I choose to read “PLAGIARISM DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED” by Jennifer A. Mott-Smith. She started her article by citing two newspaper headlines about plagiarism in college growth.  She also stated that “Plagiarism, we know, is an immoral act, a simple case of right and wrong, and as such, deserves to be punished.” (page 247). We know that especially when we started college (well that is my case).

Jennifer mentioned three different points about the complication of using sources: One, we often used ideas other ideas in our conversations and we mixed or combined with our own ideas, that it is difficult to identify whose original idea is because it has been repeated many times. Second, writers used other people’s ideas to boost their work, especially when they are learning something new. Third, the process of learning who to cite or give credit to the person varies, it is not the same and most of the time creates confusion. 

Jennifer explained that high school students used books as references in their work but they are not citations. So when they started college that is a new system or world for them, syllabus or field expectation are different from one to another. New students can simply try to do their job, but they are allowed to do mistakes. “While the feeling that plagiarism deserves punishment is perhaps widely held in society, the understanding that plagiarism is often not deceitful and does not deserve punishment is also present.” (pg 250)  

I choose this idea because I know plagiarism is a problem and can lead you to be kit out of college. My daughters’ friend in her first semester was removed from college because she was “cheating” copying someone’s work. Now she needs to go to court. For me, that is really sad.  So I know it is a big deal. When I saw the topic it caught my attention because I thought “What can be wrong with plagiarists equal punishment?” Yet after reading this article, I agreed with Jennifer, we read a lot of articles or we simple used other peoples’ ideas that it becomes so natural and sometimes mingle with our own ideas that we sometimes we don’t know if that was our own or something we acquire from someone else. Yet, my suggestion is always to give the credit or reference that we are using others’ ideas. Be honest to ourselves and others.

I can’t answer the question of how has changed after reading the article “Wikipedia Is Good for You!? By  James P. Purdy because, when I was in high school, a long time ago, I didn’t hear or I did not even know the existence of Wikipedia. I grew up in the country in El Salvador, there was a lack of access to technology. We used huge and old computers once a week with the internet was really limit. Therefore,  I have nothing to compare with it. 

According to Purdy’s article, Wikipedia is a good source that can be used as an aid to explore and find more further information or articles connected to the topic you can access too when you are reaching for. However, he also alerts us that citing Wikipedia is not a good idea. “Wikipedia article are unreliable; the article you cited today may not exist in that form tomorrow” because this information is constantly abducted and when someone cited, then when you go and check again it may be different or can be wrong. That can lead us to trouble because we do not want incurred or false information in our papers. However Wikipedia can be used as a source of ideas, “You might read Wikipedia articles to help you generate search terms to sued to for finding sources in your school library’s catalog or online databases.” so is practically like a bridge that helps you to connect with other important information that can be beneficial for our paper. 

Before reading Pursy’s article I did not know that much about Wikipedia. I meant I have used Wikipedia before but I never used it as a primordial source especially to cite. Yet, most of the time when you search for something in Google Wikipedia is one of the first that pops up. Yes, I will consider this a community platform because is like a collaboration group working together building information, and interacting as well. Until now, after reading the article is that I did not have the knowledge that there is a conversation taking place over every article edit. 

• I think what Carr means by that is when we have easy access to so much information, it also creates an illusion of knowledge because we can quickly search on the internet and have an answer to our questions with a little bit of effort. However, the information is not going into our memory. He stated “ My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.” in other words, it creates a superficial knowledge. Is there anything wrong to get into Google and look for information? No, but when it becomes a dangerous problem is when we just want to look smart by giving an answer without analyzing or processing the info.
• I do not think the problem is having immediate access to information. Due to the fact of accessing to information, that we might need without putting any effort besides just linking to the web… that it does not make us smart, which makes people lazy. It originates a problem when people fully rellies only on that. For example, I recently was doing online research, I found a LOT of “information” but here is the thing, anyone can post o create a website and put it wherever they want, is that mean the info is reliable? Of course no, you know the answer to that. We need to and evaluated information. In my opinion, the process of doing research through the library is much better because we know that information is serious, nevertheless, the process of doing it, reading, touching a book connecting our senses. That helps to hold information in our brains and gives us the ability to recall later in life.
• Using the internet wisely will help us a lot and it will give us knowledge if we focus and know-how to deal with distractions. Since the pandemic, technology, and the internet become to be an essential tool. It turns into a very important aid that helps us to succeed in our jobs, classes and to keep concert in certain kinds of ways with our loved ones. For me was really necessary because I was working with immigrant families, so technology was a need to keep in contact with my clients.
  The sad part is that children are been affected in a negative way because now they have a wide-open door to see and hear anything. For people with mental illness the internet, specifically social media is a scape of their reality and sometimes changes to the worse. Years ago I hear an expression, something like that “The Smarter phone, the dumbest people” I did not understand that at that time, but I have seen it now. Again, I think technology can be a source and utensil that can be used when is necessary only. But NOTHING compares to our minds.

