Hello Bloggers! We’re done! We made it! The stress can flow from our bodies what a damn good feeling. This has honestly been one of the most difficult classes I have taken at AVC. I love English and it has always come pretty easy to me but this class has been the exception. I don’t think I have written so much in my life, and I was on the newspaper for two semesters! Plus some of the topics we wrote about including our research paper were pretty challenging. Jennifer wasn’t lying when she said we’d be doing some critical thinking. I feel like my life has been consumed with English 103, I was constantly reading or writing something pertaining to this class. I have no clue how I was able to manage my other classes in with this one. Its been long nights with aching headaches from looking at the computer screen for so long. Its been sheer panic when I forgot to blog, or ran late on an assignment. But its also been pride for completing something that seemed so very difficult. This class has also presented enlightenment from some of our readings, I love Fitzgerald and Orwell.
I have learned a lot from the class and have renewed my skills for critical thinking. Smarthinking has been a great tool and I now know that I have a bad habit of creating sentence fragments. I have become a better copywriter and more thoughtful in tie things I write. I have discovered the many techniques that the brilliant novelist we analyzed used. Along with this I have been able to rediscover the beauty in the diction we read. The hidden factors that make a novel so meaningful. But I am an English dork like that. Our thinking critically readings have shown me other exceptional writing techniques pertaining to propaganda, humor, and race. I love how we can all interact and express out thoughts without judgment or harsh criticism.
While I am on my class tangent I want to express my thanks to all of you! Without group projects and PDR’s I would have been lost. You guys have helped me complete this class more than you know. I think we have all sort of taught each other, not only through our assignments but in general. By reading blogs and interacting with a few of you I have learned some interesting things. I feel I have my feelings eased by this too. Knowing that I’m not the only one struggling with the class along with personal things. I have been able to help others not lose hope in the class or the life pursuits we pressure ourselves to achieve. Granted in this class I have come in contact with some people that have not been so nice to me, but whatever that’s life. Either way you have have been a big help with everything and I truly appreciate it. I wish you all well on your future endeavors and hope you can reach your goals, whatever they may be. Thank you again and have a very Merry Christmas-Happy Holidays- and a prosperous New Year!
This is it! Over and out :)
Vanessa!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
RP= Our love/ hate relationship
Happy Friday and almost Saturday bloggers! We here! We’ve reached the end, or almost end at this point. The hardest part is over and man am I happy for that! So for this weeks blog, it has to do with what we’ve learned while writing our research paper. It surly has been interesting.
First and foremost I learned how to write a research paper of this caliber. After much “pain in the ass” I managed to scrap one paper and start over on another. Now this was super stressful, but I really wanted to pump out some good work while challenging my writing skills. Relate one book to another is not the easiest task. I found it a bit difficult to parallel the two while keeping a sound structure to my paper. Plus adding in other sources without repeating myself a million times. Pretty scary, I was intimidated to say the least. But after I got writing I began to get the hang of it and the organization sort of came natural. I think I thought of it as too difficult therefore it became exactly that. I did have to go back and re do a few paragraphs reading it al the way through, but that’s the whole point of editing.
I think my favorite part of the whole paper was just getting to analyze the two novels. The subject matter was close to my heart as I too can be a dreamer, and idealist. Many of the things Gatsby and Nafisi encompass are things I could relate to. The intense obsession with a dream until you lose yourself in it. Its terribly sad to find that both Gatsby and Nafisi have there dreams end in defeat, but it the longing that fascinates me. I love how the two focus on the want and the longing for a dream and how that makes them who they are. It opened my eyes to see that sometimes we really don’t know what we want or what exactly we are hoping for. I sort of lost myself in the deep meaning that ran through both Nafisi and Gatsby, for me that’s the best. When I can become so divulged in something that I begin to feel a part of it. Not and outsider analyzing the items before me, but a player in the game experiencing these emotions first hand. It brings me back to personal anecdotes that came close to Gatsby’s ideals and Nafisi’s hope. I really enjoyed this part once the intense stress washed over.
This has been a research paper like no other, I can truly say I have never encountered something so complex and be told to make sense of it. Though it makes me proud of myself to be able to conquer something I perceived to be so difficult. Not only that but being able to become emotionally connected to the novels I am analyzing made the experience a little more enlightening. Analyzation came to a new level of critical thinking for me, and it sort of rounded off the semester by incorporating everything we’ve learned. I hated it and quite enjoyed it at the same time. I am sooooo happy I can breath again.
First and foremost I learned how to write a research paper of this caliber. After much “pain in the ass” I managed to scrap one paper and start over on another. Now this was super stressful, but I really wanted to pump out some good work while challenging my writing skills. Relate one book to another is not the easiest task. I found it a bit difficult to parallel the two while keeping a sound structure to my paper. Plus adding in other sources without repeating myself a million times. Pretty scary, I was intimidated to say the least. But after I got writing I began to get the hang of it and the organization sort of came natural. I think I thought of it as too difficult therefore it became exactly that. I did have to go back and re do a few paragraphs reading it al the way through, but that’s the whole point of editing.
I think my favorite part of the whole paper was just getting to analyze the two novels. The subject matter was close to my heart as I too can be a dreamer, and idealist. Many of the things Gatsby and Nafisi encompass are things I could relate to. The intense obsession with a dream until you lose yourself in it. Its terribly sad to find that both Gatsby and Nafisi have there dreams end in defeat, but it the longing that fascinates me. I love how the two focus on the want and the longing for a dream and how that makes them who they are. It opened my eyes to see that sometimes we really don’t know what we want or what exactly we are hoping for. I sort of lost myself in the deep meaning that ran through both Nafisi and Gatsby, for me that’s the best. When I can become so divulged in something that I begin to feel a part of it. Not and outsider analyzing the items before me, but a player in the game experiencing these emotions first hand. It brings me back to personal anecdotes that came close to Gatsby’s ideals and Nafisi’s hope. I really enjoyed this part once the intense stress washed over.
This has been a research paper like no other, I can truly say I have never encountered something so complex and be told to make sense of it. Though it makes me proud of myself to be able to conquer something I perceived to be so difficult. Not only that but being able to become emotionally connected to the novels I am analyzing made the experience a little more enlightening. Analyzation came to a new level of critical thinking for me, and it sort of rounded off the semester by incorporating everything we’ve learned. I hated it and quite enjoyed it at the same time. I am sooooo happy I can breath again.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Stressed Much
Hello Bloggers! Happy Friday once again! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And hope you all ate a ton of food! I know I did. Anyway, this weeks blog is about our research paper and how its coming along. All I can say is… is school over yet!?
This semester has taken me for a ride, between dealing with the politics of this school and keeping up with my homework, I have become quite exhausted. Its hard to stay motivated when I’m told some of the 60units I’ve taken wont suffice for graduation. I must say this wonderful college of ours has given me nothing but the run around. Yet with this said I refuse to leave this place until I have that ever special AA in my hand. So sorry AVC your going to have to put up with my harassment.
This class especially has been a challenge while putting up with the above. Trying to read and write my little heart out has been a difficult pursuit. This research paper especially has been really intense. At first I was sort of lost in the whole idea, how the heck am I going to write a research paper on fiction. Not only that but an idea that arose in the novels chosen. I was terrified to be quite honest, I can get down on a research paper but that’s when I have a factual baseline. More so how am I going to be able to write six friggin pages about it.
Well I am a procrastinator, horribly, its kind of disgusting actually. But sometimes that’s when my best work happens. Though with something like this I have done a bit better and gotten started a little earlier than I usually do. For me I had to do an outline, I would have been lost without this. I put together basically what I wanted to write and cited the specific quotes I wanted to use. After I spent some time with books and paper surrounding me, I put it all down and let my brain rest.
