My largest problem is sentence fluency. I think that I can work on the fluency not only between my sentences but also my paragraphs. Also, specific to my research paper, my quotes were not integrated into my paper well. My next problem is my word choice. I think that if I used some new words it would benefit my sentence fluency also. I think that the topic that I chose has much more potential than was reflected in my paper. This time around I hope to give more to this paper.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Research Paper
The paper I have chosen to redo is my research paper. I would like to start off by saying that this research paper is a continuing problem for me. I think that this is because third quarter was a funky time for me as far as my grades went, so I didn't put my full effort into that paper. I also chose this paper because it reflects what I haven't yet learned this year and in a last effort I am going to try to conquer my habitual writing mistakes.
Goodall's Writing Mistakes
Plagiarism is a serious offense that regards taking other people's work and claiming it as one's own. Considering all of what Goodall has taken, her offense is major for she took quotes, barely rewording or rearranging their structure. Earlier in the year when we were writing our research papers, we discussed how plagiarism is serious from the stand point of a student. This article shows how plagiarism is still a serious crime and is a major crime even when you leave school. Although Goodall's book has not been released, she will never be respected as an author in the scientific community again.
Next time Goodall writes a book she needs to pay more attention to plagiarizing rules. There is only two ways that she could have so profusely plagiarized; either she doesn't know how not to or she decided not to cite her sources. The way to fix this is to teach her how to correctly write a research based book and show her how to cite and paraphrase. However, if she does know how to avoid plagiarism then I do not think she has a true passion for writing. Either way Goodall needs to take some time off from writing and re-evaluate her writing career.
Next time Goodall writes a book she needs to pay more attention to plagiarizing rules. There is only two ways that she could have so profusely plagiarized; either she doesn't know how not to or she decided not to cite her sources. The way to fix this is to teach her how to correctly write a research based book and show her how to cite and paraphrase. However, if she does know how to avoid plagiarism then I do not think she has a true passion for writing. Either way Goodall needs to take some time off from writing and re-evaluate her writing career.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Nervous Conditions Thoughts
Our class question discusses how culture and community affect an individual. Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga fits this description perfectly. The title alone refers how the physiological state of characters in the book are affected by colonization. That leaves the whole book to answer our class discussion question. Even though this book probably has all of the qualificationst that makes it a perfect book to go along with our class focus I think that, personally, there were still some faults
The reason that I don't think Nervous Conditions is going to a book that will stick with me is that I couldn't connect with it. Lord of the Flies and Nation both had non-specific plots, so I could read it and get the deeper meaning easily. For example, it is fairly obvious that I cannot connect with a bunch of little boys stranded on an island. However, the message is a broad one that I could understand so I will probably remember Lord of the Flies for a very long time. Nervous Conditions, on the other hand, has a plot and theme that neither one really connect with my life.
This is not to completely discredit Dangarembga for writing a great book. I think that she developed the characters and used them to portray her theme perfectly. I just think that this book would be a better outside reading book or summer reading because it is hard to write papers and takes tests on it.
As for books that would fill the spot of Nervous Conditions, I don't think that there is one. That is why I think that freshmen should continue to read it (maybe for summer reading though). Although I personally could not relate to the plot that doesn't mean that other students wouldn't be able to.
The reason that I don't think Nervous Conditions is going to a book that will stick with me is that I couldn't connect with it. Lord of the Flies and Nation both had non-specific plots, so I could read it and get the deeper meaning easily. For example, it is fairly obvious that I cannot connect with a bunch of little boys stranded on an island. However, the message is a broad one that I could understand so I will probably remember Lord of the Flies for a very long time. Nervous Conditions, on the other hand, has a plot and theme that neither one really connect with my life.
This is not to completely discredit Dangarembga for writing a great book. I think that she developed the characters and used them to portray her theme perfectly. I just think that this book would be a better outside reading book or summer reading because it is hard to write papers and takes tests on it.
As for books that would fill the spot of Nervous Conditions, I don't think that there is one. That is why I think that freshmen should continue to read it (maybe for summer reading though). Although I personally could not relate to the plot that doesn't mean that other students wouldn't be able to.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Expectations
Tambu is doing a Hannah Montana thing all through this book. Her parents, on the homestead, expect her to abide by the rules of women hood that they have given her. They want her to be quite and work, but what bothers her the most is that they believe education is not necessary. This is the complete opposite of what is expected of Tambu at the Mission. She is expected to keep her grades up and study. However, at both places she is treated as inferior to the men. I also encounter the same situation as Tambu when I go to different places such as school, soccer, and with friends.
