FINAL BLOG POST

I cannot believe how fast the semester went by. When I wrote my first blog post my goals were to pass and to fix comma splices. My seventh blog post I stated that my goal was to get an A. My goals since than have not changed as the semester went on. I have been working hard to get the A, however I think I will end up with a B. I have noticed that I am better at figuring out when to use a comma and when not to. The class taught me how to effectively revise my paper and my peers paper. Peer review was always beneficial and I valued the feed back I got from my fellow classmates.


As I grow as a writer I want to continue to effectively revise my drafts before handing it in. Even if a class does not do activities such as peer review, I can always ask a friend or family member to help me revise it.  A weakness I will work on as a writer would be to further develop my ideas more. This is what I struggled with most this semester. I began to see reoccurring comments about have a great idea that needed to be more expanded. As i rewrite my ad analysis draft, I now realize the mistake I am making and how much better my paper sounds after I expanded my ideas. This class overall has helped me to grow as a writer and identify what I need to work on most. 

Assignment #14

For my portfolio, I have chosen to revise my ad analysis paper. My ad analysis paper has a strong thesis statement and has good claims that all relate to the thesis statement. In my opinion, I felt like I enjoyed writing this essay more than the others in the semester. I was proud of my claims that I came up with, and I felt that I clearly and vividly described the ad so that someone who has not seen the ad, would be able to picture it in their minds. 


However, after receiving feedback from my essay I learned that while I had well thought out claims, I needed to further explain them. This was not the first time I have received this comment on an essay, so I figured I would reread my essay and try to fix the problem for my portfolio review. First I will read each paragraph individually. Then I will ask myself, "did I explain this as much as I could?" If not, I will go back and further expand on my ideas. If yes, then I can move onto the next paragraph. These steps will help me to further revise my essay.


Also, I need to check for grammar and mechanics mistakes. When I type a paper, I often times submit it without fully rechecking my work. I will make sure to print my essay when I am done revising it, and then read it over as if I am peer reviewing with another student. This will allow me to be grammar free and have all of my thoughts clearly expressed. 

Assignment #13

In the essay written by Frank LoMonte,"Free Speech off Campus," I examined how important it is to mention a counterargument. LoMonte raised many ideas that critics and skeptics would agree with. However, to strengthen his argument he provided facts and examples to back up his own argument. In my fourth essay I will mention counterarguments that people might have while reading my paper, and try to find ways and examples to disprove those beliefs


In the essay about selling ones organs in return for money, we discussed in class how the authors tone ultimately weakened her argument. The author had a very harsh and one sided tone that drew readers away from taking her side in the position. She did not take in consideration how the people actually selling their own kidney might experience health risks and get underpaid for selling their own organs. When writing my essay, I will try to have an authoritative tone, while showing compassion and relating to my readers to help strengthen my essay and argument. 


Lastly, in the essay written by Frank LoMonte, "Free Speech off Campus," I also examined how effective  his argument was by not being bias. He never stated, "I don't think that free speech is important because...." or "When I was in college......". LoMonte was able to get his position and point across without actually stating it, rather he used his facts and ideas to convey his argument correctly to the readers. When writing my essay, I will be sure to avoid using first person or personal experiences to avoid sounding biased. 

Assignment #12

Thesis: Although public transportation is ideal, for students who do not have this option should not have to pay for parking each semester.

Ethos:

• Public transportation is ideal, however some students do not have this option.
• Since I am a student and currently effected by this, readers can think I'm trustworthy. 

Pathos:

• Students are already under a lot of stress because of the amount of money college requires, parking permits just add to that stress
• Students get aggravated when they are late for classes and have no open parking spaces

Logical:

• Students are already required to pay for a U-Pass, whether or not they use it
• In winter conditions with snow, the parking lots do not get properly cleaned and we lose spaces due to piles of snow. 
• Parking levels are designated based on class and what a student cannot afford. The less money you have, the worst parking spaces are available to you.

My most convincing evidence is that parking level options are unfair because it is designated based on class. The most expensive level is 1 and the cheapest is level 3. Level 3 designated parking areas are far away from major buildings and is on the roof of the parking structure. Students should not feel less entitled to others because they cannot afford better parking spots. Some students cannot control the fact that they have to drive to school. There is no major train station by campus, and for students who live in the suburbs are not able to take the CTA buses. 

My least convincing evidence is in winter conditions with snow, the parking lots do not get properly cleaned and we lose spaces due to piles of snow. Although this statement is true, there is no way I can prove this or back it up with more facts. Im not aware of all of the maintenance that goes into the parking lots on campus. Also, there is limited areas where snow trucks can pile up the snow instead of the parking lots.

