Rate My Professor

Every now and then I like to check this new internet craze out to see what my past students are writing and even in hopes of getting some feedback or constructive criticism I may be able to use. I think this tool that students have available to them now, that I didn't when I was in college, can be a great tool, used with discretion, though. I think it would be misleading to any potential "victims" of an instructor to go into a classroom based only on what some students’ impressions were of a teacher.

For the most part, my students tend to think I am difficult (a.k.a no slacker zone), and challenging. Perfectly ok with me and I agree; I am not easy, I have high expectations, and I love to challenge everyone that is in my life. Some students have commented on "circle" sitting, finding it childish, and that's fine, but as I explain to my students on the first day, it is an active learning workshop class. The circle is not something I am going to change as long as there is room to do it. Some students have complained that I give too much work/homework, however come to the realization, for the most part anyways, that it is not all "busy" work and actually has a purpose in the final scheme of things.

Sunday morning I finished inputting Fall 2007 grades. So yesterday I was curious to see if anyone would post up new comments after knowing their final grade. Sure enough, there were.

It became apparent to me very quickly that one student in particular who chose to write about me in a very derogatory manner, did not quiet learn much in my class this semester, and it saddens me. The final essay in 1101 is the Argument Essay, and one essential component that I teach my students is that they should never attack their opponent's character, a fallacy otherwise known as Ad Hominem. Another strategy that should not be uses in an argument is Non Sequitur, a fallacy that occurs when there is no evident connection between the claim and its reason. Fallacious remarks weaken an argument and lead to unsound conclusions.

The students claim is obvious from the beginning: Natasha is not a good teacher; don't take her. This is all captured in the first line without even having to state the claim. This is a good rhetorical technique. The writer claims: "She is very unorganized so prepare to get emails from her at the last minute."

My rebuttal: Yes it is true that I send many "last minute" emails. Many of these emails are last minute "reminders". Some of my colleagues would call this "babying" the students. I call it, a courtesy call. There are other purposes to last minute emails other than reminders though, such as asking the students to print out a reading that I just posted and I will explain my reasoning for this. I walk into a class meeting with certain tasks/goals that need to be accomplished, however, more often than not, class interaction or discussion changes the order of tasks that get accomplished. This in turn forces me to change my plans perhaps for the next class meeting. This does not bother me, but at times it requires last minute emails to the students to bring something else in for the next class meeting. I, however, understand that not all my students may receive or read that last minute email, even though I tell them on the first day of class to check their emails everyday and right before they come to class, because who knows, I may be cancelling class and you don't want to drive all the way to FIU to find out that had you checked your email before class, like I had told you, you wouldn't have wasted your time or gas and could have made other plans or slept in, sooooo, I bring in extra copies of whatever printout or reading I had asked for in that last minute email. Mind you, I never give "last minute" work. HW is laid out for every unit from the beginning of the unit and my students know what to do for the next few weeks as we get through the unit.

The writer then says: "she thinks that shes helpful but in fact she spends all her time helping one person and forget about the others so suck up to her." (exactly as it was written with spelling and grammar errors and all.) No where in my job description does it say that I need to be “helpful”. I help those who want help, who ask to be helped, or need help. My job is to teach, whether a student wants to learn or not, is up to them. Do I build stronger teacher/student relationships with some more than others, yes. No denying that, but it has nothing to do with sucking up, it has to do with the student reaching out to me when they need help. If the writer considers paying attention, listening, engaging in discussion, asking questions, completing assignments and putting forth maximum effort, as sucking up……then by all means SUCK UP!

Finally, the writer finishes off their claim to steer other students away from my class by stating: “by the way she is not pretty at all her body might be fit but her face is busted and you can totally tell that her **** are fake.”

Let me just let that sit there on it’s own for a bit.

“by the way she is not pretty at all her body might be fit but her face is busted and you can totally tell that her **** are fake.”

Classic example of the Non Sequitur fallacy.

WHAT THE HELL DO MY LOOKS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY I TEACH?????? And what the hell do my breasts have anything to do with it as well????

