Portfolio Table of Contents

Jacky Leung

Portfolio Table of Contents

-Portfolio Essay #1
-Portfolio Essay #2
-Possessive Essay + Works Cited
-Be-Verb Essay + Works Cited
-Midterm Essay
-Local Social Entrepreneur Essay
Research Assignment (First Draft Intro&Conclu)
-Frontline World Assignments
-Stop the Violence by Felicia Pride
Women in Obama’s Life
-Reflections and Review: Obama’s “Dreams from My Father,” CH. 1-5
-Response to “Love Your Enemies” by MLK
-Free write : Paraphrase
Library Love Assignment -- Cyber Post
-Love
-Introduction to “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama
-Preface Summary of “Dreams From My Father” by Barack Obama
-Summary Of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Adress (Pages 4-5)
-Letter from a Birmingham Jail
-My response to “Wear Clean Draws"
-My response to "Dear Students"

Portfolio Essay #1

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
18 May 2009

Portfolio Essay #1

During the spring semester in 2009, our class explored the life of our first Africa American President Barack Obama and many social entrepreneurs. We have written many papers based on the book Stewart Pidd Hates English. From time to time, we will read Felicia Pride’s reflections in the book The Messenger and respond to them. We also did many free writes on many topics and commented our classmate’s reflection and comments. I believe this class has improved my writing skills quite a bit.
Dreams from My Father was an excellent choice for a book to read this semester. The New York Times Book Review gave the book the number one New York Times Bestseller title. I knew very little about Obama, but reading his book Dreams from My Father makes me feel like I know our president a lot better. Normally, I would not read a book that’s not in my interest. Before I started reading, I thought this book would really be boring but I was wrong. I was very impressed with Obama’s book. During this semester, I pushed myself to read more than I ever have in my life. It has improved my skills as a reader.
Stewart Pidd Hates English has improved my grammar, punctuation and writing skills this semester. The grammar and punctuation exercises were a good way to review materials I have forgotten in the past. The writing exercises has improved my writing skills a long way. When the class write essays, we have to follow a step by step method from the book including a works cited page. The methods from the book prepares you for college level writing. Stewart Pidd Hates English was very helpful in this process. I highly recommend using this book again for Professor Sabir’s class next semester.

Portfolio Essay #2

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
20 May 2009

Portfolio Essay #2

This semester’s writing experience was very unique. I was expecting to write essays based on other subjects but instead, we wrote essays about grammar and punctuation errors in the book Stewart Pidd Hates English. I thought writing the Pidd essays would be an easy task but I was wrong. I made many punctuation errors while writing these assignments. The book, Stewart Pidd Hates English taught me a lot and it helped reviewed a lot of materials such as point of view, be-verbs, pronoun agreement, etc. My writing skills are far from perfect but I have improved a lot during this semester.
At one point in this semester, our class did an research paper on a local social entrepreneur. Although it wasn’t an easy task, I found it very interesting writing a paper about a person that’s trying to help the community. It felt as if I was there helping the community myself. It took many drafts to complete this research paper. I believe that drafting is a way to perfect one’s writing. Our class also did many free writes. We would walk into class and write about a random topic. When we completed our free writes, we would share with our classmates but it seems like no one in the class wants to share their work. Therefore, we were forced to swap papers with someone and post the free write on the blog for other students to read them instead.
My writing skills has improved this semester but I am still lacking on my reading skills. Reading is one of my weaknesses in academic achievements. This class has prepared me well for my next course. I wouldn’t say I deserve an “A” in this class because that would be a lie. I did not do my personal best. The other classes I’ve chosen this semester were very challenging. It caused me to spend more time and focus on working on other materials.. I will not make the same mistake again next semester. The highest grade I can possibly get in this class would probably be an “B.” I really enjoyed working with Professor Sabir and the students of the English 201 class this semester. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope to see you in English 1A during the Fall semester of 2009.

