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by austin.yaeger on English 2 Portfolio

Reflective Essay

Austin Y

English 2

Ms. W

 

Throughout my English class this year, I’ve learned many vital tasks that I can use in my daily life. Through speeches, reading books and writing papers, I can safely say that I’ve learned many things.

In English, we did 3 speeches. After each one, I learned more and more which helped me out a ton. The first speech we had I was ultra nervous. I didn’t know what I was getting into or if I would mess up. After the first speech, I realized that they aren’t as hard as you think. I learned to be confident in my research and to not worry about the speaking part. I learned to talk slow, because in reality, the only person truly listening is the teacher. I noticed how if I talked slower and acted like I was talking to a friend, it was much easier.

We also read many books during our class time. We read books such as Of Mice and Men, Death of a Salesman, two other books and a free read book. For all of the books we read, we dug deeper into them and found out more about them. We learned more about the characters and even found hidden messages in them. For example, Of mice and men and Death of a Salesman showed how the American Dream isn’t equal for everyone. I found out a lot more about how digging deeper into the book can be beneficial for me too. This also made me more aware when I read to watch out for alternate endings or ideas because it helps my brain focus more on what I read versus just reading to read.

Also during English, I wrote so many papers it might be considered unhealthy. I wrote many papers about any and everything. I wrote papers on books, non-fiction and many many more. The difference is that I’ve learned many vital tasks that I can use later in my life. I learned how to use grammar and conventions better than ever. I learned how to not make my sentences short and choppy but instead long and flowing; but not too long because then it will turn into a run on. I learned how using bigger words instead of overused words helps change the mood of the story drastically.

English has taught me so many things that are still so important to me. When I go off to college and have to write a paper, I won’t be the one stressing because i know what I’m doing. I’m confident in my skills and in what Mrs. Jank taught me is correct so I do not have to worry. English to me was just another class, but now when I get to thinking about it, it is not just ‘another class’. It is probably the most important classes because it not only taught me how to write better, but it taught me how to speak in front of people better. I know this because I have been to a job interview and most people want to see someone who knows what they are doing instead of someone who stutters or something like that.

 

 
by austin.yaeger on English 2 Portfolio

Speaking and Presenting

Rank: Shows Improvement

I strongly disliked doing speeches or presentations during English. They were my least favorite units because I always stressed having to go in front of the class to talk. I thought the research was a breeze until I remembered I actually had to give it and hope my information is good enough. On this speech, I thought I did really well on it. I felt confident in my research and knew how to execute it in front of the class.

Persuasive Speech

 
by austin.yaeger on Drafts

Persuasive Speech

Austin Y

English Outline

 

Gas and Diesel are better than Electric cars

 

Hello, my name is austin yaeger and today, i will be explaining why gas and diesel burning cars are better than electric cars. Most people, and most of you, drive either a gas or diesel car, so they have to be the best, right? You can’t haul much of anything with an electric car, but you can with gas or diesel cars. In many ways, gas and diesel are better than electric. Then again, electric cars are better than gas and diesel in some ways too. Gas and diesel can both get good gas mileage, but electric smokes them in that category. In general, the cost to buy a gas or diesel car is less than it is to buy an electric car. Also, gas and diesel cars do emit greenhouse gases into the air, and electric cars do not. However, the power plants that produce the electricity emit tons of pollution.

 

