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."