Extra Credit

Paragraph: The tiger pattern kitten played with the ball. After the cat played with the ball he got a drink of water. He really likes eating cat fancy. This is not just any normal kitten, it is very picky about its' eats. When the kitten gets angry you can see his ears point upwards and his tail wags with aggression. The kitten was taken care of by a very old man that seemed to neglect it. Though the cat had a very happy and welcoming personality it was not treated with the respect it deserved.

Revised Paragraph: Screeching and scattering the cat patted the ball around the cluttered room. Breath panting, tail wagging, the cat scattered over to his water bowl and gracefully quenched his thirst. The kitten, a very picky eater, only eats cat fancy and will meow and hiss until the owner realizes his requests for only the best of cat foods. When the cat's requests are granted it is much happier and a lot more playful. The kitten, ears perched, was angry that his food dish was filled with left overs from the night before. The kitten, neglected by his owner, was mistreated and undernourished but still had a personality unlike any other cat. The cat was neglected but still ha a very welcoming and upbeat personality towards strangers and its owner. The young, exuberant kitten lived a good life, even though his owner was a scatter brain.

Assesment Activity

Identifying Genre

1. Using specific examples from class discussions about genre, explain your understanding of how genres are identified, constructed, produced.

A genre is a specific category that a piece of writing is put into. There are many different forms of genre, and every piece of writing falls under a certain genre. The first thing you look at when you decide what genre a piece of writing is in is the basic layout of the paper. The structure is the most important part to look at. The message that the paper is trying to get across is a key component to what genre it lies under. A good example of a genre would be the analysis paper that we had to write. In this type of writing you must pick a topic and then thoroughly analyze it. You use your knowledge of the subject and translate that onto paper, the good points and the bad points. You can also get information from other sources and use that to construct an idea that you build off of with your own opinions. Once you have written what you think is a clear analysis paper then you should have it proofread and edited to make sure that it is correct in the point it is trying to display.

2. Select one of your major projects and describe how you understand the “genre” (or genres) for that project. You should provide specific examples from the text of your project to illustrate your points, and be sure to thoroughly describe the choices you made regarding complying (or not) with the genre in your writing.

In my analysis paper I found the most connection with the genre I was writing. This is a very straight forward genre. In writing an analysis paper you need to consider what specific points you want to analyze. When you pick those points you need to break them down in your own opinion. In my paper I wrote, “His first words are, “Now I’m lost,” which mark the beginning of the coma.” I am explaining what my perception of the song is. And I then talk about what I think about this thought. It does not hurt to use background information from other sources. They can really help to broaden your piece and give the reader more than just a one sided argument. I feel in the paper I did a good job of analyzing the album. On the other hand I do think that I could have gone a lot more in depth with the analysis of the album. But when analyzing music you could go on forever and not be satisfied.

Creating Content

3. Select a project from this course that you feel was strongly identified with a particular genre (try to pick a project where you felt you understood the genre/project and were able to work with it successfully). Discuss your understanding of how the content you created was shaped by the boundaries and features of the genre. (For example, were there things you couldn’t say about your topic because it didn’t fit with the genre? How did the genre affect the research you included?

(NOTE: if you worked on a project where you deliberately did NOT fit your content to the genre, you could discuss that project by describing how and why you made choices to do something different, and discussing how your choices resulted in a text that did not fit the genre.)

I feel that the strongest identifiable genre project that we did was the argumentative paper. In this paper you had to be very careful about statements that you made. You had to pick a side and explain that side to your best ability. Also, you had to include the opposite’s sides opinion to give the reader the full argument rather than just stating your opinion and thinking it is the right side. You had to be careful about what you said, because in most cases an argumentative paper is serious and you want to get across a good message. This is also a very research orientated style of writing. The research exercises that we did were very helpful in obtaining the right information and how to go about using it. Also, the citation worksheet was helpful because for the most part I used quotations to help with my points and this showed me what to take from the sources and how to cite it in the correct way. Since the genre was very specific and my topic was something that is a very serious concern to the world I took my research seriously. I wanted to make sure I had credible sources that provided me with correct information. It is hard though to get research on the subject of alternative fuels because it is a new concern. So, for the most part this genre helped me use sources and how to put those sources into my paper without misusing them.

