Reading Questions For Kinloch

Jodie Crutchley
Reading Response Questions
Writing Skills Workshop
Professor Rasheda Young
09/29/2014


1. The places in Harlem are misunderstood by outsiders. They are not just buildings, theaters, and hotels. They are places full of history and culture of the people who live in Harlem. The designs of the buildings and what happened there all shows the history and culture of the city.

2. On 125th street is the Apollo Theater. A place for arts, which Phillip and Khaleeq both valued. This is one of the reasons they are so fond of it. Olden Avenue is a "famous" street in my town, due to its infamous amount of shops and fast food establishments.

3. Symbols that show identity are the buildings, the layout of Harlem and all of the historical places there can be symbols of identity. They are important in showing identity of the people who live in Harlem.

4. Art is free. They wanted to put what they saw. Harlem's buildings expressed and showing the culture of the people living there.

5. The community shows the history of Harlem, for example: the Theresa Hotel, was the only hotel African Americans could go to at one point in Harlem, and this site was visited by so many famous African American people. Such as Malcolm X. Since my town is mostly houses and fast food there is no real place that shows the history of my area.

6. They see that when Bill Clinton moved in and a New York councilman also moved in, that the property taxes went up forcing people who could not afford it out of the community.

7. The ending of Kinlochs essay is sort of a, call to "arms", or call to "action". Posing possible ways to fix the problems in the community.

Essay 2 Draft

Jodie Crutchley

English Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Rasheda Young

09/29/2014

                                              “Home”

Where is home? Is it where you live now? Where you grew up? Home can be wherever you want it to be. Your home can be in the woods where you can smell the fresh sap resinating from the trees, in a suburb with your family and friends, or even on a field where you play your favorite sport. Home is where you make it. I highly doubt anyone has a perfect home. There is always something that could be fixed or changed where you live, or play. Personally in my home which is my dorm room, 3051 Hamilton Twombly on the campus of Fairleigh dickinson university, I would like to have changes in the structure of the building due to lack of stalls in the bathroom as well as showers, lack of washers and dryers, and also the screens on the windows in the rooms themselves. 

In the Hamilton building there are 4 floors with dorms on them. In the basement there is the freshman lounge which connects Hamilton to Florence, which is the other freshman dorm. I live on the 3rd floor of Hamilton. We have one bathroom in the girls hallway and we have the only washer and dryer on the floor in our hallways as well. Which means the boys from the 3rd floor always have to use our washer and dryer. In the bathroom there are 2 stalls, one of which has been locked for god-knows-what. Last week someone had broken the toilet seat of one of the stalls also. There are 4 showers that I doubt are cleaned regularly because there is always globs of hair as big as golf balls sitting next to the drains. Other then the bathrooms the screens on the windows have holes in them so they don’t stop bugs from coming in and we regularly have stink bugs crawling around acting like they own the place. I still call my Hamilton 3051 my home though. All the girls and guys on my floor are very friendly, I’ve made a ton of friends so far. There are just a few things I would like to change. 

On the 3rd floor of Hamilton the ladies room does not have enough stalls for using the toilet and showering. As I mentioned before there are only 2 stalls to use the bathroom in and one of those 2 has been locked for the past 3 day, and before that someone had broken off the toilet seat of one of them, so for 3 weeks now we’ve been sharing 1 stall. This sounds highly unsantitary, and is also very inconvenient. If I am in dire need to use the toilet i have to walk down 4 flights of stairs to get to the basement. Then walk up the 4 flights just to get back to my room. I would like for the bathroom to be larger with more toilets since there is about 30 girls and 1 stall on this 3rd floor of Hamilton. 

In order to fix the toilet shortage on my floor the school would have to change the structure of the building which poses a large obstacle so instead I’m going to pose a different solution. I believe that if the floors were gender specified and the bathrooms on the floor were both for the one gender it would make it easier. Sharing 2 bathrooms is 

much easier than sharing 1. If the toilet brakes on one side there is the option to use the other halls bathroom instead of walking to the basement. Making a floor gender specific and having 2 womens (or mens) bathrooms on one floor could solve the shortage of stalls in one bathroom problem but there is also the problem of not having enough washers and dryers.