Assignment #11- Errors

1. Comma Splices

• I tend to struggle most with comma splices. Sometimes I get confused whether or not to use a comma or semi colon.  This effects my writing because it is grammatically wrong if I chose the wrong one. To prevent this from happening in the future, I will try to go back to the worksheet on comma splices and run-ons to refresh my memory. 
• Another problem I struggle with is expanding on my thoughts. I have noticed on my last two essay's your comments were about expanding more on my ideas. This effects my writing because even though I may have written good main points, I need to expand more to back it up and make it credible. Without expanding on my thoughts, my main points just gets brushed to the side and forgotten. I will pay more attention to this in my next essay. When I say an idea I will make sure to fully explain my thoughts. 
• Lastly, and error is being to wordy. Sometimes when I feel I have written as much as I can and my paper does not meet the length requirement, I start adding unnecessary words and phrases. This effects my writing because being excessively wordy strays the reader away from my main points and gets distracting. I can prevent this by gathering more information so that I am able to meet the length requirement without being wordy. 

Extra Credit

            For our next paper, we are asked to write an argumentative paper about one of the three articles given to us. I decided to write about the article discussing free speech. Personally, I am looking forward to writing this paper because facebook is something that I have been using for four years. I also have a blog account, twitter, and tumblr. All of these social media networks are ways of being able to express myself and connecting with friends. When I first read the article about Amanda Tatro, I was confused about why it was such a controversial statement. After discussing it in class, I was able to better understand why it was taken to court, but my opinion still stands that she should not be punished.             I will argue that while Tatro made poor choices on what to post on her Facebook, the context of her post should have been investigated. If it was a meaningless joke, then she should not be punished.

            People make jokes and say things all the time that they do not mean literally, that is what I think Amanda Tatro did. Teenagers and young adults tend to over exaggerate and be dramatic. Just because we post something on Facebook does not mean we are going to go out and do it. While I do not condone what Amanda Tatro decided to post on her Facebook, I also do not think legal action should have taken place without first finding out if she wanted to cause physical harm to a human being or cadaver. The author of the article makes a good point, if courts are not careful of their decisions they make it can greatly affect our future. Universities can have the power to control what we can and cannot say over the Internet and take legal action if they think it is necessary. 

Assignment 10

Peer review is a helpful tool in our English class. I find it effective because classmates might be able to pick up on something in our paper that the write cannot or missed while reading it themselves. For instance, while we think we are correcting our grammar in our paper by using spell check, spell check can not always be trusted because it could confuse words such as "than" or "then", which have different uses in sentences. Also, peer review is effective because while we read other classmates papers, it gives us ideas and points we did not think about using that can be helpful in our own paper as well. A way peer review could be improved is by letting the students chose their own group. I know as being a more shy student, I feel more comfortable in a group I have previously worked in before where we have already gotten to know each other.

I think my strength as a peer reviewer is the feedback and marks I make on the other persons essay. I am honest and if I see something that is wrong or confusing I will circle it and give suggestions to my classmate. A weakness that I have as a peer reviewer is that I am horrible at comma splices so I am not a hundred percent sure if my classmates sentence is correct when they use or do not use commas.

I think that peer review is most effective at the beginning of the writing process. I find that the sooner others read my paper, the longer I have to fix my paper and make corrections on it. The smaller the group the more helpful it is for me. Big groups get too distracting and people are more likely to feel comfortable in a smaller group. Lastly, I think two class periods is enough time for the peer review process to take place. It also gives students time to take the peer review sheet home, and fully fill it out.

Assignment #9

As spring break quickly approaches, I cannot help but be shocked at how fast the year has gone by. It seems like only yesterday I was starting my freshman year. My college experience has been a difficult yet rewarding one. For my freshman year, I attended UIC but decided to transfer because it did not feel like a good match for my major, which is elementary education. I thought I would not like Northeastern because of how small and close it is to my house, but it is known as a great school for education.

            I was worried I would be making a huge mistake by transferring, but I was wrong. The smaller class sizes are a lot better than huge lecture rooms, where the teacher never knows your name. I am on the right track to being in the college of education and I cannot wait. I am excited to get into all education classes and be finished with my general education classes. Before I thought that gen eds were a waste of time, but now I have come to realize differently. All of my gen eds will help to better prepare me for my future classes in my field of studies. Even though I do not want to be and English teacher or a Science teacher, I will come across those subjects in every day life. Also, teachers do not always necessarily get to pick which grade they want to teach, so I need to be prepared when that day comes. Two more years down, two more to go and I cannot wait!! 

Argument Analysis Essay

After reading the three possible topics for our argument analysis essay, I have decided on writing about the "Free Speech Off Campus Must Be Protected" by Frank D. LoMonte. In this article, LoMonte talks about a student at the University of Minnesota, Amanda Tatro, who was taken to court over something she posted on her Facebook page. Tatro posted on her Facebook wall about how her and her friends gave their cadaver a nickname, and about stabbing someone with a dissecting knife. Although people are free to say whatever they want on the Internet, the university argues that that Amanda Tatro's speech was unprotected in the first amendment. Also, the university received several complaints from supporters of the mortuary-sciences program who had donated their family’s bodies for use of dissection and were offended by what Tatro had said.

