Finally Summer

For those of you who still look at this blog I would like to share with you my excitement for the summer. I am also grateful for the great people in English 2010 Thursday nights. I had a lot of fun in this class and I learned a lot. I am so glad that I was able to meet you and have a fantastic teacher like Chelsi.
I can not wait until Lake Powell season starts. I will be going in about a week and a half and its all i can think about. Along with my grade that I received in English YEAH I got an A!!!!! Exciting right haha It made my month along with the fact that my birthday is this month. ;) Luvs to those who helped me throughout this semester and the new people that I met and will never forget. Thanks!

A New View

Last Grammar Post- Contractions

A contraction is using an apostrophe to replace a letter in a word. I have always struggled with this rule. It is not wrong to use them in academic or formal writing, but they should be used sparingly. I have done this at least 2-4 times on every paper you would think I would learn my lesson, but I did not it is just a habit that I need to catch and remember it. I also always thought that it looked nice. I thought that if you knew how to use contractions then it looked as if you knew what you were doing. If you also have questions or always do this in formal writing then go HERE for contraction advice.

America The Beautiful: What We're Fighting For

Americans are known for their diversity and the great pride they have for their country. I myself take a lot of pride in this country and would not trade anything to live anywhere else. In Dinesh D'Sousa's chapter in Rereading America she says that their are people who find Americans self righteous and think that we do not strive for the better. However, if Americans Muslim allies "want American aid," then "they must take steps to reduce corruption, expand civil liberties, and enfranchise [to give the right to vote and to set free from slavery] their people" (D'Sousa 775). America has tried to show, by example, that we do have a unique and alternative way of government and that we try to keep government and religion separate. D'Sousa explained about some of the beliefs that the Muslims have and how those beliefs affect the world. She also explains that America is strong and although some countries think that we a passive and do not have a back bone when challenged we hit hard and strong. Because of this we have only lost one war.

The things that I really liked about D'Sousa's chapter is that she talks about American pride and how great we are at what we do. If solving this problem would be as easy as sending Jerry Springer over there that we would immediately. She talks about the unity that we have as Americans. Even though, we have our differences and our very diverse way of living, that we come together and unite when it matters the most. "America is a new kind of society that produces a new kind of human being. That human being-- confident, self-reliant, tolerant, generous, future oriented--is a vast improvement" (D'Sousa 779).

We are the bright future for this world and have been striving for the better. It is a little cliche to say but we are living the American dream everyday that we wake up in this beautiful country. I am proud to say that I had a grandfather that served this country and gave it 26 years of his life. This country and those who live in it are not only grateful to him, but to all of those who have served to help protect and give others freedom. I am so grateful for this country and the diversity and example that it is to me and others around the world.

Extra Credit Lecture

At last nights lecture I thought that's exactly what it was until there was a musical number by Nancy Allred and Paul. It was so beautiful and the piece almost put me to sleep not just because it was 8 o' clock at night but because the piece was so soothing. Then half way through the musical performance it started to pick up and that made me want to wake up and listen. After the musical number there was a very funny man named Mr. Snow who introduced the speaker and his wife (who didn't give a speech). This professor is from Cambridge University in the UK. He spoke very well and kept the audience laughing and interested in what he had to say. My favorite part of the lecture was when he quoted Galileo and said that he said that, "when you learn from the stars you learn about society." Professor showed pictures of the campus and talked about the many adventure that he had with the professors from Dixie State, and hopes that they can do it again someday. He looks forward to having students from Dixie and be able to see the intelligence from the U.S. come to Cambridge. I really enjoyed last nights lecture and I hope I am able to see this speaker again, even though I forgot his name, but I can always find out later. ;)

Compare/Contrast Vs. Analyzing Using the Modes

I find Compare and contrast an easy way to write a 10 page paper because I can find a lot of different factors. Compare and contrast is used to show the difference and similarities in a topic. Use compare/contrast to define something and explain how alike or different something is. Compare/contrast is probably what I will use for my research paper.

