Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
First Draft of Midterm Essay
Here it is. I've put it into MLA format yet, but I should have that done when I repost it later this week. Please, let me know if you see any typos or if something seem confusing or if I need to flesh out an idea. I could use anything you give me! Also, let me know if the link doesn't work. Thanks! I hope it's not too boring!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Link to an Interesting Literacy Article
Here is an interesting article. I haven't actually read it yet since it's really long, but it looks fascinating! Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Caveat Emptor
Caveat Emptor
Mary Hamilton
I sincerely enjoyed writing these posts because I could see my post on my blog and then I could read and compare my classmates' posts. I found it very interesting that all of us would have a different perspective on the same article.
One of the downsides of blogging is that it's time-consuming. I not only had to write the post, but I had to carefully decide what I wanted to show of myself on the Web.
Since my posts were public, I felt I had to cater to a public audience instead of just my teacher and my classmates. This is what Thompson describes in his piece: "knowing who you're writing for and why you're writing might be the most crucial factor of all."
I not only enjoyed reading my fellow students' blogs, but what they wrote influenced me as well. Since other blog posts were very opinionated, I felt I could put more opinion in my pieces. Hence the reason my blog gradually became more opinionated.
My definition of blogging has not changed. Since I'm in the habit of reading blogs, blogging forums, and even live blogs, I have a very defined image of blogging. It's a medium or form of communication that allows anyone to publish his thoughts and read the thoughts of others. Of course, you have to employ 'buyer beware' when reading blogs. Is the writer trustworthy? Does she know the field or the topic? What are his qualifications? If you do a little research and choose qualified, knowledgeable bloggers to read, then you can become a very informed, literate reader.
Mary Hamilton
I sincerely enjoyed writing these posts because I could see my post on my blog and then I could read and compare my classmates' posts. I found it very interesting that all of us would have a different perspective on the same article.
One of the downsides of blogging is that it's time-consuming. I not only had to write the post, but I had to carefully decide what I wanted to show of myself on the Web.
Since my posts were public, I felt I had to cater to a public audience instead of just my teacher and my classmates. This is what Thompson describes in his piece: "knowing who you're writing for and why you're writing might be the most crucial factor of all."
I not only enjoyed reading my fellow students' blogs, but what they wrote influenced me as well. Since other blog posts were very opinionated, I felt I could put more opinion in my pieces. Hence the reason my blog gradually became more opinionated.
My definition of blogging has not changed. Since I'm in the habit of reading blogs, blogging forums, and even live blogs, I have a very defined image of blogging. It's a medium or form of communication that allows anyone to publish his thoughts and read the thoughts of others. Of course, you have to employ 'buyer beware' when reading blogs. Is the writer trustworthy? Does she know the field or the topic? What are his qualifications? If you do a little research and choose qualified, knowledgeable bloggers to read, then you can become a very informed, literate reader.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Arguments Count
Arguments Count
Mary Hamilton
According to Hedges, America is once again quickly degenerating into an image-based society that cannot distinguish between fact and opinion. This is not a good thing, Hedges explains. It means "the loss of civic and public responsibility." He goes on to list practices in the newspaper and media business that blur the lines between fact and opinion. Using a very terse and vivid style, Hedges clearly tries to provoke the reader into worrying about the status quo. He does not back up any of his data with sources and he does not tell the reader what should be done to stop the decline. Instead, he leaves the reader with a vision of a bleak world. I've seen this literary technique in novels such as Orwell's 1984 or Kafka's Metamorphosis. I'm dubious that this technique works in this article because it's not well supported with sources, it's disorganized, and it's more effective in fiction. I also am unconvinced by Hedges' argument that Americans are becoming mindless watchers of pictures. I am equally unimpressed with his lack of research and organization.
