Thursday, May 7, 2009
Reflective Essay
In every English class, the professor is given a list of things that each student should learn in his or her time in that classroom for that semester. Some of the requirements may not be filled, but most individuals are reaching these requirements. I think that each student learns in separate ways. I know that this semester I have learned more about writing than I have an almost in any of my other classes. I think that personal achievements, not set standards are what improved me in my writing, and there are so many things I have learned.
In this blog portfolio, I had some strengths and some weaknesses doing these papers. I will start with my strengths. I think when I get writing, I usually can’t stop. When I get on a roll, I will type until I have my paper. I also think when I write about the things that I like, the passion is expressed between the lines, and that makes the paper just that much easier to read. With strengths, usually comes weakness as well, and I had my fair share of them. My biggest problem was citing sources. I feel like I could never get every detail just right when it came down to having them in MLA format. There is one other thing that I definitely consider one of my biggest weaknesses, and that is staying on topic. I sometimes tend to repeat myself, or just slightly head the wrong way from where I was going in the first place. My last weakness is the simple fact that I procrastinate to do papers, especially when I am loaded with tests and homework in other classes!
I’m proud of the fact that I have completed what I needed to. I made sure that I got all of my homework done, responses, and blogs done on time. I am happy that I had enough motivation at the end of the year to just sit down, and work on revising my paper and also working on making my writing skills better one step at a time. My greatest challenge in this class was the annotated bibliography. I had never heard of one before, let alone done one. It was all new to me, but I followed the directions, and I finished by doing the best that I could. To revise my papers, I used the advice I had got both from my peers and my professor. It worked well for me because I feel like doing it this way will help me catch the problems that need to be fixed in order to have a successful paper.
In this blog portfolio, I had some strengths and some weaknesses doing these papers. I will start with my strengths. I think when I get writing, I usually can’t stop. When I get on a roll, I will type until I have my paper. I also think when I write about the things that I like, the passion is expressed between the lines, and that makes the paper just that much easier to read. With strengths, usually comes weakness as well, and I had my fair share of them. My biggest problem was citing sources. I feel like I could never get every detail just right when it came down to having them in MLA format. There is one other thing that I definitely consider one of my biggest weaknesses, and that is staying on topic. I sometimes tend to repeat myself, or just slightly head the wrong way from where I was going in the first place. My last weakness is the simple fact that I procrastinate to do papers, especially when I am loaded with tests and homework in other classes!
I’m proud of the fact that I have completed what I needed to. I made sure that I got all of my homework done, responses, and blogs done on time. I am happy that I had enough motivation at the end of the year to just sit down, and work on revising my paper and also working on making my writing skills better one step at a time. My greatest challenge in this class was the annotated bibliography. I had never heard of one before, let alone done one. It was all new to me, but I followed the directions, and I finished by doing the best that I could. To revise my papers, I used the advice I had got both from my peers and my professor. It worked well for me because I feel like doing it this way will help me catch the problems that need to be fixed in order to have a successful paper.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MLK paper
The author of " The Letter from a Birmingham Jail," was president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference whose headquarters was located in Atlanta, Georgia. This man was an outstanding clergyman and goes by the name of Martin Luther King Jr. The reason for writing this rhetorical masterpiece was trying to answer all of the opposition who was trying to tell him that this act in Birmingham was " untimely and unwise."
King uses this piece to show others from the past, present, and future people why he is acting the way he is. It shows throughout the article how he considers himself as a equal rather than a higher authority. King never separates himself from his associates which shows how he respects the dignity of his followers by showing that he is not greater than any one of them. He uses this piece of writing to try and take a slight step in changing the segregation, but not by sitting back and waiting. He states, " Let us not wait this is what we are going to do now!"
Throughout this who letter he uses his great knowledge to use lots of pathos, ethos, and logos in such a way that it makes the paper just so great. Some examples are like in paragraph thirty-three when he uses a form of pathos in the beginning by saying, "Let me take note of my other major disappointment. I have been so greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership." This is comparing actually how bad the community has actually gotten it has even turned the church against them. Continuing to make his letter run smooth he ends the paragraph by using ethos by stating, " I commend you, Reverend Stallings, for your Christian stand on this past Sunday, in welcoming Negroes to your worship service on a non-segregated basis." This shows his knowledge of knowing how to keep an audience into his writing. By using logos in the thirty-fifth paragraph, " When I was suddenly catapulted into the leadership of the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama, a few years ago, I felt we would be supported by the white church . I felt that ministers, priests, and rabbis of the south would be among our strongest allies. Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leaders." These are a few examples of pathos, ethos, and logos showing how amazing King's knowledge was.
