REHUGO+4

REHUGO 1: EDUCATION

Citation: Alexie, Sherman J. "Superman and Me." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 110-112. Print.

Precis: In this inspiring essay, Alexie encourages the reader to understand that simply reading as a child can help you to learn more, and be a more creative thinker, and that doing so could help you later on in life, such as getting a job and supporting a family.

Commentary: After reading this, I realized how little I've actually read, aside from required reading books, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson. I'd say I read maybe 3 books a year in total, including required reading books. However, I've slowly gotten back into the habit of reading more often. After reading this essay, I completely agree with Alexie. My sister, for example, once made a goal to read 50 books in 1 year. She read 70. She's now a successful teacher at her elementary school, and has a job set up for her there for years to come. Reading this has caused me to realize how much I actually should be reading, instead of just watching television or chatting with friends.

REHUGO 2: WORK

Citation: Goodman, Ellen. "In Praise of a Snail's Pace." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 220-223. Print.

Precis: In this understandable passage, Goodman reveals how social media has affected our society, leaving us partially attentive as opposed to fully aware, because we're always multitasking, such as texting someone while on the phone while doing homework, and offers a way to keep from "zoning out," by "going dark."

Commentary: This passage has brought to my attention the fact of how little attention I give certain people when I'm using my electronic devices, and how I never seem to give 100% of my focus to people. After reading it, I've decided that I'm going to make an attempt to start being more attentive when people talk to me, and demand people's attention when I'm talking to them in return.

REHUGO 3: COMMUNITY

Citation: Quindlen, Anna. "Commencement Speech ad Mount Holyoke College." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 295-299. Print.

Precis: In this motivational speech, Quindlen speaks of how college, primarily girls, should not strive to be perfect, but instead simply strive to constantly improve, and instead of striving to be the best, instead just constantly strive to get better.

Commentary: Reading this allowed me to see that I shouldn't strive to simply get better to a point, but get better indefinitely. To Strive to become the best I can without any delay. I agree with Quindlen's idea that people shouldn't become perfect, seeing as it's too much work. One can't become perfect. Very good, but not perfect. And that's my take on it.

REHUGO 4: GENDER

Citation: Ehrlich, Gretel. "//About Men."// __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 367-369. Print.

Precis: In this unique passage, Ehrlich explains how men and women are not too different, and does so by explaining how cowboys, while highly masculine, must be caring, gentle, and loving towards their animals.

Commentary: After reading this, I have a better understanding of what she initially began talking about. I've realized that the only difference is how they treat each other. Men treat girls with respect, girls treat boys with adulation. I now understand that, and with a better understanding, have learned to treat men and women more equally.

REHUGO 5: SPORTS AND FITNESS

Citation: Roosevelt, Theodore. "//The Proper Place for Sports//." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 449-451. Print.

Precis: In this touching letter, President Roosevelt addresses his son over the matter of sporting, and how his father supports in, and encourages his son to do so by use of historical examples and comparisons.

Commentary: Seeing as I never played sports growing up, this letter had little effect on me. I guess it allowed me to realize how parents need to support their children in what they do, which my parents have done. My parents have supported me in all of my extracurricular activities in Theatre or Choir, to which I am eternally grateful.

REHUGO 6: LANGUAGE

Citation: Berkowitz, Peter and Michael McFaul. "//Studying Islam, Strengthening the Nation.//" __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 559-561. Print.

Precis: In this intriguing essay, the authors uses solid information and suggestions to point out how we only learn of how America sees different countries, religions, and ethnic groups, as opposed to being taught the true nature of all the different societies.

Commentary: Upon reading this, I got a better understanding of how we've been taught and what's been taught to us is partially biased towards our own country. I look forward to seeing how other parts of the world see each other later on in life, and seeing how I can make a difference.

REHUGO 7: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Citation: Sagan, Carl. "//The Cosmic Calender//." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 671-675. Print.

Precis: In this perplexing exert from his book, //The Dragon's of Eden//, Carl Sagan corrects the common theory that the Earth is new by comparing the Universes history to a single year, aligning famous era's as simple days, with human's not emerging until around 10:30 pm on December 31st, showing just how old the Universe is.

Commentary: Reading this shocked me. I knew the universe was old, but I didn't know it was as old as it really is. I guess it showed me how insignificant life really is, seeing as it's been going on for eons ahead of us, but at the same time, it's shown me how important it is that we're here right here, right now, on this Earth.

REHUGO 8: POPULAR CULTURE

Citation: McCloud, Scott. "//Show And Tell//." __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 737-750. Print.

Precis: In this joyful graphic novel, Scott McCloud explains how pictures are just as important as words by using pictures AND words to reveal it to the reader.

Commentary: I for one enjoy a good comic every now and then, often reading Marvel comics of Spiderman, X-men, or Hulk, so I found this very entertaining and interesting to read.

REHUGO 9: NATURE

Citation: Seattle, Chief. "//Message to President Franklin Pierce//." The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing and Rhetoric. By Renee Hausmann. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin. Aufses. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 823-824. Print.

Precis: In this serious message, the Native American Chief Seattle argues that the American society and the Indians have a different perspective because the white man steals land whenever he needs it and leaves without caring all the harm and damage he did, and in doing so, emphasizes the difference between the two types of people.

Commentary: Reading this article was insightful, and thanks to the authors persuasiveness, my mind is now more open to things I wouldn't have thought about originally.

REHUGO 10: POLITICS

Citation: Soyinka, Wole. "//Every Dictator's Nightmare.//" __The Language of Composition.__ Ed. Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Aufses. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. 957-961. Print.

Precis: In this argument essay, author Wole Soyinka declares that the government is nothing compared to the rights of the citizens, and how if the people were to rise against the government, the government would be in great turmoil, as seen in the many examples given by Soyinka.

Commentary: Reading this article made me realize how much power we as a people have, and how our needs outweigh those of the government.