Writing Center Experience

I thought my paper was boring and close to death, but after my experience at the writing center it turned into my golden ticket for an A+!



The writing center was a great experience and I recommend going to all those who haven't gone yet. I came in with some ideas and sat down with my "instructor" one on one. My biggest problem when writing is trying to get my ideas from my head to the pen. I have all these thoughts and plans in my head but they never seem to come out on paper the same way i had them pictured in my head. At the writing center my instructor helped me with this problem. I would talk with her about what I was trying to write down and she would help me construct my ideas more thoroughly. This was an overall great experience and I plan on going back for our next assigned paper.

Am I a writer?

Dictionary.com's definition of a writer: "a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., esp. as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist." According to this, I am a writer under the catagory of "other". I do write essays for class and I do sometimes send emails so I guess I'm a writer. For most people I think a writer is considered to be an author, journalist, poet or someone who writes for a profession. I believe the term goes much further then just "writing". Anyone who creates should be considered a writer. For example, a musician who creates a song should be considered a writer. A computer porgramer could also be considered a writer because they "write" code.

Reality Test

“Do we create what we observe through the act of our observations?” This is the question posed by Joshua Roebke in his article “The Reality Tests”. My answer to this question is yes, we do create what we observe through the act of our observations. Everyone makes their own observations and inferences about what they see. As I am sitting here watching "Good Will Hunting", the movie supplies a great example of how two people can observe the same thing but have completely different views. Will Hunting is a genius who can do complex math problems that only a few people in the world can do. When his girlfriend asks how these problems are so easy for him but so difficult for most others, he gives a great example. He describes how when he looks at a piano, it's just a big box of wood with a bunch of keys and 3 peddles that doesnt make any sense. For someone like Mozart however, the piano made sense and was something he could use to create. This shows how two people can observe the same thing but have completely different outlooks on it.



P.S. For those who haven't seen Good Will Hunting, I highly recommend seeing it. It's my favorite movie of all time.

Waste and Greed

For our inclass writing I decided to relate greed to a famous sports star that everyone knows; Tiger Woods. Now Tiger Woods is a man that has everything most men dream of having; millions of dollars, a beautiful wife, a near flawless reputation and he plays golf for a living. However, all these things that men dream of having weren't enough for Mr. Woods. As you've probably heard, he was recently caught having affairs with multiple womem while being married with kids. This, to me, is the ultimate example of greed. He had everything but his desire for more got the best of him.

Describing Trees?

I'll be honest, I couldn't get a grasp on what exactly Robert Haas was trying to say in this poem. I think that he has a problem describing tress because the poem was just a bunch of nonsense. Maybe I'm being a little harsh on Haas, but these types of poems just don't appeal to me. Unlike Haas' poem, Rodney Jones' poem, Hubris at Zunal, captured my attention. One line specifically captured my attention. "No image like the image of language." This grabbed my attention because I disagree with what Jones is saying. He believes that language is a beautiful image but I believe the most beautiful images are the ones that words can't describe.

Reaction to the Twelfth Night play

I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts of the Twelfth Night play with the rest of you e-bloggers. Ill get right to the point. I thought the play was OK at best. I noticed a lot of the actors were sort of over doing their roles. Sir Toby was probably my favorite character along with Malvolio. I noticed that Sir Toby and Sir Andrew always seemed like they were drunk off of some sort of potion. Malvolio had this certain way of walking that made him look as thought he were actually important. It was funny how only half of the actors had this thick southern type of accent. I'm not sure if it was meant to be that way of it was done by accident. Another thing that surprised my in the play was how Orsino treated Cesario. It seemed as though Orsino was attracted to Cesario before he knew that Cesario was actually Viola, a woman. At one point Viola was sitting down next to Orsino while he rubbed her shoulders and, from where I was sitting, even gently ran his finger across her cheek. I never noticed anything like this in the book so it definitely stood out to me.
The setting was nice. It gave a sort of southern plantation feeling because of the tree grass hanging from the banisters. It was a fun experience although it did run a little long for my taste. It was definitely interesting to see the small differences and similarities from the book we read in class.

Viola and Olivia

Viola: "Then think you right. I am not what I am."
Olivia: "I would you were as I would have you be."
(III.i.148-9)

This conversation shows how Olivia truly feels about Viola. She is of course still under the impression that Viola is a man and is truly in love with her. When Viola tells Olivia that she doesn't have that same feelings, Olvia says, "I would you were as I would have you be". I take this as Olivia saying she wishes Viola was in love with her, because that's whats she wants.

Malvolio's Quote

Malvolio(II.v.142-145) "...and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me..."

Malvolio is reading a letter written by Maria. This letter is a just a big joke by Maria, Toby and Andrew. It's made to have Malvolio think that it is a letter written by Olivia expressing her love for him. Malvolio comes across the letters M.O.A.I. and cant figure out what the letters stand for. Although he cant figure it out at first glance, he feels that upon further preponderance, or to crush it, he will be able to solve the puzzle (or in other words make it bow to him).

