I hope this message finds you well. I am John Cuzco, a first year student at City College of New York, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I am more than happy and eager to be part of your class and learn more about English along with Engineering under your guidance.
Growing up I’ve had a pretty interesting life from being the troublemaker in the family and almost failing all my classes. I can say my life so far has been a roller coaster that has almost crashed a handful of times. All my life I have done many things that I am extremely proud of, which included obtaining a FAA license along with working in a major airline company and many more.
Ever since a little child in elementary school and middle school, I was not the brightest one in my class, I would always fail many tests and essays along with a handful of assignments, especially in Language and Literacy classes. This upset me very much because I would always get failing grades in my report card while all my peers excelled in the class and I just could not get the hang of it even if I tried my hardest, I always asked myself why? And till this day there still isn’t an answer.
Although I am much older now I believe I improved significantly, to the point where I went from not liking school to looking forward to it. As a student at City College I plan on majoring in Mechanical Engineering, I am mostly doing it for my family but I am also doing it for myself too. I got inspired by my older sister who is a Civil Engineering major, and she was the first ever graduate with an engineering degree in my family. I told myself if she can do it, then I can and I put some thought into it. I told myself “would it not be cool if there are 2 engineers in the family?” and surprisingly it is a major accomplishment and a mothers dream, which is why it’s one of the reasons I’m majoring in mechanical engineering.
Growing up in an Ecuadorian household was very fun and interesting, although I did not have much of a choice I am more than grateful to be Ecuadorian. Since I am the baby in the family I grew up with two older sisters who purely spoke English to me, and my mom and dad who spoke Spanish to me. This had many pros and a cons, the pro being since my sisters spoke English to me as a young child then I would get a hang of the language but the con being the Spanish Language, although my dad and mom spoke fluent Spanish to me, I got used to English before Spanish therefore my Spanish is not as fluent as I want it to be compared to English.
Like I said earlier there is so much about me that I could go on and on about but these are just a few of my major troubles and successes I’ve had so far in my 20 years of being on this earth. I am more than excited to have you as my professor and I look forward to a calm and fun spring semester!
Millions of people in New York City (NYC) take The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway daily. The most critical issue in (NYC) is the safety of the people within train stations. In January, crime in the subways increased by 45%, and Mayor Eric Adams has tried to improve safety in the subway stations by deploying 1000 more police officers to be on watch and do bag checks (Harry, 2024). Although this attempt to improve safety is a good way of protecting people from being assaulted, it’s not a good way of protecting people from being pushed onto the train tracks. The greatest concern is the reinforcement of existing barriers in train stations to protect commuters from falling onto the train tracks. It is daunting that much more should be done to protect civilians navigating through the MTA subway system. To significantly enhance the safety of civilians at MTA subway stations, the Governor of New York City must increase funding for the development and installation of more effective safety barriers.
An innovation that NYC has tried to implement to improve safety was installing yellow barriers at select train stations. In the image to the right, the yellow barriers are shown, and they were installed in January 2024 and many issues come with these barriers. One problem with these barriers is that they’re very short. Standing behind this barrier does bring some sort of protection from falling onto the tracks, (Downing, Hicks, and Fitz-Gibbon, 2024)
but you can still be pushed over the barrier. Another problem these barriers bring is the large gap between them. The gap is necessary for people to go in the out of the train, but the gap is significantly larger than the size of the doors. People waiting for the train or walking on the station can easily get pushed onto the train tracks in between the gaps of the barriers. The barriers do improve safety at train stations, but they don’t fully protect people commuting in New York City.
Now that we have outlined the issues with the current, here is a technical description illustrating a better way to protect the people:
Introduction
Platform Screen Doors (PSDs), or Railway Barriers, are essential safety features found in railways all over the world. These doors act as a physical barrier between the train platform and the railroad tracks. This barrier helps to improve operational efficiency, guarantee passenger safety, and prevent accidental falls. PSDs were created to address the growing concerns about passenger safety. Over time, they have changed dramatically, including cutting-edge designs and technologies to match the demands of the contemporary rail network. In the middle of the 20th century, the idea of PSDs was born due to the need to improve security in train stations. The original concepts focused mainly on basic mechanical barriers that offered basic fall and accident prevention. But as passenger traffic increased and urbanization grew, the demand for more advanced solutions developed. The Japanese company Nabtesco Corporation was one of the main pioneers in the creation of modern platform screen doors. Nabtesco, a company with a long history of engineering and invention, transformed the field of railway safety systems by introducing better designs and technologies into PSDs. Their efforts improved passenger safety requirements and impacted PSD development internationally. Earlier designs of Platform Screen Doors often relied on conventional mechanical systems, featuring basic sliding or swinging panels. Although these designs had some effectiveness, they lacked flexibility and utility. Newer models with electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic mechanics came forth as technology advanced, providing more customization possibilities, improved dependability, and smoother performance.