Perhaps it made the writer feel better to attack my physical appearance, and I suppose I should thank them for the compliment on my “fit body”. Perhaps the writer had based their decision to take my class on the fact that I had some chili peppers on RateMyProfessor by some past students, only to be sorely disappointed and felt the need to vent their frustrations. Then again, anyone who takes a teachers class based on the fact that the teacher is “hot”, is obviously not looking for an education but rather eye candy, and who is to say that the students who marked off those chili peppers were being honest or were wanting to pull a prank? And that’s not even taking into consideration that everyone has different tastes; beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?

In any case, I am not trying to look pretty for any of my students. I’ve been married for 12 years to a man who thinks I’m gorgeous; I’m not trying to impress a bunch of 17 & 18 year old boys, or girls for that matter.
So what lessons have we learned from all of this?

Well, if you are going to make a claim, you better be able to support it with LOGICAL reasoning, stay away from fallacies, and review chapter 9 (the classical argument) in the Allyn & Bacon text.

Peace Out Suckas!

My Final Farewell to you ENC 1101 & 1102

Don't know how many of you will actually read this, but in case you do I just wanted to take the time to let you all know that I had a great semester with all of you. Some classes were a little more challenging than others, but I think overall I saw the progress that I wanted to see in all of you.

I told you all from the beginning that my teaching philosophy lied in the fact that if I could teach you to be critical thinkers, than I would be able to help you become critical writers. Life is not black and white, there are many shades of color and you must be able to see beyond the solid lines and analyze the blurred parts. You are not always going to find answers and there is not always going to be a right or wrong. Truth lies in being able to listen and learn and grow. I think most of you learned this, particularly my 1102 classes, with your final projects. Things aren't always what they seem, right?

To my 1101 students, good luck with 1102, I hope I was able to arm you with the tools you will need for next semester: remember: audience, genre, purpose, ethos, logos and pathos. And to those of you who will be taking 1102 with me, Get ready for a challenge!! Oh, and lots of fun!

To my 1102 students, I send you off into the bleak cold world armed with newfound knowledge, a new perspective on life, and prepared to take on any challenge. If you continue your mission that began with your project I applaud you! And even if you don't, remember that you are now equipped with knowledge that most people don't have about an issue, and you can educate and pursuade with that knowledge. Make others care as much as you do.

I'll miss you all, and keep in touch or if you ever need anything send me an email.
Hoorah to the NO SLACKER ZONE!

P.S. I only write letters of recommendations for people who deserve it!! LOL!

Blog Extension

Due to technical difficulties most people experienced yesterday with the internet I have decided to extend the deadline for Blog #9 until Thursday midnight.

ENC 1102 Blog Prompt #9

Take this chance to argue for or against a current event issue that you caught your attention.

ENC 1101: Blog #9

Play Devils Advocate!!

Argue against the position you are taking on your final essay. If you are for Education Reform, argue against it....if you are for the DREAM act, argue against it.

One Last Opportunity at Extra Credit

The video below titled "A vision of Students Today" is your last chance at extra credit towards your journal grade. Please follow the instructions below the video.
(We will have out 9th entry next week and your final and tenth entry will be your self evaluation for the semester)

To You: My Millenial Students

I talked to some of you about this label that has been given to your generation and I found this clip on 60minutes that you may be interested in watching to learn a little more about what your generation is about and how it got that way. Follow this link, let me know what you think:
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3486473n

(P.S. Post up a blog entry to this and get extra credit towards your journal grade; I know everybody could use a makeup on one journal. I may make this opportunity available a few more times before the end of the semester. By the way, this is me catering to you; the millenial generation (you'll understand better after you watch the video))

Children of Sierra Leone

Found this on one of my students blogs and wanted to share with you the idea of making a video for your advocacy ad. Note the very beginning of the movie that tell you targeted audience and purpose. There is some questionable movie techniques used and you'll see what I am talking about when you watch it, but all in all it serves as a sample for your own advocacy a.

No Blog

for ENC 1101 Class

Hey guys, I've decided to not give you a blog this weekend. Hope you have a good weekend. See you Tuesday!

