Topic of Choice

The topic I decided to talk about today was about these blogs! I hate them so much. I always forget to check them, and I end up losing points. I’m more of a person who likes to turn in hand written stuff, like worksheets instead of all this technology assignments. I know that it makes life a bit easier, but I just hate it. Im not one to be attached to my laptop all the time, believe it or not, so I forget to get on the internet. Im not even much of a phone person as well. I’m old fashion when it comes to school and loves paper better. I also hate it because I’m at that point during the year where im starting to slowly run out gas. And on top of all this we have other classes and our paper to worry about. The last thing on my mind is to check the blog assignments. I suppose they are easier to check and read, but its also an easier way for us to lose points, and I do my work all the time, and are the few that are in class. So I wish we should get rid of this! Even though I’m kind of late with this request since it is winding down to the last weeks. But just for next time, I’m just suggesting that this needs to be abolished! No more blog assignments! Please! I’m pretty sure everyone else might agree.

My Patterns of Error

For the 3-4 things that I do wrong in my essays, the first would have to be :

1) My thesis statements.
I think that they are strong, it just turns out that they are not. Everything needs
To connect more, and I notice that I doesn’t. Its like I start off in one direction and
And next thing I know, I switch topics. That’s never a good thing, so maybe
I should write my thesis later on, rather than before.
2) Page numbers.
I need to remember to add those! Always forget.
3) Clarifying my sources.
I need to be more specific when it comes to which sources and quotes that
I decide to use. Also, I need more paraphrasing, instead of direct quotes.
That’ll help me to fully understand what the person is saying.
4) Staying professional.
My personality tends to come out in my writing a lot, which isn’t a good thing.
I usually say “so what?” or something along those lines to help prove my
Point, but that doesn’t make my evidence stronger from belittling my opponents
Side of views.

Extra Credit

      For this extra credit assignment, I wanted to talk about what I am doing in my teaching program. Since it is a teaching program, I was required to have twenty hours of observation of a class room to pass the class. I ended up picking Rickover Naval Academy, my high school, since most of the kids in my class picked theirs as well. I picked my sophomore reading teacher to observe, and had a blast. She is the funniest person as an individual as well as a teacher. We learned the story of “In Cold Blood” and watched the movie Capote, who was the author of the book. It was very interesting, and showed how murder can effect people so much, it ruins their lives, as well as Capote. He got so into it where he was losing his mind and his career over the obsession of one of the killers. He ended up falling in love with this man, and was destroyed when he was killed because of the crime committed. This was the last book he wrote he was so distraught, ultimately ending his career as a journalist. It was quite interesting, and I really want to read the book now. We also learned about using a database for their research paper as well. I learned about a lot more websites that can be used for me, and I was thankful for that. Having all this information about where to find sources was amazing, and to think I learned about this at my high school. We never got to use databases before, and knowing that they can now is interesting. Public schools are really progressing when it comes to research, which is an over all good thing.

Assignment 10 - Research for research question

I wanted to pick a topic that was interesting to me and something that effected a lot of people. Since I picked the topic of Disney princesses of the Disney Classics and how they effect children negatively, I found great research and sources for both sides. For my research database experience, I ended up typing in words that had to do with all Disney classics and how they subconsciously instill stereo types of how girls should be, as well as the men that they pick. The words I used were, DISNEY CLASSIC, DISNEY NEGATIVITY, and also DISNEY POSITIVE. I wanted to get both sides on the topic of whether the Disney Classics are good for children or bad for their self esteem. All the sources I found were very fruitful and helpful, and I seriously like that I picked this topic. Everything is interesting, and I feel that since we have all watched these classics as children, we are all effected by it whether we believe so or not.

Most of the sources I found helped me to prove my point as to it being negative. Because of the evidence that there is death in mostly all the Disney classics, this proves that children are learning things too early on that should be learned earlier. Although this is my opinion, it is still a good point. Most of the kids who watch Disney classics are young, and finding out about death before their parents tell them can be traumatizing. Information such as this is a big help for me, and so my source hunting was very helpful and all I thought it was going to be. Death was the thing that I found most compelling, and I can’t wait to learn more about it, and how it pays a important role in Disney.

Thesis:

Disney Classics are shown to people of all ages, yet when looked at more thoroughly, Disney installs negative thoughts of self esteem and perception to children who are forced to conform to stereo types subconsciously. Although the classics are meant for entertainment only, they have a deeper effect on the brain more then anyone could imagine.

My sources helped me to come up with this thesis, because they helped to support my idea of the negative side of Disney. Also, knowing the other side helps to counter the argument, and know how to prove everything even more.

Topic of Choice

My topic of choice would have to be about our research papers. I'm actually really excited to be able to research whatever we want. When I had to write research papers before, it was about things that I wasn't really into. I mean, we had to pick things that we sort of wanted to learn about, but in the end, it was boring still. Even though my classmates are picking topics that have to do with the importance of the government or society, I picked something that I thought was fun and interesting to read and research. Since we all have seen the Disney classics, I thought that bringing them up again and surfacing the subliminal messages that are sent to children, would be a good research paper. I know that many think that Disney is innocent, but there are controversies that are brought up when they are really thought about. The fact that they are all skinny, and half don't have mothers is strange. What is even stranger is the fact that they have to constantly play that card of having to have a prince come and save them. Almost none are independent, with the exception of a few, and I find that fascinating that Disney is instilling this in children's mind for years. Even the way the men look isn't realistic. All of them are gorgeous, with big chins and great personalities when in actuality, many men aren't like that at all. Disney hands out princes like there is no tomorrow, when in real life, it takes hard work and time to actually find one.

Research Paper Ideas

Does Disney subliminally influence younger girls to grow up believing they should look and act a certain way to win a prince?

Or

How will young girls perceive the adult world when given the influence of the classic Disney movies?

Reflecting On My Progress

• Looking back at my first blog post, I believe that I am making great progress and achieving the goals that I wanted to complete at the beginning of the semester. I wanted to improve my vocabulary and writing as well, and I feel that I am following that road completely.
• I feel that the peer editing of our essays have helped me a lot and that it is very beneficial. Once I write a paper, I believe that it is near perfect until someone peer edits it. They point out things that I hadn't noticed, and that really helps. I tend to write a paper all in one sitting, instead of breaking it apart because I feel I get lost and leave myself hanging. So since I do that, its hard to reread a bunch of pages over and over to find mistakes, after I spent two hours doing the essay. My brain gets fried, and having someone point out my mistakes is refreshing. I feel like I learn more.
• I really like this English class, but I would like to have more homework. Even though most college students would think that was stupid, I think it'll help. Especially since our essays are pulled apart so far, this helps to keep things in mind still. Last time I completed my final draft two weeks before it was due, and even though we still talked about the topic, I felt disconnected because since I completed the paper, there was no reason for me to actually still think about the discussions. Having more assignments would really help to keep students focused more, and not to space out during lectures.
• I believe my writing progress have stayed the same since the beginning of the semester. I like to think of myself as a decent writer, and therefore I stick to my way of writing. I try to change it up sometimes, so I was rather happy when we got to use our opinions on the first essay that was done. Usually, we are told to just talk of the facts, that it is a strict paper, but to actually be allowed to talk about our thoughts was interesting. I really hope I get to write more papers like that in my future classes.
• I believe my writing has improved slightly since the beginning of the semester. Having more experience with using outside sources can always improve, and using the database was actually kind of fun. I have a nerdy side when it comes to English class, so I don't mind writing research papers and learning all there is to know.