Responding to the Naysayers

In responding to my naysayers, I will choose articles that promote lifestyle changes over fad diets.  Some sites that I will utilize in my research are:

Marcarelli, R.  "Fad Diets Rarely Work; Lifestyle Changes Better Way To Hot Body Than Cutting Carbs And Painful Detoxes" http://www.hngn.com/articles/10615/20130821/fad-diets-rarely-work-lifestyle-changes-better-way-hot-body.htm   WEB  August 21, 2013

Rivas, A. One 'Fad' Diet Is Not Better Than The Other: Researchers Call For Focus On Lifestyle Changes Instead  http://www.medicaldaily.com/one-fad-diet-not-better-other-researchers-call-focus-lifestyle-changes-instead-253305  WEB  August 21, 2013

Conion, J.  Lifestyle changes should replace fad diets  Uwire  http://uwire.com/2013/02/27/lifestyle-changes-should-replace-fad-diets/  WEB  February 27, 2013

I will include why lifestyle changes are better and healthier as well as why fad diets are not.  I will also provide stories of when fad diets have "backfired' for people and they have switched to making a lifestyle change. 

Who Are The Naysayers?

For my Rogerian Argument, it will not be hard to find my naysayers.  I am a firm believer in choosing lifestyle change over quick fad diets, due to the fact that I believe fad diets are detrimental to your health. 

For my naysayers, I will research success stories for fad diets and promoters of these diets.  To keep it narrowed down, I will choose at least two to three fad diets to research naysayers for as examples.

Most of my choices for naysayers will be found on the Atkins site, www.atkins.com. I will pull various articles from the site as well as research the concept of the Atkins diet. I will do the same for the Zone diet utilizing www.zonediet.com.  I will include facts about each diet, how each diet works, and success stories for these diets. 

I think that utilizing success for these two most common and popular diets will make valid arguments for the naysayers in my research.

I will also present my argument of why a lifestyle change is a better, healthier choice for everyone as well as unsuccessful stories and the negatives of each of the fad diets that I chose to research. 

The Rogerian Argument

Carl Rogers, an American psychologist, would look at a topic from different points of view and use rhetoric and / or information to determine if it was valid.  In doing so, "naysayers" are used to oppose your point of view on the topic in order to see both sides of the argument.

My paper is regarding the difference between fad diets and lifestyle changes.  Personally, I feel a lifestyle change is the healthier, more logical option, however, there may be some "naysayers" out there who believe differently than I do regarding fad diets. 

For my paper, I will need to convince the reader of my opinion by utilizing logos, pathos, and ethos.  I will also need to show the "naysayers" point of view.  I will need to utilize more sources in order to do this. In order to be fair,  I will most likely use examples or success stories of situations where fad diets worked for someone.  However, I will also need to show why my viewpoint is better than theirs.  For this, I may need additional sources as well.  This paper isn't just informational, it is about looking at the topic from both sides, and backing up my point of view. 

The paper still needs to be in MLA format and a minimum of two thousand words, and will require a minimum of eight sources.  This paper will not only be informative like the research paper was, this will be based off my opinion as well as the "naysayers". 

         I chose my topic for the Research Informative Paper to be regarding the difference between fad diets and lifestyle changes.  It will provide information regarding the various fad diets we have available to us today, as well as the different lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your health.  I will compare the two options and how each affect your health.
         According to "Lifestyle Changes vs. Diet to Prevent Heart Disease", lifestyle changes are long-term whereas a diet is only shortterm.  It calls a lifestyle change a gradual implementation (Nelson).  Through my research, I found that lifestyle changes aren't only limited to what you eat and how much you excercise.  And with a lifestyle change, you don't have to eliminate a certian food group, etc, from your daily life, as you would in a diet.  A lifestyle change doesn't limit you, however, you may make changes such as eating smaller portions, drink more water, and quitting smoking. 
       Whereas a diet eventually ends, and most people regain back the weight.  Some diets include:  low-carb, low-fat, vegetarian, and high protien diet, to name a few.  A diet usually nevers lasts that long, and does not provide long term results. 
      