In my opinion this was a extremely well written continuously through the whole piece. Just the way he uses his rhetorical knowledge just makes the piece so fluent. Using pathos in the first half of the paragraph then converting to ethos at the end makes the paragraphs so fluent. His logos also just ran extremely well throughout this piece of writing. He use of pathos, ethos, and logos was like a pieces to the puzzles. One piece does not make the whole picture but when he puts all the pieces together it makes an amazing piece of historical literature. In my opinion this was one of the greatest rhetorical writings not only in American History, but in World History.
King uses this piece to show others from the past, present, and future people why he is acting the way he is. It shows throughout the article how he considers himself as a equal rather than a higher authority. King never separates himself from his associates which shows how he respects the dignity of his followers by showing that he is not greater than any one of them. He uses this piece of writing to try and take a slight step in changing the segregation, but not by sitting back and waiting. He states, " Let us not wait this is what we are going to do now!"
Throughout this who letter he uses his great knowledge to use lots of pathos, ethos, and logos in such a way that it makes the paper just so great. Some examples are like in paragraph thirty-three when he uses a form of pathos in the beginning by saying, "Let me take note of my other major disappointment. I have been so greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership." This is comparing actually how bad the community has actually gotten it has even turned the church against them. Continuing to make his letter run smooth he ends the paragraph by using ethos by stating, " I commend you, Reverend Stallings, for your Christian stand on this past Sunday, in welcoming Negroes to your worship service on a non-segregated basis." This shows his knowledge of knowing how to keep an audience into his writing. By using logos in the thirty-fifth paragraph, " When I was suddenly catapulted into the leadership of the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama, a few years ago, I felt we would be supported by the white church . I felt that ministers, priests, and rabbis of the south would be among our strongest allies. Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leaders." These are a few examples of pathos, ethos, and logos showing how amazing King's knowledge was.
In my opinion this was a extremely well written continuously through the whole piece. Just the way he uses his rhetorical knowledge just makes the piece so fluent. Using pathos in the first half of the paragraph then converting to ethos at the end makes the paragraphs so fluent. His logos also just ran extremely well throughout this piece of writing. He use of pathos, ethos, and logos was like a pieces to the puzzles. One piece does not make the whole picture but when he puts all the pieces together it makes an amazing piece of historical literature. In my opinion this was one of the greatest rhetorical writings not only in American History, but in World History.
Monday, May 4, 2009
e-assignment 1
The writer of the blog Road Signs That Read:" Warning Alcoholic Crossing" seems to be very well put together. They have defined themselves well and have chosen a good topic to write about, and are pretty knowledgeable about the topic as well. There is not much information about the writer but with the way the blog is put together they seem to know a lot about alcoholism and about what alcohol can do to you.
This blog would probably appeal most to people who are having problems with a drinking or drug addiction. Alcoholism is a serious problem, and this blog can show those who are dealing with this problem that there is help out there for them if they truly need it. This blog may also appeal to younger readers as well, kids need to learn more about what alcohol can do to you before they turn 21 and are out at all the bars with their friends.
The writer presents the content of the blog by telling things that everyone basically knows already, they sort of just remind us of what we already know. They start by talking about drinking and driving and how police officers are becoming more aware of what is going on with the drinking and driving. They also talk about how when a person turns 21 and starts to go out to the bars they already have a favorite bar to go out to. The writer makes you stop and realize that people just turning 21 should not have their favorite bars already picked out. The writer also helps build to what we should already know, and keeps the audience's attention by the knowledge that we should already have.
Over all I think this blog is very educational and a good place for people with a problem to go if they or someone they know needs help. This blog also makes people stop and realize that not only is drinking and driving a bad and serious problem, but under aged drinking is also a problem. The whole part about a person turning 21 already having a favorite bar makes it so much easier to realize that under aged drinking is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. This blog is specifically meant for those who are struggling with an alcohol addiction, they need to see that there is help there for them when they themselves realize they need help.
This blog would probably appeal most to people who are having problems with a drinking or drug addiction. Alcoholism is a serious problem, and this blog can show those who are dealing with this problem that there is help out there for them if they truly need it. This blog may also appeal to younger readers as well, kids need to learn more about what alcohol can do to you before they turn 21 and are out at all the bars with their friends.
The writer presents the content of the blog by telling things that everyone basically knows already, they sort of just remind us of what we already know. They start by talking about drinking and driving and how police officers are becoming more aware of what is going on with the drinking and driving. They also talk about how when a person turns 21 and starts to go out to the bars they already have a favorite bar to go out to. The writer makes you stop and realize that people just turning 21 should not have their favorite bars already picked out. The writer also helps build to what we should already know, and keeps the audience's attention by the knowledge that we should already have.
Over all I think this blog is very educational and a good place for people with a problem to go if they or someone they know needs help. This blog also makes people stop and realize that not only is drinking and driving a bad and serious problem, but under aged drinking is also a problem. The whole part about a person turning 21 already having a favorite bar makes it so much easier to realize that under aged drinking is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. This blog is specifically meant for those who are struggling with an alcohol addiction, they need to see that there is help there for them when they themselves realize they need help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)