Nickel and Dimed "Evaluation"

    In the last chapter of Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich evaluates her progress and results after her project. She discovers that there is a huge problem in American economics. In her project she was given a free car and higher education, yet she still struggled to live well as a low-waged worker. She found it incredible how low the wage was and how high the rent was. Rent was her biggest factor to overcome as a low-waged worker. The rent was simply too high for the amount of money she received working.
    Ehrenreich delves into the saying "The rich get richer while the poor get poorer." She describes that even though the economy is rising nationally it does not apply to poor people. ONLY the rich get richer because of stocks and what not. This means that they own and buy more land. Poor people are therefore lead to live in more expensive housing. Also housing becomes more expensive as you move into the inner ring of the cities where most low-waged workers work. Therefore in order to live near work they would have to pay high amounts of rent. If they opted to live further outside of work in order for lower rent they would have to pay for transportation. It becomes a lose-lose situation for poor people.

     Ehrenreich also talks about the low wages of these workers and the poor treatment they get from employers. She explains why low waged workers do not revolt and ask for better pay or better treatment. Low waged workers are so dependent on their jobs and live on daily salary. This means that any time not working means no money. And in their lifestyle money must be made at every chance possible. Revolting could result in job loss with will in turn mean that the worker will lose his/her house. They fear the lack of money so deeply that they endure all of the mistreatment and low pay.
    Poverty is evident in American and effects many of the low-waged workers who are in poverty or near it. Many political parties deny the fact or choose not to help it. This results in poor people defending themselves against unfair wages and cruel mistreatment of their employers. Ehrenriech sums up the purpose of the novel in these explanations. She says that the low-waged life is so difficult for even her, a person of high knowledge. How can an average American maintain this life style and live well? Her conclusion is that they can't and they don't. Many of these workers barely live. She acknowledges her realization that hard work doesn't give you success as she sees all of these low waged workers , working as hard as possible just to sink deeper into poverty.
    In my peer response to my first draft I received some helpful feedback on my paper. My paper used good examples but could have had more explaining as the editor was confused on some parts. Also my thesis didn't come out clear enough for the responder. I'll take both of these in consideration when revising for the final draft.

    I'm so READY for March 30th. I'm going to the beach with my best friend. =D It's gonna be a BLAST! But before all that fun... I have more school to go through. Argh! Sunsets at the beach are beautiful. 

"The Art of Metacommentary"

    In Chapter Ten of They Say, I Say. the idea of metacommentary is introduced .Metacommentary is a type of writing that explains what has already been stated. It is used to summarize and put together the purpose and meaning of the previous passage to readers. Metacommentary is a way of  "commenting on your own claims and telling readers how- and how not- to think about them"(123). It's referred to as a  chorus in a Greek play, where the chorus is there to interpret what has just happened to the audience. They also may directly show the significance of the scene. Likewise, metacommentary is mostly beneficial to the readers. When a writer includes metacommentary, he or she is able to clarify any misconceptions and allow readers to catch up with what is going on or what's been said.
    Texts are therefore seen and written in two ways. One is the main point which "you make your argument" and the other in which you "'work' your ideas"(124). The second point would be the metacommentary. Here a writer is focused not on stating new points to his or her argument but by guiding readers through your main points and interpreting what you have stated. It allows for further clarification and may even add onto your argument. Using metacommentary can improve your argument and add various angles or perspectives to your purpose. In addition, metacomentary allows you to further your argument by providing more of your own personal views and possibly other views on that topic. Phrases like "In other words" or "My point is" emphasize your main point and conclude what you've said.
   Not only can your text include metacommentary, but your title can also include metacommentary. Titles can "stand apart from the text itself and tells readers the book's main point"(127). Titles are actually one of the most important forms of metacommentary. They explain what the book's sole purpose is before a reader even opens its pages. Creating titles like these will allow you to give readers a sense of your argument and reflect on what you're trying to say.
    Other methods of metacommentary include entertaining objections and "So what?" questions. With these moves you are able to come up with what another critic might say, therefore you are prepared to answer back at the critic. Answering "So what?" questions allows you to "look beyond your central argument and explain who cares about it and why?"(128).
   Using all of these techniques of metacommentary will add onto you argument while aiding your audience to an understanding of you writing. It is very important to maintain your audience's attention and full understanding. With these techniques you'll be able to "work" on your current claims and elaborate on your main points with greater depth.
    The progress of my Project One paper is still in the researching state. I'm having difficulty finding sources that actually deal with what I want to talk about. So far the Rereading America book has been very useful for my argument but finding scholarly journals that focus on social class and its effect in America is hard to find. I'm thinking about writing on the social injustice in America and its effect on Americans of all classes. I believe I can write a reasonable essay pertaining to that topic.

