My Paper 3

The Evolution Of Writing

     For class, we had to make a Prezi for a chapter from David Bolters book: Writing Space. For my Prezi, my group did Chapter Four: The Breakout of the Visual. I found this chapter to be interesting because it tracked the history of visual writing from caves walls to the Internet. It also analyzed how writing on the Internet contains more images than in books.

     I particularly enjoyed the part of Chapter Four that was about visual metaphors. A visual metaphor is the representation of a noun by using a visual image that suggests an association of similarity. I found it interesting how makers of the advertisement felt that they needed to use razors as the bars in the bar graph. It seemed as though they did not think the audience would trust that the advertisement was about shaving, if the razors were not involved. It makes me think that people feel they need to use images to earn the trust of others. It is as though they feel that pure mathematical fact is not enough.

     By briefly viewing the history of writing, it seems as though it is leaning towards its original form. Many years ago people communicated by carving pictures into cave walls. Since they had not yet invented actual text, images were the only way to communicate and tell stories. As text became more prevalent, images took the backseat. Novels began to be printed, containing little or no images. When the television and computer were invented, images started to become much more prevalent than they had been. Today, most advertisements contain barely any text, and most computer pages have just as many images as text.

     The computer started out mostly using text on an electronic screen. As it evolved, picture writing became more prevalent. As mentioned by Bolter, “The words seem to be trying to transform the world of the picture into a writing space, while at the same time the picture invites the viewer to consider the words as images or abstract shapes rather than signs” (63). The desktop background contains icons, which are images representing what you will get if you click on them. For example, on the Macbook Pro, if you want to check your e-mail you click on the postage stamp icon. Associating images with computer programs makes it easier to get to different programs.

     Not only is the computer evolving to include more images, but the newspaper too. According to Bolter, “In graphic form and function, the newspaper is coming to resemble a computer screen, as the combination of text, images, and icons turns the newspaper page into a static snapshot of the World Wide Web page” (51). The newspaper, similar to articles on the web, has a large picture on the front to attract people to read the text. Like the razor bar graph, the newspaper displays an image to capture the interest and trust of its readers. The web also copies the newspaper by using black text on a white background.

     Another interesting concept mentioned in Chapter Four of Writing Space is being able to click on images, which will re-direct you to a new page with either more images or text. This is referred to as a hyperlink. If someone is reading or viewing one topic, they can usually connect to different ideas dealing with that topic. This concept can be exceptionally confusing, because clicking on these links can lead to ideas that are similar or not similar.

     Another way in which writing has evolved is the utensils we use and the printing machines. In class, we did an assignment that we had to read a poem and write our response in crayon on a huge piece of paper. Most students, including myself, found this to be hard. On my blog I wrote about how I was excited to do this project, but once I actually started writing with the crayon I became frustrated. I had to write my ideas in pencil on a separate piece of paper before I used the crayon. I knew that once I wrote with the crayon, I could not go back and edit my work.

     Being used to the uniform look of a printed page is another evolution that not only defines writing, but our culture. Now that people are used to typed pages of texts, some feel as though they are strictly limited to writing perfectly. This was especially prevalent in the crayon project. For example, Rita wrote on her blog that she put lines under her writing and used margins to make sure that it was neat. I remember seeing her project and commenting on how perfectly straight and uniform it was.

     Although the actual writing was challenging, it was fun to choose colors and draw on the sides of the paper. Using a crayon gave more room to show personality and artistic vision. Some students’ projects were uniform, using only one color and containing clear margins. Other projects used different colors and had drawings on the outside. Although there were no rules stating how the project had to look, some students felt as though they still needed to make their project appear similar to a printed page.