So then the next day I sat my outline next to my computer and just started writing. I am pretty good at writing down my ideas once they get flowing. But I do have a problem with sentence fragments because I seem to think faster than I write. So I have found several riddled about my essay so far. I just write until the page count goes up. Ha-ha. So for now I still need to go through and edit all the fragments and fun grammar stuff. Plus finish writing about two pages, but that’s not so bad, though I am stressing out about it! I suppose on the positive side it is going somewhere so that definitely means something. Its been a bit difficult too link the ideas from one author to another, then also adding in the scholarly sources. Its also been hard as far as time management but I do think that in the end I will do okay. It always works out. Good luck to all of you! We’re sooooo close to the end, lets rock this!
This semester has taken me for a ride, between dealing with the politics of this school and keeping up with my homework, I have become quite exhausted. Its hard to stay motivated when I’m told some of the 60units I’ve taken wont suffice for graduation. I must say this wonderful college of ours has given me nothing but the run around. Yet with this said I refuse to leave this place until I have that ever special AA in my hand. So sorry AVC your going to have to put up with my harassment.
This class especially has been a challenge while putting up with the above. Trying to read and write my little heart out has been a difficult pursuit. This research paper especially has been really intense. At first I was sort of lost in the whole idea, how the heck am I going to write a research paper on fiction. Not only that but an idea that arose in the novels chosen. I was terrified to be quite honest, I can get down on a research paper but that’s when I have a factual baseline. More so how am I going to be able to write six friggin pages about it.
Well I am a procrastinator, horribly, its kind of disgusting actually. But sometimes that’s when my best work happens. Though with something like this I have done a bit better and gotten started a little earlier than I usually do. For me I had to do an outline, I would have been lost without this. I put together basically what I wanted to write and cited the specific quotes I wanted to use. After I spent some time with books and paper surrounding me, I put it all down and let my brain rest.
So then the next day I sat my outline next to my computer and just started writing. I am pretty good at writing down my ideas once they get flowing. But I do have a problem with sentence fragments because I seem to think faster than I write. So I have found several riddled about my essay so far. I just write until the page count goes up. Ha-ha. So for now I still need to go through and edit all the fragments and fun grammar stuff. Plus finish writing about two pages, but that’s not so bad, though I am stressing out about it! I suppose on the positive side it is going somewhere so that definitely means something. Its been a bit difficult too link the ideas from one author to another, then also adding in the scholarly sources. Its also been hard as far as time management but I do think that in the end I will do okay. It always works out. Good luck to all of you! We’re sooooo close to the end, lets rock this!
Friday, November 19, 2010
How embarrassing!
Hello bloggers!! Happy Thursday or Friday…depending on when I post this. Anyway, I hope everyone’s week has been amazing! Mine has been interesting and exhausting, I did find out that the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile is coming to the store I work at. How awesome is that! I’m a dork, I know, but highly excited so I felt the need to share that with you all. But back to the point of this whole blog, is this weeks prompt! I chose number one on page 253, regarding the kind of things I’ve put on my myspace and/or face book that could potentially be embarrassing in the future.
I’ll start by saying that I love this prompt, it makes you think of the way people see you based on your home page. I know that I have learned a lot about online communication and the craziness of these social websites. Almost everyone has a myspace or face book, literally. I recently found out my grandma has a face book! I didn’t see that coming, but I guess everyone is sort of “getting with the times”. Yet I think this is the issue, for me at least. Too many people are now connected and can access my whole life. Certain people don’t need to see the drunken pictures from the house warming party. I must say though, that as I have gotten older I have became smarter with my social networking.
When I was in high school everyone was on Myspace, for most of us it was the true beginning of people being connected to each other all the time. We all had our own page with a spiel about ourselves along with photos and sparkling graphics. Like most technology I was on the late freight but eventually did make a myspace page. Yet as I said, I was in high school, so most of the things I did was fairly stupid and with out thinking. So my myspace page was spewn with drunken pictures and text basically advertising my bad behavior. But I used it as any other teen did, to keep in contact with friends. Yet a few years later I searched myself, and to my awe the first link was to my horrible myspace page. I was mortified, I couldn’t believe I was so easily found. I didn’t expect my information to be that accessible to the general public. Needless to say, this was a major wake up call.
Now-a-days I do have a face book, but I am very careful as to what I publish for the world to see. I now have a tighter grasp of my future and my goals could possibly be ruined because of some of the stupidity that was on that myspace page. I do have my boss and grandma as friends on face book so that is also a very big reason as to why I keep things mostly professional in this online outlet. Facebook has really changed as technology has, it an easier way for people to communicate with others from other areas. For me this is the main idea, granted we can be ourselves but I suppose that un certain aspects we must censor ourselves as to what it acceptable to others. Especially those others that can have power over our lives. I think we need to be careful what we say, even if its in a selfish aspect it will still save us from the embarrassment we witness in 20 years.
Anyway bloggers! Have a good night and an awesome weekend! Have a happy Thanksgiving and stuff your faces full of good food!
I’ll start by saying that I love this prompt, it makes you think of the way people see you based on your home page. I know that I have learned a lot about online communication and the craziness of these social websites. Almost everyone has a myspace or face book, literally. I recently found out my grandma has a face book! I didn’t see that coming, but I guess everyone is sort of “getting with the times”. Yet I think this is the issue, for me at least. Too many people are now connected and can access my whole life. Certain people don’t need to see the drunken pictures from the house warming party. I must say though, that as I have gotten older I have became smarter with my social networking.
When I was in high school everyone was on Myspace, for most of us it was the true beginning of people being connected to each other all the time. We all had our own page with a spiel about ourselves along with photos and sparkling graphics. Like most technology I was on the late freight but eventually did make a myspace page. Yet as I said, I was in high school, so most of the things I did was fairly stupid and with out thinking. So my myspace page was spewn with drunken pictures and text basically advertising my bad behavior. But I used it as any other teen did, to keep in contact with friends. Yet a few years later I searched myself, and to my awe the first link was to my horrible myspace page. I was mortified, I couldn’t believe I was so easily found. I didn’t expect my information to be that accessible to the general public. Needless to say, this was a major wake up call.
Now-a-days I do have a face book, but I am very careful as to what I publish for the world to see. I now have a tighter grasp of my future and my goals could possibly be ruined because of some of the stupidity that was on that myspace page. I do have my boss and grandma as friends on face book so that is also a very big reason as to why I keep things mostly professional in this online outlet. Facebook has really changed as technology has, it an easier way for people to communicate with others from other areas. For me this is the main idea, granted we can be ourselves but I suppose that un certain aspects we must censor ourselves as to what it acceptable to others. Especially those others that can have power over our lives. I think we need to be careful what we say, even if its in a selfish aspect it will still save us from the embarrassment we witness in 20 years.
Anyway bloggers! Have a good night and an awesome weekend! Have a happy Thanksgiving and stuff your faces full of good food!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Where did all the Political Cartoons go?
Hello everyone! Happy Friday! I hope everyone is getting through our research paper without too much trouble. Well this week we read about the language of humor, much having to do with editorial cartoons. The prompt I chose has to do with this subject yet more so the role of editorial cartoons in American culture.