Nelson, Lisa.  "Lifestyle Changes vs. Diet to Prevent Heart Disease"  healthcentral.com  WEB  28 August 2013.
      

Does It Work For Everyone?

         The article I chose to read "Why-One-Size-Fits-All May Not Work" written by Sherri Khun, found on sheknows.com, refers to Michele Obama's school lunch program and how it is affecting children.   The article starts with a question, "Can you really mandate meals that will be appropriate for both an 80-pound girl and an athletic, 130-pound boy?", causing you to question the policies of the program.  It first states the facts of the program and that is meant to give children from low-income families at least two healthy meals a day - breakfast and lunch.  However, there are guidelines to how many calories are allowed in each meal.  The articles briefly reflects that students have complained about the new program, and that the USDA provides information for free regarding it.  It also lets you know that students can bring their own snacks, etc., to school if wanted. 

       I found the reading to be strictly fact-based and informative.  It didn't go into very much details regarding the student's complaints about the new program and focused more on what the program was about and why it was created. 

       I like that the article is straight to the point and factual.  It is there to provide information and answer questions regarding the program.  It is actually a benefit to parents to read the article.  It was informative.  Does it persuade me that the lunch program is a good fit for everyone?  No.  I feel it could have warranted information or details regarding the program. 

Title:  Why-One-Size-Fits-All May Not Work
Author:  Sherri Khun
Site:  sheknows.com
Date:  Nov. 1, 2012

       

Either Way You Vote, You Still Get A Politician

In the article "The Real Loser: Truth", I believe the writer, Kevin M. Kruse, was discussing how politicians over time, in the past as well as now, have used deciet to gain votes. They not only lie to us but they lie about eachother. It makes it difficult when weighing your options on who to vote for in an upcoming election. I think the article reminds us, with various examples, to look at the facts, not the "he said, she said", when making a decision. And it sheds light, that will all politicians, not everything is what it seems. My reaction to this article wasn't so much regarding the topic that was written about, but the way it was written. I honestly had to read it several times to decipher what it was actually about. I honestly felt a better introduction was needed. The way that it jumped from example to example, I felt that I was reading a list rather than an article. As I said before, I had to read it several times to get even a small understanding of what it was about. As for my reaction to the topic, I am in agreement that politcians lie just as well, if not more, as they did in the past. You really have to educate yourself with alot of research regarding anything to do with politics or politicians.

Does Technology Control Us, or Do We Control Techonolgy?

For myself, personally, I find my phone is attached to my hip.  I call it my "lifeline".  I live by my phone.  It holds my notes, my calendar, my contacts, my alarm clock, etc.  I have apps that connect to social networking, my bank, music, Google+, and even my fitness tracker that includes where I track what I eat daily.  And it even holds photos. I am pretty sure that if I lost that phone, I would be in total mortification. 

However, I make a point, when I am spending time with my daughter, to put the phone away.  In fact, she makes it a rule that when we are together, no phone.  Dinner time is no phone time. 

It is convenient, to say the least, everything all nice and compacted into one little black device.  All within my reach.  Now, can I put the phone down anytime I want?  Yes I can, and I have. 

I won't deny that I have come to depend that little black device of many "talents". 

I asked a friend this same question, does she feel that technology controls or does she control technology?  She feels the two are intertwined and that one doesn't work without the other.  We control technology because it is improved everyday. However, we become reliable upon technology, such as our phones, to make things more convenient for us. 

Technology and Behaviour

Technology and Behaviour

Has the use of technology changed my behaviour?   I believe there are things that I do differently. Such as, when I am writing a note, I tend to abbreviate as if texting. I take advantage of google. And social networking, such as Facebook or Skype has become how I stay connected with distance relatives. It went from writing good old-fashioned letters to emails to facebook messages and texting.  

I prefer to talk on the phone and have an actual conversation with someone, however the old  "you can't beat'em, join them" kicks into gear and I just text instead. It's convenient but sometimes texts can be misunderstood. 

Does anyone write a good old-fashioned letter anymore? Even Christmas cards are sent via email now. 

