Lee McKinnis (57)
Kristina Marynczak (37)
Killian Noonan (36)
Melissa Castillo (33)
NikoVelazquez (27)
Shannon Ratzel (23)
Michelle Reyes (22)
Kyle Barczak (21)
Maura Bilek (21)
Susan Bayaa (21)
CONGRATS TO ALL!!! Prof. McGuire can be tough at times but is a great teacher and motivator!!
Updates from Kristina Marynczak RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Kristina Marynczak
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Kristina Marynczak
I understand most of the passage of this essay but still have a lot of questions. I think I don’t understand because my frame of reference doesn’t include the title or begining of this piece. Matthew refers to possesion as 9/10th of the law and compares it our ideas. I completely agree that we cannot attain 100 % ownership, if you don’t agree then somethings wrong with the process. Anyway, he concludes with there are no new ideas from any previous time. I do and do not agree with that. I mean it makes me think that if we can’t have any new ideas then when we write shouldn’t we source everything? Also, if we create our own experiences wouldn’t that create new ideas? I mean if I experience something and describe it and it’s not a new idea are we all copying. And who actually owns the start of a specific idea? If you believe in God, maybe the first few humans started these ideas. It is very confusing if you keep analyzing something so common an broad, an idea. I like Matthew’s closing punch line and understand it. I just still have a list of pondering thoughts. He also mentions we need to give credit when it is due which is a good point but isn’t this common? Out of all the essays in this book unfortunetly this is my least favorite. He clearly proves his point and regardless how I think of it, I did keep an open mind while reading this. None the less there was much to much thought and I really wish I understood the 9/10ths possesion Law. (Even though it’s not the most important part, still makes me wonder tto much)
Gocal Matthew. 9/10ths Law. “Why White Rice”. Kendall Hall. 165-166. Print. -
Kristina Marynczak
Throughout this entire course I have learned many things besides just writing skills. Our professor is teaching us about service-learning by doing feild-work research along with other things. So what I have noticed with all these projects we have to do for this course there is one thing being built to those who participate that you might not notice. This is leadership. You have to help others regardless what it does to you because eventually after helping others you will be helped yourself. So on that note I decided to buy some leadership books. The last book that I just picked up a few days ago is “Live The Dream, No More Excuses” I have only read the first 40 pages but want to talk about the last 20. Larry WInters, the author, went though many struggles like harassing bill collectors and experienced extreme poverty with his wife. They didn’t want to have any kids because they didn’t want to bring kids into their situation. Needless to say Larry was a strong driven man and tried his best for his family. He had a dream which he was in the process of accomplishing even though he didn’t know how long it would take. He started becoming a leader in a time he only thought he could only worry about himself. The more he helped achieve his accomplishments and dreams he would be closer to helping all people. I can’t wait to finish this book because he eventually became founder and president of Leadership Team Development, which is an organization to create leaders for our next generation and everyone’s future. Leadership is important in everyday life especially in feild-work. A leader can be anyone. Think of all the leaders in your life and how they impact you. I can only think of a few so I know this lacks. One example could be my professor. Regardless if classmates like his class or assignments he is a leader developing us to do better.
Winters, Larry. “Live The Dream No More Excuses.”Center Street. New York. 2012.19-36. Print -
Kristina Marynczak
There are many unfortunate situations many people and families come across each and every day. In human civilization there are 3 basic needs we all know we need; food, water and shelter. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for those in need. Homes are refurbished and built for people in need and are an ecumenical Christian ministry founded on the conviction that every man, women and child should have a decent, safe and affordable shelter to live. When the mean every man, they mean all regardless of religious affiliation. The houses they build are simple and without volunteers, like myself, they could not achieved what great dreams they’ve accomplished for these families without adequate housing. What makes these homes affordable to low-income families that apply and get accepted for one is the houses are sold through a no-profit mortgage. You may wonder where the actual money comes from for the supplies for the rebuilding or making of these homes. Well, volunteers like me and you, faith groups, and corporations all contribute to the financial support for this organization. So with finding out what an amazing organization Habitat for Humanity is I chose to do a little field-work study to get on the inside. ———- Coming into the Field —————– Prior to actually working with Habitat for Humanity I was a little scared and only informed from sources on the internet and a few friend’s personal encounters. My current employer, Starbucks Coffee, makes sure to give back to the community and constantly has options for employees, along with customers, volunteer for many organizations. Knowing how awesome of an organization Habitat for Humanity was I asked some of my co-workers if anyone has helped this organization. Linda, a short women, which is the sweetest middle-aged women you’ll ever meet, told me she actually help repair a house in Chicago last year. She told me how amazing the people are that she met when going to these sites. They were from all different diversities, backgrounds, and practices. They all had one thing in common, which was to help those in need with hard work. Linda volunteered there about 3 times and did tasks like painting walls and brighten up the landscapes. She the family that was going to move there was actually set back from Hurricane Katrina. The family of 6 had been living in friend’s basements for a year and then went to multiple shelters just to have a roof and warmth. Habitat for Humanity heard her story and helped her travel up North so she could be in Chicago, where the rest of the family was. All she had to do was put down a few hundred for a down payment and would be able to live in the house they were building. There would be no interest on their loans, and the payments were figured out just in the right amount for it to be affordable. Hearing about just one family that they help and to know there were thousands more with similar situations or worst I knew I would love to help. So two weeks later after contacting the organization located at 2201 S. Halsted in Chicago, ILL I found a time that would work perfect with my schedule to come in. It is on Thursday, and I will not be on the field but in the office working on many projects and help coordinating.