     In class, we talked about regular books versus electronic books. Electronic books are also important in the evolution of writing, because they seem to be rapidly gaining popularity. The first electronic book I had heard of was the Kindle. On the Kindle you can download “e-books” which are electronic versions of almost any book you can think of. Instead of buying the actual hard copy of the book, you download it onto your kindle and read it. There is a stylus, which is used to highlight or underline text just as you would with a regular book. Some people are in favor of this evolution while others are not. Personally, I like having an actual book to hold, because I am in control of it. With any kind of technology, something can always go wrong. I have so much technology in my life like the iPhone 4, Macbook Pro, and iTouch. I love being able to hold a book and read it without the unwanted frustration of a frozen screen or Internet issues.

     A popular form of digital text that is increasingly gaining popularity is texting. Like the uniform-look of the printed page, texting says a lot about our culture. Escaping the usual phone call, the majority of people use texting. Texting is great when something needs to be said quickly, but not for a serious conversation. It is easy to misunderstand what someone is trying to tell you if you cannot hear his or her emotions. I have had many arguments develop because of texts and even had arguments over texting. Americans especially are always on the go and have trouble making phone calls while dealing with everything else they are doing, so they send texts.

     Obviously, the evolution of writing is affecting our culture both positively and negatively. Although writing, reading, and researching can get done more efficiently, it may be hindering the whole experience of physically reading a book or hand writing a paper. Because of the ways text is presented to us, are we feeling that we need to strictly make it more uniform?

Works Cited

Bolter, J. David. Writing Space: Computers, Hypertext, and the Remediation of Print. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Print

McCann, Rita. http://mccannblogger.blogspot.com/

Messenger, Amanda.   http://educationnowmoneylater.blogspot.com

Nordquist, Richard. "Visual Metaphor - Definition and Examples of Visual Metaphors."Grammar and Composition - Homepage of About Grammar and Composition. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/vismeterm.htm>.

Ch 8: Critical Theory in a New Writing Space

Observe: The plain black and white background was uniform but lacked creativity. The presentation was easy to follow and understand. Strengths: Great ideas and information, easy to comprehend. Weaknesses: Could have been more creative with colors and added more pictures/videos to support text.

Infer: The main point seems to be that websites are not authoritative.

Questions: 1. What does the picture of the rock book make you think of in terms of reading?  2. What does authority in writing mean to you?  3. As a writer, how to do want the reader to respond to your works? 4. Do you think critics can ever really accurately critique hypertext?  5. If you could be a critic today, what would you choose to critique, why?  6. In semiotics, what do you think is most studied with internet?

Ch. 6: Refashioned Dialogues

Observe: The color scheme was good and easy to read. The pictures and video were all great assets to the presentation. Strengths: Easy to follow, lots of pictures/videos to help explain. Weaknesses: elaborate more on the MOOs/discussion boards.

Infer: I believe that the overall main point is that reading is like following a path and it is changing. I think the overall argument is that writing and dialogue are going hand in hand. 

Questions: 1. How do you feel about writing on the web?  2. Do you prefer listening to someone speak or reading yourself?  3. How do you feel about so much technology being used in classrooms?  4. Do you agree or disagree with the Socrates quote?  5. How do you feel about chat rooms?  6. Do you really think that writing and conversation can ever be combined?

Ch. 5 The Electronic Book

Observe: The color scheme was great. The text was big and caught my attention easily. All three boys seemed to be very comfortable speaking in front of the class. Strengths: Easy to understand and follow, included a video at the end. Weaknesses: It would have been more interesting if they included pictures of papyrus and digital databases to show the visual difference between text back then and today.

Infer: Their main point seems to be telling the history of books and libraries. It seems as though they are not arguing for or against the e-book. They relate some books (encyclopedias) to hypertext.

Questions: 1. Do you agree that the encyclopedia is similar to hypertext?  2. Do you prefer checking an encyclopedia or going to a library?  3. If someone could not afford access to a digital library when Xandu was invented, how would they have gotten information online? Could they?   4. Personally, do you prefer e-books or printed books?   5. Why didn't you include todays libraries? The prezi skips from papyrus to digital.   6. Why did you chose to show the nook over other e-readers?

