Blog 12/12: "Do you have any advice for those of us just starting out?"

     Be free spirited. Regardless of what the assignment is, don't be afraid to take risks and think outside the box. Granted, doing so might receive some negative attention but that's okay; it means you actually stood up for something and that you're writing has a real voice. What others may think of your writing is not important; just be true to who you are, write what you want to, and most importantly, feel what you want to. Like Koertge stated:
"Laugh so loud everybody in the world frowns and says 'shhh'.
Then start again."
It's the people with the most haters who tend to have the biggest impact on society.

Blog 11/12:Are the four-letter word projects writing?

     If one considers writing as expressing yourself and your thoughts on a subject matter, then the four-letter word projects are definitely pieces of writing. Mostly all of the projects I watched in class had some type of argument or thought process behind it. Each video showed what that person's thoughts were on that specific word they chose and what exactly that word meant to them. This is what writing is about -- making arguments and/or expressing your thoughts.

Blog 9/12: Anticipated audience when putting on text? Twitter audience?

     I guess, in the literal sense, my tweeting audience isn't jut my followers but anyone who lands on my page and actually bothers to read my posts. However, I also think by tweeting, your number one audience if yourself. Twitter seems to serve more for the purpose of letting out how you are feeling and what you are thinking and since it's your Twitter account, you're going to be on your page the most and thus reading your own tweets more often than others.
     When it comes to wearing text, I really don't anticipate any kind of audience. The only reason I'd wear a shirt with text on it is if its a cute shirts or if I like how it looks. I don't necessarily wear text in the hopes or anticipation that someone will read it and start a conversation.

Blog 6/12: Twouble with Twitter

     I'm not really a Twitter user. The only account I've made was the one for this class. If I was one, I think my audience would pretty much be whoever followed me which would mainly be friends. In an online writing environment, I think I feel more free to express myself because although what you post will be read, I'm not all that conscious of it. For some reason, writing online feels more like a personal diary rather than a public thing that many people have access to reading.

Blog 8/12: Reiterate the crayon piece you recieved

Text: Is it true that flexibility in voice leads to flexibility in all things? I don't necessarily believe so. I mean a man or woman with many different voices may not be very flexible. They could be stubborn in their opinions but be able to voice them in many different ways. It also doesn't mean they are physically flexible, they could be extremely unathletic. Flexibility in voice is a talent but it doesn't mean that you are automatically flexible in other ways."

Drawing: A stick figure talking into a microphone in all different directions, then a not equal sign leading to a stick figure smoking a pipe saying "Yes, I respect your opinion" (speaking to another stick figure).

Blog 7/12: Does using a crayon influence the writing?

I read Matt's crayon writing piece and I think it was actually pretty good. I think he was definitely influenced by the fact that he was using a crayon to write because he ended up drawing  picture in the end, which is the typical thing to do with a crayon. He seems to be just as expressive as he would when writing with a pen; possibly even more since h added a visual that very clearly summed up his point. I actually find that his argument is much stronger and clearer because of the fact he added a drawing.

Blog 4/12 "Speaking in Tongues" Questions

1.) p. 187 "These were genuine questions for people born in real cities..." What exactly is considered to be a real city? Does being from a real city make a difference in whether one approves of a flexibility in voice or not?

2.) All in all, does Zadie Smith feel that a flexible voice is a good thing or bad?

3.) p. 187 "... unless we are suggesting that one side of a person's genetics and cultural heritage cancels out or trumps the other." Does Smith believe this to be true? Does coming from a mixed cultural and ethnic background automatically make someone flexible in their voice?"

4.) By quoting Eliza Doolittle on p. 180 "What's to become of me? What's to become of me?", is Zadie Smith suggesting that with flexibility in voice comes the loss of sense of self?

5.) p. 181 "Professor Higgins has made his Eliza and awkward, in-between thing, neither flower girl nor lady, with one voice lost and another gained, at the steep price of everything she was and everything she knows." Is Smith implying that flexibility of voice can lead to forgetting where you came from and what you grew up in?

6.) p. 189 "Our Shakespeare sees always both sides of a thing, he is black and white, male and female - he is Everyman." So is Shakespeare's true voice a combination of many types or is it just that his true single voice can be morphed into many others?