Possessive Essay + Works Cited

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
13 May 2009

Understanding Possessives

The authors of Stewart Pidd Hates English devote an entire section to possessives. Understanding possessives can improve one’s writing. Possessive nouns are nouns ending with an apostrophe -s that indicates ownership. A possessive noun phrase consists of a possessive noun and the object it possesses. Five rules for possessive noun phrases: Singular nouns that do not end in -s takes an -s to show possession. Plural nouns that do not end in -s takes an -s to show possession. Singular nouns that end in -s takes an -s to show possession. Plural nouns that end in-s takes only an apostrophe to show possession. Possessive pronouns do not need an apostrophe because it indicates ownership. (Pollitt and Baker 216). Due to the many case errors in the essay “The Land That Is Ludville,” Stewart Pidd should review the rules for punctuating possessives.
Pidd errs in punctuating possessive pronouns: “Fertilizer Workers’.” (1). Pidd misplaced the apostrophe after the -s in “Fertilizer Workers’.” The retirement fund belongs to the Fertilizer Workers. Singular nouns that do not end in -s takes an -’s to show possession. To fix the error, Pidd needs to move the apostrophe after the -s to between the -r and -s. The corrected phrase will look like this: “Fertilizer Worker’s.”
Pidd falters when he punctuates singular possessive nouns not ending in -s. Pidd writes, “Lois’ cruel nature.” (2). Pidd misplaced the apostrophe after the -s in “Lois’ cruel nature.” The singular noun “Lois’ does not end in -s. Singular nouns that do not end in -s takes an -’s to show possession. To repair the error, Pidd needs to add an ‘s after the -s. The corrected phrase will look like this: “Lois’s cruel nature.”
An error occurs involving a plural possessive noun ending in -s. Pidd writes, “the Lud’s.” (2). Pidd misplaced the apostrophe between the -d and the -s. The petting zoo belongs to the Luds. The plural noun “Luds” ends in -s. Plural nouns that end in -s takes only an apostrophe to show possession. To eliminate the error, Pidd needs to move the apostrophe from between the -d and the -s to after the -s. The corrected phrase will look like this: “the Luds’.”
Stewart Pidd makes many possessive errors in the essay “The Land That Is Ludville.” Pidd does not understand the rules for possessive noun phrases. Instead of playing with Coach T, Pidd should review the rules for possessive noun phrases.

Works Cited

Pidd, Stewart “The Land That Is Ludville.” 5 May 2009
Pollitt, Gary, and Craig Baker. Stewart Pidd Hates English. Fullerton, CA: Attack The Text Publishing, 2009

Be-Verb Essay + Works Cited

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
6 May 2009

Stewart Pidd, Be-Verb Failure

The authors of Stewart Pidd Hates English devote an entire section to verbs. Understanding be verbs can improve one’s writing. The be verbs are the least concrete verbs. The be verbs -- is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been -- are the least concrete verbs. Be verbs can join and help define ideas. Concrete verbs clarifys the writing. They are an economic use of language. The authors recommend passive voice to avoid placing blame and if the actor is not as important as the action recipient. During the final stages of the revision process, you should eliminate be verbs in sentences. (Pollitt and Baker 256-357). Stewart Pidd’s claim of having mastered be-verb elimination is dubious because he makes many be verb errors in his essay “Pour Poor Porky.”
Pidd uses an expletive when he mentions the first time he hears the advertisement: “It is a Saturday when I hear the song…” (1). Pidd used the pronoun “it” and the abstract be verb “is.” Pidd can fix the error by rephrasing the sentence, omitting the expletive structure “it is,” and making the subordinate clause “It is a Saturday” into an independent clause by removing the subordinating conjunction “when.” The revised sentence will read, “On Saturday, I heard the song…”
Pidd used an unnecessarily progressive tense. He writes, “Melville, the Dogs’ lead singer, is screaming…” (1-2). Pidd used the be verb “is” and the present participle “screaming.” Eliminate the be verb by replacing the present participle “screaming” with its singular base form, “screams.” Pidd can correct the error by writing, “Melville, the Dogs’ lead singer, screams…”
Pidd uses passive voice unnecessarily in the following quotation: “A mistake is made by Melville…” (2). The phrase “a mistake” functions as the subject in the sentence, but Melville functions as the actor in the sentence. To fix this error, eliminate the be verb “is,” replacing the past participle “made” with its present tense singular form “makes,” and making the object of the preposition, “Melville” the subject. The revised sentence will read, “Melville makes a mistake…”
A be verb and a subject complement takes place of an active verb: “Making a cool song into a radio jingle is the personification of everything lame…” (2). Pidd used the linking be verb “is” and the subject complement “the personification.” Replace the subject complement and the be verb with the complements verb form, “personifies.” Pidd can correct the sentence by writing, “Making a cool song into a radio jingle personifies everything lame…”
Bejamin Franklin’s quotation pertains to Pidd and his be-verb essay: “Well done is better than well said.” Though Stewart Pidd says he is the be-verb master, he makes many be-verb errors in his essay. Instead of fancy talk, Pidd should review be-verb elimination because he made many be-verb mistakes in his essay. Doing is better than saying for Pidd.

