Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
My English 308J Journey
Throughout this quarter, I have been able to utilize a blog to track my responses and reflections to various readings, movies, and projects that I worked on for this class. Now I am able to use these blogs to reflect on my progress throughout this quarter. In this reflection, I would like to look into how my posts differed from the beginning of the quarter to the end, how having these blogs online and visible to others affected my writing, and lastly how my comments and the comments made by others on my posts helped me to improve my learning.
Over the course of this quarter, I noticed various changes in my blog writing. The first transformation I discovered in my blog writing dealt with the idea of credibility. At the beginning of the quarter, when I had to do the blog entry comparing the two websites that talked about coal mining, and then pick which one I found to be more persuasive and credible, I struggled. I had no idea what to look for to determine if a source was credible. As the quarter continued on and I had to evaluate more sources for their credibility this became much easier and I knew what to look for. This was apparent when I wrote my argumentative essay, because I knew what I needed to include in this essay to make it credible like the sources I had previously evaluated. Another change I thought was interesting throughout my blogs was how my opinion of things like coal mining and factory farming was continuously changing based on what I had read for that reflection. For example in the first entry I wrote on “Lost Mountain”, I explained that I thought that coal mining was wrong and should be banned, but in the 2nd and 3rd post, I explained that there were aspect of coal mining that I both supported and didn’t support. The final idea that I found to be interesting across my blogs is how certain stories stuck with me throughout the quarter. For example the story about cerulean warbler has been continuously brought up in not only my blog posts, but my peer reviews. I also brought up the idea of the “actual” price of different decisions throughout the entire discourse.
This was one of the first times I have had my writings visible to people outside my teachers. I will have to admit that I was a little nervous about having my classmates looking at my reflections and opinions of readings. I was concerned that people would disagree with some of my opinions on controversial environmental issues. I was also concerned that people would read my blogs and think that I was uneducated or lacked knowledge on a specific topic. I would have to say that I did self monitor myself a ton throughout our various research projects and blog reflections because I knew that it was going to be visible to others. I found that a lot of the time I wrote not what I really and truly felt about various topics, but what I thought people wanted to read and hear. I also did not like having my various posts online because I am a political science major, and hope to one day get into politics. I was concerned throughout the quarter, that in the future people may be able to find my blog responses and use them against me. But because I was self monitoring myself and not responding truthfully in these responses, they do not reflect my true opinions and feelings on these controversial topics.
One of my favorite parts of this course was giving and receiving critiques. I enjoyed looking to see what other people had to write about my posts, because I liked to see if I was getting the information right. I also enjoyed reading the comments because it allowed me to gauge how the class felt about that specific topic. Another unique aspect about the comments and having these blogs visible to virtually anyone is that outside people commented on some of my posts. For example on one of my posts, someone from the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth commented on one of my posts that I should consider joining their organization. I thought that it was interesting to see how some of my posts as an undergraduate gained attention from an organization. I was able to use many of the comments my peers gave me to improve my understanding of various readings and websites, because they put spotlights on areas I never looked at. Also I was able to see some of the comments they gave me and then give them to other students so they can improve too.
Overall I liked the idea of being able to reflect on readings, websites, and videos. I also enjoyed having my classmates read of my posts and give their opinions even though I was self-monitoring myself throughout the entire class. The only criticism I have of the blogs is that I did not like that they were online and will remain online for anyone to find in the future. Looking back on my blog posts I was able to see how they evolved, how having my work public affected my writing, and how comments on my posts and commenting on others helped me to learn.
Over the course of this quarter, I noticed various changes in my blog writing. The first transformation I discovered in my blog writing dealt with the idea of credibility. At the beginning of the quarter, when I had to do the blog entry comparing the two websites that talked about coal mining, and then pick which one I found to be more persuasive and credible, I struggled. I had no idea what to look for to determine if a source was credible. As the quarter continued on and I had to evaluate more sources for their credibility this became much easier and I knew what to look for. This was apparent when I wrote my argumentative essay, because I knew what I needed to include in this essay to make it credible like the sources I had previously evaluated. Another change I thought was interesting throughout my blogs was how my opinion of things like coal mining and factory farming was continuously changing based on what I had read for that reflection. For example in the first entry I wrote on “Lost Mountain”, I explained that I thought that coal mining was wrong and should be banned, but in the 2nd and 3rd post, I explained that there were aspect of coal mining that I both supported and didn’t support. The final idea that I found to be interesting across my blogs is how certain stories stuck with me throughout the quarter. For example the story about cerulean warbler has been continuously brought up in not only my blog posts, but my peer reviews. I also brought up the idea of the “actual” price of different decisions throughout the entire discourse.
This was one of the first times I have had my writings visible to people outside my teachers. I will have to admit that I was a little nervous about having my classmates looking at my reflections and opinions of readings. I was concerned that people would disagree with some of my opinions on controversial environmental issues. I was also concerned that people would read my blogs and think that I was uneducated or lacked knowledge on a specific topic. I would have to say that I did self monitor myself a ton throughout our various research projects and blog reflections because I knew that it was going to be visible to others. I found that a lot of the time I wrote not what I really and truly felt about various topics, but what I thought people wanted to read and hear. I also did not like having my various posts online because I am a political science major, and hope to one day get into politics. I was concerned throughout the quarter, that in the future people may be able to find my blog responses and use them against me. But because I was self monitoring myself and not responding truthfully in these responses, they do not reflect my true opinions and feelings on these controversial topics.
