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Roshi7 Mid-Term Reflection

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 4 months ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward

 

 

 

Now that we agree that the entire Western monetary system is a phantom of IOU's, where do we go from there? The semester's biggest lesson for me has been that fear is a actual commodity exchanged by either side of the sustain-ability discourse. The fear of a dying planet eradicating the cancer of humanity, versus the fear of tyranny of those who will “save” us, as long as we follow the path they describe. How can we reconcile the phantom money system shown to be only promise of repayment that is nothing more than wishful thinking? The fear of foreclosure of not houses but our entire lives. A sad wonder of how are we going to shore up our financial house of cards? A friend suggests that we scrap the whole affair, starting over again by replacing our own troubled ways with a quasi-barter system based on tangible goods and services. That seems sort of radical, doesn't it? Can we really be that screwed up where a viable solution is to hit the reset button on society? Ctrl-Alt-Delete is a very tempting catch-all for when the “blue screen of death” appears on my laptop. But will it be effective on Western civilization?

 

The blue screen of a memory dump. My heart sinks every time that gremlin on my computer rears it's ugly royal blue face. It has happened this semester with alarming frequency, the big blue monster, prompting me to wish for a technoshaman of my own.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
Midterm Reflection

 

 

 

 

Graphical representation of writing/composing process

 

 

Roshi7 looking at a blank computer screen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections

 

 

 

 

 

Modes of blogging and informal writing: academic, political/community-based, and personal

 

Composing a portfolio has allowed me to to utilize the wiki framework by incorporate blogging independently. I have established and maintained a blog since the start of the semester, and have updated it frequently.

 

 

Situating your writing: Analyzing, synthesizing, and composing with sources

 

 

I have taken to emphasizing Hyperlinks, which is something new to my writing style. During my previous writing experience I did not have this technology available. It is exciting to use the new technologies in a creative way. It fits with my style of writing, as well as reading. Inspiration is enhanced by the ability to reference on the Internet by tagging in an open browser. I have always read with tools available, such as a thesaurus, and with my laptop handy, I can source my work on a more “real time” basis.

 

 

Composing processes: argument and persuasion

 

 

The process of choosing a an argument is more of an inspiration. I want any discussions of issues and subjects to come from a passion. The arguments must be from a point where I have an emotional stake in the discussion. It is pointless to argue an issue, and expect persuasion, from a discourse by which I do not believe. So the subject must come from that starting point, even when a discussion seems frivolous.

 

 

Multimedia: visual analysis and composition, aural analysis and composition

 

 

Everything I write I read aloud for clarity and flow. My preference is in keeping paragraphs and sentences short, and revise constantly to avoid long drawn out sentences. The priority of my writing is to present information in an entertaining way.

 

Methods of many of my arguments include emphasis on hyperbole. I enjoy playing “devils advocate,” and try to establish a more radical opinion to force an opinion. To have a reader consider a fringe viewpoint, even though they would obviously disagree, and have them move slightly closer my standpoint, would make my argument, in my eyes, successful.

 

 

Collaborative, coordinated, or distributed writing: linking, interacting, and responding in writing to/with peers

 

 

Peer review is essential for the writing process. Feedback is an integral component for the evolution of a piece. My point of view is only a starting point, and the input of others can be of invaluable assistance with clarity and flow, the two most important elements of any writing. I need to fine tune the piece to effect the audience, and always be vigilant towards effectiveness of communication, especially when presenting opposing arguments.

 

 

Writing in the disciplines: connecting your writing to research and scholarship in a specific field

Community Writing (outside of academia)

 

 

The discourse of my writing, as I pursue a Journalism major, is to continue an expansion of my knowledge base, not only for subjects I have always been interested in. The experiences of this course has given me a forum to broaden horizons in ways I have not expected. I have been given opportunities to organize opinions and interests, and hope to continue. I will pursue these efforts beyond the limits of the class.

 

 

 

Rhetorical Knowledge

 

 

 

Seeking out an audience is the heart of any writing, especially in writing as a vocation. It is important to understand who is reading the piece, and how to communicate individual thoughts into a cohesive work that will speak to, and not speak at, the audience.

