My Social Awareness Project

1. Media/News Immersion: Watch the news and/or read a newspaper every day. Keep a daily diary for at least five days. For each day choose 1 or 2 articles/news stories to focus on. Summarize the news stories and write about your reaction to it. What does it make you think, feel, and/or know? Finally, write your final reflection on what you learned and realized from the experience.

Day 1 – November 15, 2012

Source– Eyewitness News at 5:00pm Report-“Murder Incident”

Summary: This report explains about Pedro Hernandez being accused of killing Etan Patz 10 years ago. Pedro is explaining the truth that he may have killed Etan. Many think that he may have not strangled or killed the child but at court is where the truth will be found. But Pedro’s lawyer says he is not guilty. Next month he will go to court and face his consequences.

Social Issue: The social issue in this report on “Murder Incident” is fear. Even though this guy may have been caught this can give people the fear of happening in the future. This child has been kidnapped and killed and this can happen anywhere. If many have seen this report they can keep that this can happen to anyone at any time.

Day 2 – November 20, 2012

Source– Eyewitness News at 5:00pm Report – “On the Brink!”

Summary– This report explains about the attacks at Israel by Hamas. Hamas does not want peace at Israel so he sets of rockets in Israel. Many innocent people are dying from all the mistles and rockets landing in homes. People are trying to move but all they see are destruction that is ruining there chances. Here in Manhattan people protesting for Israel to have peace. But Hamas does not want peace.

Social Issue – The social issue in this report “On the Brink” is very unfair. There are many people who are suffering from all this damage. Hamas is letting of rockets that are harming many people. Many are leading to death and shelter is lost for others. Many people are now asking for peace but Hamas will not listen.

Day 3 - November 19, 2012

Source- Eyewitness News at 5:00pm Report-“Road to Recovery”

Summary - This report is explaining the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. Many people have been affected by hurricane sandy. Now it’s the time for people to go back to their normal routine. But many are struggling trying to fix homes, find food, transportation problem (etc.) but people are going to try even while helping strangers.

Social Issue – The social issue in the report “Road to Recovery” is very unpredictable. There may not be a way to fix this but the government may be trying. The people are trying the best to find shelter, food, transportation but there are no ways government can fix up all these troubles at once.

Day 4 – November 25, 2012

Source – Eyewitness News at 6:00pm Report– “Road to Recovery”

Summary- This report is another add on to November 19, 2012. Many are still trying to find ways to settle after Hurricane sandy. Now many people are looking for jobs. There are job applications being handed out by the federal government. With the big line of people waiting for a job many wonder will they get a job application?

Social Issue- The social issue in the report “Road to Recovery” many are just patient. The problem here is many are anxious to get a job to help repair after the storm. I think the government is helping but people should ask other places for jobs. This is really important so people can’t wait to get a job.

Day 5- November 26, 2012

Source – Eyewitness News at 5:00pm Report– Murder Incident 2

Summary – This report is about the murder of 67 year old Laurie Forgeson. She was murdered by a man who left at the scene. The woman was found in the river the morning after. The information found was the killer was with another man and women. Policies are still looking for the murderer.

Social Issue – The social issue in this report “Murder Incident 2” is very impatient. Many like me want to know who this killer is and why he murdered these women. I think the issue is that the government just doesn’t have the right defense system to stop these crimes.

Reflection: Over the last 1-2 weeks I have been keeping a daily diary of Eyewitness News at 5:00-6:00 pm. I have taken note of the social issues that have been going around the world. I have encountered many issues that have been going on for many days. I have found that all these issues have a pattern of life and death. Many are dying from rockets, murders, weather conditions. And some are just thankful to have survived very scary situations. All the following situations make everyone think why the world keep brings on more and more danger.

5. Write an original literacy piece (poem, song, short dramatic scene, personal narrative, etc.) responding to a specific social problem/issue. Write a 3-5 paragraph reading response. What problem/issue is it about? What is the message? What does the text make you think, feel, and/or know about the issue?

                                              Haiku Poem on Hurricane Sandy

                                                    Strong winds, heavy rain

                                        Blowing all around, destroying building

                                               Lives ruined, people gone

                                           Limerick Poem on Hurricane Sandy

                                                   There was a terrible storm
                                            The storm ruined neighbors home
                                                    This storm is very strong
                                              It will be remembered lifelong
                                              I hope many homes will reform

     The two poems I have written are al relating to the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. During the last weeks of October 2012 many states had been hit by the strong winds, and heavy rain of Hurricane sandy. The people are trying to help out others by donating money or lending a hand. Many are suffering from the cold weather and may not have shelter for months. Many are looking for jobs that can raise some money to help out the family. But this Hurricane will be remembered for life. This storm has affected all the boroughs. The only thing the hurricane left was misery and shattered homes.

     I didn’t get as much destruction as places like Rockaway, and Red Hook did. People all around are cleaning up and finding a way to start again. But no one knows what can happen next with all the cold weather. I hope that many can go back to normal. I don’t like seeing people suffer from all this trouble. With a little help we can change a person’s life.

2. Observe Your Surrounding (school, home, neighborhood, and media) - Write a list about all the scenes or situation you come across on a daily basis that you think are unfair and/or not right in some way. Pick one of these ideas from your list and write a longer entry about it - 2-3 paragraphs. Describe the problem, what’s wrong with it, cause and effect, and possible solutions.