Figure #1: An image of a PSD, as seen on the left of the image, within a train station platform. (Sam Schwartz, 2022)
The Body of a Platform Screen Door
A Platform Screen Door is a safety tool that consists of a barrier, made generally from a mix of glass and a metal alloy, used to prevent access to the train track of a railway from the platform of said railway. Figure #1 above shows the visual of how a PSD would look on a railway platform. PSDs come in half-size and full-size, each with its own set of specific advantages and disadvantages. In Figure #2 on the page below, you can see that a PSD consists of several different parts, including an upper structure, a drive mechanism, sliding doors, glass panels, and an emergency exit door.
Figure #2: This image shows a more in-depth display of PSDs, highlighting their parts, including the Upper Structure, Drive Mechanism, Sliding Doors, Fixed Glass Panels, and Emergency Exit Door. (RailSystem, 1)
Upper Structure:
The upper structure is usually made of tempered glass, which provides stability and durability to the PSD. Some upper structures consist of sensors and fanlights for the operation of the PSD. Figure #3 shows an image of the upper structure which is located above the doors. Figure #3: An image of the Upper Structure of a PSD,
as seen on the top of the image. (Substack, 2022)
Drive Mechanism:
The Drive mechanism is what opens and closes the doors which are made of pulleys, sensors, belts, and motors. The sensor is typically an infrared sensor, when it detects a train is approaching the station it will activate the motor causing the gears to engage and move the doors. The doors will then slide open to allow passengers to board the train. After a certain time, the motor will reverse its direction which will close the doors which prevents access to the train. Figure #4 shows a simple overview of the automated system.
Figure #4: A diagram of the Drive Mechanism of a PSD. (Nabco, 1)
Sliding Door:
Typically composed of tempered glass that slides horizontally through a track system to open and close the doors. The doors are guided by rollers to ensure smooth movement. When triggered by sensors it will slowly open the doors creating an opening for passengers to board the train. Figure #5 shows one of the many sliding doors that there are. Figure #5: An image of the sliding
doors in action. (Retrail, 1)
Fixed Panel:
Provides stability and rigidity to the overall structure which secures the sliding doors. The fixed panel helps maintain the safety of the people by creating a barrier between the platform and the tracks, preventing any accidents. Figure #6 shows a brief overview of the fixed panel.Figure #6: An image of a PSD that shows the large
Fixed Glass Panels. (Stanley Access, 1)
Emergency Exit Door:
Emergency exit doors serve as an additional safety feature to provide an exit in an emergency. The emergencies are manually operated and can be opened by passengers and emergency personnel when needed. It provides for rapid evacuation of passengers. In Figure #7 you can see the location of the emergency door. Figure #7: A diagram of a PSD that highlights
the Emergency Exit Door. (Jsmwws, 2017)
The function of a Platform Screen Door
PSDs serve a major function in modern transportation systems by acting as a physical barrier between the platform and the tracks in railway and metro stations. By stopping the ability of accidental falls onto the tracks, these doors improve passenger safety by lowering the possibility of injuries and fatalities. Additionally, by managing passenger movement, reducing stay times, and strengthening security measures, PSDs increase the efficiency of railways and train stations. hey also contribute to the overall comfort of passengers by reducing noise and air pollution in underground stations. Overall, platform screen doors are essential to providing passengers in urban transit networks with a comfortable, safe, and efficient travel experience.
Conclusion
Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) are an important advancement in railroad safety offering a solution to the problem of preventing accidents and ensuring passenger safety. From what started as a simple mechanical barrier to the state-of-the-art, highly developed systems of today, PSDs have undergone constant modification to satisfy the growing needs of railways and train stations. Driven by pioneers such as Nabtesco Corporation, these doors have experienced a dramatic change, adding pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical mechanisms for improved performance and dependability. PSDs are an essential part of today’s transportation infrastructure, and their role in ensuring a safe, efficient, and pleasurable travel experience is only going to increase with urbanization and the need for more efficient transit.
