Software Training Workshop

So this post is a little overdue, but better late than never. I took a software training workshop on Wikis, blogs, and podcasts. The blog portion was very easy for me, since this was a huge portion of our class. We also created our own wiki and short podcast. I found wikis to be the most interesting. We created our own wiki and then were able to change the content of others' wikis. Even though this was a basic activity, it was cool to have my own writing on the Internet in a similar fashion as Wikipedia. Podcasts were also pretty cool. We recorded our voices and set it to background music. I don't think I would use podcasts very much in my near future, but maybe in the long-term. Overall, this software training workshop was interesting. I was not really looking forward to the workshop, but was pleasantly surprised. It definitely wasn't as painful as I thought!

Emergence Part II

Last week’s readings were again from Steve Johnson’s Emergence book. Chapters 3 and 4 dealt with concepts of “The Pattern Match” and “Listening to Feedback”.

In Chapter 3, Johnson proclaims that “like any emergent system, a city is a pattern in time” (104). He believes that a complex system always exhibits repeated behavior (as individual components) that ultimately produces collective behavior (as a whole). A city is an example of this, as generations of people continuously go through the life stages (birth to death), while growing and making new developments.

In Chapter 4, Johnson discusses that a negative feedback always provides a complex system with adaptation. In a negative feedback, the system produces a result in the opposite direction as the stimuli. This stabilizes the system, and it is therefore able to adapt to its surroundings. Johnson gives another way to understand negative feedback systems, as he says it is like “comparing the current state of a system to the desired state, and pushing the system in a direction that minimizes the difference between the two states
(140). This definition was fairly easy for me to understand. He then gives examples of negative feedback systems found within our bodies, and focuses on the relationship between our bodies and our minds. Our sleep cycles are an illustration of a negative feedback system because our bodies’ circadian rhythm compared to humans’ circadian rhythm are different, yet when combine forces, stabilize each other.

This reading touched on a great deal of information and concepts, so it was a little difficult to focus on a couple concepts. However, like I previously mentioned in other blogs, I find Johnson’s writing to be humorous and at some times enjoyable, as he (for the most part) succeeds in portraying somewhat difficult concepts in “ordinary” language.

Lost.In.Translation.

Two weeks ago in class, we watched the movie Lost in Translation. I had never seen it before and was excited to actually watch a popular movie in class. Although the movie was different and did not follow normal movie "guidelines" (predictable ending, predictable plot, etc.), I still was intrigued by it. The movie could be related to places vs. non-places, like we discussed in class. Much of the movie had scenes of people just sitting around, which would correlate to non-places. Also, it seemed that the two main characters might have in fact viewed Tokyo as a non-place, as they did not have any history in it and seemed to just be "drifting" around in it.
In class, we also discussed the possibility of turning a non-place into a place. We asked if someone spends a certain amount of time in a non-place and establishes relations, does this qualify as a place? I think that a non-place turns into a place as soon as the characteristics of a place (has history, has relationships, etc.) appear in the alleged "non-place". In addition, we felt that the language barrier in the movie presented a challenge for the two main characters to change Tokyo from a non-place to a place.

Non-places Part II

Last week's reading about places and non-places by Auge really interested me. Initially, I was skeptical of and confused by the term "non-place". I thought, "Isn't everything a place in some sense?". However, once I understood Auge's criteria for non-places, everything became clearer. Auge believes that non-places are spaces we merely visit. They most likely have an element of commercialization and anonymity. Also, non-places deal with travel and distancing. Examples of non-places could be a bus, an elevator, a big lecture hall, an airport, a bank, a hotel, or a mall. In this context, the idea of non-places began to make more sense to me. Places, on the other hand, have a historical context and are concerned with identity. Examples could be a town square, a church, and a long-term job. People generally spend more time in places than non-places. I realized that I visit non-places just as much as I visit places on a daily basis. Auge also points out that a person's daily routine is a continuous shift between places and non-places, which is certainly true in my case. On an average day, I might get up in the morning and leave my dorm (place), some days attend a large lecture (non-place), get money from the ATM (non-place), meet friends for lunch at the cafeteria (place), take the bus (non-place) to work, spend time at work (place), take the bus (non-place) home, go to the library (place) to work on homework, and finally sleep at home (place). Another point that was brought up in our class was that defining a certain space to be a non-place or place is very subjective. A coffee shop for some people may be a place to grab a quick cup of coffee. For others, it may be a place to meet friends every Tuesday night. Auge's discussion of places and non-places shed new light on a topic containing familiar elements but new ideas.