Journal Response #3

    Ehrenreich decides to move to Minnesota, in the hopes of living a more comfortable lifestyle than the places she's been before. She believes that Minneapolis will provide her with a better, higher paying job and has low housing. She begins her job hunting with a couple of Wal-Marts and a hardware store named Menards. She wants a change from nursing homes and waitressing. Her drug tests seem to unease her as it can make or break the job offer. In the meantime, while waiting for her drug test results, Ehrenreich meets a friend who has been in this situation before, but in reality. Her name is Caroline and she was put through what Ehrenreich is going through right now. Caroline had to give up the life she had in order to make money and live. She worked low paid jobs and often had to move a lot. Her situation was much more risky and she turned to help from churches and managed to overcome her struggles. Ehrenreich decides to work at Wal-Mart and towards the end of the chapter becomes weary of this life and does not appreciate the things these people have to live though. She just settles somewhere without care and gives up knowing that she always has a back up plan. She uses humor to mock the life of the low wage worker.
    Ehrenreich has two of the most important and perhaps best qualities for anyone in the work force or applying for a low waged job, she is White and speaks English. These become her most important attributes, for in the working world they are heavily needed and stressed as the best. In America's society, we believe that for some reason White people are more appealing than any other races and that English is the preeminent language. It is almost guaranteed that a White person who speaks English will be hired before a minority who hardly knows English.  Erenreich was able to use these attributes for her benefit in that she was offered jobs so readily. She often went to many interviews and passed all the tests. This would be quite hard for any other minority looking for a job. I do not feel that this is equal at all. I know these stereotypes very well. Sometimes I feel that White people don't believe it themselves. After all this way of thinking was invented by the White Americans. It's practically embedded in our minds to feel this way when applying for a job. As a customer you will hardly see a commercial store filled with just minority workers. That's because businesses know their customers and want to appeal to the all White trademark that seems to make everything better and more proper.
    America lacks what other nations do for their citizens, which is provide help to the people struggling to make ends meet and not making the rich richer. America practically feeds its rich citizens with the poor people's hard work and money. In other nations wealth is spread out equally. Maybe America could spread all of that unnecessary wealth to those in greater need. Making the low waged work life so difficult only means that these people will never get out to enjoy a better life.
    In this chapter Ehrenreich becomes particularly sarcastic and witty. She almost jokes about the lives that low waged workers go through. In this sense she loses her sympathy for these people. Her jokes only display her transformation from kind and caring to brash and cynical. The jokes act as a mockery of the people around her. Maybe this shows the darker side of the issue. She's become empty about her situation and realizes she can get out of that life whenever she wants so she is able to make a mockery of the people who are stuck in this life. 
   

"Class in America" - Gregory Mantsios

     Researching has always been difficult and frustrating. I went on the Fresno State's library page to look for some sources but it took me a long time to find some that kinda went with my topic. It was hard to receive a result that talked about exactly what I was looking for. Many of the results were a bit off topic and did not deal with American problems. They were about novels or about other countries. However I did manage to find two sources that mostly present my theme. My first source talks about the meaning of "patience" between different classes and differences of social class. It talks about how each class is treating differently and how each has its own customs. The other article shows the history and workings of the working class. I couldn't find the perfect sources but I feel that these could lead me in the right direction.
     In "Class in America" by Gregory Mantsios, the workings of  economical classes in America are discussed. People in America don't talk about class because they refrain from classifying each other through classes. Americans "refer to their race, ethnic group, or geographic location."  Americans are afraid to distinguish one another through economical means. It's not that they aren't aware of these differences but that class is not a sociable subject converse over. Mantsios describes 4 myths about class in America. For example: class is of no significance in America, we are all middle class, we are all getting richer, and everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

    In reality, however, we realize that these are ALL myths or lies. America does struggle with its social class system and the gap between rich and poor is growing everyday. Mantsios shows the wide range of class in America. The rich only make about one percent but make a third of the money gross. There are extreme differences in the lifestyles if each class. Lastly, not everyone is able to succeed with JUST hard work.  Not all Americans have the same opportunists if they are born in different classes. It is very hard to get out of a lower class. Being in a lower class present many more challenges than someone who started off in a higher class level. There are even more negative effects of the social classes. Many times people are discriminated because of their race or gender. Statistically certain races are more likely to succeed in finding a job and what not. This creates unfair advantages and discourages the minorities to get out of the lower class.
    I do believe that there is injustice withing the social class structure in America. Being a minority I can see the challenges that one would have to go through in order to prevail and up their status. America likes to think it is the land of the equal but until it can prove that it is just a lie. The rich often get richer and the poor get poorer. In America, it seems everyday they make it harder and harder for the poor to overcome their class standards and become better. The rich take and take money from the poor Americans and never seem to give it back. If they are making more than a third of the money they should be giving it back. I don't see why they should get slack of paying back to society when the poor must do it everyday with their work and their wages.
   

