10/12 Rodney Jones

I think that in this poem Jones is arguing that language is very powerful and once something is said you can't take it back. The words are out there to circulate. I think the man wading out thigh-deep into the water symbolizes him taking a risk and showing emotion in speaking to someone. The alcohol that he is holding then gives him the courage to express himself in ways that he may not have done. It has given him liquid courage. Him pouring the alcohol into the water shows that he has just crossed the line or gone to a point of no return. He cannot get back the rum that he has just poured into the ocean, just as he cannot take back the words that he has just said; it is impossible to filter it out. Even though he regrets dumping the alcohol, he has done it and must suffer the consequences and regret now. It is the same for the words that he has said. He may not have meant them at all but that doesn't matter now. It is said and done.

11/12 4 letter word projects

I don't think that these four letter word projects are writing because they are visual images. There are no words except for the four letter word itself. They can not be considered compositions either. They are a way of expression just as writing is but the whole point of the project was to prove an argument without writing. It was just a succession of pictures that together developed into something beyond each individual picture. It may have accomplished the same purpose as writing but it definitely is not the same thing.
Writing is not about using images. It is about recording language on paper. The visual images in these projects did not have any visible language. The images gave the audience the opportunity to decide what was being said. It wasn't blatantly in front of them. There's more room for interpretation and flexibility with the visual images than with writing.

12/12 Advice to Writers

My advice to people entering WSC would be to just follow your heart. Writing is a part of you. Everyone can write because it's just sharing your thoughts with others. It may be terrifying to some people and if you don't have an open mind and try to learn more about yourself then it could seem very difficult. The writing process teaches you about yourself because as you ask questions and answer them thoughtfully with extensive paragraphs, blogging, and your own visual images, you gain a better understanding of your opinions and the way your mind works.
There is not one correct way to write despite what many high school teachers may preach. Writing is an art form that allows expression and therefore everyone's writing is going to vary. This is perfectly normal and okay. It is most important to just give it your best and really give yourself some time to think about the topics that are discussed. The more you write, the more experience you will gain and your writing will grow stronger and stronger. Don't give up whatever you do. There are times where writing can be very trying, especially if you're not very interested in a topic that you're assigned but the interesting thing about writing is that even if you aren't fond of the assignment, you can still make it your own. If you're interested in your writing, it will show and the reader will enjoy it.

6/12 Twouble with Twitter

Take a look at this parody of twitter on youtube.com called "Twouble with Twitter."   
Respond to the character's question as he enters the twittersphere:  "Who are they talking to?"  Do you wonder who your audience is when you post on twitter?  Do you feel differently about your audience in online writing environments?  Is your relationship to your online audience distinct?  Who do you imagine is reading your tweets, for example?
This animation clearly doubts the viability of twitter as a valuable tool?  What do you think?   What is the purpose of microblogging?


I found this parody on twitter extremely entertaining because although I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, I do have a twitter account, and I find myself making fun of every aspect of it; everyday. It's the most entertaining when you can actually relate to it and understand each and every stab they are making at this social networking website. I particularly got a kick out of the beginning when the man, who is clearly not a teenager or youth, is narrating every detail of his day right down to stating that he is now "sitting in a chair." I add that he's not a teenager or youth because it's an accepted thought in society that adults are supposed to be more mature and not consumed by this new social networking obsession. Also, when questioned by his co-worker, the twitter-fanatic starts to explain everything by making up verbs that all involve twitter, as if they have existed in the english language since it's conception. 
When the man starts to explain Twitter to his friend and they shoot up into the sky, as if twitter is a different world, it shows that these social networking sites aren't reality but people have begun to think they are. The human race is starting to base it's day around blogging and tweeting. They are obsessed with letting everyone else know what they are doing, as if living is not necessary or entertaining enough unless everyone else knows what's going on. When the man opposed to Twitter points this out and the fail whale appears, all havoc breaks loose and it is because the people have lost their ability to tweet. It is such a dead-on interpretation of how people truly feel when they can't blog, tweet, or post a status. They feel like their lives don't exist because other people don't know what they are doing. The sad thing is that it actually causes anxiety in a majority of the population when they can't log onto these sites right when they want to.
Who are tweeters talking to? I often ask this question, myself. When I tweet, I feel as if I'm talking to empty space. I really do not think of a particular person or group that it's targeted at. Tweeting always makes me feel pretentious but I still do it because I hopped on the bandwagon. I'm just as guilty as anyone else on that website. Although, I do have to say that I make my tweets more tasteful than some that I see. I often do not read half of the tweets of the people that I'm following because I'm not interested in every detail of their day or every cynical thing they think about society. 
I sincerely doubt the viability of twitter as a tool because the things that people tweet are useless information. I've never seen anything come up from the people that I follow that is actually helpful or increases my knowledge of anything important. I think that twitter and a numerous amount of other social networking sites are only harming the intelligence of the human race because it is shortening our thoughts and causing nonsensical slang that should not even be accepted as a form of communicating with each other.      