Blog 3 of 12: Twitter's writing space

     What I really think about the writing space that Twitter affords is that it's limited, perhaps too limited, in how many thoughts on can put into a post, also known as a tweet. Twitter is more appropriate for simple updates, ideas,, and thoughts or to get the gist of a point across. If someone has a lot to say about something it would be better off posted on a blogging site. Though Twitter's writing space is pretty small, it's good at helping readers to be constantly entertained with each tweet being a new subject or thought. The limited writing space of Twitter keeps each tweet short, sweet, simple, and to the point, which is what many people would rather read in comparison to long complex paragraphs. This is probably what makes Twitter so successful and appealing to many.

Blog 2 of 12: Text on clothing and skin..

     I'm not sure why so many people wear texts on their clothing and on their skin. Perhaps they feel that such portable writing serves to create laughs for those who read the text. I know that whenever I purposely wear a shirt with writing on it, it's because it has some type of funny or witty remark on it that can get people to laugh. One never knows who may laugh from reading that shirt with the funny remark on it or who might even cheer up after reading the shirt.
     However, as far as tattoos go, I think it's not usually about laughs but more about that person's admiration for someone or something. It can also serve as a personal little message of motivation. For example, I know one girl who was going through a tough time in her life so she decided to get a tattoo saying "Life goes on". The really memorable thing about it is that its written backwards so that when she looks in the mirror during a tough time in her life, she'll be able to clearly read her tattoo and that helps her overcome whatever struggle she's going through.

Blog 1 of 12: The Problem of Describing Trees

     In Robert Hass' poem "The Problem with Describing Trees", Hass is trying to make the point that sometimes words can't be used to describe an event. Certain things just need to be seen or experienced. One can see this argument through the lines:

"The tree danced. No.
The tree capitalized.
No. There are limits to saying
In language, what the tree did."

The face that Hass tries to describe the tree yet fails to describe it in a satisfactory way shows that sometimes there are no words to describe certain events. He makes his point extremely clear by stating "There are limits to saying In language, what the tree did". Once again, there are certain situations in which a visual of what occured is better in terms of description and clarity compared to using words.

     In the line "Dance with me dancer. Oh I will", Hass allows the reader to decide who is the dancer and who is asking that dancer to dance. It seems to be Hass talking to the tree, the tree being the dancer. In class, one student brought up an extremely good point that maybe the poet is talking about "dancing" with words or playing around with words in order to satisfy the description of how Hass wants to describe the tree.

Four-Letter Word

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OgDUfPNv-Q&list=HL1322877696&feature=mh_lolz

Equivalent terms for boy and girl

Girl:
- female
- lady
- chick
- gal
- miss
- dudette
- broad
- ma'am
- madam

Boy:
- male
- guy
- kid
- dude
- lad
- sir
- mister

Visual arguments?

Here's the pdf of the article:

http://gvalliswriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/blair.pdf

and BLOG THIS:

Can images do what words do?  Are visual arguments possible?

Images can do what words do. It is true that a picture can be interpreted in a million ways, depending on the person interpreting it, but the same applies to words or how words are arranged. Visual arguments are definitely possible. An image can get across the point of an argument just as well as words can... sometimes even better. As J. Anthony Blair puts it, "A single visual image can probably be more powerful than a single verb assertion". A visual image makes the argument much clearer and sometimes easier to understand by more people, and in essence can be more powerful than words alone. Blair uses political cartoons as an example that images can make arguments, which is an excellent point. Even in grade school, students are often asked to state the point or argument of a certain political cartoon. This just shows images can be interpreted better by a more variety of people. Words describing a certain event, argument, or situation sometimes doesn't work as well as images do.

Meddy's video

Blog this:  Why does Meddy suggest this is relevant?  What is one rhetorical strategy used by the video's creators?

http://meddysarhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/ps-i-stumbled-upon-this-video-and.html

The video has much to do with the fact that our writing space is being changed. The change is so drastic and widespread that the newer generations won't necessarily be all that interested in print text; but rather electronic print and technology. The upcoming generations will also probably expect electronics rather than books thus possibly leading to the unpopularity of print text.

First thought

I keep thinking about my project 3, and I'm pretty sure my next rhetorical move will be...
to add more personal experiences and perhaps focus on one specific landmark in NYC as oppose to Manhattan as a whole. I think that by doing this my paper will become more informative as well as passionate and show more of a gray of two shades of gray feeling that I have towards that specific place. Focusing on one place will probably also reflect my feeling towards NYC as a whole and will thus make my paper stronger.

