Writing from the Other Side

Obama has made significant changes in the human rights category as well. He strongly encourages gay rights after he refused anyone interested in the Commander in Chief position that did not support the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. This policy makes it possible for homosexuals to enter the United States army freely without discrimination. Obama is also pro-choice in regards to the ongoing and controversial issue of abortion, believing it is a woman’s choice what she does with her body. Along with that, he also rid former President Bush’s policy on interrogation of suspected terrorists. Obama has also entered the United States in the United Nations Human Rights Council, a council that promotes the strengthening of human rights across the globe. In a report given to the council, Obama has suggested the federal government hire more that are disabled and has also given women the right to sue their employers if they are paid less than their male co-workers under the .  

                With all this said, one can see that Obama has made efforts in the face of human rights. He has certainly attempted to better our society, not only in America, but all throughout the world. Along with this, he also bans those who are part of war crimes and in violations of serious human rights from entering out country in order to protect the American people. To protect others outside of the United States, Obama sent troops to intervene in Libya’s fight for human rights, saying it was a necessary act in order to protect thousands of innocent civilians. His acts for human rights increase the safety and security of people of all races and all nationalities, hopefully making advancements towards a world peace.

                

Culture, Society, and Social Networking

                Both articles reflect on the Internet’s influence on our society and culture of today. The Facebook article asks us to think about how social networking affects the attitudes of those that use it. Does Facebook really make us more egotistical? Does the use of social networking really encourage the “better than anyone” kind of attitude? When you get down to it, Gaynes’s article makes a strong point. They way people present themselves online is completely different from the way they present themselves outside of their internet shield. Only the better looking pictures are kept up, and the basis of popularity is solely on how many friends you have and who is writing on your wall.

                Henig’s article is even more worrisome. Normal, even small acts of misconduct can be spread like wild fire across the internet. Then, all of a sudden, waves of information begin pouring out about the subject and any sense of privacy that person once had is now destroyed, and there is no stopping an mob of nosy internet users.

                I think what both articles are really trying to argue is the fact that the internet is no longer being used in a productive or friendly way. Many hide behind their computer screens firing off a list of insults that would otherwise be silenced in public. Others create a false image of themselves that forces the boosting of their ego. Some conduct that can be found on the internet is disturbing. What people seem to forget is that even though “Dog Poop Lady” refused to clean up after her dog, there have been instances when they themselves were not such perfect people either. Society’s concept of sympathy seems to be lost on the internet, and rather hypocrisy and criticisms play a key role on web pages instead. 

A Letter to Ms. Lamott

Ms. Lamott-

I couldn’t help but relate to all your fears and anxieties about writing. It is definitely a difficult process, and I know that I find it most hard to start typing away when I really have no idea where or how to begin. Much like you, my mind begins to wander after a few minutes of frustration, and once I come back to task and stare at the blank word document, I curse myself for wasting time. Hoping it doesn’t become a habit, I start worrying about how long it’s going to take to write, and if in fact I can write anything interesting at all. More time gets wasted; it’s a hideous cycle.

With that said, I really found your concept of the “shitty first drafts” helpful. I had never thought to just write down what I was thinking, as I am usually so concerned with the formatting and organization of essays. With a bad first draft, however, there is no worry about mistakes and errors. There is only room for improvement, and through editing your writing could be made into one of your best works yet.

I also agreed with your suggestion at having an honest and reliable source read your writing. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is the best thing for your writing, for they see things you, as the writer, do not. This way you can see how your audience may respond and you can tweak something just write to get the reaction you wanted in the first place.

While I also agreed with your idea of the “one-inch picture frame” and writing “bird by bird”, I also think it’s important to have bigger goals in mind so that your writing can work to this point. If every paragraph were written like a short story, you would never get anywhere. Everything would be an over-dramaticized version of itself. Sometimes, things need to be short and to the point so that the real focus is on what matters, not what really doesn’t.

I truly enjoyed your article. It was a pleasure to read and I will certainly put your suggestions to work in future writing assignments.

Thanks,

Lauren Caccamo

The Internet vs. the Human Brain

                Nicholas Carr’s article “Does the Internet Make You Dumber?” makes a very convincing argument through his use of examples and quotes. He does very well to bring up intelligent, important people as well as prestigious universities, like Cornell University. In fact, the very beginning sentence recalls a Roman philosopher and even later quotes a Nobel Prize winner. He also describes experiments done; one testing the multi-tasking abilities of those who use the internet often, the other testing the focus of students web browsing. With statements such as theirs backed up by their obvious intellect and success, it’s easy for any reader to accept their opinions, and in the case of this article, believe that the internet is truly making society dumber.

                Clay Shirky’s article doesn’t seem as convincing. He relates his argument to the past, when new inventions and technologies were also questioned. He refers to Guttenberg and the printing press of 16^th century Europe, but not everybody can relate to that. Shirky also seems to attack the concept of books, implying they’re evil and reading them in “an unnatural act”. However, books are often linked to intelligence and learning, so the idea of them being something “evil” doesn’t seem quite right.

