If you're below the city, are you also below the influence?

When I think LA I have the typical lights thought but I also was under the impression that the street corners had a homeless person or two every block. Could the lack of the homeless and drug addicts on the street be from the business that are trying to keep their image so they push away the unclean? Do they separate themselves? I guess if I had to stay in the city to survive, I’d like a quiet place to lay my head. The sewers are slightly more appealing than having the lights in my face consistently.

The description of Steve’s living quarters made it seem like an actually home. I define ‘home’ by where you feel comfortable, where you personalize to have things you need and enjoy. This man lives in the SEWER but he has tried to get “all the supplies and stuff” since he has to live down there. He sounds to have just about everything he needs- a queen sized bed, a clothes rack, walls, a mirror, soap, shampoo, even a makeshift shower. The way he speaks is very different from the other male he is sitting with at the time. He is well spoken; he sounds to be educated. I was wondering how such a man ended down there. He knows how to get money and he knows image is important. Then the drug addiction came out.

Adam was also told by the ‘tour guide’ of some stuffed animals and blankets he found in the sewer that lead to the assumption of children in the tunnels. Who would keep their children in such a place?! A drug addict. This exemplifies the drug problem in this city and makes me wonder what the city has to offer these people and their dependents. I have a friend whose parent worked at LAPD and claimed that there was so much going on in the city that the police have to make tough choices- like to pass a burning car to respond to something more urgent. So does the same happen with the low lives of the city? Could there be so much money flowing around the city that they pass up the needy to make a quick buck?

<3 ShainaRene'

Look Maa, I'm on the internet!

I am satisfied with how my first speech went. It wasn't perfect but I wasn't expecting it to be. Now, as I begin the self-grading, I realize I have no idea how to assess argument section. Thankfully, I believe I was in the time restraint without talking too fast. Even though I made cuts, I think my speech has a focus and a semi-developed main point. This part is the hardest for me to grade since I worked so hard on the material. However, as for my supporting material, a variety would have been best but the different sources I planned on using were cut. The sources and materials I did use though, I believe they fit structurally. 

I tried to interest my audience with my word choices and listener relevance but I’m not so sure it worked. Using the word “stalked” in my speech made me giggle, but during the speech I don’t think my body language emphasized it enough to bring attention its oddity. I used this word because of who my young audience was. I wouldn't have used that word talking to a group of my parent’s friends. I was happy with my main point preview and thesis restatements but my transitions need improvement. I took a few vocalized pauses but the numbers have decreased since I rehearsed my speech before the big day. I had some of the speech internalized while the new parts, which were added two days before presentation, I relied on my note cards- this is apparent as I watch my speech. I could have added more figures of speech.

I’m not sure if I come off as intelligent since I hear myself as a 12 year old but I had a conversational style and I moved across the floor. My voice expresses emotion which is good but it needs to be controlled. I often gestured to the power point or to emphasis a point, which I am happy with, but when I involved the power point I became very informal. Next time I will prepare my comments about my power point more exact so it fits the more formal tone. I used pink in my power point because pink promotes acceptance and I want my audience to accept my ideas as reasonable. However, I should have taken a moment to gather my thoughts while I was answering the question. I knew the answer since I had prepared for that question in particular, but my response was scattered- lacking fluency.

It’s amazing how little I actually noticed about the audience. I did make eye contact with them, but it had very little effect on my performance. They could have been wearing masks and I don’t think I would have noticed until I sat down.

But I didn't fall down so I feel great about my presentation.

<3 ShainaRene'