Finals

One of my main concerns for the paper is getting the interviews done and being able to incorporate them throughout the paper. The other thing is getting it all done in time mainly because I have been having such a hard time with my writing lately.Other then that I think im ok.

In-Class "Something Instead of Nothing"

1. We recently discussed the irony that we can't really point out what is "cool." This relates to identity, in that we can't always recognize others' or our own identity. We can be interpreted in different ways. Klosterman spoke on this in this essay because we can express ourselves and our identity in interviews, but not always honestly. People can lie to make themselves more interesting, or their answers could be unintentionaly skewed by the question or circumstance.


2. Klosterman's overarching research question is why people respond in interviews.


3. He shows in this essay that there are many reasons why people answer questions and there are different circumstances. This is adequate because there probably isn't one definite answer.


4. We believe that people's responses will always be a little skewed by bias in an attempt to make themselves sound better. Therefore, it is hard to trust an interviewee to tell the whole truth.


5. We disagree because a totally reasonable person could still have a great idea worth sharing or a product to sell and an interivew is a good way, if not in some cases the only way, to accomplish that.

Cool Hunters and The Simpsons

In Gladwell's article, he pointed out the paradox of cool - as cool becomes known or mainstream, it becomes uncool. For this reason, what is "cool" at any given time can be hard to name. This irony is portrayed in The Simpson's episode when the parents ask the kids if they're cool. The kids insist their parents aren't cool, and even though their mother says she doesn't care about being cool - her indifference still isn't cool. So what is? They don't really know, either.

Power Points

I found this artical interesiteng because I have alway preferd doing power points. but he made some good points about why power point presentatons really are not the best way to present information. One point he maid was "PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play -very loud, very slow, and very simple." Which is very true i can think of many examples where a power point had sounds or clip art added to the page that just distracted from the information instead of making it more interesting.And the little bit of info that was on the page was very waterd down.

In-Class Google Questions

1. When Carr says that his mind is changing, one thing that is changing is his ability to focus on books or long articles. The internet allows us to browse and get the gist of information with out sitting and reading entire essays or books.

2. Carr cites research and hyperlinks as benefits of the internet. As a journalist, search engines put research and information at his finger tips and, unlike footnotes in books that just point in the direction of related sources, links do the job for him, shooting him across the web.

3. Carr illustrates his statement that media can shape the process of thought as well as supply the stuff of thought in his expectation of information in other media to be presented in a quick and clear stream, as it is on the web. This explains why he has become impatient with reading whole books.

4. It would seem that Carr is concerned that Google's omnipresence is making us stupid. He shows much interest in the way in which it changes our thought process and the way we skim and get the gist of information.

"Billy Sim" In-Class Questions

1. One thing that our group agreed was interesting with respect to identity was the idea that everyone is wrong about their own identity. It's an interesting thought that we could interpret ourselves so wrongly as to think that as we sit alone at a party, we are oxtroverts, or as we greet and speak to everyone that we could see ourselves as introverts.

2. This piece's discussion of creating virtual identities relates to Evan Ratcliff's vanishing and creating a new identity in the digital age.

3. Our group agrees that the use of technology is not making children think like computers, but rather making them lazy and to rely on computers.

Final Draft of who we are?

I don't believe that there is a "final draft" of who we are because we are always changing. Whether its a change in opinion,view,or routine it still changes some small part of who we are as an individual. And as we make these small changes we eventually become someone slightly different then who we were before. I also believe that its possible after we die people will look back and see us slightly different than they did before because they are changing and seeing the world differently than they did before.

Slumming

I found this story sad. But I also thought it was interesting how they went to all these events to make the world a better place and then the one chance they had to really help someone they didn't. I also thought that pretending to be poor because you tired of your rich life style is wrong but it also reminded me of a commercial I saw for a new show called "Undercover Millionaire". Which is about millionaires who go and live in these poor communities for about a month then revel who they really are and give some of the people some money.

Vanish

I thought that this was a vary interesting project. The idea of leaving every thing and everyone you know and starting over fresh is something that many people have thought about but not many people actually do. After seeing how he was always paranoid and afraid that someone was going to find him. I don't think that I would be able to handle that kind of stress expecely for as long as he did.

Literacy and Voice Questions

3. We both agree that texting and online communication, like Facebook, are writing because they communicate, but not writing in the sense that we talk about in school, like novels or academic papers.

4. It seems that the idea of voice and identity as is seen in writing can also be seen in music. One artist may have a similar sound to another, but they still have their own voice. We, as writers, may not have completely original ideas but we can take the ideas and information from others and shape it with our own voice and experiences.

5. A writer's voice can seem more authentic to us, but may not seem so to someone else because that authenticity can be subjective. An example of this could be seen in political writers, who some people respect while others see as biased.

6. Imitation is important in constructing our own sense of self because we can find ourselves in the voices of others, then build off of that. Music, once again, can serve as an example of this because we can relate to lyrics and take those feelings or ideas as our own.

