Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
12/18/16 AP Language
Reflection to Paul Theroux's "Being a man"
Paul Theroux's "Being a man" resonated with me on some points, feeling as if it were detailing an autobiography about my life. Theroux covers many "manly" stereotypes, many of which I conform to. I typically do enjoy sports, tend to be more aggressive as a male e.g by participating in sports such as Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo my whole life and tend to be less emotional. However, I asked myself, is this really such a bad thing? I looked back at my upbringing as a child, and whenever I would cry over a loss in match or cry over pain I felt during training, my mother would always tell me, "Ben, stop crying. Only girls cry. You're a man. Go to the bathroom and wash your face." Memories like these always stuck with me. I look back on it now and I have to say, I thank my mom for doing this as a child. My mother exposed me to the reality that the world isn't sunshine and rainbows, and that sometimes you have to show that you are strong and resilient. Of course there are situations when crying is applicable, such as a death in the family or tears of happiness, but when I look in the media today and see those who cry over an election or even a broken pinky, it seems so trivial to me. My father had also over time injected me with my quick wit and cleverness that has come to be known as a stereotype for being a charming man. Whether it be helping me getting out of a ticket, hold down a conversation, a job interview, easing tension in the room or even talking to girls, this quick wit has helped me so many times. So I say it, that these stereotypes of being a "man", I don't mind conforming too, however, there are some distinctions in the political course that a man loses out to then compared to a women, which is entire different discussion in of itself.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Reflection to "What does it mean to own something?" prompt
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
12/3/16 Ap Language
What does it mean to own something?
When I had originally seen the prompt of "what it meant to own something?", it had truly got me thinking and wondering what it mean to truly own something and it's reflection on one's self identity. I thought about how my entire life has been in the pursuit of "ownership", whether it be money, possessions, or even the ownership of another person's love or admiration. I asked myself, does this make me a bad person? Have I been clouded by my own selfish desires? Or have I been working hard for others so that I can share in my success? I felt very conflicted when I saw this prompt, because for the first time in a while, I haven't taken a solid stance in a topic for a while. I look forward to writing this argument essay in the future and to see how I further develop my position.
12/3/16 Ap Language
What does it mean to own something?
When I had originally seen the prompt of "what it meant to own something?", it had truly got me thinking and wondering what it mean to truly own something and it's reflection on one's self identity. I thought about how my entire life has been in the pursuit of "ownership", whether it be money, possessions, or even the ownership of another person's love or admiration. I asked myself, does this make me a bad person? Have I been clouded by my own selfish desires? Or have I been working hard for others so that I can share in my success? I felt very conflicted when I saw this prompt, because for the first time in a while, I haven't taken a solid stance in a topic for a while. I look forward to writing this argument essay in the future and to see how I further develop my position.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Reflection on This weeks Seminar
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
11/20/16 Ap Lang
Reflection On Seminar
This week's Seminar covered the app "Peeple" and whether or not today as a society, are we really that far from it. We also discussed the definition of "trolling" and how social media is changing the scope of the way that we argue. Although less controversial topics, it was good to take a break and step back after so much discussion concerning more controversial topics such as the Election and abortion, where it definitely became more lively. During Round 1 of the seminar, I especially enjoyed Jordan's philosophical take on how today's society has turned into a desire for belonging and not being authentic to oneself, but conforming to their identity on social media. During Round 2, I enjoyed how we made many connections to our own selves referring to our "private" Instagram accounts on how social media affects our interactions with other people. Overall, I enjoyed this seminar and actively got my input in even without being in the center by being able to pass notes and track within my notebook.
