An end to this blog...but not my blogging career

Blogging

I had no idea what blogging was before English this year. The first time I heard the time blogger was in reference a rumor about a college athlete being busted for drugs. The radio reporter announced that there were rumors going around and that many internet bloggers said……. Not long after that I was told I had to create my own. At first I was hesitant to the idea, but eventually I ended up gaining a new level of respect for this new mean of communication. As far as the usefulness to my English class is concerned, I honestly don’t know how much of an impact it had on my work in class. It was helpful having the ability to post draft workshops on my blog because it was easier to stay organized and you did not have to worry about losing papers and stuff. Some of the writing exercises we completed on our blog helped me focus in on certain aspects of papers. One instance I remember was focusing in on my target audience. However, in all honesty I do not know whether the prewriting brainstorming exercises we completed on our blog were more benefical to us because they were completed on the blog rather than normal free writing done on paper. However, the blogs should be kept around for future students to use despite whether they have an impact on the prewriting exercises or not because they offer several other benefits. First of all I learned a lot about computers and the internet through the process of creating my own blog. I think this is a very necessary skill that many students are lacking. Once I learned that I have my own personal webspace and how to use the FTP program to transfer information to it…I learned how to make my own website. Blogging has helped me on a more personal way. I started to like the idea of just having kind of like an online journal where I could just throw out my random thoughts. So…I created my own. My own blog is what real blogging is all about. I write about what I want to write about and about what I feel inside. I am the author and on my own personal blog I have the ability to have complete freedom as to what I write or do not write. I think it is very therapeutic in a way. I am thinking about creating a second blog that no one knows the website too so I can just throw out my thoughts in complete privacy and write about whats really on my mind. When I first learned about blogging I thought the authors wrote for other people. I have come to find out that blogging is really for yourself more than anyone else.

Unit 3 Blogging

Both of the blogs I have analyzed share one thing in common: they both have political commentary. The first blog was written by a political scientist, so it is not a surprise that he commentates on politics. But the second blog was written by a communications professor. Much of her blog focused on politics rather than her discipline. In all honesty I did not gain more insight into the daily lives of these people through reading their academic blog. They mainly give their opinions on politics.

It presents many unique aspects unparalleled by any other mode of communication. Unlike many paper publications, Blogs are published instantly. The speed of dissemination offers a unique aspect because it enables the academic elite to immediately respond to a current situation. Previously professors were limited to writing in journals or possibly news publications. But even then, this process was not instantaneous. The internet gives us the capacity to publish the instant the work is completed. In the end this results in a more informed public.

Draft Workshop

Draft Workshop Form – November, 18, 2004


1. My name is Zack and I read Sam’s paper.

2. Identify the paper’s thesis statement and paraphrase it below. If the paper does not seem to have a thesis statement, attempt to write one yourself that focuses the paper’s analysis in a particular direction.

In the future, blogs will continue to grow in importance and will aid people in the economic field in gathering necessary information and pushing research in economics to new heights.

3. Does the paper seem like it came out of a certain prewriting method? If so, explain how you came to that conclusion. If not, suggest what prewriting method you think might have been most appropriate for the author’s topic and explain why.

I think this paper could be better if you were to use the outlining method. I don’t think there is much substance to the paper and if you outline it you can fill in some of the gaps. This could also help the paper flow more.

4. What is the most significant idea presented in the paper?

The idea that blogging allows people in a particular field to better communicate their ideas. Blogs be published instantly and they are of great importance because authors speak in different tone than normal academic writing. Blogs are easier to understand thus they can be a better form of communication.

Draft Workshop

Draft Workshop Form – November 16, 2004


1. My name is Zack and I read Jake’s paper.

2. Does the paper fulfill the demands of the assignment? Does it recommend a specific course of action relating to the issue?

It is a good start but I think you should focus more on analyzing the article. You talk about the authors ideas, but you never show how the ideas (or research in this case) was in acted or what was drawn from it. Show the reader the significance of what the author’s research accomplished.

3. What do you think of the paper’s introduction and conclusion? Do they provide effective bridges into and out of the paper? Do they provide too much summary?

The paper has an introduction, but no conclusion. Develop your ideas better and wrap them up in the conclusion. Try to view the introduction as bringing the reader into your world and the conclusion as sending them back into their own world. I think the introduction could be expanded upon more as well.

4. Briefly evaluate the paper’s level of organization. Would you describe the paper as disorganized? Too rigid? Explain your answers, suggesting ways to improve the paper wherever possible.

I think the paper is relatively organized so far…the ideas just need to be expanded upon. I feel like the paper is a shell of a paper and you need to fill in the rest with substance. Try more brainstorming to help.

Draft Workshop

Draft Workshop Form – November 11, 2004


1. My name is Zack Waterman and I read Jacob’s paper.

2. Does the article or book the author has chosen to analyze fulfill the requirements for an “academic” source? Explain why or why not.

The article does not analyze but rather summarize the work of the professor. I suggest, while summarization is necessary, you focus on why the issue at hand is actually significant. This is definitely an academic source though.

3. Does the paper fulfill the requirement to explain how the research presented in the article advances study in the author’s field? How, exactly, does the paper go about accomplishing this? Do you feel the requirement is fulfilled sufficiently? Explain your answers.

I do not understand the relevance of the study. It is interesting but I find myself thinking so what after I read about the research. It seems kind of like common sense to me that the more crime there is the harder it is to get caught. I guess I do not really understand what exactly it has to do with economy.

4. The assignment asks you to “Target your essay toward an audience who is well-educated, but may not have much expertise in this particular field.” Has the author done this? If the tone is off, cite specific examples of where the author has gone wrong and suggest ways that the content of the paper could be adjusted to fix the problem. If you think paper does use the proper tone, highlight one or two specific examples from the paper that support your claim.

The authors tone is good. It is clearly written for an educated audience. It could be improved a little bit more if some of the theories, particularly the directional theory of economics would be explained a little bit more. I think part the problem is the paper is not far enough along for you to have explained too much.

Draft WS Nov 9

Draft Workshop Form – November 9, 2004


1. My name is Zack and I read Jacob’s paper.

2. Does the paper fulfill the demands of the assignment? Does it have all of the elements we talked about in our class discussion? If not, list what the author needs to do to fulfill the assignment.

Jacob, your paper has the beginnings of showing your enthusiasm for the topic; however, you should go more in depth with more detail a little bit about some of your experiences such as your internship opportunities. The major thing your paper is missing thus far is analysis and reflection on a few of his posts. Focus on a few of these and their significance.

3. The assignment asks you to convey your enthusiasm and to analyze some recent posts to the blog. Assuming the author has done both of these things, what kind of organizational scheme has s/he implemented to integrate these two aspects of the paper? Does it make sense? Is it effective rhetorically?

As mentioned above you could do a better job at conveying your enthusiasm. The major thing is the analysis of posts. Make sure to include this in your paper. The paper thus far is not far enough along in the process for me to notice any clear organization to it. Try to structure it better. A possibility would be first your introduction, next why you are interested in the topic, then the analysis of posts, then what you wish to contribute.

4. We talked a lot in our class discussion on Thursday about tone. Briefly describe the tone the author has adopted for the letter. Is this tone appropriate? Would a slight (or drastic, for that matter) shift in tone benefit the paper?

The tone in your paper is fine. You are very polite and you address him with the dignity professionals should receive. One possible are you should watch out for is becoming too casual with the man. Not only is he an adult, but a doctor on top of that. Furthermore, you do not know him at all.

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