Kristen Duffy…Blogger “Un”Extraordinaire

This semester was the semester of the blog. I am not a member of “team blog” and to take it to another dramatic extreme, I think it is safe to say that I loathe the day the blog emerged. I loved the class, but scorned blogging.

My first blog experience was similar to other first time experiences of my life time, awkward. I knew I was supposed to write my own personal opinion because it was my very own on-line diary, however, knowing that the whole world could access my diary with the click of a mouse made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. Maybe it was because I am not confident in my blogs, or maybe just a touch of me being paranoid, regardless it wasn’t the best feeling. After finally writing my first successful blog I found that more difficult times were ahead. I came to find that when the blog nation was congested it was slow, if not nearly impossible to post my blog and often times froze my computer.

One of the things I did learn to like about blogging was how convenient creating a blog was. It was simple to navigate which made it easy to get my job accomplished. It was conducive to my learning experience because it allowed a constant connection with other fellow bloggers when a touch of advice, or some extra help was needed. Along with having others to ask without fuss, blogging included features such as spell check and other format fundamentals that came in handy when typing my thoughts into words more than once or twice.

Despite blogging being easy, I was not sold on the idea and did not become an advocate over the course of the semester. I fit the demographic of one that has a hard time putting their thoughts down on paper. Knowing that I have competitive and judgmental readers indulging in my blogs makes the savvy new way to write your thoughts invading to me. Personally, I would like to tweak the system so that only invited friends or viewers I knew could read and post to my blog, making the experience all the more comfortable. In the future I will not maintain a personal blog simply because I found the process more of a hassle than a hobby.

Being a girl, and liking things pink while enjoying writing in my diary, I opt to keep my diary traditional, behind lock and key instead of log-in and password.

Essay Exam Blogs

Blog 1) You should ask yourself what your instructor values and wants from the essay. Also, you should have a good base familiarity for the subject you are writing about. In writing a essay exam you have to show your personal knowledge. Being organized is key. Remembering key ideas and figuring out what is most important first will help with writing the essay.

Blog 2) How to know which words are the key terms in the prompt?

How to apply what you already know to define what the topic is about?

When and when not to keep in mind the quote included in the prompt?

How to take a position in an argument and stay with it through your essay?

How to tie in reasons to show how some idea relates to the general topic?

Why I hate essay exams

Even though hate is a strong word…I hate essay exams! The reason I don’t like essay exams is because it’s way too on the spot for me. I like to know ahead of time what I am getting myself into. Also, I personally don’t work well under pressure and an exam grade is a HUGE part of a good grade that I really need. Another thing that I hate about essay exams is the short amount of time we have to complete the essay, I don’t even do well with exams that I have ample time to start writing and researching much less an exam that is just popped up on me. Bottom line is they stress me out and I don’t work too well under stress! So please, no essay exam! And sorry for talking in the middle of this exam, as stated earlier, I don’t do too well on exams!

Argument Analysis (Late) Blog

1. Who is your specific audience? My specific audience is going to be the Parent Teacher Association of public school. I feel like that is my most captured audience and those are definitely the people that could begin the change of prayer in public schools.
2. Why did you choose them? I chose the PTA because you have to start with your local parents and teachers to move upward and create some kind of affect.
3. How will your audience affect the argument you intend to present? My audience could affect the argument I am writing about by starting one of many petitions to get the ball rolling on prayer in public schools.
4. Which fallacies will you need to focus on keeping from your argument? Why are these (individually) important to consider in  your argument? I guess mainly the fallacy that kids are not affected by no public prayer and the freedom to voice their opinion.

Growth Attenuation

In the first paragraph I can sympathies because home care is very expensive and I can understand how parents might look into stopping the growth of their child.

It sounds like Gunther and Diekema are giving another option with high dose estrogen and I believe this would give the parents hope.

There hasn’t been enough research to prove if this medicine is going to help or actually be s detriment to the child.

It says that American people are accepting of this process of stunting growth so i believe it’s going to become more and more popular.

How will this affect the family? Marriage? The sick child?

Are they taking into place judgement and health risks?

Religion in Public Schools

I’ve decided to write my paper on religion in public schools.  I plan on narrowing my topic down by including how Darwinism is taught but religion is not accepted in public schools.  Also, I plan to add how just because religion is taught doesn’t mean a specific religion is being forced.  If prayer does exist in a school it is usually student led and not faculty as well as remaining very silent.  I also want to talk about separation of church and state and how it effects the student demographic.  Students are able to express themselves in their schoolwork, papers, artwork, etc. but their voices may not be heard in the classroom and they teacher is not allowed to educate such an important issue.  I want to bring up how even though our country is a melting pot of different religions we shouldn’t shun talking about christianity in America, to Americans.  Christianity is the worlds largest religion and I plan to speak my mind on how it’s being overlooked in public schools, where kids spend the majority of their time.  I plan to touch up on how we need to get back to the basics of life and true fundamentals before we become a numb society.

Britney Spears

The issues with not only Britney Spears lately, but girls in Hollywood that serve as role models in general is getting out of hand.  I definitely believe that there are enough issues on Hollywood and Britney herself from her parenting and choice on her love interest and idea and vowels to her latest “meltdown”.  I feel that I am conscious on both sides of this issue because I am the demographic that these issues appeal to. Other people might not take this issue to heart like I do but it has definitely made me feel for her and her situation. I think this topic could be expanded a little to have some more ingredients to write on but I think there is enough here to relay a good point!

Growing Up, Growing Apart

Just like in the article I believe that growing up and growing apart happens so often. Not just necessarily with race but just growing up into your own self. People change as they grow up. Now when I can across the paragraph that said “But even here, as if pulled by internal magnets, black and white children begin to separate at sixth grade.” I guess it’s that huge jump from elementary to junior high or middle school that does most people in. I think it’s all a matter of where and how we are raised.

Secret’s Secret Revealed

The first sentence you read in this article is “We tried to separate ourselves into smaller groups so we would look less threatening.” Now all this tells me is they have a preconceived notion about themselves. When I am with my friends going out on the town or just to the movies I never feel as if we need to call it splits because we might offend or intimidate someone. If only a picture ID showing the bar patrons date of birth was required and no up to date expiration date was needed then I disagree with how the door guy handled the situation. In this case I think it was a little too over-dramatized. Things like this happen to everyone!

Sold on a stereotype

After reading sold on a stereotype it became obvious to me how much we really stereotype people in everyday life. I was amongst one of the believers that Jewish people did and do have a lot of money and they know how to handle their business. I think all the Jewish books are setting a lot of standards as well as implying the stereotype that people like me have.