For the 3rd floor there is only 1 washer and dryer, for 60 or so students we are sharing 1 washer and 1 dryer. Since the laundry rooms are always open people from other floors also come to use ours when its open and theres is not. This is a problem because either there is no open washer or dryer, or people are taking others belongings out to put their belongings in. I have had a problem with others taking my clothes out of the dryer before they are even finished drying, and I have also had a problem with people giving me no time at all to take my thing out of the wash after they have finished and taking my wet clothes out and putting them on the top of the washer. Then I have to wait for the dryer to finish to put my wet clothes that have been sitting on top of the washer for a while in. Leaving wet clothes out makes them smell really bad. Its posted to give others time to take their belongings out of laundry machines but since there is only one of each machine waiting isn’t an option or you’ll never get your laundry in. So I believe the school should purchase more laundry machines for the floor. 

If there were more laundry machines it would be easier to get laundry done, and also people would be less likely to take things out in order to do their own. People wouldn’t feel pressured to do their laundry as soon as possible which would pressure them to take other people belongings out of the machine as soon as they finish not giving others time to finish theirs or taking other peoples clothing out before its even finished. Giving the floors machines would make it so people from other floors are not crowding other laundry rooms because they cannot use their own. For example: people from the 4th floor won’t have to do their laundry on the 3rd floor if they had more machines to do their laundry. Fixing this problem leaves only the problem of the faulty windows.

The screens on the windows either have holes in them or aren’t on all the way letting bugs into them. 12 times already I have had to flush a stink bug down the toilet or kill and clean up a bunch of ants that I match scurry straight past the window. This bothers me a lot because I now get the feeling that while I sleep bugs are curling up next to me, and slowly creeping over me. It disgusts me and makes me not want to sleep in my room. I believe the school should have facilities put little ant traps out and also fix the windows screens to minimize bugs.

Bugs aren’t able to enter a window screen that does not holes as easily as apposed to one with holes. The amount of bugs in the dorms will most likely decrease if the school fixes the window screens. Since ants are so small I would like if the school placed small ant traps around the hallway, in the bathroom, and also gave them to the residences of the dorm rooms to place around their rooms if they wish. This should help decrease the number of ants in the buildings, and let me get a better nights sleep then I have been getting due to these creepy crawlers. A few of my solutions could potentially improve the living conditions in the Hamilton Twombly building drastically. 

        I hope to see changes in the bathroom situation, the laundry rooms, and the windows/insect control in Hamilton. I believe it could make the college experience a little better for people who are to busy to wait around for an open stall, shower, or laundry machine. It could also help a entomophobic (or inspectaphobic) such as myself get some sleep knowing there aren’t dozens of scary looking critters making themselves at home under my pillow at night. Im sure though that despite the down falls of my building I will always call 3051 Hamilton Twombly my home no matter where life takes me in years to come, because the girls of 3rd floor Hamilton are my family. 

Response "Hip Hop Planet"

Jodie Crutchley

09/21/14

English 1100 Writing Skills WorkShop

Professor Young

                   Response to “Hip Hop Planet”

               In "Hip Hop Planet" by James McBride, the author talks about his young adulthood. He explains the culture he grew up in and how he himself was raised on "Hip Hop Planet". James McBride grew up in the rise of hip-hop. When rappers like Biggie Smalls and Grandmaster Flash began making there names. 

              The identity of hip-hop was in one of McBrides nightmares, where his daughter brings home a young boy she says she's getting married too. The boy, a rapper, with a mouthful of gold. McBride sees himself in the boy. Though he hates the way it looks it was the soundtrack of his young adulthood. It seemed like everywhere around him people were gaining popularity as rappers. McBride says he must've walked by the corner where Biggie Smalls stood "amusing his friends" a hundred times. Yet he pretended not to hear him. He tried to get away from the music because it was everything he ever thought it was, and everything he wanted to leave behind. 