Organizing Information in Multiple Genres

4. Compare two genres that were part of the work for this class. Use actual examples from the genres in question.

Technology/Media

The two genres that stood out the most to me were the analysis and the argumentative papers. They both have similar qualities, starting with the research. For both of these genres you want to make sure that you have sufficient research to support your subject. Sometime you do not need to do research to analyze a subject but it always helps get a broader perspective. In a argumentative paper the research is very important because you want your points to be supported by evidence and not just be useless blabber. They differ though in their intent. An argumentative paper is indented to persuade a person to side with their opinion and an analysis paper is used to give an in depth look at a subject and how it is perceived in your eye. Although the argumentative style genre does rely on the writer’s opinion it is more factual based and intended to inform. The analysis genre consists of mostly the writer’s opinions supported by information from other sources if needed. Audience is another important factor to both of these genres. With an argumentative paper the audience is intended for those who have little knowledge on the subject or take a side other than the writer’s. The analysis is similar in that it is a tool for explaining a subject to the audience.

5. Respond to one of the following writing situations: Imagine you need to produce a text about one of the following topics (choose only one). Explain (in detail) the decisions you might need to make regarding technology or media – What tools would you use to create the text? What tools/or venues might you use to distribute it? Keep in mind there is really no “correct” answer for this question – only examples of sound choices made for good reasons.

Note #1: Please explain in as much detail as possible. You can use examples from choices you made on projects during the semester – if applicable – to illustrate how these decisions can have important effects on the text one produces.

Note #2: Be sure to consider who the audience would be for this hypothetical document, and how that might affect your choices.

If I was write an argumentative paper for a change in some policy or practice within a community I would do a fare share of research. Probably the most helpful tool would be going directly to the head of the community. See what information you can gather from them also, you could use the internet. The internet would be a very useful tool in finding research based on communities that have already made these changes and how it affects them in a positive or negative sense. The most important thing to do is make sure that the information that you are getting is correct. If it is coming directly from the source then is should be fine but if it is on the internet and was written by someone who read something it is probably not a good idea to use. This is a very tricky subject and you have to make sure that you cover all sides of the argument and cover them well so the reader has a good idea of what is going on.

Flexible Research Skills

6. Using one of the examples below (choose only one) discuss the resources you would/could use to find out about this topic. Think about the various kind of genres/or scenarios in which this information might be researched (for what kinds of texts and for what kinds of goals). Describe (in as much detail as possible) some (or all) of the following issues:

1. where you would go (physically or digitally) to find out about this topic
2. what kinds of technologies or media might you make use of in your search
3. who are some of the people you might gather information from (either as informants or as experts)
4. How would you decide what kind of information is applicable to your project?
5. What criteria would you use to make decisions about the types of information that would be useful or valid for this project.
6. Discuss one or more possibilities for the kind of text you might actually create using information you’ve gathered on this topic.

I choose topic 5

A. There are many different places that you could go to research this subject. You could research for non profit organizations that benefit autism. You could also find someone that knows a person with autism, this would give you a first hand look at what this disease is and how it affects a person.

B. You could use the internet like I said and look for organizations that support Autism, or you could look at research articles about autism. This is a very big topic and affects a lot of people so it would be very easy to get information about it over the net.

C. I think that the best person to go to would be a doctor. They have a lot of knowledge on this disease and probably see patients with it quite often. This would probably be the best source of information but if you know someone with autism or someone who knows a person with autism this would be the most beneficial in terms of gaining knowledge about how the disease works.

D. You need to make sure the sources are credible and not just a person giving their opinions. The best way to weed out the garbage information is to look at the person’s credentials, what their past is with the subject and what they know about it.

F. I would make an informative paper on this subject. Although it is a very big concern to a lot of people, there are many people that do not know the affects this disease have on a person. This would be a great way to get information out to people.

7. Using the possible texts for this topic discuss some examples of sources that might or might not be credible to use for this project.

A lot of information on this subject is not credible. Stuff in magazines and on TV can not really be taken as sources because the people who write them for the most part are not credible in the subject of autism. You want to stay away from people who don’t have past experience with the disease. A good credible source would be a doctor who has had a autistic patient. Also, I think information from non profit organizations would be a good credible source.