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Katie Murphy
Kristina,
I really enjoyed the fact that you and your group decided to work with Habitat for Humanity. I had a few friends that traveled down south a couple years ago to help with homes damaged by hurricane Katrina. I always assumed that the organization only works with students from Universities. I was happy to learn that anyone can volunteer. As I was reading your draft, a couple questions crossed my mind. For example, when you had mentioned the low income families applying for the homes, I wondered what the qualifications were that they had to meet. I wonder if it’s a difficult application process, how long the applicants have to wait to see if they qualify. Another question that crossed my mind was how long are the families allowed to stay in the homes? Also, if the mortgage is non-for profit, are the living coasts paid by the government? The story you told about the family that came to Chicago to live in a friend’s basement, is a good way get your point across on how devastating losing your home can be. Telling a story with such emotional content and description will really grab the reader’s attention. It’s good that you listed the location of the project, if a reader is really interested in volunteering. I do however feel that it would help me understand the service opportunity further on an outsider’s point of view if you were to give more descriptive details on events of your time volunteering. What was your perspective on everything you saw? What did you think about the people you were observing around you? It would also help me as the reader gain a better understanding of an insider’s view on the issue, if you were to interview a volunteer coordinator that you were working with someone that has been working with Habitat for Humanity for a while. I really liked your topic and I am looking forward to learning more about the organization. You work at Starbucks! I am addicted to their coffee, I love it. That’s pretty cool that they offer a lot of information to their employees on how to give back to the community. One of the groups I decided to work with for this project is a pantry house by my house called Pilgrim Faith church, most of their sweets they offer to the needy are donated by Starbucks. One other thing that might be interesting to mention would be the property value of the neighboring houses in your area affect the value of every house in that specific area. For instance, if your neighbor’s house is run down, it will affect the value of your home as well. Therefore, weather people like it or not, it has an effect on everyone. There are too many hard working, good people out there today that lose their jobs, or fall short on their bills and cannot afford their homes. I agree that it is an important issue that needs to be addressed. -
Kristina Marynczak
Thank you Katie I have not gone on site or did any volunteer work except personally meet and talk to volunteer cordinator. I am going this upcomming thursday so I will add onto my paper the next day and maybe you can read and review it then? (n so i can get the most help out of it)
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Kristina Marynczak
I assume the professor really values this reading and this is why he shared it with us. Many of my classmates can agree the Professor has a very unusual approach to his writing course and after reading this I can see why he teaches the course is the way it is. I have never learned much about feild-work and actually thought service learning was abolutely crazy for being part of this writing course. In this passage I have learned a few things that will stick to me when “becomming familiar with the unfamiliar”. What I mean by this is some of what the author was talking about. There are situations everyday, not just in volunteer work where you may be forced or just want to know the unknown, so to speak. My group is working with Habitat for Humanity so I will be able to apply some extra insite that this reading has made me think, as far as evaluating more. ALthough the author says (when referring to a service-learning writing course) it takes many times to realize what the actual point of all this service learning actually intitles, I actualy agree. When I think about this course as it continues Prof. McGuire is doing a great job helping us reconize everything/the unknown. The author also gives his version/represitation of what Ruptura is. I had no idea what to expect from the word and meaning behing it until I read this passage. The writer defines it as the us using representation to understand representation. For me to explain/define it I would say to use everything to understand everything through symbolisum. This is kind of vague but makes more sence to me. Everything can be put into more detail and undertsanding you just have to step back and evaluate.
CArrick Tracy, Himley Margaret, Jacobi Tobi. “Ruptura” Language and Learning Across the Disipline. Pg 298-308. http://www.splatter.writing101.net April 10, 2012. -
Kristina Marynczak
Micheal McGuire’s essay “Googling is not thinking” is a very interesting essay. When I read the title I thought, “Man what can the writer possibly write about that I don’t already know?” As I countinued reading though the popularity of google’s use came to light. What I mean by this is that I knew a lot of people use google or any search engine for that matter but not to the extent where it doesn’t need to be used. I completely agree with the author that libraries are dieing hard. Even now in college I use the library less than 8 years ago when I did research for middle school classes. I also agree that using google/internet for so many easy things are just so simple but people insist on asking the internet. I think the author shouldn’t of just pointed out the problem with search engines as general. Everyone relies on the internet and only half of what is actually on it is the truth. The internet is deceving and often misleading so it shouldn’t be turned to for lots of multiple things. Overall, I do agree that people try an replace things that they should research and think themselves with “answers: on the internet. The funniest part of his story is the example the writer gives about students in his class pulling out their phones to search on the internet a simple definition that was wanted from their opinions. I admired the example but really wonder is there is any truth to his example. I can’t people a bunch of students pulling out their phones since it’s not really excepted in colleges but I know that doesn’t matter.
McGuire, Michael. Why White Rice? “Googling is not the Same as Thinking.” Kendall Hunt. 119-120. Print. -
Kristina Marynczak
My favorite thing about “Why White Rice?” ,besides how unique and enjoyable the book is, is that one of the authors is my professor. This class, which I found is possibly a common thought with all of us, is that the tasks at hand/assignments our Professor gives us may seem “bizarre”. Chapter 6 clarified exactly where he comes from and more of Professor McGuire’s thoughts behind his teaching practices. For example, he doesn’t assign typical homework or assignments. This actually makes his class more unique(if we like it or not) because he’s not traditional and we possibly will learn from different aspects. We all have noticed he also doesn’t grade the papers individually and your getting a A,B,C,D, or F as if we are in the election for votes. The beginning of the chapter 6 was very reassuring to me as far as what I think. I, apparently along with his other students, believe I am not a writer. The only times I ever feel as if I wrote meaningful work is when I was like 13 and so depressed. Writing has never been the same and I just feel like it’s impossible and no point to work at it. Well what I believe Michael McGuire is saying is that writing takes development and is a gained skill. Therefore, If I just continually practice and try maybe I can develop to the potential writer I would like to be. Michael McGuire gave the funniest story about putting his son’s tree house up. He straight-forward says how he’s not a construction type or handy man. Personally, I find it funny because I just have a stigma in my head that Men are Men and should be able to do “Manly” things around the house. Regardless, Michael did not just give up because he simply knew he “sucked” at it, he tried and really accomplished what he decided to do. His example is a real good comparison for those of us that think we just “suck” at writing and that’s it. Like any skill, it must be learned and typically can take time.
McGuire Micheal. “Existential Angst, Orgasm(s), and Jazz.” Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. WWR? Chapter 6. pgs 133-141. Print. -
Kristina Marynczak
In addition to my research to my activist paper against pet overpopulation I have found that I am really starting to fall in love with all animals. I have never been an animal lover until now. I went to the Shedd Aquarium last week and bought an awesome book. Whether it is the detailed history of the Shedd Aquarium or the vivid images of the marine life this book has something for all. (Regardless is you love fish/mammals or not) This mini Book covers everything about one of the oldest aquariums in the world and Chicago’s very own. It examines things such as the Shedd’s vast biodiversity among it’s sea life and has pictures dating back to its founding in 1927. A few observations of this book reveal that it was clearly endorsed by the Shedd to show the best possible viewpoint. Also, this book honors Chicago by showing one of it’s finest attractions. Personally, I enjoyed the chapter about the merchant of Chicago for whom the aquarium is named after; John Graves Shedd. This man was the successor to Marshall Field, the owner of the largest wholesale and retail dry goods business in the world. (according to the book) It tells the story of John Shedd moving up the ranks from a 10 dollar a week salesman to general manager of the entire business. This book is a masterpiece not only because of its educational aspects but because it is a book that informs us about this Chicago icon and truly aims to inspire. It did to me.
Furnweger, Karen. Shedd Aquarium. Nashville: Beckon Books,2010. Print. -
Kristina Marynczak
The Great Chicago Change
On March 1st, 2012 I took action with several other classmates from my college to make an important difference for many unfortunate people throughout my county; Cook County. For approximately 3 hours of my afternoon I volunteered at The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD). The Food Depository is located in Chicago and distributes food to pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters throughout Cook County. Approximately, 845,910 people in Chicago are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from. According to their website, that’s 15.4% and nearly 1 in 4 children in Cook County are food insecure. The Depository has so far distributed 69 million pounds of food to these people. What’s really amazing is there are not too many actual employees that work at GCFD. Most of the work done is solely through volunteers. Without the volunteers none of their achievements and greatness could be done. I was one of those volunteers.