             “It is the music that defies definition, yet defines our collective societies in immeasurable ways. To many of my generation, despite all the attempts to exploit it, belittle it, numb it, classify it, and analyze it, hip-hop remains an enigma, a clarion call, a cry of “I am” from the youth of the world. We’d be wise, I suppose, to start paying attention”. This quote from McBride to me shows the switch in his feelings toward hip-hop. He sees how it us affecting other countries and how it isn’t just rapping, the words have color and class. These people are rapping about themselves just as we talk about ourselves. They are giving everyone a sense of who they are and what kind of world they live in. The generation of hip-hop. 

The Place I’ll Always Call “Home”

Jodie Crutchley

09/21/14

English 1100 Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

                           

                                                                    The Place I’ll Always Call “Home”

There’s something about the smell of a campfire that makes me feel at peace. The wood crackles slowly as it starts to catch fire, while the wind blows the trees leaves off one after another. The subtle sound of the squirrels rustling from tree to tree like small, quiet, monkeys searching for food. I had taken it for granted for the 14 years I had gone religiously, but now I know the mountains will always be my home. When I was just 4 years-old my parents began to take me and my 3 older sisters camping. Going camping was like going on vacation, every weekend. 

It took until I was 10 for my mom let me leave the site by myself. Up until then I wasn’t allowed to walk around by myself. But now I was 10! The only catch was after every 2 hours past I would have to check in back at the campsite. If I was even a minute late my mom would take my leaving privileges away. It was like being grounded for not cleaning your room, and mom never once let me off grounding. 

I made a ton of friends there. The people who camped across from us had two sons my sisters age, Kenny and John. They became my older brothers. If anyone else would pick on me they’d step in and scare them away. To this day John and Kenny come to our family events and invite us to theirs. Once a year Dana and her brothers would come for a week with their family. Me and Dana became really good friends throughout the years even though I’d only see her once every year. She lives about 2 hours away in PA. 

What made camping amazing was how peaceful it was is that you could always go off and be alone. There was never a time I felt trapped while I there. If I was arguing with my siblings and just needed to get away I could. If I wanted to go somewhere quiet to read a book I could. My favorite get away was a place called big rock. There was a small trail through the woods that led you to this huge rock. I was about 12 when I figured out how to climb it. After that big rock became my oasis. I’d bring a book there and sit and read for hours. I even carved my name on that rock. 

Camping was my home away from home. There I had friends and made new ones, and I was free. I was free to rome without worry of fast passing cars. All there was to worry about there is the occasional squirrel dropping its nuts on your head. My favorite place is that camp ground in the mountains, the place i’ll always call “home”. 

Final Essay, Why Identity is Important

Jodie Crutchley

English Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Rasheda Young

9/11/14

                                                               

                                                      The Importance of Identity

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” George R.R Martin. Preservation of your identity is crucial. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, she would do anything to protect her identity. I feel my own identity can be described through items I own. To Gloria her language is what defines her, and to myself my field hockey stick and blanket define me. Having your own identity is important because it molds us to be who we are, identity acts as a constant, Gloria can learn a new language but she will always be hispanic and I will always be an athlete who grew up attached to a blanket, and we choose to embrace what we are and what defines us. Gloria’s stubborn tongue remained impenetrable to change. Her chicano spanish was what defined her and she wasn’t going to let anyone take it away from her. She was right to defend her identity, because identity defines who you are, it is the most important thing about yourself. 
             The dictionary defines identity as, “the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions”. Saying this, identity can be compared to how scientists use constants in their experiments. Constants are things that remain the same when other elements are being changed. 

