Sexism and Language by Alleen Pace Nilsen

In this selection, Alleen Pace Nilsen is clear to make a relationship between two unlikely concepts: sexism and language. He introduces the readers to the idea of gender biases in the English language. He says that words have more to imply than just its meaning and that there are subtle influences it makes to our everyday lives.

We might not really notice it at first, but what Nilsen says is, in fact, true. Words used to describe men, usually signify or emphasize power, strength or courage. These words, when pondered upon, would then lead us to relate men to history. All the adventures (or misadventures), battles, fights, and violence are generally perceived to be done mostly by men. Words used to describe women, on the other hand, usually connote elegance, passiveness or frailty. This gives the society the idea that women are somewhat inferior to the male population. The author also points out that society tends to label women as objects. Men often perceive or treat women as just sex objects or possessions.

Whether it is the words that denote negative meaning or the perception of men that women are just sex objects, it is exactly these two reasons that make women embarrassed in their own skin.

I hope in the future, writers would be more conscious of the words that they are using so as to  avoid being sex-biased in the process. 

Best Friends

Two Views of Mississippi: Comparisons between your pet and best friend

I received my first pet directly after my Ice Skating accident back in 2007. Upon having the doctor’s approval of my discharge, I was sent home after a week of confinement in the Medical City hospital. I was relieved, of course, because somehow staying in a hospital made me feel like something was wrong with me. 

As I step into the familiar cream-colored walls of my living room and take in the sight of everything that I was missing for the past few weeks, I notice that there was a pink striped bag on the bottom of the staircase. I didn’t really mind it at first, but as soon as the bag started moving, I cautiously checked it. It really took me by surprise when I saw that a very fragile, white-cream Toy Poodle with brown nose came out of the bag.

It was my first time to have a dog that I can call my own, so you might as well imagine that I was overly ecstatic. I got more excited when I started playing with her and seeing familiar traits.


In more ways than one, I began seeing some traits in my pet dog (which I decided to name Sparkle) that was also in my best friend, Rissey Reyes. Aside from the obvious fact that they both have curly hair, they exude this aura of comfort. It’s like when I’m with them, they would somehow make my life feel better and more fun. Also, they’re both loyal and dependable. I am able to enjoy their companionship, knowing that they would not disappoint my trust in anyway. I have to admit though, there are times when I seek human companionship over pet companionship or vice versa. It all really depends on my mood. When I want some peace and quiet, I seek comfort from my dog. When I need someone to talk to and give advice, I go to Rissey.

In more ways than I can really tell, I am lucky to have my two best friends with me. 

Happy Feet: The Pleasures of Teen Dance Movies

I absolutely love dance movies. The fact that I’m into dancing as well may have contributed to this strong liking, but after reading Joan Acocella’s essay, I might as well marry dance itself. I’ve gained more insights about how dance was revolutionized and how it brought about changes to people. I also realized that these movies are more than just buck choreographies and hard-rock abs. Each movie is molded around themes that everyone can relate to, such as bravery and social hierarchy.

Acocella was able to list and explain each and every message that these movies portray in a very systematic and orderly manner. She presented a topic sentence for each paragraph, then from there, she constructed and gave examples to support her point. This made reading her essay very easy to follow and very informative at the same time.

One would also note the author’s extensive use of exemplification throughout her essay. She gave readers clear pictures and scenarios from certain movies, which in my opinion, greatly contributed to how well the readers were able to grasp each concept she laid out. Not only that, but such type of writing would make anyone feel that the author was very knowledgeable on the said topic.

I highly encourage everyone to read this essay. I can guarantee you that this essay would leave you wanting to do two things. One: to apply exemplification in your own writings, and; two: to watch a dance movie and see what message it could bring.

Megamall Ice Skating Rink

Out of Africa: descriptive essay written without the sense of sight

I like to think that everyone has their own place of solitude and relaxation, a special little corner here on Earth where they can go to whenever they want, wherever they want. Some would choose common places like their house or room; others would pick places with great sceneries like the beach or park; yet still others would pick places that they can share with their loved ones; but to each his own.

