After some thinking, I've decided that I would like to continue this blog even though I started this for a grade in my English class. I find that I have a lot of things I want to discuss but no where to really write about them. Then, I remembered that I have this blog from last year just taking up space on the internet.
I have absolutely no idea what I want to write about or if this blog will be specified under one category. Thus, I'm going on the safe side and saying that each blog post will be different depending on what I feel like writing about. I know that my posts will be erratic since I have a very busy schedule so I'm not going to promise to update in an organized manner. That would be unfair to anyone who would actually be reading my posts.
I hope this will not be abandoned by me soon and I hope this split-second decision will turn out wonderful.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Final Blog Post
For my final project,
I decided to do a powerpoint slide and the reason is simple, it's what I know how to do and it looks impressive. However, I decided to change the info a little bit. Instead of focusing on how to introduce someone to the basics of Fan Fiction and what it is, I decided to be specific and focus on controversial issues that pop up in stories (they're usually involving some type of human rights issue).
I made sure that people who don't know what Fan Fiction is and people who do could both be interested in the powerpoint. I did this by keeping it interesting for both sides by not really talking about specific Fan Fiction in-the-know information but general information that everyone has heard. I also discovered a site that I explored for a while and found a gold mine when it comes to research for Fan Fiction.
Transformative Works and Cultures is a website where articles about many things (including fanfiction) are published and posted. My favorite academic who writes about Fan Fiction has posted some of his work on here and even some people that I've never heard of! I love what Henry Jenkins writes and really can't wait to find more of the articles he has on this website and read them. His opinions are close to mine and he writes in such a way that I find easier to understand than how I explain it in my own head.
I do have to admit though that I might got too excited with all the links that I put in my slideshow but what's done is done.
I enjoyed thinking about these controversial issues more. It makes me really recognize which issues are discussed more and which are actually gaining ground with speaking out more than others. I find how writers are capable of writing view points which they would personally disagree with impressive and professional. This really makes me want to give it a go and see if I can do as well as some of the stories I read.
The reason why I decided to choose this though was because of my third mini project. I realized how different every person's opinions can be but also how controlling society's opinions truly are. I wanted to delve into it and I did that.
Just so you know, I cannot post the powerpoint here because Blogger does not have a way to do so.
I decided to do a powerpoint slide and the reason is simple, it's what I know how to do and it looks impressive. However, I decided to change the info a little bit. Instead of focusing on how to introduce someone to the basics of Fan Fiction and what it is, I decided to be specific and focus on controversial issues that pop up in stories (they're usually involving some type of human rights issue).
I made sure that people who don't know what Fan Fiction is and people who do could both be interested in the powerpoint. I did this by keeping it interesting for both sides by not really talking about specific Fan Fiction in-the-know information but general information that everyone has heard. I also discovered a site that I explored for a while and found a gold mine when it comes to research for Fan Fiction.
Transformative Works and Cultures is a website where articles about many things (including fanfiction) are published and posted. My favorite academic who writes about Fan Fiction has posted some of his work on here and even some people that I've never heard of! I love what Henry Jenkins writes and really can't wait to find more of the articles he has on this website and read them. His opinions are close to mine and he writes in such a way that I find easier to understand than how I explain it in my own head.
I do have to admit though that I might got too excited with all the links that I put in my slideshow but what's done is done.
I enjoyed thinking about these controversial issues more. It makes me really recognize which issues are discussed more and which are actually gaining ground with speaking out more than others. I find how writers are capable of writing view points which they would personally disagree with impressive and professional. This really makes me want to give it a go and see if I can do as well as some of the stories I read.
The reason why I decided to choose this though was because of my third mini project. I realized how different every person's opinions can be but also how controlling society's opinions truly are. I wanted to delve into it and I did that.
Just so you know, I cannot post the powerpoint here because Blogger does not have a way to do so.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Mini Project 2
At first, I had planned on gathering information about the significance Fan Fiction had on people (via interviews) and then placing the information on some type of online archive that anyone could access. However, due to a virus that got onto my laptop, I ran out of time to have even a chance at doing this.
Then, I realized I could easily attach the information I'd gathered onto my video from the first mini project. Since I only had a day left to do this, I was pressured. Still, I got it done and, frankly, am proud of the finished piece.
What makes me really feel satisfied after finishing this video is that I was finally able to put my thoughts about Fan Fiction into words. Before, I only had emotions and when I tried to explain it to people I couldn't do so in a manner which brought its significance justice.
I succeeded in this video. I was capable in finally answering someone who asked why Fan Fiction is so important.
I was not only able to gather opinions from my peers, fellow writers, and some academic point of views but also my own. I saw many different points of view that I've never thought of before.
I never realized that there are probably some authors out there who don't like the thought that readers are changing the plot they worked so hard on.
I also never realized how serious the possible copyright battle could be if someone takes offense to Fan Fiction. It really makes me pause and wonder if us Fan Fiction readers/writers are just on borrowed time or if we could possibly win a court case.
I can't wait for the next project because I have a really good idea in my head and I want to know what the outcome will be.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Mini Project 1: An Introduction To FanFiction
When I first began this inquiry project, I knew that I wanted to focus on Fan Fiction in some manner. I realized almost immediately that not as many people as I thought know what Fan Fiction is. So for my first mini project I decided to dedicate some of it as an introduction of sorts.
However, I always thought that there weren't that many academics who have spent time to research Fan Fiction in any way. Thankfully, I found one and read some of the blog posts he's made involving my topic. Some of it is what I used to think of as common sense (this is in regards to the copyright). At the same time, I learned more detail (and also felt slightly insulted when Fan Fiction writers were referred to as "amateurs") involving these topics.
I also realized the significance Fan Fiction has to me based on how it changes the original plots to something that may or may not be close to the original.
Then there was the fact that Fan Fiction opened my eyes to some topics of discussion as well as things I've never noticed or processed in the original works. For example, a minor character may become an important one in a Fan Fiction and that character may develop into something incredible or even have such significance to chance the plot entirely.
I've learned a lot in the past week through research and actually thinking through what I've always accepted as Fan Fiction Common Sense 101.
Now, I know that there are many people that do not have the same interest in Fan Fiction as I have. Therefore, I've decided to make this video for those who have no knowledge about Fan Fiction at all. Hopefully, it's adequate.
