Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about a teenager named Jamal living in the slums on Mumbai. He becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. He is extremely smart and gets to the last question before the grand prize. Before he can answer the question, he is detained by the police. They suspect him of cheating because they don't believe someone from his background could ever know all the answers. However, his life in the slums was the reason he knew all of the answers. During the show, he gets flashbacks of his life which give him the answers to the questions. The movie has scenes from both the present and the past. The earliest flashback is from when Jamal was five, and he and his brother are trying to get an autograph from a famous man named Amitabh Bachchan. Then it flashes back to when his mother was killed in the Bombay riots. It shows the first time he met his love, Latika. He and his brother take her in as their "third musketeer". Later, a gangster named Maman, tricks them into coming with him, saying he will take care of them. Instead he makes them beg for money on the streets. It only gets worse when he starts blinding the children to make them better beggars. Luckily, the brothers escape but Latika is still stuck with him. Over the next few years, Jamal and his brother make a living in any way they can, but Jamal is hoping to find Latika. When he finally finds her, she is working as a prostitute for Maman. The brothers rescue her but Jamal's brother holds a gun up to him and tells him to leave so that he and Latika can be alone. After that, Jamal doesn't see either of them for a long time. Now he is on the show trying to win the money but hoping to reconnect with Latika. He doesn't know the answer to the last question so he uses his phone a friend lifeline. He calls his brother, the only phone number he knows. Latika answers. She doesn't know the answer to the question but tells him she is safe. Jamal luckily picks the right answer and wins all of the money. Jamal and Latika meet at the train station and are reunited once and for all.
Possible Writing Topics: -Is it possible for someone from the slums to have more knowledge than someone who is from a more privileged background? -Is it fair that the children had to go through all of those bad things? -Can love be strong enough to get you through anything? -Was is wrong of the police to assume that Jamal was cheating just because of where he came from?
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Who did I work with to compose my academic mindset project? Was this a good approach?
I worked alone while composing my academic mindset project. I believe this was a good approach. It's easier for me to write when it's quiet and peaceful. I was able to think clearly and completely focus on the assignment. Overall, this was a great approach. What was the most difficult part of my writing process? Why? What did I do to overcome the obstacles? This was one of the harder assignments for me. The topic was hard to write about because I don't feel very passionate about it. At first I didn't really know how I was going to write a paper about the topic. To overcome the obstacles, I read more articles on the topic. I used some of my previous blogs in my paper. I also answered the questions on the assignment sheet. All of these things helped with my process and got me into the topic. When did I write this project? Good approach? I wrote this project about a week before it was due. This was a good approach because it gave me time to revise my paper. I actually wrote a lot more than 750 words and had to choose which parts to take out. I think that starting to write ahead of time is very beneficial. Where did I write this project? Good approach? I wrote this project in my room at my parents house. This was a good approach because I am comfortable there. It's very quiet. I turned on my scented wax burner which smells delicious. I put on my electric blanket. I had some iced tea. All of these things helped with the process of writing this paper. Why did I choose to write about my chosen topic? I wrote about this topic because it was assigned. But I chose the growth mindset because that is what I believe I have. The examples I used in the paper were what came to mind when I was thinking about a growth mindset. How will I adapt/revise my writing process for future revision of the academic mindset assignment? [Be specific. Review your current six-step writing process plan and consider posting a new six-step plan.] My original 6 step writing process plan included setting quiet times to write, setting the mood, starting early, getting feedback from others, having something to drink, and tracking my progress. I believe I did all of these things for this project. The only thing I would really change would be to spend more time on the paper. I feel like that would help me a lot. The more time you spend on a paper, the more revisions you do, and the outcome is usually better. Katana Smith
ENG 100 Assignment #2: Academic Mindsets Argument The Effects of Mindsets in Education A growth mindset is the belief that there is always room to improve your intelligence and to learn and grow. A fixed mindset is the belief that you are born with your intelligence and you cannot change it. There has been a lot of controversy regarding these topics. In Teachers, Parents Often Misuse Growth Mindset Research, Carol Dweck Says by The Hechinger Report, Carol Dweck expresses her views on how beneficial the growth mindset is. In The Perils of "Growth Mindset Education" [...] by Alfie Kohn, Alfie Kohn argues against Carol Dweck's findings and instead states that the educational system needs to be changed. I can relate to having a growth mindset because I believe my ability and competence grow with my effort. Having a growth mindset has helped me in many ways. Personally, I think having a growth mindset is a positive