Monday, February 28, 2011

Reflection for Week 6

      As I advance in the different levels of understanding how to become a better writer, I am gaining many skills that I could take with me through the rest of my life. During week 6 of learning more about literature, reading, and writing, I have learned how to write professionally with using specific formats of writing that will connect with my audience. I could honestly say that the most important thing in week 6 that I have learned would be the correct way to cite. Plagiarism is amongst many people who take risks for consequences they know they are not capable of handling. I for instance am not the type of student who likes to plagiarize; I like to be original in everything I do. Though many people do not purposely plagiarize, they are still amongst the same consequences. These consequences for most colleges are a failing grade, suspension, and/ or expulsion. From the lectures this week, I know how important citing another’s work is because I can’t be held accountable for the consequences of plagiarism. I also learned that there are many formatting styles that different fields use; the most common two are MLA and APA. These styles are basically developed to connect better with the audience that is within that specific field. For instance, MLA is a format used for Foreign Languages, English, and Humanities while APA is used for Social Sciences, History, and Psychology. I know now from this lecture how critical it is to give an author credibility for their work.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Reflective Entry- Week 5

     When it comes to reading, writing, and language, there are many things that need to be known and considered. According to my opinion, Language Arts is a subject where I think my strongest strengths are because I have proven to be an excellent writer. I try my best to be the best writer that I could be because it is my way of expressing my self and venting. The most important new thing that I learned was the different ways of transitioning and organizing my work. Since I was young, I’ve always thought my work had to be phrased a specific way or it wouldn’t sound right. After reading the book “They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing,” I have a new vision on how I look at how effective details, organization, and credibility has an effect on the story. This book explains why details are very effective because it helps the reader to understand how the writer felt at that moment or how the reader could be put into the authors shoes. The more details an author provide, the more vividly their audience would be able to comprehend and give feedback on how well the book was.
     Also, this book expresses how the organization and credibility is very important to audience because it determines whether the writing prompt flow and is not just opinions. Organization decides how the writing prompt sounds; if it wasn’t for organization, most writing today would be choppy. There are different types of organization; one example is chronological order. Not only does organization and details matter, but credibility as well. When I say credibility, I mean giving another author props for their opinion, facts, and words of encouragement. Without credibility, the work will be known as plagiarism or just a prompt stating a simple opinion. They Say/ I Say is a very informative, helpful book that I am looking forward to continuing reading in order to find new skill that could strengthen or even create others.

Chapter 2: Her POint Is in They Say, I Say

Propose
There are many causes that contribute to the epidemic of obesity. Obesity statistics have doubled in today’s society throughout many children and adults. According to David Zinczeno’s article “Don’t Blame the Eater,” the industries have a huge contribution to why the statistics for obesity have doubled. David states that some causes of obesity are due to a lack of access to healthier foods, food management, expense, and not monitoring what is being consumed. He argues that children are left alone to eat at fast food restaurants because their single parents are not home to cook. He implies that industries are making a fortune trying to supply the needs of children; the only thing wrong with them providing for children is that their doing it in an unhealthy way.
I agree with David’s position because fast food industries should advertise the amount of calories that one consumes from eating their food. I would also recommend that industries could do is create a stand filled only with nutrition fact cards. By doing so, it is the costumer’s responsibility to find out what they are consuming, as long as the nutrition fact cards are being provided, lawsuits will no longer be applicable. Although, industries are trying to fulfill the empty void that the parents are too busy to fill, they could at least think of the effect that their products are doing to society. Being obese is life changing; those who are obese or on the verge of becoming obese are at risk for obtaining many diseases that could determine the outcome of their life. In order to help solve this epidemic, parents need to be more aware of what their children consume and industries need to be aware of what they are supplying to society.
Oppose
In the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater,” industries are subjected to playing a huge part in the obesity epidemic. The author David Zinczeno implies that industries are supplying unhealthy foods to those who are unfortunate to have cooked food at home. He indicates that it’s the industries responsibility to monitor what they supply to its customers. Industries have contributed to a large part of the obesity epidemic because the food is cheap; we have easier access to it, and quick service. Even though industries should supply information on what their serving, it is still the responsibility of the parent to monitor what their children eat.
I contradict David’s statement that industries should take on the responsibility on monitoring what they serve to the community. It is the parent’s responsibility to monitor what they children consume if they are going to have a say so in the outcome of their children. I understand that single parents have to work to provide for their family, but they still have children to look after which is an even larger responsibility. Even if the parent could not cook for their children, they should at least make sure the person or people looking after their children know the limitations on their child’s eating preferences. Parents should be more responsible and knowledgeable about the dangers that their children are exposed to. The dangers that are in society is not just being physical with others, but it is the little things, such as consuming fast foods more than twice a day, that could have a long term effect on a child especially as an adult. Things that a parent should consider, that most fail to do, is monitoring their children as well as themselves body mass index (BMI) to keep track of their weight. Doing so will not only help them keep track of their weight, but it will tell them where they are at on the obesity chart. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that this chart consists of four categories: underweight, healthy, obese, and overweight. Each has a specific range that you would fall into after calculating your BMI which is found by dividing your weight (lbs.) by your height (inch) squared and then multiplied by 703. I agree that industries play a huge part in the obesity epidemic but parents play an even larger responsibility in which their children are involved. Parents should not be abler to sure a restaurant when they are part of the supplier. If it wasn’t for the parents as well, then the children would not have a way to buy the food. I say, “Don’t blame the industry, blame the parents.”

