Stacey S Blog Prompt

I want everyone to know that my presentation can be viewed under the Discussion Board.  I have created my presentation using powerpoint. 

I found Myra’s presentation to be very exciting and informative.  I never really thought of exercise in that way.  I know that diet and exercise a good for your heart but I never really thought of as having a positive effect of someone suffering from another type of problem, such as Bipolar Disorder.  I think that it is great that you found another form of treatment besides the usual medication and counseling.  I also can feel the passion that you bring to this topic and you truly found the compassion to write about what you know.

I have to say that it was a long travel to get the the end of English 112 but I did it and I also learned three very important lessons this semester.  I learned to have confidence in my writing because I can do it.  For example, I wanted to quit after the first essay but the instructor and something inside of me told me not to quit.  I went on applying more and more of what I learned all together into my rough and final drafts.  This may not seem as it it has anything to do with English 112 but it really truly does apply to this course.  I now have the confidence to write academically in any class from here on out and to me that was the whole mission of the course. 

Another important lesson I learned in English 112 was how to create a proper work cited page.  As I went for essay to essay, I started to actually learn how to properly cite my sources.  This alone will help me in any other essays that I have to write in existing and further classes.  It is always important to properly cite the sources used when writing any essay.

One other lesson that I learned from this course is how to be a better reader and in turn to be a better writer.  All of the things such as how to write a thesis sentence, write an  appealing introduction, build great supporting body and write a better conclusion, would not have been possible had I not learned how to annotate by reading and re-reading.  I was able to understand more about my final research essay and the topic that I chose by being able to apply this technique.  I was able to properly synthesis many of my sources because I was able to understand what each author was trying to portray and how what they had to say would impact my essay.

So, in conclusion I must say that having confidence in my ability to write academically, annotate what I read and really understand it and cite my sources correctly will be a huge contributing factor in the rest of my life.  I am no longer that critical of my ability to write.  I have struggled with this process the entire course but I stuck it out and just keep building on the important lessons to finally arrive at triumphant and victorious as a writer. 

I can honestly say that I entered this class with a lot of misconceptions about academic writing. I had a lot of self doubt at the beginning but I feel better and more confident of my academic writing skills and ability.  I have learned to take the process and break it down into steps and building on each step.  This is one think that I really never did before this class.  I always seemed to start all over and not have a good understanding of the writing process.  I have learned to really read what is written and reread and to think and rethink which proved to be a very important part of the academic process.  All of this new found knowledge can be applied to other classes.

     As for other classes, I have already applied what I have learned from English 112.  For example,  I am taking a sociology class this semester that has six different books about six different issues in today’s society.  While reading each book, I found myself annotating and really critically thinking about what I was reading.  Academic Writing  became a natural way of thinking, reading and writing for me.  As I would finish one book and move onto the next one, I would find myself comparing the books to one another.  I would find ways that each book could agree with each other and ways in which they would disagree.  This way of synthesizing proved to be very helpful when it came to writing my midterm essay.  My assignment was to link to or more of the books and there issues together.  I believe that applying what I learned in this course proved to be very successful in my other course.

     Although I only took two courses this semester,  I have found English 112 to have helped me a great deal.  Now I have a clearer look at writing.  I can say that before this class I certainly had a different view on how to write academically.  I have developed into a better thinker, reader and writer from this course. If I was able to apply the knowledge gained from English 112 in one other course,  I know that I will be able to confidently use academic writing in other courses and disciplines.

I usually begin with the question; Where should I begin?  This is the first thought that I have when I begin my writing process.  Next, I spend  two solid days just worring and panicking about the assignment.  Hey, you wanted to know my writing process.  Then I think about a topic or about the topic that has been presented for the assignment.  Eventually, I will start to gather researched information about the topic and try to find the most logical sources which will strengthen my argument.  I will start to think about a possible thesis statement.  I will change the construction of my thesis statement several times, but I finally get the one I want to use in my essay.  I try to pick the best possible audience.  The audience that I choose has to be influenced by my topic.  I spend a good majority of time on researching and reading and reading my sources.  I like to read my sources and write paragraphs that I think would work for my essay which comes in handy when constructing my synthesis.  The paragraphs that I create are helpful when I begin to construct my essay.

The text book was very helpful in my writing process.  I would constantly refer back to many of the chapters.  I would refer back to constructing a thesis because I have had trouble with this part.  I would reread this chapter and it would help me.  This was not the only section that I would refer back to when I got stuck.  I found the book very informative.  I like the fact that it would present examples because that would help me see what them meant. 

I guess that the metaphor that would explain my writing process is kind of cheesy.  I would have to say that my writing process is like a roller coaster ride it has it ups and downs and it certainly has its twists and turns, sometimes for the good and sometimes of the bad.

“Road Rage”, which is extremely aggressive driving behavior, is all the rage. It is the combination of the aggressive driving habits of some people and the dangerous reactions of others. Minor instances may involve a driver honking the horn, shouting obscenities or giving a finger gesture. A major act of  ”Road Rage” may cause someone’s injury or death. It’s no longer tailgating, lane jumping, speeding, or neglecting to use signals. No, it is bigger than this and on the rise. Incidents of “Road Rage” have resulted in deaths, and are an increasing concern. The LA times reported, “A woman, 20 some year-old woman and here 8-year-old son were shot by off-duty police officer in an apparent case of road rage. The officer fired at the woman’s vehicle in a shopping center parking lot.  It began when one of the drives cut the other one off.  No one - for any reason - should ever harm another human being. …What causes these behavior? The problem is not just with driving but more vehicles and drives are on the roads and the stress that people are under because of their employment, family concerns and financial issues are causing them to drive in a manner that is aggressive in nature. When we get in our vehicles, we feel invincible like we are finally in control of something. We begin to ignore laws of driving and begin to show disrespect to others.  If another driver interferes we get mad. Now, we react in an aggressive manner without even realizing it.  The reaction is wrong and most know it but an overwhelming feeling takes control and some have been pushed to far.  But before you retaliate ask yourself; what if the other driver has a gun or other dangerous weapon?  Quite frankly you just don’t know. This problem is not new and has become a dangerous matter.  People today have traded in their smiles and apologies for violence.  Road rage is serious.  Actions have to be take both on the part of drivers and law officials to prevent further unnecessary injures or deaths.  Remember to take a deep breath and redirect your aggressive thoughts to something more positive.