Still, I tried to show the feelings and emotions I get when a character I love chooses to do something else entirely in a Fan Fiction than what they did in the original plot. I love the mystery of not knowing what the Fan Fiction writer will decide. Do they already know where the plot is going or will they actually take on some of the advice of the reviewers?
Hopefully, the music and some of the words I have in the video convey this.
I kept the significance this topic has to me more at a subtle level just to keep as much bias as possible away from this important introduction. That's why I leave the copyright information with two questions that could lead to an interesting debate.
Anyways, I've read Fan Fiction for almost 7 years now (yes that is straight through - no pauses in between) and I've learned how to spot a diamond in the rough. How to spot the ones that affect me just like any other good book would. I've caught myself crying or perking up in bed. I've caught myself laughing at jokes and all types of humor. This is my main hobby and it's so addicting to me that I almost refuse to do anything else to replace it.
Ever since I've begun reading Fan Fiction, I've opened my mind more to how much a writer can have the freedom to write as well as debates that come up in some stories. This is only a window into the community of Fan Fiction and I can't wait to open the door for the next mini project.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Mini Project Ideas
I know that we're probably going to be talking about the mini projects in class but I need somewhere to think about possible ideas.
There's of course the classic presentations:
1) Power Point
2) Lecture
3) Skit
4) Video
5) Music
Then there's the not-so classic ideas which I'm trying to lean more towards:
1) Game
2) Interactive Presentation (varies greatly)
3) ... uh.... well.... hmm.... i got nothing
Yeah... not really sure what else to put. I'm also wondering what other things I can look at when it comes to my project. I could make some general statistics or general observations that I've picked up over time and maybe make a jeopardy game?
4) Jeopardy/ Question game
Oh, maybe I can have the volunteers do something funny if they get a question wrong!
At least this got me somewhere for now.
There's of course the classic presentations:
1) Power Point
2) Lecture
3) Skit
4) Video
5) Music
Then there's the not-so classic ideas which I'm trying to lean more towards:
1) Game
2) Interactive Presentation (varies greatly)
3) ... uh.... well.... hmm.... i got nothing
Yeah... not really sure what else to put. I'm also wondering what other things I can look at when it comes to my project. I could make some general statistics or general observations that I've picked up over time and maybe make a jeopardy game?
4) Jeopardy/ Question game
Oh, maybe I can have the volunteers do something funny if they get a question wrong!
At least this got me somewhere for now.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
A Writer's Language: Universal or Different?
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.
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 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.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Minority? Really?!
As we wrote into our daybooks on Wednesday in response to Mimi Ito on HOMAGO's video, I noticed how they were studying the generations (mine as well as the few before and behind us) which have impacted the digital world through social media like Facebook. In the beginning, I felt excited when she mentioned fanfiction in the list of websites they observed in their study. Then, by the end of the video once she mentioned that the people in our generations visiting these social media websites (and fanfiction - cause I don't really consider this close to Facebook just because of the layout of the main website which people use), I started to feel as if I was a part of a minority.
This then led my thoughts onto a tangent of what else I could be a minority of. Thus, I realized that I am a minority in three major parts in my life:
1) I go onto fanfiction.net for hours and hours (As stated above - it is a minority that does this)
2) I play video games.... a lot (A minority I gladly say seems to be increasing every day)
3) I am into Anime (which is a huge minority group in the world that would lead me on a tangent days long!)
I then started to feel bad since minorities have always had some type of negativity attached to them. If you haven't already felt a small inkling of this, then try to think if you're part of a minority whether it be because of ethnicity, hobbies, or anything else. And then start to think about how rare you find it to discover others around you (physically) that are fit into these minorities as well. That will lead your thoughts onto all sorts of tangents that may leave a bad taste in your mouth. Not fun.
After I finished this tangent, I started to wonder about the social ideas we place on certain minority ideas, opinions, and hobbies.
For example, when I hear about Facebook, I think that everyone is on there. However, from what I got from the video, that apparently isn't the case.
Also, another example is my idea about the Anime minority in the world. I've met so many people that are into this television style (don't forget the manga!) that I've grown up with the idea that many people like Anime. In fact, it wasn't until I came to college that I realized that this wasn't the case.
It's an interesting concept that has many more examples attached to it. One large one that I noticed in my later years of high school was that not a lot of people enjoy writing stories after stories and essays after essays.
Just think about some examples about yourself that you've noticed recently and you'll realize just how many there really are.
There. That was my thought tangent for the video. Hope I encouraged some for y'all.
This then led my thoughts onto a tangent of what else I could be a minority of. Thus, I realized that I am a minority in three major parts in my life:
1) I go onto fanfiction.net for hours and hours (As stated above - it is a minority that does this)
2) I play video games.... a lot (A minority I gladly say seems to be increasing every day)
3) I am into Anime (which is a huge minority group in the world that would lead me on a tangent days long!)
I then started to feel bad since minorities have always had some type of negativity attached to them. If you haven't already felt a small inkling of this, then try to think if you're part of a minority whether it be because of ethnicity, hobbies, or anything else. And then start to think about how rare you find it to discover others around you (physically) that are fit into these minorities as well. That will lead your thoughts onto all sorts of tangents that may leave a bad taste in your mouth. Not fun.
After I finished this tangent, I started to wonder about the social ideas we place on certain minority ideas, opinions, and hobbies.
For example, when I hear about Facebook, I think that everyone is on there. However, from what I got from the video, that apparently isn't the case.
Also, another example is my idea about the Anime minority in the world. I've met so many people that are into this television style (don't forget the manga!) that I've grown up with the idea that many people like Anime. In fact, it wasn't until I came to college that I realized that this wasn't the case.
It's an interesting concept that has many more examples attached to it. One large one that I noticed in my later years of high school was that not a lot of people enjoy writing stories after stories and essays after essays.
Just think about some examples about yourself that you've noticed recently and you'll realize just how many there really are.
There. That was my thought tangent for the video. Hope I encouraged some for y'all.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Reflective Blog Post 1
For the writing into the day done on January 16, 2013, we were to respond to a video explaining the importance video games have on children and how they're significant to the learning experience of those kids. During the video, the man discussing this information stated that there was an issue with having more girls getting interested with video games.
That caused me to want to challenge certain issues he brought about this.