Going into this day I wasn’t too optimistic about doing volunteer work. I mean I had to request and take a day off work just so I could attend. This was a big deal for me because I am a single mom and only support my daughter threw my income alone. None the less, the day started around noon when I met my professor and classmates at school and car pooled a few students in my van. Surprisingly, I have never carpooled before and actually felt helpful. The two classmates that drove with me were very nervous but excited about going to GCFD so by the end of the trip over there I ended up a little less negative before going in. I did volunteer at the GCFD about 4 years back but didn’t remember much of the events or background on the depository’s achievements. I can proudly say that this time around I will remember my positive impact I made in my county for years to come.Like almost anywhere in Chicago we parked on the street next to this huge warehouse building where all the food is stored, packed and distributed from. To image how big this building was it is approximately 268,000 square feet. It is definitely a huge place, which somewhat intimidated me. We went in and got a run-down of what the day’s work would consist of and where we’d be stationed. There were about 4 different groups of people; one including me and some student’s from my professor’s class, along with some other individuals. I learned a lot about the importance and difference the GCFD makes in some people’s life and how food insecurity has dramatically risen in my county within the last three years. Right then and there, I already felt very important to be able to help such a great organization and help out people who are hurting locally. The volunteers were separated into two groups for two different tasks. The first group would prepare nutritious boxed lunch kits for children that don’t get lunches that they normally would in school. The second group would prepare whole-wheat pasta into bags that would be distributed to a mixture of pantries and shelters. I was part of the second group. I actually thought bagging pasta would be a tedious boring task but it was fun. I now knew how much of an impact the GCFD makes and how they are clearly succeeding in trying to stop world hunger but to be “behind the scenes” made the impact much more real.
The warehouse was huge and I was only able to see a few sections, like a canned goods section and see through a window of other volunteers packaging fresh fruits but I really would have enjoyed seeing other sections. What made the GCFD so much more unique in my option is they distribute more than just non-perishable goods. Regardless of what the GCFD does I knew none of it would be possible with volunteers like me. After walking through some of the warehouse I was so egger to get started with my group’s task. There were four different stations set up to bag whole-wheat pasta. The pasta was bought in bulk and came in huge containers bigger than me and I’m not sure how much they weighted but I know a lot. The first section was to shovel the pasta into smaller containers and transferred to the section where some bagged it. Next the bags went to another group where they weighed them out to two pounds and tied it. Finally, a group labeled the bags and packed 12 bags into a cardboard box that it would be distributed in. I was stationed at neither of these sections. I along with my professor put together the cardboard boxes that the pasta bags were packaged in. Although it may of sounded like a boring task it wasn’t because I observed the others and enjoyed it. The eagerness of making a difference to so many people in cook county by doing short simple volunteer work had me working at a fast pace. My professor and I were done putting the boxes together quickly and so I jumped to another station. I bagged the pasta. Everyone, besides the professor and I since we we’re only taping boxes together, had to wear a plastic apron, gloves, hairnet, and face mask for sanitary. Once I went to the other station I put the gear on and imagined that I looked very silly. Let me tell you when I put on the face mask and started bagging pasta I was actually discussed. I smelled something horrible and it was my breath. The whole time while I was doing these tasks, besides now wondering if my professor smelled my bad breath, my mind was very clear and I didn’t worry about anything. It was weird now that I think back on it. Barely two hours of actual physical work and we accomplished more than I could ever imagine. Our group bagged 3,684 pounds of pasta! It came to about 154 boxes filled with 12, 2 pound bags of pasta. I was really shocked when the GCFD worker monitoring us told us our achievements. I had someone take a picture of myself and some of the boxes to create a clearer picture and memory.
Sometimes people take many things for granite and what I have learned from this experience and the organization that a difference can be made. Volunteers like my professor’s class along with any other people can really contribute only if they spend a simple 3 hours. Everyone only providing a small amount of time can really make a big difference to those who are in need. My favorite part of knowing how much I can impact people in my community is that I only have to put in a little effort. I will definitely pass on to my friends and peer about my experience with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and what a great organization it is. For the people out there that say they don’t have time to volunteer and make a difference they are wrong. I am a single mother who goes to school and work full time. I made a little effort to help those in need and couldn’t feel any better.
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Melissa Castillo
I just read you work on the service opportunity you volunteered for and I would like to say it was enjoying to read you paper. You made me laugh and you also gave me a clear view of what you experienced. Maybe it was too detailed, but it was funny. I would like to say “Thank you for helping our community and county with your volunteering”. I know there was a few times I had to go to a pantry and ask for some assistant. If it wasn’t for the help I don’t know where I would have been without them. Maybe hungry somewhere. All I know is it took a lot out of me to humble myself and go. Thank you for being so kind.
So I would like to talk about your breath. LOL…That made me laugh so loud in the school. People were looking at me thinking I was crazy. I was all alone sitting there and then I busted out laughing. That made my day at that moment. You were very playful with this paper and that’s makes it a little sunnier then to have a dreary, sad paper about starving Chicago. Now I’m wondering if the professor was dying inside from the reek. I’m just kidding, you asked for it by writing that moment down in such detail. But that was so funny. You were being you and that’s makes me appreciate your paper more. I like how I can visualize the moment, because I have been in your shoes before. I feel a connection with the piece.
So you were building boxes and went on to pasta? That sounds like a hard job shoveling it into a bag. How much was put into one bag? I remember receiving a pasta bag and now knowing it was shoveled makes me a little grossed out. Do you understand what I mean? Being there and seeing all this done, do you think that more can be done with this particular organization? You say that there were different stations and everyone was working hard, but is there a lot of volunteering there. I one day would like to help and volunteer. I want to give back what has been given to my by the grace of God. I want to be the one that says I helped and didn’t just sit around and collect and never helped.
I’m very impressed with what you said about taking off work and being a single mom. I know it was hard to make that choice. Your daughter also has to eat and if you can’t provide that, then you might end up outside asking for food where you volunteered. Your work is appreciated. No matter what happens always know a kind hand will one day experience the gesture in return when it is disparately needed. Good luck with wanting to return. I hope to hear that you one day go back or tell others about it, so they can also experience what you have experienced.
