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Analyzing Mary Louise Pratt's 'Arts Of The Contact Zone'

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Analyzing Mary Louise Pratt's 'Arts Of The Contact Zone'
Written Task 1
IB English Language and Literature

Rationale word count:
300 words
Total word count:
932 words

Rationale:
In the first semester of my International Baccalaureate English course, we analyzed Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”. Pratt discusses the implications of contact zones and transculturation by utilizing Guaman Poma’s example of learning Spanish to successfully write a letter and persuade the King of Spain. In this written task, presented in the form of journal entries written by Andrea, a Mexican girl who dreams of becoming an architect, she will express her experience of transculturation by having to apply English to her everyday life in order to get a better educational opportunity …show more content…
On a religious trip I went there in which I met girls from around the world. The funny thing was that we all spoke Spanish but differently, at the end all of our accents were mixed up. Oh man! We had a lot of fun. I got to hang out with people that had the same interests as me in the religious field, which is hard to find these days in were people don’t take God seriously. I just want to become a martyr, if I ever have the chance to die for what I believe.
This cannot be happening to me right now! I have just returned from my amazing trip and my mom tells me to unpack my bags and pack again because WE ARE MOVING TO CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA!!! The world has come to this were I have to seek another COUNTRY in were they offer better opportunities for me to attend a University, which is a step in order to accomplish my dream of becoming an architect. So, I find myself to accept this change to a different country, in a new school, with new friends, and another living …show more content…
I just cannot believe how my English used to look! I am now a sophomore in high school taking advanced classes after a long talk with my counselor who had placed me in regular English classes. She assumed I couldn’t handle the type of work given to the “advanced” students, because all she heard when I spoke was my accent, and because based on her prejudice, that I wasn’t an “advanced” student. Although, my English is still not advanced and needs improvements, I have managed to overcome much of my struggles since I recently moved here. The English language has been an issue when I want to fluently communicate my thoughts, I know most of the topics the teachers address, the problem is when I have to write or speak in “formal” English, as I am always required to do
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