First off, I am a female and I'm a gamer just like any other male out there - I've been so ever since middle school. The population of female gamers is out there and is also gradually rising from a minority to a large percentage of all gamers. Female gamers have also received acknowledgement to their existence through television shows like G4TV's Top 100 Games
As seen on the television show above, female gamers play the same games as males (the Halo series, Silent Hill, etc.). Therefore, questioning how to get girls more involved into video games is an irrelevant question. What will attract the female population to video games will nearly be the same for males: a wonderfully designed control system, great graphics, amazing character development, incredible plot, and anything else in between these or anything else not mentioned.
However, there's always a variation to what an individual gamer wants in a game. I cannot speak for all female gamers out there, yet I can give my opinion on what I seek out in a game and what I want to see. This could be used in comparison to other female gamers to see if there is an average desire for certain aspects of future games.
I like RPGs mainly. Yet, I like them to be simple in their control system (that way there isn't much I need to learn in that aspect). Also, I want a deep plot - one that dives more into the emotional journey characters (well-developed ones at that) will experience whether the characters are ones that you will create or npcs the player will come across. Though that does not mean I want romance - no that is not what games need to change to (if they need to change much at all)
I have also recently discovered the wonders of a first person game whether it be a shooter or any other type (Thank you Skyrim). Yet, a third person view point in a game is still what I favor most.
The only game that I enjoyed that had romance as a big aspect (at least I thought so) in it was Final Fantasy X and that was because the plot that went into it was well-thought-out and amazing to play through. The other games I have are Mario Kart (don't really like sports games), Kingdom Hearts (it plays to my memories as a child), Batman Arkham Asylum, Assassin's Creed, inFamous, Dance Dance Revolution (the older versions and only because it was good exercise, some good music, and my first set of games I got as a child), and much more.
I enjoy games with a thrill (not too much gore - like I can't stand the slow-motion kills found in the Fall Out series for some reason), with violence, strategy, and humor. There has to be a character that will stand out in my mind (Master Chief, the Joker, Sephiroth, Mario, Nathan Drake, Alucard from Castlevania, Snake, etc.) and one that had me jumping out of my seat.
These are only highlights of what I enjoy in a game. If you're not a gamer, go buy a game that interests you and see if you enjoy it. Once you do, you'll be addicted for life. This is a phenomena that will not leave society for a long time to come (I'm so glad to predict that!).
That caused me to want to challenge certain issues he brought about this.
First off, I am a female and I'm a gamer just like any other male out there - I've been so ever since middle school. The population of female gamers is out there and is also gradually rising from a minority to a large percentage of all gamers. Female gamers have also received acknowledgement to their existence through television shows like G4TV's Top 100 Games
As seen on the television show above, female gamers play the same games as males (the Halo series, Silent Hill, etc.). Therefore, questioning how to get girls more involved into video games is an irrelevant question. What will attract the female population to video games will nearly be the same for males: a wonderfully designed control system, great graphics, amazing character development, incredible plot, and anything else in between these or anything else not mentioned.
However, there's always a variation to what an individual gamer wants in a game. I cannot speak for all female gamers out there, yet I can give my opinion on what I seek out in a game and what I want to see. This could be used in comparison to other female gamers to see if there is an average desire for certain aspects of future games.
I like RPGs mainly. Yet, I like them to be simple in their control system (that way there isn't much I need to learn in that aspect). Also, I want a deep plot - one that dives more into the emotional journey characters (well-developed ones at that) will experience whether the characters are ones that you will create or npcs the player will come across. Though that does not mean I want romance - no that is not what games need to change to (if they need to change much at all)
I have also recently discovered the wonders of a first person game whether it be a shooter or any other type (Thank you Skyrim). Yet, a third person view point in a game is still what I favor most.
The only game that I enjoyed that had romance as a big aspect (at least I thought so) in it was Final Fantasy X and that was because the plot that went into it was well-thought-out and amazing to play through. The other games I have are Mario Kart (don't really like sports games), Kingdom Hearts (it plays to my memories as a child), Batman Arkham Asylum, Assassin's Creed, inFamous, Dance Dance Revolution (the older versions and only because it was good exercise, some good music, and my first set of games I got as a child), and much more.
I enjoy games with a thrill (not too much gore - like I can't stand the slow-motion kills found in the Fall Out series for some reason), with violence, strategy, and humor. There has to be a character that will stand out in my mind (Master Chief, the Joker, Sephiroth, Mario, Nathan Drake, Alucard from Castlevania, Snake, etc.) and one that had me jumping out of my seat.
These are only highlights of what I enjoy in a game. If you're not a gamer, go buy a game that interests you and see if you enjoy it. Once you do, you'll be addicted for life. This is a phenomena that will not leave society for a long time to come (I'm so glad to predict that!).
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Final Reflection
Dream Catchers
By Sarah Walker
All those children,
those teenagers,
those grownups,
raise your head towards the sky.
Scream to the Gods,
towards the stars,
towards the impossible.
and give them a backwards peace sign.
Smirk and act as if you don't care.
Drag your feet,
claw fingermarks into the dirt,
be as vulgar as any proud sailor.
Laugh at other's frustration,
place a shadow in front of your own.
Pause,
shrug,
and move on.
and cackle at the crowd's cringe.
Then stop,
open your hand - palm facing upwards,
and catch the invisible,
the improbable,
Don't open.
I repeat:
Do.
Not.
Open.
Your.
Palm.
Hold your breath
the bottom of the sea.
Land,
turn 360 degrees,
breathe.
Swat away the curious fish
and close your eyes.
Open them.
A hitch in your breath,
reach out and caress the stone
Pull back,
fly back,
hit the ground that suddenly appeared.
Heat,
almost unbearable - but still durable.
Sit up,
look towards the sunrise
Smile,
laugh,
raise your head towards the sky.
Send up a silent thank you.
Finally, gratefully,
open your hand.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Reflective Blog Post for Ethnography Project
At the beginning of this project, my group and I had absolutely no idea what we were doing. Still, we followed the directions and just tried to find places where music was on campus and document them. We had absolutely no idea why for quite a while. However, I knew that I wanted to include the Anime Club we have on campus into our project.
I always loved anime and I always knew that anime had a lot of things to offer. Thankfully, this was one of those times that I could include anime into my education. The sing-a-longs really did make me realize how much I could use anime for this specific project.
Finally, my group and I we're starting to get a basic understanding of what we were supposed to do. I jotted some notes of a rough outline of what our group would be doing in my daybook before we three went our separate ways to get our individual work done. I was thankfully able to get mine done the next day with the interview of a representative of the Anime Club on campus.