First thought

I am peer reviewing a colleague's draft of Project 3, and my first reaction is that this draft is very descriptive and intriguing. Helps create much visuals and I like how he put in personal experiences he has had in that area. Also, good choice of verb usage.

First thoughts

I've been thinking about my own draft for project 3, and I have to tell you (Prof. Lay) that this is probably the worst paper I have ever written. It's really messy with a bunch of thought going in a million ways. It needs to be much more focused and the point of my paper needs to be much more clear cut in order for the reader to understand the purpose of the piece of writing.

A sentence starts out like...

     A sentence starts out like an overly confident explorer wandering the jungles of the wild. With a big bag on his back, like the weight on a writer's shoulder to make his or her piece good. Sword in hand chopping down any trees or bushes in the way, like a writer having to tear down common beliefs in order to make way for his or her own thoughts to be put into the wild and to possibly be torn apart by a few lions, or critics. There's a sense of fright that develops in the sense that the writer, or explorer,  is entering uncharted territory and knows this... but still proceeds to do so anyways.

What's your relationship with your reader?

     Readers sometimes intimidate me. I definitely do care about what the reader thinks because if I didn't, I don't think I would be so intimidated. What's so frightening is the thought that the reader might challenge my personal ideas or way of writing. Once a paper is written, you never know who might read it and what that reader's personality is like. If he or she is stubborn and has thoughts conflicting with what has been written, then, in a sense, a battle begins; a war of words and/or ideas, and I'm no good at battles. On the other hand, if what I have written is being accepted and possibly even encouraged by a reader, then I feel at easy.
     In regards to how close I am with my reader, I like to make my papers and pieces of writing on a personal and informal level' as if I am talking to a friend. I think this tone really creates a sense of warmth and friendship with the reader and in essence makes me some what likable.

First thoughts...

(Home is like... [60 sec])
     Home is like a nest. It's nurturing and a place where I feel safe and relaxed... most of the time. Sometimes its a place even more stressful than the outside world; but for the most part I love my home.

[place] is not like...

     New York City isn't as glamorous as many people presume it to be. It might be known as one of the world's strongest market places as well as a city of fashion, fame, high education and all types of art, but it also holds a dark side. NYC is known as the city that never sleeps, but that's only certain streets and area that are always bustling. When walking along the streets of NYC, one should be careful in not wandering into dark alleyways or being lured in by a creepy looking bald guy who wants to sell you a fake Fendi.

[place] might be like...

    Though NYC has its scary side, it is also like what most people know it as. The area has beautiful landmarks and buildings and is known for its infamous fall fashion week held each September. When entering Manhattan, one can always find a variety of people from all walks of life who are pursuing ll types of careers. One can find elegant trendy little restaurants to dine in or could possibly rather eat at one of the delicious halal carts found at the corner of nearly every block (if so, might I recommend 53rd and 6th... it's absolutely delicious). Whatever one's desire may be, the city that never sleeps is more than likely to have what you're looking for.

Ink Shedding Quiz 3 [edited]

     Today, our cultures is all about immediacy and constant improvement. We want things not only to get done, but to get done fast and efficiently. The computer provides us with quick information on whatever topic we want; information right at our fingertips. Twitter, for example, is a result of human's desire for immediate news and updates. Its a site that helps increase the speed of how fast news spreads. Years before the computer, we couldn't get so much information as easily. Over the years, technology has become more advanced, with each new computer having additional features that the previous one did not.

Group Prezi Link

http://prezi.com/wtkidcwgyese/chapter-2/

Taylor Mali "Like You Know"

     One may think a video in which someone is acting out what they're saying differs greatly from a video in which all you see are the words of what that person is saying, but it really isn't so. From seeing Taylor Mali's spoken work video of "Like You Know", it doesn't differ much with his [unconventional] print text. Both methods seemed to have a lot of feeling to it. In the spoken word, you're caught up in Mali's hand movements and facial expressions as he goes on in saying his poem. On the other hand, in the print text video, you get caught up in the same way but instead, through the video's use of italics, font, font size, and positioning of the words. At first I didn't think that the print text version would be as interesting as the spoken word, but through the clever use of what a computer can do with font, the print text kept me just as interested, if not more, into the poem as much as the spoken word did.

