Tuesday, September 7, 2010
semester 4 of 5 week 2
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Last Blog
Using our blogs was a great way practice writing skills that we learned in class. After writing papers and reading the remarks left on my paper gave me things to improve on in my writing. Using the blog was an extra excerise to improve upon the things that I needed to work on. Being able to read other classmate's blogs allowed me to see how other people wrote and provided examples on how to improve my writing style. I think being required a word count was often a hassle but I think it was a good thing. Being required a certain amount of words kept us from slacking off and just writing two sentences. Having a set amount of words made us think more in order to come up with enough valid points to meet the word requirement.
I think being required to comment on other peoples blogs was a good thing. Reading what other people had to say in their blogs gave me a new perspective on many things. Blogging was a good way of communication between classmates. Reading what other people had to say about my posts also gave me things to think about and a new perspective. Being able to voice your opinion about things was another great thing about the blog. I think sometimes it easier to write out your opinion rather than speak it. Commenting on blogs also lead to some in depth conversations about the topics discussed.
I found the post where we were required to include a picture to be fun. I was not aware how to even insert a picture into my blog, but was I figured it out it was very easy. I think including images in blogs are very effective. I am a very visual person and incorporating pictures often helps me retain information better.
I think having to reflect on how we did on our papers was a good thing too! This made us go through our papers and think of what we could do for our next paper to make it better. In the long run this was very beneficial because it made us realize what mistakes we made on our last papers so we would not make them again.
While I did not always enjoy writing blogs I think it was an effective learning tool. And using blogs was a great way to save paper!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
An Imperial Message
An emperor has sent a message to the messenger from his deathbed. In this message the messenger is ordered to kneel by the emperor’s bed as the emperor whispers words referring to a task of an important journey into his ear. The messenger is described as losing his strength quickly in his journey which seems to be within in courts and palaces. If he is to break open the outer gates the “imperial capital” or the center of the world will be before him, something that he cannot conquer. Kafka describes the messenger as setting out on his journey full of confidence and “indefatigable”. His ego and over self-confidence is what wears him down. The messenger is described as he is losing his strength: “still he is only making his way through the chambers of the innermost palace; never will he get to the end of them; and if he succeeded in that nothing would be gained.” The messenger’s mission is described as if it is impossible for him to finish due to his cocky attitude and that he can only dream of defeating this mission. I believe Kafka is trying to say that if you go through life with an attitude that exudes that you are better than everyone you are not going to get very far. If the messenger had a more humble attitude or asked for help in his mission he may have been able to accomplish it.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Discrimination is a Virtue
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Visual
Monday, March 31, 2008
Perspectus
2. There does not appear to be a specific or very strong thesis in the introductory paragraph.
3. The organization of sentences within the paragraphs seem to be a little unorganized.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
If Black English Isn't a Language, then Tell Me, What is?
There are many different dialects of languages. In Baldwin's essay he talks about the use of language and how the "Black Language" is an important part of American history. He argues that the black language is important as it is part of their history. He begins his essay by introducing his topic with, “ the argument has nothing to do with language itself, but with the role of language.” Baldwin describes the use of language in a way in which I never thought of when he says, “ people evolve a language in order to be able to describe and thus control their circumstances, or in order not to be submerged by a reality that cannon articulate.” As a reader he engages me with such quotes as he makes valid points about the use of language in a way I would never think of. He then makes another very valid point: “language is also a political instrument, means and proof of power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identity.” He then begins to talk about black language. The black language holds great importance to the identity of black people. Baldwin then brings up a counter argument when he says: “ if this unprecedented journey does not indicate that black English is a language, then I am curious to know what definition of language is to be trusted.” He brings up an opposing view while also including his response to the counter argument in the same sentence. Baldwin’s approach to this argument is logical as he explains his topic, provides examples, addresses the counter argument and a strong response to the counter argument.