Scenes or Situations

- Teasing
- Littering
- Peer Pressure
- Conditions of the surroundings
- Disrespectful language

Problem – Disrespectful language:

    The problem I see around my neighborhood is disrespectful language. There are many students and families who use disrespectful language that can hurt others. There are kids who live on my neighborhood who make racism jokes. They may find these jokes funny but to others this hurts feelings for others. There are families who don’t ask as family. When I walk outside I can hear families cursing at each other. They may have a problem that can be solved again.
    This issue of disrespectful language can hurt many. I may not have experienced much severe case but others have had their feeling hurt. These problems should be faced together and they shouldn’t hurt feelings. People should sit tighter and talk the problem through. There may be solutions from talking the problems through. These can cause even bigger trouble. Some may lead into fights and worse scenarios.

Blog Post #2 (2nd quarter)

Title: A Dog Called Kitty
Author: Bill Wallace

     At home I have currently finished re-reading the book “A Dog Called Kitty” by Bill Wallace. The main character Ricky is having many family issues. His parents are fighting over why they are moving to the country. But Ricky and his brother Chuckie doesn’t really want all this fighting to happen. But all the main issues happen when Ricky finds a dog named Kitty. Ricky may be afraid of dogs for a reason but throughout the book he changes his feelings and thoughts.

       In the beginning of the book Ricky doesn’t enjoy moving to a farm in Oklahoma. He is struggling with this fresh start. But one day he experiences a situation. He finds this stray dog in the barn. Ricky has this fear of dogs because as a little kid he was attacked by a dog with rabies. To recover he had to get stitches and many shots. The dog tried to play with Ricky but all Ricky said was “Get lost.” The dog comes back to the farm. Everyday he looks like he was about to die.

        From the middle and the end of the book Ricky see that the dog is dying from starvation. The dog is very weak and cannot walk. So Ricky hides the dog from his parents and feeds him food until he can finally walk. But overtime he develops a relationship with the dog. He chooses to keep the dog and hide him from his parents. But eventually his parents find out he has been hiding Kitty from them. His parents aren’t mad but they are happy that he finally overcame his fear of dogs. One problem that both Kitty and Ricky must face is having Kitty fall for the traps that will kill Kitty. These traps were set to capture coyotes but there is meat on that traps to lure animals. And one dark night Ricky encounters the 4 coyotes. He sees that Kitty is being attacked by the dogs. Ricky runs to his house but sees Kitty dying. Trying to save Kitty leads him into a very big disaster. And with all the recovery afterwards both become the heroes after this incident which leads to the death of Kitty.

         I conclusion both Ricky and Kitty have proved they are heroes. They have showed that for each other they care no matter what. And with each disaster you should stick with each other. Even though you may lose someone you love.

Hurricane Sandy- Blog Post #1 (2nd Quarter)

                                            Non-fiction Reading Response:
         Title of article:  “Hurricane Sandy Makes Landfall”    Author: Cecelia Gault

      “We’ve been preparing every way possible to make sure that our standard of service is up to par for our guests,” said Aron Kelly, general manager of SoHo Grand. You may already experience the tragedy and disasters of Hurricane Sandy. In the following article Hurricane sandy makes Landfall the author Cecilia Gault is explaining what is happening before and during the storm. She talks about the places in New York that will be closed and that need evacuations due to the storm. This article also discusses how many have to be prepared for the worst of the storm because this is just the beginning.

     This article is taking the readers step by step during this disastrous and shocking storm. This storm has led New York shut down the mass transit system. This is meaning all subway stations, buses and planes were shut down. Public schools, stock exchanges and Broadway theatre productions were all shut down. Governor Andrew Cuomo has shut many bridges that brought passengers to Manhattan. Governor Cuomo has also shut down 2 major tunnels, The Tappan Zee Bridge and The George Washington Bridge.  Many people were advised to evacuate. This made many people live in shelters, schools or guest houses till the storm ended. From all this closing of places and evacuations this had to mean this was a very long storm. 
    Another major thing that has been advised to many people is to be prepared. This meant buying all the supplies that are needed (perishable food, water, flashlights, radio, batteries and candles). Also cars should be filled gas because there will be no gas left at the end to fill up the car again. This also meant if the windows of your house needed to be boarded up then they should be boarded up. “I’m glad we had a safe place to stay during the storm,” said 12-year-old Christina. She was a girl who had to evacuate and by her words I can tell that place she was in was prepared. Many knew that this storm would be deadly and others were just waiting to experience this storm.
    According to this article I realized that many people were prepared with all the4 supplies that would be needed. This storm had outcomes of flooding, no power and loss of communications and television.  But personally from all the other articles and this article I can tell that any people were not as prepared for this storm. One thing many drivers did not fill up their cars with gas. Now after the storm at one gas station there is a long line that takes about 2 blocks. Also many people who were advised to evacuate did not listen. They just experience the disaster first hand. And being unprepared has led to many more disasters regarding theses issues.
     After reading this article I have learned many things. Even though I may not have gotten had much trouble with the storm, many other residents have lost lives and homes. Reading this made me see what happened exactly during the storm. I also saw that New York may have not been prepared as much as others but still many were prepared. And I think that the next storm that could come our way, many should listen and be prepared.