ENC 1101 Blog Prompt #8

We will soon be moving into the argument essay; the last essay of the semester. As we consider topics for argument it is also important for us to consider our rhetorical strategies and how we intend to appeal to our audience by using ethos, logos and pathos. This week in class we viewed and discussed how movie trailers use rhetorical strategies for their purpose: to get the viewer to watch the movie. Now we must consider the purpose of an argument: to sway/pursuade an audience; "to make a claim on an issue and justify it convincingly so that the audeince's initial resistance to your position is overcome and they are moved toward your position." (Allyn & Bacon, pg 231).
A while back there was a big controversy with Don Imus who made racist coments about the Womans Rutgers Basketball Team. Those comments flared a debate regarding the use of profanity in the hip hop industry. Where do you stand on this issue? Below are two clips, watch them carefully, and analyze the arguments the speakers are making. Are they convincing you? Are they appealing to your emotions/values/beliefs/, are they appealing to your reason, are they using evidence to support their claim, do they have ethical appeal, are they presenting themself well by using appropriate language and vocabulary, are they being fair minded and respecting other views and opinions, or are they attacking?

ENC 1102 Blog Entry Prompt #8

THIS IS ONLY FOR ENC 1102 STUDENTS!!

On Tuesday we began watching "Day without a Mexican". Discuss the rhetorical strategies the movie uses by first identifying what the argument is/the purpose/the message that it is trying to deliver, and then by identifying how it is delivering this message. How is it appealing to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos? Give specific examples and discuss your own reaction to it thus far.

On Proofreading

Here is an example of why it's so imporatant to proofread your essays before you turn them in for a final grade. Great laugh! Enjoy! (P.S. Thanks Dantes for this one! Took me a week to post it up but I finally got it)

A past student of mine.....

Sent me this link to vote for his movie "Reflections" in an amateur film contest that he entered. Some of you will recognize one of the actors in the movie as Gilbert Lacayo. I just thought I would share this with you so you can give them some support.

https://webmail.fiu.edu/cgi-bin/fetch.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fedcommunity.apple.com%2Finsomnia_fall07

The movie title is "Reflections" under FIU.

"The United Fruit Company" by Pablo Neruda

I thought I would post this for all of my ENC 1102 students. You should recognize it as the poem that Che recited to Fidel.

"The United Fruit Co."

When the trumpet sounded, everything
on earth was prepared
and Jehovah distributed the world
to Coca Cola Inc., Anaconda,
Ford Motors and other entities:
The Fruit Company Inc.
reserved the juiciest for itself,
the central coast of my land,
the sweet waist of America.
It re-baptized the lands
"Banana Republics"
and on the sleeping dead,
on the restless heroes
who'd conquered greatness,
liberty and flags,
it founded a comic opera:
it alienated free wills,
gave crowns of Caesar as gifts,
unsheathed jealousy, attracted
the dictatorship of the flies,
Trujillo flies, Tachos flies,
Carias flies, Martinez flies,
Ubico flies, flies soppy
with humble blood and marmelade,
drunken flies that buzz
around common graves,
circus flies, learned flies
adept at tyranny.

The Company disembarks
among the blood-thirsty flies,
brim-filling their boats that slide
with the coffee and fruit treasure
of our submerged lands like trays.

Meanwhile, along the sugared up
abysms of the ports,
indians fall over, buried
in the morning mist:
a body rolls, a thing
without a name, a fallen number,
a bunch of dead fruit
spills into the pile of rot.

-Translated by Jack Hirschman from The Essential Neruda


Here is a link to an interview with Natalia Revuelta, who is still alive today and living in Cuba, still a strong supporter of her ex-lover. There is an interesting detail that you may pick up on from the daughter, Alina, that may have some relation to one of the stories in the text. Anyways, this is just some additional info I though you might find interesting.

Blog #7

ENC 1101

For essay #3 you have been asked to explore a new community, or sub culture within your university community, so that you may learn new things and then share that information with an audience of peers. The sub cultures on campus are just one of the thousands of different types of communities that exist through out the world, and more often than not, people in general do not expose themselves to other communities out of fear, lack of comfort, unfamiliarity, inability to open up and discover, or experience, a set mind frame of what is right and wrong or acceptable and inacceptable, and many other reasons.
National Geographic airs a show called "Taboo", where different cultures and customs are explored and aired to the world to view. Watch the following clips and write a reaction on your blog. However, you are not to allow your emotions to drive your reaction. Stay away from "Oh my gosh, what the heck was that, that is sooooo gross, I can't believe people do that, that's crazy, what's wrong with them?" Etc, Etc, Etc. I want you to step outside your comfort zone and what YOU have been raised to find acceptable, morally correct, religiously correct, etc. and open up your mind. Allow yourself to learn to appreciate other cultures, other customs, and react to the video using logic and reason as well as a level of maturity. You audience for this entry is the entire Blogger.com world. Anyone could be reading your entry, therefore you must adjust your voice and style so that you may establish credibility for yourself as you engage in a discussion about cultures and communities. You may also use the experiences that you are gaining with the clubs/organizations you are working with, or any other prior experiences you have had in the past, or perhaps encounters you have had with people "from another world" other than yours. What can you learn? What did you learn? Did you allow yourself to learn anything?