9/12 Putting on Text

When I wear text on my clothing it is because I was very interested in it when I first saw it at the store. It appealed to my interests either in music, humor, or a number of different things. I am proud of the text that I wear on my clothing and I enjoy when people notice it and comment on it. I see it as a conversation starter and a way to express my personality without even speaking to people that may pass by me. I can often tell when people are reading the text that I chose to wear and it doesn't bother me but actually excites me. This is because it's fun to draw some attention to yourself just by what you're wearing. I'm flattered when people actually take the time to notice what I'm wearing and are friendly enough to start a conversation about it.
Generally, I wear text that has to do with music or my sports team. The text involving music is usually on a t-shirt that I purchased at a concert. I go to many concerts and I like to remember the times that I got to see my favorite bands or singers by wearing their name. I think that I enjoy this so much because it shows other people that I'm a fan and a big enough fan to actually go their shows. I've often worn the shirt that I got at the Honda Civic Tour that says "Paramore" on the front and had people come up to me saying that went to the same tour. This was a show that toured all over the country and thousands of people went to see it so it gives me a way to relate to many people that I've never even met. This may sound silly but you feel a sense of closeness and friendship with the people that have seen the same show as you or that are big enough fans to comment on your representing of the band. It shows that you relate through music and true friends live off that music. They listen to it day and night and know it word for word. Just by seeing that one word on your shirt, they immediately feel closer to you than the other hundred people in the school cafeteria because they are so devoted to that lifestyle.
The other time that I wear text is usually to represent the sports teams that I've played on. Currently, I represent the Hofstra women's golf team by wearing the words, "Hofstra Golf" on and off campus. The eight members on our team were provided an assorted amount of clothing with these words on the front. I have two t-shirts that say "Hofstra Athletics,"one that says "Hofstra Golf," and two jackets and a pair of sweatpants that say "Hofstra Golf." This is just the apparel that we are given to wear off the golf course. We also have three "Hofstra Golf" polos to wear when we are competing. The reason that the school provides all this clothing is so that we can show "Hofstra Pride" or school spirit and we are like a walking advertisement for our sports team so that we can gain supporters and awareness.

5/12 Poet vs. President

The rhetoric of a poet and that of a president are very different. A president tries to appeal to the nation and please as many people as possible. Sometimes he can be very deceiving because he has his own opinions and belongs to a certain political party but in order to get elected, the majority of the country has to respect him and agree with some of his propositions. As he is trying to impress the majority of the country he may not be completely truthful about his intentions or beliefs because they're not what everyone wants to hear. A president also has to be very professional and be careful to not show too much emotion because it could be seen as a sign of weakness.
On the other hand, the rhetoric of a poet is all about showing his own opinions and voice. He is not representing anyone but himself and therefore does not need to be mindful of other people's opinions and emotions. He's able to speak freely and does not have to maintain that level of professionalism and business that a president is mindful of. Also, a poet can discuss whatever his heart desires and a president has to focus on politics. A poet can be very selfish and self absorbed but a president has to be the exact opposite. A president has to be selfless, putting his country first.

4 of 12 Zadie Smith

1) Smith claims, "We feel that our voices are who we are, and that to have more than one, or to use different versions of a voice for different occasions, represents, at best, a Janus-faced duplicity and at worst, the loss of our very souls," (180) but why do humans feel so dependent on their voices? Granted, your voice is how you express yourself much of the time and without a voice we would run into much difficulty in communicating but why are people so conscious of their accents?

2) Smith makes the argument, "For the contemporary immigrant, tragically split, we are sure, between worlds, ideas, cultures, voices- whatever will become of them? Something's got to give- one voice must be sacrificed for the other. What is double must be made singular"(182.) Is this true? Why does an immigrant have to choose one culture to dominate over the other? Why can't they maintain their old heritage and voice  while learning and adapting to a new one?

3) When Smith claims that Shaw "Spoke in tongues," (182) does this mean that he had the capability to twist his words and be naturally deceptive? Smith says that Shaw couldn't give this quality to Eliza but why is that? Is it a naturally acquired trait; almost like someones capability to be witty?

4) When speaking of Obama Smith says, "This new president doesn't just speak for his people. He can speak them," (182.) How does one learn how to speak like so many different types of people? Obama is a successful president because he understands all different backgrounds and can communicate with each but why are only certain people capable of such abilities? How come all humans can't understand each other and communicate well?

5) When speaking of Cary Grant and Barack Obama, Smith says, "Both men have a strange reflective quality, typical of the self-created man- we see in them whatever we want to see," (184.) Is Smith saying that public figures are often made out to be whatever the public would like to believe? Do we, as humans, choose to view someone in a certain way and then our subconscious makes us believe that they are truly like that, even though it is just our view?

6) Smith observes, "Throughout his campaign Obama was careful always to say "we"" (184.) WHat makes the word "we" so much more suitable for a public figure or anyone trying to persuade a large amount of people rather than using the word "I"? Is it because the word "I" seems selfish?

8 of 12 Transcription of Crayon Response

I agree with this statement in that when someone has the flexibility to do what they want it leads to different  accomplishments with that language. Language can be used in many different ways and the way that someone chooses to employ it will cause different reactions and outcomes from the audience. Flexibility is not always a good thing though. An example is the flexibility of voice during a strike. When people go on strike they are opposing some other point of view and the consequences can be varied. Sometimes, the outcome is devastating for those who went on strike and other times, the strike served its purpose and the people that made it happen are benefitted.

