Final Exam

        In the course I have learned that I probably shouldn't take classes with Stephanie, she distracts me. Secondly, I've learned various writing techniques that make my papers more appealing to reader. This class was very enjoyable because I had my best friend Stephanie Whitney in it, but then again she distracts me. But really what I liked most was that your not super, like my history teacher. You like mine and Stephanie's jokes. I didn't like that no body liked me because Stephanie wouldn't shut up and the twins kept staring at us, all semester. There wasn't anything I disliked about your teaching. I'm most proud of my cause and effect paper, because I got an A on it and wasn't hard to write.  If I could change one thing about this semester I would change the peer editing, not in my "fav five", because I always had to peer edit the same persons essays and I don't think he enjoyed my reviews because he always gave me dirty looks in history on days we did peer editing.  I guess I should be a little nicer. I wouldnt change a thing because everything happens for a reason. Well actually I probably would of sat like 5 seats down from Stephanie so you wouldnt have to tell me and her to be quite so much. To sum this up, I really enjoyed your class I am deeply sorry if Stephanie and I annoyed you to much. I think you are a great teacher and appericiate all your commentary on my essays. Have a great Christmas break and see you next semester!


:)

Penn & Teller's view on recycling

Recycling- is it good, bad, or just bullshit?
        Arguments: Exposing the realities of recycling where most believe that it is a pro-environment solution its actually not. It creates pollution among other things. Along with the myth it is cost effective it actually is the complete opposite it is very cost ineffective it also has to be subsidized by the government. And last but not least most of America truly believes that we are running out of landfill space which is completely untrue we have more space than we know what to do with.
       Evidence: They show that pollution is caused when the five different trucks have to switch off from route to the next to take the "recyclables" from place to place. This costs us more money to take the existing recyclelable, recycle them into new products than to just start from scratch.They also prove the myth wrong that we are running out of landfill space. Its shown in the episode that landfills are usually underneath golf courses or parks. They cover up the land fills and place grass and trees over them as if they were never there.
         Honestly I find their strategy to be effective. They always have evidence to back up what their saying and they do show the other sides. By showing why the other side proves to be the reason and then taking this "proof" and throwing it down the drain by having a counter point.
         I don't think they necessarily consider the audience.. More of they are expressing THEIR opinion and if you disagree well they still believe its bullshit.Some are offended by this attitude so it may not be a completely affective strategy for anyone who takes things to heart.
        Strategies that may be affective in the last paper we write are: that Penn and Teller use critical evidence to back up what they believe. Though they are die heart against recycling they do show both sides. First explaining how the "recyclers" view the problem and how they handle it, and then they show the "real" truth behind it.

11/3/10 - In class assignment

"Popularity"

• Description- Most the time the "popular" kids or people are well dressed. Always have the newest and nicest clothes, jewelry, cars etc. Sometimes they may sound a little confident in themselves. Though sometimes the popular kids aren't always wealthy or the best dressed but they do have a personality or something to make them stick out from the rest.
• Narration- The "populars" are always out doing the coolest things, if there is a party , football game or any event going on they will be there. Because what is the party with out them?
• Illustration- Usually you will catch them making fun of someone else or doing something that others envy. For instance the star quarter back is more likely than not one of the most popular kids at school so you will see him out on the field while other people envy what hes doing.
• Division classification- A popular kid can be anything from the star athlete to the richest kid at school. It usually falls in the range of football players, cheerleaders, baseball players, the rich kid, and the ones who like to party.  Those are the people that don't mind putting them selves out there, and their confidence makes the popular.
• Process analysis- You are a popular because you have nice things and you don't care what others think and put yourself out there. And nothing can bring you down.
• Comparison contrast-  Populars like to have a good time, go to parties, any new event. Girl populars like to shop and go do things most normal people cant do. Some populars get into bars and younger ages with fake id's because they don't care if they get in trouble or not and they think they can hang with older people and the college scene.
• Cause effect- Being popular can make others hate you and see you as a mean person. Sometimes because populars are so outgoing and don't really care what others think you get a lot of rude stares.