Blog #7

ENC 1102

Write a response/reaction to the movie we watched in class today taking into consideration the purpose for showing this movie was for historical background information. Do not allow your response to guided by emotions and preconcieved opinions. Base your response on what you saw in class today. Remember that this is a public blog and other people in the internet community could come across your blog. You want to sound logical and with reason when you present your discussion.

Think for yourself...Can you handle it?

ENC 1101 & 1102

Upon suggestion of my 12:30 ENC1101 class, I have decided to let you think for yourself with this weekend's journal entry. Let's see if you can handle it! I dare you to think for yourself! Better yet,

Ahhh Responsibility...

Such a big and daunting word when you are so young and perhaps flying on your own for the first time, unsure of what to make of all the freedom and liberties to actually make choices and not have to suffer consequences. Well, not really I guess. As some of my students learned today. A textbook. A textbook that is part of their learning process, something that is told to them from the first day of class, is a part of the class and must be brought to class, seems too much of a responsibility to handle. Or how about doing blogs on time? I wonder if they know that it has a time on it that says when it is posted? Well, regardless, when I check anytime after 12am Tuesday, if the entry is not there, they don't get a grade. Or how about not reading when a reading is supposed to be done? Hmmm, some learned that lesson, right? Ok, so maybe this is my chance to use this thing and vent, 75% of you won't even notice it because the only time you check on my blog is Monday night sometime after 6pm to read the prompt you need to do before midnight. But to the 25% of you who do read, well, let's just say that there are times when I get to be dissappointed, and it sucks.
Responsibility is something I teach my kids on a daily basis, it isn't something I should feel compelled to teach a bunch of college students. You all made a choice to be here, I doubt anyone put a gun to your head and forced you, and that said you all make the choice to do your hw, do your essays, do your blogs, etc. Whether you choose to do a good job is yet another choice. And perhaps since the decision to go to college is a choice, you don't see it as an obligation to yourself. But you should. Getting an education is your personal responsibility to yourself, and if you choose not to take it seriously than don't waste my time or your peers or your own for that matter.
Writing is a task that you will be required to do for many of your classes as you go on with your undergrad work and most likely when you enter the workforce of your profession. If you don't learn how to write an essay the way it should be written, don't expect to pass too many classes. But most importantly, you need to learn to think for yourselves, speak with conviction, think about life and the world around you critically, outside the box. If you can accomplish this then you can write critically, and that is the most important way to write.
I sign off with a quote, a thinking quote,

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. ~John F. Kennedy

Social Issues...Who Cares?

ENC 1101 & 1102 Blog Prompt


There are many social issues going on in the world around us that more often than not we don't even realize they are there. Whether in your community, in your state, country or across the globe in another country, these social issues, regardless of our attention to them are happening, and in one way or another affect our lives whether we want to admit it or not. Some of you perhaps watch the news on a daily basis, or read the newspaper, or online news and are aware of these issues, some of you may choose to put on blinders because you may think "There's nothing I can do, so why bother", or "The news only spews bad news and I only want to surround myself with positive news." Perfectly understandable. Perhaps there isn't anything you can do, perhaps the bad news around the wordl will ruin your happy, peaceful, life. Or maybe you do care, but you just don't know what you could possibly do. Regardless, the issues go on, they happen whether you want to acknowledge them or not. And I'm pretty sure you could sleep perfectly fine your entire life without worrying about the worries of the world. But this weekend, for my class, you are going to concern yourself with the issues of the world. For your blog entry, you are to discuss a social issue that you are aware of, (and if you are unaware of any, I guess that means you will have to do some "research"), take a stance or a position, how do you feel about it, discuss how you learned or discovered the issue, and any other relevant and intelligent remarks you would like to make about the issue. Most importantly though, as a part of this assignment, to prepare you for your final essays, you will encourage your classmates to learn about this issue as well. When you write your post for your blog, you will include a minimum of 2 hyperlinks that will redirect your readers to further information about the issue. Notice that the word "Hyperlink" is underlined, please click on it for more assistance. You will also be required to visit one of your peers blogs, read their blog and leave them a comment. This blog entry will be worth TWO grades. I sign off giving you some information on a social issue that you will not read about in the papers or see on the news.