However, using Analyzing Using the modes is great because it uses compare/contrast and cause/effect modes. This is a great mode to use because it helps incorporate different modes into one paper. This mode breaks down into two different writing styles argumentative and description. This mode explains how to write your paper and has a outline to how and what content should go into the paper.
To find a great website for these and other great modes click HERE.

Sources-Alternative Medicine

• Natural medicine-Home study
• www.gcnm.com
• Ayurveda-Alternative Medicine
• www.ayurvedacollege.com
• Doctors against prescription medications
• www.win.niddk.nih.gov

This is just the beginning to what info I found on alternative medicine and Dr's who are against and for Rx's and the merge between the two.

50 ?'s

1. What is the media?
2. How long do people watch T.V. a day?
3. How many T.V. series are there?
4. How does the media have an effect on society?
5. How does Oprah affect the media?
6. How does the media portray women?
7. How does the media portray men?
8. Does advertising encourage drinking?
9. How does advertising encourage drinking?
10. Does the advertising encourage smoking?
11. How does the advertising encourage smoking?
12. What are the rules or laws for showing drinking/ smoking on T.V.?
13. What are the regulations for swearing on T.V.?
14. Who regulates the media?
15. How much of the media is reality T.V.?
16. How much of the media news?
17. How drastic does advertising affect peoples lives?
18. Does the media advertise enough encouraging and uplifting commercials?
19. Who decides what advertisements go on what channels?
20. How do you start a magazine?
21. What was the first color movie?
22. What was the first movie with sound?
23. How many movies have been made since the first movie?
24. What percentage of advertising is sex related?
25. How does this % affect teens vs. adults?
26. How does the news affect what peoples’ views are?
27. How much money does alcohol/smoking companies spend on advertising?
28. How much $$ does clothing industries spend on advertising?
29. How much of advertising for charities?
30. How much of advertising is for health related subjects?
31. How much does the average T.V. commercial cost?
32. How much does a commercial cost during the Super Bowl?
33. How much does print advertising cost?
34. How much does radio advertising cost?
35. What % of the population does radio advertising reach?
36. What is the average return for each dollar spent for each advertising medium?
37. How much does the average advertising accountant earn?
38. What are education requirements for the accountant?
39. What are the different categories that break off in advertising companies?
40. How does the media affect famous people and their personal life?
41. What % of T.V. are prescription advertisements?
42. What is the difference between public broadcasting and commercial T.V.?
43. What cities are the major advertising firms located?
44. Who produces most commercials?
45. Who produces advertising companies?
46. How informative is the media in a crisis?
47. What % of Americans learn about what is happening in the world from the media?
48. What % of the media is factual?
49. What % of the media is history related?
50. How does history channels influence Americans?

Grammar Post- Intro & Conclusions

I have a big problem with the body and conclusion in any paper I write. I always just write In conclusion, ..., however, there is more to a conclusion then summarizing what you said in your intro paragraph. A suggestion from Chelsi was to globalized and synthesize my conclusion. I wasn't sure what she meant by that so I did a little research. I looked HERE for advice.

Grammar Post- Pronouns

I made a mistake in my political cartoon analysis paper with a pronoun. It's a simple mistake that when your not paying close attention, like I was, you can make this easy error. My advice is to read it out loud and also to learn all the rule which there are about seven. To learn them all go HERE.
Definition. - A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Pronouns can be in one of three cases: Subject, Object, or Possessive.

Serving In Florida & Framing Class

The author Barbara Ehrenreich decides to do an experiment of the "working class" and writes about it in Serving in Florida. In this chapter in Rereading America it talks about the jobs that Ehrenreich gets to see what it would be like to live and work as most Americans do. The author write this in a narrative, descriptive and detailed form to help readers picture exactly how she would like us to see what she experienced.

The purpose to Ehrenreich experiment was to see how average working Americans survive in the economy and how stressful it can be. She was trying to see if a different life than hers would be easier and if she could survive the jobs that no one really dreams about having. As a reader I learned that quitting school and just having a paid by the hour job is not what I want. I want a career and something that I love to do and look forward to doing everyday. Ehrenreich approach in writing this story is something that everyone could picture and relate to. Everyone has had at least one job that was their worst. Even Donald Trump had to work very hard to get to the top.