Works Cited

Pidd, Stewart “Pour Poor Porky.” 15 April 2009
Pollitt, Gary, and Craig Baker. Stewart Pidd Hates English. Fullerton, CA: Attack The Text Publishing, 2009

Midterm Essay

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-3
30 March 2009

Failing Pronoun Cases

Stewart Pidd needs to review case rules because his essay “Synthetica” contains many case errors.
Stewart Pidd mistakenly uses a subjective case pronoun with a compound object. He states, “…Ditch wanted to come with Camper and I…” (1). There is a preposition in front of the phrase “Camper and I.” Use subjective case when the pronouns are part of the subject. Use objective case for everything else. The pronoun “I” does not function as part of the subject. To fix the error, he should replace the subjective case pronoun with a objective case pronoun. The corrected sentence will read, “…Ditch wanted to come with Camper and me….”
Pidd has trouble determining case with a comparison using the word “than.” He writes, “…Ditch was smarter than Camper and me….” (1). The key word “than” precedes the phrase “Camper and me.” A comparison is being made. The sentence does not make sense if Pidd finishes it by writing, “me is.” To correct the sentence, he should replace the objective case pronoun with a subjective case pronoun. The revised sentence will read, “…Ditch was smarter than Camper and I….”
Pidd chosen the wrong pronoun for his subject complement. He writes, “It was me who told Ranger Encantado….” (2). Pidd used the pronoun “me” for the subject complement. Use subjective case pronoun for subject complements. To fix this sentence, replace the objective case pronoun with a subjective case pronoun. The revised sentence will read, “It was I who told Ranger Encantada….”
Pidd made many case errors in his essay “Synthetica.” He needs to review case rules and revise his essay. Instead of going to Ludville Canyon, Pidd should review pronoun cases.