11/20/16 Ap Lang
Reflection On Seminar
This week's Seminar covered the app "Peeple" and whether or not today as a society, are we really that far from it. We also discussed the definition of "trolling" and how social media is changing the scope of the way that we argue. Although less controversial topics, it was good to take a break and step back after so much discussion concerning more controversial topics such as the Election and abortion, where it definitely became more lively. During Round 1 of the seminar, I especially enjoyed Jordan's philosophical take on how today's society has turned into a desire for belonging and not being authentic to oneself, but conforming to their identity on social media. During Round 2, I enjoyed how we made many connections to our own selves referring to our "private" Instagram accounts on how social media affects our interactions with other people. Overall, I enjoyed this seminar and actively got my input in even without being in the center by being able to pass notes and track within my notebook.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Reflection to "Drug Dealers Living with their Moms"
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
11/5/16 Ap Language
Reflection to "Drug Dealers Living with their Moms"
In the story "Drug Dealers Living with their Moms", it details the life and journey of Venkatesh, a college student who becomes involved with J.T, a drug dealing gang leader. What had first caught my eye was the name Venkatesh itself. Out of all names, the author chooses the name Venkatesh, which raises some question for me. Was the author trying to detail the plight of the immigrant living in the U.S? Or perhaps was it just a name that appeared into the author's mind at the time? As position 1 in our podcast group, I was tasked to constantly ask these type of questions, which provoked a more critical sense of thinking. Another question that sparked interest in my group, was Venkatesh's entire purpose of involving himself with the gang. He had managed good marks in class, seemed like a typical scholarly college student, even the gang leader himself, J.T, was surprised at Venkatesh's proposal, so what had urged Venkatesh to be involved with this gang. Even he had questioned himself at certain times throughout the story, such as when he accepted the financials book from Booty, knowing that he possibly could be shot for just having the knowledge of the book. Overall, many intriguing questions can be asked from this story and that by asking questions, a critical analysis of the story can be drawn.
11/5/16 Ap Language
Reflection to "Drug Dealers Living with their Moms"
In the story "Drug Dealers Living with their Moms", it details the life and journey of Venkatesh, a college student who becomes involved with J.T, a drug dealing gang leader. What had first caught my eye was the name Venkatesh itself. Out of all names, the author chooses the name Venkatesh, which raises some question for me. Was the author trying to detail the plight of the immigrant living in the U.S? Or perhaps was it just a name that appeared into the author's mind at the time? As position 1 in our podcast group, I was tasked to constantly ask these type of questions, which provoked a more critical sense of thinking. Another question that sparked interest in my group, was Venkatesh's entire purpose of involving himself with the gang. He had managed good marks in class, seemed like a typical scholarly college student, even the gang leader himself, J.T, was surprised at Venkatesh's proposal, so what had urged Venkatesh to be involved with this gang. Even he had questioned himself at certain times throughout the story, such as when he accepted the financials book from Booty, knowing that he possibly could be shot for just having the knowledge of the book. Overall, many intriguing questions can be asked from this story and that by asking questions, a critical analysis of the story can be drawn.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Response to Last Presidential Debate
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Ross
10/22/16 Ap Language
Third Presidential Debate
This third and final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton entailed a series dirty and low attacks to one another. Overall, this election has been the most vulgar and tasteless presidential debate in the history of the United States. Instead of debating with one another on sensible policies and ways to improve America as a whole, personal attacks and defamation littered the debate. Clinton quotes, "Well, that’s because he'd rather have a puppet as president than the United States and it's pretty clear" (NPR, 2016). Trump can be stated saying in return, "No puppet. You’re the puppet" (NPR, 2016). These series of low blows and attack perpetuate every stereotype foreigners have about Americans, and is a mockery of past great presidents like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. I hope this election has been just desperate attempts to hurt each other's credibility, and that whoever wins the election, will carry themselves more presidentially.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Sleeping Pill Ad Reaction
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
10/9/16 AP Language
Ad Reaction
My reaction to the ad that was shown during class of the sleeping pill was one of realization and surprisingly, a compulsion to buy. The ad was effective in that it was a textbook definition of what a medicine ad should be like. It shows a gradual change of an actor, who acts sleepy and irritable in the beginning, but after taking the pill, is revitalized, almost a new person. The color of the ad differentiated from beginning to end with dark and gloomy colors to bright and awake colors. This was effective as it plays on pathos with the usage of dark and bright colors to introduce a juxtaposition of feelings. The ad mainly centralized on the concept pathos, lacking ethos in the fact that the actor was not very well known or a television star at that. By having a television star to play the role of this women in the ad, the ad would have increased it's credibility and enticed more fans of that specific actor to buy the pill. The ad also lacked in logos, failing to show any comparison or statistics on how they rival against other competitor sleeping pills. However, the ad still persuaded me to buy the product by playing on pathos and one of the strongest emotions, happiness. My mind associated happiness with buying and taking the pill, which ultimately made me want to buy it.
