During my high school years, i interacted a lot with my teachers, especially my government teacher during senior year. He had his special way of giving extra credit by making his students bring in tissue boxes. Each box would be worth 5 points and each quarter a maximum we can have is 5 boxes which are equivalent to 25 points. He was a most amazing and hilarious teacher ever. But his tests were really hard so i usually did not ace them all. I would found myself at the end of every quarter buying much tissue boxes. One time, 25 points was not enough to get me the grade that i wanted. I asked him if i can bring 6 boxes instead and amazing he agreed to it. I was so relieved and the only i can remember him saying was "that was my first time and would be my last time". He was such a genuine guy and a very passionate teacher. I loved him and his class very much.

Week 9

Almost every week I would be called down to the office and I would always think what this time. I knew i had done something wrong but what could it be since i just got called down the week before. Once i got down there it was a cop that i personally knew and he gave me the best gift I could ever get, a PBA card. He said, "Now don't go driving like an idiot but this will help when you do get pulled over." He was a great guy and would do anything for me when i needed him to. He got me out of so many tickets for my tint on my car it was crazy. I felt really comfortable talking to him because he was like one of my friends always talking to me and making jokes that most cops wouldn't even give you the time of day. He changed my views on cops and how they really are compared to what people say. He was a very compasionate person that cared a lot about me and if it wasn't for this idk if I would have a license haha.

Blog 9

In high school, I had to go talk to my Science teacher about my project. I was scared I had done something wrong but she wound up asking if she could use it as an example for its creativity. "I selected a few projects to share with the class and one was yours. All you need to do is present it." In exchange, she gave me an extra five points on the project. She was a very intimidating teacher, hence why I was super nervous. However, she approached the conversation very casually and I had no worries. I feel that talking to teachers about corrections on a paper or a test is harder though (criticism can be a little tough coming from teachers). But then again they point out things that you would not have known or seen if they did not call you out on it. 

Week 9

In high school, I rarely disscussed issues with teachers. They were very frightening to me, and i just wanted them to like me. So when I did go to a teacher, I was very polite and courteous. I tried just to be there long enough to ask my question, and get out of there as quick as I could. I find teachers to be scary, unless I have known them for many years.

Week 9 Blog Prompt

This past week we've been discussing the difference between summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting, and when it's appropriate/beneficial to do each in your writing. Next week, classes will be canceled so that each of you can meet with me for a half hour to discuss your progress in the course. You might be asking yourself how I'm going to work both of these themes into one blog response ... here you go:

This week, please post an analysis/reflection of one time when you were required to interact one on one with a professor/instructor/teacher. I want you to give a little thought to your past interactions with instructors because for some of you this might be the first office hours you've attended as a college undergraduate (for some it might also be your last, if no other professor requires it!) It can seem really intimidating, depending on your individual personality and comfort level with talking to a professor one on one.

Please post a one sentence summary of an experience/experiences you've had meeting with a professor (for example, "in high school, every time I was required to speak to the teacher it was because I had done something wrong" or "once my professor asked me to come in to discuss my term paper, which he liked so much he wanted to use as an example for his students.") This is a summary, so it should be a very succinct account of what happened. Next, paraphrase or quote one thing that the teacher said to you (for example, "Mr. Miller said that my attendance was really dragging down my average.") Finally, reflect on what you can say in general about your experiences meeting with teachers. Are they intimidating? Human? Compassionate? Demanding? Punitive? You can be honest!

i think i'm late again

knowing me im the guy in the group thats like i want to go home.i have a tendency in a group to try to rush things and get things done but i guess im also an info seeker too. if i dont know what to look for, i feel lost within my group so i guess i just take that responsibility upon myself. when it comes to maintaining group harmony and what not, i'm definetly a compromiser. i try to create ideas that work for everyone. like i said i have a tendency to try and rush things so the faster a compromise is reached, the easier the works going to be

Week 8

I consider myself an opinion giver and an elaborate. Being an opinion giver can sometimes be a hindrance in a group because you really aren't adding anything to the discussion sometimes you are just saying something to make your self feel better about not really having any input on the subject. Where as being an elaborate is helpful because you either agree or disagree with something and then you say why or why not and add to the topic so you do have input on the subject.

Week 8

I consider myself an initiator and elaborator. When the group first gets together, I try to start the conversation. I also try to get peoples opinions to get the group communicating. Then I normally try to fall back and let someone else take control. But if I see that no one will do that then I just continue to "control" the group setting. This is beneficial for the group bc at least I know we will get somewhere. But it could also be bad bc if someone who is like a dictator comes in, it's hard to get the group back in order.

