As we came upon the debate on whether or not students should write their thoughts down in standard English, I came to my opinion almost immediately. I believe that each person should be able to write their drafts (of any writing whether it be for school or not) in any way they want. For this specific debate, that has to deal with home languages or what some would think of as a person's first language.
In some ways I have an easier time with writing since I've always had English as my home language and I'm used to writing in standard English. However, at the same time, this is the writing style that I'm the most comfortable with. Others have an easier time writing in foreign languages or in another type of English (the other types are based on region or how much one's on the computer or texting). To expand, I personally believe that rough drafts are where ideas are placed down. The other drafts mainly are used to fine the ideas into a way others can understand.
Therefore yes, people should be able to write rough drafts anyway they want since this is the purpose I believe rough drafts focus on: getting ideas down onto paper. However, I also believe writing in standard English is good learning for students. Students need to learn how to finalize work and the best way I learned to do this is through finalizing my drafts in English. The only way to see if this is working, for teachers at least, is to use a universal language which is seen as Standard English. Thus, I believe that at some point the ideas written in the most comfortable way for the students should be altered into Standard English.
Some may moan and grumble but the truth is, this is useful for everyone. Since we have to deal with it in the way the education system is right now, we might as well use this to our advantage and learn how to finalize our work.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Have Y'all Noticed the Movement Towards Video Games?
As we watched the Ted Talk which discussed the hidden meanings in children movies, I began to wonder. Movies have had such significance to society ever since they first appeared. They've captured the minds of every generation and have continued to expand into a being of such importance that it's almost unimaginable.
They originally started as black and white, silent, short films. They had limitations for special effects due to the technology at the time. Yet, these films still captured the minds of people who've never seen anything like this before. However, as everyone grew used to the idea of movies being in society, Hollywood - and others like it - had to step up their game. They needed ways to continue to captivate their audience.
They succeeded.
With the special effects adding to the reality of a film, what could be done was expanded. The limitations which this industry once had now seem to be nonexistent. Still, there is another industry which has appeared in the last few decades which is doing the exact same things as the movie industry did (in regards to the expansion and the captivation).
Video games are expanding and some can argue that it's doing so faster than the movie industry did.
Games like Pong laid the first stone down a new path which is being built faster and faster. The industry started out with little squares moving on a screen to detailed animations of humans, creatures, and beautiful scenery. It's still in the process of captivating the imagination of its audience as the expansion continues to flow around the world.
However, what I've discussed above only deals with what the audience sees. There is also the connection to the audience's emotions which really allows these two industries to expand to what they are and will be.
Both connect to what we want, what we have gone through, and what we view with as incredible, indescribable, and a sense of awe. These allow us to let our minds run rampant and keep us coming back.
There is so much which can be said about both industries but what I know for a fact is that the video game industry will continue to expand rapidly. This industry also has the opportunity to surpass that of the movies if they play their cards right.
They originally started as black and white, silent, short films. They had limitations for special effects due to the technology at the time. Yet, these films still captured the minds of people who've never seen anything like this before. However, as everyone grew used to the idea of movies being in society, Hollywood - and others like it - had to step up their game. They needed ways to continue to captivate their audience.
They succeeded.
With the special effects adding to the reality of a film, what could be done was expanded. The limitations which this industry once had now seem to be nonexistent. Still, there is another industry which has appeared in the last few decades which is doing the exact same things as the movie industry did (in regards to the expansion and the captivation).
Video games are expanding and some can argue that it's doing so faster than the movie industry did.
Games like Pong laid the first stone down a new path which is being built faster and faster. The industry started out with little squares moving on a screen to detailed animations of humans, creatures, and beautiful scenery. It's still in the process of captivating the imagination of its audience as the expansion continues to flow around the world.
However, what I've discussed above only deals with what the audience sees. There is also the connection to the audience's emotions which really allows these two industries to expand to what they are and will be.
Both connect to what we want, what we have gone through, and what we view with as incredible, indescribable, and a sense of awe. These allow us to let our minds run rampant and keep us coming back.
