I dont need no stinkin Dictionary, I have spellcheck!

For my grammer article this week, I figured it was time to branch away from adminsecrets.com to a new and wonderfull place that is strangly familiar. This is a place that back in my time was an amazing invention, a place that was light years ahead of its time. Instead of going to a library to use a dictionary, you could actually just dial into the internet and access one online! It was fun, exciting, simple, convient, and out of date as soon as spell check for word processors came along.
I admit that my use of the dictionary dropped considerably after I learned about spell check, but what I did not realize was that many words that are spelled correctly… are still being used wrong. Been their two many times!!! A dictionary is a great way of looking up the correct word and even finding some new ones.
So, her’s too you www.dictionary.com my old friend, I have come home ounce again!

Looking for Work vs What we Really Miss about the 1950s

Using your analytical skills choose one or two elements to focus on from each essay explain how these elements do or do not contribute to effective writing.

For the first essay titled “Looking for work”, I was interested in the portion about how the Catholic teacher put him in the dumb kid section, but the other references included in that section show him as nothing near stupid. The part where the globe was dented and he remarked “…denting the already troubled Africa” showed his knowledge of international history. Another is when he remarked that the teacher sitting the smart kids with the stupid ones would not work “…as though intelligence were contagious” displayed his knowledge of learning and the brain. Finally that he figured out how the teacher was sitting them in rows all show a much greater intelligence than most kids at that age. All of this was in direct contrast to how the presumably caring and smart teacher viewed the class.
For the second title titled “What we really miss about the 1950s”, I loved the element of research and documentation. From the Knight Rider polls to the overlay of numbers and information on family incomes, choices and the 1950s in relation to World War 2, I was very much enjoying every page. Little facts like that a family could afford a median priced home on 15-18 percent of their salary made me feel connected. Facts that allow the reader to draw a parallel really help to draw the reader into the story. I found this reading much more enjoyable than the first.

On the interpretive/rhetorical level of critical thinking, what do you think these authors are driving at?

For the article written by Mr. Soto, I had a difficult time understanding what he was driving at. Everything seemed jumbled and aimless. Starting out with ideals of fortune that turned to going swimming with a buddy and followed by being ditched by his brother? It all just seemed rather pointless. I know we should really take the time and look deep into the hidden meaning of writing, but when presented with an article like this, I find it difficult to want to dig deep. Maybe this guy is really famous, but it appears more like the emperor has no clothes.
For the article written by Ms. Coontz, I feel she was very clear in what she was driving at. She was clear at the beginning that there was a difference between the nostalgic memory of the a950s and the factual nature of that time. The author took the time in the article to present the facts and the feelings with care, so as not to offend either particular thought process. It felt as though there were two different colored shoestrings represent fact and memory. She then took the shoestrings and weaved them back and forth creating a bond that went beyond the factual nature of the article and really made you stop and consider the information in a different light. This was a really great article.

Given the nature of our text, do these pieces challenge or critique some cultural beliefs about American families?

The article on looking for work was enjoyable to read as a glimpse of life in the 1950’s. I do not see much of a challenge as I do not believe anyone lived the life of Leave it to Beaver. The show was as all things are on TV, a glammed up snapshot of life with problems that could be solved in 30 minutes minus commercials. The family depicted in his story seemed quite normal.
The second article did nothing but challenge or critique cultural beliefs about American families. I loved how she presented the facts about whites and their choices about time periods, while almost to a fault of understatement noting that blacks didn’t so much enjoy the earlier decades. It actually made me stop and chuckle as the reasons for their choices slowly entered my consciousness.

What do you find the most interesting about each of these pieces?

The part I found most interesting in the first story was the accolades thrown at this writer at the beginning by whomever was doing the setup for this story. I felt that his boisterous prologue did nothing but to create an expectation for the story that in the end did not hold up. Maybe if he put this in at the end, there might have been an opportunity to better share his thoughts. I say, show the work with minimum editorial and let the reader form thoughts for themselves.
Most interesting part of the second authors work was her ability to share two sides of a topic without judging either side as wrong. This would be difficult with any two sided conversation, but with an article that is so fact and research laden, it’s quite amazing. I liked the references to later decades that were made without losing the reader in what facts were relevant to what decade. I also enjoyed the connection she made to the readers of today and how common things today compared to things in earlier decades.

ITS not a problem anymore!