Editorial cartoons are being seen in newspapers less and less. Depending on the newspaper these cartoons may not be seen at all. Though I feel this is due to several different factors, either way the art is dissipating from the pages of newspapers everywhere. In the 1700’s editorial cartoons were largely used in newspapers, and more were political than anything else. Of course this time in our countries history was very unstable as we were not completely separated from Britain and differing views on this were extreme. So cartoons were an outlet to send messages, political propaganda questioning the run of the country. With a time of sheer uncertainty this would help sway the masses. For example, one popular cartoon that was published in Benjamin Franklin's “Pennsylvania Gazette” newspaper. The image is of a snake split into portions labeled with state abbreviations, below the image in large letters says “Join or Die”. This is a perfect and blatant example of political propaganda, good or bad, it is obviously trying to sway the viewer. But thanks to these sort of images America is what it is today. Not only that but it is a prime example of our first amendment rights.
So why have we seen a decline in the use of editorial cartoons? America has issues brewing that citizens are just as passionate about as back when we were founding our politics. Doug Marlette says in his essay, “Freedom of Speech and the Editorial Cartoon” that the downfall of cartoonist is due to big business in the newspaper industry and the “corporate suits” that cut those jobs. Either simply because they don’t want to pay or the cartoonist pushing the boundaries is a sort of liability to readership. To this I would have to disagree. Working with the college paper for almost two years I would like to think I am at least somewhat credible on this subject, especially since I was the opinion editor during my last semester with them. Newspapers are image driven, a reader will be more inclined to read a specific article if the correlating photo seems interesting. Editorial cartoons are highly viewed because its easy to interpret and entertaining (most of the time). I tried to have an editorial cartoon partner a opinion piece in every issue we published. Though a cartoon may push the status quo, this seems to gain readers, not lose them. Plus if the cartoon is based upon the truth anyway readership will not decline regardless of their opinion on the subject.
The way I see it, editorial cartoons are being pushed out of newspapers by technology. That doesn’t say much when newspapers as a whole are being pushed out by technology. Its not that news or political cartoons are unavailable, they have simply moved to a different outlet. The downfall of this does land in the hands of the cartoonist, journalist, photographer and other facets of this changing medium. Making a living from internet based news has become growingly difficult because of the saturation of information the web provides. Yet no matter what people will always have the need for these sorts of talents. I just hope for my sake these don’t become an incredibly rare profession.
Well That’s all I got for tonight! I have 9 min to submit this and my eyelids can hardly stay open any longer. So goodnight and have a happy weekend!!
Editorial cartoons are being seen in newspapers less and less. Depending on the newspaper these cartoons may not be seen at all. Though I feel this is due to several different factors, either way the art is dissipating from the pages of newspapers everywhere. In the 1700’s editorial cartoons were largely used in newspapers, and more were political than anything else. Of course this time in our countries history was very unstable as we were not completely separated from Britain and differing views on this were extreme. So cartoons were an outlet to send messages, political propaganda questioning the run of the country. With a time of sheer uncertainty this would help sway the masses. For example, one popular cartoon that was published in Benjamin Franklin's “Pennsylvania Gazette” newspaper. The image is of a snake split into portions labeled with state abbreviations, below the image in large letters says “Join or Die”. This is a perfect and blatant example of political propaganda, good or bad, it is obviously trying to sway the viewer. But thanks to these sort of images America is what it is today. Not only that but it is a prime example of our first amendment rights.
So why have we seen a decline in the use of editorial cartoons? America has issues brewing that citizens are just as passionate about as back when we were founding our politics. Doug Marlette says in his essay, “Freedom of Speech and the Editorial Cartoon” that the downfall of cartoonist is due to big business in the newspaper industry and the “corporate suits” that cut those jobs. Either simply because they don’t want to pay or the cartoonist pushing the boundaries is a sort of liability to readership. To this I would have to disagree. Working with the college paper for almost two years I would like to think I am at least somewhat credible on this subject, especially since I was the opinion editor during my last semester with them. Newspapers are image driven, a reader will be more inclined to read a specific article if the correlating photo seems interesting. Editorial cartoons are highly viewed because its easy to interpret and entertaining (most of the time). I tried to have an editorial cartoon partner a opinion piece in every issue we published. Though a cartoon may push the status quo, this seems to gain readers, not lose them. Plus if the cartoon is based upon the truth anyway readership will not decline regardless of their opinion on the subject.
The way I see it, editorial cartoons are being pushed out of newspapers by technology. That doesn’t say much when newspapers as a whole are being pushed out by technology. Its not that news or political cartoons are unavailable, they have simply moved to a different outlet. The downfall of this does land in the hands of the cartoonist, journalist, photographer and other facets of this changing medium. Making a living from internet based news has become growingly difficult because of the saturation of information the web provides. Yet no matter what people will always have the need for these sorts of talents. I just hope for my sake these don’t become an incredibly rare profession.
Well That’s all I got for tonight! I have 9 min to submit this and my eyelids can hardly stay open any longer. So goodnight and have a happy weekend!!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thanks to You
Hello everyone! I hope your week has been awesome! Surely a bit stressful as we enter the last few weeks of the semester. I know I’ve had test’s left and right. Anyway I have been a bad blogger lately and didn’t publish one last week. So, my apologies for not partaking with everyone. But this week I’m kicking myself in the butt to get everything done. Ahhhhhh! So our blog prompt this week asks about improvement in our writing because of the immense amounts of reading and writing we’ve been conquering.
I must say this English class is different than any I have taken. Its unique because majority of my learning has come from you guys! My peers have helped explain certain ideas, debate thoughts without criticism, and help edit my papers. I’ve also gained some knowledge from reading blogs, doing PDR’s, and participating in group stuff. So thank you all so much for helping me out! Much appreciated, I’ve learned quite a bit!
I have also enjoyed the reading selection for this class, the novels are interesting and require critical thinking. Some have been a challenge to read and to keep up with but thus far it has enriched my brain with valuable information. It has been refreshing to rekindle the beauty of the language that lies beneath the text. The use of blogger has also helped to further explain some of the underlying language.
I have enjoyed everyone’s blogs, its been a great way to see a little more of each others personality through our thoughts and views. There has been a few of your blogs that made me think of another side of some of the reading that I wouldn’t have realized before. As I mentioned I think its great we are able to communicate through this medium with respect and interest in each others views. Even if I don’t agree with someone’s view its helped me gain perspective of a different stance.
Group interaction has allowed me to gain knowledge from my peers, it has also been a large portion of change in my writing. Between Varamin and Qom I have seen several different writing styles, and have gotten back much constructive criticism. The PDR process has been quite beneficial to me. Thanks Qom! Having everyone review your work helps catch little niches I wouldn’t have found. Plus I am a terrible…terrible copywriter. So the input is so useful, the comments help reinforce the strengths and weaknesses and helps easily translate in revision. Big help that’s for sure!
Though I entered certain facets of this class with a rocky start, I have been able to find the benefits and reason for what at first seemed like a hassle. The reading, writing, and peer interaction has strengthened my writing by reinforcing certain techniques and helping to rid my text from flaws or misunderstanding. It has been an intense run, and it is not over yet. So lets continue to work together to gain understanding of our hidden writing talents.
Well on that note I would like to add one more THANK YOU to all my peers for helping me out. Props to Qom for being patient and working with me on my essays and our projects. I sincerely mean it, this class would be sooooo much more difficult without you all. Have a happy weekend!
I must say this English class is different than any I have taken. Its unique because majority of my learning has come from you guys! My peers have helped explain certain ideas, debate thoughts without criticism, and help edit my papers. I’ve also gained some knowledge from reading blogs, doing PDR’s, and participating in group stuff. So thank you all so much for helping me out! Much appreciated, I’ve learned quite a bit!
