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Final 2Fer

Posted by Sashoya Dougan in English 3 · Pahomov · B Band on

Final 2fer

Throughout history, people have been infatuated with information and knowledge. Thousands of years ago when information was sought, it would be spread through oral tradition. Past ancestors shared knowledge in the form of stories to younger generations. However, that did not last, one day it was decided that information should be recorded in books rather than simply just spoken. Now, society has reached another turning point, with the invention of the internet books are becoming obsolete. Students and scholars alike are using a simple Google search, rather than their neighborhood library. This has lead to numerous arguments as to whether the internet can be trusted as a reliable source of information or if society should just revert back to books. The simple answer to this question is; No. Technology is leading people into a new age where, they have a myriad of information at their fingertips. Yes, with such a vast array of information it makes it harder to discern what can and cannot be trusted, but once a person can see the difference, the internet becomes a valuable source outweighing that of any library.


When a person searches a question on Google they are greeted in seconds by thousands upon thousands of results. Such a large array of information makes it hard to choose which website is credible. There’s the old rule of straying away from sites ending in “.com” or “.org”, but the reality is the majority of the search results will have those endings. This leaves a big spot for error. The choice of the wrong site can lead a student into taking fiction as fact. Possibly then this person will go on preaching such fiction and having other believe it. Looking at the world today there are numerous uncredible websites spreading fake news and providing articles that attract many people yet it cannot be trusted. This is where the problems of technology lay. With it the user has access to a variety of sources that a library could never provide, but in a library, there is a sense of comfortability and reassurance that is not available on the internet.


Another problem with technology is how easy it is to edit. Teachers for years have been telling their students to stray from Wikipedia, the reason being; none other than how easy is it to edit. Wikipedia is among the list of numerous websites where having an account bestows an unlimited amount of power upon the user. They can now go to any article and change it to say what they want. With this ability, it’s virtually impossible to know what can and cannot be trusted. Those writing the articles may not be professionals that are educated on the topic. Instead, it may be a young boy bored and decides to change information on a website for his own amusement and joy. Furthermore, just because an information exist on the internet does not mean it can be trusted. Groups and people can create websites to push their own agenda. If a student is not able to see that the article they are reading is biased, or at the very least inaccurate, then once again they will be treating fiction as fact. With technology students have to search more. Students need to understand what it is they are looking for and how to choose between biased and unbiased. This is a task that may seem simple but with a large number of websites in existence, may not be at all.


  Yet the addition of new skills brought by technology is not always a negative. According to a study done by the University of Southern Main; “49 percent of eighth-graders tested as proficient at writing in 2005, compared with 29 percent in 2000, before the state began its laptop program” This shows the benefits of technology. In a library, a student would spend hours upon hours searching and looking through a books where with technology in ten minutes they have searched through numerous websites and have found what they need. Like an article titled Computers are Steadily Revolutionizing Schools stated “Computers are used when they make it easier to do certain tasks”. Not only is technology improving the typing skills of people, but it is also simultaneously making it easier for everyone around the world to learn new tasks. A teacher can assign a student a research paper or essay assignment when the student comes back not only will the assignment be finished but they would’ve also become a better typer, but at the same time worked in an efficient manner.


  Technology itself provides the information already at the library, because of the fact every laptop, tablet, and a phone is in a manner a miniature library. When someone is on technology they have access to every book found at a library. The person can simply search the PDF version of the book, go to Amazon and buy it, or go to websites that will provide chapter by chapter summaries. This is a clear cut advantage brought by technology. If a book is needed for an assignment they can find it, and even if they can’t, there are search results that can be connected with the book to provide more information. When technology is being looked at in this manner it should also be noted how it takes out the hassle of carrying and travel. If a person stumbles upon curiosity, they have the ability to search up what is on their mind, without this ability they would have to wait until they are able to go to their neighborhood library. Even at the library, they may be forced to take out numerous books which would take up a large amount of space and time. Simply having one computer would provide them with all the information found in those books.