To install these barriers many factors come into play, location, time, cost, materials, and labor. First, let’s talk about where these barriers should be installed for testing. These barriers can be implemented at the most dangerous train stations in NYC. The stations they can be installed are on the 6 train at 125th St, the D train at Kingsbridge Rd, and the 4 train at Fordham Rd. These three stops along these three different lines are lines where you are most likely to be robbed and in the more dangerous boroughs (Eberhart, 2024). If construction to install these new barriers started at the same time at the three stations and the workers worked overnight to avoid shutting down the trains, it would roughly take about two weeks to install these barriers if workers worked overnight. The materials to install these barriers include glass, stainless steel, plastic, and aluminum. A rough cost for the installation of the barriers, labor, and materials would be $1,000,000 per station.
In conclusion, investing in the installation of these train station barriers is key to increasing passenger safety in MTA subway stations. The initial investment might seem daunting due to the cost, but when weighed against the benefits for the people, it is small in the long run. These barriers can put a stop to people being pushed onto the train tracks, ensuring the safety of commuters. Combining these improved barriers with the bag checks, more police officers, and gun detectors that are already in place, will cut down on criminal activities. The expenses made on these barriers are justified by the value of protecting human lives and ensuring the peace of mind of the people.
Imagine a hot summer day in New York City where the sun’s rays are beaming directly at you, the heatness and the humidity surrounding you with no escape to it. Now picture a hydration station strategically placed a couple of feet away from you, providing cold and refreshing water. Not only will this provide cleanliness to everyone who needs it but it will also contribute to environmental sustainability and it will promote health. In many urban areas such as NYC, access to clean and healthy water sources can be limited, which leads to the unnecessary consumption of plastic bottles which contributes to plastic waste pollution. NYC’s public areas such as parks, museums, and schools lack the source of hydration stations which will have visitors and locals tempted to buy water bottles, therefore introducing more hydration stations throughout the city that never sleeps will eliminate this problem. Some may argue that the introduction of hydration stations will be an unnecessary waste of funding for NYC, not only this but it will create many unsanitary problems. Therefore, I believe that increasing the number of hydration stations in colleges and public areas is crucial for less plastic waste, cleaner water, and healthier living.
Back on November 8, 2022, the people of New York City agreed to set $4.2 billion for projects to help the environment. This money can be used by government agencies, local governments, and partners to ensure that the water is clean, help neighborhoods, and make the city even stronger, as well as create more green jobs. Bond Act Funding will support new projects across the state. With the introduction of The Bond Act Fund, I believe a good amount of the funding should go to the creation of hydration stations throughout the city. In the article “New York City leaders propose turning some fire hydrants into drinking fountains” written by Dave Carlin in 2024, the idea of turning fire hydrants into hydration stations has been introduced by Councilmember Erik Bottcher, he claims that converting fire hydrants into hydration stations will reduce plastic waste as well as provide water to people who need it. The article states “Retrofitted hydrants could cut down on environmentally unfriendly plastic bottles and unhealthy sugary drinks”. Many may think how filthy and rusty these stations can get, but with the idea of the conversion, there will be daily “upkeep and monitoring” to ensure the stations don’t get vandalized. If this idea gets approved then the stations
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would be up and running within two years. The idea of converting fire hydrants into hydration stations is an idea that should have been implemented, and this will not only save the city a lot of money but it will reduce plastic waste.
Every time I visit the city with my friends, there is never a block I don’t walk on that doesn’t have a water bottle lying down on the floor. There needs to be an immediate change and with the funding the city is getting I believe adding more hydration stations will be a perfect fit. With the idea of converting fire hydrants into hydration stations, the Biden-Harris Administration also announced to fund $420 million for the New York water infrastructure. Having this investment in NYC will not only save a lot of money but it will keep the streets and the nearby oceans cleaner, which will reduce the world’s plastic pollution little by little. The Biden-Harris Administration will upgrade the clean water infrastructure, which will ensure families across New York are provided with safe drinking water that is free of contaminants. The funding for New York City will have a significant impact on the people and the environment. In the Article “Biden-Harris Administration announces $420 million for New York water infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda” By EPA, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul claims “New York is making historic investments to upgrade our clean water infrastructure…Access to clean water and modern water systems is fundamental, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law, we’re sending a whopping $420 million flowing to upgrade New York’s water infrastructure.” I believe this is the start of a new big project, not only will New York City have cleaner water but by having the funding for it, it is already a big step to the problem.
