I just finished by chapter mind maps and summaries for the next week. Now I can focus all my attention on my humanties essay. I think I will write about the Toby Keith song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!" That song really touches my heart and gives me goose bumps when I listen to it.
On a personal note, before I can focus 100% on writing this essay... I have to move this weekend. I am hoping to do it quick and get completely unpacked all this weekend so I don't have to worry about it anymore. This whole full-time student, packing and moving stress has been killing me!! I cannot wait until this weekend is over and we are all settled in our new place. Then I can just go back to being a full-time student and focus my attention back on my studies!
Wish me luck! Tons to do in a little bit of time! I'm sure I can get it done.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Chatper 25: Taking Essay Tests Summary
Chapter 25: Taking Essay Tests Summary
I actually really found this chapter quite helpful for myself. This chapter talks all about how to take tests. You should do daily reviews after or before every class and weekly study sessions as well. The most important part of studying is repetition! The more you repeat, the more you will remember. Daily reviews help you to move information from your short-term memory to long-term memory. Your weekly study sessions really help to get you to remember new information for the long term as well. Some study tools you can use are mind maps, flash cards, review questions, explain or teach the subject to someone, create mnemonics and/or organize a study group. If you plan to study with a group, start off by setting up one study session first. See how that goes, then you can set up a second sessions. You want to be sure you mesh well with who you are studying with. In your group, you want to discuss your goals and make sure to stay on tract. You want to make sure to discuss any issues that may arise in your study group and exchange you contact information.
When taking an essay test, you want to be sure to evaluate, synthesize, predict, analyze and write a worth-while answer. There are many different approaches that can be taken. For example, analyze, classify, compare and contrast, define, explain, justify, prove, review, state, and trace, to name a few. You want to be sure to reread the question several times, rephrase the question into a topic sentence or thesis statement for your answer, outline the main points you plan to cover in your answer and then you can write your essay. For taking true/ false, matching or multiple choice tests, you want to be sure to read all the questions and answers completely before answering. I’d say that is the most important thing to remember. You need to take you time and pay attention to all the words in the question that is being asking. If you have anxiety before tests, there are many tips that can help you. You can make sure to study smart, review with others, prepare mentally and physically, get some exercise, take a shower, get to class early, relax, glance through the entire test, begin with questions you know the answer to and most importantly – don’t panic!!!! I think this chapter is extremely helpful because who doesn’t have a hard time at some point with test taking?! I think everyone has their moments when tests are extremely hard, overwhelming and when you have moments of anxiety. Everyone can get something out of reading this chapter.
Chapter 27: Writing and Designing for the Web Summary
Chapter 27: Writing and Designing for the Web Summary
This chapter walks you through how to write and design a website. You need look at the following seven web page elements – a heading, body text, preformatted text, lists, images, background color and tables. You need to look at each element and figure out what is best for your site. You need to remember that simple is best different computers display things differently and the user is king or queen. The user needs to be able to change how your site is displayed on their screen. You also need to understand some functions you can have on your page. You need to know about and understand hyperlinks, menus and forms. I believe every website should always have a menu – a table of contents in other words. That way the user can easily navigate throughout your site. Hyperlinks and forms may or may not apply to your site. You would need to make that decision as you build your site. In order to get started in creating a web site, you need to think about the purpose of your website, the site’s audience be and the site’s central topic. When establishing you site’s central message, you should write out the main idea or the “mission statement.” As your site develops, you need to keep this mission statement in mind, sticking to it and/or add secondary goals for your site. After you have your mission statement, you need to realize that no one will read your entire site, your site may have many small audiences, websites are not linear and you may need to build your site in phases. You can have a single home page and then pages that branch out from it. You can study similar sites to get some ideas, look at organization, what the voice of the site(s) are, what words are being used, is it understandable, what are the sentences used, are they correct, and look at the design. You then can gather and prioritize your content, gather all your supporting materials and then design and develop individual pages. Make sure when drafting your site you identify the site, provide clear links, introduce and title each page, keep all your pages uncluttered, and save your webpage as HTML. You need to get feedback on your website just like you do when you write an essay. You can check over your site yourself, get peer review, and check all the text and graphics, provide a feedback link, post the site to the web, check for universality, announce your site, monitor your site and then make adjustments and updates as needed. Building a website seems a lot like writing an essay; it is just a bigger project. There is a lot of the same guidelines you have to follow for both a website and essay. You need to gather and organize you thoughts, write or deliver them in a clear and complete way, keep in mind who your audience is, get peer review and then post and share your work.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Journal Entry
I have been thinking since last week's class about what I want to write about in my Humanities topic essay. I am really stumped as to what I want my topic to be. The essay is due in a couple weeks.... so I have some time. I will really have to start thinking about topics that mean something to me. We'll see what I come up with.
Chapter 21 - Observation Report Summary
Chapter 21: Observation Report Summary
This chapter is all about observation – how to observe, where to observe, what to see how to see it, and how to portray it. I love how the first sentence in this chapter states that “observant people are insightful people.” I have never looked at it like that, but it is so true. When you are writing an observation report, you want to be sure to share your observations by appealing to all the senses. When choosing an observation site, you have many choices. You can choose a natural site, such as a state park or zoo. You can choose a site full of people such as a sports arena or market. You can choose an unfamiliar site like a different neighborhood or an ethnic spot. You can choose a serene spot like a quiet park or an empty building. You can choose a coursework-related site too. If you are taking a course in early childhood education, you can choose to visit a day care center. Or you can choose a border site, such as the lines between city and suburb or land and water.