I have also enjoyed the reading selection for this class, the novels are interesting and require critical thinking. Some have been a challenge to read and to keep up with but thus far it has enriched my brain with valuable information. It has been refreshing to rekindle the beauty of the language that lies beneath the text. The use of blogger has also helped to further explain some of the underlying language.
I have enjoyed everyone’s blogs, its been a great way to see a little more of each others personality through our thoughts and views. There has been a few of your blogs that made me think of another side of some of the reading that I wouldn’t have realized before. As I mentioned I think its great we are able to communicate through this medium with respect and interest in each others views. Even if I don’t agree with someone’s view its helped me gain perspective of a different stance.
Group interaction has allowed me to gain knowledge from my peers, it has also been a large portion of change in my writing. Between Varamin and Qom I have seen several different writing styles, and have gotten back much constructive criticism. The PDR process has been quite beneficial to me. Thanks Qom! Having everyone review your work helps catch little niches I wouldn’t have found. Plus I am a terrible…terrible copywriter. So the input is so useful, the comments help reinforce the strengths and weaknesses and helps easily translate in revision. Big help that’s for sure!
Though I entered certain facets of this class with a rocky start, I have been able to find the benefits and reason for what at first seemed like a hassle. The reading, writing, and peer interaction has strengthened my writing by reinforcing certain techniques and helping to rid my text from flaws or misunderstanding. It has been an intense run, and it is not over yet. So lets continue to work together to gain understanding of our hidden writing talents.
Well on that note I would like to add one more THANK YOU to all my peers for helping me out. Props to Qom for being patient and working with me on my essays and our projects. I sincerely mean it, this class would be sooooo much more difficult without you all. Have a happy weekend!
Friday, October 22, 2010
"Wanna take a ride on my disco stick?"
Hello Bloggers! Another Happy Friday. I hope all is well in our little cyber neighborhood. Anyway, this week I’m writing about media’s role in ugly language. The essays in out textbook brought up interesting ideas about a persistent issue. We all have been exposed to some sort of judgmental insults in our lives. Its not a fun experience but one to learn from none the less. Many want to blame the media for popularizing the use of prejudicial language. Yet I think the root of the issue lies a lot deeper.
It is my belief that it all starts at home, how and even where a person is raised. We all can acknowledge some of the strong cultural and environmental traits among our parents. The language that they speak, becomes the voice we pick up. For example, my step father is Mexican and was born and raised in Venice Beach. I hate to cast prejudice on my dad, but some time he can be a walking stereotype. Yet back to point, his language has rubbed off on my younger siblings. My little brother called one of his friends a vato, which if some don’t know, it’s a Spanish reference to a male. Sounds harmless but most of us know that in the real word this type of language is interpreted as gang slang. It is something that both father and son was raised hearing, there fore there use of the word echoes amongst others. It tends to begin the spread of judgment and preconceived notions of a person
Now don’t get me wrong, the media does play a crucial role is pushing the use of this language. Yet to be fair to media, its exploits anything popular even if this includes language. Making something popular is our job. Yet certain facets of the media are more aggressive than others, many seem to be following. Music has been a source of freedom for many people and meaningful to the artist that made it. Yet to me it seems that use of certain words are plaguing the music we listen to. Its not just bad for the younger kids that are listening, it degrades the art all together. Some rappers make songs that have “nigga” or “ho” as every other word. MTV eats it up and plays the video in between reality shows. Lady Gaga is also guilty, her memorable outfits and catchy songs is being pushed on the public. I walked out of a wal-mart awhile back when a girl, maybe 8, brushed past me singing “want to take a ride on my disco stick.” Though I think the most appalling part about it was the fact that her mother was strolling right beside her.
It is not right that the media manipulates the pubic with there scandalous schemes. Yet it has been this way for quite awhile now and very parent knows children will soak up everything. In this generation we find kids being raised by the media, between music, TV, and video games some begin to know no better. Its inevitable that this person would pick up on the over dramatic cues of some of these media facets. Yet I think people need to take control of how our children are being raised. Let them grow up and decide if they want a mouth of a sailor.
Anyway- that’s what I got to say. I will talk to everyone soon!
It is my belief that it all starts at home, how and even where a person is raised. We all can acknowledge some of the strong cultural and environmental traits among our parents. The language that they speak, becomes the voice we pick up. For example, my step father is Mexican and was born and raised in Venice Beach. I hate to cast prejudice on my dad, but some time he can be a walking stereotype. Yet back to point, his language has rubbed off on my younger siblings. My little brother called one of his friends a vato, which if some don’t know, it’s a Spanish reference to a male. Sounds harmless but most of us know that in the real word this type of language is interpreted as gang slang. It is something that both father and son was raised hearing, there fore there use of the word echoes amongst others. It tends to begin the spread of judgment and preconceived notions of a person
Now don’t get me wrong, the media does play a crucial role is pushing the use of this language. Yet to be fair to media, its exploits anything popular even if this includes language. Making something popular is our job. Yet certain facets of the media are more aggressive than others, many seem to be following. Music has been a source of freedom for many people and meaningful to the artist that made it. Yet to me it seems that use of certain words are plaguing the music we listen to. Its not just bad for the younger kids that are listening, it degrades the art all together. Some rappers make songs that have “nigga” or “ho” as every other word. MTV eats it up and plays the video in between reality shows. Lady Gaga is also guilty, her memorable outfits and catchy songs is being pushed on the public. I walked out of a wal-mart awhile back when a girl, maybe 8, brushed past me singing “want to take a ride on my disco stick.” Though I think the most appalling part about it was the fact that her mother was strolling right beside her.
It is not right that the media manipulates the pubic with there scandalous schemes. Yet it has been this way for quite awhile now and very parent knows children will soak up everything. In this generation we find kids being raised by the media, between music, TV, and video games some begin to know no better. Its inevitable that this person would pick up on the over dramatic cues of some of these media facets. Yet I think people need to take control of how our children are being raised. Let them grow up and decide if they want a mouth of a sailor.
Anyway- that’s what I got to say. I will talk to everyone soon!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Happiness or Self Respect
Happy Friday Bloggers! Hope everyone’s week has been great. My week has been consumed with biology. Practical and midterm oh my! Hopefully you all have lasted through your midterms- we can finally get some sleep. Anyway beside my little personal notes, my blog is going to be based on prompt two of our assignments. This question relates to a quote found on page 225 of Reading Lolita in Tehran. What do I believe is more important, happiness or self respect?
At first glance this question seems to pose a pretty straightforward answer, yet as I thought about it, the idea relates pretty closely to me. I think that happiness has to start from the deepest depths of ourselves. True happiness at least and this to me would encompass self respect. Yet I think there is a large difference in being happy and being content. I say this because in the beginning of the paragraph that this quote is found, Nafisi when describing James’s characters, says the protagonists are unhappy yet have an aura of victory at the end of the novels. To me, by gaining self respect pride should show through therefore showing happiness. This sentence seemed to give a feeling of the characters being content rather than truly happy. She goes on to say that it has more to do with a settling of oneself. Though I think this idea is a pretty good base to happiness, how do you know your happy is you can’t acknowledge yourself.
Now I know as all things, happiness is never that simple. Many factors of our lives play a part in our attitudes and demeanors. Though I do think that self respect is key in our overall happiness. We all have bad days but as I said that true happiness is inside. Yet if we can’t look ourselves in the mirror in the morning, happiness is the last feeling bursting inside. Self respect is that ability to look at yourself and be happy with the decisions you’ve made or the battles you’ve waged. We all have our sense of right and wrong- and deep down inside the respect for ourselves is either there or not. Often times we need reinforcement, whether good or bad, it seems to be a reminder of our view of ourselves. Similar to this I think when Nafisi talks about the difficulty of gaining self respect, it’s more so the fight of facing ourselves. Until one can overcome this there life will always remain, as Nafisi quotes “as it were.”