Now I had to figure out how to use technology I've never used before and make the interview of better quality. I got it figured out, saved, and ready to share with the rest of my group. In between this, I started to try and think of a reflection for my part. I realized some important key points:
1) Anime is not only a style for art and for entertainment, it is also a place where imagination can run rampant. There are so many ideas that one can observe from the anime they watch and there are so many ideas one can come up with because of this. Writers are able to get new material inspired by anime and can let it grow by watching more anime. It's the new jungle for writing, music, and art. It's a creative thinker's wet dream.
2) Anime is a place where people can share their thoughts and come together. There is a sense of community one gets with anime. In fact, this sense of community is so strong that conventions have come to be - like Animazement - and people can say with pride that they were in the Anime club. They can even say that they're an anime fan. A small group of people, from all over the world, can immediately bond with each other by only knowing that the other person is also an anime fan. They need no more information to be friendly with a complete stranger.
3) Anime is always a place where one can escape the real world and relax. Every single time my friends and I have gone to Anime Club, during high school and now currently during college, we end up using the time as a stress reliever. We have fun, laugh, dance even, sing, and goof off with others in the club by watching anime, singing the openings/closings, or sharing inside jokes. It's a place where even adults can act like a child no matter how mature they have to be outside the club. In a sense, it also keeps us from screaming our heads off from frustration. We calm after these few hours and feel as if we can take on the world over and over again.
I now understand, once again, why I love Anime so much and how just the sing-a-longs during the club meetings can mean so much to me as well as to others. Yet, back to the process of my group and I getting to our final draft in a sense of this project. We hit a road block. My interview wouldn't go to any other file and we spent an entire class period just trying to figure that out. Heart attack, indeed. Anyways, we finally got it working and I sent all I had for my part of the video to the others. Now I can breathe with a sigh of relief - my part is done!
I had a difficult time with this project. When my group and I tried to get together, someone, including me, were at some part in our individual work but we couldn't really share much until we were ready to share it. We were literally down to the wire with this one. Also, none of us had any idea on what the ethnography project was about until a few days before it was due. Thankfully, we all understood by the time we had to get it finished.
I found this project different and hard because it was in a group, which I always have a difficult time with, and because it was something I've never really done before. I was out of my comfort zone and I did not like it. At all. Guess that's a pattern that I'll have to get used to for the rest of my life. Still, we got our project done and now that stress is over, I just want to go back to my club and relax with my friends.
I always loved anime and I always knew that anime had a lot of things to offer. Thankfully, this was one of those times that I could include anime into my education. The sing-a-longs really did make me realize how much I could use anime for this specific project.
Finally, my group and I we're starting to get a basic understanding of what we were supposed to do. I jotted some notes of a rough outline of what our group would be doing in my daybook before we three went our separate ways to get our individual work done. I was thankfully able to get mine done the next day with the interview of a representative of the Anime Club on campus.
Now I had to figure out how to use technology I've never used before and make the interview of better quality. I got it figured out, saved, and ready to share with the rest of my group. In between this, I started to try and think of a reflection for my part. I realized some important key points:
1) Anime is not only a style for art and for entertainment, it is also a place where imagination can run rampant. There are so many ideas that one can observe from the anime they watch and there are so many ideas one can come up with because of this. Writers are able to get new material inspired by anime and can let it grow by watching more anime. It's the new jungle for writing, music, and art. It's a creative thinker's wet dream.
2) Anime is a place where people can share their thoughts and come together. There is a sense of community one gets with anime. In fact, this sense of community is so strong that conventions have come to be - like Animazement - and people can say with pride that they were in the Anime club. They can even say that they're an anime fan. A small group of people, from all over the world, can immediately bond with each other by only knowing that the other person is also an anime fan. They need no more information to be friendly with a complete stranger.
3) Anime is always a place where one can escape the real world and relax. Every single time my friends and I have gone to Anime Club, during high school and now currently during college, we end up using the time as a stress reliever. We have fun, laugh, dance even, sing, and goof off with others in the club by watching anime, singing the openings/closings, or sharing inside jokes. It's a place where even adults can act like a child no matter how mature they have to be outside the club. In a sense, it also keeps us from screaming our heads off from frustration. We calm after these few hours and feel as if we can take on the world over and over again.
I now understand, once again, why I love Anime so much and how just the sing-a-longs during the club meetings can mean so much to me as well as to others. Yet, back to the process of my group and I getting to our final draft in a sense of this project. We hit a road block. My interview wouldn't go to any other file and we spent an entire class period just trying to figure that out. Heart attack, indeed. Anyways, we finally got it working and I sent all I had for my part of the video to the others. Now I can breathe with a sigh of relief - my part is done!
I had a difficult time with this project. When my group and I tried to get together, someone, including me, were at some part in our individual work but we couldn't really share much until we were ready to share it. We were literally down to the wire with this one. Also, none of us had any idea on what the ethnography project was about until a few days before it was due. Thankfully, we all understood by the time we had to get it finished.
I found this project different and hard because it was in a group, which I always have a difficult time with, and because it was something I've never really done before. I was out of my comfort zone and I did not like it. At all. Guess that's a pattern that I'll have to get used to for the rest of my life. Still, we got our project done and now that stress is over, I just want to go back to my club and relax with my friends.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Stranger Danger
I've decided to go back and look over all that I've written in my daybook for class. For some reason, I'm reflecting on many different things in my life. I've actually noticed that I do this every once in a while (maybe this is how I keep my ego in check). However, I chose the entry that I titled "Stranger Danger" which is about an event in my childhood that changed my life.
When I was seven years-old, I was playing in the driveway of my house. I then noticed a man taking pictures of houses just on the other side of the street. Out of curiosity, I approached him and asked him what he was doing. In response, he said that he was a photographer and he's trying to find the construction area that is further into our neighborhood (I am seven so that didn't sound weird at the time).
I chose to help him out and show him where the construction area was.
The walk itself isn't far from my house, it's just down the road and to the left. I took him to the corner just before someone would take a left and pointed out the construction area. He then asked me if I wanted to join him on exploring.
This is the part where I thank god for instincts. All that I knew at the time was that something was wrong. So, I told him the most convincing lie I have ever spoken to this day. I said to this man that I had to get back and eat lunch otherwise my parents get the neighbors to help look for me. Therefore, after saying goodbye to him, we went our separate ways.