I have a large blended family of ten children. We are all over the United States. Out of all ten, I think I only have actual phone conversations with two of them. We all keep in touch via Facebook or Skype. That's how we share pictures, important events, etc. We even have our own chat room where we can all message together about upcoming events or family matters. I think we have even had an argument or two on there. 

And when I don't have my daughter and she is with her dad, yes, she has her own phone and we text constantly. It's how we keep in touch. Yes, I know she is ten, but her father and I moniter her very closely. And she hates texting and talking on the phone.  But it works for her to keep in touch with either of us when she is with the other on her own terms and without having to feel as if she needs permission. 

So I would have to say it's become a convenience. I admit it, I couldn't live without my phone. I have everything on it.  For most of us, we joke that it's our "lifeline".  

Do I use a calculator for my algebra class? Yep. I first try to figure out myself first and use the calculator to check myself if still not sure. 

Technology has changed the way we do things, it has become a convenience. Honestly, earlier this evening when I told my daughter she needs to look up something in an encyclopedia, I got the "you must be crazy, what is that?" look.  And then, I explained why, and she said " I have google for that".  So, just to teach her a lesson, she is getting encyclopedias for Christmas. 

Trapped Inside the Bubble

While the internet can be a great tool for getting information, it can also be a trap.  I do believe that we are tracked by the sites we visit and the things that we research.  It also collects our personal information from social networking, financial information, pictures, etc. Using the internet is a great thing as long as you are smart about it.  Limit the amount of personal info you put on your social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook.  Only use trusted sites. 

I feel like we do get caught in a "filter bubble".  When I research a topic, Google will list the top sites that it thinks I will be most interested in. On Facebook, it will show ads for pages, etc., that pertain to my "likes" and "interests" on Facebook. 

Are we "Alone Together"?  I think so.  I can always tell when the weather is bad, because everyone is on Facebook.  Everyone is watching the World Series, but how are they talking about it? On social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  I find it amusing, because everyone is posting a status about how they are feeling at that very moment, but are they talking to any certain person, or just anyone who will listen.  Even I am guilty of being out with my friends, but all of us our on phones, playing on Facebook or Twitter, or texting another person who isn't with us.  We aren't having a face to face conversation with the people in front of us.  Sometimes, I feel like we just "get together to play on our phones".  I feel like social networking sites and texting have changed how relationships are formed and maintained. 

Understanding Essay 3: Synthesize

Essay 3 is to be an informative research paper. We should research a topic that we find personally interesting and engages our audience.  We will also be using this same topic for our next assignment.  We need to ensure the topic is narrowed down to something specific, and not too broad of a subject.  We will research the topic, and create a report for our audience that "synthesizes" the topic. 

We are not arguing our topic, we are simply taking the information that we have gathered and using it to create a new report that informs our reader of the topic.  However, it should be clear so that the reader does not have to do any additional research.

To "synthesize" is to make something new out of the various pieces of information that we have gathered. 

We are writing for an audience that may not be familiar with the topic, but are quick to learn and want to learn. 

The intro should state the thesis of what we have learned.  The body of the paragraph is not to argue a particular viewpoint but simply to inform our reader of the information regarding the topic. 

All information must be cited MLA-style in text citations.  And our conclusion must restate the thesis and supporting points.  And we must cite 5 or more outside sources.  The essay needs to be at least 1500 words. 

One of my first classes at SEMO was my American History class.  I am not much of a history buff, but I loved that class.  However, one of our assignments, in fact, it counted as our final, was to write a research paper and create a power point presentation about an historical hero or heroine.  However, our professor was not a fan of research via the internet.  She not only encouraged us, but required us to utilize the Kent Library.

Some of My Best Adventures Were at the Library

Ok, wow!!  My first time logging into the Kent Library website, I wasn't sure what I was doing or what to expect.  It took time and practice to find what I was looking for.  After playing with several key words, I found several books regarding my topic that I would either have to go pick up or have mailed to me.  I chose to go pick them up. I could have requested for them to be put on hold for me, but then decided this would be a good chance to look around the library.