One of my favorite parts of this course was giving and receiving critiques. I enjoyed looking to see what other people had to write about my posts, because I liked to see if I was getting the information right. I also enjoyed reading the comments because it allowed me to gauge how the class felt about that specific topic. Another unique aspect about the comments and having these blogs visible to virtually anyone is that outside people commented on some of my posts. For example on one of my posts, someone from the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth commented on one of my posts that I should consider joining their organization. I thought that it was interesting to see how some of my posts as an undergraduate gained attention from an organization. I was able to use many of the comments my peers gave me to improve my understanding of various readings and websites, because they put spotlights on areas I never looked at. Also I was able to see some of the comments they gave me and then give them to other students so they can improve too.
Overall I liked the idea of being able to reflect on readings, websites, and videos. I also enjoyed having my classmates read of my posts and give their opinions even though I was self-monitoring myself throughout the entire class. The only criticism I have of the blogs is that I did not like that they were online and will remain online for anyone to find in the future. Looking back on my blog posts I was able to see how they evolved, how having my work public affected my writing, and how comments on my posts and commenting on others helped me to learn.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Research Argument Thesis Statement
The biodiversity of the Appalachian region is very important to the ecosystem as well as to the people who inhabit the region, but the area is being threatened because of numerous human initiated causes. In order to preserve this area we must put an end to the method of clear-cut logging because the habitats in this area depend on its interconnected system. We must put an end to the method of mountain-top removal coal mining because of the result of useless flattened land, water contamination, etc. We must find an alternative to make dams more economically friendly in order to preserve the aquatic life in the rivers and streams in this area. We must change all of these human influences on nature and shift our attention to a more sustainable way of action in order to preserve and cherish the ecosystem.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Argument outline / Thesis
I. Title - The Fight to Stay Fresh
II. Introduction
A. Thesis - Pollution from erosion, pesticides, industrial waste, industrial farming, underground storage container leaks, and mining all effect the quality of our fresh water supply, both above and below the surface. With the population of the world growing, and our need for a continuous supply of fresh water growng all the time, we need to understand why fresh water is important, how we are contaminating it, and what we can do to correct some of the problems associated with our, because it really is "our" water supply.
III. Body
II. Introduction
A. Thesis - Pollution from erosion, pesticides, industrial waste, industrial farming, underground storage container leaks, and mining all effect the quality of our fresh water supply, both above and below the surface. With the population of the world growing, and our need for a continuous supply of fresh water growng all the time, we need to understand why fresh water is important, how we are contaminating it, and what we can do to correct some of the problems associated with our, because it really is "our" water supply.
III. Body
A. Why is fresh water important?
1. Positives (life, health, jobs)
2. Negatives ( cost, energy and money)
3. How much do we need and where does it come from.
B. What kinds of things are causing surface water pollution?
1. Causes: Pesticides, erosion, mining, runoff
2. to be continued...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
blog post asignment for FI, Monday
Hey,
Your reading so far in FI is p. 3-64. This covers the chapter by the director of the film, an interview with Eric Schlosser, and a chapter on organics by Gary Hirshberg, plus some shorter interchapters. And you have seen the film. So you have two blog prompts, which you can include in one post to your own blog. The total wordage should be no less than 300 words.
First I'd like you to write about the film. I think you might agree that film can be a very powerful medium. It engages viewers differently than alphabetic texts (even with pictures) engage readers. And it educates viewers differently than just words. Focus on one segment of the film that stood out for you and discuss what you learned from it. But also comment on how you learned it, touching on the different expressive and persuasive strategies employed in that segment. Note that aside from filmed sequences, there is animation, text superimposed on images, interviews, archival footage, music, and more. Think about all of the ways the film used to put across its ideas.
Now write about the readings in FI book in contrast, not to find them lacking, but to discuss how these texts--essays and interviews--supplement what you learned in the film. Focus on some specific ideas and quote a couple of chapters to make your points.
Your reading so far in FI is p. 3-64. This covers the chapter by the director of the film, an interview with Eric Schlosser, and a chapter on organics by Gary Hirshberg, plus some shorter interchapters. And you have seen the film. So you have two blog prompts, which you can include in one post to your own blog. The total wordage should be no less than 300 words.
First I'd like you to write about the film. I think you might agree that film can be a very powerful medium. It engages viewers differently than alphabetic texts (even with pictures) engage readers. And it educates viewers differently than just words. Focus on one segment of the film that stood out for you and discuss what you learned from it. But also comment on how you learned it, touching on the different expressive and persuasive strategies employed in that segment. Note that aside from filmed sequences, there is animation, text superimposed on images, interviews, archival footage, music, and more. Think about all of the ways the film used to put across its ideas.
Now write about the readings in FI book in contrast, not to find them lacking, but to discuss how these texts--essays and interviews--supplement what you learned in the film. Focus on some specific ideas and quote a couple of chapters to make your points.
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