Advances in technology are impacting us tremendously, we cannot deny it. However, Carr’s article astonishes me, technology is supposed to be used as a tool to improve our environment and to help us. But it becomes a serious problem when we only depend on it. The article mentioned the cases of plane crashes. I strongly believe that accident happens all the time, but when your life and other peoples’ lives are in your responsibility there is not computer task to depend on it at 100%. “Automation has become so sophisticated that on a typical passenger flight, a human pilot holds the controls for a grand total of just three minutes.” I think we have to be more alert and conscious about not become negligent and useless, to the point of putting people’s lives at risk. How can we fix this? Better training where we can use technology as a tool and where the consequences of error are not going to be fatal.

I am pretty sure that technology will be improving. Therefore I think the most important is to reinforce and improve workers’ skills. Facing challenges or difficult situations in real life is the huge element that helps us to become from more or less, good or expertise in our fields.

Yes, I think in some cases with greedy companies or businesses. If the focus is to produce more money for themself; they will replace people with machines because it will produce more and it will save money and because they don’t have to pay salaries for workers. Did you notice that in many banks they don’t have the staff number they have five years ago? In some locations, you go directly to the ATM machine because there is not enough personnel to attend to you. What about the cashiers? Or when you have to call to solve a problem with a company for example. How long do you stay in line and they a machine it will take your message and you never speak with a real person?

The alternative to me is to used find a healthy balance, used technology only when is necessary. Limit my time on social media. Take notes in my notebook and make copies of assignments is necessary for me to avoid the time on the screen. I recently saw a picture with a message in Spanish “Luckily there was a generation that wanted to study and we have epidemiologists, doctors, microbiologists, among others. Can you imagine another pandemic in a few years with YouTubers, influencers, Tictokers, and reggaeton singers trying to save the world?” Yeap, no words.

BONUS: Yes, I do rely on technology especially during the pandemic where my work flips from being in the community to a cyber world. From the classroom to Blackboard meetings. Form worship services to Zoom calls. From going to the bank to make a direct deposit through my cellphone or get paid on Zelle. Using Google calendar for PTA meetings, classes, doctor’s appointments,s and more. Nevertheless, I am in a constant campaign of not being dependent on it. I know that is necessary for this particular situation and for now is an aid. One of the things to avoid being on my phone if is not necessary is that I don’t have games. I was addicted to Candy Crush and another game, when I realize that I was wasting my time, I erase the app and I don’t have unnecessary apps or distractions on my phone.

1. How Litt describes the relationship between literature, writing, and technology as allies. At that point it makes me reflect on this world where everything is moving forward and changing literature, writing depends on the use of technology. For example, we read, type (write) our assignments, and send or post our responses using technology because another method will be more complicated. So they are a good match team to work together.
2. I remember when I was in high school (18 years ago) I read Don Quijote de la Mancha, Prometeo encadenado, La Odisea, etc. Reading those books arose my imagination and I remember with classmates having conversations about them. Now, in my first year in college of course after almost two decades passed, things are really different. Technology is a good resource if you know how to use it, but not depends on that. For example, when people are texting and they used different abbreviations to “communicated” if you ask them how you spelled a word, even though they are in high school sometimes they need to go to Siri, Alexa, or Google to find out. Instead of using a dictionary, it effortless to type in the translation. I agree when the author stated, “I think writers will continue to occur but technology and its trivia will cause us to lose something, just as we lost something when we lost the classical education”. 
3. The advances in technology are beneficial, especially in this time of pandemic that forced us to move online. Where we have access to so much information. However, in some cases is also making people lazy. Why do you have to work hard if you can have answers to any question as easier as clicked? Children and adults are now spending more time on screen,  playing, or on social media. The technology they are lazier to read a book, a novel, or a tale story. I have three children and one of my rules is after 7 pm there is no more screen time. My little boy how is eleven years old, he complaining that he is bored “take a book and read” that is my answer. My kids are not happy with that specific rule, but it is my duty as a mother to help them not be dominated by electronics, they need to set time to do different things or activities to develop as a normal human being.  As  Litt mentioned, “Similarly, I find it difficult to understand why any eleven-year-old of today would be sufficiently bored to turn inward for entertainment.” 
4. To be honest, I don’t like being on the screen reading articles or lectures for school. I miss reading a book, a booklet, and taking notes over the paper. It is something that helps me to learn and understand the material and to connect with the world. Reading the monitor, cellphone, or another device frustrated me because I feel like I am missing the full concept and I am not retaining the information for a longer period, like stay there in my short-term memory but it does the information does not stay or go to store in my long-term memory, which frustrated me, therefore I have to read and re-read with makes to spend more time on the device. 