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Nick Kleopa
Kristina, your name came up after several other people who didn’t write anything, I thought I would share my opinions on your service paper. Starting from what I noticed right away about you posting that you had to take a day off of work to attend. I think it would only benefit the organization to have more times and days to attend. People have a busy schedule these days and work and income is extremely important. It would be much better if they organized a system of days that aren’t on school or normal work days. Also the middle of the day doesn’t work for a lot of people as well. Anyways, I like how you posted facts and statistic’s in the form of actual numbers of people who need help in cook county and or slash Chicago IL too. For me it is extremely easy for me to get off track or off topic with a paper when I don’t have a clear and clean picture in my mind of what is happening. You definitely painted a clear picture that I would follow while reading that made it easier for me to understand what was happening, how you were feeling and how others felt around you. For example posting the numbers of families suffering in cook county alone and how you posted that the facility is 268,000 sq ft. That is absolutely huge, with you posting facts like that just makes me and other readers (in my opinion) want to keep reading. I also found it interesting that you attended this service a couple of years previously. Although you don’t remember much I definitely would have liked to hear if your past experiences differed from this time around. If anything changed, how many people attended then, what was being prepared, your feelings then and your feelings now about the service. The layout of the body of the paper was easy to follow and It makes me feel as if I were there also. It was extremely detailed posting exactly what you did, what you saw etc… I also found it awesome that you and the others packaged 3684lbs of pasta. That number right there just sounds amazing. Can’t imagine how everyone was feeling when the final numbers were told or tallied up. The breath comment was funny, It doesn’t’ matter what you look like in your gear or what your breath smells like, you are there to help and I think everyone could care less about the way the gear looked personally. The breath on the other hand, no just kidding. Anyways I am glad you had very positive feedback to say about the Greater Chicago food depository and I hope to be able to attend soon. All in all, good paper and like I said before, continue to tell things in great detail as you have been and your papers will continue to be read with positive feedback, I know I liked. Now I know how it made you feel to be there, hope I will have the opportunity to do the same. Great paper
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Kyle Barczak
Kristina, I liked reading your first paragraph. Although, I wish you had provided more background information about the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Like, when you said, “The Depository has so far distributed 69 million pounds of food to these people.” You could have said how long it’s taken them to do something like that. Other things you could have put in to your first paragraph could be when it was founded, who founded it, and what got it really started going.
Your second paragraph surprised me right away. 268,000 square feet!? That’s definitely one big warehouse. I totally understand why you felt intimidated by that. I probably would have felt as if the group I was with was going to be filling up the majority of that. As for the rest of your paragraph, maybe you could explain as to what kind of difference the Greater Chicago Food Depository makes in peoples lives. I mean, yeah it’s pretty obvious, but maybe you learned something while you were there that would be different than what someone would normally think of when they hear, “donating food.” Also, elaborate on what exactly you did with the pasta, maybe? From reading that, I’m imagining you opening multiple boxes of pasta and maybe pouring them in to some sort of Ziploc bag, simply to make it more compact.
I noticed in your third paragraph, you seem to have a typo. “What made the GCFD so much more unique in my option is they distribute more than just non-perishable goods.” I’m pretty sure option is supposed to be opinion? Correct me if I’m wrong but that seems to make a little more sense. Also, when you said eager, you spelt it egger, just another heads up. I also learned that you had explained what exactly you did with the pasta. Your sentence, “I along with my professor put together the cardboard boxes that the pasta bags were packaged in.” needs two commas. One after I and another after professor. After reading what you had to wear while you were bagging pasta, I was very surprised with how sanitary the Greater Chicago Food Depository was. I mean, it makes complete sense, but that was the last thing I would think about when I think of somewhere that takes in food donations. Also, you said discussed instead of disgusted. 3,684 pounds of pasta? That’s crazy. I could only imagine what the much pasta looks like, never mind it all being in one general area. That must have looked pretty impressive.
Over all, Kristina, I enjoyed your paper. It seemed like you really enjoyed your time spent at the Great Chicago Food Depository as well as enjoyed the time you spent with your peers and professor. As I tell everyone, spreading the word is, what I think, key for a cause to have any success, and you saying you’ll be telling friends and family about your experience will do the GCFD good. You had a few spelling errors, and a minor grammar error, but nothing that can easily be fixed.
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Kristina Marynczak
Thanks kyle I definatly need to reread and edit that. Even when I reread my quoted sentences in my head with the correct word but it wasn’t. Also, on my final paper I will include some ohotos but they wouldn’t upload to splatter. Thanks for your help!
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Kristina Marynczak
The Watchers is a thriller about multiple people that intertwine all having to do with the banodyne corporation. The first person the story introduces is Travis an ex- delta officer who is battling his depression of lifelong misfortunes. While visiting and reminiscing about childhood memories he spent in the Santiago canyons of Orange County he runs into a golden retriever who he thinks is wild but beyond closer inspection it seems the dog is trying to veer him in a certain direction because of a strange eerie presence, for it seems something is chasing them, and something indeed is. Vince is a remorseless killer and is a hired gun for the right amount of cash he is a bit on the psychotic side believing he gains all the spiritual energy from the people he kills and that one day it will earn him immortality. Nora Devon is a complete recluse afraid of the outside world fearing its possibilities in every way always thinking someone was out to get her in the worst way possible so she seclude herself in her house and avoids all possible confrontations. This story revolves around a research lab that was experimenting on dogs and primates chemically changing their dna. They were trying to make the dogs more intelligent so they could go on reconnaissance missions for the military and for they were changing the primates to be smart fierce and simply horrifying to scare enemies only two successful lab projects were finished one from each category a golden retriever and another called “The Outsider” Both escaped. I would recommend this book and I came across it at the library when I was looking for resources for my activist paper although the book is science fiction it just was one of those books that caught my attention.
Koontz, Dean. “The Watchers” Print.-
Prof McGuire
Connection to the course?
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Kristina Marynczak
I was doing my activist paper with pet overpopulation and in my research animal cruelty came up a lot and I would of picked that as a topic but it was too broud. When I went to the library and was in the section for researching materials for my paper I came across this book which I think the writer unconsiously is focusing on animal cruelty. (They experienced on a lot of dogs)
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Kristina Marynczak
Letter TO the Edititor
Dear Editor,
J. Sterling Morton West High School, which currently has approximately 3200 students enrolled doesn’t provide safe sex practice to the best of its capability and needs to provide more information, from different angles, to implore students’ needs about sex. Morton High school, along other neighboring high schools in the area, provide abstinence-only education. Plenty of liable research concludes that abstinence-only classes are not effective and even though Illinois regulations do not require the inclusion of sex ed. within school curricula they require abstain-only material which doesn’t help the young students who are already sexually active. Students should know what liable sources they can contact or turn to get information to the extreme importance of safe sex. When I attended Morton I never knew they provide free condoms which would of helped most of my friends and I who were sexually active and had no money to buy condoms. Not all families discuss sex with their children and TV doesn’t provide adequate information so children’s only sources are school. This school uses only one quarter in the student’s freshman or sophomore year to go into depth about abstaining from sex. Is this enough shouldn’t sex ed. be consistent throughout all high school to show that the information should be highly regarded? Illinois, along with our entire country has the highest teen pregnancies and STDs than any other country. I alone personally know of 15 mothers pregnant before they turned 19, many not finishing school and living on welfare. To see a positive outcome regarding Morton’s Abstinence- Only Sex Education Classes attention must be brought to District 201′s Board of Education. As neighbors of Morton’s District we all have seen our taxes constantly increase so if since we fund Morton we should make sure their education is in dept and successful.