In Framing Class by Diana Kendall, she talks about how the media forms society and their "need" to have the riches that only the most powerful and famous people have. The debt that we get ourselves into is our own fault. I'll admit that when I watch T.V. that I want to buy more things that I don't necessarily need. For example I would always see Ashton Kutcher on the Nikon commercial with the Coolpix touch screen camera and I thought that I would LOVE to have that camera. This past Christmas I told me family that, that's all I wanted for Christmas that year. What I didn't know was that camera was about $400 and it didn't take that great of pics. Lesson learned yes because I went and played with he camera before I got it for Christmas and I found out that I didn't even like he touch screen, but Ashton had made it look so fun and entertaining.

You're Not Sorry -Taylor Swift

For my song I picked something that is very personal. I hope that this song will not only help others, but it will also help me in analyzing it and discovering the meanings it has for me. The song is by Taylor Swift and it's called Your Not Sorry. Enjoy!

Grammar #6- That vs. Which

I never really knew the "rules" for that vs. which, but now that I do it makes sense when I write. Before I would just write what I thought sounded okay, but it wasn't always corret. These are the rules for That vs. Which and for examples click HERE.

Rule 1.
Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or things.

Rule 2.
That introduces essential clauses while which introduces nonessential clauses.

Rule 3.
If this, that, these, or those has already introduced an essential clause, you may use which to introduce the next clause, whether it is essential or nonessential.

"The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue"

When reading "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue" it helped me see the different ways of approaching teaching and how teachers use different techniques to teach children how to speak formally. The problems that Tannen found in educational settings, such as pre-school to college education, was that schools seem to mainly appeal to men because in class rooms it is a more disagree and challenging different opinions. Although, Tannen does say that this can be beneficial for some students who thrive in this type of environment, this is what debate class or club is for. Women in these classes don't strive or make an effort in these classes because they do not care or just because it's not in their nature to argue. Men have been taught to be aggressive since birth and women have been taught to sit back and observe to not get too involved. Therefore, higher education is more appealing for men and in order to change this Tannen says that teachers need to approach all students in different ways. Also, right away Tannen wrote that most students use "cop-outs" in conversation or discussions just to prove a point and most students will use anything in an argument just to make an argument. Those students aren't using the right information to debate the right points. Tannen explains and uses examples like students show and tell to show how at a young age we are trained to talk and debate, if that is what you would call it, in a formal manner. Teachers who challenge students in an argumentative setting can have some students who adapt and learn the academic debate.

Grammar- Prepositions

I always write, "I should of done that yesterday." Now I know better. The correct way to write that would be, "I should have done that yesterday." Here is a great way to learn what prepositions are and how to use them correctly, also the different types of prepositions.
Prepositions are words that specify place, direction, and time. There are three types of prepositions. Prepositions are words that specify place, direction, and time. There are three types of prepositions.
Time Prepositions -Define time. Time prepositions: In, At, On, For, During, While.
Place Propositions - Clarify the place someone or somebody. Place Prepositions: In, On, At.
Direction Prepositions - Direction prepositions are used to clarify the direction of someone or something. Examples: under, over, right, left etc.

Gatto Aainst School

The chapter in Rereading America, that John Taylor Gatto wrote, was about how he questions whether we should be in a classroom setting where we are forced to be in this "prison" for twelve years. Gatto asks is it worth it to be in school for hours a day? So many other great achievers have become a huge influence without the "forced schooling." I was really interested in how he has a great message about how students retaliate when they can't stand to be in this conformed community. Gatto is very competent when it comes to the facts that he used and how his comments seem very GENUINE. Also, in the text he uses quotes and in his foot notes there seems to be a feel that he did his research before he began this breakdown education faults.

Gatto's message is about how he has experienced the educations misrepresentations and how he has tried to fix those setbacks with his own ideas of education and teaching strategies. He explains that the academic standards are not what they should be. That teachers shouldn't be trying to mold the students into what they believe they should be, but challenge them and make them question and help them become great thinkers. The author also questions his own opinion about how maybe the schools are actually doing something right and he was wrong. The author is showing that he is not so narrowing minded and he actually considered and explored other perspectives.