Clive Thompson's article begins similarly to Hedges'. "An age of illiteracy is at hand, right?" Thompson then launches into a study conducted by Stanford professor Andrea Lunsford. The study concluded that young people write more than previous generations even though they write differently. Adapting their tone to meet the audience, young people use argument and debate whereas more traditional forms of writing use narration and formal analysis. Thompson concludes that the younger generation is not becoming rapidly illiterate. Rather, they've discovered a new, different way to write--on the Internet. "New Literacy" is a much more convincing article than "Bad Days for Newsrooms" since it supports its argument with data and comes to a conclusion. Both articles try to persuade the reader, but "New Literacy" does it much more effectively and I'm more inclined to agree with Thompson.
Mary Hamilton
According to Hedges, America is once again quickly degenerating into an image-based society that cannot distinguish between fact and opinion. This is not a good thing, Hedges explains. It means "the loss of civic and public responsibility." He goes on to list practices in the newspaper and media business that blur the lines between fact and opinion. Using a very terse and vivid style, Hedges clearly tries to provoke the reader into worrying about the status quo. He does not back up any of his data with sources and he does not tell the reader what should be done to stop the decline. Instead, he leaves the reader with a vision of a bleak world. I've seen this literary technique in novels such as Orwell's 1984 or Kafka's Metamorphosis. I'm dubious that this technique works in this article because it's not well supported with sources, it's disorganized, and it's more effective in fiction. I also am unconvinced by Hedges' argument that Americans are becoming mindless watchers of pictures. I am equally unimpressed with his lack of research and organization.
Clive Thompson's article begins similarly to Hedges'. "An age of illiteracy is at hand, right?" Thompson then launches into a study conducted by Stanford professor Andrea Lunsford. The study concluded that young people write more than previous generations even though they write differently. Adapting their tone to meet the audience, young people use argument and debate whereas more traditional forms of writing use narration and formal analysis. Thompson concludes that the younger generation is not becoming rapidly illiterate. Rather, they've discovered a new, different way to write--on the Internet. "New Literacy" is a much more convincing article than "Bad Days for Newsrooms" since it supports its argument with data and comes to a conclusion. Both articles try to persuade the reader, but "New Literacy" does it much more effectively and I'm more inclined to agree with Thompson.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Supporting the Argument
Supporting the Argument
Mary Hamilton
In "American the Illiterate", Chris Hedges worries that the American public cannot read well enough to be informed and make rational decisions. If Americans cannot read well, then they are more prone to being deceived by propaganda and may become dependent on an elite reading class. This is a legitimate and serious concern. In the second paragraph, Hedges presents his supporting data: fifty million people read at the fifth grade level. But Hedges does not say where he found this data and his whole thesis is based on statistics he doesn't provide. Without data, it is impossible to know whether he is misquoting or exaggerating figures. This is poor researching on Hedges' part and it weakens his argument considerably.
On the second page, Hedges states, "Political leaders in our post-literate society no longer need to be competent, sincere, or honest." I doubt this is true; in fact, it may be the opposite. The Internet and wireless technology means that politicians are monitored constantly and are constantly in the public eye. Whereas in the past the goings-on in politics did not reach the public for some time if at all, now we know what is happening within minutes. For example, when President Wilson had his stroke and became severely disabled, the public was oblivious to it and the fact that his wife, Edith, may have been running the White House for him. Now, we know about politicians' health within hours of their having visited the doctor!
Toward the end of the article, Hedge fears, "[Americans during the economics decline] will retreat even further into irrational fantasy." What Hedges does not state exactly what fantasy Americans will retreat to. Hedges goes on to explain this is why we need stronger action on the government's part to teach people how to read.
Although Chris Hedges has a legitimate concern, he supports his argument badly, undermining his article. We should do everything we can to teach and encourage people to read, but I do not think it is nearly as catastrophic as Hedges believes.
