Short&Sweet

    These short letters to the editor contain direct and specific issues that occur within the region. They are short and straight forward. Almost all of them are supporting an issue or demanding a state of action. Many have eye catching titles. They are like headlines which talk about the whole piece within a few words. They are like mini essays and the point/thesis of the piece is very evident. Each "blog" is set in a colloquial tone. They are informal and therefore can get straight to the point without seeming impolite. The writer in these pieces is also an informal person. They don't really have a title and seem to be commoners. The things that they write are more based on their own opinion than that of others.

    In the seventh chapter of From Inquiry to Academic Writing, the notion of summarizing and paraphrasing is mentioned. It is mainly about all the possible ways to shorten a piece of writing into more manageable portions. Both are techniques used to shorten a passage. Even though they seem the same they are different. Paraphrasing is lengthy-er and contains the meat of the message. Whereas summaries contain the bare bones of the passage. Both must present the "gist of an argument" where you are "expressing the author's central idea in a sentence or two"(134).  In this chapter there is also talk about synthesizing, where you compare two or more works against each other. With this technique, summarizing is essential. you have to know that main argument of each piece in order to compare them fairly. Plagiarism is a big no no. It is the worst offense you can do in the academic community.   In order to avoid plagiarism you must use your own style of voice to reinterpret what the passage was trying to evoke. The most important thing to do is always cite your sources. That way the original author is given the recognition he/she deserves.

    I don't know but this week has been the most stressful week of my schooling years. Literally every day of class I had,there was something due in ALL of my classes. That's flippin' crazy. I felt so hectic. I'm glad it's the almost weekend already. I'm gonna feel so relieved until I realize I still have finals to study for. Sheesh. Are blogs meant to vent like this? I wonder... Anywho the week has been so long... probably because I have been up all night and losing major amounts of sleep.

Project Two Brainstorm

    I honestly am very confused on what to write about. I am not sure whether my paper should be purely informative or have hints of persuasive notions within it. So for right now I am in the middle grounds. I have a hard time finding sources for my topic. I have had to alter my question multiple times because I haven't found the sources and information I want. I have just had a hard time figuring out my question and its purpose and sticking to it.
    So for my topic I am researching on how video games can be beneficial. They do more good than bad in other words. Video games have had a one sided view on its impact in the world and in education in particular. I guess I am hoping to change that or lessen the negative view on video games. I first want to show why video games are so pleasing and fun to play. I'm going to show the development of games and why game developers create games in a certain way. It is not only to please gamers and make sales but also to "trap" them into the game. Because a bad game will never sell. These are specific moves that they do in order for games to be as successful as they are.

Discourse Community

    In my discourse community of video gaming, there are a certain set of rules to become a renowned gamer and to be a part of the gaming community. Firstly, in order to be a part of the gaming community you must play games well. You will always be judged by your playing skills before anything else. The gaming community is quite easy to fit into if you have the urge to do so but at first it is difficult. First time gamers will not know of the exact play style that is deemed acceptable. Most first time gamers are deemed "Noobs". Noobs are usually low ranked players and play the game without much skill. For certain online games there are a few play styles that are not acceptable. Camping play styles where the player remains motionless in one spot is deemed noob-ish. Gamers wish to create fair and equal gaming experiences for everyone. Those who hack and mod, in other words cheat games, are threatened to be banned from playing them. Playing the game well and playing is right will establish credibility and acceptance into the gaming community.

    Once inside the gaming circle, communication within online video gaming is essential. The first thing one must do is create a gamertag. Gamertags will represent the player and provides an alter ego. Avatars are another type of representation that includes both a written expression as well as a visual representation of the gamer. Video games have since evolved from solo play to worldwide online gaming. Almost every game has an online multilayer which allows people from all over to play together. With this there is also a Gaming Language. Many words have evoked from the Gaming Community. Words such as camper, noob, hacker, MLG, hardscoper, etc...are created to describe and identify players. Online communication is enforced through the use of online chatting and outside gaming communities. There are various gaming sites that are specific to the game and provide a place for gamers to ask questions and gain knowledge of the game.
    My research on this topic is not going as smoothly as I would have hoped. I have not found any useful information pertaining to my topic. I want to talk about the gaming community and maybe how it has evolved since video gaming first appeared. I also want to look into the misconceptions about video games but the sources I have read only describe the effect of a certain game. I'm looking for a more general approach.
  

