Overall of my 207 Spring Semester- Technology and Me

This Spring semester has been filled of very interesting activities and classes, but my 207 class has introduced me to a new world of technological advancements and programs. This is the first time I have ever had to keep information in a blog, and I am happy that I learned how to do it! I think blogging is a fun and convenient way to set up and post information on the web. Also, the advertisement project allowed me to work with Adobe Photo shop for the first time, and it was a wonderful experience! I really enjoyed this course and now I can carry all of the aspects of technology with me to guide me and assist me for the remainder of my college career! Technology has a new and more important place in my academic life!

My Understanding of the Research Proposal

I believe that a research paper is an ongoing learning process that requires a student to search for appropriate sources and then review and reflect upon those sources in order to gain a through understanding of the material to create a thesis. In class discussion today I realized that a research paper is a time consuming process, however the extra time dedicated to the paper will reap beneficial results. As an English major, I too agree with the idea that a research paper is not complete after the research has been gathered, that is why a research proposal is such a great tool to utilize. Since this is the first time during my undergraduate program that I have been required to submit a formal research proposal the entire process is new to me, but I must say that I think it is a wonderfully helpful idea. The purpose of a research proposal is to help the writer construct, organize, and review the materials for the paper in order to create a research question and thesis. The Penguin Handbook discusses the "Research Project" in chapter 20, and it states that "if you've kept your materials organized during the research phase, you can complete the writing phase on schedule with excellent results"(336). This statement from the handbook can directly relate to the main purpose of the research proposal, which I believe to be first and foremost a detailed and organized review of the information from the sources and a narrowing of the sources to decide which sources are best suitable for my argument. After I have chosen the sources for my paper, I can then use this information to create a timeline of my paper. This timeline will help me to schedule the various steps of my paper. Next I will create a research question from my information and my thesis statement will be a possible answer to that question. Thus far I believe my question will ask,"How has the NCLB Act failed to help the children in American schools?"
Overall, my research proposal will be a helpful tool to guide me throughout the process of creating my paper.

The Plan for my Research Paper on NCLB

I believe that for a research paper to ultimately become a success when the final draft is handed in, the writer needs to develop and follow an appropriate plan for the paper. This plan will serve as an organized outline which will allow the writer to plot out the number of steps he or she will utilize for the paper as well as how much time will be devoted to each step. Since this research paper assignment is the largest grade that will be assessed in English 207 this semester, I am going to plan the entire process of developing my paper that way I can track my progress. My first step included finding a research topic that was both interesting and relevant to me personally. I chose to write a persuasive research paper about the 2001 No Child Left Behind law. This particular topic is close to my heart because in two years I will be a professional teacher working with my students in the real world classroom setting, and according to the research I have seen and read, this law is not benefitting all students. The main purpose of my paper will focus on the problems that have failed to be corrected under the NCLB law.
The second part of my paper will include finding at least ten valid sources for my paper, both online using LexisNexis, and hardcover books in the Jerome Library. I also plan to use an interview with one of my former teachers as a source from a first person perspective. After I have gathered all of my sources and compiled my annotated bibliography (and I will use the Handbook, pages 317-320 to help me), I will begin to draft my paper and create a thesis. My thesis will most likely describe that "Under NCLB there are more problems than solutions" or something along those lines. I am a bit concerned that at first I will be confused on how to order my supporting points. This means I have to spend time sorting through my sources and find the details that strongly support my thesis. When my draft is complete, I will make changes as necessary, proofread it several times and provide the appropriate MLA page headings and citations.
I hope to achieve a greater knowledge of the NCLB act from researching this paper, so that when I enter into the realm of teaching, I am able to have an educated opinion regarding this Law and the changes that should be made. I also hope that this paper helps me to achieve a solid comprehension of persuading an audience on a given topic.