When I walked into Kent Library, I was blown away!! I have always loved books, and as a child, could hide away at the library for hours, but I didn't know where to begin.  However, after a lot of practice online, I figured out how to find the "address" of the book online, and with help, I also figured out how to locate the "address" in the Kent Library.  I even found several other books regarding the topic that I chose to take with me. 

I am thankful for the tutorial posted regarding the Kent Library.  I was afraid that I was the only one who didn't know what they were doing.  However, it does take practice and lots of it.  The more you utilize the Kent Library and make yourself familiar with it, the easier it will be for your research. 

Self-Review Questions for Rhetorical Analysis

 

1.     How well does the paper "match up" with the assignment's requirements and expectations?

I    I think, overall, it meets the assignment's requirements.

 

What is the paper's thesis statement?
The article addresses bullying in schools and how both parents and schools are responsible for fighting the issue at hand, while the author attempts to remain neutral regarding the issue

 

3.     What are the major supporting points for the thesis statement?   Throughout most of the article, she demonstrates logos, pathos, and ethos as a neutral party speaking for both sides.  However, her ending statements reflect a concerned parent.

 

What questions or issues do you have regarding each supporting point?
No questions I can think of at this time.

6.     How clear are the relationships between the thesis and each supporting point? Each supporting point shows that how she remains a neutral party, as stated in the thesis, up until the conclusion of the article, when her emotional side as a concerned parent kicks in. 

 

7.     Where does the paper need transitions, content-lexical ties, bigger/smaller paragraphs or other organizational improvements?  I did make some changes to the quotes, making sure to give the author full credit for them.

8.     Was each sentence easy to read and understand?  yes

10. How well does the paper's format "match up" with standard MLA formatting?

I utilized MLA formatting when writing the paper.

 

11. How does the paper's title affect your interest in the paper?

I chose the title "Another Person's Point of View"  because the paper has 2 different audiences, and both audiences can stand to look at the situation from each other's perspective. 

 

 

2. Overall, what is the most important improvement that you should make? Why?
  I could show more credibility to the author, such as her experience as a writer.  I only gave her credibility as a parent. 

 

 

 

 

Proving the Experts

       Lois M. Collins states in her article "Parenting experts always point out that praising good behavior is a more effective way of reinforcing how small children should act than is punishing bad behavior. Maybe that's an effective tool specifically for bullying, too."  This statement interested me because this an example of what my daughter's school does to promote good behavior in school.  I researched the internet and I looked into Kent's library regarding this.  The better research I found was on the internet. 

     I found an article written by Tom Lickona, "Prevent Bullying, Promote Kindness:  20 Things All Schools Can Do" that relates to the statement made by Lois in her article.  Thomas Lickona is a professor of education for the State University for New York at Cortland.  He is also their director of the Center of 4th of 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility).

    In his article, he discusses strategies that schools can utilize to prevent bullying.  It seemed to be, by far, the best article I found regarding the topic.  He also show the effects the program has already had on schools. 

     My daughter's school uses "the Rs" program, which promotes respect and responsibility in the school.  Their program is a lot like the one he has stated in his program. The school gives away "bracelets for good deeds" to the students and when they accumulate so many "bracelets" , they get rewarded. 
 
     His article hits home to her statement and proves that praising good behavior can be an effective tool to prevent bullying. 

Parents & Schools: Working Together

I chose "Lois M. Collins: Schools and families can do more to fight bullying" to analyze for our next assignment due to a conversation with a friend regarding the subject of bullying in schools and how schools handle the situations.  I feel that sometimes schools and parents are often on "different pages" as to how situations like these should be handled.  I found this article interesting because it makes both parties take responsibility.  It also clarifies that not everyone has the same definition of bullying.  "If it's not physical abuse, it's not actually bullying, the teacher said.  School policy doesn't cover it."

When analyzing this article, I will first point out the example made by the writer that reflects on a little girl being picked on by other kids and what happened when the parent went to the teacher for help. 

I will point the writer's creditability as a parent who educates her own children on the effects of bullying.

I will also give my own personal experience as a mother whose child has dealt with bullying in her own school and how her school handles the issue. 

I will also reflect on the comparisons between the school's definition of bullying and policies on how to handle bullying to the parent's definition of bullying and how they feel it should be handled.

