I liked the story better because I could focus just on the story. I wasn't trying to figure anything out, I knew who the characters were. I knew what they looked like and how they acted from the movie so the story made it really clear and I felt more emotionally attached to the characters. It was almost as if it seemed more real.
One difference that was interesting was how Thomas's parents didn't die in the fire. In the story his father died in the military and his mother died giving birth to him. I like the way Thomas talks he comes across as really wise, like how he says "She took her last breath" when he was talking about her giving birth to him with her last breath, it's beautiful. Thomas is my favorite character. When they dismissed the way Thomas's parents died in the fire and changed it it's like they took away the whole meaning of the movie.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Rules for Writers-CH 50
In Rules for Writers Chapter 50 by Diana Hacker the main idea is how to evaluate your sources when conducting research. First, you need to figure out how your going to use your source in your writing by providing background information..etc. Then, choose sources worth your attention and learn how to scan search results in all different types of sources such as books and databases. Then, you want know how to determine a scholarly source by looking for formal language and presentation, authors who are academics or scietists..etc.
Once you've learned how to look for and choose the right sources, you want to make sure your reading them with an open mind and a critical eye. Do not focus on judging it or putting your opinions in there but focus on evidence, conclusions, and assumptions. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original documents, and Secondary sources are comments, opinions, or interpretations of the primary source. Be alert for signs of bias, and asses the author's argument. Finally, make sure you assess and evaluate web sources very carefully by looking at authorship, sponsorship, purpose and audience, and currency
Once you've learned how to look for and choose the right sources, you want to make sure your reading them with an open mind and a critical eye. Do not focus on judging it or putting your opinions in there but focus on evidence, conclusions, and assumptions. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original documents, and Secondary sources are comments, opinions, or interpretations of the primary source. Be alert for signs of bias, and asses the author's argument. Finally, make sure you assess and evaluate web sources very carefully by looking at authorship, sponsorship, purpose and audience, and currency
Smoke Signals-Victor and Thomas
The relationship between Victor and Thomas reminds me of two brothers. Victor is obviously the older brother, he is mean to Thomas sometimes and gets annoyed of him. He tries to teach him things such as how a real indian should look like. Thomas seems to look up to Victor and he wants to help him. They grew up together in the same neighborhood so they have known each other their whole lives like brothers. Thomas is very thankful to Arnold- Victor's father for saving his life from the fire. This is where they disagree because Victor doesn't like how his father is an alcoholic, and violent, and eventually leaves them.
Inside, although Victor doesn't act like it, he really does care for Thomas like a brother. I think he might have trust issues and that could be due to his father's disappearance, he shuts down emotionally. Victor tries to act like he doesn't like Thomas, but he appreciates all of his help and the journey brought them even closer. In the end Victor gets a better understanding of how Thomas, and Arnold feels about the traumatic event that happened when they were babies.
Inside, although Victor doesn't act like it, he really does care for Thomas like a brother. I think he might have trust issues and that could be due to his father's disappearance, he shuts down emotionally. Victor tries to act like he doesn't like Thomas, but he appreciates all of his help and the journey brought them even closer. In the end Victor gets a better understanding of how Thomas, and Arnold feels about the traumatic event that happened when they were babies.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Response to Mr. Harvey- "Obituary"
I thought that Mr. Harvey was pretty harsh. I don't think it does him any good to force learning on the students. At times he was rude, telling them that they were terrible at speaking and that they were going to get no where in life. He came across really strong and rough, I believe he was trying to help but it just seemed really discouraging. I don't think that the kids will want to learn anything from someone like that. It will make them focus on how rude he is and how much they dislike him during class time rather than focusing on what they can learn from him. Children need structure and discipline but they also need a good role model. I don't consider a teacher cussing and telling them they were terrible as a good role model.
He did seem passionate about his career, he wasn't some teacher that didn't care if the kids learned anything or not. He did care, a little too much. I think that he tried so hard and put so much pressure on them learning how to speak english like an American that he got stressed out and took it out on the kids. He was a little too strict and maybe expected too much out of them and himself as a teacher to them. He could have made it more fun and taught them in a way that they would want to learn so that everybody wins.
He did seem passionate about his career, he wasn't some teacher that didn't care if the kids learned anything or not. He did care, a little too much. I think that he tried so hard and put so much pressure on them learning how to speak english like an American that he got stressed out and took it out on the kids. He was a little too strict and maybe expected too much out of them and himself as a teacher to them. He could have made it more fun and taught them in a way that they would want to learn so that everybody wins.