Revising assignment 11/1/10

       What was the banking industry's response to inflation? It was simply the invention of the ATM, or an automated teller machine. This invention made money available to the average person, whether or not that money existed in their bank account or not.
        This leading to negative consequences of the average citizen. With the new found system of the ATM, it makes it easier for everyone to obtain money. Instead of someone taking there lunch break to go through the process of going to the bank, getting a withdrawal slip, filling it out and then getting their money. Now its only a punch of a button away. With these workers new found spare time they use it to go out and shop, grab a bite to eat or anything they please, but it usually ends up involving money. This spare time has lead to impulse buying for some.
       With the ease of knowing their money is so easily obtained by either credit card, or the dispensing of money through an ATM, they no longer keep up with check books and all the frivolous ways of paper. Now were able to pull up our every move and purchase in a few seconds through the Internet or the ATM itself.  This develops a care free attitude compared to the days when people had their checkbooks balanced to the penny. That carefree attitude of adults may be a result of the way children now perceive money.
      Even good people who would never dream of "robbing a bank" or stealing from someone else fall into an impulse and have the mindset that free money will come from this new found creation of the ATM. With the creation of this machine comes positive and negative affects. It just depends on how you decide to use it.

Oct. 29th Blog Post

“Why We Crave Horror Movies” by Stephen King:

2.  When King compares horror movies to roller coasters he is comparing the ups and downs of excitement a roller coaster and horror movies have. Likewise he compares the movies to public lynching by saying that if they can compare pro football to voyeurs version of combat we might as well say that lynching is comparable to these modern movies. Lastly he uses the example of sick jokes is relatable to the horror movie by saying that by using gruesome puns like “a truckload of babies”.

“Innocents afield” by Buzz Bissinger

2. The author repeats “millions” in a few different scenarios. First the author uses it as the number of viewers, and then by the amount of money spent by the district on “needed” things for a championship. I think how the actual paragraph is worried could use some work; personally I don’t think that this repetition is as effective as another strategy could be.

“Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples

2. I believe the strong descriptive introduction is misleading in the fact that it shows him off to be harmful. But in fact he is quite the opposite but the average person walking the street would stereotype a man of his appearance. But you learn quickly by the second paragraph that this man is not harmful what so ever and is just a victim of how we group people by appearance.

October 15, 2010: HW Assignment

Questions About the Writer's Craft:

1. Cohen organizes her essay point by point, by first allowing the reader to see the first parties point and then backing up or comparing that by another perspective. I think she chose this because it's more effective to keep the readers attention by showing both sides of a particular point. Rather than describing one side with every detail and then the other side.
2. I think shes writing more to inform than anything. To me she isn't necessarily seeking approval or disapproval. More as she is just describing the change from marriage arrangement in the past compared to todays marriage tatics.
3. She quotes the book, and now movie, "Pride and Predjudice". As well as another book "The Flirt's Tragedy: Desire Without end in Victorian and Edwardian Fiction". I think she quoted directly from the book because she was able to compare the vernacular of today vs. then easier, with direct proof.

In class assignment 10/6/10

Activity #2

B.There's no use crying over spilled milk.

• Don't sweat the small stuff
• There is always tomorrow
• No sense in getting worked up about things that will pass
• Stress doesn't do any good for anyone

Counter the saying..

• Sometimes you need to worry about the little things
• The little thing sometimes counter act with the big things in your life
• It never hurts to care too much about something that happened

      I would rather write an essay on the positive side of " there's no use crying over spilled milk" because it would be easier to relate too. When going through changes in your life or even just minor details you can't be down or depressed about it. You have to take it how it is and grow from it.

Activity #5

Paragraph revision:

Original paragraph:
    A small town can compete with a large new mall for shoppers. But merchants must work together, modernizing the stores and making the town's main street pleasant, even fun to  walk. They should also copy the malls' example by including attention-getting events as often as possible.

Revised paragraph:

    Small towns can easily compete with larger more industrial shopping malls. But this would take the effort of the city occupants and store owners to keep the town pleasant and attractive by modernizing the community, allowing it to have a more fun atmosphere. It would also be to their advantage to copy malls' attention- getting events at every convience. With these updates small towns would have a fighting chance.