Both articles were writing in difficult moments. In the article “The Way We Live Now: 11-11-01; Lost and Found” by Colson Whitehead, he is talking about how New York City is continuously changing just in front of our eyes and we most of the times not noticed. People came and moved into New York, the city that lures so many people for a better future, job education. We have many beautiful things that we do not appreciate. The bodega in the corner, people we meet later, and we find out later he/she just lived next to our door. New generations change and make NYC their own. On the other hand, the article “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation,” by John Lewis, the author is encouraged others to keep fighting in a peaceful manner the same way he was inspired by Dr. Marting Luther King Jr.  There is a guy who joins to fight for civil rights “The role is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.” 

Colson’s article is talking about who New Yorkers made this city their land. Every generation made their own version of NYC. “Never listen to what people tell you about old New York because if you didn’t witness it, it is not a part of your New York and might as well be Jersey.” Also, how a catastrophe made him reflect that every day when we lock our door it could be the last time. Just like what happened with 9/11. To appreciate more the unique NYC in what you are living in. Lewis’s article is a call to people, to make a positive change in our environment “Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.” he did indeed until the end of his life, he did his part and he motivated other generations to do their part as well.  

When I read Colson’s article even though it was quite long, I did enjoy, because it makes me reflect on my every single day. I am living in The Big Apple, the capital of the World and I sometimes do not see and appreciated, the people in my community. Especially now in the pandemic. There is much business that is close, because the owner died or because they can pay the rent anymore. If I had known what was going to happen, my treatment of them would have changed, because I would know that I would never see them again. Nevertheless, 19 years apart from these two articles. Lewis’s powerful message is like he is passing the torch to the new generations. I admire his work and legacy. And when he is saying “When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So, I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.” The call is to me, and I honestly believe that our generation can write a new chapter in history. Therefore, I stick with both.  

1- A contradiction of “Education” where they were supposed to awake children hungry to think on their own and questioned about their surroundings instead of that when they were washing their brains. Even in today’s days sometimes you feel that the system is against you. Blacks and Latinos, are so questioned when we are trying to look for a decent place to live. Our schools don’t have all the benefits other peoples have. We don’t receive the same treatment as white people received. If you are a hard worker and you buy a house, a car; just because being a Latino or a Black person people associated you or labeled you as a “drug dealer” or you must have done something wrong because some for them we don’t deserve that.
2- Yes, I believed the experiences of other marginalized people or groups resonated with Baldwin’s sentiment. Even though the situation differs a little bit. Yet, the same mistreatment, bringing people down because they look different, because of their skin color, or just because of a stupid reason. For example, Asian American people are suffering this moment of discrimination and they are been blamed because of COVID.
3- One of the examples is “…, that any Negro who is born in this country and undergoes the American educational system runs the risk of becoming schizophrenic” (Page 1, paragraph 3) What he means by the system is making Black people insane because they are been teach something but in reality the living and seem something very different.
An example is “I had to realize when I was very young that I was none of those things I was told I was.” (page 3, for 3). I love this part, I love how Baldwin set his mind and his determination about he would not let others label him a slur. He is not what other peoples think he was.
4- Every educator I had has impacted my life, ones more than others. Last year around this time I was taking mathematics at CUNY Start, after years of no seem that subject. Professor Terrance made me love Math. He is a strict guy, very diligent in his role of him. When someone in the class did not understand something he would not continue to the next topic until the whole class was clear enough to keep walking. However last semester I have a different experience sadly the oppositive of the first one. Yet, I learned to advocate for myself when things are not right with a professor and the class.

