The AP English Language and Composition Exam

The AP exam was ok overall. I’m not very confident I did that well. However, I was a lot more confident for the essays than the multiple choice. I never have been that good with the multiple choice portion. During the test, the multiple choice was harder for me. I felt like it was harder than any of the practice taken in class. I didn’t have time to read the last passage because I had trouble fully understanding all the previous passages. I didn’t really fully understand each passage. I felt bad as I had to guess a lot of the questions. I could’ve better prepared myself by taking more practice multiple choice, but I had to deal with other aps.

I liked the essay portion much better, I felt somewhat confident with the essays after finishing the test. But, maybe I didn’t do that well. The first essay was the easiest, I argued that libraries would still be relevant in the future. Also, I felt good with my conclusion as I compared libraries and the internet with e-mails and mail. I described that both are still used and that one hasn’t replaced the other. Both have different uses. (I think that was ok, right?) For the second essay, I felt I did ok too. I used rhetorical question, repetition to anaphora, verbal irony, and short and direct syntax. I incorporated the rhetorical question with the repetition, as it followed afterward, illustrating her point on what journalism should be. I wrote that because she established what journalism should be, it would set on what she would criticize the press, as they did not do these things, therefore that they are wrong. (I think that was ok too?) I used verbal irony in the beginning to show how she was flattered and happy to be there, but then the next sentence she states she will criticize the audience, which is not expected. I also used short and direct syntax as she had a lot of pauses throughout her speech, making her point clear and the audience understands what her speech is, and what she will be talking about. (Is it ok to use syntax that way?) The last essay I described that artifice is a skill needed for success. I used WW2 with propaganda, and how Germany and stories were depicted as villains, to get soldiers to join the war. (This was my weakest point, uh, was it ok to do that?) I also stated how consumers are deceived by company marketing and advertisements, and how consumers do not question ads. I mentioned how grocery store products depict farms on their products when they treat their animals poorly, or do not have their animals in farms. I also mentioned how clothing brands treat their workers poorly, but are still successful under good light because many people buy their products, and do not know about it, I used brands such as H&M and Mango. (Now that I think about it, I should’ve mentioned that these brands have poor conditions to be more successful because they want to get fast and cheap labor, … aw) I also mentioned how t.v. shows are successful because they manufacture drama to make it more interesting, using “The Kardashians”.  

Time management. I had poor time management for the multiple choice, because I struggled with the passages and didn’t get to read the last passage. For the essays, I finished with an extra 20 minutes. I completed my conclusions, but they weren’t that amazing. I didn’t know what to change or add at the time, so I didn’t do much but reread. I didn’t really change anything.

I hope I did ok on the exam, ... I can’t really judge how well or bad I did.

My Other Bedroom

After taking off my shoes, I step into the house, feeling the wooden floor beneath me. I head towards the bedroom, door always open. The room is narrow, with light olive painted walls.

The first thing I see is her jacket draped over the back of a wooden chair, her bookbag leaned against it. They invited my jacket to join them. My eyes wandered to the left, on top of a drawer is a plastic children’s boombox that comes with two tiny microphones. In her childhood, she used it to interview her family about mundane topics. She pretended to be a reporter, sang karaoke, and made her own mixtape before the record button broke. The boombox was accompanied by her three piles of clothes. They were organized by shirts, pants and pajamas. I recognized most of them. Above are two windows with white curtains, plants on the windowsills. On the left is a glass computer desk, it played a stream as her keyboard changed colors. Her headset laid on top, which she uses to call me everyday. Next to her computer chair, is a bunk bed against the wall. I always stare at the bottom bunk first, our bed. The same things always greet me: two pillows fluffed, non-matching bedding folded, (four feet) teddy bear named Sunny, Tigger (my favorite), Stanley the lion, and Fishie the fish. I rarely notice the top bunk. She only sleeps in it when I’m not there.

Discrimination is still alive and well in our society.

            Discrimination is involuntarily inflicted onto people’s lives. People view each other differently because of their race and/or gender, not by their characteristics. People unfairly view others through their stereotypes. Individuals are judged and treated differently, they are generalized negatively. Discrimination is still evident in today’s society.

            People may argue that there is no discrimination in comparison with the past. This is because there are equal opportunities for male and females. Recently gay marriage has been legalized. Society improved in comparison to the past, with segregation and women's rights. Women earned the right to vote and rights have been reformed so they aren’t inferior to men. Society has made progress since the past, but discrimination still exists. People are still treated unfairly.

People are discriminated based on race. Police shootings developed the “Black Lives Matter” movement. There are many cases in which police forces discriminate against blacks.  Police officers would pull over blacks who they claim are dangerous. They associated blacks with negative stereotypes. Police officers would be overly aggressive, handcuffing their suspects even though they have done nothing wrong. They were arrested for based on the color of their skin. Cases report that victims are heavily beaten when pleading innocence but are ignored. In other cases innocent blacks have been shot.

Minorities face discrimination throughout their lives because of stereotypes. As an Asian-American, I hear derogatory racial slang against me. They say random words that don’t translate to anything. I am respected less because of my race, or what they assume my race to be.

People are discriminated based on gender. Women still have less rights than men and are stereotyped as well. There are more opportunities for women than in the past, such as jobs. However, women are still paid less than men. Women are also still discouraged to have masculine categorized career or interests, or vice versa for men. An expected common general societal role is that a family should consist of a husband and wife.  Women are expected to be caretakers or housewives while men are expected to work at technical jobs, business or manual labor. Women would commonly rely on their husbands for income. Women are stereotyped, depicted to be weaker than men. In media female characters are the damsels in distress and need a man to save them. They are not independent.

Men and women are taught to follow their gender roles. They are viewed unorthodox if they dress or appear a different gender. An example is that men are discouraged for wearing makeup, as it is too feminine.

People are discriminated based on sexuality. Straight people are socially acceptable, others are not. Many people are against other relationships, such as members of the LGBTQIA, and people having an open or poly relationships. When gay marriage was legalized in many areas, gay people still faced discrimination in which people denied them marriage papers. Many parts of the world did not legalize gay marriage as well. Others were discontent about the law.

People are discriminated based on body types. If someone is not pretty or handsome enough in societal standards, they are looked down upon. Physical characteristics such as small eyes, and being overweight are shamed. The standard for women is that they should have curves and hairless bodies. They should have small noses and a slim jaw. These body types are glorified. Media constantly depicts these body types as it is seen as the standard for beauty. Magazines, television and ads show people with these body types. Magazines such as “Playboy” show what is considered sexually appealing. Models have these body types. People are also edited to look more that way.

            Discrimination is inevitable. People learn and grow up in society to these negative stereotypes. They are influenced to think that way through media and religion. How people were raised impacts how they think. Society has social standards, which stems from the past. Everyone experiences discrimination in modern society.