Week 8

I am an initiator, an opinion givers, an elaborator, (something they didn't have on there) an organizer, and a comprimiser. Usually I take immediate leadership in breaking the ice of the group. I find that is the hardest part of group discussion. The original breaking of the ice. So typically I will go ahead and initiate the discussion and get people thinking, even try and throw a joke in. From there I throw in alot of opinions, sometimes to much and get a little dogmatic over the situation. Then on someones opinion I will elaborate on the idea if possible. I believe an organizer is also important. "Okay now we have all this info" lets put it together. Or, okay now lets go back over and organize all that has been said to something understandable. So I guess you could say I am a clarifier. Worst part is I am very opinionated. Sometimes a distraction as well. As I have matured though these problems seem to go away.

Week 8

The role that I tend to take on in groups is that of the elaborator. I think that this is mostly because I'm not usually one to speak up, my personality tends to be more that of an observer, and I chime in when I feel that I could add to the discussion. I think that this can be positive to the group because sometimes what one person suggested or said wasn't clear, and it's good to have somebody else elaborate on that as it can make the idea or suggestion more clear.

Blog Prompt Week 8

Between now and Friday, you're all reading chapter 15 in Bruce Ballenger's The Curious Writer in anticipation of our first Peer Review day. In addition to this, we discussed some of the gripes/complaints that we have about the process of peer review.

Now I'd like you to turn this critical eye inward and ask yourself what kind of a group member you have been in the past, or have a tendency to be. On page 645 of your textbook, in a blue box, you'll see a list of group roles that Ballenger has come up with. Come up with a label for yourself ... what kind of group member are you? Give examples, explain what about your personality/preparation/etc. causes you to assume this role. Finally, explain how this could either help or hinder the effectiveness of your group. You may choose one of Ballenger's labels if you like, but do not feel that you have to. Be creative! Be honest! Feel free to invent your own unique label (either positive or negative).

Research Topic

I am doing my research paper on the legal issues of subliminal messages. Are subliminal messages wrong? Do they really change people's opinions?

Research Topic

I was planning on doing my research paper on whether or not sex and violence on television or in the movies should be restricted.

workshop post

i want to write my paper on the origins of bboying and maybe find some way to compare how it was originally to how it is now.

Topic Blog Post

My topic is about how technology now has made our generation lazy. Specifically remote controls, moving runways in airports, and how the internet has prevented us from researching in the library.

Research Topic

My research topic is the use of medicinal marijuana. I want to find out what the current laws are and what it is allowed to be used for now. I also just want to find out if it helps relieve symptoms of cancer or other diseases. I want to also focus on the ethical aspect of this.

Should marijuana be used for medicinal purposes? Where is the line drawn? Ethical implications?

Workshop Post

My research topic is Billie Holiday. I basically just plan on talking about her life and the hardships she went through.

Nuclear Weapon Use

I want to use nuclear power as my topic. Specifically towards the justification of the use agianst Japan. I also want to discuss its use now.

Workshop Post

I was going to research George Mason.
I wanted to know his significance in America's history.
I want to know what he did that made him worthy enough of having a University named after him.

My topic will be the benefits of immigration in the united states. I really am interested in some of the posotives of this because everyone thinks its terrible that we have people immigrating to the us. I will be using the many resources we have and the only problem might be finding a lot or sources on the topic.

So my research topic is tattooing. I think my thesis is goin to be why tattoing is socially unacceptable. i dont think i will have any problems with this since i have tattoos and know a liltttle bit about them already.

Workshop Blog

My topic of choice for the research essay is bridge construction and maintenance. More specifically, I will be focusing on new possible policies, concerning bridge design, that could be implemented in an effort to reduce the need for repairs, and therefore reduce the cost of bridge maintenance.

Research paper

the hardest part of a research paper for me is just making sure that I site everything correctly and paraphrase without taking too much from the article. The easiest part for me is once I have all the facts from my sources written down is just reflecting my own opinion in the paper, its just like talking about it except writing it down

The hardest part of the research process for me is to narrow all my searches down and focus into one topic that I am choosing. After that it’s really difficult for me to put them into order, in deciding which information I should present first and etc… Then after a while, after I could write everything that I could possibly think of, when I run out of ideas of what to talk about! I am stuck, that was the worst part of writing a paper is sitting there thinking what else we can BS to to make the paper meet the requirement lengths.