Hw assignment 10/1

Pg.292

#2)

• Euphemism is a category with in doublespeak. It is used to alter the meaning or our perception of the sentence, by watering it down in other words or making it easier to the ears. Its produces the question of whether or not the person is concerned or avoiding conflict.
• Jargon, is a shorthand form of speaking. Usually used with-in groups of people like lawyers, mechanics etc., its a way of saying things that others in your "group" will completely understand. But outsiders might see a person using jargon as superior to them, which created double speaking.
• gobbledygook or bureaucratese, is using lots of words with-in the sentence and lengthening it to distract the reader or person your talking to almost to completely avoid what the reader wants to know. Some question whether or not the speaker actually knows what there talking about.
• Inflated language, it is used to enhance speech, or make it flasher. This poses the thought that the speaker or writer has no idea what there talking about what so ever.

#3)

• "an inoffensive or positive word or phrase used to avoid a harsh, unpleasant or distasteful reality"
• "the specialized language of trade, profession, or similar group"
• "is simply a matter of piling of words, of overwhelming the audience with words"
• "is inflated language that is designed to make the ordinary seem extraordinary"

Pg.298

#2)At the beginning of the piece he speaks of prisoners. But to me they sound as if there slaves. The author goes on by saying there not only damaged on the outside but also in the inside. They were emotionally damaged. With out being treated with much respect or dignity.

Chapter 8 Act. 2- Simple and Compound Sentences

B. Some students have trouble getting along with their roommates.

     Simple: High school students want to go to college.They are excited, and ready for a new beginning. But they may hate there roommates.Due to the variety of people in college.People are use to their own way of living.
Once your in college, you'll have to adapt to change. Some people don't like change.

     Compound: high school students want to venture out and off to college. A new beginning entails freedom and diversity of atmosphere. Although some students will not like the change of atmosphere, because their roommates are not all they expected them to be. Some people have problems with change, and believe "its their way or the highway"

     My first version of the paragraph using only simple sentences was hard to write. I feel like sentences were to choppy and as if i couldn't use details in the. Verses the  paragraph that i used compound and compound complex sentences. In the second paragraph I felt as if i could use more detail and lengthen the sentence. The meaning was relatively the same but the second paragraph showed more emphasis because i felt there was stronger words used.

The Extended School Day (Revised/edited)

• The author of this piece keeps a moderately constant tone and point of view throughout the piece. Sticking to the initial idea of lengthening school days.
• I personally believe that there isn't one thesis statement, it seems as if the author clumped three sentences together, rather than one precise sentence stating what will be in the piece.The author used a broad idea stating "there are many advantages to this idea" which can initially bore the reader..
• Therefore the author could of strengthen the thesis by stating what will be said in the following paragraphs. Saying something as if " due to problems with parents work schedules and students school hours we will explore the many advantages of lengthening school hours for parents,students, and teachers. Which would give the reader a better idea, of the contents of the piece.
• Each paragraph is relevant to the topic due to the fact that it is so broad, almost anything would relate if you ask me.
•  The first paragraph of the body basically is arguing that longer school hours would be more effective and manageable for parents because the extended hours would allow students to have help on their homework by teachers, financially it would be easier because parents wouldn't have to deal with the cost of a babysitter or nanny.
• The second paragraph begins to show the benefits for children. From the beginning the author isn't clear she kind of jumps around on the topic of children from what they want to what they need. Stating that more time at school would allow a safer environment for children and allow them to join clubs etc.
• The third paragraph explains benefits of teachers. Explaining the longer hours would allow teachers to further explain lessons and also be able to get a raise for working more hours.
• I believe that it could of been in a better order by revising paragraphs and breaking up paragraphs, into a more pleasurable read.
• The authors problems begin with the introduction, while trying to paint a vivid picture is ideal but wasn't affective in this piece. Which moves onto a non-functional thesis that doesn't exactly entail what the reader has in store. In paragraph there describing the benefits for children but the author jump from saying children think school is boring to longer school hours are safer for children.... which doesn't necessarily correlate. Which leads to a small paragraph about how it benefits teachers with not many added details.