7 of 12 Crayon response

In the written response with the crayon, the writer is definitely influenced by this writing implement because it is harder to write clearly and as fast as you would with a pen or pencil. The crayon becomes dull very quickly and I think this rubs off on the writer as they are no longer motivated and their writing becomes dull just the same. I think that visual appearance influences the whole outlook of the writer because if they feel sloppy in expressing themselves then they are not going to put in full effort. The crayon is discouraging to advanced writers because they have to go back to a way of writing that they haven't used  for the longest time and it is not what they are comfortable with anymore. If you can't write comfortably then you will not be able to express yourself to the fullest and the writing will not be any good. This particular written response proved that exactly because it was very short and almost didn't even have a complete thought. I found it very difficult to read as well and couldn't quite understand the writing in some parts. If the reader can't even read it and understand it then the writing is not good; the writer is not completely effective.

Twitter 3 of 12

What I really think about the writing space that twitter affords is that it is sometimes unnecessary and pretentious. Most people use twitter to blog about the tiniest details of their everyday life that only their closest friends would be interested in hearing about. Sometimes their closest friends aren't even interested in reading these frequent opinions. I follow about 35 people on twitter and I never care to stop and read every single tweet that comes up in my newsfeed. This is because twitter is used excessively and if I stopped to read every post of each person I follow, I probably would have to devote all of my time to this. I'm not saying that twitter is completely useless. Just as any other social networking site it promotes communication  and world wide connections. I think that it is very beneficial to improve worldly connections and for people to be aware of the opinions of others. The world would not be able to function if we didn't take into account the point of view of others.

Putting on Text 2 of 12

Perhaps people wear texts on their clothing and skin because they believe that it expresses who they are to strangers and those around them. The human race is very concerned with the opinions of others, from the way their hair looks to how tan their skin is, there is always something that a person is concerned with on their body. So, why should it be any different for clothing? Of course people are going to try and impress with their clothing. They wear texts that appeal to them and therefore hope to attract positive attention for this. Sometimes, the text on their clothing is merely there just because they want any form of attention whether it be good or bad. It is an outcry to the public. This is also a reason that people have texts permanently inked on their bodies. They find something that they think is worthwhile; that they will want to see when they look in the mirror everyday for the rest of their lives. Sometimes, people regret this deeply and really have no good reason at all for getting those tattoos. Either way, the main idea of putting this permanent text on your body is usually to provoke the attention of those around you. Sometimes, it is a conversation starter with strangers and serves to meet new people. Other times, it is something that is actually meaningful to the wearer that no-one else would even understand. Either way, people are obsessively concerned about their outer appearance and putting on text is just another example of this. It is a way of boasting one's personality. We want to show to the outside world how we feel or what we're interested in. The emotions that we get from the texts are always different. Sometimes they are humorous and other times thoughtfully serious but they are always there to get some type of reaction.

1 of 12 The Problem of Describing Trees

This poem starts out describing how humans view a tree; the beauty that people find in trees but then shifts to the actual purpose of the elements of a tree. It is reminding the reader that the tree has a purpose and it is not there to just be a pleasing sight. It says the "the aspen glitters," "and that delights us," but then says "the leaf flutters, turning, because that motion in the heat of summer protects its cells from drying out." It is stating practical reasons for the actions that we see taken by the tree. The tree does certain things to survive, not to amuse us. It is to remind us that the tree is a living thing and not just an object. In poetry, we describe the tree in many different ways, often personifying it to take actions like dancing and other human activities and that is the power of language. But there are also limits on what language can do. It can't completely describe what we see and feel and what the tree did and why. It describes whatever the writer or speaker was able to communicate through words. It would be a different description by everyone, even though the tree and it's actions never changed.

In the second half of the poem, it takes a dramatic shift. First, Hass rejects what he's saying by making statements and then directly after both saying "No." The only reason a poet would state something and then contradict himself by saying no directly after is because he is stating common thoughts or views and proving to the reader right away that they are false. This is why he goes on to saying that "there are limits to saying in language, what the tree did," because humans would give a generic description of this tree and it would explain what they see but it would not entirely discuss what is going on. It wouldn't describe why the tree takes those actions.

Four Letter Word Project Revised

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=fb28c7541a66cb3648d075&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Four-Letter Word Project

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=fb28c7541a66cb3648d075&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Equivalent Terms for Girl and Boy

• Girl                         
• female
• lady
• woman
• biddie
• gal
• doll
• lass
• betty
• Boy
• male
• gentleman
• man
• guy
• dude
• bro

Visual Arguments

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe this to be true. When I see a picture, I immediately start to make observations about it. I notice the obvious things and as I look at it longer and closer, I begin to notice the slightest details. If I was given a picture to look at and discuss with someone else, I would be able to hold a conversation for a decent amount of time. There are many observations and inferences to be made; as well as many questions to be asked. However, don't think that images can suffice when compared to the impact of words sometimes. Yes, images may be able to give you a better view of an actual event but images can't tell the viewer exactly what was happening and why. They can't tell the viewer exactly how the people involved in an event felt. The viewer can infer and come up with possibilities in their mind but they can't exactly pinpoint someones emotions and thoughts; whereas they could be well informed through text.
Although, I don't believe that images are always sufficient in making an argument, it is true that visual arguments are possible and sometimes even more powerful. What comes to mind when I think of visual arguments is how political and social issues are brought to light through images. Sometimes the public can't see everything for themselves so an insider may be able to take pictures and share them, informing the public of cruelties and harsh realities that they would have never believed or understood through word of mouth. Visual images are more effective in arguments when they provide solid documentation that any skeptic can see with their own eyes.

