Iran, Iran, Iran As Fast As I Could...

Whew!  I am almost done with this race.  It has been one of the most intense educational experiences I have ever had.  With four other classes and the necessity to pass this class in order to receive my BA from Cal State Bakersfield in two weeks there was no day off, no slacking off in work effort, and therefore little time to breathe between assignments each week. 

I really thought that English 103 would be a cake-walk as I had always excelled in most of my previous English courses.  However, from the moment I began reading our text “Exploring Language” I knew I was in for a different ride.  What our professor demanded from me was to move outside my comfort zone and explore more of the world around me from different perspectives.

Beginning with Chapter 9 in our text I was challenged to think about issues that had no acute relevance in my life.  I have never been the brunt of sexual or socially implicit jokes or discrimination (that I was aware of, at least).   I very seldom had listened to or had taken part in political discussions in the past.  I became aware through our readings just how varied the languages of our people are and how powerful language can be in the hands of the right or wrong person.   I am not remotely interested in the current technological advancements that as far as I can tell serve only to alienate us from the true interpersonal relationships that are so very necessary to sustain real communication.  Perhaps the biggest obstacle I had to overcome was my disinterest in spending so much time focusing on Iran.  The reason for my ambivalence was largely the result of our country getting in and out of bed with others countries so often for profit, something I still feel I have no control over.  Even if I was to vote for the person who best represented my interests on Election Day, when it is all said and done politics will go on as usual with no major changes in foreign policy.  It seems so strange to think the country my father spent six months in updating a country’s the air force has now become our number one enemy.

I would like to congratulate my on-line classmates for their mature demeanor in the various discussions we all participated in each week.  I know I experienced frustration waiting to jump in with a response to a post that I knew something about.  Formulating that question at the end of each post proved harder than I thought it would be.  Sometimes I felt like students asked for answers that required too much work; other questions seemed redundant.  I was always thankful that someone chimed in with their two-cents-worth to keep the ball rolling.   

Blogging really brought out the best in everyone.  Again, I appreciated the mature and insightful feedback and comments I received on mine each week.  At first I was hesitant to expose myself in my writing but then got used to “the freedom of speech.”  Perhaps that is why our professor had us blog; so that we could understand just how powerful and personal writing can be.  All of your blogs were brilliant.  All of us have a gift of one sort or another that should be shared with the world.  I wish you all the best in your writing or otherwise endeavors.  I extend this wish to our former comrades-in-keyboard that bailed out of this race before it was over as well.

Boot Camp 103: It's All About Practice

I have been working with an emergent reader in a Kindergarten class this past three months to finish up my minor in Elementary Education.  I have also had the opportunity to work with some of the other members of the class of 31 children, only ten of them being girls.  (Seriously, if you didn’t groan after reading that last sentence you need to spend some time in a Kindergarten class.)  Needless to say, it has been an interesting experience.  One thing has been made very apparent during this exercise besides the fact that I do not want to teach children of this age.  The children who practice reading and who are read to are much farther ahead phonologically and phonetically and have a greater chance of future academic success. 

            I believe I can say that everyone in this junior college English 103 class who somehow found the stamina to stay the course has improved their writing and critical thinking skills by the sheer volume of work that has been required.  I have experienced both a hatred of all the work at the same time appreciating it all wasn’t the same.  Through the varied forms of writing applications I have become more flexible in my own style of communication.

It has been such a struggle for me to write in a personal manner because the majority of my major classes in the study of child development have revolved around the application of developmental theories and/or observations of children in various settings.   Coursework of this nature is definitely more analytical than critical.   I am afraid the MLA format will forever seem like a foreign language.

I have also been challenged technologically creating blogs.  Sure, I could have just posted my bit on a blank screen, but I chose to add a design.  For the life of me I never was able to pick my design, apply it, and return directly to my post.  I have to hit the return key over and over again to get there.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I see it work out. 

The timed essay almost caused me to have a panic attack.  And I was prepared!  I do not enjoy writing in this fashion and do not see its reason.  Thank goodness there is only one more of that type of assignment left to do.  At least it is over after a couple of hours, unlike the group work projects that I was always waiting to respond to.

Authors write for a variety of reasons, many of which we have explored this past semester.   Of course, we read and write to be entertained or to entertain others.  But that isn’t what this class is about.  It is about writing to inform or to persuade.  An area of my writing that has drastically improved as the result of constant submersion in our texts and writing exercises is my capacity to be more explicit and thorough in whatever information I am imparting to my audience.  In the past I have tended to either ramble on and on, never really tying up a paragraph.  I used to include vague references to things that hadn’t anything to do with my topic sentence or thesis.  The critiques offered by our instructor and my peers have helped me hone my writing to its purpose.   My writing has definitely improved because of this boot camp.

Onto The Finish Line!

  
Whew! I'm finally finished with my research paper for this class.  And if you believe that, I have some beachfront property I'd like to sell you in Victorville...

I, unfortunately, have to go to Victorville tomorrow to attend a civil court hearing.  It's one of those "show up at 8:30 AM and we'll take you in alphabetically" days.  It seems my niece is taking my sister to court in the attempt to place a restraining order on her.  Of course, my sister wasn’t notified about the court appearance until this afternoon.   My niece probably waited until the last possible moment hoping my sister couldn’t get the day off from work.  It is widely known that if one party is not present during the proceedings the judge will usually rule in favor of the party that is present.  I'll be there for moral support, for my sister.  My niece should have her children taken away from her until she gets herself cleaned up (and out), so we have CPS in the picture as well.  Should be a lot of fun.