“The More Writing Process, the Better” by Jimmy Butts. 

According to the author, the bad idea behind this topic is that we are more focused on the process of following the steps of creating a “good” draft than writing itself. 

1. Prewriting
2. Drafting
3. Editing
4. Revising
5. Publishing 

I agreed with Butts, I understand that those rules or steps exist to give structure to the writer. However, when an assignment is given, they have to make sure to follow those schemes and add a lot of pressure. Sometimes you spend time writing what you think will be a good product and then you realized that you did not follow the process. Therefore, Butts stated, “In other words, we have so fetishized the creative process that we’ve forgotten what we can actually create: words strung out into beautiful constellations.” (Paragraph 2, page 109).  

According to the author the process of keep on track following the steps, we are wasting a  valuable resource that can not be renewed, especially the revising step. Spending such energy in the wrong direction. The best we can do is just write and write “We cannot follow a writing process, because writing is messier than that.” (111). 

Nothing feels better to be free, and writing is not the exception here. When we don’t have rules that limit creativity we see writing no punishment or like going to the dentist albeit you enjoy writing. “Like any creative practice, it is easy to make writing a ponderous sort of artistic practice.” (112). One thing that I enjoyed so much in Unit One, was the I was alow to write something that belongs to me, or that was so familiar to me. I feel free to write, and I did not feel any pressure about it. 

According to the author the process of keep on track following the steps, we are wasting a  valuable resource that can not be renewed, especially the revising step. Spending such energy in the wrong direction. The best we can do is just write and write “We cannot follow a writing process, because writing is messier than that.” (111). 

The reason I chose this topic because I always struggle with writing. Therefore, I was looking for a tip or something that can help me to become a better writer. 

For the Unit 2 Essay assignment, I will be switching my discourse community to “Sanctuary”. In Unit One I used “cooperatives” which I enjoyed so much writing about that topic. I think this will be a continuation because this new discourse came to my life as a consequence of being part or worker-owner in the cooperative. The connection between both discourses also is the immigrant community, which I belong and I have the opportunity to serve as well. I hope with the new essay, I will reach people and inform them, nevertheless be able to create awareness when they heard the word “sanctuary” too.

I choose this topic because it captive mi attention of find out in what conditions is we are giving up to protect our privacy. “The Year We Give up on Privacy” by Sara Morrison. Honestly, this article makes me remember who people were aware of their personal information being on the web, including myself. Especially with my children, I like to know how much information they are sharing with the entire world on social media. Yet the pandemic abruptly flips our regular way to do things and moved everything online. Work, school, shopping, specials event are now transmitted online, for example, my friend just last week told me that she is getting married and she will be transmitted her wedding through. Before the pandemic hit us, the article refers to the polemic case about privacy in Facebook, and how the Trump administration was taking this information to track people. Nevertheless, being lacking in homes, the use of websites and the internet was vital in order to survive. The question is where our information is ending? Politicians are delivering a bill to protect people’s privacy. It is crazy how due to the fact of the coronavirus we have to give up and everything changes.

In contacts to that,  personally know some people,  how to refuse to use Zoom because they saw in the news the hackers were joining meetings and appearing naked on videos. Another friend that she missing a lot meeting with her friends and religious services because she does not want to make her information public. The funny thing is they are giving information in other ways that they don’t realize.

This is our reality, before the pandemic I was very meticulous about letting companies have my personal information because those companies sell individuals’ data to other companies. Yet, people share too much on their social media that it is easy to find their preferences, birthdays family member, and more in their accounts. But, do we have another option? Unfortunately, we don’t have too much power on it. During the first four months of the quarantine, for example,  I was cooking with my children different plates with my children and posting on my social media. Sometimes we make our lives public. Our children are spending so much time sharing Tictoks videos, sharing Facebook Live from their rooms, and making their self “Youtubers”. We are yield our personal information more than ever.

I think the idea of making a law to protect individual’s privacy is vital, because now than ever online environment is a wide-open door to harm the users. This article provides me information that I did not know before and refreshes my mind again. I like how the author develops the topic and adds extra information to support his argument, but a little too much in my opinion, at some point, I was kind of lost in this particular genre.