Midterm Portfolio Revision

    In my revision of the midterm portfolio I first sought to read through Mr. Frank's comments on my draft. The comments I received insisted me to further my explanation of sources and come up with a solution to the problem. I read through my entire essay in order to figure out what I need to organize and where to add my solution. While reading I noticed some simple grammatical errors and I fixed them. I also added onto one of my sources. I wanted to further evaluate its meaning and purpose in my essay. I felt that I did not fully explain what my paper was about. By evaluating and elaborating on this one idea, the reader may have a better understanding of why I chose that piece. I would like to do this to all of my sources. After reading my essay I did realize that the main purpose was kind of lost and unclear. In order to make my point more transparent I created notes on the things I needed to add and where I should add them. For example, I wrote that I should create a solutions paragraph near the end of the essay.
    I did consider replacing one of my sources for a source that referred to the other side of the issue, however I decided not to fulfill this consideration. I realized that the time searching for another work that went against my argument would be too difficult and time consuming. I would rather work and edit with what I already have. In order to acknowledge the other side, I am going to create a paragraph that shows some pros of the injustice of social class by using sources that I already have. I think this could be a beneficial argument to include in my essay, however I will have to be aware of misrepresenting the works I have.
    

From Inquiry to Academic Writing: Chapter Five

    In Chapter Five, Formulating to Developing a Thesis, of From Inquiry to Academic Writing, the main purpose of the chapter is explaining what a thesis is and what it provides for your paper. A thesis is "an assertion that academic writers make at the beginning of what they write and then support with evidence throughout their essay"(83). The thesis can be compared to a shish kebab as it must pierce through every statement and paragraph, allowing each idea to be held together. The thesis statement is usually placed near the beginning of the paper and makes an argument about a certain conversation that is clear and supported. It is used as the basis of every paragraph that follows and conveys a perspective on the issue while taking other controversial sides into account.

    When writing a paper the first crucial step is forming a working thesis. The working thesis provides an idea or basis for your final thesis. The working thesis is there to promote more more reading and writing of your paper. It will allow you to further your analysis and come up with more questions. It is very important to understand the this first working thesis should never be your final thesis. The working thesis is there to further elaborate and change in order to come up with your final thesis.
    When writing a working thesis there are many ways to approach your argument. There are three specific ways in order to state the thesis. The first is the Correcting-Misinterpretation Model where you "correct writers who arguments you believe have misconstrued one or more important aspects of an issue"(85). The second is the Filling-The-Gap Model where a "claim of value" is usually stated. It points to what other writers have not included in their works and a closer look of the issue reveals something alternative. The last model is the Modifying-What-Others-Have-Said Model where you take your understanding of another work and modify it to make a suggestion.
   I have learned a couple of good things from this chapter. It will definitely help when revising my paper. I can use some these techniques and advice to strengthen my paper and make it clearer. One thing I liked was the use of context as a background into your issue. It's important to introduce the topic and have an understanding of it in order to create some credibility to your argument and to also create more clarification for your audience.
  

