Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Class Structure #2
I definitely enjoyed this class structure. The class gave me some more free time, which relieved some stress and helped me concentrate on writing. This is probably the longest class I've ever taken, sitting for 6 hours a week and learning the English stuff we learned in high school isn't fun. Three hours a week is enough to get projects explained and papers handed out, and the blogging is very easy and pretty cool. To people taking this course, just go to class and complete assignments on time.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Assessment activity #10
I conquered...not really anything.
Most of the things I already new or use naturally while I'm writing/reviewing my papers. There are definitely many areas where I need improvement: mainly flow. However, I think my writing has gotten better this semester through reviewing grammar and punctuation as well as writing in different genres. If there was one thing I think I've gotten better at, it would be the use of commas. Knowing where to put a comma and where to put a colon or semicolon are techniques that make writing more expressive, in my opinion, and can add elements that complete a paper.
Most of the things I already new or use naturally while I'm writing/reviewing my papers. There are definitely many areas where I need improvement: mainly flow. However, I think my writing has gotten better this semester through reviewing grammar and punctuation as well as writing in different genres. If there was one thing I think I've gotten better at, it would be the use of commas. Knowing where to put a comma and where to put a colon or semicolon are techniques that make writing more expressive, in my opinion, and can add elements that complete a paper.
Assessment activity #8 & 9
I'm not sure that I used citations correctly in my ethnography, mainly because most of my facts came from an interview. I've never used an interview in a paper before so I wasn't sure if I should include him by name or if I should leave it as my anonymous friend. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I addressed him by name for a paper like this plus I didn't know how exactly to cite this since I didn't write down the interview word for word. However, I used this to support my own analysis of the Mormon religion since it was first-hand experience. Basically the citation should have written the paper more than my opinion of the religion and that's what I tried to do.
Citations are facts from people who are professionals and have done heavy research into the field you're writing for. Formal citations are facts that support an opinion that you're trying to argue or prove within a paper. Arguments can be created or destroyed based on what citation you use. One source might completely support your opinion while another might find all the weak points and tear your argument wide open. Making sure you use these correctly determines the impact an argument has.
Citations are facts from people who are professionals and have done heavy research into the field you're writing for. Formal citations are facts that support an opinion that you're trying to argue or prove within a paper. Arguments can be created or destroyed based on what citation you use. One source might completely support your opinion while another might find all the weak points and tear your argument wide open. Making sure you use these correctly determines the impact an argument has.
Assessment activity #6 & 7
The Upcoming Presidential Election
Online, you could go to both party sites, news sites, wikipedia...or just google it and click the first thing that comes up. Physically, you could go to supporter rallies, clubs supporting whichever candidate you choose, speeches or debates. It would probably be easier to just use a computer if all you wanted was information on the election, or just turn on the news.
Information could be gathered by party leaders, political forums, news reports, etc. Deciding who you use depends on what the topic is. If you're writing an analysis of the election, I'd select two experts with opposing opinions and compare and contrast how they are supporting their respective candidate; then I would find people with similar opinions to make my analysis more credible. For an argument/research paper, I would choose one side, gather facts from past elections, and predict the winner or something like that. An ethnography would probably be the most interesting paper to write. Choosing a group, probably democrats or republicans, and interviewing liberals from one side would make for an interesting paper.
Question 7
I'd definitely use polling results from the past and look at the historical side of elections. Interviewing a president of a democratic/republican chapter would be a good source of information as well. I'd try to stick to people, books, and academic journals for most of my information, but some papers would probably be helped by average Joe's opinion.
Online, you could go to both party sites, news sites, wikipedia...or just google it and click the first thing that comes up. Physically, you could go to supporter rallies, clubs supporting whichever candidate you choose, speeches or debates. It would probably be easier to just use a computer if all you wanted was information on the election, or just turn on the news.