Ch. 3: Hypertext and the Remediation of Print

Observe: The layout of the presentation was quite simple and easy to follow. The layout is blue with black writing. Strengths: very informative with definitions. Weaknesses: Kept going back to the title (very confusing) and no pictures.

Infer: Their main points are electronic writing and hypertext. They seem to be arguing that technology offers a new medium for thought and expression.

Questions:  1. Why mention Topos?   2. Why did you keep going back to the title?   3. Personally, do you think hypertext helps more or hurts more?    4. Why didn't you expand more on remediation?   5. Do you really view hypertext as a form of writing, if so, why?   6. Why was the challenge at the end still included?

Chapter 4: The Breakout of the Visual (my group)

     Jill, Stefania, and I accomplished a lot of work on our project. We each read the chapter on our own and highlighted important parts that stuck out to us.  When we met each of us had great ideas to contribute to the group Prezi. It was easy to get work done since we all came prepared and had ideas.
     Since we were all prepared to present, I feel that our biggest accomplishment was the presentation itself. As we moved through our Prezi, I could tell that the class was understanding the messages we were conveying from the chapter. I feel that this was our biggest accomplishment, because we thought about that while making our project. In many of my slides, I included pictures to show examples so the class would understand Bolter easier.
     One thing that I wish we might have improved on is class participation. It would have been cool if we figured out a way to involve the class in our Prezi. Maybe we could have thought of a short game to play with the class to keep their attention half-way through our presentation.

Freewrite

Question: What are some of the earliest encounters you remember with language, written or verbal? Why do you think you remember them?

Answer: 

     The earliest encounters I remember with language are verbal. Every night before bed, my mother or father would either read or make up a story to tell me. I remember this, because it was always my favorite part of the night. Before I went to bed, after my prayers, I would get to choose to be read or told a story. With each parent, i had a different preference. 

     When my mother put me to bed, I would usually chose to be read a story. My mom is a teacher and usually teaches younger kids, therefore she always read stories with emotion. When she would read a story to me, I never got bored. When my father put me to bed, I would usually choose to be told a story. My dad is a very funny and creative person. His stories were usually funny and gave me a good laugh before bed. Either way, I enjoyed my parents reading and speaking to me. 

Question from Prezi

Question: How does this electronic space refashion its predecessor? How does it claim to improve on print's ability to make our thoughts visible and to constitute the lines of communication for our society?

Answer: This electronic space refashions its predecessor by appearance, speed, and accessibility. The electronic space makes ones writing take less time and makes other other writings more accessible. It claims to improve on print's ability to make our thoughts visible by having more space for images. On the computer, images and color schemes are incorporated much more than in print, making its appearance more desirable. It also makes the lines of communication easier, because you can get feedback faster than easier than if you had just read a printed text.

Bolter's Writing Space Chapter 2

     Bolter states that no matter if you are using print or digital, the writing is the same. He feels that the writer is responsible for conveying the same message no matter what. Whether you are printing the text or using a word processor, you still are stating the same thing you would, just in a different way. He claims that instead of the writing space being the printed text or the digitalized text, it is in the mind. The ideas and words are formulated in ones head, therefore the writing space is ones mind.

Sample R

     I chose to refute the argument of Sample R. Although there are certain aspects of this sample that I agree with, I still chose to refute it. I strongly disagree with what was said in the second paragraph. "It's easier to see a flame than describe one in words to a person who's never seen it..." (Sample R). If you show someone a flame when they have never seen it before, they will obviously infer the color and shape of it. But they will not know anything else. If you verbally tell someone about a flame, you may include how it feels and smells. If you connect the feeling of a flame with more than one sense, a person will be able to connect more. If you verbally tell someone, and are very descriptive, they will understand more than if only seeing an image.