In the city of Ocotal, in the northern part of Nicaragua, there live approximately 30 children at or near the local dump. These children not only live in some of the most deplorable conditions imaginable, but they spend the entire day, from 7am to 6pm working, rummaging
through the garbage at the dump, under inhumane conditions, collecting aluminum and plastic so they may in turn sell them to recycling buyers. The little bit of money they make is enough to feed them for the day. Of these 30 children twenty are boys and ten are girls. They range in ages from 4 years old to 16 years old. Of the thirty, only 5 attend school. Most no longer can read or write because it has been so long since the last time they went to school. Most are homeless and orphaned, and some even live at the dumpster itself with only a plastic tarp as cover. There are no adults with these children except for one mother who
is accompanied by her young daughter every day. Although Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, it is also one of the poorest. While it is rich in beauty and culture, it is an impoverished country, and ranks as the 2nd poorest country of the western hemisphere after Haiti.

I think everyone should watch this video of Black Bush lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxOzMz2jlrs

For Shits and Giggles...well, not really

I found this video on one of my students pages and I thought it was fantastic. So I am sharing it with the rest of you, however, this is not a journal prompt. Please know that I have raised the bar on your entries. The purpose of this "journalling" activity is to spur those little brain cells and get you all thinking. Perhaps this is a new concept for some of you but I have full confidence that you are all capable of succeeding in this genre. Think outside the box, inside the box, under the box and on top of the box. Remember that I am only providing you with a "prompt" to guide you into thought. Now, you may have noticed that the word prompt is underlined and perhaps that will spark your curiosity to click on it. If it does, and it should, you can read the definition of this word as a verb to clarify any misunderstandings. :)

Carlos Mencia

I saw carlos mencia's stand up and for the light hearted I think it would have been offensive in terms of the way he addresses the stereotypes of other ethnicities. But I think the way he expresses his jokes which is in a very vulgar and uncaring way is unique and that yes every other comedian out there uses racial stereotypes as part of their act, but carlos does so with an attitude and an "in your face" method. Many of Carlos Mencia' s jokes always deal with real life situations, and to me it actually makes me think of such situations and the problems they involve and at the same time laughing about it. In my opinion, Carlos Mencia is very successful in getting his point across since he doesn't ever hold back on what he wants to say just because he might offend the audience, and that is something we should praise him for. Simply, he is just expressing his right of speech. At least it seems that Carlos says the things that he says not just to satisfy the viewers but to get his beliefs across. He may not appeal to everyone but I think he is the most politically correct comedian out there.

Carlos Mencia

I've watched Carlos before and to me he was never that interesting and personally I feel he is overrated. Maybe it's his type of humor, but I don't find his direct comedy appealing and I feel its a bit vulgar. Its just the way he comments on handicaps, sterotypes, and how stupid everybody is. At first I just saw it as a different perspective, because for example how he jokes how we should treat the mentally handicap like everyone else because by treating them with gloves we are in fact hurting them. And yes, that made me think, but his other standups about stereotypes, just seem old. I just don't like him. Period.

The truth

I thought that carlos mencia was pretty funny, I mean some of the jokes that he says are pretty offending but are largely funny. And I think that he just seems offensive since the things he says are the topics that everyone dare not talk about. Many of the jokes nowadays are usually related with racial issues and racial stereotypes. In addition the carlos mencia is a comedian and that is why he says the things he says. I think that Carlos Mencia is plainly funny and if anything he is helping the issue of racism. Many people who find what he say offensive are just avoiding the topic of racism. It is good that we hear the stereotypes of other races and ethnicities so that we become use to them and eventually not seem dumbfounded and offended. We must realize that the stereotypes of our races and ethnicities are somewhat true. Lastly, Carlos Mencia isn't really out to get every other race since he too offends his own race not only other races. Lets face it, he is a comedian and his job is to be funny even if it means offending others.