A quote that really sticks out for me is "You can't ignore bullying.  But if rewards and accolades were handed out for examples of excellent behavior - the random acts of kindness, the examples of making sure that others are included, the nice things that some children seem to do instinctively- that might turn the tide."  This is because it hits home to a program that my own daughter's school utilizes to enforce and encourage good behavior and manners towards each other in school. 

Type of Article:  Online Article
Author:  Lois M. Collins, Deseret News
Title:  Lois M. Collins:  Schools and families can do more to fight bullying
Website:  deseretnews.com
Year:  2013
Month:  August
Date:20
Pages:  2

Applying the Paramedic Method

 

I researched for the longest sentence I could find.  The longest English sentence is by William Faulkner written in his book, "Absalom, Absalom".  The sentence contains 1,288 words, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

 The sentence that I chose for this assignment, however, comes from the article "As a second day of shutdown starts, no solution in sight", written by Carrie Dann, a political reporter for the NBC News. The article is regarding the recent government shutdown.

"After the first full day of a government shutdown that featured photo-ops and a handful of strategic votes but no evidence of real negotiations, the funding lapse continued Wednesday with little clarity about how the congressional impasse may be solved."

This sentence contains 40 words.  I have broken it down to 13 words.

"After one day of a government shutdown, the funding lapse continued Wednesday."

Analyzing: Straight From the Heart by Tim Collins

Tim Collins did an excellent analysis regarding the speech given by Marie Fatayi-Williams in 2005.  He demonstrates pathos, logos, and ethos in his analysis to make it effective.

He points out her appeal to the audience, in regards to where is her son, why was he killed.  This hitting home to the beliefs and values of the audience.  (Pathos)

He points out that her speech is spontaneous and gains it's power from her grief over her son.  And he notes that he drew inspiration from the speech, giving courage and purpose.  He noted that it motivated him. 

Tim Collins also reflects on his own experience and how it compared to what Marie was feeling during her speech.  He notes that he had no plan when speaking to his regimen on the night of the invasion of Iraq. This shows that he is a credible source to analyze her speech. (Logos)

He also notes how Marie appeals to her audience without condemning them.  She reflects on the innocence of her son, and that there was no victory in his death.  It was an unnecessary act and no progress can be made from what has been done.  (Ethos)

From My Perspective

My perspective on Essay 2 is that we will choose an article or an essay to analyze.  It must be something new, that has not and will not be used in this class. 

In our introduction, we must identify the title and author of the chosen article, and give a brief summary of what we are analyzing.  Then, we must all analyze the rhetoric, the writing, and the argument of the article. We should also state our idea about the quality of the argument.

In our essay's body, we should include details and examples from the essay that support the introduction's analysis.  We should also make note of the interesting aspects of the essay, such as logos, pathos, and ethos, etc.  Our opinions regarding our analysis need to be supported with examples and reasons. 

We can use outside research, however, it isn't required , but can be beneficial to our analysis.  We must be able to tell a difference between the article's views and our own response to them. 

In the conclusion of the essay, we need to restate our conclusion about the quality of the argument, and summarize the analysis and the arguments to support it. 

The idea of the assignment is analyze another person's point of view on a topic and evaluate the effectiveness of the argument, as well as create our own arguments. 

Self Review

For our first essay, we were asked to do a "Self-Review".  I found this to be really helpful when reviewing my essay.  It makes you look at the actual content of your work, going beyond the grammar, the structure, and the punctuation. 

After answering the questions, I found myself going back to my essay and rethinking it.  Was my thesis clearly stated? And did I have good supporting arguments or points for my thesis?
I also wanted to be sure that I clearly associated each point with the thesis and didn't steer off from my original point. 

I also found myself checking for sentences or information that wasn't needed or points that were repeated.  As well as, double checking that the format for the assignment was correct. 

I found the Self-Review to be very beneficial and will use it in the future when proofreading and analyzing my assignments.  By asking straight and pointed questions, it helps you to analyze your own work and be honest with yourself about the overall presentation. 

Writing Process: Various Styles

I chose to compare my writing style to the styles of Sierra and Sonney.  