Bolter: Chapter 1

     After reading Bolter's introduction, I wanted to continue reading. I enjoy Bolter's ideas and his way of expressing them. He starts off by giving the history of printing and how it overtook handwriting. Bolter quickly switches to tell that we are living in the "late age of print". I agree with Bolter that we are definitely living in the late age of print."Word processing, databases, e-mail, the World Wide Web, and computer graphics are displacing printed communication for various purposes" (Bolter 2).
     I do not agree with Bolter on one aspect. I don't think that books will ever completely be replaced. There are many people who favor both the World Wide Web and a regular book. Most of what Bolter writes in his introduction is already known, but he presents it in a way that makes the reader reflect. The way in which the World Wide Web is drastically becoming more popular is completely obvious, but I never actually thought about it like I am now.

"Like You Know" - Taylor Mali ....My response

     I viewed both of Taylor Mali's videos for his poem. The first one with him actually in it was good, but I didn't enjoy it because the timing was off. The audio was a couple seconds behind the visual so I got annoyed. The second video with the text was exceptionally great. I loved all the angles and designs the text created. It was also nice to be able to read the poem and hear it at the same time instead of just listening. I enjoyed the poem itself though. I thought it was very funny and sarcastic but also true.

Inkshedding

"Everything at once: You're not where you think you are."

- If you read hypertext, the writing is very sparatic and its difficult to find your place as a whole since the original and reference mix together and can often be difficult for a reader to pinpoint.

- Both original  thoughts and hypertext that is being used as a reference within the text is given to the reader. The reader can get lost upon these words and think they are reading things which they are not.

- The reader can believe what they read makes sense but in reality they don't understand the work at all and become lost in the wrong place. Shelley herself writes in a confusing way that can make a person get lost.

What is this "Stitch Bitch" talking about!?

     I want to start off my response by stating that I did not like this article at all. I found Shelley Jackson to be annoying since she seemed to be rambling. Her article was talking about a body one second and hypertext the next. I felt bored as I read this and it seemed like a waste of time, because I gained nothing from this article. Although I understood most of what she was trying to tell the reader, I did not see why a body and hypertext needed to try to be included together.
     The first section I want to discuss was "The Feminine". I understand how something or someone may not be who they say they are, but why is the "banished body" or the hypertext feminine. I know that she is telling the reader that there are different aspects to recognizing good and bad writing, but the way she compares them is odd. "Bad writing is a build-up of clutter or crud". Really? I'm aware that bad writing containes ideas and sentences that are sparatic or do not belong. But why doesn't she give an example or say it how I said it? She needs to identify this "crud".
     In Jackson's section "Against History", she states "it's not how they say it was". That quote definitely makes sense of some articles about history. Some people may make it seems more or less than it really was. Then she starts to talk about hypertext again. "I see no reason why hypertext can't serve up an experience of satisfying closure not drastically different from that of reading a long and complicated novel, though it will do it differently." But instead of building upon this idea, she goes back into how someone may live their life. What? Why can't she concentrate on one idea or at least make a strong connection between the two.
     I'm not sure if anyone else really enjoyed this article, but I did not. Maybe like Jackson said in her article, I got lost through it or rejected it for some reason or another. Maybe I didn't really give it the chance to the be enjoyed.

Hubris at Zunzal (Where does this poem reject it's own existence)

     I think that Jones "rejection" occurs in the beginning of the poem. He begins by setting a beautiful scene, but quickly switches to the image of language. I feel as though he rejected the scene by not completing how it looks. From a readers point of view, I started off engaged in the imagery of the poem. When he quickly switched images, I was taken by surprise. I wanted to be told more about the scene so I could develope a much more clear image.

My Four Letter Word...HAIL

For my project I used one true media. Unfortunately I can not post the link to my project, because one true media will not let me.

     My four-letter word was hail. I chose hail, because there are many different ideas that came to mind. My argument is that hail is a word that can be used for "good" or "bad". I used my project as more than an argument. I really wanted to make an impact on the audience. I chose to put the "good" images for hail in the beginning of the video with Bach's Ave Marie playing in the background. These images included: Virgin Mary, Hail Mary Pass, and people bowing. I did this to mellow out the audience so they would not expect what is to come. Half-way through the video, I switched the music to a song by the band As I Lay Dying and displayed "bad" images for the word "hail". These images included: storms, Hitler, and damaged cars. I wanted to show people how fast meanings can be changed, and how words have more than one meaning.

