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Text-based Protocols: Analysis

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Three peer-reviewing techniques that were unfamiliar to most of the students were introduced to the class over the course of a couple of weeks. We read five articles in total: two on pop culture, two on whether obesity is a public or personal concern, and one on financial literacy. Each student completed the assignments and contributed by sharing their work and ideas. Students were able to learn from one another as well as improve their learning abilities through the activities.  The first peer review was for "text rendering,” which required us to select one word, one phrase, and one sentence to represent the text. Then, for each, we had to write a paragraph explaining why it was chosen. This discussion was enjoyable for me because it allowed me to converse with people that had never spoken to me before, as well as share and hear other people's ideas. My classmates assisted me in better understanding and analyzing the information in the text. However, the activity did pres

Obesity: It IS a Public Concern

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  Unquestionably, the majority of people are familiar with the terms "obesity" and "obese."  But what does it actually mean? It goes beyond being "overweight" but is nonetheless comparable. Obesity is defined as having more body fat than is normal, and it is also the name of a disorder that can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. Obesity is identified as a health crisis because it affects a large number of people and can cause other illnesses. It is debatable whether obesity is a private or societal problem because it can be acquired from genetics, an eating disorder, or some medications. However, appealing ads,  convenience, and financial limitations make unhealthy food more available to people, making obesity a public concern. The advertisement for a fast food chain appears in the middle of a child's favorite TV show, making them drool and hungry for the food being promoted. This is similar to a billboard advertising a chicken sandwich, manip

How Beneficial Is Pop Culture?

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  When someone opens their Twitter app, they are greeted with a thread of people discussing spoilers for their favorite show or gossip networks delving into why a celebrity wore a specific brand. This is common in popular culture. People use social media platforms to express their thoughts and insights on popular topics, trends, and unpopular opinions. Popular culture takes on new significance in a world where social media is prevalent. However, whether pop culture is good for you or not has become a topic of debate. Pop culture can benefit people by providing cognitive benefits and fostering connections . The majority of literate people in the new generation rely heavily on television. Shows like Blue's Clues and Sesame Street, to name a few, were used to help younger children communicate by learning new words and even behaviors. Think about reading's many cognitive advantages. Television has increased the demands set on these mental skills (Johnson, 2005, p. 280). When watch

The Journey to Literacy

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As an infant, books introduced me to a new and creative existence that encouraged my literacy development. The earlier journey of becoming literate was straightforward since reading and writing were an implication in my Caribbean household. I was taught how to form letters into words and words into sentences, even though sometimes I would have trouble with detecting ‘b’ from ‘d’ or writing an ‘S’ like a ‘2’. I remember being told intriguing stories by my parents that were either read to me or made up. Eventually, I learned the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they made. Then a little before I turned 24 months, I acquired communication skills and could create my own stories by gazing at pictures in books. Upon entering basic school at two and a half years old, I was already forming complete sentences and spelling simple 3 to 5-letter words.  By the beginning of first grade, I was introduced to my primary school’s library. Although Jamaica, where I grew up, is a small, third-world