Local Social Entrepreneur Essay

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
6 May 2009

Stephanie Bernstein: Founder of To-Go Ware

A social entrepreneur is a person who uses creative business practice to start a social services organization. There is a problem in our community. Plastic are not being recycled properly. Our local Social Entrepreneur, Stephanie Bernstein has an solution to this problem. She is currently residing in Berkeley, California. Bernstein is a certified yoga instructor since 2001 and was a chef for many years. She is also the founder of To-Go Ware and Eyes of the Forest, Inc. in 2004. To-Go Ware is a company in Berkeley that makes re-usable food and beverage containers and other products. They make utensil holders made from recycled plastic bags to stainless steel “tiffins.” Plastic are not being recycled properly and they’re going in our landfills and oceans. Bernstein’s vision was to reduce plastic disposable containers and utensils such as plastic forks, spoons, plates, cups, and containers by selling re-usable products. By doing so, we can create an more eco friendly environment.
During Bernstein’s college years at University of Michigan, getting food services to go was very common. When Stephanie and her sister were having ice cream at a local ice cream shop, she found it very disturbing that she had gotten a plastic container and a plastic spoon with her ice cream when she requested it for here. It was expected that she would throw the plastic utensil in the trash, but it was not being recycled properly. This motivated her to make a change in society. Bernstein was inspired by people that were using reusable items such as coffee mugs and lunch containers. She then started to envision ways to promote these products and tools to learn which designs would function well. Bernstein spent years informing development of To-Go Ware in Natural Products industries, food services and wellness fields.
Bernstein got many supporters from the community. The food industry was a big supporter in this ecological matter. Many company in the food industry especially fast food restaurants in Berkeley are using biodegradable plastic utensils. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment. Although To-Go Ware does not sell biodegradable products, they sell reusable bamboo utensils. They encourage local businesses to buy them wholesale for restaurant use. To-Go Ware recently partnered with “CONSERVE” which currently makes the company’s utensil wraps. CONSERVE is a recycling and waste management that is not associated with the government located in East Delhi. If To-Go Ware sells as many CONSERVE wraps as they project for this year, it would take nearly one million plastic bags from the landfill.
The community gains a eco friendly environment in this recycling process. People do not realize how much plastic forks, spoon and knifes we toss away each week by getting food to go. We can reduce these plastic wastes in our landfills by using reusable utensils or biodegradable material. To-Go Ware encourages people to participate in the process by providing people the tools to do so. By doing so, we can reduce plastic waste, set an example for many people and have a positive impact on people and our planet.
Bernstein gained many things from starting this company. She is making a living from selling reusable products and tools for a cause. It has been something she wanted to do since she was in college. Promoting such products makes our world a more eco friendly place. Stephanie and To-Go Ware’s mission is to produce products that provide a solution, tell a great story, and are enjoyable to use. They were very successful.
Our world faces many ecological challenges. Bernstein and her company To-Go Ware promotes re-useable products for an eco friendly environment. They encourage people to recycle and follow their footsteps by buying their products to create cleaner Earth. To-Go Ware products may even be used in places such as restaurants, cafes, salad bars and other food service locations. By using these products, you can help reduce plastic waste, set an good example for others and help create a better environment. Rethink and respect the planet by reduce, reuse and recycle. By working together, we can change the world.









Bibliography

http://www.to-goware.com/about/team.htm

http://commongroundmag.com/2009/03/pin0903.html

http://www.evo.com/content/to-go_ware/2967/utensil_set

SE Works Cited

Works Cited
To-Go Ware: Welcome. 6 May 2009.
Common Ground: Stephanie Bernstein. 6 May 2009. .
7 Hot CEOs and Their Cool Green Companies : TreeHugger. 6 May 2009.
.
Bernal Yoga. 6 May 2009. .
Lewis, Waylon. “Reduce Your Forkprint: Stephanie Bernstein’s To-Go Ware.” 6 May 2009.

To-Go Ware Offers Hip Reusable Dinnerware. 6 May 2009.

Breckenridge, Jenn. "Ready, Get Set, To-Go Ware : eCo Times." 6 May 2009

Research Assignment

Jacky Leung

English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Intro

The Social Entrepreneurs I’m researching is Stephanie Bernstein. She is currently residing in Berkeley, California. Stephanie is the founder of To-Go Ware and Eyes of the Forest, Inc. in 2004. To-Go Ware is a company in Berkeley that makes re-usable food and beverage containers and other products. They make utensil holders made from recycled plastic bags to stainless steel “tiffins.” Plastic are not being recycled properly and they’re going in our landfills and oceans. Stephanie’s vision was to reduce plastic disposable containers and utensils such as plastic forks, spoons, plates, cups, and containers by selling re-usable products. By doing so, we can create an more eco friendly environment.

Conclusion

Our world faces many ecological challenges. Stephanie Bernstein and her company To-Go Ware promotes re-useable products for an eco friendly environment. Many of us purchase to-go meals that requires plastic utensils. Normally, we just throw them in the trash when we’re finished. Many of us do not realize that we’re not recycling these plastic utensils and will end up at landfills. Stephanie’s idea was to reduce using plastic utensils by selling these re-usable products made from recycled materials. These products may even be used in places such as restaurants, cafes, salad bars and other food service locations. By using these products, you can help reduce plastic waste, set an good example for others and help create a better environment.

Frontline World Assignment

Jacky Leung
English 201B, MW 1-2:50

India: Design Like You Give A Damn

The social entrepreneur is Purnima McCutcheon. She was an American-trained architect that was designing buildings in India after the tsunami in 2004. The organization group’s name was Architecture for Humanity. Architecture for Humanity were in India to design buildings such as the village hall and the youth media center the way the people wanted. The relationship with the community was to lead them in this project. Purnima McCutcheon addressed this issue because it has always been her aspiration to work with a community and do something that was meaningful. The local component is to restore what was lost and build a community where history will be made. The community own the process by having everyone help build this community. Although it was Purnima McCutcheon’s designs, it was the people in the village that built them.