After you select your site, you want to be sure you consider your purpose and think of your readers. You need to be sure you are prepared to observe by understanding your goal and what you have to look for, by doing background research, and by requesting permission is necessary to observe. You also need to make sure your timing is right, that you have enough time and that you make multiple visits if necessary. You need to have all equipment or supplies needed with you and have proper transportation and clothing. As you sit and observe you need to make sure you pay close attention to what you see, hear, smell, and what you feel and taste. You can also explore your sixth sense – thoughts, feelings and associations. If you need to, take photos, record sounds and collect samples.
Next of course, you organize your thoughts, making sure to have enough details and you need to develop a theme. When writing your observation report, it should explode with vivid detail and your title should hint to your theme. And as always, with any report or essay, you need to get feedback, revise your draft, edit and proofread it, and then share your final essay.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Chapter 24 - Writing About Literature and the Arts Summary
Summary of Chapter 24: Writing About Literature and the Arts
This chapter talks about how you can write or review poems, short stories, plays, films, concerts, music and many more forms of literature and the arts. The chapter also gives four different examples given on how to analyze and write about different forms of literature and art. There is one example on a literary analysis, one of writing about a poem, writing about a performance, and one on writing about a film. One great point made in this chapter is that it is wise to experience the work at least two or three times if possible. I think this is so important because when dealing with literature and the arts, there can be so many meanings and so many things you can miss. It is truly best to view or listen at least a few times to whatever you are trying to write about. I also really liked how this chapter advised you to form your own opinions and insights before reading what someone else has to say about it. If you read others’ opinions first, it very well might sway your opinion. It is best when dealing with the arts to start with a clean slate of your thoughts. Go into the experience of reading some literature and/ or experiencing some form of art with an open mind. The guidelines for writing an essay about literature and the arts have almost the same steps as does any other essay. I’d say one of the most important things when writing about literature and the arts is to understand the work. You need to examine the plot, setting, characters, diction, theme, lyrics, lighting, symbolism, irony, figures of speech and so on. You really need to dig deep into the work and really analyze every aspect of it. You need to gather all the information, organize it, and write a first draft with am opening, middle and conclusion. Then you need to review and revise your work making sure you understand the work you are analyzing. You should then always get feedback, edit and proofread your essay, making it clear and complete, and then your essay will be ready to publish.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
BioPoem About Gail
Gail
Friendly, protective, caring and supportive
Who is a grandmother, which is her most important relationship ~ one she never wants broken
Who loves making things for her husband and others
Who has experienced the joys of giving birth, the joy of watching her grandchildren being born, and the wonderful joys of getting married
Who fears what can come along with love, fears losing life, and fears loosing a loved one
Who has accomplished the task of raising three children by herself, who went back and finished high school, and who has changed her life style for the better
Who wanted to get married and have a large family dinner at her home and who wants to experience the of riding in a Rolls Royce
Who lives at 3170 High Street Oakland, CA
Trumbo-Martin
Friendly, protective, caring and supportive
Who is a grandmother, which is her most important relationship ~ one she never wants broken
Who loves making things for her husband and others
Who has experienced the joys of giving birth, the joy of watching her grandchildren being born, and the wonderful joys of getting married
Who fears what can come along with love, fears losing life, and fears loosing a loved one
Who has accomplished the task of raising three children by herself, who went back and finished high school, and who has changed her life style for the better
Who wanted to get married and have a large family dinner at her home and who wants to experience the of riding in a Rolls Royce
Who lives at 3170 High Street Oakland, CA
Trumbo-Martin
Friday, September 3, 2010
Journal Entry
O - Peace Sign
E - Male and Female symbols (equal rights for both)
X - Star of David; Judism
I - Pagan/ Wiccan symbol; Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Human Spirit all connected by a circle
S - Chinese symbol "Yin and Yang"; Yin = darkness and womanhood, Yang = masculinity ~ Everyone has both good and darkness in them
T - Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
In writing the BioPoem about myself, it got me thinking about the "Coexist" bumper sticker that I like so much. I just love the meaning behind this sticker which is:
"People, no matter who they are, or where they are from, or what they believe, can find a way to live together in peace and harmony!"
I love that this sticker represents peace between all people no matter what they believe in, who they are, or where they are from, just as the statement above states. I think even if you do not believe in or agree with what one or some of these symbols stand for, all people should still be able to live in this world together peacefully.
BioPoem about Me
Carrie
Loving, mature, trustworthy, sensitive, modest
Wife of Eric Casey, God-Mother of Carlo Lopiccolo
Who loves the idea of people accepting each other and not passing judgment, loves animals passionately, and I love the idea behind the “coexist” bumper sticker
Who feels love for my husband, dogs, family, friends and God, sadness when thinking of those I have lost, and anger when seeing others being close-minded and non-accepting
Who fears speaking in front of others, fears the death of those I love, and fears the type of world my children will grow up in
Who has been on the Dean’s List every semester since first attending Lincoln University
Who wants to experience being a parent, who wants to travel the world, who wants to get an amazing job after graduation
Living in Livermore, California
Casey
Loving, mature, trustworthy, sensitive, modest
Wife of Eric Casey, God-Mother of Carlo Lopiccolo
Who loves the idea of people accepting each other and not passing judgment, loves animals passionately, and I love the idea behind the “coexist” bumper sticker
Who feels love for my husband, dogs, family, friends and God, sadness when thinking of those I have lost, and anger when seeing others being close-minded and non-accepting
Who fears speaking in front of others, fears the death of those I love, and fears the type of world my children will grow up in
Who has been on the Dean’s List every semester since first attending Lincoln University
Who wants to experience being a parent, who wants to travel the world, who wants to get an amazing job after graduation
Living in Livermore, California
Casey
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