thing and that it can change one's experience in school and in life. Right now, school plays a big part in my life. I feel as though the growth mindset helps me a lot with my classes. I've learned that if I put the time and effort into my classes, I can be more successful. I can learn more and get better grades at the same time. It motivates me knowing that effort goes a long way. For example, with this class, I sometimes get overwhelmed with the amount of work we are given. However, I tell myself to set aside the time to do the work, and it always gets done. It may not be perfect, but it's done by the deadline and follows the requirements given. I always feel accomplished after I finish the assignments. Afterwards, I am always grateful for the experience and satisfied with my work. Also, I learn new ways to be productive like setting aside more time than the week before to complete my assignments. My growth mindset also comes into play with my other classes. For my math class, I try to do all of the work ahead of time. I can teach myself to do problems we haven't even learned yet. I do the same with my network communications class. Doing the labs ahead of time helps because I understand more when we go over them together in class. I've found this very effective so far. In my elementary, middle, and high school years I believe I had a fixed mindset. It prevented me from fully learning what I was taught. I always just did what was required. I would never branch out or be creative. Unless it was an art class. I was able to adapt to a growth mindset in my art classes. There's always something new to learn with art. You have to be creative and allow yourself to grow. My pieces always turned out better than I expected. America's educational system is like a fixed mindset in some ways. The tests are mostly standardized. Students are expected to learn a particular curriculum and as long as they get the answers right on a test they are considered to be smart. But if students only focus on getting the answers right, are they actually learning anything? Dweck says "Praising effort alone...is useless when the child is getting everything wrong and not making progress. Either students will feel misled when they are eventually confronted with the reality of their low achievement, or the hollow praise will convey adults low expectations for them". In America, all students are taught in English, even if their primary language is something else. I feel like that might make it harder for them to learn. It's also harder for minorities or people who live in poverty to be successful in school. For example, someone who lives in poverty might not be able to afford the books and supplies that they need. Minorities might have a harder time making friends or feeling accepted and comfortable. I agree that there are a lot of things that need to be changed in our educational system. Kohn says "I’m not suggesting we go back to promoting an innate, fixed, “entity” theory of intelligence and talent, which, as Dweck points out, can leave people feeling helpless and inclined to give up. But the real alternative to that isn’t a different attitude about oneself; it’s a willingness to go beyond individual attitudes, to realize that no mindset is a magic elixir that can dissolve the toxicity of structural arrangements. Until those arrangements have been changed, mindset will get you only so far. And too much focus on mindset discourages us from making such changes". Sometime during my years of schooling, I adopted a growth mindset. As I got older I started to see things differently and in a more positive light. I am constantly learning new things everyday. I learn from life experiences, classes at school and even during my shifts at work. There is always a way to improve yourself and your intelligence. There are many reasons why having a growth mindset is more beneficial when it comes to learning. People with a growth mindset are more likely to succeed in school because they believe that they can. I believe anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Having a growth mindset has helped me with things like getting a job, buying a car, going back to school, and much more. I am grateful every day of my life. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for me. I have overcome a lot of things in my life that most people don’t know about. When I was younger, I had the opportunity to attend college but I didn’t take it. I wasn’t ready. I would have been able to go tuition free to Villanova University. I did attend a few classes, but at the time I decided it wasn’t right for me. The motivation wasn’t there. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Now, five years later, I’m back in school. When I first had the idea of going back to school, I didn’t know if it was possible. I was already overwhelmed with the amount of time I was working. I didn’t know if I would have enough money or time for school. I didn’t know if I had enough motivation to do it. I didn’t know if I would even be smart enough after so many years of being out of school. I used my growth mindset to make the final decision to go back to school. I told myself I would do great, as long as I put in the effort. I told myself that I could make enough money, make the time, and succeed. I’m paying for everything myself. I’m working full time as a bartender at Pescatores Italian Restaurant. I’m taking four classes this semester. So far, I feel as though I am doing a great job. I make sure all my bills are payed, attend all my classes, and do all of the assignments. I also still find the time to spend with my family and friends. I’m very grateful for this experience. I believe that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. The changes I’ve made in my life in the last few years are incredible. I’m looking forward to many more positive things to come. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me.