Trimble Chapter 7 and Stomp The Yard

Chapter 7 can easily be related to the final battle in Stomp the Yard because this chapter is all about using your own personality and making the reader feel comfortable. You should write by using your own voice and judgement; rather than following the strict rules that we are all taught to use in school that strip us of our individuality as a writer. It's become evident that students are turned into bland writers. They are taught that it is wrong to write in their own way and that they have to follow rules just like everyone else. But, when writers go against these accepted characteristics of writing and express themselves in whatever way comes natural; this is when the writer and the reader have the most fun. 

In Stomp The Yard, the dancers connect best with the audience when they let loose and give it everything they have. They have that one moment to win everyone over and they revert to what comes natural to them. They dance freely and without restrictions. They don't let anyone get in their way, even when the other team plagiarizes their dance. They just come back stronger than ever before with the deepest passion and strength from within. They have nothing else to turn to but their own personality. The dance moves aren't choreographed; they're improvised. The true beauty and art of dancing appears at this moment. 

Writing should be just the same. Writing should not be controlled by someone else's rules because it would be like a dancer performing someone else's routine. It may be neat and seemingly perfect but it doesn't grab the audiences attention. It also wouldn't even interest the writer or dancer involved. They'd just be going through the motions, mindlessly. Both the writer and dancer are artists. Art is defined by the beholder and no one else. If a writer is supposed to listen to the supposed "rules" of perfect writing, they might as well not write at all. It wouldn't be their own work. When they can write in their own way, it is just like the final battle: free and enjoyable. 

"Rediscovering Central Asia" by S. Frederick Starr

Starr employs many rhetorical strategies in informing the audience of Central Asia's past and present. He goes into great detail about the historic events that started in A.D. 998 and led us through all of the most important events up until today. He often gets the reader involved by starting a paragraph with a question; making him think about what the answer could possibly be and then helps him discover the answer through   comparisons and descriptions. Starr often compares a country or region to the likes of another to help the reader understand exactly what he is getting at. Starr also lists facts a lot. He gives his facts numbers so that the information is easier to follow and remember for the reader. Then, Starr makes sure to bring all the overwhelming information back together in the end and states that a general knowledge of Central Asia has to be attained so that we can understand it today.

First Thoughts on Project 3

I keep thinking about my project 3, and I'm pretty sure my next move will be looking up more information about Port Jefferson and adding it int my paper smoothly. Also, I know that I need to add detail so that the audience can picture Port Jefferson just as well as I can because it would be a pity if they couldn't understand what it looks and feels like. It's such a wonderful place that I want to share it with the audience. If they've never been able to go, I want them to feel like they have visited after reading this. I think I want my paper to flow better as well. Right now, I don't think it's accommodating to the reader. I can see everything perfectly but I need to step outside of myself and view it from the audience's perspective. I could get the reader involved a lot more.

Meddy's Video

Meddy suggests that this video is relevant because it is showing how newer generations have digital technology ready for them to pick up right away which makes print text almost pointless to them. They can learn to use digital technology easier and earlier on in life than print text such as the magazines that the girl was trying to play with. Although the girl didn't know how to use an ipad yet, she was mildly entertained by the touch screen and how she could already make things appear and disappear. In the magazine she would try to use her finger but the pages would remain the same and she showed know reaction or enjoyment. The maker of this video was saying that the girl would grow up using digital technology and have no use for the print text.
One rhetorical strategy used by the video's creator was to use print across the screen to explain everything rather than use audio throughout the video. By doing this, he showed that it was just as effective as reading from print text or maybe even more effective because we didn't have to flip through pages but the new lines of thought would just appear every so often.

Analysis of Peer's Paper

1. The paper is arguing that people don't stop to think about the effect that changing methods of writing has on the world.
2. The underlying premise of this argument is that new technological advances have not changed writing but instead have brought it to life. The medium can have an immense impact on writing and new technology is the ultimate key to the future of writing.
3. Three rhetorical moves:
      i. Quoting Bolter
      ii. Argumentation; challenges society to think about the effect that new technology has.
      iii. Figurative Language when comparing hypertext to an onion
These are successful because it challenges the reader to think about the technologies that are so common in their everyday lives and question how they effect society.

I recommend that you try using more descriptive language because there are a few generalizations.

Project 3 Analysis

1. My purpose in writing about Port Jefferson was to inform the reader of a place in which I feel two ways about. The two ways aren't blatantly obvious, as we were asked to describe them as two different shades of gray and not make them seem black and white. I want the audience to know exactly what Down Port is like.
2. My audience for this piece of writing would be the inquisitive traveler or even people that are locals to Port Jefferson because they may not be informed of their town's history.
3. Rhetorical moves that I use are imagery, argumentation, and persuasion. These moves could be more developed because of the lack of time that I had to write the actual paper.
I think I should try being more descriptive and being more interested in my own writing. If I'm not interested; my reader will definitely not be interested.
4. I think the whole paper needs further development by using more history and facts and by adding more imagery so that the reader can feel more informed about the town.
5. My question for Prof. Lay is: What did you mean by depicting it in two different shades of gray instead of black and white?