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Melissa Castillo
Reading your paper to the editor has me wondering why also we didn’t have sex education in our high school either? There is a huge pregnancy rate and we are all paying for it. Schools should educate more and maybe scare the daylights out of all these kids wanting to have children so young. I was around girls having babies in grammar school and they all thought it was sweet and cute. NOT ME! How embarrassing is it to walk across the stage with a huge belly and wobbling. Now I see these girls my age with almost eighteen year old children. The children did not live a good life at all. They were surrounded with violence and poverty.
This is all over Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Schools are just doing what they are suppose to do and then getting there paychecks and not even worrying about our teens. I feel they think that there is no use in helping those who don’t want it. I’m sure with the right education and persistence and some mentoring to the youth they can make a huge difference. Putting out pamphlets and teaching resources can make a difference. I think if they see STDs and maybe childbirth videos can maybe scare the pants off of them. They need a good safe scaring to save their life.
I’m glad that you are representing this issue. This is a huge issue in our schools and maybe you can rally outside and pass out condoms and help these teens be more aware. I know for a fact they have no idea about what is going on out here in the real world. They are being raised and taken care of by their parents and most of them think they are super heroes and invincible against anything or anyone. Bring someone with a disease so they can talk about their situation. Let them see how much pain and suffering that the person is going through. Show them pictures of herpes and the clap. I know I’m sounding sick or maybe as if I’m joking around, but I’m serious. If I would have seen those nasty things I would have waited longer before I had sex.
There is also peer pressure. Boys’ hormones are all jumpy and taking advantage of these young girls. Not even realizing what they are in for. I’m so for what you are issuing right now. I would like to know what you are going to do about this. What are your goals? Who are you reaching out for to listen to you? I hope you do well on your journey and if you need me to help you get the word out I would love to help you. I know many people from the Cicero and Berwyn area and it would be helpful to them and also helping you reach your goal at getting it out to people. Good luck on your mission and I hope you achieve what your goal is. Go out there and get them.
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Kristina Marynczak
As I was researching for my activist project I came across an article talking about the controversies regarding euthanizing animals in humane society and shelters. Although my topic is not about cruelty it’s about pet overpopulation it does carry many ties to what’s going on at shelters and around the world. It’s one of the first articles I came across and brang attention to me. I am not an animal lover although I’m sure somewhere in my heart I have a soft spot for animals but what’s really going on in some shelters is just crazy. There is this one lady in the article, who I fully agree with, that says it is completely wrong for the killing of animals in shelters because of them being over crowded. She stated, “we are way to civilized for that” and I can’t put up any sort of arguement there. In America, if the population in some areas got too high and resources started to become scarce for humans someone(most likely in the political backround) whould come up with a way to make things work for that town/area and that would be it. We wouldn’t go around killing humans for overpopulation, but it’s done to animals? What is so different to animals beside that can’t communicate like us to tell them our needs. Animals were here around the same time as man… I just really don’t like the idea how some animals that can be great potential pets for someone get euthanized because of no room. And in the article Leslie Surprenant from N.Y. disagrees and thinks animal shelters should be able to control population. There are two types of animal-shelters, are average one, and the currently (becoming more popular) no-kill shelters. She is not for these no kill-shelters because she basically says since it’s so hard to be accepted in a no-kill shelter for an animal that more are homeless on the street. ALthough this point may be true there are other negative effects of no-kill shelters that I found out through research that she may not even know. For example, after a long period of time if the pet finds no home then it might be sent to a regular shelter. The underlining problem here isn’t the shelters itself I believe it’s that we need to control the population by stop letting these dogs and cats keep reproducing. If we have a pet or not everyone can help out in some way big or small. Needless to say the article really caught my attention and was interesting to listen to different people’s opinions.
Manning, Sue. “Euthanasia to Control Shelter Population Unpopular.” Newsday. 05 Jan 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Feb 2012. -
Kristina Marynczak
Elevator Speech
I) Pet Overpopulation
- Negative outcomes; resulting in homeless dogs/cats, overcrowding in shelters both resulting in many deaths
- Shelters euthanize potential pets everyday due to overpopulation
II) Why/What causes it?
- Puppy Mills
- Animals reproducing and increasing the homeless rate/shelter population
- Not getting sprayed and neutared
III) How we can help
- Volunteer at Organizations: local, PETA, Humane Society
- Support Sparying/neutaring Laws to be passed
- Spray/ Neutar your pets and pass the word on
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Kristina Marynczak
Pet overpopulation might not be a shared concern with everyone in the world but a lot of societies are involved with solving pet overpopulation by helping find homes, shelters, funds and awareness. Societies like the U.S. Humane society, 50 smaller humane societies 1 per state, The ASPCA(First animal welfare association), smaller non-profit organizations like POPP(prevent animal over population),Spot (stopping pet overpopulation together), and many other animal rescue groups and this is just in the U.S. we can’t put a number on how many people are helping but I do have statistics on how many animals are in shelters, how many get adopted, how many get euthanized and many other percentages that factor into overpopulation. Some basic facts are that78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats are owned in the United States but there are still billions in our country without an owner. About 4 million cats and dog are euthanized each year in shelters because of overpopulation and this doesn’t include the many other innocent animals. (Humane Society of United States) Not included are the dogs and cats that die on the road, killed at puppy mills, or the ones that are unreported from neglect or abuse. On news channels we hear about the tragic deaths/murders that happen in our society and we all wish it doesn’t but when it comes to animals we should have more of an interest. It’s really a tragic that these animals are being killed when there are so many ways to prevent the overpopulation.
Every community and state has homeless pets roaming the streets and some entering shelters each day and although half are adopted the other half are euthanized.
There are many factors leading up to these animals’s overpopulation, some in the process of declining. Puppy mills are a huge contributing factor to overpopulation and have been around for hundreds of years. A puppy mill is a place where dogs are breed to continually produce puppies and are done in a violent way. The dogs at puppy mills are kept in poor conditions and usually neglected, beaten or even killed. Imagine being locked in a small filthy wired cage with no toys or companionship and being starved and forced to have sex to reproduce. If you don’t accomplish what is told you are killed. The female dogs are forced to keep reproducing until their bodies give up. You probably really can’t imagine that because in the United States torture like that isn’t common since we are a somewhat civilized nation. These poor dogs don’t really have a chance to be loved or have an owner. After these pups are born they are usually sold at a cheap rate to pet stores or scamming internet sites and many have behavior problems and poor health.The biggest main cause for overpopulation is actually the way to stop it’s growth and smash it. Euthenizing innocent dogs and cats that have a perfect opportunity to find a good home and owner dont get the chanced because they are killed off. Many people will disagree on the controversal issue on what type of shelter the animals should be placed in and that euthenizing in the shelters and has pros and cons. Newsday in Los Angelous did research from some surveys and asked people what they thought about shelters and no-kill shelters and here are some of the responces , “Gisela Aguila, 51, of Miramar, Fla., believes shelter animals should only be euthanized when there is no chance they’ll be adopted — for example, if they are extremely ill or aggressive. “I don’t think shelters should be euthanizing animals to control the population,” she said. She’d like to see an end to shelters destroying animals when they run out of room, saying, “We are way too civilized of a society to allow this.” But Leslie Surprenant, 53, of Saugerties, N.Y., believes shelters should be allowed to control populations. She says no-kill shelters that only accept animals with good prospects for adoption or that turn away animals once the shelter reaches capacity do not solve the problem. ” Leslie is absoluelty correct it doesn’t solve the problem and the fact of the matter is these animals need to be sprayed and neutared to stop the growth prevent more puppies and kittens being born.. Besides puppy mills not spraying an nuetaring your cats and dogs is the biggest contributor to the issue at hand.