We can often spend our whole lives trying to be happy. Yet I think the key to true happiness is easier than many think. By being open to ourselves and brave enough to face a skeleton or two, we could achieve anything especially the happiness we chase. Having respect for ourselves expels confidence and radiates pride. Which in turn warms us with a gleeful pleasure. Therefore I feel you cant really have one without the other. The importance of happiness is self explanatory, yet the building bocks inside of us have to be solid before perusing such a pleasure.
Well that’s what I got, I will be bugging everyone soon.
At first glance this question seems to pose a pretty straightforward answer, yet as I thought about it, the idea relates pretty closely to me. I think that happiness has to start from the deepest depths of ourselves. True happiness at least and this to me would encompass self respect. Yet I think there is a large difference in being happy and being content. I say this because in the beginning of the paragraph that this quote is found, Nafisi when describing James’s characters, says the protagonists are unhappy yet have an aura of victory at the end of the novels. To me, by gaining self respect pride should show through therefore showing happiness. This sentence seemed to give a feeling of the characters being content rather than truly happy. She goes on to say that it has more to do with a settling of oneself. Though I think this idea is a pretty good base to happiness, how do you know your happy is you can’t acknowledge yourself.
Now I know as all things, happiness is never that simple. Many factors of our lives play a part in our attitudes and demeanors. Though I do think that self respect is key in our overall happiness. We all have bad days but as I said that true happiness is inside. Yet if we can’t look ourselves in the mirror in the morning, happiness is the last feeling bursting inside. Self respect is that ability to look at yourself and be happy with the decisions you’ve made or the battles you’ve waged. We all have our sense of right and wrong- and deep down inside the respect for ourselves is either there or not. Often times we need reinforcement, whether good or bad, it seems to be a reminder of our view of ourselves. Similar to this I think when Nafisi talks about the difficulty of gaining self respect, it’s more so the fight of facing ourselves. Until one can overcome this there life will always remain, as Nafisi quotes “as it were.”
We can often spend our whole lives trying to be happy. Yet I think the key to true happiness is easier than many think. By being open to ourselves and brave enough to face a skeleton or two, we could achieve anything especially the happiness we chase. Having respect for ourselves expels confidence and radiates pride. Which in turn warms us with a gleeful pleasure. Therefore I feel you cant really have one without the other. The importance of happiness is self explanatory, yet the building bocks inside of us have to be solid before perusing such a pleasure.
Well that’s what I got, I will be bugging everyone soon.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Challenging My Beliefs
Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! I hope everyone’s week has gone well. Any who here we go week 7 and another English reading blog. This time around I’m writing about a time were my beliefs were challenged. Question two on page 315 of our EL text. This topic is interesting because I try to pride myself on being open to other peoples beliefs. I have found myself discovering fascinating information from other people. Yet this has also lead me to question a lot of my thoughts.
I have never really ran into a defining moment of challenge, yet I have put bits and pieces of information together. Call it passive but most of the time I thrive on discovering the other persons viewpoint. I’ve found people really like talking about themselves and I enjoy hearing about it. Yet when the tables are turned and I am being questioned I find it very hard to disclose my real feelings. Therefore my beliefs are seldom in the spotlight. After reading Wheatley’s essay I found that this poor communication habit of mine is sort of doing a disservice for the world. I’m only shaping my own views and not contributing to those of others. I think in my case I need to do a little less listening and a little more talking.
Yet eventually I find that logically the info I have doesn’t fit a current thought or idea of mine. I have found that as I’ve gotten older my thoughts and views have become a tad more rational then my crazy high school days. Its been both beneficial but it has also filled my life with plenty of confusion. Wheatley in her essay explains how change always starts with confusion. Though I must say it is quite a frightening thing, to think I know something well- only to find myself second guessing it. “It is very difficult to give up our certainties- the positions, beliefs, and explanations that lie at the heart of our personal identities,” (Para 21). Yet she goes on to say that if we have enough courage to enter the abyss, we are rewarded greatly. Her essay seems to hit home with me, as I am meandering in the abyss.
This essay has showed me that the way I communicate is not necessarily the most effective. Rather than just soaking up information from other people I need to seriously have some input of my own. I think I downplay just how powerful the contribution of my thoughts are. Perhaps I feel there not as important as those of other people. Yet this essay has allowed me to see a more effective way of facilitating conversations were all parties win. Though sharing thoughts seem a little risky, it can open up the world to change, “Whatever any one of us knows alone, it is not enough to change things,” (par 13). My “willingness to be disturbed” and have my beliefs challenged has largely contributed to my open-mindedness. Yet it has also hindered my skills, thanks to Wheatley’s essay I have found that I must use moderation when instigating conversation. Transform my listening skills to equally efficient talking skills. Anyway my fellow bloggers, I hope you also can enlightened by Wheatley’s essay. Hope to hear from ya soon.
I have never really ran into a defining moment of challenge, yet I have put bits and pieces of information together. Call it passive but most of the time I thrive on discovering the other persons viewpoint. I’ve found people really like talking about themselves and I enjoy hearing about it. Yet when the tables are turned and I am being questioned I find it very hard to disclose my real feelings. Therefore my beliefs are seldom in the spotlight. After reading Wheatley’s essay I found that this poor communication habit of mine is sort of doing a disservice for the world. I’m only shaping my own views and not contributing to those of others. I think in my case I need to do a little less listening and a little more talking.
Yet eventually I find that logically the info I have doesn’t fit a current thought or idea of mine. I have found that as I’ve gotten older my thoughts and views have become a tad more rational then my crazy high school days. Its been both beneficial but it has also filled my life with plenty of confusion. Wheatley in her essay explains how change always starts with confusion. Though I must say it is quite a frightening thing, to think I know something well- only to find myself second guessing it. “It is very difficult to give up our certainties- the positions, beliefs, and explanations that lie at the heart of our personal identities,” (Para 21). Yet she goes on to say that if we have enough courage to enter the abyss, we are rewarded greatly. Her essay seems to hit home with me, as I am meandering in the abyss.
This essay has showed me that the way I communicate is not necessarily the most effective. Rather than just soaking up information from other people I need to seriously have some input of my own. I think I downplay just how powerful the contribution of my thoughts are. Perhaps I feel there not as important as those of other people. Yet this essay has allowed me to see a more effective way of facilitating conversations were all parties win. Though sharing thoughts seem a little risky, it can open up the world to change, “Whatever any one of us knows alone, it is not enough to change things,” (par 13). My “willingness to be disturbed” and have my beliefs challenged has largely contributed to my open-mindedness. Yet it has also hindered my skills, thanks to Wheatley’s essay I have found that I must use moderation when instigating conversation. Transform my listening skills to equally efficient talking skills. Anyway my fellow bloggers, I hope you also can enlightened by Wheatley’s essay. Hope to hear from ya soon.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Analyze Me, By Me...
Hello Again!
Well first of all I want to apologize to for not posting a blog last week, time got ahead of me- a little bit of life did too. But any who I’m back! I’m aiming toward a fresh start for our new month and new season. Hurray! Anyway back to the blog…
The essays in this chapter were quite interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with interpersonal communication. It may be a little weird but I quite enjoy analyzing the way we communicate with each other. Anything from verbal communication or even body language, it can speak volumes about a person. Now on the other hand it is a little more difficult to analyze my own communicative ways. Yet I’m going to try and pin point a few of the quirks I am aware of.