Viola's Quote

Viola(II.ii.25) "I am the man."

When Viola says this line, she is speaking to herself. She had just met with Olivia, and was disguised as the man known as Cesario. When Viola is leaving, Malvolio comes and returns a ring that Viola gave to Olivia on Orsino's behalf. This is when Viola realizes that it wasn't Orsino's "ring" (I took this ring as a symbol of Orsinos heart)that Olivia has fallen for, but that Olivia is now in love with Viola. Viola isn't a women, she is "the man" who Olivia wants. This is when we see the love triangle between Orsino, Olivia and Viola start to form.

Ink shedding Act II, scene 4 line 49-53

"Mark it, Cesario, it is old and plain;
The spinsters and the knitters in the sun
And the free maids that weave their thread with bones
Do use to chant it."

I think in these lines Orsino is telling Viola to listen carefully to the song that the fool is about to sing. In the olden days, knitters and spinsters used to sing this song and it was about love. Orsino wants to hear this song because it reminds him of a simpler time, when his love wasn't so complex and complicated.

Twelfth Night Questions

1. Why is Olivia not going to show her face for the next seven years?

2. Is Viola's brother still alive?

3. Is Sir Andrew lying about all his "talents"?

4. Is Olivia falling in love with Viola or Orsino?

5. What does Sir Toby Belch mean by the four elements of; earth, air, fire and water?

6. Why is Viola disguised as a man?

How I Revise

When you revise, what do you actually do? What kinds of changes do you make? DO you revise your writing? Or, is revision an afterthought?
One problem I have with writing papers is I never actually go back and revise them. I tend to type papers slowly, making as few mistakes as possible. If a red line appears under a misspelled word, I change it immediately. Revision is usually an after thought. After I finish a paper, I take a quick glance over and print it out.

Reaction to paper numero uno

I found the first writing assignment pretty enjoyable. Being able to choose the topic was nice for a change. So many times teachers assign a paper and it's strictly about one topic. Having multiple topics to choose comes really gave me space to be creative and enjoy writing the paper. For me, when I have a true interest in the subject I'm writing about, it can be a fun experience.

small object, BIG SUBJECT

Ben Ferry

2/11/10

Dr. Lay

WSC 002-Section 11

Apple iPhone; the Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

Do you need to find the closest toilet no matter where you are in the world? There’s an app for that. What if you want to find a French bistro to eat it? There’s an app for that. Do you need decode what your baby’s cry is trying to tell you? There’s even an app for that. The iPhone not only changed the way we look at cellular phones, but it has simultaneously created a new market of software applications. It’s such a small device that has created so much buzz.

When I first heard about the cry decoder application, I was stunned. Hasn’t this whole new app “craze” gone far enough? No longer do we need parenting skills, for the iPhone can tell us exactly what a baby’s cry means (its right roughly 96% of the time). instead of tending to the baby’s needs by rocking him or her in their arms, parents can just hold their iPhone up to the baby’s mouth for ten seconds and the cry decoder will tell you just what the baby needs, which is wrong. Some feel like this app is a perfect example about how the iPhone is making our society lazy. We look for the quick fix to any problem and rely on technology too much. It’s sad that these types of apps are exactly what our society wants. Anything that makes our lives easier and more convenient is king, even at the cost of proper parenting.

Not only does the iPhone come with a countless number of applications, it comes with many accoutrements. There’s a navigation system, iPod, weather updates, texting, alarm clock, Internet access, a camera and many other devices built into this one small piece of technology. The iPhone has basically taken all our needs and put them into one device. There’s no need to have a separate navigation system in your car, the iPhone can replace this device. It’s amazing how much such a small device can hold. At this rate, the iPhone could even grow to replace computers. Every wants instant access to information and the iPhone makes this information accessible without Wi-Fi.

I am an owner of the Apple iPhone and, as useful as it is, there are many flaws that come with the phone. The first being that the only provider is AT&T. I have to say, the Verizon commercials that show AT&T coverage maps are 100% accurate. Before I made the switch to AT&T, my provider was Verizon. With them there was no problem trying to find a good signal and my calls were never dropped. However, with AT&T, it’s quite the opposite. My calls are constantly dropped; there are dead zones everywhere I go. What I don’t understand is that, as great as the iPhone is, it fails to meet the one basic need it’s supposed to; providing a reliable cell phone. I believe this says a lot about our society. We don’t care how good it works as long as it’s the most modern and up-to-date piece of technology. As long as the device is well polished and looks nice, people are willing to drop any amount of money to own it.