Nickel and Dimed Journal #2

    Ehrenreich moves her project to Maine where she finds that the jobs are plentiful. The town where she stays at is mostly accompanied by an all White population. She finds that the workers, managers, and even maids are all White. She sees this as an interesting place where she will not be questioned and will be equally skilled as the other people around her. She also finds a hard time finding a place to live and ends up renting an apartment for $120. Ehrenreich manages to find two jobs, one as a maid and the other at a retirement home for the elderly and disabled. 
    As a maid she is opened to a new perspective about the profession. For example, she realizes that the maids don't actually clean properly for their clients. They have to make it appear clean but not actually clean the rooms. This is because the owners want to save money and time. They only care about what is visible to the eyes and sensed by the nose. They specifically tell maids to only use half a bucket of water and wipe down only what can be seen by customers. Safety and concern for customers isn't really an issue. They just want to make money and conserve as much equipment that they can in order to increase profits. By working on their hands and feet in front of the customers the maids are able to deceit them. They seem like they are actually cleaning and getting rid of harmful bacteria but as before it is all about appearances. If the customer sees a maid wipe somewhere they assume it is clean and germ free but in reality it is not. Their job is to mask the actual dirtiness of the room not rid it of the messes.  
    As Ehrenreich soon realizes, becoming a maid has degraded her social "class" in society. People often look upon maids in pity and sorrow. They feel bad that that person is doing such in honorable work. They woman at the store fails to look at her because she feels higher than Ehrenreich. The woman doesn't want to face eye contact with such a lowly classed worker. This shows the degrading work of minimum wage. People often treat you like dirt just because if what you do. They usually aren't trying to be mean but within themselves they feel a sense of superiority and in result, treat you lowly. 

    Maids have become a social class equal to minorities and people in poverty merely because of the work that they do. As minorities often get the same treatment as maids. Where normal people often treat them as a lower class. They feel pity and  come to brash conclusions about someone. As in the text it says, "Maids, as an occupational group, are not visible, and when we are seen we are often sorry for it". This incorporates all these social classes difficulties in our society. It means that these people are never seen or taken care of. People don't ever think about their situations and when they do see them, their thoughts of how sorry and sad their life is.  

"The Lesson"

    On the library tutorial page I found some interesting subjects. I watched many of the videos because I am a student and most of us don't like reading how to do something. Visual aids are much more useful. So I watched the provided material and found out about some new things within the CSU's library. I actually haven't been around the library much and I was hoping to find something that would help me get better at  researching in the library, but I couldn't find anything. In many of the videos about students living in the age of the internet, I discovered that many students share my views. They are just as confused and inexperienced in researching as I am. They get frustrated of not finding the source that they seek and often procrastinate as I do. It's a bad habit but sometimes I'm forced into a corner of work that it has to be done that way. Overall, the library's page is a bit useful. I was hoping to find one video to guide me through the library and its resources but it was not present.
    In Toni Cade Bambara's, The Lesson, a group of young students and their teacher Ms. Moore take a field trip to the toy store.  The narrator is a young girl who is displeased of learning and apathetic to Ms. Moore's lessons. Ms. Moore attempts to teach the children about the unfairness in America and takes them to a toy store. At first they wait outside of the store and glance through the window. They are amazed at all the wonderful toys and each of them has something they desire to obtain. But the one thing that captures all of the students attention is a sailboat that costs $1,000. This representation of unfairness is shown through money. This piece reveals that money is not being equally obtained by the people in this country. The children looking though the window symbolizes the wants that they cannot achieve. The cost of the sailboat is more than all the children's savings in a year. How is that fair? Why would people spend that much money on a TOY sailboat when there are struggling people who could use that money for better worth? As Sugar explains to Ms. Moore after leaving the toy store, "It is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means equal crack at the dough,  don't it?" America claims to have equal opportunities but cases like this happen so often that equal opportunity is a false pretense.