Immediately, I went home and told my dad about him because I knew that he was acting strange. My dad called an officer who then came down to take my statement. The stress I was under and the fear that I was in the wrong caused me to tell the officer that he took a picture of me and ran off (He did ask for a picture of me before we went our separate ways, by the way). I think if I said what really happened then the officer would have done a patrol of the neighborhood or something. Instead, he left and I never heard anything about this man again.
All that I heard were rumors that my friend at the time told me. Rumors suck, just so you know.
I was told that they caught the same guy taking pictures of little kids at a pool just down the street. I decided not to think about it at the time. Yet, it all came back to me during middle school when another friend of mine described a scary event that took place just a few days prior.
He told me about how this little girl, that looked exactly the way I did when I was seven, was following him around the neighborhood. They came across this homeless man that fit the description of the man who I remember. This homeless man (which I now believe isn't the same person) had seen the little girl and started to come towards them. They called the police once they got away and there was nothing else.
However, when my friend told me this, I had a near panic attack. All those thoughts and memories of the close call I had came back and I was left with a large puddle of confusion, guilt, and much more. At the time, I felt as if I put a guilty man away or that the man was guilty and went after someone who looked like me. I was so confused and I didn't know what to do. I had an anger management problem at the time and that got worse because of all of this.
Now, however, I know better than to doubt that this stranger from my past wasn't in the wrong and was, in fact, up to no good.
I had to figure out if I had to live with the thought of putting an innocent man in trouble with the police or not. I had to figure out if I was a good person and where I stand in life, morally. I had to figure all of this out in middle school because leaving it alone would have caused me to become an emotional wreck. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through.
The good that came out of this though was that I came out stronger, more mature, and wiser. I know better now and that shows in everything I do. The confusion and guilt I went through are remembered but I don't experience that at all anymore. It has made me stronger but I always am amazed at how close I came to having something really bad happen to me.
To think all of these thoughts and emotions were caused just by a close call. I am so glad that nothing else happened because I think that I wouldn't have been able to handle the aftermath as well as I had.
I had to get this out because I'm in one of my reflecting moods once again and I like to see what will make me into a better person. I also want to tell you all my short story on this traumatic event (for a seven year-old). It's incredible how short events that really don't physically harm you can have such an impact on your lives. Especially when those events occur during your childhood.
When I was seven years-old, I was playing in the driveway of my house. I then noticed a man taking pictures of houses just on the other side of the street. Out of curiosity, I approached him and asked him what he was doing. In response, he said that he was a photographer and he's trying to find the construction area that is further into our neighborhood (I am seven so that didn't sound weird at the time).
I chose to help him out and show him where the construction area was.
The walk itself isn't far from my house, it's just down the road and to the left. I took him to the corner just before someone would take a left and pointed out the construction area. He then asked me if I wanted to join him on exploring.
This is the part where I thank god for instincts. All that I knew at the time was that something was wrong. So, I told him the most convincing lie I have ever spoken to this day. I said to this man that I had to get back and eat lunch otherwise my parents get the neighbors to help look for me. Therefore, after saying goodbye to him, we went our separate ways.
Immediately, I went home and told my dad about him because I knew that he was acting strange. My dad called an officer who then came down to take my statement. The stress I was under and the fear that I was in the wrong caused me to tell the officer that he took a picture of me and ran off (He did ask for a picture of me before we went our separate ways, by the way). I think if I said what really happened then the officer would have done a patrol of the neighborhood or something. Instead, he left and I never heard anything about this man again.
All that I heard were rumors that my friend at the time told me. Rumors suck, just so you know.
I was told that they caught the same guy taking pictures of little kids at a pool just down the street. I decided not to think about it at the time. Yet, it all came back to me during middle school when another friend of mine described a scary event that took place just a few days prior.
He told me about how this little girl, that looked exactly the way I did when I was seven, was following him around the neighborhood. They came across this homeless man that fit the description of the man who I remember. This homeless man (which I now believe isn't the same person) had seen the little girl and started to come towards them. They called the police once they got away and there was nothing else.
However, when my friend told me this, I had a near panic attack. All those thoughts and memories of the close call I had came back and I was left with a large puddle of confusion, guilt, and much more. At the time, I felt as if I put a guilty man away or that the man was guilty and went after someone who looked like me. I was so confused and I didn't know what to do. I had an anger management problem at the time and that got worse because of all of this.
Now, however, I know better than to doubt that this stranger from my past wasn't in the wrong and was, in fact, up to no good.
I had to figure out if I had to live with the thought of putting an innocent man in trouble with the police or not. I had to figure out if I was a good person and where I stand in life, morally. I had to figure all of this out in middle school because leaving it alone would have caused me to become an emotional wreck. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through.
The good that came out of this though was that I came out stronger, more mature, and wiser. I know better now and that shows in everything I do. The confusion and guilt I went through are remembered but I don't experience that at all anymore. It has made me stronger but I always am amazed at how close I came to having something really bad happen to me.
To think all of these thoughts and emotions were caused just by a close call. I am so glad that nothing else happened because I think that I wouldn't have been able to handle the aftermath as well as I had.
I had to get this out because I'm in one of my reflecting moods once again and I like to see what will make me into a better person. I also want to tell you all my short story on this traumatic event (for a seven year-old). It's incredible how short events that really don't physically harm you can have such an impact on your lives. Especially when those events occur during your childhood.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
My Ethnography Project Drawing Board
To all of those in our class reading this post, I am writing this out of dire need for organizing my thoughts involving my part in my group's project. I have a basic understanding of what my part will be like. Yet, I am lost to the point where I feel uncertain of my every move. I know that I need to focus on how music is important for the literacy underlife instead of just music itself. When I wrote my annotated bibliography, I didn't understand that. Now, I believe I can cross off the radio website in that other post and also put the calendar I found to the side. I can also add an interview I've completed since that post.
What else am I supposed to do? I have to do some type of reflection and I have to organize some type of video with the audio recording(s) I have. Is that all? Is this all I'm supposed to do or am I missing something. Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I dislike this project currently for making me so uneasy about my entire process. Also, how is someone, who doesn't even know their way through a computer that well, supposed to create a video? I have a website that may help but I feel unsure about whether or not it's the right thing to do.... Joy....
Well here's my interview that I'm citing:
JAMS. Personal interview. 7 Nov. 2012.
This interview involved the Anime sing-a-longs this club has done. As of now, I'm making the sound better but I don't know what to do next.