I've Been Thinking...

I've been thinking about my own draft for Project 3, and I have to tell you that I started it at midnight today and did it in an hour and a half until 1:30. It is definitely not my best work because I did it last minute on Halloween weekend.

Poetry From Billy Collins

Billy Collins often portrays places in two ways. He often seems to have mixed feelings about a place. In "The Lesson" Collins is describing his relationship with History. He seems to be studying history so much that he believes he is actually living in it and has a love/hate relationship with it; as if he understands it so well at times that it feels like a good friend and at others it seems distant, agitated, and unfamiliar.

Collins also feels uneasy about writing in his poem "Madmen;" describing his insecurities about writing. These insecurities come from times when he is overly confident and begins to talk about works that he has not finished yet; "jinxing" the writing. He feels so confident about writing that he sabotages it for himself. It is very similar to my experiences with golf. If I'm playing particularly well to begin the round, I start to think too much about how unusual and rare the round is and I immediately lose focus. I no longer play well because I get ahead of myself and think about the finished product when I should be taking it one shot at a time. Collins should be taking his writing slow and carefully but instead he thinks about the finished poem and loses the specific details that the writing would have been composed of. Of course this is going to provoke uncomfortable, mixed feelings in Collins about writing.

A sentence starts out like...

A sentence starts out as a thought. The thought first enters your mind and then you formulate it into words that might help others understand where you're coming from. It starts out with this thought and then you add descriptive words so that the imagery can entice the reader and make them feel exactly as you do. A sentence starts out with almost no effort; as we formulate words and conversation as we think most of the time. It is just second nature to humans to formulate a sentence based on their thoughts. It may be difficult when you begin the sentence if the subject is difficult to describe or if the subject is one that strikes up emotion. There is no specific way that a sentence starts because sentences are provoked by many different occurrences or emotions.

It's possible...

It's possible that home might be like the golf course. I've basically grown up on the golf course; playing alongside my dad as he worked. Learning many little things about the profession and the actual place. I've spent hours upon hours at the golf course. Not one specific course but many different ones. I've eaten all three meals at the golf course; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I've sat on the patio of the clubhouse and had friendly chats with competitors and their parents. I've had team practices for high school and college on the golf course. The teams come together like a family. Our team is the family and the golf course is our home. When we have matches or tournaments the golf course only brings us closer together as we support each other and share stories of our rounds at dinner. I practice constantly at the golf course, aiming for perfection or advancement at least; just as would relentlessly practice at home.

Home is not like the rock show last night

Home is not like the rock show that I went to last. With all the underaged people trying to sneak in and pretend that they met the age 16 minimum. The man checking I.D.'s would not let these people in even though they had purchased tickets. That would not happen at home. The bar and bartender were there but not in use except for the occasional soda because everyone was underaged. And when someone did buy a soda, it was so expensive. The soda's at home are not expensive. The people there were all excited to see Ryan. Ryan was the headliner and is also my friend. Ryan's not at home either. They put the fog machine on and Ryan did his sound check calling everybody to stand up. "Nobody sits down at rock shows," he says. This is not like home. At home we sit down. The nachos were soggy. This would never happen at home. The stool that I first sat in had unstable legs and made me fear it would collapse underneath me. Ryan's mother was there but mine was most definitely not. Ryan is a transgender who has been on the Tyra Banks show and Larry King Live. You wouldn't see that in my house. We could be as loud as we want. We danced in the middle of the floor. People stared as we danced but we didn't care because we were feeling the music and Ryan was feeding off our excitement. Home is not like this.

Home is not like...

Home is not like college. Home is not like the golf course. It's not like rock show that I went to last and it is most definitely not like my dorm room last night. Home is not like the subway train in the city or the park that my friend would ride her bike to alone at night. Home is not like my favorite restaurant which is not generally accepted as a nice place to eat. Home is not like this classroom with all the tired students maintaining their motivation to get through this class and get the required credits to graduate. Home is not like the harbor in Port Jefferson with the ferry and ice cream shop. Home is not like the harbor at Greenport either.

Home is like...

Home is like my best friends and home made food. It's all about family; my brothers and sister. It's my dad's house and my mom's house. It's warm and cozy. It's comfortable and relaxing. I love it and I hate it. But even when I hate it, I still appreciate it. I escape to it and I escape from it. Home is my mom's hard work and loving spirit.

Part 1 Reading Quiz 2

The goal of all forms of media is to be efficient and helpful. As technology advances, constant remediation occurs to outdo the latest writing space. The competition to create a more useful form of media is what keeps the world moving forward. Examples of this are the constant refashioning of game systems. There is a new game system introduced at least once a year; whether it be a remodel of one that was already introduced, such as Playstation's one, two and three or an entirely new system; the circumstance when the Wii came out. Each system that is marketed serves the same general purpose: entertainment through video games but they all function in different ways; with varying graphics, controllers, games, and physical appearance. The production of new game systems will never cease to occur because humans like to advance and do not stay satisfied with one option; as with any other aspect of life. It is not necessary to keep advancing for survival and it could be argued that no more technological advances should be made because the world will become a very superficial place with no ties left to nature. However, this argument would never be accepted and followed because it is within the will of humans to try and better their lives and surroundings; giving them something to live for. If humans were to be completely content with every aspect of their life and not yearn for any remediation, there would be no will to live.