BLog #4

The first thing i want tosay is wow! I dont want to voice my opinion on what he say really because he is stating his opinion so i wont say if he wrong or right but some of the topics thst he adressed i do agree with like the standards of education being lowered with the sddition od plus and minuses. This allow for students to have a chance to have a lower grade but still recieved the weight of the standard grade. Other things he spoke i felt like those are topics not to be made jokes because everyone handles ther children different. With my opinon im not saying he is not funny because the way he tell his jokes is vgery hard hitting and can instantly be funny. I found it something very interesting to watch.

Carlos Mencia

Besides being funny, the things addressed really make you realize how caught up the world is in being "politically correct." I think it is exactly those people who Mencia is addressing.

Mencia makes fun of people's offense to stereotypes. We all are taught that stereotyping is wrong, but we have to realize that they have been based in some truth. For example, when he says that people get offended if one assumes their customs based on their culture. I think that is truly ridiculous.

Its like everyone wants to be treated equally, but in the same breath, they want special accommodations.

When Carlos Mencia talks about learning disabilities I thought that besides his brutality (which is there for comedic reasons) his point are not so crazy. I understand that people can have learning disabilities but if they are given exception after exception how are we supposed to expect them to grow and push themselves to achieve. I guess it is difficult to know where to draw the line; when should people be forced to conform and when should their circumstances be given special consideration.

ENC 1101 & 1102 Blog Prompt #4

Watch Carlos Mencia's stand up and his take on "American" issues regarding race, education and parenting. Post your blog about what he is saying, who he's addressing, is he successful, is he right, do you agree, disagree, are you offended or l.y.a.o.?

Carlos Mencia - Not for the easily offended

Carlos Mencia-Take A Joke America Part-1

what the hell?!?!

what was that incident really about? throughout the videoclip i didnt see or hear Andrew resisting when the police officers held him down? actually he was quite calm. i'm actually a bit shaken up from what i just saw. officers of law tasered a person for no apparent reason and the students looked on like some asses. it makes me wonder what more police officers are really capable of doing other than using force on someone for simply saying that he is not gong to resist arrest. and the screams of the woman in the background in addition to andrew's screams just showed me how painful and grotesque the situation must ahve really been. i feel really bad for andrew and i'm sorry that happened to him. the funny thing is, i'm not from the united states, i'm only here to study so it really makes me wonder about whether being here was a good decision at all. maybe i should have just stayed in my country and pursued my education there! sad to say but it's true...

UF Student Arrested

Andrew Meyer is the talk of the nation! Freedom of speech, police brutality, inciting a riot, overdramatic prankster looking for some air time, hoax, everyone has their opinion on this issue. Was Meyer's rights infringed? Or did he cross a line; was he resisting arrest or was he resisting being escorted? Was he asking real questions or rhetorical ones? What was he trying to prove? Obnoxious and arrogant is what some are calling him as he alleges voter freud and membership to the Skulls and Bones fraternity. An obvious political protest, but was this reason for forceful escorting? Did Kerry's secret service qualify him as a threat? After the 911 incidents security has definitely taken a new heightened measure and as Miamians we see what one man on an automatic rampage is capable of doing. So how do those that protect and serve determine who is a threat and who is not? If it had been a woman at the microphone would the situation have been handled differently? Videos are all over the internet from students who were there giving viewers the ability to see everything from beginning to end, including the screams of a young lady as Meyer is being tased, but the news media provides their audience with an edited version, be it because of air time or not, they have their own slant and political view to provide their audience with. Analyzing the footage that the news media give to viewers are they making Meyers out to look like the victim and the cops as the evil doers who do no good? Whatever the answers are, everyone has their opinion on the matter and I would like to hear yours. Click on the hyperlinks to read two opposing opinions, leave me comments and tell me what you think.

ENC 1101 Blog Prompt #3: Media in Politics.

After watching the video on Miss Teen S.C. a student posted on their blog that we are considered the "idiot nation" and all we care about is Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears in the news. How much does the media influence us? Do you think it influences you? How much do the visual communications we are bombarded with on a daily basis influence our decicions and our behaviors? Hmmm, post your thoughts on these questions and the video.

ENC 1102 Blog Entry #3 Prompt

Discuss your thoughts on the movie 'Dark Days'. Post a comment on one of your peers blog pages in response to their thoughts about the movie.

