My overall reflection

Wow...where do I start? I would first like to start with saying Amanda, I really enjoyed your class! Going back to school at age 34 after many, many years of not attending was a shock for me, even more so with having new technology like this blog site, wiki use and posting, and online classes in general. I think this whole writing experience has definitely oiled a few rusty gears as well as installed completely new ones! Yahoo! I really believe I have learned a lot with this class. In looking back on the first paper I submitted, and comparing it even with the second, and especially the remaining others, I can definitely see a big improvement on paper structure, i.e. paragraph layout and detail, but especially on overall thought process projected onto paper. In the beginning, my thoughts were jumbled and I kind of rambled on (like I am doing now!!!). But in looking at my papers further down the line, I can see an improvement in the organization of what I am trying get across. It has been so long since I have had to write formal papers, and it has been many years since even high school. We were never taught MLA format, or on how to organize a thesis for a paper, or even on counterarguments and rebuttals, so this is all new stuff! I really liked learning how to use a wiki, as well as discovering what a blog is as well. The class was well set up; Amanda you are very clear in what is expected and also in what our assignments are every week, well done! There is really nothing I can say negatively about this class because my instructor did such a stellar job! I guess I can say the only thing I didn't really like is the posting comments to other people's comments or papers on the discussion board, not because I didn't understand or was confused, but because I really didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings on their papers and thoughts. I know personally from some of the struggles and frustrations I felt as I wrote my paper (it wasn't reading the way I wanted it to, or I couldn't find the reference I needed to put it all to paper, etc.), so I didn't want to step on people's toes or tick them off because, man!! I struggled too, who am I to judge?

But, we all struggled, we all learned, and we all survived, and overall, I think the layout for this class is great! This class has set the standard of how I will judge my other online classes I will be taking this upcoming and future semesters! Thanks!

Criteria

Why is it important to evaluate criteria? Think of your own daily routine, how often do you evaluate criteria to make a decision? Give a personal story of when you evaluated criteria in your own life or give examples from the "real world" that evaluate criteria.

It is important to establish guidelines and criteria for something that you are evaluating because it is the expectations and measures you are using in order to complete your evaluation.
We all evaluate criteria everyday, from making small decisions and judgments, to large ones. One example would be when an employer is searching to fill a job position. The employer establishes the criteria (qualifications) in which he/she would like to the prospective candidates to meet, thus providing a guideline in which to examine or evaluate anyone applying for that position.

Essay #4 TV Show

If you were going to make a TV show based on Essay 4, what kind of TV show would it be? Who would be the main star in it? Have fun with this blog post!

I would make it a reality tv show, similar like that ones that are currently out there, but the focus would be the reasoning behind why a person gets a tattoo. The camera crew and anchorman would travel all over the world dropping in on tattoo parlors and interviewing (with their permission of course) and taping individuals getting tattoos or piercings. They would focus on why that person a) is getting a tattoo, and b) the significance of the particular tattoo they chose. For example, say someone is getting a tattoo to commerate the passing of someone they cared about. After finding out the whys, the show could then focus on the story behind the tattoo.

Speculation

Why is it important to speculate causes? How can speculating causes be useful in the "real world"?

Although sometimes it is difficult to do, it is important to speculate causes because it helps us determine why things are the way the are, and why people do what they do. It helps us research something and than come up with viable answers of why things are the way they are. In doing so, we are able to find solutions on how to fix it (if we feel it is broken), or how to improve it and make it better.

Trends I have wondered about

I have always wondered about people with tons of piercings or tons of tatoos, and why they get them, and how they feel about them as they get older. Another trend I have currently wondered about is ear gauging. Not that I am being judgmental in any way. Up until a couple of years ago I had my navel pierced, and my father and brothers all have tatoos, though I do not. When I went to school, having your ears pierced several times was a big thing, but I don't know why that started. Now the trend is piercings and sometimes even tatoos on every part of your face or body. Ear gauging has been something around for a few years, but I have always wondered why people, including women had it done. At least with piercings you could take it/them out when you went to work, and with tatoos you could have placed them in areas on your body that was easy to hide with clothing if need be. With ear gauging there is no hiding it. Even if you took the gauge out, the huge hole in your ear would be evident.

October 18, 2007

I think that most people who examine a problem or a set of problems everyday would like to have fresh input from an outsider who has contemplated the same issue. Fresh ideas and suggestions are always welcome. Similar wording was stated by the Sheriff officer Amanda interviewed concerning the domestic violence/Alicia's Voice. If new suggestions are given to people who have the means to implement them, great changes could be made to improve life for all in many ways!

Problems

What's a "problem" that really gets under your skin? Global warming? Inappropriate pictures on Facebook.com? What is that you could rant and rave about? Blog about problems that you're passionate about. What solutions for those problem can you see working?

Something that has most recently really bothered me is the lack of interest in and in participation for people exercising their right to vote. Recently, I spoke with some people I was having lunch with and asked who they were considering voting for. I was appalled that the majority stated they didn't vote, or hadn't voted for years, or really didn't care one way or another who ran for and was elected into office. When asked why they didn't vote, I received several answers. Several stated it was too hard to keep track of everything, and that the tv ran tons of lies and persuasive trash talking commercials, so you never knew what was right/accurate or wrong/lie. Others claimed ignorant laziness, and didn't care to make an effort to research or for that matter vote. While others stated that they really never knew who to vote for because tv never clearly defined what, and it was too confusing. My favorite was the comment of "Why bother, my vote doesn't really count anyway". This one unfortunately came out of the mouth of my very own mother. After listening to everyone, I believe there are several simple solutions. I believe I will be writing Essay 3 on this topic, and may possibly present solutions such as education and maybe even induction of motivation and excitement, and hopefully others I haven't quite figured out yet.