Cambodia: The Silk Grandmothers

The social entrepreneur profiled is Kikuo Morimoto. Morimoto found the craft of Cambodian silk is in danger of disappearing after decades of violence. In 1996, Morimoto opened an silk production studio in the town of Siem Reap which was on the main tourist route to Angkor Wat. He started this studio with seven “silk grandmothers.” The relationship between Morimoto and the community were like family. He made the women who made the silk to be well known. The local component was to restore the tradition of Cambodian silk craft and to let people recognize the skills that a very few individuals ha.. The community owns the process by having the people in Cambodian making these traditional silks. One month’s wage was almost a year’s wage in Cambodia. This made life better for over 400 employees working in the studio.

Ecuador: Country Doctors

The social entrepreneur profiled is Dr. Rodas. The problem he identified was Ecuador's lack of health resources for poor people. The name of the organization they started is called the Cinterandes Foundation. The relationship to the community that they serve were doctors and patients. The medical services were free. The local component was to help people who needed medical attention since Ecuador didn’t have the health resources to help poor people. The community owns this process by getting back to good health. When you’re not healthy, you can’t work or gain anything at all.

Stop the Violence by Felicia Pride

The thesis on Felicia Pride's reflection is change. Some people change for the better and some for the worst. You might feel distance from your friends when they change. Scared that you might lose a friendship. You might get jealous of people who settled down for marriage and kids while you're still on step one on the streets. We have no control over other people's decisions. There's no point in getting mad at them. We should look on the positive side and support them.

Jacky Leung
English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Women in Obama's Life

One of the biggest in influences in Barack’s life was his mother. After she had Barack and his little sister Maya, she did not give up on her education. After being separated from Lolo, she came back to Hawaii to get her master’s degree in anthropology. She has set a great example for her children. I believe that this has influenced Barack to do better in school and not give up on his education. I admire her for attending school again and raising two kids with only her student grants. (Pg. 75)

Jacky Leung
English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Reflections and Review: Obama's "Dreams from My Father," Chapters 1-5

In chapter five of Barack Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father,” the theme is friends. Barack is now attending Occidental College in Los Angeles. He was staying in the dorms. He made new friends like Ray, Regina, Marcus, and Reggie. Obama and his friends threw parties very often. They drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and even got high. He presented a speech in front of his schoolmates along with Marcus and Regina. After the speeches, Regina offered her congratulations to Barack but he was not happy about it. He felt like he didn’t reach out to the people. They got into a argument but Barack soon realizes that Regina was right. He lacked determination.

Jacky Leung

English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Response to “Love Your Enemies” by Martin Luther King

Response to “Love Your Enemies” by Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King said “it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies.” Hate changes a person’s personalities. Before you can love your enemies, you must first analyze yourself then seek the element of good in your enemies. Honestly, I don’t think this is even possible. At least not for everyone in the world. For example: if someone killed the people you love most in your life, why would you love your enemy? How and where do you seek forgiveness for such actions? I would seek for revenge. Both Obama and Martin Luther King are doing things similar. They are seeking to change the world for the better. They will always be idols and become a big part of African American history.

Jacky Leung

English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Free Write: Paraphrase

Free Write: Paraphrase
Paraphrasing is a good skill to have to avoid plagiarism. Taking credit from someone’s original work is unacceptable. Although literal paraphrase is a form of plagiarism, it is better to change words and phrases in a sentence than to copy something word for word.
Jacky Leung
English 201B, MW 1-2:50

Library Love Assignment--Cyber post

"Pythagoras the Mystic: The Greek rishi who taught reincarnation, vegetarianism and more" by Westbrook, Peter
Hinduism Today. Kapaa: Apr 30, 2001. pg. 44
Database Company: Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW)
Location: College of Alameda, L-BuildingFeb. 9th, 2009
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=581433501&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=27888&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Jacky Leung
English 201B, MW 1-2:50