you tube) – List the salient points from the chapter and present the summary. Show part of a you-tube video that is relevant to your chapter **(20 points)**
 * 2) Develop about 5 questions to ask your classmates in class. The questions must be from the chapter and it should engage your classmates. I shall collect the responses in class **(20 points)**
 * 3) Make copies of the summaries for your classmates to read **(20 points)**
 * 4) Discuss the chapter with your classmates by eliciting questions **(20 points)**

April 24th presenters April 26th presenters
 * 1) Chao Ning - The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts (83)
 * 2) Ma - School versus Education (50)
 * 3) Shen - Growing up (56)
 * 4) Xi - Everything isn’t Racial Profiling (95)
 * 1) Yihua - My Father’s Life (113)
 * 2) Kim D - College Pressures (128)
 * 3) Kim Y - The story of the good boy (192)
 * 4) Jung - What is Intelligence Anyway? (43)

You have amonth left to complete your novel/3/29/12 From this chapter, we know something about her grandma. Her grandma got to be lonely after her husband moved out. But she enjoyed the time with her granddaughter that is the writer. The memory that most impressed me is the time they were shopping and having dinner. Every individual has his or her own memories, people, time and items that they value and cherish. So for the writer’s grandma, she would never lose her shopping bags, her feathered hats and her lovely granddaughter. And for the writer, the memory with her grandma is such precious and unique that anything else cannot replace.
 * Have you been reading the novel? If you do not post the summaries on a timely fashion, you will end up doing a mediocre job in the end. Please read the novel and post the summaries periodically/3/1/12**
 * Shopping for Nothing**
 * Take Me with You**

The writer recalled the memories about cars she took. In her childhood, the neighbor boy, Roger, rode her with his green bicycle around their houses. Then, her father, her mother’s friend Irma and her mother all drove her somewhere with an accident. In my opinion, there are many people throughout the world that are rich enough to enjoy kinds of luxury lives. But just few people have experienced the satisfaction and peace from spirit.
 * Dangerous Taxis**

In this chapter, the author described some stories about cars. In high school, a car crash happened to her friend and her. After that, her parents ordered her to stop riding in any car they were not driving. Another story happened in a stranger’s car. The writer hitchhiked with a young man. She became increasingly suspicious of this young man because he dressed up weirdly. Then the writer took the opportunity of the stop at a gas station and jumped out, and began running. In this chapter, the writer told some memories about her first car: Mercedes Benz, circa 1965. Her parents bought it in Germany in 1967 and sold it to the writer after getting her driving license. She was so fond of this car that she drove it all over Texas for many years. But, unfortunately the car broke down soon. The writer was so sad about her car and blamed herself that she made her car become a greenhouse.
 * Green House**

Jincheng Ma EN1313 Iyengar 2/3/12 Name Game Last Friday, I interviewed Mildred Rodrigues about her first and last name. Mrs. Rodrigues is a teacher in English communication department. She told me that in the USA, people use their last names along with their first names unlike in some other eastern countries that people use initials before the given name. Then, we began to talk about her name. From our conversation, I know that Mildred is her first name, this word means nice and kind. Her father like this name so much, so he gave her Mildred as her first name. In western countries, when women got married, they will change their last name and then use their husbands’ family names as their last name. Therefore, Rodrigues is not her family name, and her family name is Figueroa. Mildred also told me that Rodrigues and Figueroa are all from Spanish, and very famous and common in San Antonio. At the final, I told her something about my name. My name is Jincheng Ma, Ma is my family name, and Jincheng is my given name that my grandfather gave me, it means beautiful future in Chinese.
 * Too brief (2/13/12)**

Jincheng Ma EN1313 Iyengar 1/31/12 Ma Grandfather The person who influences my life a lot and whom I admire the most is my grandfather. He is my mother’s father. It has been a long time since my grandfather left me. It was five years ago that grandfather passed away because of a serious disease. He was dead when he was seventy-three years old. In my childhood memories, he always smiled and his smile made people feel warm. He was not tall, but his back was straight. He did not smoke or drink, and he always got up at six every morning, and then exercised for about forty minutes. He was a man who always enjoyed working. I lived with my grandfather until he died. In my memory, I felt much happier than any other child. I still remember when I got the first place, my grandfather would take me to the restaurant in downtown to have a feast or buy me a gift. I was so happy at that time when I stayed with him. When my school held parents’ meetings, sometimes my parents had no time to attend, and then my grandfather will take the place of my parents. I always saw smiles on his face when he heard my teacher praise me. I knew my grandfather was proud of me. He never criticized me even if I caused some trouble. When I was sad, he would give me lots of help and told me some stories to educate me. My grandfather insisted on planting vegetables in his garden though my mother and uncle usually suggested him not to. He said that he could get some exercise and also get some vegetables through gardening. He liked reading books, and thought people should keep learning as long as they are alive. He often told me to read as many as books possible, and said that every book can convey valuable information. When I was on vocation, he asked me to go to the library to read books with him. My grandfather had a habit of reading the newspaper every day, and he often told me a special story from it. Sometimes, he liked playing Chinese chess with me, but I never won. In recent years, I thought about him a lot, and miss him so much. In my life, his role was not only grandfather, but also a good friend and kind teacher. Though he was dead, I always dream about him. In a dream, we walked along the street, and I held his hand and said “Grandpa, tell me a story.” Then, he touched my head gently and told me an inspiring story.