            I chose this topic because I come from the generation of multimedia craze. As soon as all ages were open to create a Facebook account, I did so. In my paper, I am going to argue that Amanda Tatro should not be punished for something one posts on Facebook because of the right to free speech. The court has no proof that she intended to harm anyone by her comment; she just made a poor decision to display it on her Facebook page. As I grow older, I have bittersweet feelings about the decisions individuals make to post on their Facebook’s. People should watch what they post online, but unless they are intentionally harming another individual or cyber bullying another individual, no legal action should take place. 

Assignment #7

            As we approach the middle of the semester, I am able to evaluate myself academically. So far in English 101, we have completed one essay assignment and are currently in the process revising our second essay. When I received my grade for the first assignment I was discouraged with getting a B. I meant to meet with you and revise it, but I was so busy between work and school that I had missed my opportunity to do so.  My goal I set at the beginning of the semester was to pass this class, but now that has changed. I don’t want to just pass, but I want leave with an A.  I think my writing has improved since the first essay. Now I am more aware about the mistakes I am prone to making. Even though I am not a very good writing, I enjoy it. I have my own personal blog and it is something I look forward to doing.

            One thing I really like most about class time is the opportunity to work in small groups. Peer review is a good time to talk to my classmates and get feedback on my writing. I also enjoy getting to do some smaller assignments to help with my participation grades. However, sometimes I feel like some of the lectures we go over in class are things I have already learned. It is good to briefly go over these topics to refresh my memory, but when we go in depth I find myself getting distracted. I know that this is a writing class, but maybe we can do fun activities related to English. 

Assignment #6

The rhetorical situation from my literacy narrative and the ad analysis have a lot of differences. The audience for my literacy narrative was for pretty much anyone and any age. The audience for my ad analysis is mostly men of any age and younger women. The purpose of the literacy narrative was to tell a story about a writing or reading experience I had, good or bad. The purpose for the ad analysis is to pick apart and dissect the hidden messages in the ad of my choice. However, the tone for both essays are pretty similar. In my opinion, the tone is very laid back and easy going for both essays.

My writing strategy will be very different than that of my literacy narrative. For the ad analysis, I really need to dissect and pick apart the ad. I will need to support evidence with my claims and be very detailed.

Assignment #5

• Purpose- What is the purpose of the ad? What argument is it trying to make? How can you tell?
• The purpose of this Ad is to tell its audience that if you drink Bud Light than you will be living the good life. Also, with the use of the woman in the ad it implies you can have a good time with some as attractive as her.
• Audience- Who is the target audience for this ad? Is it trying to appeal to people of a certain age, gender, ethnicity, etc.? Again, what from the text makes this clear?
• The target audience for this ad is for all men 21 and up. Men are more known to prefer beer than women are. The ad also has a picture of an attractive woman on it to catch guys attention.
• Genre- How would you describe the genre of the ad? How might it compare to other ads for similar products? Is it what you would expect for that type of ad or does it subvert audience expectations? 
• The genre of this ad is young, wild, and fun. The text of the ad implies that when you're drinking bud light you will be having a good time. This ad is similar to other ads made by bud light because of the woman in the ad getting a mans attention. I definitely expected this to be the type of ad that bud light chooses because men mostly drink beer and they like women. 
• Tone- What is the tone of the ad? Why would the advertisers chose that tone for that particular product?
• The tone is similar to genre. It implies a fun, easy-going life if you drink this product. It uses big bold letters and the woman is wearing a bright pink shirt to catch peoples attention!

Assignment #4

• My final paper is different from my rough draft in several ways. First, it is longer. I've found that as a writer I tend to cram all my information in quickly, but then i go back and explain in more detail so that it is clearer to the reader. Secondly, it has a lot less grammatical errors. Between peer reviewing and lessons on incomplete sentences I was able to catch a lot of mistakes in my paper that are easily fixed. Lastly, my final paper is different from my rough draft because it tells a lot better story. In my opinion, it flows better and sounds less choppy. The details really help clarifying what is going on in the story for the reader, and the conclusion ties it all together. 
• I do not think I made any major revisions in my literacy narrative. All revisions are important, but when writing my rough drafts I try to put as much work into them as possible so that its less work for me later on. As i mentioned earlier, I made grammatical revisions and adding details to help my paper flow, but no big changes occurred. 
• After revising my paper I did notice a pattern somewhat. I learned that I need to work on comma splices. It has always been a problem for me because they do not stick out as much like a misspelled word would. I was lucky that we reviewed comma splices in class this week so that I can double and triple check if I slipped up. Another pattern I found is that I need to elongate my thoughts onto the paper so that I am not just spitting out all this information and it is too much to handle. 
• Several different things guided me while revising my paper. Peer review, class, and myself all helped to to guide my choices when it came time to revise. Peer review was the most helpful out of the three. Reading a paper out loud and saying it in your head are two totally different things I learned. It was really nice to get feedback from other classmates and see how their papers turned out as well. 
• I think my conclusion is the strongest part of my essay. It really ties the whole paper together and teaches a lesson to myself and hopefully the readers with struggles of writing assignments. Personally, I do not think any of my paper is weak. I worked really hard to revise and I am proud that it turned out the way it did. I'm 100% positive my paper is not perfect, but no ones writing ever is. Unless you are like the author of The Hunger Games! :)