Rules for Writers-Ch 48
In Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker the main topic is arguments. First you want to make sure your tactics are between reasonable and fallacious by staying away from generalizing. You can also test your inductive reasoning by asking yourself if your evidence is sufficient, representative, and relevant. A good argumentative approach is to make analogies by pointing out similarities in things otherwise different. Cause and Effect is another good way to argue your point but you want to be careful of the post hoc fallacy which is when writers think that because one event comes after another, the first causes the second. You also want to make sure your weighing all your options to be fair, and then make assumptions. Finally, you deduce a conclusion by putting things together using deductive reasoning. Three steps of deductive reasoning called Syllogism are the major premise, minor premise, and conclusion.
When evaluating an argument you want to understand the difference between legitimate and unfair emotional appeals. There is nothing wrong with using a emotional appeal as long as it is done right for the right reasons. Stay away from unfair appeals and biased language. In an argument you will find that by having someone oppose their views it will only help you gain credibility, or learn to make it better. When describing others views watch out for the straw man fallacy which is an oversimplification or distortion of opposing views. When quoting opposing views be sure to explain the context fairly.
I've learned that it's a good idea to quote the opposing viewers because it is more accurate and fair. I have also learned that it's important to watch out for emotional appeals because you want to use them in the right way. Arguments are interesting to learn about because they are confusing and challenging there is a lot to learn about them.
When evaluating an argument you want to understand the difference between legitimate and unfair emotional appeals. There is nothing wrong with using a emotional appeal as long as it is done right for the right reasons. Stay away from unfair appeals and biased language. In an argument you will find that by having someone oppose their views it will only help you gain credibility, or learn to make it better. When describing others views watch out for the straw man fallacy which is an oversimplification or distortion of opposing views. When quoting opposing views be sure to explain the context fairly.
I've learned that it's a good idea to quote the opposing viewers because it is more accurate and fair. I have also learned that it's important to watch out for emotional appeals because you want to use them in the right way. Arguments are interesting to learn about because they are confusing and challenging there is a lot to learn about them.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Writing Topic Summary-Ch 47
In Rules for Writers Chapter 47 by Diana Hacker the main purpose is to construct a reasonable argument. In doing so, you want to make sure you understand the truth about a subject or come up with the best solution to the problem. Be sure to be careful of coming off as too aggressive or too passive, make sure you know what your tone should be and that it's assertive. You want to view your subject in an intellectual and social context and your audience as jurors. The introduction is about stating which side you are taking and you want to be fair and knowledgable by presenting both sides. You want to back up your thesis with supporting persuasive arguments in the right order to be convincing, then use specific evidence to support your claims like facts and statistics. Make sure your being objective and questioning all of your arguments to cover your point on all different levels. You also want to build common ground by listening sensitively to your opposing viewers concerns so that they're more likely to agree with you in the end.
I learned that when writing your arguments about a particular issue or subject, there are several different questions you can ask yourself to make sure your being objective. That is something that will be very helpful, I will remember to ask myself these questions and to question my arguments and analyze them to make sure they are objective and persuasive to everyone. I also learned to be more open to opposing views and be sensitive to them so that they are more likely to agree with you, if you are rudely arguing with someone they are just going to want to prove you wrong no matter what. Also, when you really listen to what someone is saying about your argument and put yourself in their shoes, it will educate you more only to make a clearer point.
I learned that when writing your arguments about a particular issue or subject, there are several different questions you can ask yourself to make sure your being objective. That is something that will be very helpful, I will remember to ask myself these questions and to question my arguments and analyze them to make sure they are objective and persuasive to everyone. I also learned to be more open to opposing views and be sensitive to them so that they are more likely to agree with you, if you are rudely arguing with someone they are just going to want to prove you wrong no matter what. Also, when you really listen to what someone is saying about your argument and put yourself in their shoes, it will educate you more only to make a clearer point.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Essay 2 Workshop-Rough Draft
Do you relate to one of the characters? How? Why?
The character I relate to is Sarah Vowell in the "Shooting Dad" Dialogue because my dad and I had a relationship similar to hers and her dad's. Her dad was also similar to mine, my dad and I were opposites, or so I thought. In the end, we became best friends and although were opposites we were very similar too.
My dad rode Harleys, that was his favorite thing to do and he also liked guns, we lived in the mountains. It took us a half an hour to get to the nearest small town. When I say small I mean small, it's only about a mile drive through the town. My dad was one of a kind, every where he went he wanted people to look at him, he was loud and funny, but mellow too. He was really tall and big and no one ever wanted to mess with him, he was very intimidating on the outside. On the inside, he was just a big baby and a huge sweetheart. When I was little he used to not be able to stand when me or my sister were mad at him, and we would pout and he would feel bad for yelling at us and so he would bring us cake or give us something to cheer us up. He was a huge softy and everybody loved him. You could always count on him and he helped many people. As a dad, he was really strict and pretty much hated boys.