I felt as though Gatto understands the intended audience and he shows that he is trying to teach the teachers of America by asking them to challenge their own ideas and what might they be able to do to change this circle of creating a childish community. This author is telling students and teachers that they are being childish and just following what society is influencing us to be. Gatto knows what it's like to have "big brother" watching over and telling people that they need to be this way or that way.

An vs. A

I never fully understood a vs. an I always thought that you use an when the following word begins with a vowel. I was wrong. The rule is that if it sounds like a vowel then you need to place an and not a. This is a great link to help others who are also confused with an vs. a.

Idoit Nation I Think So

Before reading Idiot Nation by Michael Moore I thought that when I read it that I would be enraged when I wrote this blog and that it was going to be fast and very opinionated. In class Chelsi said that it was Michael Moore and my first thought was that he is a very crude and outspoken person who goes around judging everybody. Well I was wrong about this chapter in this book. At first I will admit I thought that he was just judging everyone. However, if you read this chapter in Rereading America it is actually really true. Moore's view on the American people and the education we receive isn't very far from true.
At first Moore sounds like he is just bashing on everyone, calling them ignorant when he sounds a little ignorant himself. Moore says that American graduates from Ivy League colleges like Harvard are not as knowledgeable as they should be. He also says that college graduates don't know some "High school level of information," when Moore himself is a college drop out. Moore has not experienced what it is like to be a full-time or even part-time college student who also works full-time like I do. This is where he can be a little ignorant.
After reading Moore's chapter I feel like I agree with most of his opinions on the leaders of this country, some teachers, and the education that students and I have or are receiving. I also agree that kids are watching more television than reading and that goes for adults too. There are a lot of things that I would like to change in myself and be able to speak up when I don't agree with a teacher, parent, or anyone.

Grammar #3- Parentheses

I never know what exact information should go inside parentheses. I always avoid it and just put things into another sentence. Again I went to Grammarbook.com to find out exactly what I needed to learn.

Parentheses
Rule 1.
Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside.

Examples:
I expect five hundred dollars ($500).
He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question. Commas could have been used in the above example. Parentheses show less emphasis or importance. Em dashes, which could also have been used instead of parentheses, show emphasis.
Rule 2.
Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.

Example:
We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Rule 3.
Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Examples:
Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.). OR Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.) OR Please read the analysis (Attachment A).

Grammar #2: Adjectives

Who forgets what adjectives are? I know I do. How can you remember what it is? When someone says put a lot of adjectives in your paper just think describing words. Well I went to grammarbook.com and I found a great definition for adjectives.
Definition - Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They may come before the word they describe (That is a cute puppy.) or they may follow the word they describe (That puppy is cute.).

I think that these political cartoons showed what the media is really like. Also, these cartoons show that there is only one side of the story shown on the news and to always look at the other possibilities that could be there.

The Other Side of the Story

I think that in “Looking for Work” the author Gary Soto is trying to remember why and when he decided to become and fit in with “white people.” The author throughout the story stops and explains how he knew his friend and their relationship. Also, Soto interrupts the story to not only explains the relationships with other characters, like his best pal Little John, but to explain how they were treated differently in school. Soto explains that he was not a “good student” and he sat with the “stupids.” As I kept reading I thought that this perspective that Soto shows is both of adulthood and childhood. He has the point of view as a child only wishing to become rich and seek out the “American Dream.” However, as the author looks back on this childhood story he sees that times have changed and he has become his own “American Dream.”
As I was reading “What We Really Miss About the 1950’s” I thought that when Stephanie Coontz, the author, was introducing her point of view on the subject that, the 1950’s was the most preferred time to live, she used facts about the 50’s that income had increased and that families always go along and were always happy . I liked how she personalized a situation in he childhood where her mother had stood up for her at the public library. Also, Coontz compared the same situation with her mother and how she wished she could do that for her son to gain respect. However, in this modern world she could not take her son to a video store and “demand that he be allowed to check out absolutely anything he wanted (Coontz 33).” I think people misunderstand that why people thought the 50’s were so great was because of the event that took place prior to that time. I.e.: WW2, the Great Depression. I think people thought that things couldn’t get worse. Also, people in the fifties and later generations see that time period as the media portrayed it. Women and men in the 50’s were highly influenced by television such as “I Love Lucy”, Leave it to Beaver.” T.V., today, shows that society morals and values are frowned upon. To be an independent person or to go against all odds is viewed as courageous.
I think that both of these articles are great and helped me look at the different influences that I have in my world such as television, magazines, and books. I think that both of these authors are trying to point out the different point of views of racial and discrimination issues that people have and still face today. In “Looking for Work” the view that I think Soto had was that even though he was discriminated against as a child he still tried to be like the “White Families.” If he did then he would be rich, fit in, and become a happier person. He tried putting his belief on his siblings and tried working to fit in with the rest of society as the media represented it. When reading these two pieces I thought that “Looking for Work” was more entertaining than “What We Really Miss about the 50’s” because Soto’s story was more involved and you had to analyze what he was trying to say. I think that both of these pieces helped me look at the different perspective people had at the 1950’s.