Non-places???

I chose a bus for my non-place. I observed the people and surroundings on my way to work one afternoon, and here's what happened:
First of all, I recognized a sense of solitude and anonymity as I waited for the bus with about fifteen strangers. Some people were waiting with friends, but the majority of us were standing alone. Most of us were listening to iPods or talking on cell phones, which also symbolized a loss of a relationship with the people around us (even though we might be expressing our relationship with someone on the phone).
When the bus came, we all gathered in a group and headed onto the bus. The bus driver seemed to be "counting" us as we stepped on, as he pushed a button for each new passenger. This gave me a sense that I was literally "just a number" in the world of the Metro bus line.
However, sometimes when I take the bus, I spot a co-worker and begin to talk. In this way, the bus seems to be transferred into a "place" because we are "regulars" of that schedule and bus, thus making a history.
A couple major components of non-places are the feelings of being in motion and traveling. This is pretty self-explanantory for a vehicle such as a bus, for it literally took us from one place to the next. However, it would not be considered a "place" because it was involved in the in between stage.
While on the bus, strangers sat next to strangers for the most part. Since many people use Bus 80 on campus, there was a good chance the person sitting next to someone would be a stranger. Everyone was simply using the bus to get somewhere-a "real" place.
One more characteristic of a non-place is the idea that people "use it and leave". This is certainly true of a bus or other public transportation system.

My experience with a non-place fit pretty well with Auge's definition of one, although there were some exceptions.

Spring Break

Alright, I am going to be cliche and talk about my upcoming Spring Break. Even though I'm not going anywhere exotic, I'm excited to get away from school and everything that goes along with it. I will be heading home to Kenosha to visit family and friends. Because our Spring Break is so late, not very many of my college friends will be home, but luckily there will be a couple. One thing I'm really looking forward to is seeing my nephew. After all, I haven't seen him since he was born, and he is now about 2 1/2 months old! Another aspect I'm looking forward to is not having to work for a full week! Even though I love my job, it will be nice to take a break from the sometimes-screaming kids for awhile. I will also be meeting my new dog for the first time. His name is Rocky, and he's a full-grown Chocolate Lab. We have 2 other small dogs and a small house, so this situation should be interesting. I plan on renting lots of movies, going shopping in Milwaukee/Chicago, and SLEEPING! However, I did just realize how much is due the week after Spring Break, so I guuess a little studying might be in order, but not too much!

Reading Notes #6

Last week, we read Andy Clark’s “Natural Born Cyborgs”, which focused on the proposition that all humans are inherently part human and part machine. Clark believes that we will become “human-technology symbionts” that will think with both a biological and non-biological mind. His proposition that people are “natural born cyborgs” stems from his belief that reason derived from the human mind cannot be attached to the body. As time goes on, he says, the “mind is just less and less in the head” (181). The human brain is good at physical feats but performs poorly in areas of logic.
Clark also believes that humans naturally have minds that were “made for mergers” (182). He even goes so far as to call us “Tools-R-Us” (182). As society becomes more technologically advanced, so do our tools. This explains our ability to interact with tools (in order of increasing complexity) such as pens, paper, and computers.
An everyday illustration of a human cyborg-like behavior is the use of cell phones. Almost everyone nowadays owns one, and many do not let it leave their sides. It is, in some sense, “attached at the hip” of many people. Text messaging is becoming increasingly popular. Clark sees this behavior as an “extension of the hand” (183). He also believes that when people purchase new phones, they are simply buying “mindware upgrades” (183). The non-biological machinery combines with the biological brain as users learn more about the technology.
Clark does make a point that we “aren’t ourselves” in some manner (184). There are questions of the extent to which technology will become a part of us. This is a very valid question, but the answer lies in the future, and is thus unknown.
In class, we discussed the pros and cons of the concept of cyborgs. Initially, many people react with the “ick” factor, or technophobia. Some worry that technology will ultimately take over and machines will become superior to humans. Fears of this are illustrated in many science fiction movies, such as The Matrix. However, some technological advances can be seen as beneficial. For example, in the Turkle article, a woman who had lost a limb finds comfort in creating an online identity before creating a real-life one. The Internet provides anonymousness as well as an outlet for creativity.
In conclusion, “Natural Born Cyborgs” illustrates humans’ ability to utilize resources and tools while at the same time acknowledges fears of reliance and dependence on these same tools.

