Generally this blog post serves to demonstrate that I truly struggled on starting the writing process of the AP essay. My biggest struggle was attempting to convince myself that this was the best solution. Then it was finding research that would ensure that the other solutions were not as great as mine. This is probably one of the longest reflection blogs I turned in this quarter because being able to reflect on where I was and where I needed to be was a huge motivation. At this point I was feeling exhausted from all the research. My new struggle was soon to be organizing all that research I had just made. 

Zulema Cuevas

Prof. Fischer

Writing 39C

06 November 2015

Reflection Blog 6

My AP Draft 1 is not as developed as it should be in the writing process right now. I have a general idea of the content of my essay but have not began to write any of the body paragraphs. This in itself is impeding me from receiving useful feedback. My goal this coming week is to have a completed draft by thursday in order to make the most out of the peer reviews in class and outside of class during office hours. My main challenge so far had been convincing myself that this solution was the best solution. When I first started the writing process, I had a different solution. Until, I received a tip on a better solution from the professor. I was not quite familiar with it and the content of it so I began my research. As I researched I found that the SNAP benefits, a series of programs aimed to help people living in poverty, was a solution already. I narrowed down my search and had to convince myself that the expansion of housing subsidies is the best solution. I decided that this was the best solution to child poverty because there has been several research made that this would have the greatest impact on lowering the poverty rate. I also wanted to look into the benefits of the solution in comparison to helping the child’s education. The biggest economic toll for parent’s living in poverty is paying for their home. This takes up most of their monthly income with little money to spread amongst other economic tolls. The financial stresses that come with poverty often distract the parent from giving their child attention. This, in itself, is one of the main causes to child development issues that later lead to low test scores and ultimately a cycled future. Providing families living in poverty with affordable housing will eliminate that stress and help the child. There is also several evidence and research that supports this idea. 

For Draft 2, I honestly need to work on everything. I made an outline and I am hoping that helps my usual organization errors. While writing this reflection blog I realized that I need to look at the bigger picture and convince my reader to do so as well. I have been aiming at just the educational impact that poverty leaves. I should probably say that the education of a child living in poverty would not be affected if poverty in general was eliminated. That would then lead me to further explain why this is the best answer in comparison to the other solutions.