My 9:30 am ENC 1102 class brought up the fact that everyone in this country has the same opportunities and if you don't take them it's on you. My 3:30pm ENC 1102 class brought up the issue of the US taking care of it's own people before looking out for everyone else. How does this movie support your thoughts or perhaps made you reflect differently?

miss teen USA

this is my first blog. i hope i'm doing this right! lol so yeah, i did watch the video and i felt bad for this girl because everyone is going to remember her because of that for the rest of her life!! that must've been the dumbest response someone could have given for that question but being that she graduated high school with a 3.5 gpa and and the fact that she was being watched in national television, she probably was just nervous!! still, i couldn't help but laugh the whole time!! lol :)

"personally i believe"-- no you don't!!

"personally, i believe" that when you put someone under so much pressure to answer a dumb question like why some people can't read maps, you're bound to mess up. It just so happens to be that she was thinking way too much, and trying to hard. I think its like when you're speaking with a really scholarly person, and you try and make every other word a really big SAT word, and you end up not knowing what you're talking about and sounding like an idiot... Thats what it sounds like to me. She was just nervous.. and if you notice, the further into her answer she got, the less she knew what she was talking about. She answered the question alot better on the today show, now that she was able to practice it 12 million times in her dressing room. I do believe that she was waiting for a question like, what is the most important world value to you? then she would predictably answer "world peace", followed by the fanning of the face and those oh so famous crocodile tears.


I think it would have been better if she was like hmmm.. and thought of what to say.. rather than just start blurting words.. But either way, it takes alot of "courage" for lack of a better word to stand up in front of billions of people who are all criticizing you as a dumb blonde with a pretty face. And anyone who hasn't seen Ms. Congeniality still thinks of them as dumb blondes. So i still give her props but hey, you'd never find me up there talking about americans don't have maps. =D

Miss Teen USA

Wow, that was hilarious! Her incohesiveness in answering the question was really funny. The fact that she won 3rd runner up just proves that this was indeed a beauty contest, and you really don't have to be intellectual to score well on this event; rather, you simply have to be beautiful. Yes, she is very pretty, and that can not be denied. Regarding the way she defended herself, yes, maybe she did go blank at the moment, but even her 2nd response during the interview wasn't very elaborate.

Miss Teen USA

Wow. Just...Wow. I mean, that first sentence alone! "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because uh...some people out there in our nation don't have maps..." I had to stop and rewind the video a few times just to make sure I heard her right. That interview was obviously coached. She kept repeating the same things over and over again. I can't imagine anyone would believe that those are her actual words coming out of her mouth.

First Blog

Eh...To be honest, I probably would have never started a blog if it weren't for the class. I'm the kind of person who likes his personal thoughts to stay that way. I don't really know what kind of things someone's supposed to post on a blog, so I'm glad that we've got topics.

Miss Teen USA

Well that was very mechanical. I was part of the Miss Dominican Republic pagent training and I do not think that from a pagent point of view she did anything wrong now from a viewers prespective my question is how on earth did she make it as 3rd runner up? That mistake was enough to make her at the bottom 20. I have to give her a credit though for trying to amend her mistake by going on national television and confronting her reality. Though using natinonal televsion as a method for publicizing herself might has come off as a bit pushy and commercial. Then again this is the Beauty Industry anything to make it on top!

MISS TEEN USA!

My girlfriend, her roommate, and I literally watched her clip about ten times over the weekend and had more laughs than most people have in a year! No joke! The fact that she actually finished fourth is appalling. Who were the judges? Her parents? I wonder what her talent was? Maybe string five or six coherent words together at once? Or maybe receiting the alphabet. The fact that she finished fourth just proves what we all already knew: IT IS A BEAUTY CONTEST!!!

Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina on Today show

Many of you have seen the embarrassing moment for Miss South Carolina. Now watch as she defends herself. What do you think? Post your remarks on your blog.

My First Blog

Hi! My name is Javier Valdes, and this is my first blog. I have never before posted a blog. and it is quite an exhilarating feeling. It is very exciting. I have a MySpace account; however, this is a rather different experience. I can share my work here with fellow colleagues, and we can all share our intellectual abilities here. Having a blog is like a river: you drop something in and let it follow its course. Here, one can drop in their knowledge and get feedback from one's peers.