One example to clearly show how one not neutared contribes to the population is a cat that can have approximately nine litters in its lifetime. About 5-10 kittens per litter so that already an average of 64 kittens alive that might not have a home. Then those kittens reproduce and the numbers just keep growing. There are various reasons why people don’t spray and neuter their pets. Pet owners may want to keep their pets unneautared because they want to breed them. Why breed your home pets when there are thousands out there with no home? Breeding these home pets may be for the wrong reasons. Some may think that they will breed a pet exactly like theirs but in reality it’s just not possible. We all know about genetics and it proves that they wont be the same as their “perfect” animal. The homeless animals dying to have a caring owner and have none can be easily adopted. And if cost is an issue not all animals adoptions are pricey. Another reason pet owners may not want to spray and neuter their animals is because of the cost. When one thinks of spray and neutering they might think it is too expensive so they choose to pass it up. February is the month for spray and neutar day which you can find vetinarions and organizations to perform neuarting for little or no cost at all. Any other month of the year has other options. You can optain a credit card for these services from Care Credit. The credit card offers affordable payments so you can pay overtime. Another idea pet owner that want to breed don’t realize is you may think you have the space or wants to keep the new pups or kittens but in all reality they may end up in a shelter just like any other one. Espically because of our economy you may not realize or want to think your animal will be a shelter animal but chances are they just might. Instead of breeding everyone should be encouraged to adopt. Adopt is what I used because you dont want to buy a pet from a pet store because chances are they came from a bad breeder or maybe even a puppy mill. Adopting is the best option espically since thousands are euthenized each year from shelters. Shelters have to euthenize these animals for more then because of an illness, they main reasons are because of overpopulation. Imagine when our counrty countinues to grows and we experience more overpopulation will us as humans be killed, No because it’s ethnically not moral so it shouldn’t be dont to these animals either. What is helping this out is no-kill shelters. No-kill shelters help out because they are opt-d not to kill. This isn’t a solution though because the harsh reality is sometimes animals get sent back to regular shelters after such a long period of time in no-kill shelters which actually defets the purpose. Regardless, no-kill shelters might not fix much problems except animal cruelty to an extent. So, like mentioned earlier the only real way to fix all this cyos is spraying and neutaring our pets!
Works Cited
Clemmitt, M. (2010, January 8). Animal rights. CQ Researcher, 20, 1-24. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/
Levine-Gronningsater, Anna. “Case of Cruelty, or Compassion?.” Christian Science Monitor. 25 Jul 2005: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Feb 2012.
Manning, Sue. “Euthanasia to Control Shelter Population Unpopular.” Newsday. 05 Jan 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Feb 2012.
“Puppy Mills” HumaneSociety.org 17 Feb 2012 http://www.aspca.org/Fight-Animal-Cruelty/puppy-mills
“Puppy Scams and Cons” HumaneSociety.org 19 Feb 2012, http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-scams-cons.aspx
PETA.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 2012. 20 Feb. 2012.
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Melissa Castillo
I read your research on the pet population and I really think that it’s a good research subject. I really didn’t feel this paper as much as I thought I would have. I started reading and I felt a pull, but then I lost it. Maybe it wasn’t split up enough. I felt it was a continuous paragraph. It just kept going on and on. It would have been a little more interesting if you gave more details on the severity on the animals health from the puppy mills. I know you wrote on your research paper about the size of the cages, there mental problems, but maybe if you explained more in detail the severity of the animals wounds or what mental issues they are presenting, I could have had a real visual and maybe I would feel a little more compassion for the animals. I’m not saying I don’t, but you see that commercial about the animals and you see their little faces all sad and deformed or injured? I feel for those animals, heck I even cried over those stupid commercials. I thought I would have gotten that with your paper.
The mention of the puppy mills did get me more engaged, but then I got lost. These mills are selling these animals by the thousands and it is sad that they have to live in an environment where they are at risk for abuse and sickness. Animals are being euthanized everyday. I agree with some places. I think we shouldn’t keep them alive if they are sick beyond treatment. You are also correct with the agencies spaying and neutering for free. Even if one has a state medical card they can spay and neuter for free and at a low price give the animals a chip and medical shots to keep them from getting worms or Lyme Disease.
I would really like to know how I can help out these animals. Is there an awareness program to help these animals? How about volunteering? I would like to help even if it’s a few dollars. God made us all. He didn’t make us to kill each other off or over populate one species. This is a rare story as well as mine. These are subjects that are not talked about because people don’t think they are important enough like Aids, Cancer, medical marijuana, or drugs and alcohol. I know they are important, because we are a big part of this disaster. We need to stop letting these people breed and sell all these animals. They can be adopted or bought at the store and because they have papers we think they are safe, but in reality they just stepped out of a mill of garage and they are mentally scared. One day in the future of having this pet, they can attack or just heal over a die because of the mistreatment they were sustained to. Keep up the good work. I think a little more information and you will get an “A”. Good luck!
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Kristina Marynczak
Thank you very much. I had a really well rounded paper and then my usb got water damage so I just had to put together with what my notes had and then I had a lot of difficulty putting it together and agree with you. Thanks so much for your help!!!
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Kristina Marynczak
Dave Edgar descibes the man in this passage seems to me as maybe a retired soldier or maybe someone who really values those who fight for his country. It makes me wonder who this man really is although it wouldnt make a difference in the message or tone of the story. His way of thinking amazes me because he discribes when he seen a picture of a soldier laying under a car in a forgein counrty in the newpaper. He compares the feeling through his body to affect him more then a missori family getting killed in a car accident which amazes me. I think to fully understand this passage you must really think outside the box. If the man Dave describes is not a solider I believe him to possible be a person who works for some sort of enforcement/protection like a police officer. I actually feel bad for the man that he feels so helpless that he doesn’t take any action. I do like the imagery DAve Edgar puts into the passage because it gives me a clear fealing almost as if I was sitting next to this man whereever he was seeing the newspaper and the smoke out of the chimney. I felt his hopelessness as the reader which gives this piece so much more. FRom all the short readings thus far this is isnt one that interests me much but supports how Dave Edgar is a great writter that expects a lot of critical thinking. Whenever I want to expand my brain and have it hurt a little I believe I will start looking into Dave’s works more and find other essays/pieces wrote by him.