Teaching Adolescents to Become Learners […] talks about four different mindsets: Belonging, Growth Mindset, Self-efficacy, and Relevance/Purpose. Out of the four mindsets, I relate most to the growth mindset. I believe my ability and competence grow with my effort. I look at most aspects of life this way. Right now, school plays a big part in my life. I feel as though the growth mindset helps me a lot with my classes. I’ve learned that if I put the time and effort into my classes, I can be more successful. I can learn more and get better grades at the same time. It motivates me knowing that effort goes a long way. For example, with this class, I sometimes get overwhelmed with the amount of work we are given. However, I tell myself to set aside the time to do the work, and it always gets done. It may not be perfect, but it’s done by the deadline and follows the requirements given. I always feel accomplished after I finish the assignments. I feel like I’ve learned something new after every assignment is completed. When I finish a blog, I have more motivation towards any upcoming assignments. Afterwards, I am always grateful for the experience and satisfied with my work. Also, I learn new ways to be more productive like setting aside more time than the week before to complete my assignments. My growth mindset also comes into play with my other classes. For my math class, I try to do all of the work ahead of time. I’ll find a good time, sit down, and do a week or so worth of upcoming homework. This shows that one’s ability and competence can grow with effort. I can teach myself to do problems we haven’t even learned about yet. I do the same with my network communications class. I do the labs ahead of time, before we have gone over them in class. This way, I have more knowledge when we talk about things together as a group. I’ve found this very effective so far. These are just a few ways of why having a growth mindset is the most beneficial to me, personally, as a student.
A growth mindset is the belief that there is always room to improve your intelligence and to learn and grow. A fixed mindset is the belief that you are born with your intelligence and you cannot change it. In the article Teachers, Parents Often Misuse Growth Mindset Research, Carol Dweck Says by Carol Dweck, she talks about how detrimental a fixed mindset can be. She believes that too many students have a fixed mindset, and that it holds them back. She claims adults can help transition students into a growth mindset. She says praising kids isn’t always the best thing to do because if/when they get a bad grade they will think negatively about themselves. She says the way to properly praise children isn’t to tell them that they are smart, but to praise the process and strategies that got them there. She claims having a growth mindset can be beneficial in many aspects of a persons life. In the article The Perils of “Growth Mindset Education” […] by Alfie Kohn, he basically disagrees with Carol Dweck. He doesn’t think a growth mindset is the cure all for education. He also doesn’t believe people should have a fixed mindset. He states that things in school are “fixed” and trying to get them to have a growth mindset is confusing and doesn’t help the problem. He claims parents and teachers should focus more on trying to find out if the kids are actually learning. He says focusing on mindsets can take the attention off of what’s really important. After reading these articles, I believe I have a growth mindset. I am constantly learning new things everyday. I learn from life experiences, classes at school, and even during my shifts at work. There is always a way to improve yourself and your intelligence. You just have to believe it.
Who did I work with to compose my hiraeth project? Was this a good approach?