                 The overall argument, I believe, is about distractions, and how humans are to spend their time in the future. Both articles argue about how new technologies and internet affect human’s brains, as well as their daily rituals, culture, etc. With all the distractions we are faced with today, it is a legitimate concern to raise about whether or not we, as a growing generation, will be able to focus on important issues, maintain a decent society, and be able to expand in learning and technologies.

The Ghost of Tom Joad

In the opening of Rage Against the Machine’s version of “The Ghost of Tom Joad”, the music grows louder and louder, and the quick, past-faced guitar makes it sound as if somebody is running away from something. It gets louder and faster until it just fills your head with noises. Suddenly, the music comes in with a strong beat with high energy that is sure to excite any crowd. The repetitive chords make it seem like there is no end for this man’s struggle. Towards the end, however, you get the feeling that the man is not only going to beat everything that’s getting him down, but help others in the fight against evil (“You’ll see me!”). In the context of Tom Joad, he is a character that choses to help his family through the thick and thin of the Depression, and this song certainly expresses his interest in a way that perceives his character as tough, strong, and brave.

                Bruce Springtseen’s version, however, does the exact opposite. Rather than creating a heroic sort of character out of Tom Joad, he becomes more relatable—simply a man trying to get by. The harmonica opening sets the sad, slow tune echoes the sense of the Depression and the impact it clearly has on Joad and his family. The quietness of the music in the background forces the listener to focus on Springsteen’s deep, sincere voice. The song ends just as it begins, a solo with the harmonica. Ending the song this way leaves the listener to wonder how exactly life turns out for the man, and if he ever found strength to help everyone he promised to.

Featuer Article- Interview Questions

For my feature article, I will ask the following questions in my interview:

1.       Walking out onto a field surrounded by 60,000 fans has to be pretty intimidating. What is that experience like? What about your experience, as a band member, do you think is different from that of a football player?

2.       The choreography seems to be pretty important to your band’s routine. How often do you practice? Is it difficult to perfect the West Virginia state shape?

3.       Teamwork must be very crucial, especially when performing in front of such a large audience. Do your routines require a lot of chemistry with y our other band mates? Has there ever been a time or controversy that interfered with the band’s performance?

4.       Over the past 108 years, the band has not only expanded to over 300 members, but has also played in 23 states and been recognized with the Sudler Award. Would you say it’s intimidating to be in an award-winning, nationally exposed marching band? Does it ever get intense?

5.       What has the West Virginia University marching band done to help prepare you for life in the future? What from this experience will you carry over the years?

6.       What is the best part about being in the school’s marching band? Are there any benefits?

7.       What part of the football game is your favorite? What do you think about the Mountaineer fans? Do people in the student section need to get more involved?

8.       Do the marching band and the football team ever convene? Do you get to see what happens a lot “behind the scenes”? Is the marching band at all like an extension of the football team? Is it tough on the band, as well, if a game is lost?

9.       Regarding the band, what are your goals and aspirations for this year? Should we be expecting any new routines?

10.   Is the marching band hard to join? What are the qualifications to becoming a member? Is there a lot of strenuous work and practice to keep up the marching band’s high image?

11.   What about joining the West Virginia University marching band was most appealing to you? Was the band the sole reason for coming to this school?  What is your favorite thing about being a band member?

12.   It is often noted that sports teams bond in a way that makes them like family. Would you say that the marching band has the same sense of family community?

13.   With a band of over 370 members, it must be hard to really stand out. What do you offer to the band?

14.   Who are your biggest competitors? Is there a huge rival of the band?

15.   Between the many upcoming football games, Homecoming, tournaments, and festivals, what do you most look forward to this year?

Feature Article in the Making

For my feature article topic, I will be writing about the West Virginia University marching band.I will be interviewing Margaret Bloom, a member of the marching band. An ideal source of publication for said article would be the Daily Athenaeum to reach students all across campus. Perhaps an even better way to reach students would be the WVU main website, wvu.edu. Not only would it be easy to access to students, but also to a wider range of readers who want to catch up on the latest news, check out what the school is like, etc. 

An article about the university’s marching band would most likely be best written from a third person point of view. I think that the article would be of interest to a lot of people attending West Virginia University, especially the big football game goers. After all, the marching band does their job to rile up the crowd quite well. I think it would be very interesting to see a football game from a marching band member’s perspective, because they’re a little more relatable than the big football players deemed as campus celebrities. Besides, who isn’t completely baffled by the perfected choreography of grouping into the state shape of West Virginia?