Mary Hamilton
In "American the Illiterate", Chris Hedges worries that the American public cannot read well enough to be informed and make rational decisions. If Americans cannot read well, then they are more prone to being deceived by propaganda and may become dependent on an elite reading class. This is a legitimate and serious concern. In the second paragraph, Hedges presents his supporting data: fifty million people read at the fifth grade level. But Hedges does not say where he found this data and his whole thesis is based on statistics he doesn't provide. Without data, it is impossible to know whether he is misquoting or exaggerating figures. This is poor researching on Hedges' part and it weakens his argument considerably.
On the second page, Hedges states, "Political leaders in our post-literate society no longer need to be competent, sincere, or honest." I doubt this is true; in fact, it may be the opposite. The Internet and wireless technology means that politicians are monitored constantly and are constantly in the public eye. Whereas in the past the goings-on in politics did not reach the public for some time if at all, now we know what is happening within minutes. For example, when President Wilson had his stroke and became severely disabled, the public was oblivious to it and the fact that his wife, Edith, may have been running the White House for him. Now, we know about politicians' health within hours of their having visited the doctor!
Toward the end of the article, Hedge fears, "[Americans during the economics decline] will retreat even further into irrational fantasy." What Hedges does not state exactly what fantasy Americans will retreat to. Hedges goes on to explain this is why we need stronger action on the government's part to teach people how to read.
Although Chris Hedges has a legitimate concern, he supports his argument badly, undermining his article. We should do everything we can to teach and encourage people to read, but I do not think it is nearly as catastrophic as Hedges believes.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The HAL Scenario
The HAL Scenario:
My Mind is Going
Mary Hamilton
There is one central theme that runs though Nicholas Carr's article: although the Internet has its contributions, it is taking over the way we live. More specifically, the Internet is hampering our cognitive abilities. Whereas we used to be able to flesh out our thoughts on paper and read longer, more complex works, now we zip from one interesting tidbit to another.
This is not the only time a new process has been heralded as diminishing and demeaning. Carr gives several examples--Socrates lamenting the arrival of writing (p6 & 7), and Squarciafico predicting intellectual laziness due to the Gutenberg press (p7). This fear of negative change is not confined to the invention of writing or the Internet search. I can think of many cultural examples about the fear of technology in the 20th century. Recently I saw the 1964 movie Failsafe. When a circuit malfunctions during a military bombing exercise, planes are given the 'Destroy Moscow' signal. Despite all attempts to bring them back, Moscow and New York City are destroyed in a mushroom cloud. The characters in the movie repeatedly lament that machines have taken over our lives, and that we have lost the human element.
Another cultural example of fear of machines is Isaac Asimov's I, Robot book series. Science has advanced so much that humans can create robots that look and function almost exactly like humans. But advanced robots are baned on Earth because people are afraid of being enslaved by their technological superiority. And finally, there is Fritz Lang's 1928 movie Metropolis where an underclass exists solely to tend to the monstrous machines that run the city.
Nicholas Carr is right to worry about intellectual shallowness and also right to point out the benefits of Internet searching, such as the speed and availability of information. He points out how change can be positive as well as negative in his example of Friedrich Nietzsche buying a typewriter. Nietzsche continued to write even though his style changed (p3). We should be aware of Carr's concerns and attempt to use the Internet to increase our intellectual depth, not decrease it. If we can do that, then we won't have the HAL scenario Carr is so haunted by (p7). "My mind is going, Dave. Dave, I can feel it. Stop, Dave."
My Mind is Going
Mary Hamilton
There is one central theme that runs though Nicholas Carr's article: although the Internet has its contributions, it is taking over the way we live. More specifically, the Internet is hampering our cognitive abilities. Whereas we used to be able to flesh out our thoughts on paper and read longer, more complex works, now we zip from one interesting tidbit to another.