Using Citation Formats and Citing Source Material in Multiple Genres

8. Explore how citation functions within one of your projects from this semester. Why was this essay cited in this way? If the essay did not use formal citation, how did you show that you had the necessary authority to talk about the subject?

In my analysis paper I choose to write about an album called Deloused in the Comatorium. In this paper I only had one citation and that was the album itself. The reason that I cited it this way is because that was the format of the paper. Also, if you are getting information from sources other than yourself then you need to cite where that information comes from or else you are plagiarizing. I did not have any specific citations in the paper, like direct quotes, but I did use the album as a guide for writing my paper. I did not memorize the entire album, so I had to go back and use it as a reference to help guide me through the paper and properly get my points across with out misrepresenting myself. I had the authority to write about this subject because I am pretty familiar with the band and how they work; I have read a lot of articles about them and how they write their music so I felt I was qualified to analyze and discuss the album without being bias.

9. Describe your understanding of how formal citations work within an essay….how do they help to create an argument? How do they support arguments?

I understand that when you take information from a source other than yourself you need to cite where that information came from. Otherwise people will think that you are making it up yourself and therefore can not be very credible. They help create an argument in several ways. When you do research on a certain subject you learn more and more about it, therefore you are more credible in your explanation of that subject. For the most part citations are used to help you get your point across. They are used as background or backup information and you use this information to expand on your own ideas. This helps people get an understanding of your opinions as well as the opinions of others.

Grammatical Usage and Sentence Structure

Answer ONE of the following two questions:

10. Discuss a grammar, style, or punctuation issue that you feel you’ve “conquered” this semester (i.e., one you think you can remember and use correctly). Describe the process through which you gained this knowledge (this might include example passages from your projects that show how you gained this knowledge throughout the semester, notes from peers or instructor, passages from guides or textbooks you studied, etc).

I think that the biggest grammar lesson that I learned this lesson was how to cite information. The worksheet that was handed out was very helpful and covered pretty much every way of citing a paper. Before this class I had an idea of how to cite papers but never really was confident I was doing it right. It is very important to cite things correctly because you do not want to plagiarize. The first paper was the one I use the most citations on and had trouble with it. But as the semester progressed I found it easier to cite and was not afraid to use a good source because I did not know how to cite it. I think it is a very good thing that I have for the most part figured out citations because that is a very good tool in writing a strong paper. Without using outside sources your credibility really goes down and it becomes more of an opinion paper.

The Old People Zone

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. Its is a dimension as old as electricity and as awkward as a monkey on roller skates trying to juggle razor blades in a hurricane. It is the confusing time between a prosthetic hip and smelling like either bad meat or good cheese, between forgetting your first name and forgetting what day of the week it is, and it lies between the years with a full set of molars and the age where they walked to school in 5 feet of snow. This is the dimension of seasoned veterans. This is the old people zone.

Article lookup

http://www.guitarworld.com/article/digitech_rp_multi_effect_pedals

I choose this article because i think it will be in the same category as my topic. I am thinking about doing something within music, not sure yet. But, I think that this article does a very good job at describing the new line of pedals as well as giving facts about them, and opinions to back up the facts. Although a very boring article to people who do not use these pedals i think that it works for a good analysis article.

Analysis Paper Project Proposal

I am not really sure what my analysis paper is going to be about. I think that it might have something to do with music, such as an analysis of music cultures in different areas of the world our in the country even. I am pretty sure that I will use a formal tone in this paper.

Analysis Skills activity

My response: I think that this is an interesting statement. She talkes abouthow she wants to be judged on her own merits, which is a positive thing, but she goes on the talk about her husband's administration. I think that it is an emotional response because I think of how the president is going to effect my every day life. The author wants you to believe that she is her own person. I think that the thesis, i I want to be judge on my own merits. I think it fits into a persuasive genre. She is trying to persuade you into believing that her actions are true to herself. I know this object from watching the elections.

Friend's response: I think that Hilary Clinton would be a fine president. I have an emotional response because i think of how I would feel if she was president. The author wants the audience to feel like she is independent in her choices. The thesis is, I don;t want to be advantaged or disadvantaged. I am not sure the genre it fits into. I know this object from watching the news.