Reasoning and Persuasion

As a member of the discourse community of writers, I am constantly composing numerous papers and essays every week. I create the majority of these written assignments for academic purposes for my three English courses. I also love to write as a hobby because it makes me feel calm to be able to physically get the thoughts in my head down on paper. However, since I am constantly writing, the concepts of reasoning and persuasion are no strangers to me! I think that these two writing strategies are very important to students. The persuasion essay is vital because it allows a writer to create a context in which it is safe to present his or her ideas to the audience in a straightforward manner. Chapter 15 of Laib's novel, "Rhetoric and Style" describes the helpful methods one can use to be more persuasive when writing. Certain tips are, "To make your style more persuasive, you might use the following strategies: rely on examples and use narratives"(pg 301). These two strategies are the most familiar to me, and I will utilize them both in the upcoming research paper I am creating for English 207. In this paper I plan to persuade my audience that the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law is not working. I plan to argue that it is doing more harm in our public schools than good, and my aim is to prove this by citing examples from journal entries, newspapers, and novels. I also plan to use narratives (written accounts) of teachers who oppose the the law and relate these personal stories involving NCLB to my essay.
The text also states, "Reasoning attempts to represent the author's point of view-and to convince the audience to agree with it"(pg 307). I agree with this quote, because as a scholar and future teacher, I have used my reasoning skills multiple times. These skills are vital in the professional world if one wants his/her perspective on an issue to be taken seriously. Since I will want my audience to pay attention to my understanding of the negative impacts of NCLB, I will use reasoning skills by, as the text states, taking my subject (NCLB) apart and showing the pieces to the audience. I will attempt to show my audience that the Law has not succeeded in joining the youth of the nation in a bond of education. NCLB is simply making the realm of education a demanding profession and burdening school administrators with the pressures of standardized testing.
In the larger scheme of my essay, persuasion and reasoning tactics will be the main facets to my paper that will assist my audience to see the NCLB from my point of view. These two methods are truly effective in the world of essays and I will use them for the rest of my career.

The Issue of Text and Identity (Facebook.com)

The society that we are living in today places a very high value on an individual’s identity. The term itself means a great deal more than simply the physical characteristics of a person, but rather an ‘identity’ in the broad sense captures how an individual communicates and expresses who they are to the rest of the world. For me, I imagine all of the components of an identity as specific and unique traits of every single person, and these identities should be guarded and not slathered openly to millions of eyes on the Internet. This is where Nancy Hass’ article ‘In Your Facebook. Com’ comes into play. Hass writes about how Facebook has become a phenomenon across the realm of college life. I can admit from personal experience that every single one of my college and high school aged friends have Facebook, but unlike some others, I do not have a Facebook “addiction”. Hass explains that some students are obsessed with the Facebook status of others and check the site “everyday, up to six times a day”. This factual information bothers me, because in reality young adults are allowed to view the personal information that other students have put on the web, and this can lead to dangerous situations such as online stalking and sexual predators. I am aware that Facebook has taken security measures for all of its users, but safety only goes so far. Computer hackers have the skills to hack into any site they choose, and what if that site contains very personal information such as where you live, how old you are, and what hobbies you have. I believe the Internet can be a good place full of helpful information, but at the same time it can be a dangerous place if users, such as Facebook members, refuse to resist putting their private identities online. Facebook should be strictly a social network, not a public place to post your private life for all to see just as Hass states, Facebook is “changing the nature of public and private identity”.

What Is An Effective Website?

As a college student living in the twenty-first century, I have had my fair share of experiences dealing with various internet websites. The age that we are living in is an age of highly developed technological advancements. As I have traveled through the stages of my academic career thus far, I have watched the realm of the World Wide Web expand and improve. Since I often utilize the internet several times a day to find research or information, I have formed certain criteria that I believe formulates an effective website. The section titled “Plan a Web Site” in The Penguin Handbook offered me some extremely helpful examples and insightful ideas when I organized my personal website criteria. First of all, I think that there are four integral elements that must be included in every “good” website. The first element is that a website needs is to express a strong purpose to the reader. The website must stick to the type of site that it is, for example if a website’s purpose is to inform, than accurate information should be found there. Secondly, a website should have information that is easy to find. Organization of the web design layout allows for “information on the site to be located without difficulty” (Faigley, 246). Thirdly, I also think that the visible structure of content and links should remain consistent and well organized throughout the entire website. Faigley states, “The format of navigation tools should be consistent […] Colors used for navigation should also remain consistent” (250). Last, but certainly not least, the text on the website should be easily readable to the viewer; text should not be too big or too small. All of these elements combined will create an effective, professional website.A good site should also, always speak out to a specific and appropriate audience. The audience is a key aspect-a website must appeal to the target audience and allow them to easily find what they are searching for, whether it is information, pictures or other facts.