Three Imagines From The Video

1. Lips. 

      - The lips stuck out to me in the video and I remembered them till the end. I like the Rock Horror Picture Show, so when I saw the lips I made that connection. I think the purpose of the lips in the video was to have the audience focus on what is being said. If the rest of the body was present, the audience may have gotten distracted. By only seeing the lips, the audience is forced to focus on the lip movement and what is being said.

2. Sandwich.

     - The spiraling effect of the ingredients for the sandwich stuck out to me. The same ingredients repeating over and over again caused me to remember them. I do not think there was a significance for the sandwich ingredients besides the fact the author mentioned eating a sandwich.

3. Authors names at the end.

     - The authors names at the end were a very nice touch. I found it to be inspiring as well as intimidating. Many of the names displayed were admirable authors and great role models. It was intimidating because as a writer the names make you feel as though you will never be great like them.

A sentence starts out like....

     A sentence starts out like a runner at the starting line anticipating the signal to move. Once started, a sentence takes off like the runner who's only thought is to go. A sentence as well as a runner intends to win  by making sense to the reader. If the reader can interpret the sentence, then the sentence wins.

Freewrite/Blog

Q: Do you think it's odd or peculiar that the telephone as cell phone (so named for its design as a purveyor of "phon" - sound) has been adapted to purvey text as image? Why do you imagine this change has occured?

     The telephone has undergone many changes since it has been invented. It went from spin spin dials and chords to number buttons to the wireless handheld. Cell phones started as huge phones connected to your car and now are touch screen wireless. It was only a matter of time before text was invented. I imagine this change has occured, because people (especially Americans) are exceptionally busy and always on-the-go, therefore they don't always have time to call someone. In this case, it is very convenient to send a text message. But has text messaging gone too far?
     I do not think this change is odd or peculiar. It is a shame though, because people abuse this privilege. Some phone users use text messaging as the only form of communication and speak on the phone less and less as time goes on. Although this is a quick and easy way to keep in touch, it can be very bad. When sending a text message the reader cannot always interpret your emotions and an argument can occur. I recommend you to text with caution.

Responses to Billy Collin's Questions

Question:  "What did you find wrong with the original poem?" - Jill's Blog
Response: I'm not completely sure of Billy Collins' intentions. I think that the metaphors in both poems are a little odd. I am thinking that Billy Collins may have recognized the weird metaphors in the original poem. I think that his poem uses silly metaphors to mock the weird metaphors in the original poem. 


Question: "How do you think the original author of the love poem feels about your rewrite?" - Alison's Blog
Response: I think that the original author is very embarrassed about the rewrite. Billy Collins' poem is mocking the original poem. Billy Collins' poem also seems to be more popular than the original. The original author probably feels like a fool. 


Question: "Do you think the person who originally made the poem thinks your's is better? - Stefania's Blog
Response: Billy Collins' poem seems to be mocking the original poem. I feel that the original author does not think Billy Collins' poem is better since he is mocking his. The original author is probably embarrassed and has hard feelings towards Billy Collins for mocking his poem. 

Sample H: "Apple's iPod: I've Got The Whole World on a String (Shaped Earphone Cord)"

Why the argument moved me....

1. The writer did a lot of research, which aided to the essay. 

2. The iPod was a good item to pick, because a lot of college students own them.

3. I liked how the writer explained the iPod just in case one of the readers does not know about it.

4. I liked how the writer chose to use word "simplicity" a lot. It was a very good choice of wording when describing Apple.

5. I agree that the iPod is an "icon" in American society.

6. It made me think about how much technology especially by Apple I own and have owned. 

Why I am inert/unmoved....

1. I did like the research and history but sometimes it got to be a little too much. 

2. I would have enjoyed if the writer mentioned their experiences with the iPod. 

3. The writer spoke for Apple more than once. The writer basically told the reader what the intentions of the staff at Apple are. How does the writer know this?