My grammar article this week is on the dreaded apostrophe. It is one of the few grammar items that have a name as difficult to spell as the word is to use. Generally, I just try and avoid both. Typically the only time I really use the A-word is when the spell check on my document writer inserts it for me, at which time I look blankly at the computer and mutter “… well, if you say so” before moving on.
The rule for this week was a bit easier than last week, due to the fact that I already had a handy online resource to look for it. I just love using www.adminsecret.com for all of its simplicity of use and down to earth language in explaining a particular topic. The specific rule that I needed help with was about possessive pronouns and the rule I found was this: -It’s vs. Its: “It’s” is short for “it is” or “it has” (“it’s raining”), whereas “its” is a possessive pronoun, as in “its coat.” This rule is relatively simple to understand, to the point and easy to remember.
As before, you can find a link to the specific topic HERE. I will of course endeavor to use some different sources in the future, as there are many many sources on the Internet to find information. For now though, like a boy in love, there is nothing else on my mind!

Here are my two Media Cartoons!!!!

Here are my two Media Cartoons!!! I am interested in body image / Media and I hope these will be fun!

CaPitaliZe THIS??

An assignment that we as students are also required to complete on a weekly basis is the dreaded grammar assignment. In this task we must focus on a grammar issue that we struggle with. The response must include information on how we struggle with it, what the correct rule is and a link to a site with some compelling information on the topic.
The grammar issue I have chosen for this week is that I do not always know when to capitalize a piece of information. I struggle in knowing if it is important enough to be capalized and I get completely turned around when dealing with book titles or words that seem like they should be capitalized like American… or it is American!
I looked up the proper rule or rules for this topic and realized a new reason why I am confused. There are as many as 17 different rules for this grammar topic. The rules listed in this response are courtesy of www.grammerbook.com and are the ones I have found to be at least the best in terms of brevity for each rule. Of the 17 listed on their site, 3 offer an encapsulation of this week’s issue.
1. Capitalize points of the compass only when they refer to specific regions.
2. Always capitalize the first and last words of titles of publications regardless of their parts of speech. Capitalize other words within titles, including the short verb forms Is, Are, and Be.
3. Capitalize federal or state when used as part of an official agency name or in government documents where these terms represent an official name. If they are being used as general terms, you may use lowercase letters.
Of the 315,000 sites on Google that claim to have knowledge on this topic there is one that stands out and may become a resource for future articles. The site is called adminssecret.com and their approach seems softer and simpler than some of the other powerhouse alternatives. The information is presented as if one admin was secretly sharing some tips over coffee with a friend who is in the same spot. I think it’s a great site and I encourage others to tap its resources. The specific topic can be found by clicking HERE.

What does it mean to you to be an American Citizen? How might this text challenge or complicate your opinions?

As part of our English 2010 class for Ms. Sutton, there is a requirement to do some extra work in the form of creating responses to questions posted on her blog. These responses will be posted on my blog and you are more than welcome to read and respond to them. The question raised by our instructor’s blog post (found HERE) is twofold this week. First, “What does it mean to be an American?” and second, “How might this text challenge or complicate your opinions?”
The first question regarding how it feels to be an American is one that without reading the introduction to required text would have been very simple to answer. The answer would be good, normal, or fine as I have always been an American and therefore and extremely used to it. As I read the introduction to our text Rereading America, I am confronted with concept of challenging my narrow definition of an American by seeing that it is not just the simple definition of a citizen of the USA that I first considered it to be. Being an American is not just a geographical reference as I had thought it to be. American can be North, South, or Central as the book talks about as early as page 2. Nor is being American a specific cultural reference as myself and I am sure others have assumed. Being American is a consciousness and an opportunity to explore, challenge and use the power of dialog to grow and expand as a person.
The second question is about how the text of Rereading America could complicate or challenge my opinions. Although the text does a great job of both warning and enticing the student with lines like “Thus, you may find certain selections of Rereading America difficult, controversial, or even downright offensive.”, this student has had many an opportunity to have his beliefs challenged already. I am 38 years old and have lived in some of the most diverse cities in this country. There is no emotional staking of one particular corner of political or religious beliefs in my life, only a firm belief that my way is not the only way. The opportunity to learn some new tools to uncover different opinions, such as Pre-reading and the power of dialog are the real gems of this course. Mastery of these, will be the greatest challenge… and the most fruitful reward.

First Day of Class

This is a test for the first day of class