This is not the only time a new process has been heralded as diminishing and demeaning. Carr gives several examples--Socrates lamenting the arrival of writing (p6 & 7), and Squarciafico predicting intellectual laziness due to the Gutenberg press (p7). This fear of negative change is not confined to the invention of writing or the Internet search. I can think of many cultural examples about the fear of technology in the 20th century. Recently I saw the 1964 movie Failsafe. When a circuit malfunctions during a military bombing exercise, planes are given the 'Destroy Moscow' signal. Despite all attempts to bring them back, Moscow and New York City are destroyed in a mushroom cloud. The characters in the movie repeatedly lament that machines have taken over our lives, and that we have lost the human element.
Another cultural example of fear of machines is Isaac Asimov's I, Robot book series. Science has advanced so much that humans can create robots that look and function almost exactly like humans. But advanced robots are baned on Earth because people are afraid of being enslaved by their technological superiority. And finally, there is Fritz Lang's 1928 movie Metropolis where an underclass exists solely to tend to the monstrous machines that run the city.
Nicholas Carr is right to worry about intellectual shallowness and also right to point out the benefits of Internet searching, such as the speed and availability of information. He points out how change can be positive as well as negative in his example of Friedrich Nietzsche buying a typewriter. Nietzsche continued to write even though his style changed (p3). We should be aware of Carr's concerns and attempt to use the Internet to increase our intellectual depth, not decrease it. If we can do that, then we won't have the HAL scenario Carr is so haunted by (p7). "My mind is going, Dave. Dave, I can feel it. Stop, Dave."
Friday, September 11, 2009
Reading and Writing: a Process
Reading and Writing: a Process
Mary Hamilton
In his introduction, Harris describes writing as an action or "social practice" as opposed to a set of rules. He divides the action of writing into five "moves." But most interestingly, he describes writing as a continuous stream of thoughts and ideas that are added to, detracted from, and shaped by people's writing. In other words, the writer takes from and contributes to other writers. "You move in tandem with or in response to others." He tends to show readers how to use texts to increase the value of their writing, taking from the stream of existing ideas and contributing to it.
Harris describes how to analyze writing by defining the writer's objective, noting keywords, or emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of the piece. He repeatedly states that no one can read objectively. By recognizing this, the reader can use it to her or his advantage when she incorporates someone else's text into her writing.
Harris defines writing as a process or a journey, not a fixed position or stance. Reading is similar. He encourages his readers to view writing through different lenses: the writer's, the reader's, other sides of arguments. In this sense, Sullivan's definition of reading and writing and Harris' definition correlate. Both Sullivan and Harris describe reading and writing as an ever-changing process. Whereas Sullivan explains how his blog posts and the comments made on them morph and mold his writing, Harris explains how past writing morphs and molds future writers. Although blogging and academic writing are two different processes, Sullivan and Harris share the same perspective on writing.
Mary Hamilton
In his introduction, Harris describes writing as an action or "social practice" as opposed to a set of rules. He divides the action of writing into five "moves." But most interestingly, he describes writing as a continuous stream of thoughts and ideas that are added to, detracted from, and shaped by people's writing. In other words, the writer takes from and contributes to other writers. "You move in tandem with or in response to others." He tends to show readers how to use texts to increase the value of their writing, taking from the stream of existing ideas and contributing to it.
Harris describes how to analyze writing by defining the writer's objective, noting keywords, or emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of the piece. He repeatedly states that no one can read objectively. By recognizing this, the reader can use it to her or his advantage when she incorporates someone else's text into her writing.
Harris defines writing as a process or a journey, not a fixed position or stance. Reading is similar. He encourages his readers to view writing through different lenses: the writer's, the reader's, other sides of arguments. In this sense, Sullivan's definition of reading and writing and Harris' definition correlate. Both Sullivan and Harris describe reading and writing as an ever-changing process. Whereas Sullivan explains how his blog posts and the comments made on them morph and mold his writing, Harris explains how past writing morphs and molds future writers. Although blogging and academic writing are two different processes, Sullivan and Harris share the same perspective on writing.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Comparing Internet Habits
Comparing Internet Habits
Mary Hamilton
The first thing I noticed is how frequently people use facebook. I don't have a facebook page since I prefer to socialize in person. I've known that many people use facebook quite a lot. Nevertheless, I'm surprised how often my classmates check their facebook page.