When I was a little girl, there was only one thing that would never leave my side. It may sound a little out of the ordinary, but I used to be drawn to a blanket. The thing that made this blanket special was that it had already been used. I didn’t like having a blanket that was brand new, fresh from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Do not compare me to Linus from the Peanuts. The fact that someone had already “broken it in”, meant that it was worn out and comfortable to me. My blanket defines me in a way that not many people can understand. It is a sign of my affection, not only toward my blanket, but to everyone that have been “broken into” my life and heart. It is the side to me that makes feel vulnerable. A blanket cannot push others away it invites them. When I feel sad or lonely, I go to it with open arms to keep me warm and safe. Unlike my blanket, I can be compared to my field hockey stick. My stick is my Excalibur. It is what helps me triumph over my opponents and tells others that I am not a person to mess with. With my stick, I will find a way to get the ball into the goal. Just like no other blanket can replace my blanket, no other stick could replace my stick. These two objects define me with almost a Ying and Yang type of feel; my blanket makes me soft and vulnerable, while my stick makes me tough and rough around the edges. Unlike myself, attached to items, Gloria Anzaldua defines herself through her language.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no ones definition of your life, but define yourself.” This quote by Harvey Fierstein fits best for the story of Gloria Anzaldua who fought for her language and for her to be able to speak up and let her accent and chicano spanish to be heard. She embraced the very thing everyone seemed to want her to get rid of, her language. Chicano spanish, is considered a disgrace to the purist of Latinos and Latinas. Yet Gloria sees her language as evolution. “So, if you want to hurt me, speak badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity-I am my language”. Glorias fight for her identity helps prove that identity is important. Her stubborn tongue did not give up who she was and was meant to be. Her language, identity, was something worth fighting for. 

Protecting you’re identity is because it is who we are. Who have you become? Does it really matter as long as you’re happy with yourself? The way you grew up. your story, will remain yours and only yours forever. The discovery of your identity, every twist, turn, and bump in the road brought you here and made you the type of person you are now. Choose to embrace your identity for it is important. The items I hold so dear to me helped me find myself, they showed me the materials that make me. The strengths and also the weaknesses. My stick is mine, no one else's. I carry it with me with pride. It often protects me from other sticks and I reward it with goals. Goals that will remain that sticks forever, no other stick I may ever own will be able to claim the goals that my stick has touched, hit, or drove in. Just like no other blanket can ever have the tears and the nights of sleep that my blanket has had. Gloria will not change herself for the satisfaction of others, because Chicano spanish is as much of her as she is it, Chicano spanish lives in her. Her stubborn tongue will remain resistant to others opinions and efforts to silence what she is. No one will ever be me or take my identity, and the things I've done away from me. No one will ever take away Gloria’s’ language. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”, Oscar Wilde. Identity is important because it is a constant for who you are. Something that does not change under varying aspects or conditions. Identity is you, and you are your identity. 

Is Identity Important

Jodie Crutchley

9/14/2014

English Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Rasheda Young




                                      Is Identity is important and if it is, what is it?

Picture yourself a 13 year-old girl wearing baggy shirts and cargo pants. Same girl only your 14 now and wearing makeup and a dress or skirt everyday. Year after year another faze, this years t-shirts and leggings, next year maybe you’ll incorporate heals into every outfit. Who are you? Are you a “tomboy” or a “girly-girl”? Figuring out how you want to portray yourself isnt easy. Especially after years of catholic school where they dress you in the same wool skirts or dresses everyday. No one ever taught you how to dress yourself, your parents thought it was cute that you wore your brothers clothes or a whole year. You wouldn’t be as tough as you are today if it wasn’t for the teasing you got from the constant wearing of frilly somewhat flower girl like dresses, or from the mismatched high socks and corny shirts with lines like “You’ve got to be kitten me right meow” with a big cat in the middle. All of it contributed to who your are today. Helped you find your identity. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, Gloria’s stubborn tongue remained impenetrable to change. Her chicano spanish was what defined her and she wasn’t going to let anyone take it away from her. She was right to defend her identity, because identity defines who you are, it is the most important thing about yourself. 

The dictionary defines identity as, “the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions”. Saying this, identity can be compared to how scientists use constants in their experiments. Constants are things that remain the same when other elements are being changed. 