I worked alone while writing my hiraeth project. I think this was a good approach. It allowed me to have time to think quietly and process everything. Since I am writing about something from so long ago, it took a while to really remember everything I needed. I looked through old photo albums and found that it helped me a lot. I really enjoyed working on this alone. It was definitely a sentimental thing for me. What was the most difficult part of my writing process? Why? What did I do to overcome the obstacles? The most difficult part of my writing process would be figuring out exactly what to write about and actually sitting down and starting to write. Starting to write is always one of the hardest things for me. I don’t know why. I guess I feel like my work is going to be terrible so I procrastinate a little beforehand. To overcome this, I followed my 6 step writing process plan. It worked! The only thing I would do differently is set more time to write. When did I write this project? Good approach? I wrote this project on two separate days. They were days when I had off from both school and work. I wrote in the morning/afternoon when the rest of my family was at work or school. For me, this is a great approach. I need to write at times when I have less weighing on my mind. Where did I write this project? Good approach? I wrote this project in my bedroom at my parents house. It was a great approach because it is very peaceful. I had my candles lit which created a nice ambiance. Writing this project at my parents house was great because I have access to old photos which jog my memory. Also, the homey feeling is nice. Why did I choose to write about my chosen hiraeth? I chose to write about my first childhood home, my grandparents house, because it is what I long for the most. It is the perfect example of a home that I once had, but cannot ever return to. Some of my best memories come from that house. How will I adapt/revise my writing process for future revision of the hiraeth assignment? My original 6 step writing process plan included setting quiet times to write, setting the mood, starting early, getting feedback from others, having something to drink, and tracking my progress. I believe I did all of these things for this project. As I said above, I think I should schedule more times to write. Even if it’s just a half an hour here and there. I think that will help me process things better and help me to be able to write a better paper. I’m planning on making a lot of revisions to my hiraeth assignment. I want to find a way to better communicate the story I’m trying to tell/the point I’m trying to make. Katana Smith
ENG 100 Assignment #1: Hiraeth Narrative I wake up to the comforting sound of my mother’s voice saying “Tana, time to wake up”. The birds are chirping outside my window and the sun is shining into my already yellow painted room. I can smell the lovely aroma of eggs, bacon, grits, and potatoes. I hop out of bed and run down the stairs. My grandparents, whom I call Granny and Poppa, have already started their day. Poppa is sitting in his rocking chair, reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. There is soft jazz music playing on the radio. Granny is setting the table for breakfast. She asks me to help bring the different jellies and jams over to the table for our toast. I’m almost 6 years old and my mother and I are living with my grandparents. I feel happy, safe, comfortable, and content here. My mom comes downstairs after she gets her shower. We sit down and enjoy breakfast together, talking about our plans for the day. After we finish eating, Poppa lets me read the funnies; my favorite part of the newspaper. Now it’s time to get dressed, brush my teeth, and get ready for the rest of the day. I love the toothpaste my Granny uses, it’s gentle and has a slight orangey flavor. I make my bed just like my mother taught me. I decide I’m going to play outside today. I walk out the front door and look at the bright blue sky. It’s a beautiful, warm, and sunny summer day with just the right amount of wind. The chipmunk that lives under the steps is scurrying around in the flowerbed. The squirrels are climbing around in the trees. I wave to our neighbor, whom I call Miss Betty. I love to play at her house when her grandchildren are visiting. My best friend Ashton lives across the street. She comes over and we ride our bikes together. Then we play on my swing set in the backyard. We swing so high we feel like we are flying. It’s getting hot out so we decide to go for a swim. The pool is set up on the deck. We splash around for a while. Granny comes out with a picnic lunch for us. She must know we’re starving by now. I help her set up the blanket on the grass. Ashton and I enjoy our sandwiches and carrot sticks. We wash it down with my favorite juice. Now it’s time to color. I have tons of sidewalk chalk. I begin to draw on the sidewalk, a picture of my comfort zone. In this moment, I am completely carefree, not a worry in the world. It’s mid afternoon now and I’m getting a little tired. I say goodbye to Ashton and head inside. I walk up the two steps into my grandmothers house. It smells like a mix between herbs and flowers. Poppa is outside watering his garden. Mom has gone out to run some errands. It’s just Granny and I. We decide to watch some TV in the basement. The Big Comfy Couch is on; we love that show. Granny brings down some celery with peanut butter and raisins on top and a glass of milk. We relax and watch the show. When the show is over I run out the back door to see what Poppa is up to in the garden. The row of raspberries catches my eye. Poppa