  Another one of the many points that have to be noted is technology is simply the smarter investment. In the short run, a $20 book is not as expensive as a $500 tablet, but the reality is the tablet will take a person much farther than the book. While the book limits its user to information of a certain topic with the tablet there is no limit. Even a book such as a dictionary or Britannica which provides extremely large amounts of information has its limits. A book cannot go on forever. Then there’s also the fact that books can become outdated when new information is found. This is where the tablet exceeds. When new information is provided it is already at a person's use and disposal. Unlike a book where they would have to go scouring for the newest version of the tablet, a quick search would provide them with the newest version. The only negative that could occur to the tablet is that it too would become outdated. However, the strongest processors are not needed to do simple web searches. Possibly this is why some governments are providing technology programs for students. According to the Maine Center for Meaningful Engaged Learning; “Seventh-grade students use laptop computers in a language arts class in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Maine's $37.2 million programs have provided laptops to 34,000 seventh and eighth graders and 3,000 teachers. In addition, supporters argue that laptop programs give students valuable familiarity with computers.” The efficiency, reliability, and overall engagement brought by technology is being seen everywhere. This is why it's being pushed into modern schools because simply put a laptop can do much more than a book.


  Humans are evolving and with that so is the manner in which they collect and store information. First, it was orally, then in books, and now it has become by technology. With this transition, there will be people that are against it. They will claim any mistake caused by technology as a reason why it should not be used in replacement of books. However, the reality is technology provides a better more efficient future. The world is changing and technology is assisting in the change. People no longer have to wait to hear what is occurring around the world. Students no longer have to wait to message their teacher a question. Technology is much more simple than books and because of how simple it is, everyone’s lives is easier. Research is easier, and people are learning new skills. When books were first coming out, the same was most likely thought of them. They were seen as innovative, radical, and a way to change everyone’s lives. It is now technologies turn for the modern age.

“Laptops in Schools.” About Issues and Controversies, www.2facts.com/printpage.aspx?pin=i1300020#i1300020_3.


“Computers Are Steadily Revolutionizing School.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 Aug. 1988, www.nytimes.com/1988/08/28/opinion/l-computers-are-steadily-revolutionizing-school-294488.html.

When writing this 2fer I was sure to be aware and purposeful of many things. First off detail, in my previous 2fers I would get into my topic but looking back now, I never dug as deep as I could however, I feel like I did that in this 2fer. Another thing I was are of was my focus, in this 2fer I believe I stayed on topic and followed through with any ideas that I brought up earlier on in the essay. When I finally got the chance to write this I knew that it was important that this be my best piece, not only for the grade that I definitely needed but to be able to make one last mark in this area of writing. All of these reasons and points of focus contributed to the last 2fer being my best one this year.

Darlenny Rodriguez Visual Essay

Posted by Darlenny Rodriguez in English 3 · Pahomov · B Band on


Taming of the Plastics

A compare and contrast of the play “Taming of the Shrew” and the movie “Mean Girls”


Romantic relationships are by far the most difficult to comprehend, despite the time period or parties involved. The play “Taming of the Shrew” and film “Mean Girls”  sheds lights on these complexities. Mean girls follows an extremely mathematically gifted 17-year-old Cady Heron who after being homeschooled her entire life is about to start High School. There she meets three “it” girls named the Plastics whom Cady grows fund of, ultimately mimicking their behavior to gain the attention of one Aaron Samuel. The play Taming of the Shrew follows newlywed Katherine and Petruchio, Petruchio only having married Katherine to receive the dowry from her father. Katherine is a very dominant personality, but so is Petruchio, but over time becomes more submissive to avoid confrontation.  Both the film and the play show this idea of women altering themselves to please a man. The difference in Mean Girls is that this concept is much more frowned upon because of how the idea has evolved.

Petruchio: [to servants.] Go on, and fetch our horses back again.-

Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed!

Hortensio ,[to Katherine]: Say as he says, or we shall never go.