Sincerely,
The freaked out student
What else am I supposed to do? I have to do some type of reflection and I have to organize some type of video with the audio recording(s) I have. Is that all? Is this all I'm supposed to do or am I missing something. Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I dislike this project currently for making me so uneasy about my entire process. Also, how is someone, who doesn't even know their way through a computer that well, supposed to create a video? I have a website that may help but I feel unsure about whether or not it's the right thing to do.... Joy....
Well here's my interview that I'm citing:
JAMS. Personal interview. 7 Nov. 2012.
This interview involved the Anime sing-a-longs this club has done. As of now, I'm making the sound better but I don't know what to do next.
Sincerely,
The freaked out student
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Annotated Bibliography
For our homework assignment over the weekend, our class had to find three primary sources for our Ethnography project and then write a paragraph explaining the importance on each of these sources. After some thinking and digging, I finally found three sources that I believe will be primary in my Ethnography project.
Lambla, Ken, and UNC Charlotte College of Arts and Architecture, comps. The Arts
at UNC Charlotte 2012:13 Calendar. Charlotte: UNC Charlotte College of Arts
and Architecture, 2012. Print.
This source is actually a calendar of musical events that was handed out to many students at the beginning of the year like a pamphlet. This calendar has events of many types of concerts: jazz, symphony, and even wind and percussion ensembles. This calendar also had events for dance concerts, plays, and art galleries as well. Even though there are many events that occur on campus, it's surprisingly difficult to find some of these events - especially for a freshmen. This calendar has the dates, times, and locations of each event and also places the average price of the events in the front of the pamphlet. This calendar locates all of the events that the school helps organize and run on campus.
Radio Free Charlotte. UNC Charlotte, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
<http://radiofreecharlotte.uncc.edu/index.html>.
This is another source that the school helps organize. There is a link on 49er Express that leads any student to the website. Even though the website itself doesn't play any music, from what I'm able to see since it never plays anything, it does have information on where to listen (itunes) and when the radio is playing music. This fits the lifestyle of the students and is free for any who listen. The office is located on campus and they ask for anyone who would want to volunteer to play some music on the radio. A valuable source to anyone who wants to play the music instead of being a listener.
LightningXBlade2. Jormungand OST - Time to Attack. YouTube. Sony Pictures;
Universal Music Group, 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=wf-pqcTa5xg>.
This is the only primary source I've found that the school does not organize. In our school's anime club, the member sing along to the opening and closings of anime shows we watch. This gives the club a sense of community even if the singing isn't planned and the members just do it. The members only sing to the songs that are catchy and interesting like the one I've chosen. The actual version is shortened than the one I found since it's the ending for a show. Also, the members only sing a few lyrics in this one unlike other songs where members sing the entire time. The sense of community when the members do this is strong and fun. It's a way to relax and lighten our stress level.
Lambla, Ken, and UNC Charlotte College of Arts and Architecture, comps. The Arts
at UNC Charlotte 2012:13 Calendar. Charlotte: UNC Charlotte College of Arts
and Architecture, 2012. Print.
This source is actually a calendar of musical events that was handed out to many students at the beginning of the year like a pamphlet. This calendar has events of many types of concerts: jazz, symphony, and even wind and percussion ensembles. This calendar also had events for dance concerts, plays, and art galleries as well. Even though there are many events that occur on campus, it's surprisingly difficult to find some of these events - especially for a freshmen. This calendar has the dates, times, and locations of each event and also places the average price of the events in the front of the pamphlet. This calendar locates all of the events that the school helps organize and run on campus.
Radio Free Charlotte. UNC Charlotte, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
<http://radiofreecharlotte.uncc.edu/index.html>.
This is another source that the school helps organize. There is a link on 49er Express that leads any student to the website. Even though the website itself doesn't play any music, from what I'm able to see since it never plays anything, it does have information on where to listen (itunes) and when the radio is playing music. This fits the lifestyle of the students and is free for any who listen. The office is located on campus and they ask for anyone who would want to volunteer to play some music on the radio. A valuable source to anyone who wants to play the music instead of being a listener.
LightningXBlade2. Jormungand OST - Time to Attack. YouTube. Sony Pictures;
Universal Music Group, 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=wf-pqcTa5xg>.
This is the only primary source I've found that the school does not organize. In our school's anime club, the member sing along to the opening and closings of anime shows we watch. This gives the club a sense of community even if the singing isn't planned and the members just do it. The members only sing to the songs that are catchy and interesting like the one I've chosen. The actual version is shortened than the one I found since it's the ending for a show. Also, the members only sing a few lyrics in this one unlike other songs where members sing the entire time. The sense of community when the members do this is strong and fun. It's a way to relax and lighten our stress level.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ethnography Fieldwork
Earlier today my group and I met up outside the classroom for some fieldwork we have to complete for our Ethnography project. For a few minutes, we had absolutely no idea where to start. But then, we figured out how we were going to do this fieldwork. We knew that we had to go to certain places on campus to gather the data required. So, we planned the easiest route and headed of to the first destination.
The first place we headed was inside the building where our college's campus is held (I'm not placing the name here to keep the identity of the college a secret. A clue though is that there is a piece of architecture outside that lights up at night and half of it is in another language and it is also right next to the building we have our English class in.). More specifically, we headed to the downstairs lobby where I already have very fond memories involving literacy underlife that has to deal with music.
The reason why we couldn't head into the room where our school's anime club is held is because there was a class going on and anime club is later in the week and later in the day. In fact, most of what we knew as underlife involving music happens when it's warmer and later in the day. Though there was the anime opening and closing sing-a-longs and the music or music videos being shown on youtube in the lobby as well as the name-that-anime-tune contest.
We then visited the large tower where people are free to speak their minds (*cough* Crazy Preacher *cough*). There we saw nothing, nobody's crazy enough to stay outside too long in this weather, but on other days there are public music displays, people playing their guitar and such.
However, there was one thing that we thought up of that we haven't really discussed before for our musical topic: the ("robin") building where concerts are located. Yet, we couldn't get in since you need special access to the building at this time... for some reason. So we kind of people-watched to see who was going inside. I've seen a lot of musicians go inside and since class already started it was only the stragglers that rushed into the building.
Finally, we headed over to the S. Union where random people can play on the piano there. I've already had a lot happen there and I know it is a hotspot. The S. Union was crowded as always and I can remember the songs I've heard being played on that beautiful instrument which echos all over the building.