Reading Notes #5

Jeff Rice’s Chapter 7 (Popular Culture and Cool) centered around how modes (music, electronic writing, literacy etc.) of “cool” affects current popular culture. Rice believes that the development of new media technologies directly relates to literacy growth, and I have to agree. He points out that “before the 1500’s, few people knew how to read and write, and, consequently, the ability to produce written texts was a limited activity” (126). After the invention of the printing press, however, many people were able to both write and read text in public and private spaces. Computers and related technologies have furthered these abilities. People are now even more able to connect with a large number of people or work in solitude. For the purposes of this class, I believe the focus should be on the large-scale connectedness that results from new media developments. Rice thinks that developments of literacy and technology are intertwined. A key term Rice mentions is “computer literacy” (127). The traditional notion of these words is one that focuses on one’s ability to turn on and use a computer’s components. As mentioned in previous blogs, I would say I am not very “computer literate” using this definition. However, Rice points out that the true definition of computer literacy” streches beyond the traditional one. “Computer literacy” also encompasses one’s ability to “create discourse with computers...and rhetorically be persuasive” (127). I’ve realized that new media is developing rapidly, and that in order to be fully competent in all aspects of society, one needs to keep up with and adapt to these developments. In this sense, I believe I am slowly beginning to improve my “computer literacy”.

After reading all of the articles by Barabasi, Rice, and Gladwell, I’ve been a bit more aware of “cool” people around me. I recently heard my roommate talking about certain people called “hipsters”. I didn’t really know what this term meant, so of course I turned to Urban Dictionary. Their definition is as follows: One who possesses tastes, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool. The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitsch anything held dear by the mainstream.” Apparently, hipsters are what most of the above authors would call the “innovators”, the first people to start a trend or fad. The part of the definition that says the hipsters “walk among the masses in daily life” also gives a sense of mystery and disconnectedness. In order for these people to be considered “cool”, their overall ways of life must reach a hub, who must “spread the word” and influence many other people. If these trends catch on, they are accepted by other “cool” people.
Also, the fact that the hipsters “walk among the masses” seem to connote that they are difficult to spot. Gladwell would agree with this notion, and would say that it is actually impossible to truly observe “cool” kids because “the quicker the chase, the quicker the flight”. Just as “cool” is being accepted and becoming the norm, another hipster or innovator is producing some other “cool” trend.
Overall, I think the idea of “catching cool” is tired and somewhat impossible. There are always new ideas being formed and new people to accept them. Although I admire the effort of cool hunters like Baysie and DeeDee, who ultimately record random observations, I don’t think I could base my job on something so unstable.

Since I didn’t have too much free time to conduct an official “cool hunt”, I did mine on Bus 80 going to work. The bus is certainly a public place, right? Anywise, I was waiting for the bus and started to observe the people around me. There was a handful of girls wearing puffy Northfaces with Uggs, which is quite a popular trend around campus. This fashion statement is clearly considered “cool” by a large group of people. However, this look is highly criticized, especially in the Badger Herald Shoutouts. So, according to another group of people, this look is definitely very “uncool”.
I also noticed a guy wearing baggy clothes and who had a pierced ear. I remember back in the day, when I was in elementary school, when a pierced ear on a boy meant that they were “cool”, and somewhat rebellious. I still think these connotations carry over to some extent in today’s society.
Once I got on the bus, I noticed a variety of people. There were many ethnicities and well as fashions and overall appearances. Some people were wearing athletic clothes, while some wore business casual. I noticed that many people, if wearing tennis shoes, wore either Nike or Adidas. A couple of people stood out, however. They looked significantly different from the others. They were wearing different fashions and would not be classified in the same group as the other people on the bus. These “innovators”, as Barabasi and Gladwell would call them, displayed piercings, tattoos, and other distinguishing characteristics.
Piercings and tattoos nowadays symbolize rebellion and therefore a sense of “coolness”. However, this view may change with time. Gladwell says that “cool hunting” is merely a collection of random observations that keep changing as the definition of “cool” changes. So, what I viewed as “cool” now could just as easily be seen as “uncool” in a couple of years. Barabasi believes that the ability of a fad or virus to spread depends on the individual receiving the “cool” ideas. The idea that tattoos and piercings were rebellious caught on, and enough individuals were persuaded. But, there may be an innovator who decides these things aren’t “cool” anymore, and begins to spread this idea. If enough people believe this idea, an anti-fad may arise.
Gladwell states that “cool” can never truly be observed. He says that the “quicker the chase, the quicker the flight”. This statement is very applicable to my “cool hunt”. I can believe that the fads and fashions I saw were “cool”, but in reality, they were most likely just “old” fads. Newer fads are being created somewhere in secrecy. They will soon emerge and ultimately become popular and “cool”.

