Last Blog

Final and Last Stop…

Do you feel beaten? Left trudging back from the battle grounds of College work, slump over in defeat or head up in accomplishment from lasting the whole 16 weeks through? I have no clue just yet by next week I will defiantly need a chiropractor from nights spent up typing my last few thoughts out after having worked an eight hour work day and coming home to unfinished dishes and laundry, bills unpaid and the trash barrel yet to be pulled out to the curb.

I defiantly learned a lot about my self this term. It is a risk on ones GPA to succumb to the arrogance of conquering a challenging class like English 103, specifically if it is Professor Gross’s class. While the Professors intentions were well meaning I feel that I may have a few gray hairs from the stress. However was it all well worth it?

Absolutely! I love to read though more often for myself then to fill a requirement. However I would have not selected Reading Lolita in Tehran or Animal Farm, this is one thing that I enjoy about being in an English class or any course that introduces you to reading literature or essays. It introduces an individual to various aspects of writing styles, characters, plot, cultures and so forth. It helps us make connections to periods of time and issues, as well why we write, who are we writing for and what the connection is.

Another part of this course that was enlightening was essays we read in Exploring Language. Chapter two in particular was helpful to me. We all struggle with writing for me it is often my usage of small words. Reassurance by an author perspective of using small words I believe helps with having the confidence to write for others. In Richard Lederer essay The Case for Short Words (122), he states a rule, “Here is a rule: Use small old words where you can. If a long word says just what you want to say, do not fear to use it. But know that our tongue is rich in crisp, brisk, swift, short words.” This help with reassuring me that my writing style is still my. Lederer goes further to say, “Make them the spin and the heart of what you speak and write. Short words are like fast friends. They will not let you down.” I actually felt better about my writing after having read this essay and using small or complex words to facilitate my reading and writing abilities.

The essay topics introduce use to the complexities which exist in technology, cultural, communicating with others, the language which exists between social groups and gender. I believe helped to gain understanding and self awareness of how we write and who we are writing for, and to think critically when reading and writing. This was all important and lead to the fostering of a community within the class in exchanging our thoughts through blogging and sharing ideas.

All the work was intense although I feel that it help all of us become better writers by addressing our weakness and helping us to build and reinforce them. I take from this an understanding of areas within the writing and reading process that I need to address in order to become a better writer. 

To the Editor

This is an open letter to the Editor,

            I’ve just returned from Akron, Ohio. Where I was in attendance for the Women’s Rights Convention the year is 1851. The hall was full of women all white and one colored woman by the name of Sojourner Truth, she was a tall woman weathered in the face from the sun her features however soft. Most of the white women gasp at seeing this woman, Sojourner Truth though none had the nerve to have her removed from the hall. So she stayed as she was a woman and was this not a place for women’s interests?

During the first day of the many sermons that filled hall we mostly heard from ministers from many religious sects that were men. They had been there to remind us women of our duties and of duties of men. As I was just thinking that I had not come so far and risking my marriage to hear the sermons of a man’s view. On the duties of women to her family and Church. It is of the second day of speeches that Ms. Sojourner Truth rose and took to the podium. Many of the women were offended and even suggested that she not speak. Though no one intervene nor prevented her taking the podium.  

It is of this that I write to you, of the moving speech she delivered. I have never been so moved by such reasoning as when she stood there with such strong convictions when she addressed the hall of women. She was loud and powerful commanding the room for undivided attention. Ms. Truth compared the lines between men and women to those that stood there before her preaching to us women about having “Intellect,”  and what would we do if vote or own property.

Ms. Sojourner Truth stated that she had, “borne thirteen children most had been taken and sold off into slavery.” She was commanding by addressing the hall “Ain’t I a woman.” For she bore the marks of child birth but had to endure seeing almost all wrenched from her and sold.