Revised version:

                                                        The Extended School Day
    Due to the current economy most adults work a 9-5 job, Monday through Friday if there lucky enough to have one. But what happens to those adults children who are let out at three o clock and there isn't a responsible adult to watch them. They could run around doing things that could possibly harm themselves. But the idea of lengthening school hours has become a controversial new topic, that may have a very positive outcome. With such problems occurring with parents work schedules and students school hours we will explore the many advantages of lengthening school hours for parents,students, and teachers.
    Many positive outcomes will affect children's parents if the state extends school hours. For example most parents are tired once they've gotten home from a long work day and by the time the eat dinner and settle down there exhausted and don't have enough energy with their children's homework. Which leads the children to have to figure it out themselves or even not do there homework. If they had more time at school teachers could tutor them extra on subjects they didn't fully understand. Along with the extra help on homework, there would be extra help financially for some households, because some parents hire Nanny's or sitters to take care of their child until they can get home.If there were extended school hours parents could save money.
     Most kids don't truly enjoy school because there isn't much time for anything but work with such short school days but with an extended day children would have more time to join clubs and be active in activities outside the classroom. Just as mentioned before most kids wont make the effort to do their homework or study outside of school with out a parent pushing them to do, but it will benefit children to have longer school hours because they will have more time to work on subjects that are more difficult for them.
      Not only will these extended school hours benefit parents and students but also teachers. With longer classes and days, the teachers will be able to become more one on one with the students. Also they will be able to go deeper into detail with the material. Lastly with the teachers working more hours they will be making more money therefore more teachers will be available with better benefits in the field.
     Though its not set in stone that all schools will be switching to a longer school day, it would have many positive outcomes. Anywhere from children's safety to availability of teachers growing. With this one change we could change the world in a positive way taking stress off parents, children and teachers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Audience

       " Winning the lottery may not always be a blessing"

• Your friends may not respect you on the same level and believe that your wealth is theirs as well
• Money sometimes converts to greed. And a once lower class person who turns into a multi-millionaire may lose their humbleness
•  Someone who has a new found wealth may not be completely able to have such a large amount of money and use it in the wrong way. Or not spend it wisely

You would think that going from a  low to mid class life to the life of  multi- millionaire would be the most joyous time of your life, but every good thing has flaws even winning the lottery. Negative outcomes surround you after winning the lottery, its one of those times you find out who your friends are. Once you win the lottery your so called friends may think that your new found wealth is also theirs..and if you dont give them whatever they want they may come off by saying " you think your better than me". But all in all winning the lottery may not always be a blessing.

Revising- Drunk driving

While I was cruising down the street in my glistening blue sports car, I saw another car approaching quickly. The other driver was headed towards a mid-yellow light on the verge of red , but that didnt affect his fast-paced speed. When the light had turned red, a young well-groomed couple were commencing to cross the street. But after the woman took a few steps see saw the other driver was not going to stop at the light, so she yelled for her husband. Luckily the husband quickly jumped onto the shoulder saving himself from harm, but this wasnt the case for the wife. She had been injured, to say the least.  I spotted a nearby phone booth and sprinted to dial 911. By the time the ambulance had arrived, the women had passed away. The poluice then investigated the driver who had killed the women pedistran. It showed on his record that he had to previous offenses, this goes to show that their letting drunk drivers off too easy. We need to find a way to keep drunk-drivers off the road and keep innocent pedestrians safe.

In-Class Writing 9/1/10

      I read an article which I found on Chron.com. It was titled "Tales of drug lord 'La Barbie' ripe with speculation". The article was published by Dane Schiller and Jason Buch at 12:08 this morning, September the 1st. Basically the article was about Edgar Valdez Villarreal  otherwise known as "la barbie". He is a well- known trafficker out of Laredo, that was finally captured on Monday in Mexico.
      The author is very precise and to the point. He gives a good background on 'La Barbie' before leading into the story of his capture. There wasn't much confusion in the way he formatted the piece. Also the author hooked me as the reader from the start with a catchy introduction as well as a clear thesis statement, allowing me to want to know more.
       Also the article was very useful and it gave me information on a national event, that otherwise I wouldn't of known about. Along with the information of his capture, I like how the author gave background and details on the trafficker, Valdez.
      This article was not bias by any means. It was just a piece spreading inforamtion of the capture of a drug-lord running his "soliders or gang members" throughout the United States, Central and South America.