This editorial is very helpful for Essay #3.  In writing my opinions and observations on his issue,  will help me present my agruement better in my research paper.  I have been able to really feel the need to show my audience the seriousness of aggressive driving behaviors otherwise know as, “road rage”.

The instructor usually asks students to write a proposal to help them focus and define thier research.  Proposal indicate to the instructor and classmates your direction of your research.  The proposal provides a general idea of what one is purposing to research but it does not have to be the final binding committment.  You can change your mind and alter ideas from your proposal.  The proposal serves as a starting point for discussion with the class or instructor.  A successful proposal convinces the reader of your goal and it is sufficent to convince their readers that this is an important research idea. Ones research paper is only as good as ones proposal.  Basically the proposal states what you plan to accomplish-Why you want to do it and how your are going to do it.  It should also prove that you have a good grasp on the issue.

     The question is why is it good to write a proposal for further essays.  It is helpful to do a proposal for every essay because it helps determine your objectives.  As I said before, it is a good starting point.  It serves as a preface that will explain just why you should be able to do this paper pr project.  It is your statement defining your purpose in doing the essay. 
A person can write in this genre for a number of reasons.  You could present a prosposal for a grant or other economical reasons, government funding or a business proposal. 

I have not really decided on a topic yet and I have really found it difficult to stay away from the normally everyday topic such as what the instructor would refer to them as the blah blah blah topics.  I have a few  different possibilities. One of the topics deals with allowing more people to drive on the right side of the car not road but car.  I really should say allowing right side steering wheels.  I am left handed and when shifting it would be easier to do it with my left hand.  People with disabilities could also benefit.  I know that the instructor had touched on an issue that I really never heard of but I am not sure if I have found enough information on this topic.  I am not sure if this is possible topic.  I tried thinking about what interests me the truth is I love dolphins but I am not sure what topic could be so fantasitic that it knocks you socks off.  I have thought about the fact that the elderly should they take a driving test in order to continue driving after a certain age.  I have thought about road rage.  The emotional aspect of growing up with all brothers as opposed to having a least one sister.   The advantages of being a twin but having a twin brother as opposed to a twin sister.  The cost of textbooks in college is enough to make a person go in debt.  Death in the fast lane- the dangers of speeding at high rates.  The ever so famous paparazzi.  I would like to explore the aspects of the law and college students.  Should college students be above the law.  Consider the penalties given by colleges on underage drinking and how many times a person is caught.  I truely an thinking about this one.  If someone could please help.  If you could not tell already I have problems making decisions especially quickly.  I hope to narrow it down if fact I know I have to narrow it down because we will have assigments on it next week. I had enough problems with getting my final paper down and I am still trying to figure out the twitter thing.   I guess I have a lot of work to do this weekend.  I think that it would be interesting to understand why colleges have the right to have their own rules of punishments.  I even thought about stereotypes on days of our lives or any other soap opera.  I know the assigment was to log about the 6 steps but I have to decide on a topic in order to complete the inquires.  I am serious if some one could help me make a decision or tell if I an on the right track that would be great.

     The author of our textbook presents some very interesting practice sections.  I read most of them and tried to at least attempt some of them.  I did not put all of my responses on paper but I did a least think about them.  I have read and reread most of the chapters that have been assigned.   

     I am not shy about my fears of writing essays especially sufficient essays.  I have try to incorporate a lot of different techniques.  I read the chapters, study the essay assignment sheet.  I spend a lot of time in the prewriting process.  I work 3rd shift so when my children are  at school and my husband is at work, I am usally sleeping.  I have found that I will wake up because I had a thought. So I keep a notebook with me so I can write down my thoughts.  I am constantly asking questions, for example, what is the audience that I want to appeal to, what is the topic, what kind of essay am I writing.  I have a tendency to get stressed out and over analyze things.  I try to make things harder than they really are.  I reference the book because I am not to familiar with proper academic writing.  I also refer to the Wiki, instructors examples and comments and Lectures. 

Stacey S.

In January of 2006,  my cousin calls me up and asks me a question.  But this was no ordinary question,  her question was “would you like to go on a Jamaican vacation?”  Here I am with a once in my lifetime vacation offer and I have to start convincing myself to say yes.   My husband was the one who had no hesitation in telling me to go I deserved it.  My cousin had already said she was paying for the whole thing.  One problem, the only way to get to Jamaica is to fly.  I had never flown before and I was terrified.  I had to gather some information from different sources about the safety of flying.  I gathered statistics on plane crashes vs automobile accidents.  I talked to my family members who had flown on numerous occasions to get their feedback.   I looked at tons of brochures of Jamaica with its relaxing atmosphere and beautiful beaches.

After looking at all this information, I was able to make a decision. 

Are you kidding, of course I decided to go.  This was Jamaica!  I was sold on the fact that I would be alright.  I had gathered enough information to convince myself that it would be safe and I would be just fine.  I could not let this once on a lifetime opportunity pass me by because of a fear of flying.  Oh and did I forget to mention the part where we were going to swim with the dolphins.  I love dolphins and I could not pass of a change to swim with them over a fear of flying.

Stacey S.