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Isabella Ramos
ENGL 1302 280
Professor Jason Dew
30 March 2023
Homework: Week 10

“The Activities, Roles, and Relationships of Successful First Generation College Students”

By Demetriou et al.

1. What is the author’s thesis?

- “For the purposes of this study, a successful student is a student who has been

retained and is within one semester of 4-year undergraduate degree completion.

This study describes the experiences of successful students using the voices of

students themselves. It describes college success through the eyes of students

from historically under resourced and underperforming groups. A rich and

complex description of the activities, roles, and relationships of successful FGCS

is shared.”

2. What evidence does the author use to support his argument?

- The author takes data and statements from successful first generation students as

they describe their experience throughout university.

3. What can you take from this article to use in your writing?

- There are a high number of first generation college student (FGCS) dropouts, the

rate being at 90%. This has to do with the environment they surround themselves

with. It is important to engage in cultural activities and take on the cultural role

when building relationships because interest, motivation, gender, and ethnicity

has a huge influence on how a student is doing an activity before class.

4. How can you relate to this article?

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- I am not a first generation college student as both my parents have their masters

degree and my grandpa has his bachelors. Coming from a line of educated

individuals it has always been important to me that I achieve more than my

parents did and pass along what I learned to my children and theirs. Education is

such an important thing in our society as the higher education you have the more

doors and opportunities are opened to you. I can also agree that it is very

important to own up to and embarrass your culture as it is so important. Also

joining groups and activities, participating in class, and getting help from faculty

are big steps to the success of a student

5. What are your reactions to these authors’ argument?

- I thought it was a good research study and had some very strong points to make.

6. What would you like to read in this article that you did not read?

- I don't think anything was left unclear nor is there anything else that I would add

to this paper.
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Moving from Subject to Thesis Statement:

Subject: LGBTQ+

Topic: The effects of heteronormativity and religion on gender fluidity and LGBT

Question #1: Why is there so much discrimination regarding LGBT and gender fluidity?

Answer #1: Many people in older generations take more of a traditional path and understanding

in life, living in a heteronormative society it is very easy to assume that people are meant to just

like the opposite gender. This being said, the majority of our lawmakers are older and have much

higher political status, and are able to implement these beliefs into our everyday laws.

Thesis #1: There needs to be a larger influence from younger generations in politics to help

change these discriminatory laws.

Question #2: What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?

Answer #2: Sexual orientation is who you are attracted to while gender identity is the gender

that you identify as.

Thesis #2: There is often big confusion about the difference between gender and sexual

orientation. They are two different things and having a better understanding of the two can help

open the perspective of others

Question #3: Why is there religion based discrimination against LGBTQ people?
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Answer #3: People like to base their religion as the deciding factor of whether or not queer

people should have the same access and rights as everyone else.

Thesis #3: Religious freedom is a fundamental value and gets twisted into something that

discriminates against individuals with different views on life. No person should be able to be

turned away, denied or refused services because of their religious belief.

Question #4: How does heteronormativity justify the gender hierarchy?

Answer #4: Heteronormativity is defined as the belief that heterosexuality is the default sexual

orientation and often is paired with a level of sexism and negative attitudes to sexual minorities.

Thesis #4: Sexual minorities (LGBTQ) often have a more difficult time when it comes to

escaping the gender hierarchy that was set in place via dominating heteronormative beliefs and

creating a system that highly revolves around sexism and sexual stigma.

Which thesis statement is the one that you will use for this essay?

- Question 1 or 4