I might as well be there as I haven't received a book from Barnes and Noble that holds the key to my paper.  I paid for expedited shipping in hopes it would have been here early this week.  I have other papers to look at, but I really need this book. 

I chose the second option to research.  The whole Iran thing is way out of my comfort zone so I have really been struggling to get my head and heart into this project.  I am taking five classes as many of you are.  I graduate from Cal State Bakersfield in June so I am really busy with senior seminar and credentialing course work. 

Anyways, I know this post isn’t as long as required, but I really don’t see the point of whining about it in light of the personal issues my family is facing.  The paper will eventually get done.  They always do, somehow.

I Don't Email...Much

            I don’t know if I ever would be as dependent on using the Internet as I have become if it hadn’t been for my daughter’s illness.  When she was eleven years old, her jaw was broken while playing soccer.  Unable to find a local doctor that could alleviate her constant pain, I turned to my contacts, all fifteen of them at the time, for suggestions on where to go for help.  My mass emailing effort was then sent to their contacts and eventually I was led to a hospital where she was diagnosed with RSD.  For the purpose of this blog I won’t go into the ins and outs of the disorder.  But I will tell you it is a horrible neurological problem that she might have committed suicide over if not for the assistance of a certain individual I “met” online.

            I generated that particular email in response to a need, which is the primary reason I initiate emails in the first place.  It was formal, but definitely showed how desperate I was.  Some other reasons I might email do not convey such dire emergency scenarios, but might escalate to an issue if my husband doesn’t stop by the store on the way home from work to pick up that ingredient I need for dinner that night.

            Another reason I might communicate on line would be to respond to something I might have purchased, let’s say, from Half.com.  If what I purchased does not meet the description of the material promised by the seller, I am all over that site, especially if it takes forever to get to my doorstop.  I recently purchased a textbook from a seller in Virginia.  It made its way to Bell, California, but then detoured to Missouri before arriving at my house.  Gotta love the postal service.

            Other reasons to communicate would be to interact with a friend to set up a lunch date or a hike (most preferred).   A typical “conversation” would go something like this: “Heh, you free on Friday?  Some trekers should be coming through on Bouquet Canyon.  Thought you’d like to talk with them.  Let me know.”

            The least favorite of on line communication is when I demand answers.  I am very formal and can admit to being on the verge of rude if I perceive being taken advantage of.  Cordiality normally reigns, thankfully, so I usually get a quick response.  However, I like to think a lot before I write and proofread before I hit send.  It has sometimes taken me a full half-hour to write a three sentence paragraph before I do so.  There is nothing worse, at least to me, than seeing a reply to my original email and noticing I have misspelled a word.  Guess I am sort of a perfectionist, or so my children tell me. 

            My most favorite form of communication is forwarding jokes or other useful information to my best friends.  I suppose this isn’t formal communication per se, but the recipients of my email at least understand I am thinking of them, which after all, is the purpose for communication in the first place, yeah?

Less Is Not Better

Less Is Not Better

            I came across a political cartoon by Ted Rall in the Opinion LA section of the LA Times from February 2, 2011.  I thought it apropos to use for my blog this week in light of the upcoming rally to protest the inevitable slashing of classes at our community college:

            According to Gerberg, editorial cartoons relay instantaneous communication of a funny idea.  I must admit, this particular cartoon does not make me laugh; it makes me shake my head in disgust because of its reality.  Our Antelope Valley Community College is one of the 112 community colleges in post-secondary educational institutions that served more than three million students this past year, a figure that rose by 400,000 over the past five years.  Yet, in the next two years these campuses will face budget cuts from $840 million up to $1 billion.  So much for moms returning to school, eh? 

He goes on to point out several other elements of editorial cartoons (EC) that I see present in this picture:

·       An EC implies what might happen next.  It can be implied by noticing all the “closed” signs in the background and the man displaying all the digital classes in his overcoat that education will be more expensive, as well as taught outside the campus environment.

·       When we look at this EC we see a modern mini drama unfolding right before our eyes.  It depicts the current battle that is being waged between administration and teachers/students.

·       The cast of the EC, being the female student and the man selling classes, are specific and easily recognized.  The girl is holding her coffee, something you often see on campus.  The man looks very sketchy, very gangster-like, which characterizes the actions of those at the top who seek to steal education from the public.

·       Of course, dialogue is a critical element of the EC, although one could ascertain the intent of the author by looking at other elements in the picture.  It is specific to this level of education; Algebra 202, European Lit 104…The setting is also in a specific place, that being a student service building, and Rall does a good job of illustrating how it will look after Sacramento has its way.  Every area has a closed sign on it.  I especially enjoyed the “all out” label on philosophy.  Whose system of values are we entertaining by raising the price of education while at the same time offering fewer classes?  The other good one was the sign on the bursar.  It seems ironic that so many people are basically giving everything they have to education to the point that it seems as though they are paying for school with their own blood.  That won’t be good enough in the days to come, so the cartoon “says”.

·       The operative element in the cartoon is the sign hanging that says “Registration.”   Gerberg calls this a visual cliché, something that the cartoonist violates in his drawing.  If Brown gets his way, the sign might as well be taken down.