The easiest part of the research process I think is finding where to search about the topic, when I have decided on which topic I choose, I think it would be very easy to find search results. The next thing that I enjoy the most is citing the sources, yes it can be very confusing sometimes but it is not as hard or require much of thinking. I think of it this way, whenever I am citing that means I am done with paper!! That’s a satisfying thought yea?

Week 6

The hardest part of the writing process for me is getting started. I procrastinate a lot when it comes to writing. This is not always bad though because I generally write well under pressure. I also hate citing sources. No matter how many times I use MLA or APA or whatever the style may be I still get confused and find it bothersome to have to include a bibliography. I also find it difficult to write about things I am not interested in or do not care about.

The asiest part for me is actuallly doing the writing. I love to write, especially about things that are controversial or that I have a strong opinion about. I like to do research and see what other people think about issues or what other people's opinions are. I am looking forward to doing this research project. I am just having a hard time deciding what topic to actually write about.

Week 6 Blog Prompt

The hardest part for writing a research paper definitely deals with citing and referencing. I am fairly familiar with APA style and MLA citing, but having to integrate the sources withing the paper is something that I need a little more practice. Another challenge that I frequently face when writing is actually getting started. My biggest obstacle is writing the opening paragraph. Also my biggest fear relating to the citing is making sure that I site sources correctly and not accidentally plagarizing.

The easiest part for writing a research paper is writing once the first paragraph is complete. I feel a lot more comfortable writing after my introduction is finished because it lets me write without feeling pressure because I know exactly what I am going to write about. It is necessary to outline and brainstorm my ideas before I begin writing, but when I mess around and begin to free write about the topic it helps bring up new ideas. Which in the end gives me some insight on what I want to write about.

week 6 blog

The hardest part of the research process for me is getting started i always have the hardest time deciding what topic to write on. This step can sometimes take me a couple of hours to a couple of days depending on how quickly i can decide on a topic. So the start of the research process is always the hardest.
The part i like the most about the research process is once you have all your info how the paper pretty much writes itself. Everything flows nicely all you have to do i make sure you put the information goes in the right spot and your thought run smoothly to form a well drawn out paper.

Roses

The most difficult part of this research project has so far been deciding which project I will do. I finally have decided roses. Now my issue is how will I discuss roses. There has to be some sort of point.

The easiest part of the research paper will be finding infromation on my subject. I will particularly enjoy learning the history of roses and their important in romance.

week 6

the hardest part for me is just meeting the requirements of the paper. i always end up writing one on a topic i dont like or one thats kind of limited so i'll end up just BSing the whole paper. i mean really how can you make a 6-7 page paper on how on movies are making kids obese.also another thing for me is thinking up a good thesis.it takes me forever to think of a good one but after that it gets alot easier.

the easiest part for me is finding a topic when i get the chance to do something i want. every research paper in high school was based off of some list of topics and i just had to pick one. so its alot easier to stay focus and find information when its a topic i wanted to do.

Week 6

The hardest part of the research process for me is deciding which lucky sources get to be included in the end product, my paper. I never have trouble finding sources and information, but the problem is that I sometimes get too much.

The easiest part of the research process for me is putting everything together. After I've decided what sources and information to use, its a piece of cake.

Week Six

The hardest part of the research process for me would have to be researching information for my topic. It's always easy to find sources for any topic. But my challenge comes when it's time to decide which source to use. I also find it hard on which information I am going to include in my paper and how much of one source will I use. Citing the source is also difficult b/c there are so many different ways of citing. Depending on the type of source you cite some things one way and other things another way.
The easiest part of the research process is putting my paper in order. I usually figure out the order of my paper before I began writing. This helps me stay organized and on topic. Just plain writing the paper is the easiest part for me as well. I really dont like the whole research process, I rather just start writing.

Week Six Blog Prompt

Beginning next week, we're going to be starting research projects that will last for the rest of the semester. In preparation for this, please write two paragraphs. The first paragraph should begin, "The hardest part of the research process for me is _________________" and the second should begin, "The easiest part of the research process (or the part I enjoy most) is _________________."
In these paragraphs you can discuss: finding academic sources, evaluating those sources, refining a thesis, finding relevant quotes, citing quotes properly, integrating other people's quotes into your own argument, organizing all the information you find, or any other part of the writing process you'd like.