I feel like this attitude we have as a society goes much deeper then just technology. When the iPhone first came out, it was around 600 dollars. Everyone rushed to get their hands on the device, not caring about any problems that might come with the massive price tag. People didn’t necessarily want the iPhone for its main purpose of a cell phone. Rather, people rushed to get the phone because it made a statement about the owner. Everyone knew how expensive the device was, so showing off the iPhone with its touch screen and cool applications was a way to say “I have lots of money because I own an iPhone”. It’s how our society functions. Apple has just recently announced the new “iPad”. This device is basically just a super sized iPod touch, and really doesn’t have any purpose. However, the iPad is the newest and coolest piece of technology that Apple is going to release so of course people will buy it, no matter what the price tag is.

Virtual Iraq

Virtual reality used to help cure a psychological disorder? And my mom always told me I was burning my brain away by playing video games. I guess it's true, our generation IS the video game generation, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Virtual reality, which is very similar to video games, is now being used to help recovering Iraq veterans deal with PTSD. It's amazing. Being able to put the patient back onto the battle field, without actually being in any danger, is a great way to get them to get over their fears, in a way. Instead of having sounds, sights, smells and feelings that trigger these horrific flashbacks, the patients learn to control these senses. It's crazy to see how these video games can be used to help the brain instead of doing harm to it. I've even heard of using video games to help train soldiers for real life combat. They play this video game in order to familiarize themselves with situations that could happen on the battlefield. Video games shouldn't necessarily be looked upon as brain rotting, but rather as a cultural movement.

High tech trash

High tech trash says, " In a Global economy, out of sight wont stay out of mind for long". Before I read this article, I never thought about where all my old TVs, desktops and monitors went. After they were thrown out in the garbage, these devices weren't my problem anymore. Little did I know that all this "e-waste" was actually becoming a huge problem. High Tech Trash says that, "an estimated 70% of discarded computers and monitors, and well over 80% of TVs, eventually end up in landfills". Not only are giant piles of scrap unsightly to look at, they are also damaging to the environment. Desktops and TVs can contain toxic liquids that, when burned, release into the air. It's crazy that there is no other way to better utilize this waste. What makes this problem hard to solve is the fact that technologies are always advancing. Consumers will consistently change their computers and TVs for the most up to date models. This problem will always be present unless people stop talking and start taking some serious action!

iPhone

Do you need to fins the closest bathroom no matter where you are in the world? There's an app for that. What if you want to find a french bistro to eat at? There's an app for that. Do you need to travel back in time to do better on your economics final? There's probably an app for that too.
It seems as though any want or need you could have can be fulfilled by the iPhone's application software. The iPhone has changed the cell phone industry and started a whole new cultural movement that shows no signs of slowing down.

I personally own an iPhone and it's incredible how much it can do. It has navigation, e-mail, texting, weather updates, Internet, a camera, and of course over 100,000 apps. It has taken many separate products and put them all into one small device, which is perfect for Americans. We all want the most modern technology and the iPhone is the perfect example of this. The device leaves no need for things like nav systems, yellow pages, organizers, and even computers to an extent.

The iPhone does however come with a hefty price tag. The producers of the phone must assume that consumers will pay anything for the most modern and new pieces of technology, and they're right. When it first came out in 2007, the iPhone was between 400-500 dollars. That didn't stop people. I remember everyone wanted to get their hands on the iPhone, no matter what the price. It was a revolution in a sense. Now at only 100 dollars for the iPhone, "every pocket can have one".

Toulmin model

Is Google really changing the way we think? Upon further thought I think that it is. I remember back in grade school I could sit down and read for hours. I read through the first two Harry Potter books, both over 300 pages, with ease. Once I started getting larger assignements that required research, I'd use Google to skim through and do quick readings. I think that this trained my brain in a way to only stay focused on reading for a short amount of time then move on to something else. Now I find it hard for me to thoroughly read a novel without loosing focus. In fact, I usually use Google to try and find sparknotes for books. Google is just a way to make research and finding information more efficient.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

To say that Google is making us stupid is being pretty harsh. In my opinion, Google is a wonderful advancement in our society. The world we live in today is extremely fast paced and Google is a perfect example of a tool that makes our hectic lives easier. Have a question? Ask Google. You'll get 8 million responses in .023 seconds. If anything, Google is making us smarter by exposing us to so much information. Instead of sifting through giant encyclopedias, Google can lead you straight to the fats you need to know.
In the article Nicholas Carr says that he, and many others, have trouble staying focused when reading for long periods. The immediate thought is that this phenomenon is because of Google. When you need to get information, Google will lead you to small excerpts that tell you what you need to know. Rarely will you ever read through pages of online text. However, I feel that not being able to sit and read for long periods of time just means we are advancing and adapting to new, more convenient, ways of gathering information. If I need to figure out who the General of the Union was during the Civil War, I'm not going to read through a whole Civil War book until I find the answer. Google saves time and makes doing research more efficient.