Again she became louder when she belted out, “Ain’t I woman…for wanting to help into carriages and lifted over puddles…for having to plough and plant.” And here these men that spoke before her about a women’s place and the duties of a man to perform such tasks. Yet she continued to address the room of women and men about the origins of Christ. Explaining this she said, “Where did your God come from? From God came woman. Man had nothing to do with him.” To address the statement made, “women can’t have as much rights, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman.”

I was moved by Sojourner Truth her speech to the hall of women, she was powerful and moving. She had the courage to step forward and deliver an inspiring speech. When no other woman had step up to address the issues and the purpose for convening this Women’s Convention. I was truly inspired to advocate change to the life of the colored women. The realization came to me that we women have the same common interests of equality fighting for the same freedoms.

Thank You

Last Blog

Final and Last Stop…

Do you feel beaten? Left trudging back from the battle grounds of College work, slump over in defeat or head up in accomplishment from lasting the whole 16 weeks through? I have no clue just yet by next week I will defiantly need a chiropractor from nights spent up typing my last few thoughts out after having worked an eight hour work day and coming home to unfinished dishes and laundry, bills unpaid and the trash barrel yet to be pulled out to the curb.

I defiantly learned a lot about my self this term. It is a risk on ones GPA to succumb to the arrogance of conquering a challenging class like English 103, specifically if it is Professor Gross’s class. While the Professors intentions were well meaning I feel that I may have a few gray hairs from the stress. However was it all well worth it?

Absolutely! I love to read though more often for myself then to fill a requirement. However I would have not selected Reading Lolita in Tehran or Animal Farm, this is one thing that I enjoy about being in an English class or any course that introduces you to reading literature or essays. It introduces an individual to various aspects of writing styles, characters, plot, cultures and so forth. It helps us make connections to periods of time and issues, as well why we write, who are we writing for and what the connection is.

Another part of this course that was enlightening was essays we read in Exploring Language. Chapter two in particular was helpful to me. We all struggle with writing for me it is often my usage of small words. Reassurance by an author perspective of using small words I believe helps with having the confidence to write for others. In Richard Lederer essay The Case for Short Words (122), he states a rule, “Here is a rule: Use small old words where you can. If a long word says just what you want to say, do not fear to use it. But know that our tongue is rich in crisp, brisk, swift, short words.” This help with reassuring me that my writing style is still my. Lederer goes further to say, “Make them the spin and the heart of what you speak and write. Short words are like fast friends. They will not let you down.” I actually felt better about my writing after having read this essay and using small or complex words to facilitate my reading and writing abilities.

The essay topics introduce use to the complexities which exist in technology, cultural, communicating with others, the language which exists between social groups and gender. I believe helped to gain understanding and self awareness of how we write and who we are writing for, and to think critically when reading and writing. This was all important and lead to the fostering of a community within the class in exchanging our thoughts through blogging and sharing ideas.

All the work was intense although I feel that it help all of us become better writers by addressing our weakness and helping us to build and reinforce them. I take from this an understanding of areas within the writing and reading process that I need to address in order to become a better writer. 

Useful

Reading and Writing Freely

This semester we have focused on so many aspects of the reading and writing process. I certainly thought by English 101 I had done it all, but this English class has introduced me to other aspects of writing to consider.

First out of the gate was blogging. I had would have never thought an English Professor would actually use this tool in their class. It just seemed to be a social networking device that some individual could share their thoughts with others or as a journal. Though I think it helped encourage me a little more to write with the thought of reaching others out there. It became a useful tool that helped me be attentive towards my grammar and consider the forum to which I was writing for. The responding aspect of blogging was helpful it introduced me to various styles of writing out their by other persons. It was also another way that students of English 101 could again share thoughts and interact with one another like group work did.

Group work was interesting! It was like entering the classroom on the first day and getting to one another. Then allowing for the transference of ideas and opinions to happen and take place. It was constructive criticism from others that helped me see areas in my writing that needed improvement. I think it helped out a lot with my development in writing and deconstruction and analyzing essays. Group work I think was challenging at first however I believe the process itself help me focus more on what exactly was being asked of me to write and it helped me with teamwork skills because usually I tend to be a loner and work on my own.