Taylor Mali, "Like You Know"

After viewing Taylor Mali's performance of "Like You Know" and watching the typography version of it, I decided that they are both very effective in their own ways. Both ways appealed to me because I'm a visual learner which means I can take more information away from something that I can view with my own eyes than if I were to just listen to it. In Mali's performance, the audience can determine the meaning and emotion by watching his facial expressions and gestures while he speaks. This is effective because as human's we have the ability to sense mood or emotion through reading someone's body language. In the print text, the audience was still provided the audio so we could sense emotion through his tone of voice but instead of watching his physical expression of it, we could get a sense of expression through the movement, font, and punctuation of the text. This was an effective method because in our world today, humans have become very experienced in reading emotion through text with all of the technology that is used to communicate across the world such as text messages on cell phones and social networking sites on the internet. I enjoyed the typography very much because I was able to follow his ideas and how he was presenting them exactly through the text. It is amazing that organizing text in that way can be just as efficient or even more so than the live performance itself.
However, if the audio were taken away from both methods of expression, the print text would be the more efficient way to communicate Mali's ideas because the words and the way that they were articulated are shown clearly. Whereas, if the audio were missing from the live performance, there would be no way of understanding what Mali is speaking about. The fact that the print text would be more effective in this way shows that print text is essential in preserving ideas for the future. In case audio accounts are lost, the print will always be there to support it.

Bolter Chapter 3 Argument

This prezi speaks of the rivalry between print text and hypertext. The presentation argues both can still be used and there doesn't need to be such a rivalry between the two. The group read straight from the print text of the prezi which suggests that they support printed text more because of their obvious dependency on it yet speak of hypertexts a majority of the time. Ending with the song and video "Why Can't We be Friends" showed their non-bias toward both types of texts and technologies. It was promoting their co-existence.

Extra Credit: John Edgar Wideman Speech

Wideman begins by sharing his passion for teaching and claiming that "teachers are heroes." He is reading an excerpt from a work in progress of his called Inspiration. It is the introduction of the work so he does not believe he needs to explain what he will be reading.

Group 3 Chapter 2 Argument

The argument in this presentation is that writing is constant, no matter how many new technologies are introduced. Writing is a part of who we are; it's our culture and technology won't change that. The writing space becomes more advanced and writers adapt to this technology. The presentation and communication of the writing has become more efficient. This presentation treats the constantly advancing technologies as a living being, with the background and diction.

Group 2 Chapter 2 Argument

The argument for this prezi, summarizing and analyzing chapter two is that technology for writing is always advancing. The new technologies will always have qualities of prior forms of writing as well as new, helpful qualities. Also argued in this presentation is that writing comes from the soul and is a very personal thing.

Are you ever afraid to write?

There are times that I am afraid to write. I think this is because I may be unsure of what I'm setting out to do; usually for a class assignment. The insecurity of not completely understanding what I'm supposed to be proving or how I can effectively persuade readers can be frightening. I feel most vulnerable when I write because I'm sharing my thoughts and the reader is criticizing how I write and quite possibly basing their view of my intelligence on that particular piece of writing. One written work can hold so much power and I don't ever want to write something meaningless that is just a waste of time for the reader and I. I always to teach myself and the reader with my writing and the thought that I might fail to do that could be really overwhelming.

Also, there are times when I may be talking about something uncomfortable or new to me and I find this intimidating. Last week for my oral communications class I wrote a motivational speech about being gay and my experience with revealing that truth to my family. I have never written freely about my sexuality for a class assignment nonetheless stood up and read those feelings to a whole classroom. When I stood up to present, that moment of fear finally sank in and I was nervous to share this writing. It was mainly because I have never been in that situation and I was sharing things that are really important to me. Opening myself up for the class to critique was really terrifying yet gratifying in the end.

In Class Writing Quiz

3. I support Krystal's claim, "I am smarter when I'm writing," because when I'm writing about my opinions and the knowledge that I have attained throughout my lifetime I begin to discover new emotions or ideas that are provoked by the older ones. I am teaching myself in a way because I am challenging myself to come up with explanations and think beyond my average conversations. I may say something that reminds me of something else and leads to a new thought. My ideas at the end of my writing usually turn out to be completely different than what I set out to express and in this way, "I am smarter when I'm writing," because I have just taught myself in that time period.

4. A writer in a digital forum, as opposed to one using just plain writing with a pen and paper might express herself in a way that is more informal or casual, using slang words or words with a lot of connotation. She might use abbreviations and not even full sentences. It depends on her position or what she is trying to achieve but a digital forum is generally less formal than a handwritten account. The form or media of writing has an impact on the expression because it also effects the formality of the writing. Different forms of media are trying to speak to different audiences. Magazines don't have the same type of writing as a formal business letter. Reading a magazine is similar to having a conversation with a friend while a business letter has more of a serious tone and is official. The type of writing that one sets out to achieve will effect their language and even writing style. A less formal piece will have more voice and show personality. It will try to be creative and descriptive. While, the formal piece will not. It is strictly business and has less room for personality and creativity. With each specific title a writer thinks and acts in a different way.