 

To enter hyperbole as a tool in my writing is a method I would like to pursue, and to use that to elicit emotions and bolster my argument. It is important to get feedback from the audience, both positive and negative.

 

I like the method of the wiki and the technology of the internet to elicit the immediate feedback from the audience. It allows me to edit my work instantly and to bring some additional clarity of purpose in my work. My method is to use the Internet and approach a real time writing style. Again, the utilization of hyperlinks can bring not only a certain intensity to the writing, expanding the readers experience by allowing the reader to follow a path, but to allow some insight into the interests of the author. It also allows a slight degree of non-sequitur composition to the piece. It's effect is to give a reader a moment to pause and collect their thoughts. The Zen koan is similar in its nonsensical construction somewhat forcing the reader to analyze their thought processes. Koans are bits of non-sequitur stories designed to give Zen students a structure to drop their grasp on logic and, by extension, the self. I like to occasionally throw the reader a similar “curve ball,” and hope the unexpected nature entertains the reader, making it an effective tool in composition.

 

I have always admired writers who use humor to punctuate their work. I strive to sharpen my ability to elicit laughter to bring my point home. If I can bring a more lighthearted tone to my opinions, then I feel it can help for a better understanding of my point of view. Even though there is some disagreement, humor and the ability to laugh can be a starting point at which we all can agree.

 

 

 

 

Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing

 

 

 

 

I believe the writing process is an organic process that springs from an artist's creative “well.” The focus starts from a germ of an idea, and the piece should grow from there. Ideas grow and mature, where some will wither like leaves and can be discarded. Not all ideas are suited for the piece, but with revision and editing, along with the peer review, a more complete whole can be arranged.

 

The reader is expected to have a comprehension of the subject, it is the author's responsibility to illuminate the reader to a point of view. The reader should follow the flow of the piece, where they can either agree or disagree with the argument. Either way, an emotion should be elicited, and the goal of the author is just that. There is no hard and fast middle ground, although there is nothing but grey areas. The purpose of writing to an audience is to give enough information for a reader to establish their own viewpoint, for an individual experience.

 

I found this term's experience enriching to me as a writer, a student and a thinker. It has offered me the opportunity to express opinions in an organized manner, and have enjoyed the forum it has offered. This had been a chance to seek out challenges in writing, and focus on subjects about which I can be passionate about. I will use the methods as a platform to hone talents, and pursue interests that I did not expect at the start of the term. I was able to use new techniques and technologies that are new to me, as well as some resources I have been familiar with. 

 

 

Composing Processes

 

 

It has been one of the challenges in the class to establish a writing style to fit my personality, which is the goal of any writer. The need to organize my thoughts, and the necessity of structure that can be sustained for a project is paramount. I want to be able to provide content in a manner that I can feel comfortable with. The wiki format is good for my manner of composition. I feel that it works for the type of writing that I am most interested in.

 

 

Conventions

 

 

Clarity was the sentence-level problem I encountered the most. In reading aloud I have been able to address most of them, but it is in the peer review, which is the mainstay of any writer – the editor – which has been the most useful. The need for a trusted editor has been the cornerstone of the writing process. Again, I relied on the convention of the Hyperlink to document my writing, and to communicate some of my thought processes. Humorous writing has been the biggest challenge, and that convention has slowed down my progress, but I hope it has been worth it.

 

 

Writing Technologies

 

The ability to "tab" various pages on a web browser  while simultaneously writing your piece has become a creative tool to resulting in a piece of work that is unique from other types of writing. Corresponding my writing with other written sources allows a multi faceted reading experience, and adding the multimedia aspect of linking video and other sources of information only enhances the experience. The only drawback I can see is that the overuse can be distracting to those not fully engaged with the subject.  My goal is to entertain while informing, so that my reader is entertained by the method and style of writing, especially while presenting an argument, and will give me the opportunity to enlighten my audience to my unique point of view.

 

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