My classmates also seem to use the Internet for tech support, for instance, looking at reviews for computer accessories. Since I'm not much of a tech person, I don't look at tech support sites much.
Many people looked at the main news websites such as CNN, Foxnews, or ABC. I do this too, although I did not do it this weekend. Last Friday, I looked up many of these news sites to see how they approached the incident where a pro-healthcare protester bit off a anti-healthcare protester's finger. Each news site (Politico and National Review Online in particular) emphasized a different aspect of the story. Very interesting. A few other students also compared the same stories or issues on different news sites. I especially like reading the news on the Internet because I don't have cable, I don't have time to wait for the news on the network stations, and the network ads are all for geriatric prescription medicine!
When I'm on the Internet, I like to limit my focus to a few sites or interests. Since I have several personal interests, I tend to check sites such as Attackpoint and World of O frequently. Many of my classmates read the Internet at a faster pace, jumping from site to site or visiting the same one many times in a single day.
I really enjoyed comparing my Internet notes with my classmates. This project showed me what other students my age are doing. Now I'm a little more aware of my own Internet reading and I hope I'll maximize the time I spend on it a little better in the future.
Mary Hamilton
The first thing I noticed is how frequently people use facebook. I don't have a facebook page since I prefer to socialize in person. I've known that many people use facebook quite a lot. Nevertheless, I'm surprised how often my classmates check their facebook page.
My classmates also seem to use the Internet for tech support, for instance, looking at reviews for computer accessories. Since I'm not much of a tech person, I don't look at tech support sites much.
Many people looked at the main news websites such as CNN, Foxnews, or ABC. I do this too, although I did not do it this weekend. Last Friday, I looked up many of these news sites to see how they approached the incident where a pro-healthcare protester bit off a anti-healthcare protester's finger. Each news site (Politico and National Review Online in particular) emphasized a different aspect of the story. Very interesting. A few other students also compared the same stories or issues on different news sites. I especially like reading the news on the Internet because I don't have cable, I don't have time to wait for the news on the network stations, and the network ads are all for geriatric prescription medicine!
When I'm on the Internet, I like to limit my focus to a few sites or interests. Since I have several personal interests, I tend to check sites such as Attackpoint and World of O frequently. Many of my classmates read the Internet at a faster pace, jumping from site to site or visiting the same one many times in a single day.
I really enjoyed comparing my Internet notes with my classmates. This project showed me what other students my age are doing. Now I'm a little more aware of my own Internet reading and I hope I'll maximize the time I spend on it a little better in the future.
Monday, September 7, 2009
More Internet Notes
Mary's Notes Cont.
Monday:
4:20--checked personal mail, responded to some of them
4:36--read Kruse Kronicle, Michael Kruse's blog on economic, political, and religious news.
4:48--read New Criterion
5:05--looked at Trondheim maps on World of O (next year's World Championships will be held at Trondheim, SWE)
5:18--logged off of Internet
Monday:
4:20--checked personal mail, responded to some of them
4:36--read Kruse Kronicle, Michael Kruse's blog on economic, political, and religious news.
4:48--read New Criterion
5:05--looked at Trondheim maps on World of O (next year's World Championships will be held at Trondheim, SWE)
5:18--logged off of Internet
UofL Choir Concert, Sept. 13th
All three UofL choirs are having their first concert of the year! The concert will be held at Comstock, Sept. 13th at 7:30pm. University Chorus(the choir I'm in) will be singing three songs: a Mozart piece, a spiritual, and a piece we haven't even seen yet! I'm guessing the Cardinal Singers will be singing their summer repertoire. The only piece I know Collegiate Chorale will be singing is 'Joshua Fit the Battle', which sounded terrific last week! If you go, you're in for a treat! I can hardly wait myself! I hope I'll see you there!