Are you afraid to write?

     I'm not necessarily afraid to write, but instead, I'm afraid of the reactions or criticisms what I write may receive. It makes me a little uneasy thinking someone will read my piece of writing and will judge it; whether it be judging my grammar and word choice or my thought and ideas. That being said, I definitely don't take writing as seriously as Jacques Derrida. Writing is meant to be a way of freely expressing yourself and so it should be natural and fluid to the writer's personal style. Its about letting the writer's thoughts flow and staying true to themselves.

Reading Quiz 1 (revised)

1.)    In chapter 1 or Writing Space, Bolter is inclined to celebrate the end of print text. One comment Bolter makes in the chapter is that traditionally there is a distance between the author and the reader, saying the reader is "only a visitor in the author's cathedral" (p. 4). He then proceeds to say that now, in the late age of print, "digital technology seems to reduce the distance between author and reader by turning the reader into an author herself." He seems to approve of this through his tone and mentioning that this "tendency to magnify the author and to empower the reader" has already become part of our current way of writing.
    Bolter further celebrates the end of print text by mentioning the many benefits of word processors (p. 9). He implies that word processors demonstrate the ease of electronic writing in "allowing writers to copy, compare, and discard text." Anyone can do this with a pen and paper as well, but what he ends the sentence with is the mentioning of the ease of doing all this with just "the touch of a few buttons." (p. 9). By Bolter's word choice of "a few" buttons, he implies the ease of writing in the late age of print which would further imply him being inclined to celebrate the end of print text.

2.)     Bolter argues that "many critics accuse the computer of promoting homogeneity in our society" (p.11) but he disputes this notion by claiming that electronic reading and writing seem to do just the opposite. This lack of homogeneity the computer propagates is productive in that it relates to the people's "economic and cultural 'special interests'" (p. 12). Computers allow users to break down words and create new patterns of wording and phrases with ease. Though one may think that creating these new patterns can bring about some confusion and make the writing hectic and clogged, it doesn't seem to do so. It simply helps us to reorganize our thoughts and create multiple voices in order to speak and relate to multiple types of readers. The more readers the writing reaches out to and has an effect on, the more productive that piece of writing has been.

Is the machine using us?

     Before we can determine if writing is a technology, we need to consider what exactly technology is. From what was said in class, technology is a tool used for communication. With a definition like that, I definitely would say writing is a technology. It is a powerful tool in that it can potentially make an emotional impact on the reader depending on how good the work is. What we write could also potentially change the reader's point of view and way of thinking. The simple tool of writing has no combined with complex use of internet and brings up the question "is the machine using us?" The machine definitely does use us in the fact that it uses our writing. We put our letters and punctuation into a computer's system in order to define the structure of a website and make that site exist. Yet at the same time, we also use the machine by using the internet and these site to gain more information and knowledge about all types of subjects. Our use for the machine is definitely much greater than the machine using us. At the end of the day, all those sites are being used for the people's benefits.

True Confessions: Chap. 6 "Diction"

In Trimble's, chapter 6 "Diction" the advice that felt most familiar would definitely have to be the choosing of the right vigorous verbs. Ever since grade school I've been taught to change up my verb usage and to try to use verbs that are much more creative. I think this advice is also pretty useful to me in respect to my own writing because I think I truly do need to work on using more powerful verbs. My verbs tend to be very one-note in my opinion, and I have a hard time changing it up. I think if I'm much more conscious of this and try to put in more of an effort when it comes to my verb choice, then my writing could improve tremendously.  The right verb can definitely make a difference and have more of an impact on the reader, thus vigorous verbs is what I shall work on.

Heineken Commercial Observation

     The Heineken commercial watched in class takes place at what seems to be a house warming party. The lady of the house is showing her friends around and finally brings them to the walk-in closet where they all scream in excitement. Not long after that, their screams become overshadowed by that of a group of men, only this group of men is not screaming about a closet, but in fact a walk-in fridge full of beer.
     This Heineken commercial parallels the over-the-top excitement a group of women get when entering a walk-in closet to the of a group of men entering a walk-in fridge full of beer. By having the walk-in fridge be shown to a group of only men, Heineken makes it clear who they're target audience is. The company uses the stereotype of how drinking beer is usually thought to be an act of 'masculinity' to their advantage and thus come up with a very funny and clever commercial for audiences to enjoy... perhaps even while drinking some fine Heineken beer.