Sometimes I find that I live in a bubble of happy delusion. It’s nice, but often times it makes it hard to touch base with reality. So obviously the view of myself can be a bit fuzzy sometimes. I have been told by a few friends that when they first met me they were afraid to talk to me. They were intimidated because I have a bunch of metal in my face, colored hair, and tattoos. It was sort of disheartening because I saw how easily a person can judge a book by its cover. This first impression could have delayed a great friendship. Even though I look like I bite, I enjoy hugs more.
Something else that has been pointed out to me is facial expression. Sometimes I mean to exaggerate but often times its sort of involuntary. I almost never have a strait face, a smile suits me. Yet I’ve found my self lifting one eyebrow, flaring my nostrils, and letting my jaw drop. It doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, perhaps it shows people I’m listening when I give such reactions. Though sometimes, it can be misinterpreted. Body language for me can big hints at how a person is feeling. So it makes me wonder how my body language is viewed. Along the lines of facial expression, is eye contact. Maybe its because I’m a woman but I find myself staring into people’s eyes as they talk to me. For me it’s a sign that I’m interested and listening. Working on the air force base, I’ve found some cultures don’t appreciate this act of body language. So when talking with some of my elder Korean co-workers I have to look away. These vibes can be good for some and bad for others, its really a matter of interpretation.
Yet this sort of help shape the vibes I was putting out. I try to let my personality show through my colorful physical appearance. Show people that certain assertions can be misleading, and perhaps fatal to a good thing. I would hope my hippie liberal, happy-go-lucky, laid back vibes would rub off on people. Its interesting to try to see how people view me based solely on nonverbal cues. Yet interpretation is diverse and bias, one has to be able to see through the shell.
Anyway that’s all for now, see everyone soon!
Vanessa
Well first of all I want to apologize to for not posting a blog last week, time got ahead of me- a little bit of life did too. But any who I’m back! I’m aiming toward a fresh start for our new month and new season. Hurray! Anyway back to the blog…
The essays in this chapter were quite interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with interpersonal communication. It may be a little weird but I quite enjoy analyzing the way we communicate with each other. Anything from verbal communication or even body language, it can speak volumes about a person. Now on the other hand it is a little more difficult to analyze my own communicative ways. Yet I’m going to try and pin point a few of the quirks I am aware of.
Sometimes I find that I live in a bubble of happy delusion. It’s nice, but often times it makes it hard to touch base with reality. So obviously the view of myself can be a bit fuzzy sometimes. I have been told by a few friends that when they first met me they were afraid to talk to me. They were intimidated because I have a bunch of metal in my face, colored hair, and tattoos. It was sort of disheartening because I saw how easily a person can judge a book by its cover. This first impression could have delayed a great friendship. Even though I look like I bite, I enjoy hugs more.
Something else that has been pointed out to me is facial expression. Sometimes I mean to exaggerate but often times its sort of involuntary. I almost never have a strait face, a smile suits me. Yet I’ve found my self lifting one eyebrow, flaring my nostrils, and letting my jaw drop. It doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, perhaps it shows people I’m listening when I give such reactions. Though sometimes, it can be misinterpreted. Body language for me can big hints at how a person is feeling. So it makes me wonder how my body language is viewed. Along the lines of facial expression, is eye contact. Maybe its because I’m a woman but I find myself staring into people’s eyes as they talk to me. For me it’s a sign that I’m interested and listening. Working on the air force base, I’ve found some cultures don’t appreciate this act of body language. So when talking with some of my elder Korean co-workers I have to look away. These vibes can be good for some and bad for others, its really a matter of interpretation.
Yet this sort of help shape the vibes I was putting out. I try to let my personality show through my colorful physical appearance. Show people that certain assertions can be misleading, and perhaps fatal to a good thing. I would hope my hippie liberal, happy-go-lucky, laid back vibes would rub off on people. Its interesting to try to see how people view me based solely on nonverbal cues. Yet interpretation is diverse and bias, one has to be able to see through the shell.
Anyway that’s all for now, see everyone soon!
Vanessa
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Organized Thinking
Hello Again bloggers!
This week in English 103 we have studied different tips and tid-bits of making our writing better. I have discovered several new ways of improving, one essay in particular seemed to speak to my writing interest and where I want to go with it. Written by Anne Lamott her essay entitled “Getting Started” is great advice for anyone looking to really delve into their writing talents.
As I had mentioned before about myself, I am actually quite enthusiastic about writing. I want a career in journalism, and eventually one day I would really like to publish a novel. For years now I’ve had an idea of the story I’d like to tell. Yet the challenge is taking so much information and many memories and organizing them into a story easy to understand. Each time I’ve attempted its ended in jumbled ideas and several start over’s. I found Lamott was able to organize the process and in grave detail. She begins in paragraph five by asking questions to spark memories of childhood. Lamott explains how a writer should retrace memory, starting one grade at a time. “You might start by writing down every single thing you can remember from your first few years of school.” (pg 102). Now I haven’t gotten too far with this yet, but by re-looking through photos and yearbooks I’ve gotten a few notes of my past clearly jotted down. It sort of eases the stress of the process for me. Then by paragraph seven she expands into other questions branching from the above mentioned. Such as focusing on big events and holidays during these times. I really enjoy when she says, “Write down all the stuff you swore you’d never tell another soul,” page 103. This factor definitely makes for a juicy story.
The other reason I enjoyed this essay so much is because of the detail she puts into describing the actual writing process. She makes the horribly painful ordeal of staring at a computer screen waiting for words to leave your brain, hilarious. Her diction in general is knowledge because it clearly forms an image. Such as this quote from paragraph 9, “But you hold an imaginary gun to your head and make yourself sit at the desk.” Effective language, gave me a few thoughts of literary suicide. Lamott is also honest in her writing advice, paragraph 11 she talks about how there is no secret creativity code. It sort of me feel a little more confident in my writing to know I’m not the only one that has to muster up creative thoughts. She goes on to explain how persistence and obsession will eventually find the miracle paragraph. After Lamott’s intensely detailed direction on how to organize and express our thoughts she finishes her guidance with a defining sentence. She begins by telling of how your story begins to materialize then says “…you are learning what you aren’t writing, helping you to find out what you are writing.”
All of this sort of boosted my writing ego, I am able to see how to better organize my thoughts before sitting in front of the computer for hours. I enjoyed this essay, I hope all you guys were able to get something out of it too. Anyway, that’s all for now. See everyone soon.
This week in English 103 we have studied different tips and tid-bits of making our writing better. I have discovered several new ways of improving, one essay in particular seemed to speak to my writing interest and where I want to go with it. Written by Anne Lamott her essay entitled “Getting Started” is great advice for anyone looking to really delve into their writing talents.
As I had mentioned before about myself, I am actually quite enthusiastic about writing. I want a career in journalism, and eventually one day I would really like to publish a novel. For years now I’ve had an idea of the story I’d like to tell. Yet the challenge is taking so much information and many memories and organizing them into a story easy to understand. Each time I’ve attempted its ended in jumbled ideas and several start over’s. I found Lamott was able to organize the process and in grave detail. She begins in paragraph five by asking questions to spark memories of childhood. Lamott explains how a writer should retrace memory, starting one grade at a time. “You might start by writing down every single thing you can remember from your first few years of school.” (pg 102). Now I haven’t gotten too far with this yet, but by re-looking through photos and yearbooks I’ve gotten a few notes of my past clearly jotted down. It sort of eases the stress of the process for me. Then by paragraph seven she expands into other questions branching from the above mentioned. Such as focusing on big events and holidays during these times. I really enjoy when she says, “Write down all the stuff you swore you’d never tell another soul,” page 103. This factor definitely makes for a juicy story.