• Details can make a paper go from mediocre to a great paper/ It is one thing to say, "Jane was late." It would be better to say, "Jane was late because she forgot her assignment at home and had to turn around to get it and hit traffic." Details often help to make your thoughts and ideas much clearer to the reader.
• Outside sources can help to back up a paper and give more interest to the reader when you either make comparisons or list differences in your essay. Sources show that the writer put time into their paper because they had to research the topic to find additional information.
• Word choice is helpful when a writer finds themselves repeating themselves constantly. When you find other words to use it can help one either be informal or formal throughout their paper.
• The thing most easiest for me while writing a paper is outside sources. I am good at finding things on the internet that can help back me up to make my essay stronger and more formal. The hardest thing for me is details. I feel that I can be more detailed if I tried, but I worry about ranting on or just saying things to add space to a paper.

Assignment #2- Generating Ideas

• I may discuss the very last paper I had to write in my English class at UIC. I signed up for the class only choosing it based on the time it was at to work into my schedule. I walked into the classroom the first day of class and the first question the professor asks is why we chose the topic of the course. I sat there confused because little did I know, each class had a set topic that you decide on when picking classes. Just my luck, no one raised their hand to answer the question so the professor turns and points to me, and I just stared unable to answer. I unknowingly chose the topic of gentrification in New York. Not only was I unfamiliar with New York, but i had no idea what the word gentrification even meant! 

• The pros for writing about this topic is that it happened very recently so I would be able to remember a lot about what happened that semester. Another pro is that I could find a way to make it comical or an interesting paper for my audience to read. A con is that not many people know about the gentrification of New York so I would have to explain in great detail about it. 

• Another possible topic is doing poorly in my English entrance exam into college. I got placed into a remedial English course that counted as no credit. I was frustrated because it would set me behind in completing my gen ed's and possibly set me back from graduating in four years. I worked hard and participated more than anyone in my class and ended up being qualified to jump to English 102. I was so thrilled that I would no longer be behind. I later decided to transfer from UIC to Northeastern, and because I jumped from a remedial English class into English 102 I had to retake English 101 because of transfer requirements. 

• I could show how even though I was embarrassed from being placed into a remedial course, with hard work I was able to prove how an entrance exam does not determine your intellect or who you are as a student. However, a con would be that it is confusing to an outsider because they might not understand how I completed English 102 and not 101. 

• Lastly, I'm considering writing about the very first time I created my own personal blog. At first, I thought that blogs were kind of weird and pointless. Then one of my good friends created a blog and I realized how fun and cute it could be. Having a blog liberated me and helped me to express myself with words and pictures, and I realized didn't have anything to feel embarrassed about. It is a lot more personal than Facebook and Twitter because I have control over how everything looks. 

• I could express how fun and liberated having a blog could be as a writer. Because it is on the internet, there is no proper way to write so you can write as one would speak in real life. A con would be not having enough information or story to complete the required 3-4 pages. 

Assignment #2

For our very first blog assignment, we were asked to describe why taking English 101 is important. It is a general requirement for the College of Education that we all take and pass this course. Even though it is just a Gen Ed, I can see why it would be a requirement for the college. English 101 helps to give us the tools and information we need in order to write papers at the college level. Personally, writing has never been one of my strengths in school so for me this course will be helpful so that I can be able to research different topics and be able to incorporate it into an essay with ideas and facts to back it up. One of my weaknesses that I've come across when writing is citing different works into my paper. Since I know this is a problem I can pay close attention in class during this topic and be sure to ask questions and take notes.


Lastly, another reason I believe that this course is important to take is because of our careers. I am hoping to become an Elementary School teacher and writing will be something I will encounter every single day. Whether I am making lesson plans, sending parents a news letter, or creating assignments, I will need to be able to not only be grammatically correct but also know how to write formally or maybe even informally if I need to relate to my younger students. Before I even get a teaching job though, I will need to learn how to sell myself on my resume and make sure it looks professional and formal. In conclusion, English 101 is important for all students to take because everyone can use help to improve their writing skills.