Débora – Portfolio #1 – Being Normal
June 9, 2009People, at least one day in their existence, will ask themselves if they are really normal and what normality is, because it depends a lot, because is so subjective. What is normal for me, can be abnormal for another person. Besides, it’s impossible to live according to other people’s expectations.
According to dictionaries, normality is to live according to the rules. Then, what I’ve asked myself was what kind of rules the dictionary was referring to. Later, surfing on the internet, I’ve found a lot of blogs, pages where someone was inquiring about the concept of normality. After a lot of explanations ans rambles, the consense was that the best definition is to live according to the rules of the society that you live in at the moment.
It’s chilling for me to think about a man who is married to 10 women. After all, it’s allowed, it’s normal in Arabia, for example. But in Brazil, where I live, in spite of not legal, it’s weird and freaky.
Another example is one teacher of mine, who used to work as a life guard at one time in his life. Instead of saving a child, he preferred to save the dog who wanted to save the kid who was drowning. People probably wanted to kill him, taxed him rebelliously, heartlessly. If this behavior is normal, who am I to judge? After all the guy is a dog’s lover.
Living with and according so many rules is really boring. Better be yourself, as long as you don’t prejudice anyone. Maybe people will look at you as a rebel, but who cares?
People, at least one day in their existence, will ask themselves if they are really normal and what normality is, because it depends a lot (it depends on what?), because (it) is so subjective (Hummmm … what are you referring to in these last two comments you have made in the last two sentences?) What is normal for me can be abnormal for another person. Besides, it’s impossible to live according to other people’s expectations.
According to dictionaries, normality is to live according to the rules, (which begs the question about) what the dictionary refer to as “rules.”
Later (later in relation to what?), surfing on the Internet, I’ve found a lot of blogs, pages where (people inquired) about the concept of normality. After a lot of explanations and rambl(ing), the consens(us) was that the best definition (for normality) is to live according to the rules of the society that you (avoid the use of you at all times)(the person) lives in at the moment.
(Nervertheless,) it’s chilling for me to think (of) a man who is married to ten women. After all, it’s allowed and normal in Arabia, for example. But in Brazil, where I live, in spite of (it not being) legal, it’s weird and freaky. (Now that you have more time the constraint you had on the day of the test, you should explore how a Brazilian would feel if his or her partner had other 9 wives or husbands. Maybe you should explore the concept of morality, jealousy, exclusivity, etc.)
Another example (of normality) (involves) (an) (English) teacher of mine, who used to work as a life guard (in his college years). (He told me that one day,) (instead of saving a (drowning) child, he preferred to save (a) dog who (had jumped into the ocean to) save the kid. People (on the beach that day) probably wanted to kill him, (labeling) him (as) rebellious (and) heartless. If this behavior is normal, who am I to judge? After all (my teacher)is a dog’s lover. (Again, here you should explore the concept of not having too many people who would care so much for animals, something like …”if everyone worried only about kids, who would take care of dogs? or even raise the question of “is the life of a human being more important than the life of a dog? You could even venture out and criticize animal testing WITHOUT making your paper sound as if it dealt with animal testing.)
(Therefore,) living with and according (to) so many rules is really boring (Maybe boring is not the right word here. Try RESTRICTING) (Now here you need to explain why it is so restricting). (In other words, it is) better (to) be yourself as long as you don’t (hurt) anyone (Debora, here you are using the second person again. Avoid it as much as possible). Maybe people will look at you as a rebel, but (then again,) who cares?
Debora,
My expectations of this paper are much higher than the ones I held onto when I assessed your midterm paper. Obviously, on the day of the test, you did not have the luxury of time and technology to be able to expand and add or shorten your paper as you wish. Now, I have suggested areas for you to improve on so that you paper becomes richer with more content and examples to offer your reader. As I have mentioned to you in class, your paper the way it is is not ready for a grade.
Rick
Thank you Rick! I´ll do my best next 2 weeks, you won´t be disappointed.
Débora