Bolter Chapter 1 Prezi

http://prezi.com/j_hpf4l6hn2m/bolter-chapter-1-introduction-writing-in-the-late-age-of-print/

Is "the machine using us"?

Michael Wesch's video production makes the claim that writing is a technology and tech informs, limits and changes the way we write, think, make relations, fall in love and thrive as human beings. I find this to be true because with all of the styles of communication and all the possible sites to visit on the internet now, there are endless ways in which people can interact. There is less privacy when you open yourself up to all of these ways of technology and your life becomes more public. Writing can be very powerful. If something is written eloquently and is relatable, it can be very memorable. The technologies that we use make this writing even more powerful as it puts it out into the world and makes it available for more people to read. I think in a way it is true that "the machine is using us," because these technologies are now effecting the daily routine of everyone using them and are changing the way we see ourselves and others. Without technologies such as the internet, cell phones and such, the world would be completely different and would definitely have a feeling of isolation when compared to how we live now.

True Confessions

In Trimble's chapter 6, "Diction," he stresses the importance of word choice by describing three qualities of  successful writing: conciseness, vigorous verbs, and freshness. In this chapter, I often found pieces of advice helpful and relatable to my own writing. By adhering to the concepts of "Less is more," (49) and "X does Y," (50) and using imagery, my writing could improve dramatically.

Trimble claims, "Most of us write as if we're getting paid a dime a word," (48) but, "A skilled writer writes as if she were paid a dime for each word she deletes," (49.) I know that I'm guilty of writing, just as the majority of people, to fill space and have a convincing amount of work. The amount of words doesn't have a direct connection to the effectiveness. I know that my work could always use more revision and so I will focus more effort on this. By doing so, every word I choose will have more efficiency and keep the reader interested. The second quality that Trimble communicates is "Vigorous Verbs" (50) which compares active and passive verbs. Trimble claims that in standard English sentences, active, "X does Y," (50) which means that the grammatical subject is also performing the action as opposed to passive when the grammatical subject does not perform an action. This is very familiar to my writing as I always write with active verbs, moving forward and not passive verbs which move backward and distract the reader. This keeps my writing simple and direct. Lastly, Trimble introduces the idea of "Freshness" (53) which is what my writing could use the most improvement on. This keeps the reader in a state of surprise by using imagery and adjectives. It makes the writing interesting and the reader can see exactly what the writer is trying to convey. I need to describe my thoughts better by using imagination, similes, and metaphors. When I can learn to incorporate those smoothly into my writing, it will captivate the reader and neither I nor the reader will find the ideas dry or incomplete. If I can effectively incorporate conciseness, verbs, and freshness into my everyday writing, I will be an accomplished writer.

Trimble Chapter 5 Prezi

http://prezi.com/fc0rv8d0czjb/trimble-chapter-5-closers/

Sony Commercial Analysis

This Sony Bravia commercial is my favorite commercial of all time. When assigned to pick a commercial to share on our blogs, I thought of this one immediately because it is the one commercial that has impressed me enough to actually remember. I know this commercial also catches the attention of others because I was introduced to it by my friend, Dylan, when we were sharing our favorite videos. Obviously, the most astounding aspect of this video is that sony used 250,000 bouncy balls to bombard the streets of San Francisco. The bouncy balls were all different colors and San Francisco streets were perfect to use because they're the hilliest streets in the country. Also, the city provides an interesting look for the back drop so, the image was breathtaking.
The purpose of this commercial was to promote the Sony Bravia television with its clear, LCD screen. The colorful bouncy balls represent all the different colors on a television. It was also a clever way of promoting the television because personally, it made me feel like a kid again. Sending 250,000 bouncy balls down a huge hill, in the middle of a city, would be any kids dream. I know that just watching the commercial gave me a sense of playfulness and excitement, as it probably did many other viewers. The time, money and effort put into making this commercial must've been immense considering Sony had to purchase every singe ball, load them into a huge dumpster sized container, and pour that down the hill with a fork lift. They also only had one chance to film it because reloading the balls and sending them down the street again would've been too time consuming and much more expensive. With that said, the camera angles and timing of shots had to be perfect. Not only can all of that effort be admired but also the song chosen for the background was perfect because it set the mood of the commercial. The song, "Heartbeats," by Jose Gonzalez, being soft and acoustic gave the commercial a beauty that it wouldn't have accomplished if given a more upbeat, fast paced song. Sony finishes off the commercial with their motto "Colour like no other," further expressing their goal to advertise the impressive color on the Sony Bravia televisons which they most definitely succeeded in doing. This commercial is one that is hard to forget.