**The novel summaries are not posted yet/ 2/8/12. Still not posted (2/13/12** **The open book quiz was due. Please post the responses immediately/2/17/12. Please see me in my office on Tuesday. I have to discuss your grades and standing in class.** Quiz 1.What is process analysis? Give an example from your reading of the text. Process analysis is trying to put something together and explain why something happens. Process analysis breaks a process down into logical steps, for example, in putting the bicycle together. 2.What are the two different kinds of process analysis? The two different kinds of process analysis are directive process analysis and informative process analysis. A directive process analysis tells readers how to do something, while an informative process analysis explains a phenomenon. 3.Processes can be chronological, simultaneous or cyclical. 4.Read the following paragraph and create a graphic organizer to indicate the process involved in taking a picture.

Bottled Water Most people think that bottled water is healthy water, however, is it really true? Who told us the alleged fact? The marketers told us that we should deink bottled water because it is the best healthy water in the world by lots of advertisements. When we look at the labels of many different kinds of bottled water, we can all find a beautiful mountain and a clear river, and described as spring water. These marketers make customers believe that bottled water is better than tap water, and told people that tap is not healthy. Therefore, everyone just drink bottled water now, so the businessmen worldwide get ten billions dollars every year. Bottled water has become a huge business in the world. We get used to drink the bottled water as the best healthy water now, however, it is just water and not healthier than tap water in fact. On the other hand, bottled water caused lots of plastic per year; plastic’s raw stuff is oil, it is largely a wasted effort. While the plastic can be recycled, over 80 percent of plastic bottled are not recycled and just thrown away. This plastic garbage polluted our environment and caused many problems. Therefore, everyone should understand the fact now, bottled water is not the only way we can choose, and drinking bottled water in not a good habit. We just need a durable cup to drink tap water. The quiz is posted a week late and your novel summaries are not yet posted/2/22/12 How to Apply for a Credit Card In today’s world, especially in America, credit card has become a very common thing in our lives. When we need to buy something, we do not need to pay for cash and just need a small plastic card. It has been a very famous way to pay; even you do not have the enough money to buy the goods you want at that time. This card are not used with your actual money, it depends on your credit. A credit card is a card issued by a bank, which allows purchase of goods and services on credit for a specific limit, interest rate and time period. There are a variety of credit cards to choose, depending on the requirements of the person. You can apply for a credit card online, through paper application or by phone. I will introduce that how to apply for a credit card through the three methods. First of all, find out information about credit card plans, rates and terms on the Internet. Second, fill out the paper application for a credit card of your choice, if you do not want to apply online. Make sure that the application is endorsed by the credit card company and is an original document, not copied. This is very important step, because just the original copy is legal and valid. Sometimes, I advice you that apply on phone, by calling up the toll free number of the credit card company of your choice. You can find the number online or yellow pages easily. Follow the automatic instructions that you hear when you call the number. Usually it may have a human assistant, and then you can communicate with her or him. Online application is usually the easiest, fastest and most preferred method of the three methods. Go online and search for the different credit card options offered by different banks. Then, compare the different features as regards the interest rates, credit limits, interest-free days, penalties, grace periods and other costs. Choose one to suit your requirements and search for applying options online. Some numbers are very important, such as a driving license number, social security number, and date of birth and address proof. Therefore, remember or write these numbers before you begin to apply; they are the important evidence of your legal identity. Usually, there is no need to have a bank account in a specific bank, nor do you need to maintain a minimum bank balance. Fill in the details online, then remember to double check the information included, read the privacy statement that make sure you agree these statement, finally submit. Stop here, these are all the steps and details of applying for a credit card. In recent years, credit card application has become more and more easier, great credit and well economic background are the key points to get a credit card successfully. Whatever how many cards you want, the authority to issue of all these cards simultaneously rests with the issuer, they will first ensure whether you have a reliable financial background.

Sources of Stress As the keen competition becomes more common in our society, nowadays people are facing more work related stress. Those never finished work put us into a situation in which we have a race against time. The problem is that the task must be done at the moment has nothing to do with our ultimate aim, but a lot are till waiting for us to deal with. So when the deadline comes, stress affects us physically and psychologically. Many people are caught up in the cycle of stress but they do not realize it. So the most important step is being aware of potential stresses and avoiding them. The number one source of stress is financial problems. You cannot do something you like because of the lack of money. In some more terrible situation, you may not be able to live. If we live in a big city, we need lots of money to pay the rent and any other fees. In most situations, we work hardly just want to earn more money. Therefore, financial matters top the list of stressors. Stress at workplace is another of the main sources of stress. You may be worried about your next promotion. You might be facing the negative or bullying behavior of your boss. You might not be reaching your deserved career goals. Sometimes, you may feel that your office politics are too much. You also might be stressed about some changes in your organization. When the economy is bad, you might be stressed about you will lose job. Therefore, workplace has become a source of extreme stress as a result of technological changes, information overload, fierce competition, and uncertain future. Sometimes, lots of people might feel that the requirements of the job do not match their capabilities, resources they can use. Stress at the workplace can lead to poor health. On the other hand, personal relationships are also a key source of stress. Studies of your children, attitude of relatives, illness of a family member, and arguments with your mate are the common kinds of problems. Health problem is another kind of stressor. For example, I have problem with eve sight for a long time, this problem caused a stress in my daily life. Heart diseases, hypertension is the common stressors of most old people. Therefore, maintaining good health is very important. Overall, there are a lot of annoyances that you encounter in our daily lives that become biggest sources of stress for us. Problems in workplace, balance of work and family life, workload, health problems, no time to relax, no enough sleep, lots of stresses and strains in out lives, and we have to fight with them every day. Nobody want to face these stresses, however, we should not let these stresses get us down.
 * Please edit your essays before posting on the wiki/3/4/12**