Ever since I can remember, I was almost always surrounded with a lot of chilly wind rushing to my body. Every little move I make just brings forth another whiplash of that cold, gentle breeze. Some would find it rather too cold for their taste but having been exposed to such low temperature at a very young age; I have grown accustomed to it already. In fact, I catch little salty beads of sweat rolling down my face each time I decide to rest on one of many worn-out navy blue wooden benches of the waiting area.

Sitting is a whole different story as compared to actual gliding on the thick, uneven ice. It was only at that point when I would notice how packed both the rink and waiting area is with people of all shapes and sizes. It never failed to surprise me how completely unaware I get with what’s happening around me as soon as I step on the ice and dance my way through my steps and choreography.

I miss the Megamall Ice Skating Rink. It was my favorite place in the world.

Photograph of my Parents by Maxine Hong Kingston

Nowadays, photography is everywhere. Literally, everywhere we look, we can spot images of random things and persons. There are pictures up in billboards; in different books and magazines; in shopping malls; online; and in our own houses. This might be because photography isn’t as uncommon as it was like in the past. We might have recently saw its essence of documenting moments that we may, someday, want to look back on.

Maxine Hong Kingston, in this selection, was exactly doing just that. She was scanning some old pictures of her parents back when they were happy as a clam, in the hopes of discerning what may have caused their conflicts at the present. She inferred a lot of things about her parents. She noted that they both have two very distinct and large personalities or cultures based on the pictures that each took. Her father took pictures of events wherein he was all dressed up or wherein he was with his friends. Her mother, on the other hand, preferred to take pictures, of important once-in-a-lifetime events only. Through small differences like these, Kingston was able to deduce how her dad was more of the fun-loving and outgoing type while her mom was more of the serious and long-term thinking type.

I’ve heard the saying that “A picture is worth a thousand words” before, but I was actually amazed at how Kingston was able to discover a great deal about her parents. Maybe I should try that once for myself. Take a random picture and just admire its simplicity and try to decipher more out of it.

Adoration and Blessedness

Topic: What I learned from my pet

My family adores dogs. In the eighteen years of my existence, I can safely say that we have housed over 20+ dogs already. Don’t get me wrong though; we didn’t house all of them at the same time. Of course, throughout time, some of our dogs passed away, some gave birth and still, some were given away to distant relatives.

At the present, we have five dogs that are in our care (one Dalmatian, two cream-colored Toy Poodles and two brown-colored Toy Poodles.) The two cream-colored Toy Poodles are the only dogs which have ever received ‘special treatment’ in our house though. Our family fell in love with them. The man who sold them to us, told us that they are sisters but this was kind of hard to believe since they do not look nor act the same. The smaller of the two has a black nose and is very outgoing, while the taller one has a brown nose and is very shy and scared.

All of my dogs have somehow touched my life. Although each is different in size, shape and personality, they all taught me the same set of things.

First and foremost, they taught me how to be responsible. The fact that these creatures are so helpless and that their lives depend on me is pushing me to work hard. This responsibility that I learned from taking care of my dogs has greatly helped me develop responsibility towards other important aspects in my life, like my responsibility as a daughter, sister and student.

Second, my dogs taught me the value of loyalty. As we may all know, dogs are very loyal companions especially towards their masters. They stick to their owner’s side thru both the good times and the bad. Like the example given to us by our furry friends, I always exude faithfulness towards my family and friends.

I am thankful for my dogs. They are one of God’s greatest blessings to me.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

First and foremost, I would like to give kudos to how Woolf was able to describe one of the most mundane and trivial subjects in rich detail.  She conveyed everything so vividly that readers would be certain that they were seeing what Woolf, herself, sees.

The title itself sums up everything that one needs to know about this narrative essay. Death of a Moth is a tale explaining how death caught up to the helpless insect, who against all odds, continued to fight to live until the last second of its life.

Reading between the essays’ creatively detailed sentences, one could see that Woolf puts the moth in a role that represents life (and death). She creates a perfect analogy, saying that animals and humans, in a way, are alike. Just like how the moth struggled to cross the windowpane even if it was clearly weak, we have the same notion to follow what we believe in and to never let anything or anyone get in the way of achieving our own dreams and aspirations. With the given time that we have in Earth, we all try to make a name for ourselves and wish that we can, someday, leave a legacy of our own.

This essay in some ways is timeless because again, it depicts all of humanity and its struggles in life, and then inevitable death. Also, it conveys the message of the importance of life and of survival.