Commercial to post up:

1. Keep yo hands off my mama.
2. Keep yo hands of my Doritos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Paragraph write up:

     The commercial starts off with a man giving a woman, who seems to be his date for that night, some flowers. She invites him inside and introduces him to her son and walks off to put the flowers away. As she walks away the man checks her out and the little boy doesn't seemed too thrill and even drops his game controller. The man walks up to the little boy and casually sits down, starts up a conversation and picks up a Dorito chip in the process. When the chip is close to his mouth, the little boy slaps him across the face and let's him know to keep his hands of his 'mama' and to keep is hands off his Doritos.
     By the little boy saying those two statements back to back, the Doritos company gives us the impression that this little boy cares for his Doritos just as much as he cares for his mama and that both are very precious to him. This scene also makes the audience think that if this little boy is willing to slap a man over some Doritos then those chips must be pretty darn good. This then persuades audiences to go out and try them in order to experience how delicious they are, while at the same time helping to build Doritos' revenue.

Heineken Walk In Fridge Commercial Questions

1. Why was it all men that was introduced to the walk in fridge full of beer?
2. Where'd they get the money for all that beer?
3. The actress in the beginning seemed to have an accent, where is this commercial originally from?
4. What happens to all that beer?

AT&T Commercial Questions

1. How old are these two little kids in the commercial?
2. Why are they in the city?
3. Where are their parents?
4. Why didn't they use the phone from the start to get to where they want to go?
5. Where are they coming from?
6. Why are they dressed that way?
7. Why didn't they use a taxi?
8. Do they have any money?
9. Why was that specific music chosen?
10. Where'd they get the bread crumbs from?

Are all writers like warriors? (Trimble Chapter 1)

I don't necessarily think that all writes are like warriors. Some writers could just be telling a story, not necessarily defending a claim or anything like that. Writing isn't always about defending your arguments/claims, it could also just be away to expand people's horizons and make them more knowledgeable about whatever it is you're writing about.

AT&T Commercial

     In the AT&T commercial watched in class, we see a little boy and girl who show to be out of our time period due to their very classical attire. We can infer that the kids represent Hansel and Gretel, not only due to their clothing, but due to the fact that they are dropping bread crumbs in order to find their way home which happens to be a big resemblance to the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. In the commercial, those bread crumbs are eaten by pigeons without the kids realizing and thus they are lost in the city.
     Now, the whole role of AT&T comes into play. As oppose to truly being lost in the city, the two just whip out their phone and navigate their way back to their "cottage". Seeming to fit in with the whole fairy tale concept, we are shown the 'magic' of technology and the ease of using it; if two little kids not even from our time period can use such technology, then can't anybody? This picture helps create a stigma that AT&T is so easy and useful, and by putting this into the minds of all viewers, AT&T has just created themselves a much wider demographic that includes all generations. Whether you're a lost little kid or an old man who thinks they are too out of tune with this generations technological advances, AT&T is the product for you... or at least this commercial makes you consider that.

Pantene Commercial (Rough Draft)

     In the Pantene commercial, a scenario of a butterfly newly coming out of its cocoon is shown. This to me symbolized a rebirth, fresh start, and new beginning. Though the butterfly has been used a numerous amount of times in a variety of books, shows, commercials, and art works, it still shows to be just as effective.

    In the commercial, the butterfly represents the deaf girl. It represents how that girl has really come into her own and has a new found confidence in her violin-playing talent. You can see her really getting into her music while performing on stage, which ultimately ends in a standing ovation.

Freewriting for 7 minutes

So here I am at Hofstra and I am blogging. Writing online makes me feel more comfortable compared to writing on paper. I dont feel as confined and I think my thoughts come out much more naturally and fluent. For some reason once I pick up a pen I'm never able to write down exactly what I'm thinking... Right now I'm actually not suppose to really think about what I'm writing and Im suppose to just let my thoughts flow (according to the rules Professor Lay has given) but I cant help but to stop and think... hardy har har. Rebel. I know... Kinda bored... My times up in like less than a minute so I'll just wrap this up and end with BYEEEEEEE :)