Those are the main locations on campus where music happens. We've noticed how people react to music at different times in the day, and with the weather. I also noticed there was a lot of people listening to their ipods and such on the way to class. One of my favorite past times, personally. This information will really help us once we get rolling with this project.
The first place we headed was inside the building where our college's campus is held (I'm not placing the name here to keep the identity of the college a secret. A clue though is that there is a piece of architecture outside that lights up at night and half of it is in another language and it is also right next to the building we have our English class in.). More specifically, we headed to the downstairs lobby where I already have very fond memories involving literacy underlife that has to deal with music.
The reason why we couldn't head into the room where our school's anime club is held is because there was a class going on and anime club is later in the week and later in the day. In fact, most of what we knew as underlife involving music happens when it's warmer and later in the day. Though there was the anime opening and closing sing-a-longs and the music or music videos being shown on youtube in the lobby as well as the name-that-anime-tune contest.
We then visited the large tower where people are free to speak their minds (*cough* Crazy Preacher *cough*). There we saw nothing, nobody's crazy enough to stay outside too long in this weather, but on other days there are public music displays, people playing their guitar and such.
However, there was one thing that we thought up of that we haven't really discussed before for our musical topic: the ("robin") building where concerts are located. Yet, we couldn't get in since you need special access to the building at this time... for some reason. So we kind of people-watched to see who was going inside. I've seen a lot of musicians go inside and since class already started it was only the stragglers that rushed into the building.
Finally, we headed over to the S. Union where random people can play on the piano there. I've already had a lot happen there and I know it is a hotspot. The S. Union was crowded as always and I can remember the songs I've heard being played on that beautiful instrument which echos all over the building.
Those are the main locations on campus where music happens. We've noticed how people react to music at different times in the day, and with the weather. I also noticed there was a lot of people listening to their ipods and such on the way to class. One of my favorite past times, personally. This information will really help us once we get rolling with this project.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Reflective Blog Post On Literacy Narrative - Final
I have to say that this was probably the most difficult paper I've had in a very long time.
For the past few years, I had reached what I thought was a vertical wall in my potential as a writer whenever I had English school assignments. Now I know that this is not the case. The wall was just really steep. Took me a while to notice this too.
Everything was going fine for my rough draft. I was used to it - this was a process that's almost automatic for me now. Write a complete draft for the first due date and make sure the essay has only the grammatical errors that I missed. You see, I was taught for 5 years to get rid of as many mistakes as possible before the rough draft is even finished. Now, after that amount of time, I do a lot of this in my head. Again, the first due date was easy for me: automatic.
Then I was thrown for a loop. At first, I had no idea what our teacher was talking about when she gave us our revision homework. As a matter of fact, I didn't even touch on that at all. I edited my rough draft. The reason? I, for a while and still sometimes, consider revision and editing to be the same thing.
I did both revision and editing at the same time and also mainly in my head... before I even wrote it down on the rough draft. I always thought they were the one and the same. Hence, the very confused student in the 2nd row for 3 days of class.
Finally, I started to understand what I needed to do. So I tried it. I took the most general idea that I had in my narrative and I took another experience I've had with it and wrote my second draft. Yet, I was so unsure that I couldn't even bring myself to finish that draft. Also, I do consider this the first time that I've ever really done this deep of revision. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
Therefore, I went back into my comfort zone. My rough draft. After all, if you had the choice of comfort zone or shaky land, wouldn't you choose the same thing? This time I did more revision than I originally did on it.
I then reached another issue. My rough draft was already close to the page limit.
Oh, thank you previous teachers for giving me the experience of rewording sentences so that my paper always fits the page limit. Trust me, I had to do a lot of this and it's always very difficult to figure it out. You have to think one way and then do a complete 180 the next second. It gives you a real headache by the end of the process.
Anyways, I finally got room to add only a small amount of the revision that I wanted to add. But then, I reached the limit again and I couldn't even reword my sentences to get more room. So, all that revision that I finally figured out, I couldn't put a lot of my new material into it. I couldn't add what this identity searching for me was like during high school and what I found to help me through it. I could only add a small amount about my video game experience and then I was out of room! It was a real bummer.
I've learned a lot through this paper, mainly the difference between revision and editing, and it's going to be real helpful for future papers. Still, I did not enjoy how difficult this was. I also was dead set against the revision we had to do before grudgingly accepting it as neutral territory.... Doesn't mean that I ended up liking it. At. All.
I'm willing to bet that there's a fair amount of students out there that have always considered revision and editing as one and the same. This could really hold them back as it did me (it was a total of a week and half for me to finally get it) and really stress them if they didn't have a complete rough draft by the first due date. I think that for my generation, hope I'm right on this theory, we need some more explanation on the differences between revision and editing. Other than that, throw them to the sharks. They'll swim. They might not like it (like me) but they'll get it.
For the past few years, I had reached what I thought was a vertical wall in my potential as a writer whenever I had English school assignments. Now I know that this is not the case. The wall was just really steep. Took me a while to notice this too.
Everything was going fine for my rough draft. I was used to it - this was a process that's almost automatic for me now. Write a complete draft for the first due date and make sure the essay has only the grammatical errors that I missed. You see, I was taught for 5 years to get rid of as many mistakes as possible before the rough draft is even finished. Now, after that amount of time, I do a lot of this in my head. Again, the first due date was easy for me: automatic.
Then I was thrown for a loop. At first, I had no idea what our teacher was talking about when she gave us our revision homework. As a matter of fact, I didn't even touch on that at all. I edited my rough draft. The reason? I, for a while and still sometimes, consider revision and editing to be the same thing.
I did both revision and editing at the same time and also mainly in my head... before I even wrote it down on the rough draft. I always thought they were the one and the same. Hence, the very confused student in the 2nd row for 3 days of class.
Finally, I started to understand what I needed to do. So I tried it. I took the most general idea that I had in my narrative and I took another experience I've had with it and wrote my second draft. Yet, I was so unsure that I couldn't even bring myself to finish that draft. Also, I do consider this the first time that I've ever really done this deep of revision. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
Therefore, I went back into my comfort zone. My rough draft. After all, if you had the choice of comfort zone or shaky land, wouldn't you choose the same thing? This time I did more revision than I originally did on it.
I then reached another issue. My rough draft was already close to the page limit.
Oh, thank you previous teachers for giving me the experience of rewording sentences so that my paper always fits the page limit. Trust me, I had to do a lot of this and it's always very difficult to figure it out. You have to think one way and then do a complete 180 the next second. It gives you a real headache by the end of the process.
