MAYA ANGELOU

From the first time I heard a poem by Maya Angelou to now, I have been intrigued by Angelou’s writings. She is truly a gifted writer. Her poems can tell a story like no other. They are filled with her pain, happiness, strengths, weaknesses, sacrifices, vulnerabilities, sass, humor, honesty, and growth she has experienced and developed throughout her life. She knows who she is and is not afraid to show it.

I gain wisdom and empowerment as a black woman when reading her poems. For example, her poem “Still I Rise” gives empowerment because she’s pretty much saying no matter what you are trying to do or have done you will not keep her down. She will persevere. She’s proud of who she is. She even shows cockiness by saying

“Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.”

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/still-i-rise/

            Maya Angelous’s poem “ Phenomenal Woman” encourages women everywhere to have confidence in themselves and to be proud of who they are. She says

“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.” Her sassiness and humor in this poem really caught my attention. She exposed her ego without being outrages. “I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.” http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/phenomenal-woman/      Maya Angelou is my favorite writer. I will always read her poems. Maybe, one day I will be able to write almost as well as her. She inspires me as a writer and woman. I encourage everyone to read her poems. They will be enlightened and pleased with what they read.

My Problem With Research Papers

    I am really dreading this 10-12 page research paper that I will have to start soon. I love to write but research papers bore me. . I have to come with a topic, thesis statement, construct the body of the paper, conclusion, and a bibliography. The research part isn’t bad, but implementing all the research into one long paper is a problem for me

            Finding a topic that’s relevant to the class has been hard for me. I have been unable to find a topic that I feel I will be able to write a 10-12 page paper on. Nothing has captured my attention. Some of the topics have been too broad. I have been skimming through my criminology book. Hopefully, something catches my eye.

            Once I find a topic to write about, the thesis statement will be easy. It’s the guideline and pre-summary to what my paper is going to be about.

            After my thesis statement, I have to construct the body of my paper. This is the difficult part. The information from my research has to balance the paper out. I can’t ramble on or be repetitive. I have to have enough information about my topic that I can use to write at least ten pages. I hate long length papers. If I can completely address a topic in less than ten pages, then I feel I shouldn’t have to write 10 pages.

            After I have successfully constructed the body of my paper, the conclusion has to be written. This is easy. I love this part because I know I am done with most of the research paper.

            The bibliography is what I really, really dislike because of the different styles such as MLA or APA. Sources  has to be written a certain way. For instance, newspapers, books, webpages, and etc. are all cites differently. It gives me a headache. Research papers are not my friend!

How The Enviroment Effect My Writing

          Rain, sunshine, freezing, warm, and snow are different environmental happenings that effect my writing. Certain weather brings out the best in me and in my writings.

            When it rains, I have notice, I seem to write about love and relationships. It’s something about the rain that bring out the more gentle and vulnerable side of me. I don’t know what it is. Maybe, it’s the way the rain isolates me to my house. It could be the way the rain takes all my energy somehow and makes me want to do nothing but snuggle up with that special someone.

            Sunshine seems to always put a smile on my face. It amazes me how it can be cold outside and the sun is shining as bright as it would on a hot July day. The sunshine encourages me. I tend to write about things I have overcome because it reminds me of how strong I am.

            You will think that by me being from Saint Louis, Missouri that I would be used to freezing weather conditions; well I’m not. I can’t get use to that, especially that wind chill weather that makes me feel like I went out in the cold naked but I have on sweat pants, long sleeve shirt, coat and thermals. These days I always write about what I would be doing if it wasn’t so cold outside, and how I hope I don’t get sick if I’m forced to go out in it.

            There’s nothing like a warm day! These days I’m really hard to find. I’m not in one place too long. Shopping is at the top of my list. Yes, I am a shopaholic! The girlies and I meet up and have so much. I tend to just write what I did on warm days, after I get home.

            On snow days, my writings are about random things. I just relax and unwind. The snow doesn’t have a big impact on my writings as the types of days.