hands me a basket and tells me I can pick some raspberries. I start picking them one by one, occasionally sneaking one into my mouth, to make sure they are good. Poppa says we are going to put them on our vanilla ice cream later. I remember this day like it was yesterday. Oh, how I long to go back to this place. Life was so much simpler. There was no stress, anxiety or worry. I was always happy. I still had my innocence. I wasn’t aware of any of the negative things going on in the world. I just knew I loved my family and that my life was great. I’m older now and my life is a lot different. There are bills, responsibilities and obligations. My grandparents have retired and they now live in Alabama. We visit them once a year. When we visit them, memories from the past flood my mind. Their new house has a similar homey feeling to it. However, nothing will ever compare to the way things were back then. For my hiraeth example I chose Meanwhile Back at Mama’s by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. This song means a lot to me. I have family in Alabama and this song reminds me of visiting them. Tim McGraw sings about missing his mother’s house. He sings about the past and how much it meant to him. He sings about how inviting his mother’s house was. The porch light was always on, inviting people in. Dinner was always ready and the fridge was always stocked with beer. He recalls the sunset in his hometown and how beautiful it was to him. His dad was always watching the game, drinking whiskey and smoking his cigarettes. He misses the small town he lived in where everyone knew everyone. He sings, “Funny the things you thought you’d never miss, in a world gone crazy as this”. As normal as these things might sound, they are what he misses the most. His mother’s house is up for sale now. He can never go back. In the song, he explains how he is trying to recreate these times with his own wife and children. He sings, “Well I found a girl and we don’t fit in here, talk about how hard it is to breathe here, even with the windows down can’t catch a southern breeze here, one of these days gonna pack it up and leave here” He’s explaining how his new home will never be the same as his original home. He’s starting a new journey in life and he’s scared. He sings, “What I wouldn’t give for a slow down, don’t you know?”. He misses when the days were slow and would give anything to slow down now. He’s not quite used to the faster lifestyle he has now. He misses his southern home. He sings “Oh I miss, yeah, a little dirt on the road, I miss corn growing in a row, I miss being somebody everybody knows, there everybody knows everybody, I miss those small town roots, walking around in muddy boots, the sound of rain on an old tin roof, it’s time we head on back”. Here he describes exactly what he is longing for. He’s older now and his life has changed. He misses the simple things. This is an example of a hiraeth for many reasons. He talks about a home that he once had, but can never go back to. He ends the song with “‘cause meanwhile back at mama’s, the for sale signs going up and I’m gonna, dump this truck and the little I’ve got, on a loan to own and a 3 acre lot, put supper on the stove and beer in the fridge, going for broke, yeah we’re gonna be rich, watch the sun settin’ on the ridge, baby tell me what you think about this”. He’s creating a new home, which will one day turn into someone else's hiraeth.
I wake up to the comforting sound of my mother’s voice saying “Tana, time to wake up”. The birds are chirping outside my window and the sun is shining into my already yellow painted room. I can smell the lovely aroma of eggs, bacon, grits, and potatoes. I hop out of bed and run down the stairs. My grandparents, whom I call Granny and Poppa, have already started their day. Poppa is sitting in his rocking chair, reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. Granny is setting the table for breakfast. She asks me to help bring the different jellies and jams over to the table for our toast. I’m almost 6 years old and my mother and I are living with my grandparents. I feel happy, safe, comfortable, and content here. My mom comes downstairs after she gets her shower. We sit down and enjoy breakfast together, talking about our plans for the day.
After breakfast, it’s time to get dressed, brush my teeth, and get ready for the rest of the day. I love the toothpaste my Granny uses, it’s gentle and has a slight orangey flavor. I make my bed just like my mother taught me. I decide I’m going to play outside today. I walk out the front door and look at the bright blue sky. It’s a beautiful, warm, and sunny summer day with just the right amount of wind. The chipmunk that lives under the steps is scurrying around in the flowerbed. The squirrels are climbing around in the trees. I wave to our neighbor, whom I call Miss Betty. I love to play at her house when her grandchildren are visiting. My best friend Ashton lives across the street. She comes over and we ride our bikes together. Then we play on my swing set in the backyard. We swing so high we feel like we are flying. Granny comes out with a picnic lunch for us. She must know we’re starving by now. I help her set up the blanket on the grass. Ashton and I enjoy our sandwiches and carrot sticks. We wash it down with my favorite juice. Now it’s time to color. I have tons of sidewalk chalk. I begin to draw on the sidewalk, a picture of my comfort zone. In this moment, I am completely carefree, not a worry in the world. |
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April 2017
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