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no ones definition of your life, but define yourself.” This quote by Harvey Fierstein fits best for the story of Gloria Anzaldua who fought for her language and for her to be able to speak up and let her accent and chicano spanish to be heard. Though people told her to close her mouth, “En boca cerrada no entran moscas.” Which translates to flies do not enter a closed mouth. Glorias fight for her identity helps prove that identity is important. Her stubborn tongue did not give up who she was and was meant to be. Her language, identity, was something worth fighting for. 

Who have you become? Does it really matter as long as you’re happy with yourself? The way you grew up. your story, will remain yours and only yours forever. The discovery of your identity, every twist, turn, and bump in the road brought you here and made you the type of person you are now. Choose to embrace your identity for it is important. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”, Oscar Wilde. Identity is important because it is a constant for who you are. Something that does not change under varying aspects or conditions. Identity is you, and you are your identity.

James McBride Question

Jodie Crutchley
9/11/14
English Writing Skills Workshop
Professor Rasheda Young


Question:"What is the main point McBride is making about the concept of black power? Is it a concept, an identity, or an idea that defines him? Discuss why you feel this way."

          In the fourth chapter of The Color of Water, James McBride talks about the black power movement. The media portrays the "back panthers" involved as violent against white people. McBrides story says otherwise of the panthers.
         Even McBride was afraid of the panthers, afraid what they'd do to his mother. His encounter with the a black panther family was when he was leaving for summer camp. He watched as a young boy and his father said goodbye to each other loving and gave each other the "Dap" or rhythmic hand slapping handshake. When the boy took his place on the bus others who saw him and his father asked where he had learned that handshake. The boy replied proudly with, "My father taught me, he's a black panther". McBride felt his mother was in great danger. The boy and his father did not even notice his white polish mother. Yet McBride has been told by the media that the black panthers were a danger to white people.
        Black power is a concept. A concept to unite African Americans to get their ideas to the public.  Black power is an idea. An idea that the conditions for African Americans can change for the better. Black power is an identity. Black and proud.
     

Essay 1

Jodie Crutchley

English Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Rasheda Young

9/11/14

Something that Defines Me

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” George R.R Martin. Preservation of your identity is crucial. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, she would do anything to protect her identity. I feel my own identity can be described through items I own. To Gloria her language is what defines her, and to myself my field hockey stick and blanket define me. Having your own identity is important because it molds us to be who we are, identity acts as a constant, Gloria can learn a new language but she will always be hispanic and I will always be an athlete who grew up attached to a blanket, and we choose to embrace what we are and what defines us.

When I was a little girl, there was only one thing that would never leave my side. It may sound a little out of the ordinary, but I used to be drawn to a blanket. The thing that made this blanket special was that it had already been used. I didn’t like having a blanket that was brand new, fresh from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Do not compare me to Linus from the Peanuts. The fact that someone had already “broken it in”, meant that it was worn out and comfortable to me. My blanket defines me in a way that not many people can understand. It is a sign of my affection, not only toward my blanket, but to everyone that have been “broken into” my life and heart. It is the side to me that makes feel vulnerable. A blanket cannot push others away it invites them. When I feel sad or lonely, I go to it with open arms to keep me warm and safe. Unlike my blanket, I can be compared to my field hockey stick. My stick is my Excalibur. It is what helps me triumph over my opponents and tells others that I am not a person to mess with. With my stick, I will find a way to get the ball into the goal. Just like no other blanket can replace my blanket, no other stick could replace my stick. These two objects define me with almost a Ying and Yang type of feel; my blanket makes me soft and vulnerable, while my stick makes me tough and rough around the edges. Unlike myself, Gloria Anzaldua defines herself through her language.

En boca cerrada no entran moscas. “Flies don’t enter a closed mouth” a phrase Gloria was told as a child. A phrase that could simply mean, if she kept her mouth shut she would no longer get herself into trouble. As Gloria grew up she decided that she would not change herself for others. She embraced the very thing everyone seemed to want her to get rid of, her language. Chicano spanish, is considered a disgrace to the purist of Latinos and Latinas. Yet Gloria sees her language as evolution. “So, if you want to hurt me, speak badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity-I am my language”. 