Eggers,Dave. “What it means when a crowd in a faraway nation takes a soldier representing your own nation, shoots him, drags him from his vehichle then mutilates him in the dust” Mc Sweetnes, 2004 pgs 17-18 Splatter.writting101.net Web. Febuary 21,2012 -
Kristina Marynczak
Chapter 4 in WWR has so far taught me the most about my writing and the part I have always had the worst trouble with; my thesis. The reason why I always had trouble is not as destinct but I believe it was because of my previous writing teachers(which weren’t too many since I completed home schooling for highschool and only had one college writing professor) Anyway, I never really knew how much sence it makes to not nessesarily formate a good thesis until I started writing or understood my message.I was always taught to make a great thesis first then start the essay but what sence does that make if I haven’t even started the paper and my message might change?! Eric states that one shouldn’t overthink writing the thesis because it might come to mind once the writing starts.Knowing this even though it’s so simple and should really be like common sence to me is really going to help my future writings. Another idea that I found so helpful is that formulating a thesis is hard work, which I’m sure we can all agree, and I personally never though into it. I usually take lots of time trying to come up with a good thesis and who knew if I relaxed and came back to it I wouldn’t be so stressed. I would probably come up with a better thesis in the process and possibly even save time! Everything Eric talks about in his chapter is very helpful and I am very amazed how it effected me. I very much dont like writing and believe I suck at it but with the examples provided with students with the same thoughts I see I can improve. The only thing in this chapter that I didn’t agree on and had trouble with is when he expresses not having to stop at the minimum page requirments for a paper. I believe most teachers are really strick with requirments and if the teacher doesn’t want you to go past a fifth page then why do it. (but it could be how the teacher simply doesnt have enough time, which I do agree with, but is that really the students fault?) My problem is that I write not enough for length requirements so maybe overtime that will improve as well. The funniest part of the chapter in my opinion is the beggining when he’s describing what Rodin’s “The Thinker” statue. But to wrap things up though I really think this chapter was very helpful and will help me improve my theses and maybe my revision.
DeVillez, Eric. “You Can Do It in the Garden or an Elevator, Writing is Critical Thinking” Why White Rice? Ed. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2010. 77-97. Print. -
Kristina Marynczak
It has taken me 3 hours to complete my first self-assessment! For those who completed it, how long did it take you??
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Holman Zea
thats alot !! Im going to start doing this one today.
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Anahi Perez
Two hours!!!
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Kristina Marynczak
I have been learning a lot and understanding writing in general as well as my own writing threw “Why White Rice?” I can’t say there isn’t a chapter that I have yet read that is boring or looses my interest. In Chapter 5 section 3 I learned something so simple and easy yet never have realized it until I read this book. In writing or basically life in general stated facts aren’t as factual as we may precieve. Troy’s main example is about the substance ether and how many years ago it was considered a scientific fact. Not many years went by before someone (Albert Einstein) challenged this scientific fact and clearified it’s falsifications. I actually did some research myself to find out about this whole therory and about ether and it all checks out. Many years ago it was considered what it was and I would assume had a lot of public reconition for it being a scientific fact and was important and then was challenged an gone from present history. I never realized you should and can argue with “facts” until I read this part of the chapter. It is amazing that even most numbers are as factual as we may believe. His example with how many chicago citizens are living in chicago wasn’t a new or enjoyable thoughtful example about it not being a fact. I would of liked it if he threw into his reasoning the numer 2,837,000 is only an estimate because Some places in chicago have 8 people living in one apartment and can’t dare to report it. But anyway this section really gave me a better understanding to understanding “facts” and what should be considered an actual fact.
Swanson, Troy. “Measurements not Facts”.Why White Rice? Ed. Eric DeVillez, Thomas Dow, Michael McGuire Dubuque:Kendall Hunt,2010.107-108. Print -
Kristina Marynczak
The “Who Should Survive?” activity was very enjoyable for me even though a little aggravating. When I went home afte class to decide who should survive it took me a good 30 minutes to come up whom and the reasons. I was dead set on my decisions of letting go Dr. Lang, Mary white, Dr. Garcia and Mr. Young but as soon as my group discussed who they believed should be saved I wasn;t so confindent in my descions. It was very helpful to have others challenge my thoughts/beliefs to switch my ohh so confindent answers. When other’s challenged or questioned it was alot easier to expand my critical thinking to the next level. For example my group was thinking outside of the box when deciding who should be kept by seeing what they can do for eachother verse just themselfs or family. I noticed I did care about family alot in this activity even though I wanted to boot Bobby Lang’s father but still kept his mother to take care of Bobby. I also realized what bias I still have even though I didn’t consider sex, religion or race into my descion making. Since I am a mother I had a little soft spot for the mothers that still had their kids still with them. In my deep thought from his activity I realized how important family is to me even though if asked straight forward what’s the important to me family wouldn’t be in my top answers. What I thought was so funny about my some fellow classmates desicion’s were they seemed to want to get rid of Mrs. Hernandaz because she was a cocktail waitress, prostitue and had barley any highschool education. It’s funny because facts like that shouldn’t be reasons why she should get booted right away. She was defined as worthless from one classmate which is the funniest part because how can one judge? (even though this is all fake :))
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Kristina Marynczak
The story ” Your Mother and I” has a lot of concepts and you really need to enjoy criticial thinking to fully enjoy the story. Honestly, my head physcially hurt after reading this because I dont think my brain was ready to think so hard. Also, I don’t believe I have a strong frame of reference for understanding the political asspects of the writing. I am not strong in history so unfortunelty I did not understand when he started talking anout events in Belgiun. “Then the U.N. would send twelve Belgian soldiers. Nice guys, but really, you have a genocide raging in Rwanda, 800,000 dead in a month and you send twelve Belgians?” (Eggers, 118) I mean that part right there has a little humor like most of the reading but it would be nice if I actually can recall that historical event.After reading it I had to research some of the events mentioned so I can get the full effect of understandment. Anyway, I really enjoyed the humor of the story like when the narrator keeps jumping back to his/her sexual encounters with the childs mother and how he/she is just casually is telling this story to the child while they are making salsa and other food. Now up until the last page of the story I believed maybe the narrator did expiernce some of the crazy events he/she discribed but once he/she started talking about really outragous things like increasing the average life expectancy to 164 and waterslides in schools I lost some interest. And as far as the narrator him/herself I am a little lost on words to discribe him/her. You would assume it’s a male up until the narrator starts talking about getting the tubes tied. Males don’t have tubes to tie so that’s a little if-ee. But its possible he/she refers to that as getting one’s balls snipped or the narrator can be a female. (Maybe there lesbians and adopted their family?) But considering how unrealistic the story is I don’t think it should even matter what the sex of the narrator is. All I matter is if I understood the narrator better maybe I’d understand the point to the story. Who knows the narrator might be the child being spoke to or even a phycopath!