4. The conclusion was very long. Usually in an essay the conclusion consists of only one paragraph. 

5. The bracketed part of the title wasn't needed. 

6. Although I liked the word "simplicity"...is the iPod really simple for everyone?

Sample G : "It Gives You Wings"

Why this argument moves me...

1. I really enjoyed how the writer connected Red Bull to our society. Energy and power do characterize Red Bull and well as our society. 

2. I like how the writer suggested that Red Bull can be for anyone, not just young adults.

3. I liked how the writer mentioned he colors on the can and logos/slogans. 

4. I liked how the writer mentioned the "I Love Energy Drinks" page on Facebook. 

5. The writer did a lot of research on the product which helped to back-up the argument.

6. I liked the "Door Close Button" argument. I agree, because sometimes I find myself trying to get the elevator to close faster. 

Why I am inert/unmoved....

1. There are grammatical errors throughout the piece.

2. The MLA citing within the essay was wrong. 

3. I don't drink Red Bull, so I wasn't interested. 

4. Red Bull is not healthy and although it advertises liveliness, it should not be used for that.

5. It would have been nice if the writer included a little bit more of their own experience with the drink.

6. I liked how the writer mentioned "Red Bull's Wings", but it got to be a little repetitive. 

Questions for Billy Collins

1. Why do you look at the love poem like it is a joke?
2. Why did you choose to use the metaphors you used?
3. What is an example of a poem you would classify as good?
4. Do you consider "the pine-scented air" to be a compliment or a sneer?
5. By making this poem are you trying to criticize the original poem or is it for a different reason?
6. If you were to re-write your version now, would you change anything?

materiality; standards; justifying choices. (Response to Will's video)

     Although my computer couldn't play the video, I listened to the audio. I enjoyed Will's response, especially when he said that you should "paint a picture with words". I agree with him because if you are very descriptive, the reader will enjoy your work more. I also liked how he mentioned that the reader will get distracted if you use color fonts. Although I think using a color font could be interesting, it may take away from the work by distracting the reader.

Meaning of Idea Sentence

"In thinking about a certain idea, many sentences and ideas can be drawn by using detailed words within this idea."

This sentence is not detailed enough to understand. The author repeats the word "idea". "Idea" is a very broad word which the reader cannot be expected to narrow down. I think that the sentence is trying to say that when someone thinks of an idea, they can also think of many detailed words and sentences that describe it.

All You Can Eat By: Jim Carrier

Compounding - Saltwater feedlot, Freshwater runoff, Ponytail, Sinking shrimp fleet, Oldtimer

Playful combinations & recombinations - Gulf shrimpers, the last cowboys of the sea (166). , Skinners as cowboys (165).  , Gold rush days (166).  , still pining for pastures before barbed wire (165). ,

Neologisms - marifarm, moneyed,

Recast (words in new roles) - trash, by-catch, juvenile, circus of boats, boats galloped, devouring one-celled algae (164). , They made a living but not a killing...(166). , winches, raising shrimp,

Puns - Sharpest cocktail sauce, stuck in my craw,

Verbs, Verbs, Verbs - Replenished,

All You Can Eat By: Jim Carrier

Compounding - Saltwater feedlot, Freshwater runoff, Ponytail, Sinking shrimp fleet, Oldtimer

Playful combinations & recombinations - Gulf shrimpers, the last cowboys of the sea (166). , Skinners as cowboys (165).  , Gold rush days (166).  , still pining for pastures before barbed wire (165). ,

Neologisms - marifarm, moneyed,

Recast (words in new roles) - trash, by-catch, juvenile, circus of boats, boats galloped, devouring one-celled algae (164). , They made a living but not a killing...(166). , winches, raising shrimp,

Puns - Sharpest cocktail sauce, stuck in my craw,

Verbs, Verbs, Verbs - Replenished,

If I Could Present My Project Any Way I Want...