Sim/Dif: Our responses of emotion were very similar. We both had the same views in the structure of the statement, Except for the part of the thesis. On the other hand our views on the statement itself differed in opinion. Overall, our reactions were somewhat similar but varied slightly in the way we looked at the statement

Active

1. Steve gave the waitress the check.
2. The policy recommends change.
3. Jenny studied the problem.
4. A bolt of lightning hit the tower.
5. Jose caught the fly ball.
6. Some people left the company.
7. Mr. Smith gave the donation.
8. A rancher in Wyoming discovered gold.
9. A one million dollar check was written.
10. The family made several donations.

Parralelism

1. The chapter starts on page 129; page 144 is where it ends.
2. Betty is pretty, kind and charming.
   

3. If you go to the drugstore, please remember to pick up Nick’s prescription, buy some toothpaste, and to look for a birthday card.

4. I spent an hour with Ms. King reviewing my job performance, assessing my goals, and discussing my future in the company.

5. The dog’s size, his friendliness, and temperament made him a good choice for our family.

6. Janice was the most admired , independent, and ambitious person in the entire family.

7. Leo’s day is so long that he gets up at 5:00 a.m., has at 5:30 a.m., eats dinner at 10 p.m., and goes to bed at 1:00 a.m.

Analyzing Text

I think that the key features of analyzing a text are a number of things. The first thing I think that needs to be assesed when analyzing a text is the content, does the title match the writing? It should be clearly stated what the text is trying to convey as the message. You need to give an accurate summary of what you are analyzing for your readers. I think the main key in analyzing text is trying to get the message across that the writer is trying to explain and to make sure that the readers have an accurate interpretation of the text.

Ravers

http://www.livingart.com/raving/articles/article03.htm

Class Structure

I do think that the content of my writing is altered when i post it on the internet because i know that other people can see it. I think that this is a good thing, it makes me think about writing more for an audience rather than just the professor. Commenting and getting comments is definately a good thing to me, i find myself analyzing other peoples writings and noticing things they are doing in their writing that i am not. Also, for the most part the comments on my content are things that can help me. Yes the blogging is making me more aware of what the content of my writing entails. Lately i have found myself reading over my posts a couple times before i submit them to make sure they are alright, and i did not really do that before in my writings which is not a good thing. I think that this is a good structure for the class and would be good to use for future classes.

Subcultures

The two subcultures that i thought of doing were kids who play role playing games such as world of warcraft and music geeks. I think that kids who are into role playing games generally tend to hang out with others like them because they are always at the computer. It seems that these games are really addicting and people who play these games all have somewhat similar personalities. I dont know though i could be completely wrong, but it seems as though they tend to hang out with each other. In terms of music geeks, I think that there are a lot of different music geeks. There are the typical band geeks which played in the high school band. I know in high school they always hung out with each other. Then you got your hippie stoner music festival geeks. Those who get together in a mass pool of hippie love and listen to jam bands through their acid filled ears. And sometimes you get both of these types of music geeks together. Don't get me wrong i love music geeks because I am one myself. In general music geeks are all the same they just have different tastes in music.

Definition

-When is someone "educated"

There are many different aspects of education that defines a person. A person is not only educated in school but also in everyday life. The way a person adapts to the world around them and takes in what is truly meaningful is an education. I think that if a person is learning from something else and is using this information to benefit them, this is an education. There are many educated and uneducated people in this world and it is pretty easy to tell when someone is not educated. A well educated person is knowledgeable of aspects of life that will be helpful to their success. An education is a very important thing and without one you can have a hard time getting through life. Or an education could not be important to you, in this case who cares.

Arguement Essays

I choose Steele/ On Being Black and Middle Class, I feel that the writer did a good job of stating a clear argument. They stated their position and were very clear about how it was for them and how it is today. She did a very good job of using her past experiences along with things she has found from other people to get her point across in a clear and precise manner. She does a very good job of transitioning the paragraphs and explaining in each paragraph both sides of the argument. Along with her personal experiences she gives very good insight on research she has done, for example the Northern black teenager in the south in 1955. I think the reason that this argumentative essay is so clear is that she experienced it first hand, and knows how it is to be a black person in a middle class community, and she conveys her feelings about it along with evident facts to support her topic. I think that this is a very good essay and she is very knowledgeable of the topic and of ways to make it change.