  1. Diesel still gets good gas mileage
    1. Most electric cars’ mpg is around 84 mpge, which is very good for getting around town
    2. New diesel cars get around 30-40 mpg, which is pretty good for a diesel burning car
    3. According to Cheryl Knight, author of “Should You Buy a Hybrid, Diesel, or Electric Car?”, says that “One of the biggest disadvantages is finding a recharge point when away from home.” Trying to find a recharge point away from home is sometimes impossible, and can be dangerous when on a road trip.
  2. In general, electric cars are more expensive than gas or diesel
    1. Not just buying the car itself, but repairing batteries and other electric car specific parts are expensive
    2. Some electric cars are fairly priced and range around $35,000 dollars. On the other hand, some electric cars can get very expensive to around 80-90,000 dollars.
    3. According to James R. Healey, author of  Electric cars vs. gas cars, says that,”Need expensive accessories. Installing a 240-volt home charger for a plug-in hybrid or electric car — pretty much a practical necessity — runs $1,500 to $3,000.”
  3. Gas cars’ emissions are getting less and less
    1. According to John DeCecco, “Gasoline vehicle efficiency is already improving by nearly 4% per year, while emissions from U.S. electric power generation are not even declining by 1% per year.”
    2. Emissions are getting better for both, but the electric cars’ power plants where they get their electricity causes many bad emissions
    3. Looking at the numbers, we would assume that gas cars will one day be as efficient as electric cars
  4. Rebuttal #1 – Electric cars are better for the environment
    1. According to John DeCecco, “If you think that electric cars will be needed someday, you first have to greatly cut carbon emissions from power generation.”
    2. The power plants that produce the electricity to charge the cars actually produce a lot of bad emissions that can seriously hurt the environment we all live in. algae blooms = death of all fish in the ocean
    3. The batteries they use in electric cars are actually not very good for the environment, “there should be greater environmental concern about power plants before rushing headlong into electric cars”
  5. Rebuttal #2 – Electric cars are cheaper to repair
    1. According to John DeCecco, “To replace a battery pack outside of warranty could cost from $4,000 up. Battery warranties are long but not infinite — 100,000 miles”
    2. “To rebuild a gasoline four-cylinder engine, if that seems a fairer comparison, would cost roughly $2,000, though it could range much higher”
    3. Just because there might be less parts to an electric car, does not mean cheaper. The batteries themselves can cost a fortune to replace or repair.
  6. Conclusion – In the end, the positive effects of gas and diesel outweigh the positives of electric. Between gas mileage, price, and emissions, gas and diesel are better than electric. Then again, nothing beats the sound of a big greenhouse gas emitting diesel plowing through the neighborhood. I thank you all for listening to my speech, and i hope you learned a little more about gas, diesel and electric cars.

 

Knight, Cheryl. “Should You Buy a Hybrid, Diesel, or Electric Car?” YourMechanic Advice, 2 May 2016, www.yourmechanic.com/article/should-you-buy-a-hybrid-diesel-or-electric-car-by-cheryl-knight.

 

James R., Healey and TODAY USA. “Electric Cars Vs. Gas Cars.” USA Today, n.d. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cookie,cpid&custid=nebstlib&db=f6h&AN=J0E124353845113.

 

 
by austin.yaeger on English 2 Portfolio

Close Reading and Analysis

Rank: Meets Objective

For close reading and analysis, we read, Of Mice and Men. The book itself wasn’t too bad, but afterwards when I had to dig deeper and find more information, that’s where I struggled. Spending so much time trying to find quotes and apply them to different subjects was hard for me. I gave myself meets objective because I knew mostly what I was doing, but there were some points where I was very confused.

Of Mice and men reaction

 
by austin.yaeger on English 2 Portfolio

Holistic reading and application

Rank:Meets Objective

I’m not the kind of person who likes to read books as a whole. I would much rather find a book that I would enjoy reading instead of having someone else pick it out. Don’t get me wrong, Of Mice and Men was a good book, it just wasn’t MY type of book. I gave myself Meets Objective because I knew what was going on in the book, I just wasn’t engaged well enough with the story.

Of Mice and men reaction

 
by austin.yaeger on English 2 Portfolio

Grammar and Conventions

Rank: Shows Improvement

I’ve never been the best at grammar or conventions, but this english class has taught me a lot more. I’ve improved on comma placement, run on sentences and many more. I used to be not so good when it came to short and choppy sentences, but now I know how to prevent them without a problem. I gave myself shows improvement because I’m improving but there is still work needed.

Disposability Research Paper – Final Draft