Reading Notes #4

In “The Connected Age”, Duncan Watts discussed several different types of networks. He presented the power grid as a vast network that might possibly be the “most essential technological feature of the modern world”. The problem with the power grid, and also many other networks, is that the individual behaviors of the components are known, but the collective behavior of the group is not. This is a problem that continues to boggle the minds of many scientists, mathematicians, and other professionals. A general consensus is that the individual parts don’t connect in a simple fashion, and that this process is very complicated. On the other hand, complete systems’ behaviors can sometimes be predicted without knowing the behaviors of the individual parts. Watts also discusses the dynamic nature of networks. They are not fixed, and change with time and the world in which they operate. An interesting topic that they discussed was one of “clustering”. This is the idea that most people’s friends are also friends of each other. This coincides with the “small world” idea. I cannot agree more with this concept. I cannot count the number of times I have been at a get together or in a class and discover that we have mutual friends. This is actually one of the aspects I love most about the UW. This “small world” feel makes the population seem a lot smaller than 40,000 students. What is clear is that networks lack structure, are adaptive and ever-changing, and are still a puzzle to many who study them.

Lastfm will be the end of me!

So my new favorite thing is Lastfm.com. I've heard about the site before, but never really checked it out. Music is such a central part of my life, so it is nice to find a site that is so user-friendly and that offers such a variety of artists. Lastfm, for those of you who aren't familiar with it, is a music networking site. You create an account, start playing any kind of music you like, and are able to add friends, recommend songs, and much more. They have a type of media player that allows you to search, by keyword or artist, for a bunch of songs. You are also able to "tag" each song you listen to, describing it any way you like. I have to say, there are a ton of different artists available, and you are able to play full-lenthg songs. Alright, enough of the sales pitch, but I just want to say I highly recommend this site! I'll leave you with a video of a song called "Coffee and TV" by the band Blur. It's pretty funny...

Reading Notes #3

If I had one word to initially sum up the content of last week’s readings, it would be “chaotic.” We read parts of Hayles’ Writing Machines and viewed Memmott’s Lexia to Perplexia. Writing Machines was a written narrative of the online Lexia to Perplexia . These pieces were about the same topic, yet differed in their presentations. I’m glad I read Writing Machines before I viewed Lexia to Perplexia . Initially, this reading and presentation were very confusing to me. Hayles was similar to McLuhan in that she was concerned with how the medium shapes the message. She believed that the medium shapes how we receive the message and also how the message is generated. I would agree with this belief to some extent. Two completely different processes are used when producing a message broadcast via television versus a message broadcast via a book. I believe people’s reactions and ways of interpreting the messages also differ. Some people prefer the “movie version” over a story in a book. These cases are obviously very different. In the movie case, you have someone’s opinion and understanding shaping your understanding. You consequently form your own opinions while reading a book. Reading a book also requires just one sense while watching television or a movie requires multiple senses.
I was initially very frustrated with Lexia to Perplexia. As I continued to click on different areas, I got more and more confused. It was difficult to keep track of the content and how the different parts related to each other. I thought that the many puns were creative, but I was not familiar with that kind of language, so it took me awhile to catch on. My feelings changed somewhat after discussing in class. Scot pointed out that one of the main objectives of the presentation was to purposely be unclear and unstable. Our class pondered why this was so, and came to the conclusion that it dealt with the relationship between the user and the computer. The user clicked on different areas of the video, yet had to explore in order to find the “right” spots. In this way, both the user and the computer were in some sense “controlling” the other. The computer in this case was what is called a “cyborg”, which is something that has both machine and biological components.
This reading and online video were challenging, yet broadened my perspective about ways in which messages are broadcast and ever-evolving relationships between technology and humans.