Anyways, I finally got room to add only a small amount of the revision that I wanted to add. But then, I reached the limit again and I couldn't even reword my sentences to get more room. So, all that revision that I finally figured out, I couldn't put a lot of my new material into it. I couldn't add what this identity searching for me was like during high school and what I found to help me through it. I could only add a small amount about my video game experience and then I was out of room! It was a real bummer.
I've learned a lot through this paper, mainly the difference between revision and editing, and it's going to be real helpful for future papers. Still, I did not enjoy how difficult this was. I also was dead set against the revision we had to do before grudgingly accepting it as neutral territory.... Doesn't mean that I ended up liking it. At. All.
I'm willing to bet that there's a fair amount of students out there that have always considered revision and editing as one and the same. This could really hold them back as it did me (it was a total of a week and half for me to finally get it) and really stress them if they didn't have a complete rough draft by the first due date. I think that for my generation, hope I'm right on this theory, we need some more explanation on the differences between revision and editing. Other than that, throw them to the sharks. They'll swim. They might not like it (like me) but they'll get it.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Mapping Campus
Today we were given a homework assignment to find an area on campus that has a lot of objects or areas which literacy underlife events thrive. I chose the building where our school's anime club meet. Specifically, I chose the downstairs floor.
The stairs wind down, once you got used to the weird smell of the building which I have absolutely no idea how to describe, and you're met with the sight of people sitting in an open area which I refer to as a lobby. Chairs are placed everywhere in that small square area. People sit and work on homework, relax, or play strategic card games.
Once you sit down, you notice the vending machines that only come across as one thing: energy. Then you see the art on the walls, the elevators, the classrooms with their doors open, and the Anime Club chilling in the lobby area until a specific classroom opens up.
There is a cafe that people can sit in if they prefer that type of atmosphere with the coffee and the food. A nice area to go to relax at to think and have a great time for a small amount of time when life is busy and hectic.
The stairs wind down, once you got used to the weird smell of the building which I have absolutely no idea how to describe, and you're met with the sight of people sitting in an open area which I refer to as a lobby. Chairs are placed everywhere in that small square area. People sit and work on homework, relax, or play strategic card games.
Once you sit down, you notice the vending machines that only come across as one thing: energy. Then you see the art on the walls, the elevators, the classrooms with their doors open, and the Anime Club chilling in the lobby area until a specific classroom opens up.
There is a cafe that people can sit in if they prefer that type of atmosphere with the coffee and the food. A nice area to go to relax at to think and have a great time for a small amount of time when life is busy and hectic.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Reflective Blog Post - Rants
A few days ago, I woke up and struggled to get out of bed for my last day of classes (for the week, at least) at 8:30 am. Since I stayed up late the night before like any foolish student, I was exhausted. My body and mind were so tired that when we were given the chance to rant about anything, I literally did not want to think about it. You would think I would start complaining about waking up early or talk about wanting some more sleep. But, no - I just wanted to sit there in a state of nothingness.
Finally, I decided to rant about the most general idea I could think of in an attempt to stay in the sleepy haze I was in. I chose to rant about ranting. Predictable, yeah? However, that was a bad choice I made. Sometimes the most general topics can be the most thought-out ideas. I found that this was the case with ranting. Thankfully, I only wrote a paragraph so what I've thought about this topic was after 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Happy, happy day.
The first thought I had was about the stereotypes we place on ranting. Mainly, how most people should swallow their issues with something and how ranting is always seen in a negative light. I found, through my own experience, that any issue or complaints I had with something is the most important thing I should keep to myself. If I really, really don't like steak, suck it up - it's for dinner. If I'm throwing up, go to school and don't whine about it. Oh, I passed out again? Don't let the teachers make me go home - it's not worth it.
What I've figured out is that pressure from others to keep our complaints, and especially our rants, to ourselves soon evolves into our own selves telling us to stay quiet. Then I realized something else, I'm grouping rants and complaints as the same thing. This negative light we've placed on rants has actually begun to label a rant as a complaint. Yet, rants are so much longer and unorganized than one-sentenced or one-paragraphed complaints.
I find that real rants are the ones that take minutes to finish. They're the ones that have people throwing their arms all over the place. The energy and time are caused by one emotion: passion. I'm passionate about Harry Potter (it's detailed writing style more than anything else), creative writing, economic features found inside video games and much more. These topics have led me to rant, argue, and debate with someone else over the issue. it takes me ten minutes to really let the topic go.
that is the main difference from a complaint and a rant. A rant you just don't want to let go of while a complaint is easily forgotten. Now that I've finished my rant involving more than just ranting, I want to show you how funny rants can be.
Pachelbel Rant
Finally, I decided to rant about the most general idea I could think of in an attempt to stay in the sleepy haze I was in. I chose to rant about ranting. Predictable, yeah? However, that was a bad choice I made. Sometimes the most general topics can be the most thought-out ideas. I found that this was the case with ranting. Thankfully, I only wrote a paragraph so what I've thought about this topic was after 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Happy, happy day.
The first thought I had was about the stereotypes we place on ranting. Mainly, how most people should swallow their issues with something and how ranting is always seen in a negative light. I found, through my own experience, that any issue or complaints I had with something is the most important thing I should keep to myself. If I really, really don't like steak, suck it up - it's for dinner. If I'm throwing up, go to school and don't whine about it. Oh, I passed out again? Don't let the teachers make me go home - it's not worth it.
What I've figured out is that pressure from others to keep our complaints, and especially our rants, to ourselves soon evolves into our own selves telling us to stay quiet. Then I realized something else, I'm grouping rants and complaints as the same thing. This negative light we've placed on rants has actually begun to label a rant as a complaint. Yet, rants are so much longer and unorganized than one-sentenced or one-paragraphed complaints.
I find that real rants are the ones that take minutes to finish. They're the ones that have people throwing their arms all over the place. The energy and time are caused by one emotion: passion. I'm passionate about Harry Potter (it's detailed writing style more than anything else), creative writing, economic features found inside video games and much more. These topics have led me to rant, argue, and debate with someone else over the issue. it takes me ten minutes to really let the topic go.
that is the main difference from a complaint and a rant. A rant you just don't want to let go of while a complaint is easily forgotten. Now that I've finished my rant involving more than just ranting, I want to show you how funny rants can be.
Pachelbel Rant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)