Presentations

I thought presentations went very well. I thought everyone did a great job of explaining their revision strategies. However, outside the class room as far as my group was concerned, we did not really work very well together. We didn't meet to work on our presentation at all. Everyone was just left out to dry because no one in my group really had any time to meet because of classes. I do think we came together pretty well as a group to give people a good understanding of our revision strategies. I took it upon myself to get a good understanding of every single strategy I was assigned so I could help the rest of the group out if they did not understand which was going on. I think in some cases it really paid off. I learned from these presentations that you have to do your part and do not rely on the rest of your group members, so be PREPARED!!

Peer Review Over My Proposal Paper

I found the peer review on my proposal paper to be very uplifting. I had thought I wrote my most horrible paper ever. I could not believe my ears when Isabel said that my paper was very interesting and that it flowed really nicely. I know proposal review is supposed to give you ideas on what you can work on, but to me this really brightened my spirits and gave me hope that maybe my paper is not as bad as what I think it is. I would just like someone a little bit older with more experience to look over my paper though and tell me what they think about it. Today I learned that peer review is not just a way to get ideas about your paper but a tool that can also brighten your day.

Proposal Essay Working Thesis (Needs a lot of work)

The continual use of scientific animal research as well as animal characteristics would allow people to live healthier, more comfortable, longer lives, and would prove why it should not be eliminated.An area of animal research showing great promise is that of genetic engineering.  One part of genetic engineering that will be able make a difference involves transforming animals into carriers of human organs for human transplants.Scientists can use characteristics like intelligence, stress, tolerance of pain, and the way we live our lives as possible things that could distinguish the way humans look at life to the way humans treat animals. Researchers are using animal testing to find a way to use less animals and eventually go to non-animal experiments some time in the future.

My Reaction to Katha Pollitt

I can't believe someone in this country believes that the flag stands for "jingoism,vengeance, and war." Maybe it is just the fact that I believe the flag stands for something completely different. I believe the flag represents what it means to be free and it makes me remember all of the people who have died defending this country. So to read what Kath Pollitt told her daughter that the living room was off limits to fly the flag, I was actually really appauled. Also I think it was just the timing in which she used the terms. I mean this was just a few days after nine-eleven where many of innocent people lost their lives. I totally disagree to say that the flag represents "jingoism,vengeance, and war." I mean I get where some might think that but for me, maybe it is because I live here and I have seen some of the other countries. I believe America is the best country in the world. I think America is truly the land of opportunity. However, I do understand everyone has there opinions and her judgement of the flag does not make her right and it does not make her wrong. That is something we are all entitled to.

MyCompLab

After doing the mycomplab excercise I realized that slang has begun a part of my everyday life. I noticed that I could not tell the difference between what was slang and what wasn't. I picked up on it after a while but now I understand how much I have become one of the people that use slang. It is actually kind of funny because I don't think I use that kind of language. So when I got wrong something to do with "the guys" I was honestly shocked that it was wrong. I find it extremely fascinating in a weird way. It is funny how slang kind of has taken over my life and now I don't even recognize it. I just wish I would have done better on the excercise but it is not always what you get right but what you take from the excercise. I now have a better understanding of what slang looks like

What Do I Hope To Accomplish?

I hope to overcome my shyness in class. I hate my shyness because it makes me clam up in class. When really I speak my own mind and I have my own opinions, but since I am shy I am scared to say something. I really don't know how to overcome this feat because I don't even know what the first step is. I am really great with hanging out with friends and everything. I don't really understand why I can't do the same in class. I mean I am not scared of any body in my class they all seem like good people, but I also see that they are as quiet as me in the class room. I think that sometimes my pride gets in the way and that I am afraid of being wrong, which would explain why I am shy. So I think I need to stop being tense and learn how to relax during class and have free discussion. I mean if i firmly believe in anything being shy shouldn't have any effect on why I can't say things in class unless I am scared. Honestly I think I am just scared. To overcome this I I need to relax and forget my pride. So what if I am wrong. Some things don't even have a write or wrong answer it is just an opinion. If I am wrong so what. Maybe I could learn from my mistakes. Isn't that what going to school and life is all about? Learning from your mistakes. I think I will try to be more active in class. I hope that I could just conquer this fear one time because once I get over it the first time the easier it is going to be. This is not something I just blogged about because Lindsey was upset that we were all quiet in class. I am writing about this because this is a fear I have wanted to defeat my whole life. Instead, I just live with it and not do anything about it.

Grammar Diagnostic

 I discovered I am really bad at grammar today. The diagnostic did show me however, that I am actually decent at placing commas. I always thought this was my weakest link as far writing and grammar goes. I found out I have a problem with run-on sentences. I hope I can correct or improve this aspect of my writing. I was just really shocked that things I thought I was really good at, I actually suck at.

English Reading and Reaction to "University of Life"

     Reading "University of Life" made me open my eyes and see things from a different perspective just as Hillary Clinton did. I mean I am not one to get into politics mainly because I do not pay that close attention to them, and I am neutral as far as political parties are concerned. "University of Life" made me see that other perspectives can lead to some pretty interesting things and that my view is not the only view out there. I mean just like Hillary Clinton was all bummed that she had to be President Johnson in her mock election instead of being Goldwater. Even Hillary herself did not know she would switch parties at that time until after the experience. So I guess this selection really showed me that I should not be afraid or scared to look at something from a different perspective even if I do not like it.

English Reading

After reading "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" I realized how war can really tear people from their families. Like when Mr. Pirzada would always watch the news to see what was happening in his homeland and never knowing what was happening to his family. I would find this extremely difficult because during hardship I am one who would be there in a blink of an eye for my family. I mean coming to college at times feels like the most awful thing that has happened to me as far as being away from family. So I cannot imagine what was going through Mr. Pirzada's mind or what he was feeling. "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" it made me realize that family is not a given and that I shouldn't take my family for granite because war and other terrible things could tear you apart. It made me really happy to see the Mr.Pirzada was reunited with his family. I wish the same could be said for all families who have family members or relatives in the military.