Internet Reading Notes
Mary's Internet Reading Notes
Saturday:
5:26--checked personal email
5:30--read Attackpoint (an orienteering discussion forum)
6:15--logged off Internet
Sunday:
2:43--read World of O (an orienteering blogging site)
2:50--read articles on National Review Online
3:10--read articles on Investors Business Daily Editorials
3:20--read articles on Pajamas Media
3:33--logged off Internet
Notes:
Orienteering is a sport a little like cross-country. You navigate through a course in the woods using a map and a compass.
I was going to watch some movie clips on Youtube but I ran out of time:(
Saturday:
5:26--checked personal email
5:30--read Attackpoint (an orienteering discussion forum)
6:15--logged off Internet
Sunday:
2:43--read World of O (an orienteering blogging site)
2:50--read articles on National Review Online
3:10--read articles on Investors Business Daily Editorials
3:20--read articles on Pajamas Media
3:33--logged off Internet
Notes:
Orienteering is a sport a little like cross-country. You navigate through a course in the woods using a map and a compass.
I was going to watch some movie clips on Youtube but I ran out of time:(
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Process of Blogging
The Process of Blogging
By Mary Hamilton
Andrew Sullivan was ambivalent about blogging when he started. When he first began blogging, he only posted his past articles and columns. Quickly, he found blogging to be a lot like journalism: "We blog now--as news reaches us, as facts emerge." As a journalist, Sullivan began to appreciate blogging and began to write articles and posts soley meant for his blog. He found it a liberating experience--it was immediate and unedited. He could write raw posts without waiting to publish it and without having an editor polish his writing. "The simple experience of being able to directly broadcast my own words to readers was an exhilarating literary liberation."
Not only was publishing immediate, but also criticism was immediate. Sullivan's readers corrected him, argued with him, and trashed him. At first, he was shocked: "Now the feedback was instant, personal, and brutal." Eventually, he learned to use his readers' challenges to edit his blog, improve it, and enrich it. His readers would give him stories, information, and ideas. He used the different perspectives his readers provided to improve the quality and texture of his blog.
Sullivan recognized that blogging was "superficial" and more "colloquial" than print journalism. But he also realized that he could reflect on his own writing and gain a clearer, more defined truth. His process of public self-reflection created better "print writing." "But being forced to order (my thoughts) in my head and think about them for a longer stretch has helped me understand them better and perhaps express them more clearly." Already an accomplished writer, Andrew Sullivan's blog gave him direct access to his readers, let him learn from the process, and become a more aware writer.
By Mary Hamilton
Andrew Sullivan was ambivalent about blogging when he started. When he first began blogging, he only posted his past articles and columns. Quickly, he found blogging to be a lot like journalism: "We blog now--as news reaches us, as facts emerge." As a journalist, Sullivan began to appreciate blogging and began to write articles and posts soley meant for his blog. He found it a liberating experience--it was immediate and unedited. He could write raw posts without waiting to publish it and without having an editor polish his writing. "The simple experience of being able to directly broadcast my own words to readers was an exhilarating literary liberation."
Not only was publishing immediate, but also criticism was immediate. Sullivan's readers corrected him, argued with him, and trashed him. At first, he was shocked: "Now the feedback was instant, personal, and brutal." Eventually, he learned to use his readers' challenges to edit his blog, improve it, and enrich it. His readers would give him stories, information, and ideas. He used the different perspectives his readers provided to improve the quality and texture of his blog.
Sullivan recognized that blogging was "superficial" and more "colloquial" than print journalism. But he also realized that he could reflect on his own writing and gain a clearer, more defined truth. His process of public self-reflection created better "print writing." "But being forced to order (my thoughts) in my head and think about them for a longer stretch has helped me understand them better and perhaps express them more clearly." Already an accomplished writer, Andrew Sullivan's blog gave him direct access to his readers, let him learn from the process, and become a more aware writer.
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