Response to Analyzing Images and Texts

I truly enjoyed exploring the depths of my imagination to discover the layout and design of my ad. The visual appeal of my ad was the most vital element of the entire advertisement, because when people glance at an ad in a store or in a magazine, the first thing that captures their attention is the appearance of the ad. How an ad looks reveals a great deal about the ad quality and purpose. This advertisement project gave me the opportunity to discover the art of creating and applying visual images and texts to an ad in a professional manner. Reading the section in Faigley titled “Analyze Images and Other Kinds of Visual Texts” really helped me, and pushed me to ponder the deeper meaning of the word “text”. As I was reading this section, I realized that the most poignant point that Faigley states is, “Anything can be read as a text, then nearly everything is a text” (pg 129). I wholeheartedly agree with Failgey’s previous statement that text can be found in everything. The chapter explained that the grills of an SUV and a minivan can be viewed as sending a particular image to the viewer. Consumers always view a product before purchasing it, in order to be sure that it is the type of product they need. In my own add, I am aware that words are not the only element that convey and express meaning. I could have cut the worded texts in my ad, and left only the name of the eatery and the photos on the ad. I am confident that the consumers would still understand my message. Photographs are a powerful form of text, because if a consumer looked ay my ad and saw the delicate, delicious cupcake and warm cookies they would know that my eatery sells delicious, sugary treats. There is so much information that can be pulled from a single image. That is the reason why some ad companies choose not to include word text at all!

Response to the Advertisement Project (thus far)

When I first discovered that I was going to be creating my own advertisement as an assignment for English 207, my primary feeling was excitement. A project like this one is a wonderful opportunity for me to delve into my imagination and produce an artistic creation that is all my own. I have always loved art and pictures, so this advertisement project has been a very smooth and enjoyable process for me. I truly enjoy watching my ideas come to life as I begin to draw and sketch my advertisement ideas down on paper. However, the technological aspect of the project is a bit of a challenge for me because I do not own a digital camera, but I am borrowing one from a friend. I am also a bit concerned about utilizing Photoshop to complete my final advertisement, but I think that with the help of my peers my project will continue to improve as I advance through all of the steps of the assignment. The first step of the project was the most exhilarating and straightforward part. After I read the Design Basics chapter in the Penguin Handbook, I was aware of all of the elements that I needed to include in my advertisement. So far, I have decided to create a dessert restaurant advertisement. The typeface will be bold to really stand out and my audience will target anyone with a sweet tooth. The chapter also helped me realize the importance of a color scheme in a visual advertisement so I have chosen to use light pastel colors such as pink and blue. I think the final outcome of this project will be well worth the time and energy I used to create it!

Response to the Peer Review Workshop

When I was creating my Digital Biography assignment I was excited to share my personal narrative with my fellow classmates. This particular assignment was enjoyable for me because I love delving into my past in order to understand how the elements of the past influence who I am today. The Penguin Handbook defines narrative writing as a deep reflection focusing on experiences from the past and written in first person voice. Writing in first person is always wonderful for me because I feel that when I create a composition in first person, I am speaking directly to my audience in my own voice. During the day of our peer evaluations I was both nervous and anxious to have my peers read my writing. I felt that my story was a personal extension of myself. During the process of the peer review I felt that I was sharing my writing in a safe environment because everyone in the class was required to share their writings with others. The peers that looked over my rough draft read it throroughly and gave the paper back to me offering very insightful tips on what needed to be revised or reworded. I felt that my peers gave very positive, detailed feedback regarding my paper. I also feel that my peers handled my paper and the critiquing of it in a professional and serious manner. When it was my turn to read my peer’s paper I wrote helpful notes in the margins and offered different ideas regaurding how to make the ideas of the paper flow during paragraph transitions. Overall, I feel that the class peer review workshop was a successful activity because now I see my classmates as writers who, like me, are constantly trying to improve their writing. Peer review is a great tool for our class to support one another as writers.

My Understanding of a Discourse Community

In my mind, when I reflect upon the idea of a discourse community I picture a group of individuals from various ethnic and/or religious backgrounds gathering together to verbally discuss common goals or interests. A discourse community is a group that does not necessarily share common values but do share interests, such as college majors, career goals, or a bond as simplistic as common musical tastes. In my own personal definition of discourse community, I do not limit the definition to a group of professionals or college students. Discourse communities extend and can branch out to contain every group of individuals, sharing common ideas and interests with one another through some mode of communication, whether it is verbal, or through e-mail or online chatting. There are multiple forms of communication other than verbal. With today's new technologies, it seems that communication opportunities are limitless, connecting individuals across the globe. Since the definition of discourse communication is not complete, I feel that my definition and ideas regarding it are valid. One final comment I would like to make concerns the essay excerpt by Russell. Russell commented that within the realm of the "modern university," there are many separate groups that have destroyed "linguistic hegemony," since "excluded social groups were admitted to universities." This statement seemed biased to me, and Russell needs to realize that linguistic diversity is a good thing because it enriches groups of students. After all, a university without diversity seems to me a waste of time and a loss of great experiences that could have been.

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