10/9/16 AP Language
Ad Reaction
My reaction to the ad that was shown during class of the sleeping pill was one of realization and surprisingly, a compulsion to buy. The ad was effective in that it was a textbook definition of what a medicine ad should be like. It shows a gradual change of an actor, who acts sleepy and irritable in the beginning, but after taking the pill, is revitalized, almost a new person. The color of the ad differentiated from beginning to end with dark and gloomy colors to bright and awake colors. This was effective as it plays on pathos with the usage of dark and bright colors to introduce a juxtaposition of feelings. The ad mainly centralized on the concept pathos, lacking ethos in the fact that the actor was not very well known or a television star at that. By having a television star to play the role of this women in the ad, the ad would have increased it's credibility and enticed more fans of that specific actor to buy the pill. The ad also lacked in logos, failing to show any comparison or statistics on how they rival against other competitor sleeping pills. However, the ad still persuaded me to buy the product by playing on pathos and one of the strongest emotions, happiness. My mind associated happiness with buying and taking the pill, which ultimately made me want to buy it.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Response to Donald Trump Speech
Benjamin Nguyen Ms. Moccia
9/25/16 Ap Language
Response to Donald Trump Speech
Donald Trump's speech appealed to both the ethos and logos within me, primarily. Mr. Trump's development of ethos and his credibility by presenting the flaws of his opponent Former Secretary Clinton allows his voters and potential voters to see him in a better light. Trump states, "This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction and weakness. But Hillary Clinton’s legacy does not have to be America’s legacy." This statement shakes even further the already faulty credibility and ethos of Former Secretary Clinton while also playing slightly on pathos, addressing an encroaching fear such as ISIS. Mr. Trump's clear cut usage of facts and numbers appeared greatly to the logos and sensibility within me, awakening some previously unknown statistics about the condition of our country. Mr.Trump states, "Homicides last year increased by 17% in America’s fifty largest cities. That’s the largest increase in 25 years." This powerful realization played on logos with a slight notion of pathos, Mr. Trump has a way of adding emotion within each of his other rhetorical devices, to create an even more effective statement. By these reasons, Mr. Trump's speech was light years ahead more effective then Former Secretary Clinton's, and relied heavily on the usage of pathos and "pretty words."
9/25/16 Ap Language
Response to Donald Trump Speech
Donald Trump's speech appealed to both the ethos and logos within me, primarily. Mr. Trump's development of ethos and his credibility by presenting the flaws of his opponent Former Secretary Clinton allows his voters and potential voters to see him in a better light. Trump states, "This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction and weakness. But Hillary Clinton’s legacy does not have to be America’s legacy." This statement shakes even further the already faulty credibility and ethos of Former Secretary Clinton while also playing slightly on pathos, addressing an encroaching fear such as ISIS. Mr. Trump's clear cut usage of facts and numbers appeared greatly to the logos and sensibility within me, awakening some previously unknown statistics about the condition of our country. Mr.Trump states, "Homicides last year increased by 17% in America’s fifty largest cities. That’s the largest increase in 25 years." This powerful realization played on logos with a slight notion of pathos, Mr. Trump has a way of adding emotion within each of his other rhetorical devices, to create an even more effective statement. By these reasons, Mr. Trump's speech was light years ahead more effective then Former Secretary Clinton's, and relied heavily on the usage of pathos and "pretty words."
Monday, September 19, 2016
Bush's 9/11 speech reflection
Benjamin Nguyen
Ms. Moccia
9/15/17
AP Language
Bush's 9/11 Speech reflection
As a New Yorker, President Bush's speech spoke to me on different levels then other states might have felt. Having the attack so close to home, especially where my father worked only a few blocks from, Bush's speech resonated with me now that I'm older and more able to understand how evil people can truly be. Bush speaks about how, " a great people have been moved to defend a great nation", and it reminds me of the recent news of Colin Kaepernick of how he refused to stand in honor of our flag and troops fighting over seas. Even today in school, Kaepernick's influence has impacted the amount of people in our classes standing for the pledge. I have always and will always, stand in honor of our symbolic flag and the justices that it stands for. Bush's 9/11 speech has reminded me of this conviction that I hold so dear and has made me even prouder to be American.
Ms. Moccia
9/15/17
AP Language
Bush's 9/11 Speech reflection
As a New Yorker, President Bush's speech spoke to me on different levels then other states might have felt. Having the attack so close to home, especially where my father worked only a few blocks from, Bush's speech resonated with me now that I'm older and more able to understand how evil people can truly be. Bush speaks about how, " a great people have been moved to defend a great nation", and it reminds me of the recent news of Colin Kaepernick of how he refused to stand in honor of our flag and troops fighting over seas. Even today in school, Kaepernick's influence has impacted the amount of people in our classes standing for the pledge. I have always and will always, stand in honor of our symbolic flag and the justices that it stands for. Bush's 9/11 speech has reminded me of this conviction that I hold so dear and has made me even prouder to be American.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
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