Research Excercise #2

Works Cited #f1
Wiley-Blackwell. "Solar cells can take the heat"

Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week. Atlanta. pg. 3938 Feb 9, 2008

Summary
Solar cells are a great use of energy. With little to no emissions, solar energy is a rather efficient type of energy for the amount of negative effects it produces. Progress has been slow on solar cells because of the technology needed to obtain a sufficient source of energy. Some solar cells show a record 7.6% rate of conversion efficiency.

Paraphrase/Response
This article taps into the positive and negatives of solar energy. While they are a very environmentally safe source of energy they are not as efficient as they could be and take a lot more time and money to use than others. Solar energy is on the rise and could play a very beneficial part in transfer from harmful fuel sources to alternative energy. Though it is not widely used research is still being made and it is becoming a much more efficient type of energy source.

Works Cited #2
Brown, Hal. "Blowin' in the Wind." E: The Environmental Magazine. Vol 19, Iss. 1; pg. 14, 2 pgs.

Summary
In the turn of the millennium wind turbines came to a small town of McCamey, Texas. With petroleum sources taking their toll on the town a need for alternative sources of energy was established at the turn of the century. Because petroleum companies have established their place in the area of Texas the wind power companies are having problems getting their energy distributed.

Paraphrase/Response
This article relates to a specific town in the United Stated that is attempting to change their ways in terms of energy uses. Though wind power would be a great alternative and less costly to all in the long run it is hard to make the switch from petroleum to wind. This article discussed how petroleum companies have established ground in the area of Texas and are making it hard for these wind companies to make a place. It also dabs into specific numbers about how much money is being putting into both energy sources and the benefits and drawbacks to both of them.

Project Proposal

My essay will be about alternative fuel sources and how they can change the world for the better. I will use research that I gather to get an understanding of some of the factual benefits rather than just the overall idea that it is better. I will use this research to compare and contrast to fuel sources that we are using now and what the possibilities are if we can change that. I am going to first talk about what we use now for transportation and how it is having negative effects on our environment and society. I will then talk about what type of fuel sources are being discovered and the changes they will make in our everyday life. Finally I will talk about what can happen if we do not change our ways to the environment and the way that people go about their everyday lives. My argument is obviously on the side of changing our fuel sources to more energy efficient and less harmful substances. The research I get will hopefully help me to have a solid argument.

Research Exercise #1

Topic: Alternative Energy

Works Cited- Yiguand Ju, Joanna Austin. "Propellants and Combustion." Aerospace America Dec. 2007: 70

Summary: According to Yiguang Ju and Joanna Austin, in the article "Propellants and Combustion", the needs for alternative energy sources in energy are discussed. Alternative energy is becoming a widely discussed issue that is becoming more and more serious every day. With a lot of research on alternative fuels the use of hydrocarbon liquids in aviation technology is discussed, with the advantages and disadvantages. These ideas are further discussed the the benefits and draw backs to long term usage of both types of fuel.

Response: The use of alternative energy sources in aviation is a great idea with the amount of air travel that is going on today and growing for that matter. The use of hydrocarbon fuels would greatly reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the air benefiting everybody.

Additional Ideas: I could look at other types of alternative fuels in aviation or land transportation such as cars or ships. Also I could research more in depth about the effects that aviation emissions are having on our ozone today and compare it to the predictions for what would happen with the switch to hydrocarbon fuels.

Thesis Statement: Cheating has become an ever present problem in schools today, starting in lower level education students are finding it easier to cheat and feeling less guilty about it, disregarding the effects it has on them and others around and the punishments they may face due to their actions.

Topic Sentence 1: Many students are unaware of what classifies as cheating and even if they know they are still tempted to cheat because of external factors out of their control.

Transition Topic Sentence 2: With the number of students cheating increasing the question of whether it is the parents fault is being raised.

Transition Topic Sentence 3: Though the reason why and who is to blame for the growing cheating epidemic the consequences for these actions is clearly defined in almost every school today.