What I found helpful was the discussion boards early on, as I was having technical difficulties with blackboard and understanding what was specifically that I had to do. So it was great to get homework help when I needed it, I am still working with some formatting issues and submitting. The Reading discussion forums was another great tool that was useful in helping to examine closely the plot, references made to history and similarities and characters of our reading. The generation that other students came up with through their examination through reading and then responding in the forum was insightful. It was useful to have others connect ideas and help me thinking or relate others during my reading.

What was great this semester was the peer draft reviews, PDR’s. The PDR’s were awesome! I love hearing from others what they thought of my essay’s and getting that feed back. I am not that confident when it comes to essay writing my first thoughts are that, “Am I doing this right?” or “This seems extremely boring and I am sure the Professor has heard it all before.” I was not too sure when we first had to do them but they helped to catch mistakes or unclear thoughts in my papers.

Essay’s are at first hard to get started then they run over and somewhere there I do not know what the heck the writer is talking about. This is were the PDR’s become helpful and provide insight into our essays by having other read it then answering . Writing and reading is most defiantly rough. It is great to have had these tools this semester. I think they have helped me with writing essay and considering a border spectrum of people. It has also help me understand reading effectively and what to look for.

Kill Me Now or at Least Drop by & Help Me!!!

Aguuuhhh!!! ! I hate this!!!

First off I hate research papers! That is all I have been doing this spring semester, is researching for this class and another class that I’m taking. One would think that after the first couple of papers that some things would fall right into place. This has not happen and I am beginning to wonder if it ever will.

I am stuck! My mind can not go any further! I have an idea but putting all the information together is difficult and it becomes confusing. I am hoping it all just makes sense. My best bet is to just write it out then go through it all once again. This is how I will spend all day tomorrow putting my thoughts into some form of psycho babble another weekend gone to hitting the books. I hate it! Because I need to be spending my time with math since I have such a difficult time with that. What makes if difficult about this online class is I just have this belief that I am doing it all wrong. What is this a revelation? Yes! I can say it I am afraid to fail. If I fail at least I tried right? Wrong because I will have to take it again so then I have wasted these weeks..

It has become difficult because I spend my time looking for research material that has some substance. By this I mean that has logic, not boring and worth considering. I just think that Professors and teachers have seen it all; it must get redundant after a while, right? So, my desk is piled high in research material and of books that must be read. I have been slowly been reading, reading and reading all week long. In the wee hours of the night between bedtime stories and putting children to sleep after a long day of work and school, I am exhausted by ends day. I am sure we all our right?  

Here we are week 14, what should have been easily thrown together, a few words “blah, blah, blah” and all is said and done. If I was a person that did things have half ass then it would be alright. Then I could justify loading my papers up with quotes from Dr. and so forth. Yet because I am not I am still reading and writing papers. It is Friday night no time for date night or hanging out, a quick bite and off to work I go to work the night shift. Tomorrow will come and finally a few hours to finish reading and drafting my papers. I am almost out of copy paper and my ink is low, I will be exhilarated once this term is done!

 After the first couple of papers you develop a knack for evaluating certain data, concepts and consider other arguments to base your own argument off of. Unfortunately for me I have drowned myself in a stack of articles and such. They sit not more than a foot and half from me, a constant reminder of how much more reading I will need to do before the night is done. Well time to go finish my shift at work. 

Something is Missing

Email vs. Ordinary Conversation

Email is different in many ways from ordinary conversation. The benefit of email is that it has the ability to reach a greater audience globally. It can also be translated from one language into another in order to keep businesses connected. Not only does it help bridge the communication gaps between businesses it is how many of our leaders in government exchange important information at local and national levels. Email is the point or in depth. It is this that makes it considerably different from ordinary conversation that takes place every second of the day. However while it connects us does not necessary allow us to make connections emotionally with one another. To create a social acceptance of how we feel to one another and your ideas and thoughts that we are conveying to one another in the process of communicating with one another.