While installing hydration stations may seem like a bright and safe idea at first glance, there are several drawbacks such as hygiene concerns. Maintaining hygiene standards at hydration stations can be very challenging, especially in busy areas such as parks and the city itself. There can be a spread of illnesses and contamination if cleaning and upkeep protocols aren’t followed. A research team wanted to test this theory and wanted to find out how clean hydration stations are. The researchers swabbed some popular locations such as airport and mall hydration stations and the results that they found were out of this world. Since many drinks from the same station it doesn’t mean it’s
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safe either, in the article “Drinking Fountains Contain 50,000x More Bacteria Than Toilet Seats, Study Finds” written by Jamie Bichelman 2024, it states “Water fountains at the airport, they found, harbor more than 50,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat. They also found that shopping malls contain the dirtiest water fountains overall, featuring over 30 million colony-forming units of type bacteria.” This was something that did not cross my mind, hundreds of people drink out of hydration stations, and without even knowing it can contain thousands of bacteria lurking in the water. Without even knowing the consumer drinks the water without any hesitation. Without any maintenance or protocols, the result of this is rapid bacterial growth in the stations, while having hydration stations is a smart idea, the real question is how long will they last until bacteria start growing and spreading?
In conclusion, while the installation of hydration stations presents a solution to cleaner water, reducing plastic waste, and promoting health, it is essential to keep in mind that it has many drawbacks and challenges that have to be faced first. Bacteria spread at these stations poses a concern for public health, and research has revealed that high levels of bacteria are present in today’s hydration stations. Despite the challenges, the lack of clean and accessible water remains an issue in NYC. With the inclusion of more plans and more funding for this situation, it will make NYC and the world a better place. The only way to start is to start big and I believe New York City is the perfect beginning to this plan.
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Self Reflection:
During the process of this assignment there was a lot of deep researching and reading that had to be done in my part, and I believe it was the best part of this assignment because I learned about the new fire hydrant conversion NYC is working on that will convert them into hydration stations, which is such a brilliant idea, because in every corner of the streets of NYC there is a fire hydrant there. As I was revising my paper, I noticed how much more I am looking after my spelling and grammar although it may not be perfect. I am still working on it and it is something I need to improve on.
In my writing I tried to keep the audience’s mind working and by this I added a question in the middle of the paper which I would hope leaves the reader thinking, not only will this make it interesting for my paper but I think it will be a mind opener and it wont make my assignment boring. In my eyes I believe it’s better to keep the reader engaged and keep their minds working because having a run on sentence will keep the reader bored and so uninterested. My goal for this paper was to hopefully make a change although this is just an assignment I hope it can be heard by more people as it is an actual concern for the city of New York.
How I started this assignment was I went straight to writing my thesis, and from there I did a lot of research online trying to find as many articles for my argument, as well as a counter argument articles, and from there I read word by word and even watched videos to have a idea of what my paper was going to look like, and from there it all came together, although it was a massive task, it was a fun one that I would do again. With this assignment being done, now I want to do my part in helping NYC add hydration stations around public areas as it is much needed. As a heavy water drinker, I would love to see this more than anyone and since I spend most of my time in Times Square it’s almost impossible to find free water in outdoor areas, although it may seem like a challenge and open up many risks. I believe it will have more positives than negatives.
References:
-Carlin, D. (2024, February 8). New York City leaders propose turning some fire hydrants into drinking fountains. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-city-fire-hydrant-drinking-fountains/
-Crawford, I. (2024, February 20). Biden-Harris Administration announces $420 million for New York water infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-420-million-new-york-water-infrastructure-1
-Bichelman, J. (2024, January 8). Drinking fountains contain 50,000x more bacteria than toilet seats, study finds. Green Matters. https://www.greenmatters.com/health-and-wellness/are-water-fountains-clean#:~:text=General%20water%20refill%20stations%2C%20the,bacteria%20found%20in%20spoiled%20food
Bicycles are a simple yet very useful invention used all around the world by many, it can be used for transportation needs, food deliveries, and even used in sports. A simple invention that almost everyone can use has dated back for decades and surprisingly it still is used by millions.
It roots back in the early 1800s where a German baron by the name of Karl Von Drias made the first development where he created a two wheeled steerable contraption, and by this invention he was then named as the father of the bicycle. The contraption consisted of having the rider push himself along with both his feet and with no brakes or pedal, it was not only difficult to ride but it was very dangerous. After the invention by Drias it later fell out of fashion, but the invention did not die there as his early intervention continued to be improvised across Europe.