The other reason I enjoyed this essay so much is because of the detail she puts into describing the actual writing process. She makes the horribly painful ordeal of staring at a computer screen waiting for words to leave your brain, hilarious. Her diction in general is knowledge because it clearly forms an image. Such as this quote from paragraph 9, “But you hold an imaginary gun to your head and make yourself sit at the desk.” Effective language, gave me a few thoughts of literary suicide. Lamott is also honest in her writing advice, paragraph 11 she talks about how there is no secret creativity code. It sort of me feel a little more confident in my writing to know I’m not the only one that has to muster up creative thoughts. She goes on to explain how persistence and obsession will eventually find the miracle paragraph. After Lamott’s intensely detailed direction on how to organize and express our thoughts she finishes her guidance with a defining sentence. She begins by telling of how your story begins to materialize then says “…you are learning what you aren’t writing, helping you to find out what you are writing.”
All of this sort of boosted my writing ego, I am able to see how to better organize my thoughts before sitting in front of the computer for hours. I enjoyed this essay, I hope all you guys were able to get something out of it too. Anyway, that’s all for now. See everyone soon.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Letter to the Editor, RE: Al Gore
Hello again English 103 bloggers!
Sorry I got to everyone so late, I’ve found week three to be a little bit hectic for me. But I’m writing through it. Anyway, this week our prompt came from page 555 of our textbook. Of which I chose the first prompt, Letter to the Editor:
This letter is in regard to a speech published in your textbook, Exploring Language. “Nobel Lecture on Global Warming” by Al Gore seems to adequately explore the facts in Global Warming. I found it quite interesting that this was a lecture to be featured in the book. Given three years ago when he received a Nobel Prize for his work and influence in world climate change, his words have echoed and have slowly taken effect. We can witness a transition appearing around us.
In his speech Gore seems to first target individuals with effective ways of diction. Then as his speech goes on it seems to slowly gain wider perspective of the issue. He gives examples of today’s damages from climate related natural disasters. Gives note to the thousands of families that had found themselves homeless from natural destruction. Then backing this with solid scientific fact regarding Carbon Dioxide emissions. He eventually explains how his mission has lead him into convincing entire countries to get green, signing emissions treaties and moving toward a cleaner life. Yet with his own country failing to conform, he has become the fore front for the stop to Global Warming. Thus earning him a Nobel Prize.
In order to convey his message Gore illustrated quite colorful word usage. At some points of his speech, I felt the urgency. He explains in paragraph 12 how U.S. Navy researchers have warned that the North Polar Ice Cap could fall off a cliff in as little at seven years. I enjoy how he repeats “Seven years from now,” for effect. This idea is also compatible with ethos, pathos, and logos as we’ve been studying. First he uses logic and fact by a credible source. Then he is using a emotional plea by inferring that our entire species is liable for extinction buy the damage we’ve cause on the earth. He also borrows quotes from many influential people, gaining credibility. My favorite is his reference to a quote by the poet Robert Frost, “Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice. Either would suffice.” So grim and scary, almost forces you to take action. I must admit for me his speech was well written and clearly thought out.
I was pleased to see Al Gore’s speech, because it needs to be reminded and not forgotten. Even if some don’t feel Global Warming is an issue, Gore’s speech can be viewed in a personal way. He speaks of consumption and dependence, in this case, on product that emits CO2 into the atmosphere. Yet even this issue could be solved if each and everyone of us cut our bad habits in half. Things as simple as turning the lights off when you leave a room or turning the faucet off when you brush your teeth. I feel Gore was only trying to take an individuals change and ripple it through communities. Urge the human race to merge toward a better more self sufficient life.
Sorry I got to everyone so late, I’ve found week three to be a little bit hectic for me. But I’m writing through it. Anyway, this week our prompt came from page 555 of our textbook. Of which I chose the first prompt, Letter to the Editor:
This letter is in regard to a speech published in your textbook, Exploring Language. “Nobel Lecture on Global Warming” by Al Gore seems to adequately explore the facts in Global Warming. I found it quite interesting that this was a lecture to be featured in the book. Given three years ago when he received a Nobel Prize for his work and influence in world climate change, his words have echoed and have slowly taken effect. We can witness a transition appearing around us.
In his speech Gore seems to first target individuals with effective ways of diction. Then as his speech goes on it seems to slowly gain wider perspective of the issue. He gives examples of today’s damages from climate related natural disasters. Gives note to the thousands of families that had found themselves homeless from natural destruction. Then backing this with solid scientific fact regarding Carbon Dioxide emissions. He eventually explains how his mission has lead him into convincing entire countries to get green, signing emissions treaties and moving toward a cleaner life. Yet with his own country failing to conform, he has become the fore front for the stop to Global Warming. Thus earning him a Nobel Prize.
In order to convey his message Gore illustrated quite colorful word usage. At some points of his speech, I felt the urgency. He explains in paragraph 12 how U.S. Navy researchers have warned that the North Polar Ice Cap could fall off a cliff in as little at seven years. I enjoy how he repeats “Seven years from now,” for effect. This idea is also compatible with ethos, pathos, and logos as we’ve been studying. First he uses logic and fact by a credible source. Then he is using a emotional plea by inferring that our entire species is liable for extinction buy the damage we’ve cause on the earth. He also borrows quotes from many influential people, gaining credibility. My favorite is his reference to a quote by the poet Robert Frost, “Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice. Either would suffice.” So grim and scary, almost forces you to take action. I must admit for me his speech was well written and clearly thought out.
I was pleased to see Al Gore’s speech, because it needs to be reminded and not forgotten. Even if some don’t feel Global Warming is an issue, Gore’s speech can be viewed in a personal way. He speaks of consumption and dependence, in this case, on product that emits CO2 into the atmosphere. Yet even this issue could be solved if each and everyone of us cut our bad habits in half. Things as simple as turning the lights off when you leave a room or turning the faucet off when you brush your teeth. I feel Gore was only trying to take an individuals change and ripple it through communities. Urge the human race to merge toward a better more self sufficient life.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
What?!
Hello all my English 103 friends! I hope all is well in blog town. So this week has been mostly about language. Epiphany, knowledge and even failure in how language effects people. For my entry, I want to talk about a communication barrier I had as a child that has stuck with me to adult. Yet dealing with it in my youth has made it easier for me to live and learn with.
When I was about six years old, I had an ear infection that got so bad my eardrum burst and I had to go into surgery. They tried to fixed the damaged eardrum yet the doctors said I would experience hearing loss. Though it didn’t turn out that way, I suppose “hearing loss” is was optimistic words, because afterwards I was almost completely deaf in my left ear. Needless to say “what” became a large part of conversation, I constantly needed people to repeat themselves. The most embarrassing part as a kid was when someone told me a secret in my bad ear, I had no clue what they said. As a kid that kind of thing is weird and different, I may as well have had cooties. I found it really hard to adjust to the world when I could only kind of hear it. I would feel dumb when people would laugh at the way I said things, or even when people would give up trying to tell me things because the didn’t want to repeat themselves a million times.