Writing About Cool

What does the world “cool” exactly mean? There are several answers to this question. In “Writing About Cool”, Jeff Rice attempts to give it some definition by explaining its past and present meaning.
Rice says that “cool” has been typically associated with independence and rebelliousness. James Dean and Elvis Presley are two major figures that represent these qualities. After the invention of the Internet, however, “cool” took on a new meaning. The ability of the Internet to reach so many places at the same time captivated companies trying to sell products on a large scale. Words were manipulated in order to attract as many customers as possible. Rice contends that it is possible that the “rebels” of the 1960’s influenced the Internet. In this way, “cool” still is associated with ideas that vary from the norm. It is used by proactive entrepreneurs that attempt to influence future customers and make profit.
Rice also paralleled the idea of “cool” with connection. He believes that common words are used to bring people together, usually to influence and persuade.
At the end of Rice’s first chapters, he asks: How can writing be cool? and Can you write cool? I believe writing can be cool in the sense that it involves creativity, thinking “out of the box”, and connectivity between many people. Writing, especially with new media, can be used to present ideas across a network. I’m not sure if one can “write cool” because I don’t completely understand this concept. I don’t think one can write meanings (independence, revolutionary, rebelliousness), only that writing can be considered these meanings.

Making school cool

Many times, themes and issues are echoed in a variety of different aspects. This can be especially seen in college courses. Many of the terms that are used in my current English 201 course are used in my other classes, both past and present. The
meanings may not be the same, but the fact remains the terms are seen in a variety of environments.
During the Fall 2006 semester, I took an introductory Journalism class. Many of the same concepts discussed in my current English course were touched upon in Journalism. Networks of many kinds were frequently mentioned. This was a very
broad term and employed many types of writing, such as print and web-based. We talked about the importance and prevalence of print and electronic media. We also read a bit of Marshall McLuhan, the famous English teacher known for inventing the phrase” the
medium is the message”, in this Journalism class.
My current History of Education professor was just recently talking about the different kinds of rhetoric that were used in
the 1800’s in order to convert people to Protestantism. He also introduced us to the Quaker culture. I also learned a great deal
about the culture of different Spanish-speaking countries while in third semester Spanish.
The topic of English curriculums has come up in many of my Education courses. We have studied the way people develop
language, how they process information, and how this relates to teaching different subjects.
The majority of my high school and college writing experiences have dealt with traditional, “academic” writing. When I
took English 171-Gender and Sexuality freshman year, we did close readings and analyzed typography as part of our paper
assignments.
My Geography class focuses a great deal on Earth’s atmosphere, which is similar to blogosphere. Each term illustrates a
“sphere”, or all-encompassing area. The atmosphere surrounds the entire earth, while the blogosphere includes the social
network community of blogs and bloggers.
As is apparent, many scholarly terms and concepts are versatile and “chameleon-like”. They are able to be used in
many different contexts, yet still remain connected.

Reading Notes #2

Jeff Rice contends in his, "What Should College English Be? Networks and New Media", that college English should be new media. He does not reject the current curriculum but wants people to recognize the importance and prevalence of the network in today’s society. He defines the network as “spaces of connectivity”. Traditional English writing deals with individual space and one author, while new media writing works with many spaces and authors. Rice believes that we need to “rethink the old English model” and incorporate some of its components with some of new media’s aspects.
Daniel Anderson, a college English professor, would agree with Rice’s view that today’s society needs to adapt and take on some of new media’s elements. In his “Prosumer Approaches to New Media Composition: Production and Consumption in Continuum”, he asserts that people should become “prosumers”, a blend between a producer and a consumer. Prosumers break down the barriers between being strictly active (producers) and being passive (consumers). As a prosumer, one is able to receive information from other’s via new media while making their own opinions and perspectives known.
I found this reading and video to be quite interesting. I agree with Rice’s view that college English needs to encompass both traditional English styles as well as new media. However, I think this could be taken a step further and be applied to English courses in general. This process of incorporation could even begin in elementary schools. That way, when students reach college, they will be familiar with styles like web writing. However, I do think that traditional English ways of writing have their own benefits. They allow ample time for revision and a very structured way of writing.
I thought that Anderson’s video was groundbreaking in a sense and inspirational. I had never seen an English class structured in this way. I admired the fact that he gave his students the option of either writing a paper or creating a video for their final project. By letting his students become “prosumers”, they were able to not just choose between “old” and “new” media, but even combine them. As a future elementary school teacher going into Language Arts, I found this video to be very useful for my future career. I know that my students will have grown up in an even more fast-paced and technologically-based society. I realized that incorporating new media into my curriculum would benefit both my students as well as myself. Both the reading and video put a new “spin” on my traditional way of thinking about my future Language Arts class.

