Learning Essay

Through this English 138 class I have learned a great deal about the influence and power of the internet, more so how to design and publish a webpage.  I have to admit that prior to this class I have always (and in some ways still do) consider myself to be technologically challenged.  It is safe to say that this class literally threw me head first into the world of internet culture fairly quickly; I was forced to "sink or swim."

Upon receiving our first hypertext assignment, I was all but confident as to what the final outcome would be.  After all, my friend is the one who controls and designs my Myspace page; I just log on to look at my comments!  However, after our tutorial and walk-through of Dreamweaver, I quickly picked up how the program and web design concepts worked.  Needless to say, my first hypertext was very simple with little bells or whistles associated with it.  As I progressed through the class, I could see my design and use of links become more complex and aesthetically appealing.  I was even able to embed a youtube video into my second hypertext: "A Pendulum Effect."

This course has greatly changed my way of viewing how writing "should be" constructed and formatted.  I have grown up in what is termed as our country's "factory schooling" where strict guidelines and rules need to be followed with regards to writing.  Thesis statement  -->  Three main supporting facts  -->  Transition statement  -->  REPEAT!  I've always enjoyed writing, when I wasn't bound to strict guidelines and forced to write in a certain direction, leaving me little to no room for me to incorporate ideas and tangents that I found interesting.  Having gone through all my life being exposed and molded to adhere to these rules, the hypertext projects have been a long awaited and welcomed breath of fresh air.  At first I thought that hypertext composition before a linear version of a paper was not possible.  How was I supposed to keep my ideas straight and maintain a steady idea that permeated each webpage?  My question was quickly answered upon my finishing of my second hypertext.  By allowing me to just write without any formal outline of topics and flow, the ideas that I created were much more organic, interesting, and in my opinion easier to follow.  It also gave me a loose outline for my linear version.  This gave me a fairly rough idea of how my linear paper should be structured, but at the same time allowed me the flexibility to move sections around and add information that I thought was relevant and strengthened my paper.

My civil engagement project is focused on Hawaiian Sovereignty, but rather than taking a side and trying to promote it, I am addressing this issue from an outsider’s point of view.  Like many individuals not involved in activist groups, I hear the news and read the headlines about Hawaiian Sovereignty and other issues regarding Hawaiian rights but don’t truly know the driving forces behind this large movement.  On the other hand I feel very passionate that Hawaiian rights with regards to ceded lands and preserving their right to forage certain plants needed to make lei and other adornments traditionally worn for hula are owed to the Hawaiian people.  Through my civic engagement project I want to open the eyes of my audience that there is much more to the Hawaiian culture and people than the stereotype “Hollywood” hula dancers.  A culture deeply rooted in land and culture form the true Hawaii, and it is due to these reasons that many Native Hawaiians are now fighting back and advocating for their rights to be recognized.