Transition Topic Sentence 4: In the previous paragraph the question of who is responsible was raised, in this paragraph preventative measures will be discussed.

Conclusion: Throughout this essay the problem of cheating has been evaluated. The reasons for kids cheating keep on growing whether it be a time factor or just the knowing that they can get a way with it without any consequences. Also, the question of who to blame has been a huge factor in why students keep cheating. With teachers becoming more knowing of what is going on with students they are beginning to crack down harder than they ever had with huge consequences. The only problem is making sure that these kids are aware of their responsibilities and know what they are getting into if they decide to cheat.

Essay Topic

I have choose to write my argumentative essay on alternative fuel sources. It is an increasingly interesting topic and has a very broad range of debatable arguments. I will start with the types of alternative fuel sources used today. I will also talk about the ways in which these types of fuel sources can be implemented and the impact that they will have on the earth for the better.

1. Road rage is the number one cause of deaths on US highways.

2. Many of todays youth are finding themselves locked up because they act out the violence they watch in Disney films.

3. From red ants to carpenter ants these bugs roam in different groups all over the world.

4. Today, the number of animals rescued is rising along with the hearts of individuals giving their time and effort to support.

5. With the number of droughts rising we need to look at our actions and realize how big of an impact global warming is having on our world.

6. In the book, The Shining, the author Stephen King gives a brilliant insight into the mind of a terrified individual.

7. There are many things about the Atlantic Ocean we do not know about including the elusiveness of the Titanic.

8. Drug addiction in America today is out of control and taking many peoples lives.

9. In Saving Private Ryan, a young man with two dead brothers is unknowing of his position and the impact it will have on his life.

10. Rabbits are a a wild animal that is not practical for a pet.

11. The nation is willing to vote in a president knowing that they have charisma, compassion, and control.

12. Many beautiful women show up to beauty pageants hoping to get crowned but only one is good enough to receive it.

13. School uniforms provide a proper work atmosphere for everybody.

14. William Shakespeare was a writer that had many talents with his pen, writing classics that are still read by people today.

15. Aromatherapy is a relaxing type of massage that benefits a person as a whole in many ways.

Fake News

"Fake news" is a genre that is still very misunderstood. Although is can be misleading and interpreted the wrong way, it is a genre that is intended for people who will understand that. In the Daily Show they take news clips that are potentially serious and flip them to make them funny and more appealing to the audience. This type of news is not fully understood by everybody. Like in the show Crossfire they try and butcher John Stewart because they think that he has no idea what he is talking about. This genre is intended for a younger audience. Shows like Crossfire and CNN take the serious approach to broadcasting news, whereas John Stewart takes that same news cast and puts a twist on it that both conveys the message and gives the audience a laugh.
Shows like Crossfire bore the heck out of me. I am not a very government savvy person and I know i should be so I try to watch these shows once and awhile to keep my stuff up to date. I often find myself drifting off or doing something else and miss the whole point of the show. With shows like The Daily Show I can get a lot of the information that they so boringly convey on Crossfire but with a chuckle at the end.

Audience

Audience does play a large role in my writing. The context and composure of my writing differs depending on my audience, whether it be an email to my teacher or a letter to my grandmother, every piece of writing I write I think about who it is going to be written for before I put my ideas on paper. If I am writing something for myself, an audience of one, I tend to think less about what I am writing and just do it. Because I know what I was thinking at the time of the writing it is much easier for me to do rather than stressing over what other people are going to think about it. The biggest difficulty I have with my writing is the audience. I find myself trying to think on the audiences level and eventually I get so lost that I forget what I am even writing about.
Purpose is the most important thing to think about in your writing. Unless I am writing a paper for a class that I have no interest in, I try to make my writing as thoughtful as possible. I attempt to put my emotions out on a platter whether they are good or bad. I feel this is the best way to write because you are not holding anything back. If you are trying to make stuff up that you have not experienced or have not felt it makes it harder for the audience to grasp on what you are trying to explain.
I do not find myself concentrating on the design of my writing unless like I said it is for a class or a project. When I write I try to just let my ideas flow however they do and I go back after words to examine the structure of it. Although design is a very important aspect of writing I do not think about it as much as the purpose of my writing and who I am writing it for.