"Academic" Writing Vs. New Media

Aside from learning to keyboard in around third grade, my elementary school English classes were filled with endless worksheets, Venn Diagrams, writing stories, and practicing handwriting. Because I knew of nothing else, I just accepted this traditional style of academic writing. However, in today’s society, where new media is ever-present, “academic” writing feels a bit restricted and rigid.
There is no doubt that new media challenges the conception of writing. It poses questions of validity and effectiveness. We are very much used to the old-fashioned, “academic” style of writing and have established it, in a sense, as a precedent and standard. There are many people who are still not open to the kind of change new media poses, although this surely varies with generations and even within certain types of people. Redefining the conception of writing is a controversial issue, and one that is ongoing. There are some who believe that “academic” writing is the only option, that it provides necessary order and a better opportunity to revise. On the other hand, there are others who believe writing through new media is necessary in our continuously changing society.
This leads me to my next discussion of the benefits and consequences of incorporating new media into English curriculums. There are a number of pros and cons of adapting new technology into this subject area. Students will most likely be more engaged when exposed to new media in their classrooms. This is only natural, since the majority of students today have grown up in a world where they are surrounded by developing technology. New media will also provide a broader sense of connection. Theoretically, a student’s blog is a connection to anyone in the world. This might help students gain perspective of their own position in the world around them. New media also provides a very quick way to broadcast a message. However, there are some consequences of incorporating new media into English curriculums. Because new media is so fast-paced, there is little time for revision of errors. People are mainly concerned with delivering more information in a quick fashion. Issues of validity and correctness also come into question because of the fact that anyone is able to post information.
New media definitely challenges the old conception of “academic” writing. As I mentioned earlier, there are many people who are wary of the concept of new media. Learning about and understanding it is out of their comfort zone. However, I believe it is necessary to have the ability to adapt to our changing times. No one is quite sure what role new media will play in future English curriculums, but I’m guessing it will be an increasing component.

What is Writing?

Reading Notes #1

Rhetoric has long been a topic of controversy. What exactly does this word mean? As it goes, there are many different answers to this question. In other words, rhetoric has many different reputations, and the word conjures up good as well as bad connotations in many minds. Plato, who was interested in discovering absolute truth, especially disliked the term “rhetoric”. He believed it to be merely the subjective act of persuasion. However, sophists in Athens taught rhetoric so people could communicate effectively. And so the debate goes on. Is rhetoric simply the act of persuasion or could it actually be useful on a scale larger than influencing one’s views?
I am not completely for or against rhetoric, and I don’t think that is the central issue. I believe rhetoric is a necessary component of our society and culture, whether one chooses to believe this or not. I think humans naturally seek to form their own opinions and gravitate towards others who share the same views. Once people have formed views and perspectives, they are likely to attempt to persuade others of these stances. As people find others who share the same views, they begin to feel validated and accepted.
Rhetoric is mostly looked at as a subjective topic partly because persuasion is such a major component. When people attempt to persuade another, they are utilizing their different ways of thinking that vary from person to person. However, there are also somewhat objective views of rhetoric. Some believe that facts are discovered as a result of debates. Whether or not this is what actually happens, rhetoric definitely builds a sense of community by bringing together people with similar ideas.
Scot also introduced a model that was presented at a recent conference about the productivity of rhetoric. It told of rhetoric “seeing (problems, points of view, events, etc.), making (assembling), and doing (motivating others to take action).” In this way, rhetoric is seen as an effective way to communicate. I agree with this idea, and as previously mentioned, believe humans naturally gravitate towards this process.
Like I said earlier as well, I believe rhetoric is a necessary part of society. And in today’s society, technology is a main component. As we all know, today’s society and culture is increasingly fast-paced. In order to keep up with the times, I believe we need to consider technology’s role in rhetoric. I think we need to incorporate a certain amount of “fast rhetoric”, as Faigley calls it, into the way we communicate. This could be as broad as showing a friend a video clip of a political candidate’s speech or being able to make a video in place of a paper in an English class. Faigley is in favor of “slow rhetoric”, or books and other print media because there is less chance of mistakes and confusion. Yancy, on the other hand, suggests reforms of current English curriculums that would include more technology resources. I am therefore more likely to agree with Yancy’s point of view. I feel that people should include technology and “fast media” more in general communication as well as specific areas, such as English courses. However, I believe people should use a certain amount of caution when using these technology mediums. They need to be aware of the validity and truth of the sources. If these steps are taken, everyone will be able to connect through common ground. Our society is ever-changing and we need to be able to adapt.