From Inquiry to Academic Writing Chapter Four

    I am so READY for this Sunday to come. I want a weekend so badly AND I want my baby back, baby back RIBS. I'm gonna pig it out with my bestie. We WERE gonna eat at Buffalo Wild Wings but we saw this show on Food Network about BBQ's and got HOOKED. So we decided to eat out at the Dog House Grill. Mmm. YUM!
    In Chapter Four of From Inquiry to Academic Writing, the main purpose of the chapter is to identify multiple views on an issue and evaluate that issue with questions. First off, before you can write critically and evaluate your issues, must first read critically. When reading you should think about why this person is arguing the statement? Only then can you write about your own inquiries on the subject. The questions on page sixty five are of great importance because they will definitely  boost the rhetoric in our papers. Just like in the previous chapter of this book, where we should look closely at the claims we read, we should also look at the claims that our source make. By explaining what the source is about and why it is important, we can further clarify its significance to our arguments. Also by identifying how the source intends to persuade us, we can see its effectiveness within our thinking. These questions not only deal with how to interpret the sources we use but how we use our own sources within our writing.
    In our writing we should take our audience into consideration. Our writing should connect to the readers who understand the subject and even those who cannot. This relates to the chapter "So what? Who cares?" in They Say, I Say. We have to makes sure the audience understands the purpose of the issue and how this issue will effect them in some way. In this use of audience awareness we will be able to make our point clear and persuasive to the audience. We should also be sure to evaluate both sides of the issue or multiple sides to the issue. In that way the audience is able to see how either side will outcome to. The audience is then given the choice to choose a side. Without this choice the readers are unable to make a fair choice.
    Another important issue in this chapter is the misconception of the personal word "I" within college level essays. Using the personal views and personal beliefs will often strengthen your argument. After all it is personal experience which teaches us what to believe and shapes who we are. With these stories you can bring life into your essay, using personal thought to argue a point and make connections with our daily lives.

    It is FINALLY March!!! I am super STOKED for the BEACH! There's only 29 more days until I go on a road trip with my best friend. We're going to the Mystery Spot. :D

Nickel and Dimed "Evaluation"

    In the last chapter of Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich evaluates her progress and results after her project. She discovers that there is a huge problem in American economics. In her project she was given a free car and higher education, yet she still struggled to live well as a low-waged worker. She found it incredible how low the wage was and how high the rent was. Rent was her biggest factor to overcome as a low-waged worker. The rent was simply too high for the amount of money she received working.
    Ehrenreich delves into the saying "The rich get richer while the poor get poorer." She describes that even though the economy is rising nationally it does not apply to poor people. ONLY the rich get richer because of stocks and what not. This means that they own and buy more land. Poor people are therefore lead to live in more expensive housing. Also housing becomes more expensive as you move into the inner ring of the cities where most low-waged workers work. Therefore in order to live near work they would have to pay high amounts of rent. If they opted to live further outside of work in order for lower rent they would have to pay for transportation. It becomes a lose-lose situation for poor people.

     Ehrenreich also talks about the low wages of these workers and the poor treatment they get from employers. She explains why low waged workers do not revolt and ask for better pay or better treatment. Low waged workers are so dependent on their jobs and live on daily salary. This means that any time not working means no money. And in their lifestyle money must be made at every chance possible. Revolting could result in job loss with will in turn mean that the worker will lose his/her house. They fear the lack of money so deeply that they endure all of the mistreatment and low pay.
    Poverty is evident in American and effects many of the low-waged workers who are in poverty or near it. Many political parties deny the fact or choose not to help it. This results in poor people defending themselves against unfair wages and cruel mistreatment of their employers. Ehrenriech sums up the purpose of the novel in these explanations. She says that the low-waged life is so difficult for even her, a person of high knowledge. How can an average American maintain this life style and live well? Her conclusion is that they can't and they don't. Many of these workers barely live. She acknowledges her realization that hard work doesn't give you success as she sees all of these low waged workers , working as hard as possible just to sink deeper into poverty.
    In my peer response to my first draft I received some helpful feedback on my paper. My paper used good examples but could have had more explaining as the editor was confused on some parts. Also my thesis didn't come out clear enough for the responder. I'll take both of these in consideration when revising for the final draft.

    I'm so READY for March 30th. I'm going to the beach with my best friend. =D It's gonna be a BLAST! But before all that fun... I have more school to go through. Argh! Sunsets at the beach are beautiful.