Ready or Not is Eng 104 is next

I have signed up for English 104 in the fall, which makes me wonder how different it will be from English 101/102. I think I am pretty good at finding secondary sources for my projects. I have used primary sources before in other classes so I am familiar with them as well but could use some getting use to. I am pretty good at using the articles and databases resources the library has to offer. I find of myself dreading having to do group projects again. I really dislike working in groups. I am the type of person who likes to be responsible for my own work and no one else’s. I expect to have to write longer pages that require more sources as references to my views. Also have not really interviewed people and used it for a formal paper so that should be interesting. It will be interesting to see what types of assignments are assigned in English 104. I do not know whether to look forward though.

Projects

This week went okay other then me oversleeping on Wednesday and missing class. I still feel bad about that. Today I read my project three aloud in class and received feedback. It was helpful in a way but I find students have trouble giving constructive criticism. I do believe so of them liked my paper but I would liked to here maybe things I need to add or improve in the paper. Hearing Adam’s paper although I am not sure I agree totally with his point of view it’s interesting hearing his argument. He had a lot of sources and figures, which helped but I agree with Olivia who said a chart would have been nice.
My project 1 revision was okay but I am not completely happy with it just yet. I was not able to find credible sources. I should probably go back and look at other Prides that take place throughout the country. I am curious to see the feedback I will get from Karen in our meeting next week. It should be helpful and led me in the right direction on where to go for here. I am not sure which project I will revise next. Probably project 2 which but I am not quite sure yet.

Workshops

This week is class has been interesting. I like the new way of getting feedback on our writings. Also I think it helps to read our papers out loud to see that what we wrote might not sound right or be grammatical incorrect. It is also giving me a chance to better understand the BSU writing program grading continuum. I did not realize what some of the things meant on continuum. Professor Neubauer helped explain to the rest of the class and me exactly what syntax and diction means. I do am not the A level writing according to continuum. Last semester we were asked to grade ours on where we thought are writing was on the continuum. I can tell I have gotten better during this semester. I wouldn’t say it was a big change but I would say I have improved. Getting to see more of my classmates writing is interesting. I like seeing all the ideas students have come up with to write about. Also seeing what issues are important to them. I am not quite sure what the discussion leader still does but I believe I am not alone on that one. I thought Christian’s paper on multiculturalism was really good. He is a good writing and he seems to be really good at introducing the sources in a creative way. It seems like this process will take longer though since our class is only fifty minutes long.

Presenting Projects

I thought hearing about everyone’s experience during class interesting. I liked the groups who got the chance to use the median of video. The Carmichael smoking section group’s video was interesting. As a nonsmoking I never heard of the hang out area. I liked to the idea of the interviewing students asking questions such as why they like whatever place on campus someone was assigned. I also felt some of those pages put my groups to shame. Going first sucked but I guess it was okay to get it over with. I felt like my group’s page was pretty boring. I would of liked to do more only if I was more experienced with how to add things on fan pages. It should be interesting to see what the last group has to show since they have seen all the other groups go.

Timed Writing prompts & observation

I really hate time writing prompts. I never seem to write a half way decent essay. I understand we have to do it for the university and course. I just do not see how that proves if we are where we should is at this level our college writing. I rather do the writing like we have been so I was comfortable with the outcome. I always seem to just answer the questions the writing prompt is asking. I should probably work on making my time writing skills better. Since I have to take the writing competency in a year or so. I am debating on whether to take the writing competency or just take the class. I will probably take the writing competency exam once just to see where my writing is at and if I could pass it without having to take the course. I did my observation today at Woodworth Commons in the lounge area we have as the profile picture. It went okay kind of slow in the area for dinnertime. I would say the weather had something to do with that. I know I would have gone there endless I had the observation because it was so nasty out today. A few interesting things were said one guy mentioned foot fetishes. I noticed people use the area to wait on friends who they plan on eating dinner with.

Projects

This week in class was pretty effortless. I did meet with my group once in the library to work on our work plan that is due Friday. That went all right I guess. I am not thrilled about this project. I really dislike working in groups. I have always preferred working on own I know I am okay with the outcome. I usually get in a group and become a follower with whoever decides to take the lead. I still have my project 3 to revise which will be challenging I never to seem to meet criteria in length of the papers we do in class. I like my topic I just need to add for information on the topic and maybe some of the views of the opposing argument. I think I will do my observation of the Woodworth commons next week. I planned on going during dinnertime, which I have done before just without taking notes. I eat alone for every meal so I am not proud to say I listen in on interesting conversations around me most of the time. I even want to say something to add to the discussion sometimes but that would be rude. Some interesting things go on though if someone just looks around and watches all the types of people who eat there. I use to live in Woodworth my semester at college. So the dinning is different from the living area, which is just upstairs. It is the only all female dorm on campus.

Facebook for Academic pruposes

I have never thought about using Facebook for academic purposes mostly because almost every professor I have had since coming to college can not stand that students getting on Facebook instead of paying attention in class. I guess it all depends what goes on the Facebook page on whether it could be used in another way other than social networking. I really doubt my peers will leave Facebook just because more pages of non-personal pages started to pop up. I mean students still kept a Facebook even if their parents or professors own one. There really is not much difference. I do not know if Facebook will have a future in the work place. I think it would be hard to track who is really using it work and who is just playing around on the networking site. I honestly do not use Facebook to often I did not get a Facebook until I came to Ball State because everyone here had one. I have a Myspace as well. I have kind of gotten away from social networking sites. I use it to keep in touch with a few friends who do not have cell phones. I do not belong to very many organizations on Facebook. To be honest I have no idea what a wigets even is. I would think an Academic page would need to look more professional then a personal page.