Beginning in the mid 1800s, several French inventors which included Pierre Michaux, Pierre Lallement and Ernest Michaux created new prototypes of the bike which included pedals attached to the front of the wheel. Although it was not a major difference from the first invention it was a huge step in the development of the bike. These new machines were soon to be called “bicycles”. After many inventors put their mind in the new bicycle invention such as Eugene Meyer and James Starley, they introduced a new model which consisted of having an oversized front wheel, with this new invention it started the first ever bicycle club and races.
Throughout the 1800s the bicycle has been improving little by little and eventually an Englishman by the name of John Kemp Starley perfected the bike, which was the safest bike out of the ones invented before, which equalized the size of the wheels and introduced a chain drive that was implemented. As time went by, new developments in tires and brakes followed shortly which was then considered the basic bike.
Bikes have been a huge part of past decades since it cost very little to make, it was produced in massive quantities and it was very affordable for the users. Although it doesn’t seem like a good investment, it changed the way people travelled. Even till this day many use a bike as a form of transportation including myself. There are handfuls of races and competitions around the world that include a bicycle. A bike is very different from any other form of transportation as it does not need any gasoline, therefore it doesn’t produce any carbon emission unlike cars. The less cars that we use the better it is for the environment because at the end of the day that’s the most important thing that matters.
Although it took a while for the full development of the bike itself, it was one of the best inventions out there as it is still used by millions everyday, and many are still improving the bike to make it even better than it already is.
The Mechanics of a BIke
The basic bike as everyone knows consists of pedals, a seat, handles, brakes, tires, frame, chain, and a brake lever. Although there are more complex types of bikes such as an electric bike and a dirt bike, they all function very similarly to each other. In this section of the technical description I will focus on every part of the basic bike which are the principal parts needed for a bike. Although every bike can vary in different features depending on the company who manufactured it, they all work the same at the end of the day.
Frame
The Frame is the main part of the bike as it holds all the other parts together, which is usually made out of aluminium, although it doesn’t not have a major use for the bike’s function it is still one of the most important parts of a bike. Nowadays there are different types of frames, some are light in weight which is usually used in racing or in mountain bikes and some frames are heavy weight which are used for street bikes in which the weight does not necessarily matter. (See figure below)
Pedals
Also an important part of the bike, which helps propel your bike forward. They provide a wide and stable surface to support your feet on both sides of the bike. The pedal is what keeps you moving and without it you’re not going anywhere. They are specifically made to have a sufficient grip and control for your feet. (See figure below)
Wheels
Which can be both thin and/or thick depending on the user. Which provides the connection between the bicycle and the road. Made of mostly rubber the wheel is what brings the bike stability and it keeps it running. Although there are various types of wheels used today, they all do the same job which is to drive the bike forward. (See figure below)
Chain
Which transfers power from the pedal to the drive of a bicycle, which then propels it. Made of various links connected to each other they are held together by small rivets which keep the links in place making up the chain as a whole. Without the chain itself you will not go very far with your bike. (See figure below)
Brakes
A very simple function for the bike in which it reduces the speed and it slowly stops the wheel from moving forward which then eventually will leave you fully stationed if used correctly. Although there are different types of brakes such as hydraulic brakes and wired brakes they all do the same function which is to reduce the speed of the bike. (See figure below)
Handle Bar
provides the rider with a secure grip in order to change the directions of the bike in which it is heading, although it seems like a small piece of metal bar it is very crucial to have a handle bar and it is something you need in order to use a bike. If not used correctly it can lead to serious injury.
(See figure below)
Brake Lever
A very simple yet effective part of the bike, when depressed slowly it activates the brakes and it is what controls the speed of the brake on the bike, if pressed to hard it can send you flying off your bike, that’s why when depressing the brake lever you have to slowly depress it to not cause any injuries. (See figure below)
Seat
A stable and comfortable place for the rider to sit on. It can come in many forms such as a gel form for more comfort for the rider. A simple device that is needed for a bike.