   First, I chose Sierra becuz my writing style is different from hers. This is not a bad thing, we all do things differently. While I would tend to create an outline first, Sierra finds it better for her to get started on the intro and let her thoughts lead her. I also write a first draft and make tons of changes before creating a final draft, whereas she edits her work as she is writing. She also does most of her revising while she is writing. 

     I chose Sonney because thier process is alot like my process. They pick a topic, list their points for the topic, and then list the subpoints. They seemed to use the same outline that I use as well.  

       Both of these examples reflect the variations in the process of writing. Though we may not all have the same writing process, we all want the very best out of what we write. There a several like Sierra, who like to get started and let the ideas flow as they are writing, while others like Sonney and I like to pick a topic and create an outline first. 

   

Pathos, Ethos, Logos

The article I chose for this assignment was "Child abuse down but neglect is up, report finds; parents biggest threat" written by Maggie Fox of NBC News on September 12, 2013.   The article discusses that while physical and sexual abuse towards children has declined,  neglect and emotional abuse have stayed the same. 

Ethos is demonstrated in the article because it clearly shows research was done.  The writer researched reports from the National Child Abuse and Neglect data that shows that about three-fourths of reported cases in 2011 were classified as neglect.  A reported 10 percent was sexual abuse, while 15 percent was physical. 

For the logos appeal, Dr. Angela Diaz, a panel member of Institute of Medicine, and Dr. Lolita McDaniel, medical director at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, are interviewed as authorities on the subject.  Dr. Diaz and Dr. McDaniel state that the reason for this change is due to more awareness in society. 

However, the article also demonstrates pathos in the following statement:
 "McDavid says it reaches across generations. She sees it when she sees her patients in the pediatrics clinic and counsels them about protecting themselves from abuse. “I have had mothers who get tearful because they were molested as children, and because they didn’t tell, or nobody believed them when they told,” she says." 

Techniques to Persuade Your Audience

There are three techniques that you can utilize to persuade your audience that you are knowledgeable about the topic you are writing about.  These three techniques are called the logos appeal, pathos appeal, and ethos appeal.  Utilizing each of these appeals can create a strong connection with your audience and keep them involved in your topic.

 

Logos:  The appeal based on logic.  The writer uses facts and reasoning to support their claim.

A good example of the logos appeal would show facts, statistics, and reasoning.

 

Pathos:  This appeal is based on emotion and values.  The writer can connect with their audience on a deeper and more personal level.

A good example of the pathos appeal would connect to the reader's emotions.  Most advertisements use the pathos appeal to connect to their audience.

 

Ethos:  This appeal is based on credibility.  Does the write know what they are talking about?  Can they be trusted?  Have they done their research? 

The writer needs to show that they are worth listening to. You not only want to be the author, you want to become an authority on the topic you are writing about.  You want to be likable and you want your audience to trust you. 

 

 

Adapting To The Audience

The way I speak or write varies depending on the audience I am attempting to relate to in order to get my point of view across.  I tend to do a lot of speaking or writing for various audiences throughout my day, whether it be for my staff at work, my daughter's Girl Scout Troop or softball team, or, of course, school.  

When speaking with my staff at work, I tend to be more formal, I try to use examples and dialogue that they can comprehend. Like a coaching method, it may change depending on the specific staff member that I am addressing.  I try to keep it as simple as possible as if I am giving basic instructions. 

With my daughter's Girl Scout Troop or softball team, I have to keep in mind that I am addressing children that aren't more than ten years old.  While I do try to keep it at their level so that they can understand, I also like to encourage them to think outside the box.  I have been with these same girls since they were five years old.  I remember when I first met them, everything said or written for them was kept extremely simple, but as years have passed and they have gotten older and more educated, I have found the way I communicate with them as my audience has changed as well. 

For school, of course, I try to be as formal as possible, but I also want to be myself when writing.  I have always followed the PEE structure, however, I will admit that I did keep myself constricted to the five paragraphs.  That is a bad habit that I will need to break. 