Friday, February 18, 2011

Chapter 1 "They Say"- Exercise #1

A. Our experiments suggest that there are dangerous levels of chemical X in the Ohio groundwater.
-Due to complications within our clean water system, the environmental agency made many people concerned that unsafe materials may have contaminated the groundwater. An experiment was conducted and found dangerous levels of chemical X, just to be sure, more experiments should be conducted to prove that harmful chemical contaminated the water supply.

B. Material forces drive history.
-Need assistance

C. Proponents of Freudian psychology question standard notions of "rationality."
-Need assistance

D. Male students often dominate class discussions.
-After observing todays Math class, it seems to be true that males dominate more in class discussions. Do they only dominate in discussions that they are interested in?

E. The film is about the problems of romantic relationships.
-Due to the suspense, resolution, drama, and relationship building displayed in the film, I could conclude that the film was about problems rising in romantic relationships.

F. I'm afraid that templates like the ones in this book will stifle my creativity.
-The templates in this book portray a sense of structure rather than originality. Because of the way it structures my writing, I'm afraid that my creativity will be stifled.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Introduction "Entering The Conversation"- Exercise #2

     Gerald Graff and Cather Birkenstein provides valid, informative inforamtion on how helpful their templtes are. In the Introduction to "They Say/I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, they vivdly explains how their templtes are very helpful specifiacally with organizing and structuring their writing. Graff and Birkenstein aregue that although their templtes are helpful, they do not limit the writers ability to be creative. Many people believe, such as the students meantioned on page 10 expressed their concerns that templaes makes eveyone's work sound the same and limits their originality. What they were not understanding from Graff and Birkenstein's point of view is that not everyone think alot. People in general have their own way of thinking about how they could use the templates to the best of their ability. The templtes basic purpose is to guide the writer to ex[pose them to different writing tools and skils, observe diverse perspectives, and instill different types of techniques of writing within the writer.
     In my opinion, Gerald and Cathy intentions are very positive and effective. I believe that the templates they have created will help guide writers to think and write more constructively. Due to my own experience with using their templtes, so far they have changed my view on how effective templates could be towards my writing. I now have something to refer to when in need of transition and/or organization. Thanks to Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, I have a more constructive way of thinking when I write.

Monday, February 7, 2011

     The major that I would like to pursue is Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering consist of solving real situations while applying health and engineering skills. What smarked my interest in this field was caused by a school project known as the Health & Wellness Capston. In order to choose what the students were going to be researching and presenting, we were given options to choose one out of ten leading health indicators listed by the Surgeon General. During this capstone, the students had to complete a specific number of tasks for each subject that would all later tie in with health. My engineering teacher, Mr. McCalla in particular decided that he would have each individual student create a artificial heart using a motor. Due to this project, I have been hooked on biomedical engineering ever since then. Becoming a biomedical enegineer will not only help me to gain skills to solving real problems while applying health and other technical skills, but I feel as if I could give back to my community. Helping and informing those who are interested on the health aspects of life. I know that I am capable of obtaining the knowledge required to be a successful engineer as well as the ability to achieve this goal. As I yern for more knowledge and skills, I am gaining so much more than what I think. My actions, thoughts, and intuitions are for the greater good of myself if not, my family and friends. I am aware of the difficulties that come with trying to achieve my goal and I am preparing myself to go all the way through with this journey called life. Not only do I have an interest in biomedical engineering, but I would also like to pursue forensic science. Forensic science is interesting because it involves mysteries. Mysteries that provide many skills and would have you thinking outside an average crime. These two fields seem as if they would challenge me and believe me, I like a good challenge.