ENG101: "The Dangers of Living in a Post-Truth World"
This was an essay that I wrote for my English 101 class, in which I discussed the rhetorical strategies that Lee McIntyre utilizes in his book, Post-Truth to effectively persuade his audience. Climate change is a topic that has raised much debate in politics. McIntyre’s usage of logic and pathos emphasizes the severity of the issue. He also warns readers of the dangers of living in an era in which anyone’s fears can be manipulated to create a post-truth. This opened my eyes to how difficult it can be to trust the media and how it is necessary to take every piece of information with a grain of salt.
ENG101: "The Societal Impact of Influencers on Adolescents in LA"
This was an essay that I wrote for my English 101 class last semester. In this class, we focused on the format of our essays, the foundational aspects of rhetoric, and thesis development. Moreover, the theme of the class was centered on Los Angeles living, so I decided to write a paper exploring how influencers in LA promote unhealthy perceptions of beauty which can affect their followers' mental health. Many celebrities promote the "Flat Tummy Tea" or even lollipop appetite-suppressants which can promote eating disorders and low self-esteem. The exploration of influencers' impact on adolescents in Los Angeles reminded me of Disability Studies, which discusses society's "ideal" body. Instead of being inviting of all bodies, this promotion of malnourished bodies isolates individuals who do not fit in this category.
Honors English 103: "Oppression on Twitter: How White Privilege and 'Othering' Undermines People of Color"
This essay was one of my favorite essays that I have ever written. I was assigned this essay for Honors English 103 and given the freedom to speak on the lack of accommodation in any public space. I was tasked with the challenge to think about how Race Theory and Postcolonialism intersect on Twitter, and how white privilege creates a myriad of disadvantages for minorities. By searching on Twitter for racist tweets, I had to apply the concepts of W.E.B Dubois and Edward Said when analyzing tweets. My biggest takeaway was how the smallest details can affect the quality of a public space and make it unwelcoming for marginalized groups.
COMS105: "Cultural Artifact Speech: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"
This speech was for my public speaking class that I took this semester. The aim of the class is to learn the fundamental elements of public speaking and how to create a correctly formatted speech outline. For this specific speech, I had to choose an artifact that holds importance to me and has a cultural history behind it. I decided to speak on the history of makeup, more specifically, eyeshadow. Although many believe makeup is all about vanity, it is a form of self-expression that carries historical significance to many.