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Superman and Me In this inspirational essay, Sherman Alexie claims that reading is what got him above the low expectations placed on his kind as an Indian child in school, and in turn will also be the saving grace of other children currently struggling against those low expectations.

In Praise of a Snail's Pace In this opinionated essay, Ellen Goodman argues that in a "world of hyperactive technology" everything is fast-paced and this takes away people's ability to take things slowly and truly appreciate the things life has to offer.

Personal Commentary: I have to agree with Goodman here. People now have so much available at the push of a button, that everything is expected to be fast and "taking your time" has become a luxury available to few.

 Shea, Renée Hausmann, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin Aufses. "In Praise of a Snail's Pace." // The language of composition: reading, writing and rhetoric //. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 221-223. Print.

Commencement Speech At Mount Holyoke College

In this personal speech, Anna Quindlen eggs her audience on to let go of those preconceived notions of perfection and instead strive to be themselves.

Personal Commentary: This speech spoke to me on a personal level. Too often do we think that in order to be successful in life we have to fit certain molds, which leads to missed opportunities and sunken ego's when we aren't perfect. It may not be easy, but perhaps being yourself is really the best thing one can be.

 Shea, Renée Hausmann, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin Aufses. "Commencement Speech at Mount Holyoke College." // The language of composition: reading, writing and rhetoric //. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 296-299. Print.

About Men

In this earnest essay, Gretel Ehrlich compares the stereotypes associated with cowboys with her own experiences in order to reveal a softer side that she saw presiding in these outwardly rugged men.

Personal Commentary: I feel that Ehrlich wasn't just talking about the cowboys, but to stereotypes in general. People tend to jump to conclusion based on outside appearances and rarely try to unearth what lies beneath. Or perhaps people create this romantic images and ideals to go with people because it excites them.

 Shea, Renée Hausmann, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin Aufses. "About Men." // The language of composition: reading, writing and rhetoric //. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 367-369. Print. = = = =

How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle

In this lighthearted essay, Frances E. Willard describes bike riding as an enjoyable and an incredible sport that leads to personal growth and self discovery that driving a car can't deliver.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Personal Commentary :

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bike riding can range from being a pleasant pastime to rigorous exercise and therein lies the magic. Learning to ride a bike is an important chapter in most everyone's childhood. I definitely think bike riding a great way to stay in shape and it allows you to embrace the outdoors.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Willard, Frances. "From How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle." // 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. 459-461. Print.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Studying Islam, Strengthening the Nation

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In this enlightening essay, authors Peter Berkowitz and Michael McFaul propose the idea that education is the right way to resolve the tensions in the Middle East, because education would open the eyes of Middle Eastern men to the fact that they are fighting for the wrong reasons.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Personal Commentary: Education is crucial in every aspect and it would definitely be the proper way to open up people's minds to the evils of war. Of course you can't really force people to think how you want them to, but education would definitely allow better opportunities for the people of the area which would open up other possibilities besides fiighting.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Berkowitz, Peter, and Michael McFaul. "Studying Islam, Strengthening a Nation." // The Language of Composition //. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 559-61. Print.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Bird and the Machine

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In this thought-inducing essay, Loren Eiseley claims that the world has become entirely too devoted to the development and technology surrounding machines, to the point where the world's nature is being considered mechanical and is losing it's uniqueness in a mechanic world.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Personal Commentary: It was certainly interesting to hear a different opinion. Science has broken down nature and compared it to nature before, such as the bee to the airplane, and the fact of the matter is that the world around us is, in fact, mechanic. The world around us functions in a way unique all on its own and we've learned to apply that to our machines. If anything, machines are striving to be natural.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Eiseley, Loren. "The Bird and the Machine." // The Language of Composition //. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 601-607. Print.

Godzilla Versus the Giant Scissors: Cutting the Anti-War Heart out of a Classic. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> In this sincere essay, Brent Staples implies that due to the Goverment's censorship, American citizens were deceived on historical facts when viewing the famous movie // Godzilla //.


 * Personal Commentary: ** I have actually never even seen the movie Godzilla, but it never occurred to me that the American government would or even could switch up the storyline of any film in order to attempt to onceal the Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents. It's just strange to think of the power and influence the Government has on its people.

Staples, Brent. "Godzilla Versus the Giant Scissors: Cutting the Anti-War Heart out of a Classic." Print. Rpt. in // The Language of Composition. // By Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin D. Aufses. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 723-24. Print.


 * "2004 Nobel Peace Prize Speech" **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maathai, Wangari Muta. "2004 Nobel Peace Prize Speech." Print. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in //The Language of Composition// By Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin D. Aufses. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. 2008. 834-40. Print.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this moving speech, Wangari Muta Maathai places emphasis on the importance that her listeners t <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ake action to help the environment by reflecting on what she has done and what hopes is done for the future of the planet.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Personal Commentary: The passion in this speech came across very strongly. Peple can always do something, little or big, for the world's improvement and if we all band together we can make the world a better place.


 * "National Prejudices" **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Goldsmith, Oliver. "National Prejudices." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> in //The Language of Composition// By Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin D. Aufses. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 932-35. Print.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this stern essay, Oliver Goldsmith expresses that people should not exercise harsh judgement about citizens of other countries in order to showcase patriotism for their countries.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Personal Commentary: Having a double nationality, Mexican and American, I can say that this judgement of other countries tends to lie everywhere. People have a natural leniency toward their home-country and will always place it above the rest, even if it means pointing out the others' flaws and ignoring one's own.