Joan Didion- Why I Write

I knew I couldn't think. All I knew then was what I couldn't do. All I knew then was what I wasn't, and it took me some years to discover what I was.
As I read Joan Didion's "Why I Write" this line stood out to me.And even though it doesn't represent the reading I wanted to write about it anyway. It made me think about how many people seem to only be able to see themselves this way. Only knowing and focusing on the cant's of their life. I know that I have looked at my life this way and I can say from experience that this can be destructive to a persons self esteem. For example some one who focuses on things like not being able to do well in classes might drop out, when in reality they might be struggling in class but they are doing really well in sports. Instead of dropping out they focus on getting help with their work so they can participate in sports.
Another reason I think it stuck out to me is because it sort of talks about Identity. Because if your focused on the negative then you are going to view yourself in a negative way.Causing other people to also see you in that negative way. In the same way if you focuse on the positives ten so will everyone else.

Why Write?

There are many different ways and reasons to write.You might write to help you remember, by writing a list of things you need or writing down an idea so you can work on it later. You might write a paper so you can share your knowledge and research with others. You might write a story to show your creative side. You might write down your thoughts just to get them out of your head. Everyone writes different things at different times for different reasons. So why do you write?



Writing lets you put your thoughts out in front of you.
It lets you share information and knowledge with others.
Writing helps you organize your thoughts, your knowledge,and your ideas.

Obama's Speech

We think that he made the changes to make the audience feel included, to engage them, both Republicans and Democrats. One line, Obama adds "I know that many in this country..." This addition shows that he wants to make his speech personal. He is not delivering it as a fact, but letting the audience know that he knows this, just as they do.

No one in our group really follows politics, so we don't have much of an opinion about the bloggers interpretation of this speech. We do, however, agree with the second paragraph's points about his drawing individuals as "active agents," because we feel that is important in relating to and engaging the audience.

Response to A&P

1. The two senses we felt from the end of this story were liberating and eye-opening. Sammy is realizing that he cannot grow up and mature in a job he hates, just because he was given the job. This realization and risk-taking is liberating. Also, Sammy realized, after taking this risk, that though it was necessary, this would lead to some tough times. This closing line is eye-opening for Sammy.
2. Porter sees Sammy's decision as one to live "honestly and meaningfully." In a way, we agree because if you disagree with the politics at your job it may be best for you to quit. However, quitting because his boss embarrassed a girl is very different than quitting a corrupt law firm - that would be living honestly and meaningfully.
4. The detail in this story helps to build the reader's interpretation of the character's identities. We also see more of Sammy's identity, not only in his decisions through out the story, but also in the way that he assumes things about the girls based on their descriptions.

A&P

I enjoyed reading A&P. I thought it was a good story with a lot of detail.He was really able to draw you in and make you feel like you were there.I also thought that his nickname for some of the people were vary funny.
However the weird spacing and random dots through out the paper got rather annoying after a while. Which is weird for me because usually mistakes don't bother me because I know I make plenty of my own.

Spam 2; Rhetoric

Pathos: He uses pathos by explaining how someone had passed away and how we should help them out by givin them your account, so that we can recieve money in return.
Ethos: By making himself sound like he has authority by telling us he works at a bank
Logos: There really isnt any logos in this piece of spam becuase the spelling sucks, and anyone who were to read this piece of mail would understand that it's not true.

The T-4 Super and 50 photographs

a. We think that an art teacher could have bought this item for the photographs.
b. Some high school art teachers collect random photos or objects for students to use for projects. Since this camera came with 50 photos, this could appeal to the teacher.

Stuff

When I listen to “A place for my stuff” and read “All my life for sale” it made me think of all the stuff that people collect. How many of us collect some type of knick- knack or know some one else who collects knick- knacks. I bet it’s a lot more of us then we would like to admit. I know quite a few people including myself who collect things. Some of these things end up being worth something the longer you hang on to it. However most of the stuff isn’t worth anything. So why do we collect things? Almost any one you ask why they collect what they collect they will say its because some sort of special meaning to them.

My Writing Process

When I am writing a research paper I always try and find as much information on the subject as I can before I start writing. Then I decide what parts of the topic I want to focus on. Once I do that I organize my sources of research accordingly. After my research is organize I finally start to write. First I start by making my Introduction paragraph and decide what my thesis is going to say. Once my Intoduction and thesis are done I start the body incerting facts from my research when needed.

Ann Raines

I think that Ann Raines is right when she says "Our identities change to fit
into various cultural communities as members of families, age
groups, ethnic groups, or institutions like churches, colleges, and
businesses." I believe this because I have seen how people change when put in a new area. For example I knew a small town girl who moved to the city and became almost a completely different person. Because there are so many factors that help create our identities and because they can change rather easily there are many different identities that people might have. And with a verity of identities you have a verity of views and opinions. Which is why I also agree with Raines that you have to keep an open mind when reading because the author is most likely going to look at the world differently than you do. And if you are not willing to try and understand their point of view, whether you agree with it or not,you will not be able to learn.

I also feel that the part about reading more critically is something that every one should do.However it is some thing that I've been told to do all through school. And what I find is that when your told something again and again you stop listening no matter how important it is. So I found that the critical reading part was for me hard to stay focused because I have heard about it so many times.