Katherine: Forward, I pray , since we have come so far, And be it moon, or sun, or what you please. And if you please to call it a rush candle”


(Act 4, Scene 5, Line 9-17)


While on their way to Baptista Minola's house in Padua, Petruchio notes that the moon shines brightly, despite it being midday. Katherine tries to argue this claim, but when Petruchio threatens to turn around and go home, she agrees with him to prevent an argument. She is usually more opinionated and strong willed, being referred to as “fiend of hell” by characters in the play. However, to avoid a bigger issue with her husband, she agrees with his thoughtless comment.


This is much like the math class scene in Mean Girls.





(Screenshot, 0:40:17)


In this scene, Cady has purposely failed a test. When all else attempts of getting Aaron Samuels’ attention fail, Cady has decided to step up her game. When asking for help won't suffice, an extremely keen-at-math Cady fails her math test so that she can request Aaron’s tutelage. This will give her a chance to spend more time with Aaron and relate to him better since he is not so math savy himself. Both Cady and Katherine were very different before meeting their significant other, but once meeting them they alter their personalities for them. Katherine to please her husband and Cady to grab Aarons attention.

“Such duty as the subject owes the prince
Even such a woman oweth to her husband;
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
And not obedient to his honest will,
What is she but a foul contending rebe

(Act 5, Scene 2, Line 171- 175 )


This quote was apart of Katherine’s grand soliloquy life explanation of a wife's duty to her husband.  She compares husbands and wives to princes and subjects. She goes on to bow down to her Petruchio's feet and fondle them. This is the same Katherine who at the beginning of the novel smacked Petruchio across the face because of a disagreement they had. That smack showed her dominance, but this Katherine is much more submissive to her husband.


This is much like Cady who instead of changing her opinions, changes her physical appearance


(Screenshot, 56:11)


This is where Cady's big change appearance wise is highlighted. She is having a party at her house, where she has invited Aaron Samuels. In this scene she speaks about how Aaron is going to see her all dressed up instead of in the horrible halloween costume she wore in previous scenes in the movie. At the beginning of the film, Cady wore a “bride of frankenstein” costume to a high school halloween party Aaron invited her to but didn't get the memo that in the film,  halloween was an excuse for the women in the film to dress provocatively. Most of the girls showed up in one pieces and bunny ears, while Cady came dressed as the bride of Frankenstein blood and all. That scene really highlighted Candy's personality, while this scene highlights her transformation from bold Cady to trying to impress Aaron Cady. Much like the two distinct scenes about Katherine where she goes from smacking her husband because she disagreed with him to saying that wives are a husband's subject and are to do whatever to please them. The one common thing these two storylines have in common is the motives behind each characters metamorphosis, the men in their lives and their need to please them by altering themselves.



“For I will board  her, though she chide as loud

As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack”

(Act 1, Scene 2 ,Lines 96- 97)


After Hortensio and Gremio, two of Katherine’s sisters’ suitors, go on about Katherines shrew like ways, Petruchio proclaims that he can tame her. He says this as a way to impress the other, because to them the person who is able to change Katherine is manlier. Women changing to please men is praised in this era.


This is not the case in Mean Girls



(Screenshot, 50:13)


Cady has been pulled aside by her teacher after she notices she has been failing on purpose to woo Aaron Samuels. She tells her that women do not have to change themselves to please a man and that she shouldn’t dumb herself down for him either. Her view on this is much more disapprovin than that of the suitors towards Katherine changing for petruchio. Cady’s teacher views it as a negative thing that shouldn't be done because she thinks Cady should be herself and not change for a boy. Meanwhile, the suitors would praise Petruchio if Katherine were to become more submissive and subject-like. There is a difference as to how people view this concept because of how a female's role in a relationship has evolved through the years.


In the end, ultimately Cady ends up exiled from her friends who disapprove of her new personality and man pleasing ways. Which reinforced this concepts of how a woman changing herself for a guy is much more frowned upon than Katherine submitting to Petruchio. While this idea is still around because Cady had to dress much more provocatively to get Aaron's samuels to take a liking unto her and Katherine had to submit to make her marriage work. While both plot lines have its differences, the similarities are uncanny.  


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2017-18

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