In my first paragraph, I present my thesis, usually in one sentence.  Then, I briefly refer to all the points that I will be addressing to support my thesis, in order to give the reader a "heads-up" of what to expect. 

The body of my paper generally is at least one paragraph for point, explaining why it supports my thesis.  This is obviously something I need to improve upon. 

My final paragraph is the conclusion.  I recap my thesis statement and the points I made to support it.  I think I have always used this same structure with every audience and situation, as it is organized with an easy understandable flow which I think anyone can understand. 

My Writing Formula

I am not so sure that I have a defined formula or a process to writing, but one thing I am consistent with is changing my mind and revising over and over again. 

 

I tend to pick up topic first, and then pick three specific subtopics to discuss.  Then, I gather as much research as possible and do lots of reading and gathering information.  As I do this, I take notes for specified points that I want to make to keep my audience involved.   

 

I was taught to use a formal outline in, I believe, second grade.  So that's what I have always used in all writing that I do.  This ensures a good flow. 

 

However, here is where the changing of the mind and lots of revisions come into play.  I go back through my outline and make change after change after change. I even double check my research to ensure I have hit every topic the way I seem fit. 

 

I tend to compose at least two rough drafts and 1 final draft.  With my first rough draft, there tends to be a lot of red ink.  But, by my final draft, I tend to be satisfied with the outcome.  



 

Online Classes: How to Engage In Learning  

 

Online classes are not as easy as they sound or look.  Self-discipline and self-motivation are two keys to success in order to stay "engaged" in learning in an online class.  You have to hold yourself accountable and show commitment. Some best practices to engage in online classes include the following:

 

   1.  Make a plan.

 I got a daily planner and filled in the due dates for all forums, blogs, assignments, quizzes, and exams.  In between each due date, I have a set schedule for time I have set aside specifically to attend classes, whether it be to research, or read material and watch videos provided by the instructor, or to practice what I have already learned, such as in my Algebra class. I check off what I have completed and hold myself accountable for my attendance. 

 

  2.  Take advantage of all resources. 

  Take every opportunity you can to utilize all resources provided to you.  Reading material, videos, extra practice work, forums, and any articles that may be provided by your instructor can only benefit you. 

 

  3.  Take lots of notes!

                     

   4.  Ask questions and participate.

  There is no such thing as a stupid question.  Forums are for your benefit.  Don't be afraid to speak up, but be respectful of others. 

 

   5.  Remove all distractions.

  I turn off my cell phone and all social networking when doing school work.  Anytime I am logged into Moodle or doing research or homework, I consider that class time and treat it as such.

 

  6.  And, of course, always be prepared.  

     You wouldn't step into a classroom without paper and a pencil, would you?  You would most definitely remember your textbook, right?  Make sure that you have always have the tools needed to complete your classes.  And if you have any technical issues, make sure that you have the numbers on hand to call for assistance.

                    

            

              Welcome to my world!  My name is Amanda, and I currently reside in Chaffee, Missouri,
with my nine year old daughter, Zoe Rhea.  We are actually in the process of looking for a place in
Jackson, Missouri, where I am originally from, so that we can be closer to family.  I started college
last year, and my major is Athletic Training and Sports Medicine. 
           I believe that going through a divorce and finding that you have to start over and create a
whole new world for yourself is a challenge.  Most of my closest friends and family would say that I
overcame that challenge pretty well, however, I don't know if I overcame it, but I do believe that it
helped me to realize my true potential.  My husband left me and it was time to "put on my big girl
panties", according to my family and friends.  So the day after he left, I did something I had always
wanted to do, and he always told me I couldn't.  I enrolled in college.  On July 9, 2012, the world
that my daughter and I had come to know and love walked out, and the next day, July 10, 2012, I
took her to campus with me, and started the process of getting into college.  It was the first step to
creating a whole new better world for us and it was one of the best decisions I had ever made.  And
as far as I can tell,  it was the best example that I have ever set for my daughter.
                 I actually do love to write and learn!  While this class may be required for me, I was very
excited to take it.  Any chance to learn, to research, and to write, is a great opportunity.  My goal for
this class is to improve my writing skills, especially skills that I will utilize during my time at
SEMO.