     If I could present my project any way I want, I would use music. I would make a mix CD to go along with my paper. Any time I felt that I could connect some form of music to my project, I would play a little bit of it. Music is something that connects feelings and can relate to anything. Instead of choosing something that some people may not enjoy, I chose music. Everyone enjoys some type of music. Using different types of music would keep the audience interested and involved in my project. For example, Diet Pepsi is actually bad for your body, so I would play the 5th Symphony by Beethoven to begin my project. Hearing this song and knowing it is associate with something bad or scary, the audience would already be connected.

Flight of the Kuaka Response

     "Flight of the Kuaka", by Don Stap was well written. When I first began reading the article, I figured that I would not enjoy it since I do not know much about birds. Once I reached the second page, I found myself submerged. Don is obviously aware that not all of his readers are bird experts. He explains everything thoroughly to the point where I began to easily understand the birds and the research.
     His writing was descriptive and contained many facts. After finishing the article, I felt as though I could tell someone else about what I had read and have them understand me. Don uses interesting facts about the birds and their migrations to keep the reader's attention. He is exceptionally descriptive and I could even imagine the birds migrating over the oceans.

What kind of reader are you?

Assigned questions 4 & 5.

4. "In adults, this skill is often referred to as metacognition, or thinking about thinking, and it’s what allows people to outsmart their shortcomings."

"For the most part, the regions are in the frontal cortex—the overhang of brain behind the eyes—and include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate, and the right and left inferior frontal gyri. While these cortical folds have long been associated with self-control, they’re also essential for working memory and directed attention."

"Mischel is applying for an N.I.H. grant to investigate various mental illnesses, like obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit disorder, in terms of the ability to control and direct attention."

"Last year, Duckworth and Mischel were approached by David Levin, the co-founder of KIPP, an organization of sixty-six public charter schools across the country. KIPP schools are known for their long workday—students are in class from 7:25 A.M. to 5 P.M.—and for dramatic improvement of inner-city students’ test scores."

He does not define many terms. Sometimes a partial definition is briefly added, but nothing thorough. 

5. "One of Mischel’s favorite metaphors for this model of personality, known as interactionism, concerns a car making a screeching noise. How does a mechanic solve the problem? He begins by trying to identify the specific conditions that trigger the noise. Is there a screech when the car is accelerating, or when it’s shifting gears, or turning at slow speeds? Unless the mechanic can give the screech a context, he’ll never find the broken part. Mischel wanted psychologists to think like mechanics, and look at people’s responses under particular conditions."

"Odysseus had himself tied to the ship’s mast, he was using some of the skills of metacognition: knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist the Sirens’ song, he made it impossible to give in.) "

"In other words, people learn how to use their mind just as they learn how to use a computer: through trial and error."

He uses many metaphors. This adds positively to his writing and helps the reader relate. Since not all readers are scientists, the metaphors help to understand the article. 

Explanation of a quote from the Marshmallow Experiment Article

Quote: "The scientists have decided to focus on genes in the dopamine pathways, since those neurotransmitters are believed to regulate both motivation & attention."

What I believe the quote means: The researchers in this experiment chose to focus on hereditary characteristics in the nervous system. The chemicals that are being passed from nerve to nerve are believed to regulate motivation and attention. Motivation and attention are important in the outcome of the experiment, because motivation is needed to wait and control of attention is needed to focus on something other than eating the marshmallow. The ability to motivate and control your attention is found by studying the nervous system. Not only was the experiment made to see motivation and attention skills, but to find where these two characteristics come from within the body. 

