Adam Kowalski English 207 Blog

I feel that a computer, laptop, electronic learning device, whatever you like to call it is important to have as a college student. Having the ability to access credible information in a short period of time has benefitted college students all over the world. Computers also allow people to produce papers and take notes much faster than if they were to do so by hand. Computers do come with some setbacks just as any new media device does; computers can be distracting (i.e, AIM, Facebook, the internet) and can cause problems such as losing documents and not functioning properly.

Dear Grandpa,
         I would like to tell you about why I need a computer for college. When I was in grade school each classroom only had two computers split between 25 students. When it was time to write a paper I had to wait my turn for a 40minute shift on the computer which is not enough time to conduct adequate research. We also didnt have a computer at home which forced me to go to the library if I needed access to external research or a word processor. I know things were different for you growing up, and no disrespect but using textbooks and encyclopedias are very tedius to use when researching a topic. The internet allows for much faster research from multiple sources in a short period of time which will imrove the quality of my work.

Should be informative, have a clear message/statement, eye catching (not necessarily funny), relatively short, effective, appropriate use of medium, applies to audience, accurate inclusion of a technology medium

1. The message for my first idea would focus on the problems that can occur do to irresponsible use of technology. One idea would be to have a person driving while texting and showing a fake automobile accident since that is what may be most common with our generation. This would apply to everyone who texts but mainly people who are old enough to drive. The medium would be visiual.

2. The second message would be to highlight the effects of communicating techonology on teens’ abilities to communicate articulately and effectively. The medium would be visual. The scene would show a high school or college student at a job interview using text or “AIM talk” when answering questions in the interview.

3.The third message I would like to communicate would be how it is possible to do almost anything from your own home as long as you own a computer. It would be a visual medium and would show someone growing old as they use they computer to get a degree, a job, and live their life from their computer.

Technology is bittersweet luxury that our society takes for granted all too often. Like most people identified in their literacy many technologies our generation uses are: computers/internet (AIM, Facebook, email, Microsoft), cell phones (texting, and pictures; rarely talking it seems), television, automobiles and billboards. Multi-million dollar contracts are negotiated on laptops by businessmen flying home to see their wives. Technology also offers a threat to many people as computers and cell phones share important personal information about people that could be hurtful to them if it fell into the wrong hands. Although technology is not free, there are still ways to get it for free: libraries, university computer labs, starbucks. Where will it stop?

I have had experience with peer workshops in high school as well as English 111 & 112. I am not always a fan of group work of peer review because in many cases I feel that my classmates are not as skilled of a writer as I am and do not know everything that they should be looking for when critiquing a paper. I am however a big fan of reading other peoples papers. I like seeing various styles of writing as well as how people can take multiple avenues to the same assignment. I suppose as the saying goes, “Two sets of eyes are better than one.” So it is possible that my classmates can provide relevant feedback; but I prefer to see a professor or utilize resources on campus such as the writing center!

The author is able to provide multiple perspectives in their story

It should be written from the perspective of the author, not the author telling the story from someone else’s perspective

Narrative has multiple characters

Includes specific sensory details

Thesis should be first or last sentence of opening paragraph

Precise detail

May include dialogue

1. The ideal reader for my first topic will be any new or returning student who is uneducated or has proconceived notions about fraternity life on a college campus. They would bring a naive mind and the questions that would be pertinant to writing an essay on this topic.

2.The ideal reader for my second topic will be anyone that is currently attending a boarding high school. I could see about sending this essay back to my high school so that students would be better informed before coming to college. Kind of like a user’s guide to college. They would be looking at college as a totally  new experience when there are many similarities. They may also feel that they have college totally figured out when there are also many differences.

3. The third topic will benefit anyone who is attending college or will be attending college. This would allow current and prospective students to communicate with one another and alleviate problems that they are currently having or will have in the future.

4 & 5. My fourth/fifth topic will benefit me the most as a reader/writer. I will make this reading available to those who currently have careers that I aspire to attain. By letting them see the questions and thoughts that I have, I will be able to have them answer these questions so that I can get ahead on my career search.

I feel that given the average person he/she could have a multitude of stories to write about that could be classified as a narrative. Given the travels and experiences I have had throughout my life so far, her are the 5 possible topics:

What fraternity life is like: I have experienced college as a non-greek and greek student. It would be beneficial for students to know both sides so that preconcieved notions will be alleviated.

The similarities and differences between living at a boarding school and living at college: While this may not apply to my classmates as most attended a regular high school, it will allow them to see the experiences I’ve had.

The challenges that college has brought: This I feel could be a common topic for most students but could have a wide variety of subtopics that students could write about so that it is not the same paper written by 17 students (or however many we have in our class)

What I am looking forward to after college: Now that I am a Junior in my second semester, it is time for me to start thinking about life in the “real world.”

How my major has impacted my life choices: Given my major I have tried to make choices that would allow me to have the most experience when I leave college and start a career.

A narrative is a any fictional writing method in which the author conveys a message directly to the reader. It is a story that can be illustrated through a variety of formats (poetry, prose, story, images, songs, theatre or dance.) The story is told in the first person which enhances the author’s ability to captivate the audience. I know I wrote one in English 111 & 112 but I dont remember what it was about.