Information could be gathered by party leaders, political forums, news reports, etc. Deciding who you use depends on what the topic is. If you're writing an analysis of the election, I'd select two experts with opposing opinions and compare and contrast how they are supporting their respective candidate; then I would find people with similar opinions to make my analysis more credible. For an argument/research paper, I would choose one side, gather facts from past elections, and predict the winner or something like that. An ethnography would probably be the most interesting paper to write. Choosing a group, probably democrats or republicans, and interviewing liberals from one side would make for an interesting paper.
Question 7
I'd definitely use polling results from the past and look at the historical side of elections. Interviewing a president of a democratic/republican chapter would be a good source of information as well. I'd try to stick to people, books, and academic journals for most of my information, but some papers would probably be helped by average Joe's opinion.
Assessment activity #5
A Library How-to Guide
I would use the computer to create this text. Much like in the computer lab in the Bernhard Center, I would make this into a start-up program that would open as soon as someone signed in. To make this into an effective tool, I would include a map of the library with clearly marked sections and reference points, as well as color coding of sections to make the work easier. Then, I would construct a simple and easy to follow list that would direct people to certain places based on what they were looking for. I would detail the checking-out process first. Then I would explain how to find books, journals and articles and if that wasn't enough they could look on the map and go to one of the help desks. Finally I would include a brief overview of how to use the library's web-site and give them a link to get them started.
I would use the computer to create this text. Much like in the computer lab in the Bernhard Center, I would make this into a start-up program that would open as soon as someone signed in. To make this into an effective tool, I would include a map of the library with clearly marked sections and reference points, as well as color coding of sections to make the work easier. Then, I would construct a simple and easy to follow list that would direct people to certain places based on what they were looking for. I would detail the checking-out process first. Then I would explain how to find books, journals and articles and if that wasn't enough they could look on the map and go to one of the help desks. Finally I would include a brief overview of how to use the library's web-site and give them a link to get them started.
Assessment activity #4
Ethnography v. Analysis
Both of these genres require experience in the subject you're looking at. The difference lies mostly in the deliverance and the subject choice. An ethnography's focus is on social groups; whereas an analysis is usually done with things and events. Both are meant to be informative, no argued points or debatable topics, and allow for the writer to put in his or her 2 cents on the subject being researched. For my ethnography I chose Mormonism, and for my analysis I chose the video game Lost Odyssey. I actually interviewed one of my ex-Mormon friends and got a lot of good information; sadly, I actually bumped into two missionaries a couple of weeks after I had finished my paper and, if I had still been writing, they would've been a great resource. In contrast, my analysis paper was completed after I finished playing the game. Once I had gathered a lot of background information, read on other people's experience with the game, and formatted how I wanted to write the paper, I put it all together under a couple of key aspects that I thought made the game great.
Both of these genres require experience in the subject you're looking at. The difference lies mostly in the deliverance and the subject choice. An ethnography's focus is on social groups; whereas an analysis is usually done with things and events. Both are meant to be informative, no argued points or debatable topics, and allow for the writer to put in his or her 2 cents on the subject being researched. For my ethnography I chose Mormonism, and for my analysis I chose the video game Lost Odyssey. I actually interviewed one of my ex-Mormon friends and got a lot of good information; sadly, I actually bumped into two missionaries a couple of weeks after I had finished my paper and, if I had still been writing, they would've been a great resource. In contrast, my analysis paper was completed after I finished playing the game. Once I had gathered a lot of background information, read on other people's experience with the game, and formatted how I wanted to write the paper, I put it all together under a couple of key aspects that I thought made the game great.
Assessment activity #3
With the argumentative research paper, I didn't feel like there were boundaries, so much as an audience that I wanted to persuade. Some might say that this is a boundary, but within this genre it's fairly easy to connect fact, opinion, and argument or persuasion as long as you have a topic that can be argued. This genre required me to do some serious book/library research. The project was a lot easier using academic journals and informative texts since they were so readily available. I went much farther into the background of highways so that I could establish a solid base on top of which I could build my arguments.
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