Eventually it came to the point that my elementary school refused to enroll me without a hearing aid. Not easily affordable by my parents, I had to figure out a way to get by without it. I would catch myself staring at the kid next to me so my good ear would be pointed toward the teacher. So I stopped talking, nodded a lot, and learned how to read lips. I got pretty good at it and was finally able to hold a conversation without feeling stupid or crazy. Yet even reading lips gave me a habit of pronouncing words incorrectly, I remember getting ambulance wrong several time on spelling tests because I couldn’t say it right, therefore sounding it out didn’t work. Though I have figured out how to deal with my lack of hearing as an adult, I still have instances were it becomes a communication difficulty. In high school I wrote a short story and used a scene were someone is in a car looking out the “rear-view” mirror. Well I had no clue that’s what it was called, sounds ridiculous but people say it so fast I never understood how to say the word. Anyway I spelt rear view-rervue. I can laugh about it now but for a teacher to correct me I felt pretty stupid then. It’s never easy to deal with the loss of one of your senses, but oddly enough it has made me a great listener and self learner.
In our Exploring Language text we do have an example of Helen Keller and her struggle with being deaf and blind. Yet for me the author I most closely relate to on this subject is Malcolm X. A man who created a prison education for himself. I relate because, granted I wasn’t in jail, but I was metaphorically imprisoned. I went from being a normal kid to being thrown into a world I couldn’t hear. Like being stuck in a foreign country and not speaking the language. On page 66 paragraph 7 he says “ It was because of my letters that I happened to stumble upon starting to acquire some kind of a home made education.” This sticks in my mind because I also gave myself a knowledge from reading lips, books and honing in anything I could hear. Though certain things take a little extra effort or accommodation, in the long run my language difficulty has benefited from observation.
Well that's-that for now. I'll be harrassing everyone's blogs soon :)
Vanessa!!!
When I was about six years old, I had an ear infection that got so bad my eardrum burst and I had to go into surgery. They tried to fixed the damaged eardrum yet the doctors said I would experience hearing loss. Though it didn’t turn out that way, I suppose “hearing loss” is was optimistic words, because afterwards I was almost completely deaf in my left ear. Needless to say “what” became a large part of conversation, I constantly needed people to repeat themselves. The most embarrassing part as a kid was when someone told me a secret in my bad ear, I had no clue what they said. As a kid that kind of thing is weird and different, I may as well have had cooties. I found it really hard to adjust to the world when I could only kind of hear it. I would feel dumb when people would laugh at the way I said things, or even when people would give up trying to tell me things because the didn’t want to repeat themselves a million times.
Eventually it came to the point that my elementary school refused to enroll me without a hearing aid. Not easily affordable by my parents, I had to figure out a way to get by without it. I would catch myself staring at the kid next to me so my good ear would be pointed toward the teacher. So I stopped talking, nodded a lot, and learned how to read lips. I got pretty good at it and was finally able to hold a conversation without feeling stupid or crazy. Yet even reading lips gave me a habit of pronouncing words incorrectly, I remember getting ambulance wrong several time on spelling tests because I couldn’t say it right, therefore sounding it out didn’t work. Though I have figured out how to deal with my lack of hearing as an adult, I still have instances were it becomes a communication difficulty. In high school I wrote a short story and used a scene were someone is in a car looking out the “rear-view” mirror. Well I had no clue that’s what it was called, sounds ridiculous but people say it so fast I never understood how to say the word. Anyway I spelt rear view-rervue. I can laugh about it now but for a teacher to correct me I felt pretty stupid then. It’s never easy to deal with the loss of one of your senses, but oddly enough it has made me a great listener and self learner.
In our Exploring Language text we do have an example of Helen Keller and her struggle with being deaf and blind. Yet for me the author I most closely relate to on this subject is Malcolm X. A man who created a prison education for himself. I relate because, granted I wasn’t in jail, but I was metaphorically imprisoned. I went from being a normal kid to being thrown into a world I couldn’t hear. Like being stuck in a foreign country and not speaking the language. On page 66 paragraph 7 he says “ It was because of my letters that I happened to stumble upon starting to acquire some kind of a home made education.” This sticks in my mind because I also gave myself a knowledge from reading lips, books and honing in anything I could hear. Though certain things take a little extra effort or accommodation, in the long run my language difficulty has benefited from observation.
Well that's-that for now. I'll be harrassing everyone's blogs soon :)
Vanessa!!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
My New Old Eng 103 Blog
Hello and welcome to my blog/ reading journal. For my first new blog post of the semester I'm going to discuss what critical thinking means to me. Sounds challenging but after a few thoughts I realized I analyze things way more than I even noticed. Basically I see critical thinking as looking beyond something to metaphoric meaning, or simply challenging my ideas and thoughts. Most of that has to do with analyzing, in order to bring more understanding to something. As far as literature goes, I love to look beyond the words covering the pages. I find it delectably interesting that one can find so much more of a story when the diction of a novel is analyzed. It can interpreted from so many different perspectives. Yet this carries over to many different things that influence us everyday. I feel critical thinking has to be used in everyday life, or us as people would fall for the same old tricks politicians and media are always feeding us. It is defiantly a great life skill to be able to think critically about what those words really mean.
I am naturally a person that looks for the deeper meaning to everything therefore that habit translates into many facets of my life. I can understand more easily the meaning behind things than what is given to me at face value. Its hard to describe but I'm tuned into the metaphors of life, people, and even myself. Its reality I have a hard time understanding. I feel like certain things are more meaningful when they are not easily viewable by the average or untrained eyes. Yet sadly I do think critical thinking, similar to common sense, is being forgotten by the masses. This skill as I said is not used purely academically, it can as simple as thinking about something before acting on it. Pondering pro's, cons, and anything in between. Personally I think, my deeper thinking has helped push me into my chosen career of journalism and photography. A journalist has to be able to think critically on the spot, perhaps they're thrown a curve-ball in an interview, they have to be able to ponder the situation to come up with valid questions to regain a story. Its not that easy, especially on the spot. From a photography perspective critical thinking is used just to set up the shot let alone calculate light and color.
I think this class is going to help hone in my critical thinking skills, and also teach me a few different ways to approach the subject. Show me new ways to analyze and perhaps it may even show me a few more views of the world. Literature wise I do feel it can help improve my analysis skills, after all the more knowledge the better. One day I hope to write my own book and use these ideas to make something meaningful beyond the see-able diction. I feel what will be learned can be useable far beyond this class. It will also be interesting interacting with every one via the internet and learning new techniques from my bedroom but I'm excited for the challenge and new knowledge. Any who, that's about all I've got. Until next time.... Vanessa!! :)
I am naturally a person that looks for the deeper meaning to everything therefore that habit translates into many facets of my life. I can understand more easily the meaning behind things than what is given to me at face value. Its hard to describe but I'm tuned into the metaphors of life, people, and even myself. Its reality I have a hard time understanding. I feel like certain things are more meaningful when they are not easily viewable by the average or untrained eyes. Yet sadly I do think critical thinking, similar to common sense, is being forgotten by the masses. This skill as I said is not used purely academically, it can as simple as thinking about something before acting on it. Pondering pro's, cons, and anything in between. Personally I think, my deeper thinking has helped push me into my chosen career of journalism and photography. A journalist has to be able to think critically on the spot, perhaps they're thrown a curve-ball in an interview, they have to be able to ponder the situation to come up with valid questions to regain a story. Its not that easy, especially on the spot. From a photography perspective critical thinking is used just to set up the shot let alone calculate light and color.
I think this class is going to help hone in my critical thinking skills, and also teach me a few different ways to approach the subject. Show me new ways to analyze and perhaps it may even show me a few more views of the world. Literature wise I do feel it can help improve my analysis skills, after all the more knowledge the better. One day I hope to write my own book and use these ideas to make something meaningful beyond the see-able diction. I feel what will be learned can be useable far beyond this class. It will also be interesting interacting with every one via the internet and learning new techniques from my bedroom but I'm excited for the challenge and new knowledge. Any who, that's about all I've got. Until next time.... Vanessa!! :)
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