Eggers, Dave. “Your Mother and I.” pg 118. Splatter.writing101.net 2012 -
Kristina Marynczak
Just read “Mother and I” I am just very puzzled and speechless.
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Kristina Marynczak
Is it My Time to Kill or Die or Just Stay Alive?
What one lives, dies and kills for are questions that bring out different responses and vary from person to person on both spectrums of good and bad. Every individual will have different responses due to emotion, spirituality, self-will, self-pity and their well being. The three questions: “What do you live for, What will you die for, and what would you kill for?”; are very direct yet critical. Answering or pondering about these questions can really set you to understand yourself more or your journey to life. What one lives for can be as simple as waking up everyday hoping something new will happen. One simply may love the unpredictability of everyday life or waking up to loved ones. What ever gets you up in the morning and strives you to continue on with the task of life is what motivates you and me because life is no easy chore. People will die to enforce what they were living for and make sure they gave it all they could to make their point. A few examples are people in the military dying for freedom and their country or how a drug addict can overdose indulging on unforgiving pleasures. In people who choose their death or killing may be for revenge like the saying of “hurt people, hurt people”. What ever the reason death is inevitable and it is the one thing that links everyone together; the uncertainty or fears of when will it be my time and will I feel like I’ve done enough before I leave this world? As far as killing goes it’s a strong action and not to be taken lightly. My views on Americans in relation to these three questions might be true or just stereotypical but my personal responses on these questions are slightly different.
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Katie Murphy
I agree with your statement, “As I grow older I believe reasons for living change in different time periods of life”. This is something I can personally relate to growing up I also viewed the world differently when I was sixteen, as well as everyone, we all thankfully have the gift of development. Our minds and perceptions of the world around us are constantly changing as our minds develop. At the young age of sixteen, we have not been exposed to many experiences yet. For example, independence which allows us to further develop the capacity for knowing and understanding what truly matters. Although this, this is all related to our childhood experiences. Everyone is different, positive and negative influence while were developing in the Pre Operational and Concrete Operational years. That’s why we have criminals and average citizens trying to better society.
When I was younger, I like many people had family problems that resulted in selfishness and a single importance of the ID, looks, friends etc.; all the materialistic wants, not focusing in on family and school. I had not noticed this until I was around age 19 when I realized who you are is what matters to you and that will result in what you will become. Luckily we have the past to teach us and guide us in the present.
As I had read further on in your paper I had noticed that you stated you would not want to disrupt the ten commandments, what I do not understand is that the ten commandments state “tho shall not kill” period unfortunately it does not state, unless your loved one’s life is in stake. I have loved ones also; my mother and I have guardianship of my seven your old niece. I have to take into consideration that if I do in fact take another life I would go to hell or jail. That is why we have laws to prevent the onslaught of murder from spiraling out of control into a snowball effect. If someone is in fact jeopardizing a loved one’s life in would prevent that from happening as much as possible by containing the situation. I would take down the predator, if that doesn’t work harm him or her disabling them “not killing” just disabling, preventing them from doing harm unto myself and others. For example, shooting him or her in the foot, striking them with a blunt object until knocked out “not to kill” just unconscious. That is actual self-defense, this is what won’t get you put in jail or sent to hell. -
Kristina Marynczak
Yes, I understand your point in your last paragraph of feedback but I was trying to say I would only kill in self-defence, unintentionally. You never know when you are protecting someone you can simply push the predator to try and contain the situation and that might result in the preditor to hit their head on an object and they would die. REgardless if it’s by accident or intentionally it would be considered “killing” the person because they are no longer alive. I cannot stop violence but if I were in a situation to protect myself/my daughter I would try and disable them but considering the extemities of the situation usually “disabiling” might not do the trick. But this is very good feedback because now I know the reader can get confussed by my explainations so I will definatly change it. Thank you.
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Leoncio Salgado
I read your work and had very little trouble understanding it. It was well organized and had few grammatical errors and misspellings. I agree with your statement about how answering these questions can help a person understand one’s self. We can all learn a lot about ourselves by thinking about our answers. I too have stopped practicing Catholicism, but see no near future where I would start practicing it again. Albeit I still agree with your point about “living for God.” What I took from it, you live for God because he put you on this planet, meaning God has a reason for your existence. This I believe to be true, no matter how minuscule or important, everyone has a reason to be alive.
As to killing for the well-being of your daughter, I totally agree that if the situation came up you have every right to kill for her and your safety. Depending on the circumstances, I think it is okay to take away a person’s life. There’s countless people that should not have lived. Hitler being one of them, and even he had a reason to live. His country was in shambles but he brought up moral and brought Germany out of the rubble. You could argue that his bad actions outweighed his good actions, and in your situation you can argue that killing for your daughter’s well-being outweighs the death of the assailant. I enjoyed reading your work and am happy that you are recovering from a dark part of your life and moving to a brighter one. Nice work.
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Anetta Borowski
I really like how you used neat vocabulary while writing your paper. Very impressive. I really admired how you expressed your love and caring about your daughter. I enjoyed your story very much and can relate to a few things. I like hearing stories about young or single mothers like you grow, learn and mature instead of wasting life as it passes by. A great majority don’t even attempt to go back to school so its really nice to see us mothers getting our education. I agree, life is very precious especially raising a child. I can relate to your situation being a single mother as well and would do anything for my child, even if it came down to die for her. I’m ecstatic to hear that your pro-life and decided to keep your little one to raise her as a smart strong bright women and can just imagine what a great mother you are to her. I agree with you 100% that abortion is indeed considered as murder. Believing in yourself is key to a thoughtful decision and definitely keep it up. Like you mentioned, God has a reason for everyone’s existence like yourself, its great you found a reason for your daughters existence in this world. Every mother seeks a change in their life but its either a good or a bad change. I can comprehend by reading your story that your daughter has done only but good for you and helped you pursue your life to create a better future for her and yourself. I like how you went back to your past admitting what wrong you have done and learned from it instead of regretting it because everything does happen for a reason otherwise you wouldn’t be where you are now. I cant find anything really wrong with your paper. I think you did a great job and proved your main points along with a great intro and conclusion. For my final thoughts I’m glad God gave you a second chance to look at life in an enjoyable way instead of being depressed. Your daughter deserves to see you smile and will make her happy too. Thank you for interesting paper!
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Kristina Marynczak
Corey Thiesse, I would think you should ask the professor about the assignment if you just decided not to show up for class unless he directed you to ask other classmates. I would recommend you email him…
Kristina Marynczak, and 
Katie Murphy are discussing. 
Kyle Barczak, 
Nick Kleopa and one other person are discussing. 
Melissa Castillo is discussing. 
Anahi Perez, and 
Holman Zea are discussing. 
Anetta Borowski, 
Leoncio Salgado, 
Prof McGuire 2:53 pm on May 17, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks, Kristina. It’s been a real pleasure–truly.