Whenever I go to school I am expected to be quiet when asked, talk when asked, turn in papers when asked, do everything when asked. For example, the bell prompts students to come and go from classes and students have to wait until a teacher tells them to talk. By following the rules all the time this gives me the identity of a normal, good student. Since practically every kid across America goes to school this student identity is given to all children and teens. The only way to get a real stamped on identity in school is to do something majorly out of line or something really amazing like a scholarship. I don't think that I have either of those.
When I go to soccer I have to switch my mentality. I can no longer wait for instructions, in fact having to wait for your coach to tell you what to do on the field is the mark of a bad player. I have to anticipate what is going to happen next. Also, being nice when playing soccer is not accepted like in school. I have to be aggressive and not afraid to get hurt. When you get to a certain level in soccer coaches and other girl players start to pick up on how you play. I think that people see me as the outside back who gets in the attack. This means that my team expects me to always be joining the attack, not just defending.
Whenever I am with friends I don't have to follow rules or be aggressive. In fact, if I acted like I did in class or on the soccer field that would be weird. I can act how I want and chill out. I think my friends view me as goofy and nice.
Reading Times:
Nervous Conditions
3/6: 60 min
3/7: 60 min
3/8: 45 min
Total: 165 min
Whenever I go to school I am expected to be quiet when asked, talk when asked, turn in papers when asked, do everything when asked. For example, the bell prompts students to come and go from classes and students have to wait until a teacher tells them to talk. By following the rules all the time this gives me the identity of a normal, good student. Since practically every kid across America goes to school this student identity is given to all children and teens. The only way to get a real stamped on identity in school is to do something majorly out of line or something really amazing like a scholarship. I don't think that I have either of those.
When I go to soccer I have to switch my mentality. I can no longer wait for instructions, in fact having to wait for your coach to tell you what to do on the field is the mark of a bad player. I have to anticipate what is going to happen next. Also, being nice when playing soccer is not accepted like in school. I have to be aggressive and not afraid to get hurt. When you get to a certain level in soccer coaches and other girl players start to pick up on how you play. I think that people see me as the outside back who gets in the attack. This means that my team expects me to always be joining the attack, not just defending.
Whenever I am with friends I don't have to follow rules or be aggressive. In fact, if I acted like I did in class or on the soccer field that would be weird. I can act how I want and chill out. I think my friends view me as goofy and nice.
Reading Times:
Nervous Conditions
3/6: 60 min
3/7: 60 min
3/8: 45 min
Total: 165 min
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Babamukuru
Babmukuru is the character in Nervous Conditions that appears like he is so helpful, giving, and really has his life figured out. In chapters 1-3 he gives so much to Tambu's family and the extended family. Everyone in the town looks up to him, and some practically worship him. Tambu has been looking up to him ever since her grandmother told her about his struggle to become educated and respected, just like Tambu wants to do. Up until this point the reader also respects Babamukuru and looks to him to help Tambu become educated. When Nhamo dies Babamukuru takes Tambu to the mission and Tambu gets to glimpse the real him. At the end of chapter 6, Babamukuru looses his composer and hits, beats, and threatens to kill his daughter. I know that I personally lost all respect for him and I don't expect anything great from him. This was a big turning point for his character, now I think that everything that Babamukuru did in earlier chapters was just to make him look good. He kept reminding Nyahsa that he couldn't be seen with a daughter who doesn't know how to behave herself. I think he is just concerned about what other people think about him.
C Layer Project Reflection
For the first part of this project I decided to read all the chapters first and then do the projects. I did this because, when I don't have to annotate, I really do enjoy reading. I have a feeling that I am going to do the same thing for C layer 2. Another reason I read first is if I can convince myself to do all the reading on the weekend I will actually get it done. Otherwise I tell myself all week "Oh, it's just reading. I'll do it tomorrow." until I am left reading everything the night before. With reading guides or other projects I will actually get it done at home or in class.
My favorite project was the character map on prezi. Mostly, this is because I actually reflected on the characters and their importance but also I liked how it was so fancy :). What I mean is it was neat and flew to the different slides. Plus, while entertaining me, I got to look deeper into the characters. My least favorite was the book mark, not because it was a bad project but because I was basically doing the same thing I did for the character map. Not that this was entirely bad. I could use my character map as a guide so I didn't have to work as hard. It was bad in the sense that I didn't learn anything new about the book doing this.
My favorite project was the character map on prezi. Mostly, this is because I actually reflected on the characters and their importance but also I liked how it was so fancy :). What I mean is it was neat and flew to the different slides. Plus, while entertaining me, I got to look deeper into the characters. My least favorite was the book mark, not because it was a bad project but because I was basically doing the same thing I did for the character map. Not that this was entirely bad. I could use my character map as a guide so I didn't have to work as hard. It was bad in the sense that I didn't learn anything new about the book doing this.
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