Sunday, April 28, 2013

Preface Preface Preface


Jessica Hazel Ang

English 113B

Professor Marca

Preface

            The Web and the internet has been an important part of daily use of people today. There are many things you can create and accomplish in using the web. Such as creating websites to better communicate throughout the world or by raising awareness of a certain topic. In our project, we were asked to create a website of a topic of our choice. Our chosen topic is illegal animal fights, but specifically dog and cockfighting that occur throughout the United States. We used ethos, logos, and pathos to give helpful information about dog and cockfighting dangers, consequences, and how to help.

            The background we used was just black while the background for the texts and information we are providing is teal. The color and font of the tabs is bolded with the color red. Using the black background shows how dark and menacing animal fights are which would give a scare to our audience. Our website title is “Know More to Illegal Fights” because when pronounced it really is “No More to Illegal Fights” which is our mission to prevent it to be on going and try to pass on humane laws to protect animals. Instead of the word “No” we picked the word “Know” because as you look through our website you are gaining information you probably have not known of illegal animal fights. In using those as a structure of our website established the melancholy and alarming theme.

            We used logos to show facts and evidence that is informative and concise. In the “Real Deal” tab contains information about dog fighting, cockfighting, and penalties of getting involved in this illegal offense. All three topics are divided individually as subsections under the real deal tab because each is broad and different topics to be discussed. Also, by dividing the three topics in subsections creates clearer information when audiences read. For example, when the audience reads the information about how a dog is rigorously trained, and not nutritionally fed or sheltered it will trigger them on wanting to help the poor abused dogs. Similarly in the penalties subsection contains information about consequences of getting arrested and/or involved. The information about the consequences might scare some audiences, but those are the real risks you will encounter if you get arrested or involved in anyway. Not only is dog and cockfighting illegal, but it also leads to gambling and violence that many should avoid. The information we have provided will help our website reach its goal to prevent further action towards illegal dog and cockfights.                                             

            Pathos was used to appeal to our audience’s emotion. We want to convey it through our photos and video for feeling sympathy and care for the animals. In our “Home” page tab we added a photo slideshow that highlights dog and cockfighting so audiences will get a better understanding to our topic. In one of the photos that you will see in the home page shows two dogs; one is being bitten in the neck while the other is the one biting. You can see how terrifying it is especially because blood is visible and the dog looks very aggressive. Another great example that we have established pathos was through the video in our home page. The video showcases reports of wrong doing of animal fights that lead to hurting innocent people. Like the little girl in the video who got killed because her bones got torn and chewed off by the pit bull. After that incident the video also reports- that was the only time the government realized and then enforced laws that animal fighting is dangerous and should be prevented. The video was an hour long, but it was valid and informative. The photos and the video were very helpful in establishing our website so that audiences would feel disheartened. But audiences would want to help out to prevent something like the incident of the innocent girl. Pathos also gave emotion to our texts because of different font sizes determining the importance of each one. In the section of dog and cockfighting a question and answer portion was the structure of it. So the questions were bigger than the answers because the question holds meaning towards the answers. Pathos was the most important material that my group and I had in creating our website.

            We used ethos to show credibility to our audiences. We introduced ourselves first in the about us tab stating that we are college students who are taking up majors and introducing our goal in establishing the website. Since most of our facts came from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) we referenced them at our contact page so that we show credibility that we did not steal the information we added. By adding quick button links to Facebook, twitter, and Google plus shows the credibility that sharing our website would help the abused animals to gain help from many other people. Through using ethos we show that we are trusted and there is a way to help the animals who are involved in this illegal crime.

Creating the website for Project Web was challenging and very time consuming, but it is very helpful knowledge that I learned. I find it ironic in my experience that I always have access to millions of websites and the internet through my phone. While this project I found so challenging because I have not known what work has been put to creating an actual website. Now that I know I can use this benefit for my future career maybe in creating my own website for business, advertising, and for helping organizations reach out to many more audiences.

 
The link to our website is: http://henryvasquez3.wix.com/ceaseanimalfights#
 
 
Work Cited
TheRedevil1996. “Dogfighting Undercover.” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, 12 Oct 2011. Web. 10 April 2013.
 

                                                         

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Preface

Jessica Hazel Ang
English 113B
Professor Marca
25 April 2013
Preface
           

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Proposal


How much do people know about animal fights? Not a lot because it is still existent throughout the world. We want to bring this website showing concern in different aspects of animal fights.  A lot know mainly about dog and cock fights, but not in hawk, stallion, or bull fighting. We want to show that other animals are used as well and that we should prevent and help in ways we could. We want to stir up our viewers emotions by showing what the end result of animal fights are which are very sad and disturbing to see. Which are intended to catch their attention on how to make a change. People mistake what they call "pets" as toys like they are not living creatures, but they are. They need homes and if people provided it we could prevent animal fights that causes great disturbance to animals.
 We will use facts to support our topic specifically from ASPCA because they are a credible source and have been against animal cruelty in general and has some good preventions for animal fights.
We were planning on tabs like this:
-Home
-About us
-Did you know? (About different animal fights with pictures)
-We can do something (no more involvement)
-Save a life (information from animal adoption centers)
I realize that it might be too long as a tab bar, but we will narrow it down.