There is so much which can be said about both industries but what I know for a fact is that the video game industry will continue to expand rapidly. This industry also has the opportunity to surpass that of the movies if they play their cards right.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Critics: The good and the bad
In response to a writing into the day we did in class about Peter Elbow's Believing Game, all I could think about is what I've always believed and been taught. And that is: critics can be amazing with feedback.
First off, I like to get the two separate types of critics labeled:
The first is the one everyone knows. This one is the group where you can get constructive criticism back about anything you put out there. They help advance your work into something better (most of the time).
An example of constructive criticism is so:
Wow the plot to this has great potential! Sure you need to double-check some spelling and grammar but that's easily fixed with a beta. Also, on this website's format you should try making the paragraphs shorter (even though it's not something we're supposed to do on essays) - it's easier on the eyes. I think that as long as you don't push the relationship between these two characters too much then it should come out as possible. Just pace yourself and don't get trigger happy. Can't wait for the next chapter!
The second is one that everyone should ignore. To get an understanding of this, just look at what they're called on websites like fanfiction.net. They're called "flamers" and everyone ignores what they say.
An example of a "flamers" criticism is so:
Your writing is crap. It doesn't even deserve to be found on this pitiful website. You can't spell for your life and you can't even figure out how to write a sentence correctly. The story itself sucks. I mean, what's the point of writing this? It doesn't even come close to being good. Those two characters are never realistically supposed to get together and it's just sick. Get a life and actually work on something you're good at.
.... It's kind-of obvious why websites have a way of reporting these flamers isn't it?
Even for writers trying to get a book published, sometimes they'll get flames back. People just have to know the difference and ignore the one's that lower your self-esteem.
Now, I've taken a Creative Writing class when I was in high school and it was one of the best classes I've ever taken. I learned so much in that class and one of the things I was taught was to get a tough-skin to rebound these flaming comments on my work. Yet, I also needed to make it a sponge that way I could absorb the constructive criticism that way I wouldn't just stay at one level of writing potential all my life. I need to hear how to make myself better from the second best (the first-best critics being our own selves).
This is personally what I need to become better at something (isn't that what we got when we worked on our rough drafts for English essays?). I don't know it everyone needs that but I always believed that it helps us so much into becoming a better writer/artist/music player... etc.
Again, create a spongey-shield and you should be fine.
First off, I like to get the two separate types of critics labeled:
The first is the one everyone knows. This one is the group where you can get constructive criticism back about anything you put out there. They help advance your work into something better (most of the time).
An example of constructive criticism is so:
Wow the plot to this has great potential! Sure you need to double-check some spelling and grammar but that's easily fixed with a beta. Also, on this website's format you should try making the paragraphs shorter (even though it's not something we're supposed to do on essays) - it's easier on the eyes. I think that as long as you don't push the relationship between these two characters too much then it should come out as possible. Just pace yourself and don't get trigger happy. Can't wait for the next chapter!
The second is one that everyone should ignore. To get an understanding of this, just look at what they're called on websites like fanfiction.net. They're called "flamers" and everyone ignores what they say.
An example of a "flamers" criticism is so:
Your writing is crap. It doesn't even deserve to be found on this pitiful website. You can't spell for your life and you can't even figure out how to write a sentence correctly. The story itself sucks. I mean, what's the point of writing this? It doesn't even come close to being good. Those two characters are never realistically supposed to get together and it's just sick. Get a life and actually work on something you're good at.
.... It's kind-of obvious why websites have a way of reporting these flamers isn't it?
Even for writers trying to get a book published, sometimes they'll get flames back. People just have to know the difference and ignore the one's that lower your self-esteem.
Now, I've taken a Creative Writing class when I was in high school and it was one of the best classes I've ever taken. I learned so much in that class and one of the things I was taught was to get a tough-skin to rebound these flaming comments on my work. Yet, I also needed to make it a sponge that way I could absorb the constructive criticism that way I wouldn't just stay at one level of writing potential all my life. I need to hear how to make myself better from the second best (the first-best critics being our own selves).
This is personally what I need to become better at something (isn't that what we got when we worked on our rough drafts for English essays?). I don't know it everyone needs that but I always believed that it helps us so much into becoming a better writer/artist/music player... etc.
Again, create a spongey-shield and you should be fine.
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