Sony Bravia Bouncy Ball Commercial

Sony actually dropped 250,000 bouncy balls down the streets of San Francisco for this commercial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DrFY3H-u8w

Rough Draft on Heineken Commercial

This Heineken commercial is taking a major risk with the gender segregation they have created. The commercial is obviously targeting men, indicating they are the ones that are going to drink the beer. The men are introduced to the walk-in fridge while the women are expected to be entertained by a walk-in closet full of shoes. In this way it seems that Heineken is primarily trying to promote its beer to men and not women which is hardly logical considering drinks are a non-gender specific item. Both sexes can enjoy beer and it just depends on a certain person's taste whether they prefer one drink over another.
Heineken however, does not seem to be concerned with this detail of their commercial. They must figure that women will not be offended by the assumption the beer company makes and that men will be extremely entertained by it. Although the commercial does focus on women for the greater part of the commercial, as they are lead on a tour through the house to the walk-in closet, the main idea is still that men will be interested most in their product. The most memorable part of this commercial doesn't involve women at all and actually serves to dismiss them by claiming that the men have something much greater to be excited by. It makes the women seem easily excited by things that are not very important, according to the commercials standards, and then turns to the men which are lavished by the advertised product. This commercial can either be found comical or sexist depending upon the person that is viewing it.

12 Heineken Commercial Questions

- How many beers are in the fridge?
- Why were they taking a tour?
- What were they taking a tour of?
- Was this commercial appealing to both men and women?
- Why weren't there any women introduced to the walk-in fridge?
- How is a closet refrigerated?
- Does this commercial promote gender bias?
- On which networks was this commercial primarily shown?
- Would the majority of people watching this commercial be men?
- Were women offended by the apparent targeting of men with this commercial?
- How is the fridge fully stocked?
- Did this commercial make more people interested in buying Heineken?

12 AT&T Commercial Questions

- Why were they in the city alone?
- What city were they in?
- What were they doing with the bread crumbs?
- Where's their cottage?
- How do they have a phone?
- How long were they in the city for?
- How old are they?
- Where are they from?
- Did the GPS in the phone successfully lead them back to their cottage?
- What did the bread crumbs represent?
- Have the children used this phone before?
- Did AT&T sales increase after this commercial/ did it benefit the company?

AT&T Hansel and Gretel

In this AT&T commercial, it is evident that the phone company is trying to gain customers by depicting that all cultures and ages are capable of using their services. With the use of the two fictional characters, Hansel and Gretel, it's trying to persuade the audience that AT&T is reliable for all cultures and types of people. Fairytales are a commonality that most cultures hold and in this way, a wide audience can get engaged and appreciate the reference that is being made.

As Hansel and Gretel were created ages ago, it is apparent that they are not fit to be walking around in a modern urban area. They are roaming the streets of the city in their outdated clothing, slowly dropping the contents of a basket full of bread crumbs, which makes them stand out like a sore thumb. In the original telling of the fairytale, the bread crumbs are a trail that they leave behind them so that they can trace it back to find their way home. AT&T however, changes this fairytale. When night turns to day and they finally run out of bread to track their travels, the audience is led to believe that they are stranded but Hansel and Gretel shock everyone when they pull out their AT&T phone with a built in GPS which uploads the route back to their cottage within seconds. In this moment, the commercial is indicating that the AT&T services are easily used because ancient fairytale children are capable of managing them and it implies that if you don't have modern technology such as this, you are the very slim minority.

Extraordinary Pantene Commercial

In the "Extraordinary Pantene Commercial" Pantene advertises its shampoo products in a very discreet way. Instead of directly promoting the product throughout the segment, Pantene chooses to create the uplifting story of a young, deaf girl who is oppressed by her peers that consistently discourage her dream to perform as a musician. The climax of the commercial is when the butterfly hatches out of the cocoon and the girl is on stage giving the performance of her life with her hair violently thrashing around her head. This entirely captivates the audience while sending hidden messages about the brand whose name and motto are displayed directly at the end.
The butterfly hatching has meaning for both the man and the young girl.  A butterfly is originally a caterpillar but when it hatches from the cocoon, it is a new creation which is not only admired in our society for its beauty, but is also gifted with the skill of being able to fly. The girl had been verbally and emotionally abused by other children growing up, as she was deaf, and they told her that she had no hope in becoming a musician. When she had met the street performer she was just a caterpillar. After constantly practicing with this man and dismissing the self doubt that she had acquired through the harsh criticisms of others, the girl performed and made her own transformation into a beautiful, talented butterfly. It's a pivotal point in the commercial where she is finally comfortable and confident in her abilities. She no longer feels like the inadequate deaf girl that she has always been portrayed as and can finally break out of that image with a feeling of self pride. Finally, after all of this has occurred, Pantene's motto, "You can shine," is displayed across the screen, telling the audience that Pantene supports the underdogs and they too can achieve their dreams.
 

First Post

Here I am at Hofstra and I am blogging. I've been interested in blogging for a while now but I always felt that it was a bit pretentious. Maybe it's just because my idea of blogs comes from seeing many peoples' Tumblr accounts. From what I have observed, that blogging website must have been created to promote drama and an ever growing population of self absorbed teenagers across the globe. That is why it's refreshing to find a completely new blogging website. The merit and credibility of which has not yet been tarnished in my mind, as other blogging websites have been. I will admit, writing online makes me feel a bit uneasy, just because I'm completely unaware of who might be reading this right now. If I were having this conversation with someone in person I wouldn't feel as if I'm talking to myself and I would be able to see his reaction. Whereas someone could read this, completely despise what I have to say and I'd never know. Maybe that's the beauty of blogs. You don't have to see the negative reactions and harsh criticisms of other people if you do not wish to. Just within this first post I am discovering new feelings about online writing and I can not wait to see where it takes me in the blogging yet to come.