I just want to share a response as well. I really am looking forward to this project and am glad we are getting involved in issues that are concerning life today. Creating a website will be beneficial to all of us because this is another whole new learning experience which we are here for. In probably the near future, many of us will be needing to creating a website similar to this and I think that this is very helpful.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Ethnography


My group decided we visit the Northridge Fashion Center as a space in Los Angeles. For me, this was a new experiment because I had to de-familiarize myself so that I can find issues to write about on my paper. I have been to that mall only a few times because I personally don't like shopping malls and I don't live in the Northridge area.
I went to the mall at lunch time with my sister on a Friday. I ate food at Tommy's, I would not have chosen any other place because I just love their food. While I was sitting I observed people around me. People of different ages eat there, maybe because of the variety you could chose from. Specifically, a group of 4 or more friends or family, couples, the elderly, and kids with their parents. Throughout I want to share issues that I have seen while observed from one place to another. In the food court, I see parents with their little ones and I highly suggest they pay close attention to their kids and not leave them unattended because they might ran off and cause problems to other people. I have encountered in the past you see a kid crying in one corner and instantly I thought "what should I do?" Should I help out or am I too busy shopping and not caring? Of course I would help, talk to security or the information desk, they know what to do.
Not only do people go to the mall to buy their necessities, they go here to share time with family and friends. There is a children's play area and the movie theatre to have some fun time. I see some new renovations as well. Like in my photo they added the fountain which is very nice and gives opportunities for smaller sellers to put a booth on their own.
Similarly the diversity of the mall defines Los Angeles as well. People of different races come together in one place to buy their wants and needs. Los Angeles has been comprised of having the largest ethnic diversity in the whole country and  most of the shopping malls including the Northridge Fashion Center is highly diverse. That said, the Northridge Fashion Center specifically is somewhat overcrowded. Even though there are stores that are going out of business, people still come. I found that the mall is overcrowded because many spend their time to relax and have fun not inside the stores. Also, why are businesses going out of business? Is it the downturn in the United States economy? It could be a reason or people just don't hear much about the specific stores that are shutting down because they don't advertise as much compared to popular stores like Macy's or Sears. To keep their businesses going to prevent closings they must let us the consumers know about their stores.
I hate walking around, hearing my older sister complain "Buy me this, buy me that, lets go to that store" my sister just wants to go on every clothing store out there. I just respond "We both have jobs, obviously you have higher pay. Why should I buy your stuff?" She stops complaining and goes to another store. While I am being dragged to go to one store to another, it's funny how I think which stores
are expensive and not. When there are no customers inside the store "Oh, this is probably an expensive store. I wont go here." While another place like forever21 is always packed this is obviously the more affordable store. Another issue that comes up is my experience of going to swap meets, flea fair, or street markets from my Latina friends. They seem to know where the good stuff are. The street markets are relatively cheaper compared to shopping at a mall.  This is the issue I will be using for my argument essay. Which side am I? It's a secret.
The visit to the Northridge Fashion Center was fun even though it hurt my legs and feet. I found a lot of issues I could use for my argument essay. Definitely visiting it on-hand makes a person realize what more there is worth than not being there physically.

Forever 21, always packed
Front gate



New renovation

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Greater Los Angeles


I lived in Santa Clarita for only a couple of years; it is in the Los Angeles County and it seems like it is a new city. A lot of people do not recognize this city, maybe because of having too little of getting amazing entertainment and food. I don’t have the same belief as others do, there are a lot of things you can do where you can have fun with your family and friends. Most importantly the city is safe, there are not many crimes you see, few gangs but those are teenagers who act “cool,” you could see police cars patrolling around neighborhoods. Santa Clarita is home to Six Flags Magic Mountain, the thrill capital of the world. I could not ask for any other place to live in and I am satisfied where I live now.

Santa Clarita is comprised of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures. In my neighborhood specifically, the Asians are the minority while Hispanics and Blacks are the majority. It does not bother me because I am aware that my surroundings shape how I am influenced. I respect all the other cultures that I see because we all live in one city and one roof. Living for only 3 years in Santa Clarita went by fast. I was changed and was expected to become independent since I started working on a part-time job. Since we had the lack of money, to go to work and school I had to take the bus.