A Note from the English Professor

                While your essay meets my requirements of 500 words and stays with the topic though out the essay, you have received a D for the lack of interest and depth your paper so desperately needs. Your arguments are not bad ones, but yet they are the obvious ones. Yes, college football can be for the players. Yes, it is at times too commercial. But are there not any other problems? Writing from a different angle, I think you’ll find, will not only be more enjoyable to write, but much more enjoyable to read. Take, for example, magazine articles. You pick up a magazine and flip instantly to the story you find most interesting, yes? Imagine if every front cover looked the same, though. How many stories do you think you would find interesting, then? The same goes for your student essay. You want to stand out in your paper, especially when every student is writing about the same topic, and most likely using the same obvious arguments that you are.  

                Now, once you find an interesting topic, you must work on your delivery. A topic can only seem so interesting if you make it sound so. Generalities and colorless words can actually harm your attempts at writing a good essay. While you don’t want to use lots of four-lettered or simple words, you also need to be aware of padding. Adding a few extra words to meet the goal length of an essay is understandable, but make sure that the added words add to the quality of your paper.

Lastly, you should be careful about how you voice your opinion. There is a difference between stating your opinion, and working it into your essay. Instead of “in my opinion” or “here is why I agree”, you should present strong support for your opinion and try to persuade the reader that way. People don’t like to be told what to think; they like to think for themselves. 

My Mixtape

“Livin’ Young, and Wild, and Free”
Surviving shenanigans, having fun, being a teenager... enough said

1.     1. “No Sleep”- Wiz Khalifa
“No driving, no sleeping, live it up like it’s the weekend!”

2.     2. “Finally Moving”- Pretty Lights
Blasting this song, windows down and sunroof open, countless times down the beautiful Mt. Vernon parkway.

3.     3. “Right Above It”- Lil Wayne feat. Drake
When this song came out, it was huge! On the way to visit colleges, my friend and I heard this maybe 8 times, and rapped the whole thing to my poor mom every time.

“Boys Are Stupid”
“Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead.”-Adele

1.     1. “Runaway”- Kanye West feat. Pusha-T
With some people that hurt you, it’s just best to get away.

2.     2.  “Dominos”- The Big Pink
The opening line, “these girls fall like dominos”, unfortunately rings too true for me and every other girl I know.

3.     3.  “You’re Not Sorry”- Taylor Swift
It’s easy to say one thing, and another thing to show it. Actions definitely speak louder than words, and that's something always good to keep in mind.

“Life is a Hard Question to Answer”
Nobody knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, but the least we can do is live today without any worry.

1.     1.    “Float On”- Modest Mouse
Bad luck seems to follow me around, but this song reminds me that no matter what embarrassing thing comes my way, I’ll live.

2.     2. “Good Riddance”- Green Day
Life is unpredictable, but you should always strive to “have the time of your life”.

3.     3.  “Pursuit of Happiness”- Kid Cudi
“I’m on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shines ain’t always gonna be gold. I’ll be fine once I get it. I’ll be good.”

“Jams With Padre”
Visiting my dad often involves long road trips, and there’s never a shortage of classic rock the entire trip.

1.    1. “The Rising”- Bruce Springsteen
When my sister and I first visited my dad in Korea, this album has just come out. We heard it, from start to beginning, maybe twice a day (we were there for a month).

2.    2.“I Will”- The Beatles
I don’t think I’ve ever met a man more comfortable with his singing in my life. This song was sung by Christmas teddy bears in the middle of a department store, and my dad was right there singing with them.

3.   3. “Waiting in the Weeds”- The Eagles
My dad once told me that this song reminded him of the custody battle that he lost. This song, for that reason, always motivates me to keep in touch with him and involve him as much as possible.

Tom's Struggle

            I think the most powerful and effective use of genre in Tom Siedlecki’s student essay is his personal letter written to his parents. Though his parents never saw the letter, it gave us extreme insight not only into Tom’s personal feelings toward his homosexuality, but also into the relationship he strived to have with his parents. The letter, I feel, does more for the story than the journal entry. While writing in his journal provides us personal insight into his situation as well, the letter does more for the story by creating a tone that any person could relate to. Making our parents proud is something we all strive to do. “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.” That’s always the worst thing that could come out of my mom’s mouth.

But the letter also reflects his struggle, and a desire to be understood. Sometimes addressing your thoughts and intentions in letter form is an easier and surer way of being heard, rather than a heated argument where you’re put on the spot. And you can certainly tell that Tom put a lot of thought and effort into his letter with the intention to be heard, understood, and accepted.

However, I feel Tom’s telling of his “coming out” lacked the intensity the beginning of the story had. A genre that may have been helpful was showing a conversation between Tom and his friends. We are simply told that they reacted well and were for the most part unsurprised, but showing an actual conversation between Tom and a close friend may have lead to answers of questions left untouched. How exactly did his “coming out” come about? What did he say? Did he confide in anyone about his feelings towards his parents? Was anyone not accepting of his homosexuality? When looking at the relationships between people, just like in the letter to Tom’s parents, it helps make a stronger connection and better understanding for the situation as a whole.