Introduction reading

When I picked up Rereading America at the DSC bookstore I thought this book looks more like a political science or a political history book. I have not taken either of those classes so I wouldn't really know, but this was my first impression. My second impression was when I skimmed through the book and that the pictures that I saw were there for us to evaluate society issues and how we are influenced by society and by advertising.

After reading the first few pages I thought that this book would challenge the way I think and look at relationships, religion, and my values. I also thought that I want to become a level-headed and a critical thinker. However, isn't it just someone’s opinion that I try to become a critical thinker? Then after continuing to read I realized that this book is to help students, and myself, change their point of view and mainly to help them reevaluate themselves, become better thinkers and to not be offended by someone’s opinion. Because they have a right to their opinion, as I have a right to mine. Therefore we must be respectful.

What it means to be to be an American citizen....
I had to think about this for a while. I never really think of what it means to be a U.S citizen. However after a while of thinking I think that it means to have an opinion and have a right to voice that opinion and to be grateful of your freedom in so many ways. Also, be thankful to the men and women who fight for our freedom, even to this day who are still fighting for it. I have the right to vote as a citizen and to be able to criticize the leaders of this country. I can create and achieve anything I desire and can think of because I live in this free country. It is a privilege to live in such a great country, even in these hard times we are facing.

Comma Rules- Grammar Post #1

I have a hard time remembering all the rules for commas. I have been taught over and over again, but i still struggle. It's hard to remember exactly where ever comma goes exspecially when you have a huge paper to write and all you can think about is what to write about. I am sure other students strugle with this as I do.I have worksheet after worksheet about commas and where they go. I even have a cheat sheet that i wrote hout to help me remember. However, there are so many rules and exceptions that i can't seem to remember them all the time.

There are six main comma rules that will help me and others improve on their writing skills. They are a series, introductory elements, insertions, FANBOYS, He said/She said, and dates and other everyday material. I, however, mainly srtugle with series, introdutory elements, and insertions.

The fisrt one is to remember that in a series always place commas between each thing listed and also to place a comma before the and. (example: I need to get milk, eggs, carrotts, and tomatoes at the store.) This can be used for any listing that you may be doing such as names, places, and/or describing a couple of actions taken. Remember that a comma is required in a list of three or more things.

The second is intodutory elements such as: Because the baby was crying, Marie gave her a bottle. If you ever a doubt if the comma should be placed, place it because it is always correct. Practice reading your sentence outloud and if it sounds funny or you hesitate when you read it there is probobly something incorrect in your grammar.

Third of all, I have a hard time with insertions. A insertion is something that inturupts the sentence with more information to help the reader understnad the author and who s/he is writing about. (example: Julie, my best friend for 15 years, bakes cookies for sick children in the hospital.) A great way to remember where commas for insertions is when added info interupts the sentence. Also, taking an insertion out does not change the meaning of the sentence.

I hope that this helps you with your grammar problems as it did me writing about it and researching and learning more information about these grammar rules. HERE is a link that shows all the grammar rules and ways to help you learn them better.