(See figure below)
Conclusion:
Although a bike does not seem very complicated, it consists of various of parts that essentially make up the bike itself, even though there are various of companies competing to make a better bicycle they all have the same goal which is to transport the user from one place to another and the best part is that it does not require any fuel or it doesn’t harm the environment like other transportation systems such as cars and buses. From the early 1800s till now there has been a massive improvement of the bike and there are still various other features that make up a bike. The future of the bike will never fail, it will only improve from now on and it will still be used by millions around the globe.
References :
Andrews, Evan. “The Bicycle’s Bumpy History.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 3 June 2017, www.history.com/news/bicycle-history-invention.
Olson, Anthony. “Everything You Need to Know about Bike Pedals.” Pure Cycles, Pure Cycles, 7 Aug. 2018, www.purecycles.com/blogs/bicycle-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bike-pedals.
“Bicycle Wheels 101.” L9 Sports, www.levelninesports.com/learn-center/bike-gear-education/bicycle-wheels-101. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
“Bicycle Chains Explained: Everything You Need to Know.” Bike Chains Explained: Structure, Speeds, Compatibility, Chain Length and More, www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/bicycle-chains. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
My theory of writing is truly based on what and how I express my thoughts on paper. Let me explain, everyone who has attended elementary school up to high school has experienced the same type of learning in regards to English and writing. By this I mean every teacher wanted everyone’s paper to be written in the same standard English we all have been taught throughout our whole lives. After my first year in college, I realized how unfair this was. Why? Because there are people all around the world and even states who have learned English differently. I put my mind and thought into it and I told myself “Is there a correct way to write English”, without a doubt the answer is NO. So why do we normalize this in all education systems? The answer still isn’t known.
When I first walked into the class and was assigned my first assignment I knew what and how my writing was going to be like and it has been the same since I stepped foot into college. I am going to write it my way, by this I mean I’m not going to follow standard English protocols because I do not think it is right. I am going to write it the way I want to write it, which may contain slang, misspelled words, or some sentences that do not make any sense because I believe this is the right way to write English, which is any way we want. Although I don’t try to include any slang or misspelled words, I try my best to write it in a way that makes sense to any reader. For example, in many of my assignments for this class, I believe I had some run-on sentences or even some sentences that had no purpose. An example of this in my writing is “Throughout the 1800s the bicycle has been improving little by little and eventually an Englishman by the name of John Kemp Starley perfected the bike, which was the safest bike out of the ones invented before, which equalized the size of the wheels and introduced a chain drive that was implemented.” Which was first introduced in my Technical description assignment. The example I provided is a run-on sentence and there should’ve been some sort of pause in there besides the commas. Although I did not purposely do this, I thought it would make sense to have a sentence like that in the technical description. This is a clear example of what I mean by “My theory of writing is truly based on what and how I express my thoughts on paper.”
What has contributed the most to my writing was the information learned in class. Professor Davidow did an amazing job teaching us students how to write certain papers and how to turn thoughts into writing. When the professor first introduced the assignment PSA, I was lost, I had no idea what to do or how to start it. But day by day and class by class I got a hang of it and it was one of the funniest and best assignments I have ever done because it mixed creativity and writing into one paper. The first PSA that was assigned to my group, was mostly creativity and a bit of writing, and working in a group made it so we had to communicate with one another. In the PSA we created, the professor introduced us to the library database, which was confusing at first but it was easily accessible, and from there the professor made us get data and websites in regards to our PSA which made our job easier. Not only did the use of the database used for the PSA it was also done for the Position Paper. An example of the database being used in my Position paper was when I quoted “‘In the article “New York City leaders propose turning some fire hydrants into drinking fountains” written by Dave Carlin in 2024, the idea of turning fire hydrants into hydration stations has been introduced by Councilmember Erik Bottcher, he claims that converting fire hydrants into hydration stations will reduce plastic waste as well as provide water to people who need it.”’ This quote was directly taken from a website in the database that I used in my Position Paper about installing water stations across NYC.
I believe my theory of writing can be applied both outside and inside classrooms because I think the way I write and the way I believe English should be written/spoken is the right way. There shouldn’t be a specific way English should be written or spoken because everyone has been taught differently and interprets it differently. So yes my opinion of the theory of writing can be used anywhere, but it also depends on the situation you are in and the environment. You do not want to send an email to someone, more specifically your boss unprofessionally you have to take into consideration what is happening or who you are writing to.
The way I write is exactly how I think although it may not make any sense, I believe that’s what English is about, you cannot expect a student to write in perfect English that everyone knows because we all interpret English differently, this is why I accept my theory of writing the way it is and I would not change a single bit of it.
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