Small Object, Large Object

     An Ipod is one gadget that is recognizable by everyone. In our culture, music is very prominent. There are many different genres of music and an ipod can contain them all. Our culture values technology and is becoming completely dependent on it. The Ipod especially the Ipod touch, which I have, can do almost anything. The Ipod touch can go on the internet, play music, play games, etc. Since our culture is so dependent on technology, an Ipod is important to and owned by many.
     The product is made by Apple, which has proven to be the best technology provider on the market. Apple computers, laptops, ipods, and programs are extremely expensive, but they are worth every penny. Apple products are known to prevent viruses and stay like new for years. PC owners run into many problems with viruses that slow down their computers. Apple markets it's products, such as the Ipod, with an Apple. No surprise there. On all of their products, they put their logo which is a bitten apple.
     The producers at Apple know what Americans want in technology. Everything is getting more advanced and Americans always want the latest trend. They want their gadgets to move fast and hold a lot of information. Apple makes the Ipod small and lightweight, but it can contain thousands of songs and applications. Apple continuously proves its worth by introducing new programs, faster computers, better Ipods, and even cellular phones a couple times a year. As an owner of two Apple products (Ipod touch and MAC) I am completely satisfied and will most likely never invest in a PC again.

Pantene Commercial Response #2

     What is one thing that almost every girl is self-conscious about? Her hair! What is one thing that almost every person is self-conscious about? Accomplishing their dreams! Well, Pantene touches on both subjects. It seems as though Pantene wants to reach out to everyone, girls and guys. Guys like having nice hair and presenting themselves well, too. Pantene knows how to sell a product well. Their commercial strategy is almost flawless.
     When selling a product, you need to lure people in. Pantene does this by making their commercial about four minutes long. In these four minutes, you are introduced to characters which you sympathize with. There's a sort of fairytale style to the commercial, which always works. Fairytales are the most recognizable stories among people. There is always a good person, a bad person, and a person who saves the good person. The audience loves the good person and sympathizes with them, just like we sympathized with the deaf violinist.
     At the end of the commercial, she accomplishes her dreams. The viewers are happy and admire her. Quickly, after the audience gives her a standing ovation, the viewers are told "you can shine". Well, everyone wants to accomplish their dreams and everyone wants to look good. So why wouldnt you be more likely to buy Pantene!? In other shampoo commercials, the viewers are shown a quick clip of happy people with nice hair. But in the Pantene commercial, the viewers are given a chance to connect with the characters. Also, as a user of Pantene shampoo, I love it.

Pantene Commercial Observation

     In the Pantene commercial I noticed an interesting metaphor. Near the end, when she was playing the violin at the classical music competition, the scene changed. As she continued to play, a cocoon was shown and a butterfly emerged from it. The butterfly then flew off into the field.

     I found this metaphor to be a little ridiculous but exceptionally representative of the character. Throughout the commercial, the deaf girl was always told her limits. Her peers would not allow her to discover her true potential as a violinist. Once she met the deaf man who played the violin on the street corner, she was inspired to pursue her dream. By the end, she played the violin at the concert and received a standing ovation from the audience.

    Although I found the comparison to be slightly cliche, I could see the connection well. I feel that the butterfly introduced the audience to the feeling of beauty, so shortly after it would be easier to recognize the beauty of her hair. The audience was already open to the idea of beauty. Also, the butterfly is the logo for Pantene. Once knowing the connection of the butterfly to Pantene, it became easier for me to recognize why it was included in the comercial. 

Crayon Exercise Question Response

1. Preparing my assignment in crayon was different than the ways I usually prepare a paper. I wrote the paragraphs on another sheet of paper in pencil before writing on the bigger page. Although my way of preparation was changed, I did not find myself thinking differently. I tried to come up with as many ideas as possible before writing the final copy. Writing is crayon was much more difficult than writing in pencil or pen. Despite the difficulty writing, I kept all of my sentences that I had planned to write.

3.  If a culture used crayons as their only writing implements, their culture would be different than ours. They would most likely be more creative and possibly happier. The colors chosen by the different authors could reflect their mood or the mood of the piece. The culture would be most proud of their style and capability to write despite the difficulty of writing with a crayon. They may consider some signs of intellectual prowess to be color, style, creativity, and length of the piece.

4. Writing in crayon was hard for me. I enjoyed the idea of it, but once I had to write paragraphs I got frustrated with the difficulty of writing with the crayons.