Communication through email is vital because of the many ways we can reach and stay connected. We can communicate and expanded on our ideas and thoughts without being interrupted. Although it does take away from the personal relationship that ordinary conversations tend to develop throughout time. Though it is as Robert Kuttner the author of, “The Other Side of E-Mail” stated, “It steals our time and our privacy…brings a kind of pseudo-urgency that demands an instance response…Email creates false intimacies.”

What is this need in us that demands an explanation once an email is sent from our inboxes? This is where the upper hand in communication is given to ordinary conversations that take place in the present. For me email allowed me to make new friends in other countries and stay connected with family. Yet it also consumed my time as I waited for their responses, I would constantly check my inbox impatiently waiting for a response. Unfortunately with all this technology you can not control other individuals in order to get email. This is what Kuttner was referring to in his essay; email “Steals our time.” Waiting on email responses dwindling our time away, when in reality responses could come in hours it not days. An ordinary conversation is not this way. Responses are right away then done and over with easily.

Not only is email time consuming but it also hinders our ability to connect with another emotionally, as Kuttner stated, “Email creates false intimacies.” When we converse with one another in person directly our body language is a form of non verbal communication. Body language is important aspect to the process of communication it aids us in letting us know whether an individual is interested in what we have to say. It also aids so in determining if a person becomes offended, happy, or sadden by what we have said. Body language helps promote understanding, acceptance and clears any miscommunication.

Email while its does have its advantages over ordinary communication it lacks to draw a connection between individuals. This is a problem because, “Email creates false intimacies.” (Kuttner)

 The intimacies enable us to be connected to one another with out them they tend to promote social discord in society. For one reason we do not always tend to speak as we write or rather email. Especially now with the added features of online dictionaries, thesaurus or spell checker, we tend to edit our true instinctual responses out. We also do not tend to have the flexibly in of sharing our ideas with out being interrupted. So how does emailing allow a healthy follow of ideas to be exchanged, it does not. The truth is emails lack the substance of ordinary conversations. Exchange of ideas and the ability to share laughter in that instance or simply good company.   

The Importance of Editorial Cartoons

Editorial cartoons play a major part in America culture. They are visual metaphors that can be found in a variety of newspapers and magazines. Often they express a silent view of one or more parties or issues. Editorial cartoons are a form of nonverbal communication and are vital to American culture because they help shed light on issues that effect many American issues.

Many people in America believe that editorial cartoons do nothing but create tensions on the issues which they are communicating. Although this might be so they do however they do open the issues up on difficult topics to be discussed. Editorial cartoons have been used as a form of expression on political, social, and local issues to express an opinion on or about. In American culture it is like a voice to many Americans that may have a different view on these issues. They

Editorial cartoons are one form of communication that informs the reader of what is happening or has happened without ever having to read a lengthy report. They also do more to poke fun at the issues by providing a humorous view on the issues. Editorial cartoons provide entertainment to the public because they are not drawn to exact scales and are often distorted and mis proportion.

How ever at times some groups find them offensive. For example this past week a political cartoon was emailed and to a constituent in California by a friend she then forwarded it on to people in her personal contacts. The editorial cartoon was about President Obama the issue was about the on going saga of his birth certificate. The problem was that some individuals began to break down the images and decided that it was an attack on ethnicity. President Obama was drawn with big ears and being held by monkeys. Some have said that it was an attack that referred to blacks as being monkeys because in history or political satire they were often being referred to as such. Or like in the last cartoon when Obama took office an editorial cartoon was drawn of two white cops shooting a monkey dead and stating, “That they need to get someone else to sign the stimulus bill.”  Many persons have a problem with editorial cartoons because of this. As they do entertain though go further to keep such stereotypes alive.

Editorial cartoons are however vital to American culture because they do help with the conversation and debate over tough issues. Eliminating them would be a mistake because they are another form of communication and if we did then it would open discussions on restricting our rights to freedom of speech.