Having your own identity is important because it molds us into who we are. The items I hold so dear to me helped me find myself, they showed me the materials that make me. The strengths and also the weaknesses. My stick is mine, no one else's. I carry it with me with pride. It often protects me from other sticks and I reward it with goals. Goals that will remain that sticks forever, no other stick I may ever own will be able to claim the goals that my stick has touched, hit, or drove in. Just like no other blanket can ever have the tears and the nights of sleep that my blanket has had. Gloria will not change herself for the satisfaction of others, because Chicano spanish is as much of her as she is it, Chicano spanish lives in her. Her stubborn tongue will remain resistant to others opinions and efforts to silence what she is. No one will ever be me or take my identity, and the things I've done away from me. No one will ever take away Gloria’s’ language. 

Something That Defines Me

Jodie Crutchley
ENGW 1100 Writing Skills Workshop
9/3/14
                                                   
       The items that define me as a person are my field hockey stick and my blanket. I don't think that only one thing could describe anyones personality. People often have more than one trait and demonstrate different traits in certain situations. For example I am an athlete. My field hockey stick describes me as not only an athlete but a little rough around the edges. Just like my stick I am bruised and missing pieces. Also just like my stick I am solid. Full of different components that have made me so heavy and dangerous. I am an athlete. I am damaged. I am solid. Those are not my only traits though. When I step off the field I do carry these traits with me but then I lay in bed with my blanket which is so much different than my stick. Soft, warm and vulnerable. Unlike a field hockey stick blankets often don't take being slammed and ripped at very well. Over years they tear and loose their color and buoyancy. My blanket is the side of me that is soft. When I am curled up in bed I am no longer rough, I no longer flex my muscles to push off others and assert my dominance as I do on the field. I am vulnerable. A blanket cannot push others away it invites them. When I feel sad or lonely I go to the my blanket with its open arms, warm and soft. The things that define me aren't just objects they are apart of me. My stick is mine, no one else's. I carry it with me with pride. It often protects me from other sticks and I reward it with goals. Goals that will remain that sticks forever, no other stick I may ever own will be able to claim the goals that my stick has touched, hit, or drove in. Just like no other blanket can ever have the tears and the nights of sleep that my blanket has had. No one will ever be me or take my identity, and the things I've done away from me.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Questions

Jodie Crutchley
ENGW 1100 Writing Skills Workshop
9/3/14



                                                 "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Questions

1. The opening the scene introduced her theme in a interesting way. Instead of giving everything she wanted to talk about early she started with a story that connected with her theme. She used "how to tame a wild tongue" in more than one way.
2. Anzaldua includes a lot of spanish phrases in her writing. Though somewhat difficult to understand they usually help to explain her feelings. For example En boca cerrada no entran moscas. "Flies don't enter a closed mouth." She's explaining how people around her told her she's better off not talking at all.
3. Spanish that is taught is usually very different from how people speak in Spain or Mexico. Just like in America people other places use slang. So Chicano Spanish can be seen a nonstandard form of Spanish.
4. Off course it is easier for others to understand what you are trying to say if you use academic english. To live in America I don't think its necessary but it you are to attend school here it is necessary. Also for certain job opportunities you may need to know academic english.
5. There are many different spanish speaking places and they prefer to be called by where they specifically are from. In the English speaking world we all also refer to ourselves as from different areas based off of our accents and habits. For example someone from Boston does not want to be called a Texan.
6. Sometimes I will use words to indicate with my friends what I am talking about called "inside jokes", but not completely different languages.
7. I speak nonstandard english with my friends. I speak in standard english to my mother and professors. I do this because friends and professors are different environments, relaxed and professional.
8. Her language is spanish so she is saying she is spanish which is her identity.
9. In the introduction she reenacts a scene of her at the dentist and her stubborn tongue and in the conclusion she talks about how she is stubborn and persevering.
10. Yes it can be because your nationality is apart of your identity and how you were raised and those both influence your language.
11. You're identity is the only thing that people can't take away from you. So it is probably the most important part of you. Identity can not be changed or stolen. Only you have the power to add and subtract from your identity.