Similar to Luis Alfaro’s experience in the story “Minnie Riperton Saved My Life,” he was bused and he and his family were moving a lot to different places. I relate to the feeling that busing is a good experience because some of my closest friends now I met because of taking the bus. Also as Alfaro’s experience of moving a lot somewhat parallel to mine. He comes from a valley that differs from the Los Angeles valleys while I come from a country with different standards of living compared to here in the United States. It was hard to adjust to the culture at first but with all the support from people that I have met and my families, it all turned out well.

Recognizing and appreciating the culture of others makes a city a better place. Los Angeles gave its diversity for a reason to unite people of different race, gender, and age. To live in this city together to face great journeys ahead.
 
Some of my great and fun journeys with amazing people:






 

What if?




Living in the greater Los Angeles area made me aware of the diversity LA had to offer. Everywhere I look I will catch myself seeing a different race and I question it- how did we all (of different ethnic backgrounds) come together at this one place? The book Another City by David Ulin gave me different viewpoints that I could relate to such as how racism stands and how my environment affect the way I live in Los Angeles.
In the story “Naked Chinese People” by Diane Lefer recognizes how racism stands in Los Angeles. When a person was of certain race they are treated differently individually. For example, the rules that apply to white people alone apply only to them and for them, while other races have their own designated rules that only apply to and for them. This rule of “applying” shows unfairness and it concerns me how could I make change for this? I have no power whatsoever as of now but I know as a student little by little I could make change by learning and utilizing from it.
I relate to the story of Diane Lefer of losing someone you love. I had gone through a same situation where I lost my aunt who I deeply care for. It was disappointing to find out and I wish I was there at her side to say my goodbyes. The “what if?” question was significant to the story dealing with; what if I had done choice A rather than choice B? What would have been the outcome? It applied to me as well with making decisions and just living my life. In the simple choice of should I have coffee or tea in the morning? The choices that we make affect an outcome that makes us who we are already. Why should I change it? I already like the person I am now.
In the story “The Exterminator” by Rob Roberge shows an effect of how we live in the environment of Los Angeles. Towards the end of the story it emphasizes a snow weather, and I thought of Los Angeles that way which is somewhat to not possible because of having the usual broad daylight and sunny weather. The way the author described it was like “the exterminator stands in the fluff of snow and now staring at the source of it.” Similarly, I had done something like this, as I stood in the fluff of snow wondering its magnificence and what the reason it brings to us. It was amazing watching the snow fall wondering where it came from. That experience was unforgettable especially because of the time it snowed which was in the new year of 2012. Seeing the most joy and hope everyone felt made me realize how this affects the life I live.
Having related experiences to the stories made me realize how we act and live our life relying in the city of Los Angeles. The city I like to call full of stars to catch and live your dreams.
Snow in Santa Clarita
Race does not matter as long as you care for each other.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Smartphone


My phone is so important to me. It might be so common that I chose this but its the only one thing that I use a lot. I am glad my phone has so many features and I will highlight the ones I mostly use. I have the newest product of samsung and my phone as seen in the picture is the samsung galaxy s3 and the case I bought myself. It actually feels great that I bought the phone and used my own money. Everytime I look at it, I see my hardwork put into it.
Not just on the phone but I really like my phone carrier which is tmobile. They gave me a really good price deal on my phone with a good data plan as well. My data plan is unlimitted talk and text with unlimitted data on the web. I use my texting a lot but calls are occasional for me. But the web data is such a great help because I use it everyday. My internet line is 4G LTE, it is a wireless communication for high-speed data processing. Like searching on the web, or anything with the use of the internet, it is just really fast.

First of, the one thing I love the most is how big the screen is. Its just huge and my palm fits perfectly and it is easy to text. There isn't a day that I miss using the web in my phone. I use it to look up my csun website and moodle account-to see if my instructors has posted anything new on it and I am able to be up to date on my assignments. I also search the web for connecting with my friends through the use of facebook, twitter, and other social-networking sites. My phone has an email app that connects all my emails into one place, meaning I have different email addresses and its all in one place. This is useful because I use my email to contact instructors if I have any questions and I use it for family purposes as well.I can check my email really fast, takes a few seconds to refresh then its ready to go.
Some other features that I love are; the direct call interface-when I text a friend and I'm just too lazy to keep typing and typing how my day was that I dont even have to go press buttons for calling I could just lift my phone and put it in my ear and it will start calling my friend, has smart stay-it waits until you're asleep and the screen stays on until you don't look at it. My phone has this talking person called the S-voice, it helps you set up larms through what the owner of the phone says. It reminds you of events you put on the calendar. The camera that is built on the phone is very clear, I am so glad I don't even need a digital camera I could just straight take a picture. It also has a flash which is useful at night.

Most of all, the feature I love the most is being able to store music, pictures, videos, and documents in my phone. The memory of it is big and the amount you store will stay there. I do love every bit of it, I believe I wont be changing my phone in for a while since this phone is so useful and provides me with resources that I need.