I hated living in the country, it was dirty and dusty, there was all different kinds of disgusting bugs and spiders everywhere. I had to bomb my room every month because I have this huge fear of spiders crawling in my bed at night. I hate bugs and spiders I am a little weird about it too, it's an unreasonable fear I have. I am a girly girl. The bus ride to school every morning was an hour and a half and I didn't want my dad to drive me on his harley because I was embarrassed, he would rev up the engine and make everyone stare at him, I still to this day don't think anything could ever embarrass him. He was not shy at all. I was a rebellious teenager and my dad wouldn't let me do anything, we both were stubborn and liked to argue so that's what we did. I couldn't even go to the school dances my freshman year, he eased up a little over the years, but he was a very strict parent. I couldn't stand it, I hated where I lived and I had to be there all the time, at home.
After the four hard years of high school, we had gone through so much together and I had put him through a lot. When I turned 18 it was he retired as being my father and became my friend, everything had changed including him. He grew up in San Francisco and had a very strict old fashioned abusive dad from Kentucky. He had a really hard childhood and all of his brothers were in prison or drug attics. He was the only one that was on the right path, he was in AA. He loved helping people and that's what he did, helped anyone who was trying to get sober or stay sober no matter what it took. He would drive 3 hours to help someone. He was a 100% disabled American Veteran so he dedicated all his time to helping others. I was so proud of him for growing so much, and our relationship grew too. He had accepted me for who I was and accepted the fact that he couldn't change me and I was going to do things on my own time. So after he accepted that, we were able to become friends and we were like best friends. He was always like a big kid, some boys my age were friends with him and would come over and hang out with him.
He was always there for me and I will always remember my dad as a one of a kind, honest, powerful, big hearted man that would never let me down. So this is the story of my dad and I and how we were opposites and ended up becoming very close.
The character I relate to is Sarah Vowell in the "Shooting Dad" Dialogue because my dad and I had a relationship similar to hers and her dad's. Her dad was also similar to mine, my dad and I were opposites, or so I thought. In the end, we became best friends and although were opposites we were very similar too.
My dad rode Harleys, that was his favorite thing to do and he also liked guns, we lived in the mountains. It took us a half an hour to get to the nearest small town. When I say small I mean small, it's only about a mile drive through the town. My dad was one of a kind, every where he went he wanted people to look at him, he was loud and funny, but mellow too. He was really tall and big and no one ever wanted to mess with him, he was very intimidating on the outside. On the inside, he was just a big baby and a huge sweetheart. When I was little he used to not be able to stand when me or my sister were mad at him, and we would pout and he would feel bad for yelling at us and so he would bring us cake or give us something to cheer us up. He was a huge softy and everybody loved him. You could always count on him and he helped many people. As a dad, he was really strict and pretty much hated boys.
I hated living in the country, it was dirty and dusty, there was all different kinds of disgusting bugs and spiders everywhere. I had to bomb my room every month because I have this huge fear of spiders crawling in my bed at night. I hate bugs and spiders I am a little weird about it too, it's an unreasonable fear I have. I am a girly girl. The bus ride to school every morning was an hour and a half and I didn't want my dad to drive me on his harley because I was embarrassed, he would rev up the engine and make everyone stare at him, I still to this day don't think anything could ever embarrass him. He was not shy at all. I was a rebellious teenager and my dad wouldn't let me do anything, we both were stubborn and liked to argue so that's what we did. I couldn't even go to the school dances my freshman year, he eased up a little over the years, but he was a very strict parent. I couldn't stand it, I hated where I lived and I had to be there all the time, at home.
After the four hard years of high school, we had gone through so much together and I had put him through a lot. When I turned 18 it was he retired as being my father and became my friend, everything had changed including him. He grew up in San Francisco and had a very strict old fashioned abusive dad from Kentucky. He had a really hard childhood and all of his brothers were in prison or drug attics. He was the only one that was on the right path, he was in AA. He loved helping people and that's what he did, helped anyone who was trying to get sober or stay sober no matter what it took. He would drive 3 hours to help someone. He was a 100% disabled American Veteran so he dedicated all his time to helping others. I was so proud of him for growing so much, and our relationship grew too. He had accepted me for who I was and accepted the fact that he couldn't change me and I was going to do things on my own time. So after he accepted that, we were able to become friends and we were like best friends. He was always like a big kid, some boys my age were friends with him and would come over and hang out with him.
He was always there for me and I will always remember my dad as a one of a kind, honest, powerful, big hearted man that would never let me down. So this is the story of my dad and I and how we were opposites and ended up becoming very close.
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