Open Post #1

Well the most exciting thing that happened to me over Christmas break was that I became an aunt! My nephew, Ryan Milan, was born on Friday, January 12th at 9:35 p.m. He weighed about 7 lbs and was 21 inches long. My dad and I got to visit him when he was only about 15 hours old. He had a full head of hair, and even though he "still kind of looked like a conehead" according to my brother, he definitely resembled both my brother and sister-in-law. Before we went to the hospital, my dad and I stopped at Hallmark to buy a card and present. My dad ended up buying his new grandson a "manly" lion stuffed animal. It was so funny to see my dad freak out once we got to the hospital. He kept saying, "Oohhhh my gosh, I'm going to see my grandson, oohhhh my gosh, I'm a grandpa". We definitely got a few looks in the elevator. Ryan's mom is Croatian, and that's where his middle name comes from. He was such a laid-back boy when we saw him. I know the parents were hoping that continued once he got home. Apparently he only slept about 45 minutes the first night back, but he's getting better. It's very exciting to become an aunt, although it does make me feel a little old. I'm looking forward to spoiling him, playing with him, watching him grow, and providing him with Badger clothes!

Blog #1: Rhetoric

What is rhetoric? This is one of those words I’ve heard time and time before. I’ve heard it briefly mentioned but never expanded upon during high school English classes. I've heard of rhetorical questions, ones that do not actually expect an answer, but rather have one designated ahead of time. The notion of rhetoric seemed vaguely familiar to me, and I felt like I should know its definition. When asked to produce a specific one, however, I felt a little lost.

I had quite an obscure definition of this term in my mind before reading Herrick’s chapter. I believed it to be the art of communicating one’s opinions and views to either a single person or many people. I believed rhetoric could occur in many forms, whether it be a written paper or a speech. I didn’t have a positive or negative connotation when I thought of rhetoric.

While Herrick’s definition is broad as well, it showcases the many other components rhetoric has and highlights the fact that it is multi-dimensional. He emphasizes the fact that because rhetoric has so many sectors, it is seen throughout our daily lives. Herrick defines rhetoric as achieving clarity and a sense of beauty through symbols, and creating an understanding using symbols. I liked how Herrick pointed out that we use a series of symbols to create language, on which rhetoric can be based. Herrick also displays the connection between persuasion and rhetoric, and emphasizes the importance and presence, although sometimes unrecognized, of persuasion in our daily lives. It was interesting to see that Herrick viewed rhetoric as “response-making” but also “response-inviting”. While someone expresses their ideas they in turn created the opportunity for someone to agree or disagree with them.

Herrick’s reading did change my understanding of rhetoric. My new definition of it is still somewhat broad, but I am now aware of its many different dimensions. I now know that rhetoric is the process of effectively communicating with an audience. The term coincides with a very involved and engaging method that activates our reasoning, interpersonal, and persuasive skills.

Blogging: What's that?

Other than being able to turn on a computer, email, type decently, and surf YouTube, I do not have much computer knowledge. Computers and I are not best friends, and I will admit that I am not the most technologically-savvy person by any means. So why am I in this English 201 class? Well, actually I was expecting something a little different when I signed up. It came as a bit of a surprise to discover that we would be focusing on blogging and even touch on web page design during the course of the semester. Initially, I was wary of jumping into writing online. The fact that my blog would become completely public was a little intimidating. After thinking about the idea of blogging, I became less apprehensive. I now think of the whole process as an opportunity to learn new procedures that will be helpful in my future, especially within my career.
My name is Becky, and I am majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Language Arts Education. I've lived in Wisconsin my whole life, yet definitely prefer sunny, warm weather over the bitter kind we've been having lately. I grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is between Milwaukee and Chicago. Madison's always been a big part of my life because I have close relatives that live here.
Now that I think about it, this whole blogging process shouldn't be so bad and actually has a number of advantages. I will gain basic knowledge and will be able to use this information to carry out specific projects. And I may end up enjoying myself!