Having A Blog

This is my first time having a blog. I have no strong feelings about having a blog. I am content with it, neither happy or mad. I will use this to express my feelings about other issues. I guess this blog will allow me to give other viewers a peice of my mind on various topics. When I think of the word "blog", unorganized information comes to mind. As if I am to use the blog to disperse all of my thought with no destination. I guess having a blog will be allright.

First Blog..

So this is the first blog. Honestly, this is kind of exciting for me. I have a livejournal, and i love writing on it. If you don't know what it is, its the same as this, just different. =] I usually write when i've had a bad day or have something exciting happen in my life, but mostly just to follow up with old friends. This could be fun, its a first for anything school related, for me at least.. and I think its a pretty cool idea. Props. I do think its funny though, everyone is talking about how internet is taking over jobs and such, well.. now you can actually conduct parts of a class online. But yea, thats about it. Looking forward to this, not so much the rhetorical essays =]

First of a few!!

Well, just as for others at our class, this is my first "blog". I have never had a journal or anything of that source as well. I am not really too pleased with this blog idea, but it is a requirement for our class, meaning, we'll have to do it anyways. I certainly hope that the topics get more interesting as the days pass by. Having the same old "what did you do during the weekend" will definitely be boring. Thanks for anyone that read this. I will try to make my "blog" as pleasant as it can be for everyone.

frist blog

Well I really still dont see the point of having these blogs but I need the credit. I have never done a blog or had a journal or anything to write my thoughts down so this is new for me. Since it is my first blog i dont know what to put down other than i dont understand blogger.com yet. The only part i understand so far is that we have to do these posts. Hopefully by the end of the semester i see the point of the blog cause so far i feel like its just wasting my time jaja.

DO NOT POST HERE!

Post your blogs on your own page. You can comment on mine if you like as some of you did, but your "blogs", your journal entries, your thoughts on the prompts I give you, are to be posted on your page, not mine.

My First Blog! :-/

I have to say that I really don't see what is so amusing about these blog things.I still haven't been able to figure out how to use this. For now, I really don't feel very happy about having this blog :-(. Hopefully I'll get used to it, and learn how to use it soon! That way you guys will have something a little more interesting to see and read. So much time I've been avoiding this and I've finally been forced to use it... Oh well... it had to happen sometime, right?...

what is blog?

Its my first time writing on a blog. and i still dont know what blog is so i googled it. "A blog is often a mixture of what is happening in a person's life and what is happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/guide site, although there are as many unique types of blogs as there are people."
i just got home from work. I tried to log into blackboard but had no luck. I clicked on forgot my password this morning and didnt havent gotten my password yet. i hope everyone have a safe Labor Day.

Jin

My first blog

Well... I've never actually had a blog before. I always used to hear my friends talk about their blogs online, and honestly, I never really understood what a blog was. But now I know, because I have my very own! So, it's awesome that now I have a blog and I get to post up opinions and discussions. Hmm... thank you Natasha for inspiring me (actually requiring me) to create my own blog. =)

Hmmm...My Thoughts of Creating A Blog...I've never done this before...and (as a matter of fact) I'm not even sure if I'm doing this correctly. It absolutely blows me away...the fact that technology is taking over...in every direction. I'm not too excited about the idea of having to post my thoughts here...for everyone to see. I'm not thrilled about that...at all. I shouldn't let such little things stress me out...but boy, this whole blogger thing is getting to me. Everytime I try to log in...It tells me that it's incorrect...!! I try to post my picture on "my page"...but I can't...!! I'm trying to remember and do the things Natasha said to do (i.e. write a response to whatever she posts...change the settings...this...that...and everything in between)...but it just isn't coming out quite right...!! Bottom line is, I don't like this at all. Maybe it'll be easier and will seem simpler as I get used to it, but...this is really getting up under my skin. This...and everything else related to it...Is making me think....Is it too late for a refund...??!!??!!??!!

1st blog! woo!

well, this is my first blog...its amazing how assignments change! before we just had to write papers and turn them in in our English classes...now...we have to do that and also create a blog and use web ct! I like it! sadly I am not that great with computers, but I'll get better! anyways...this is an interesting, original, and nice way to share our thoughts and tell what we want to tell to the world! It took me a while and some help in order to sort a figure out how to edit my profile and post a blog on here, but it was worth the process of learning how to use it! this website seems nice and original! well, I think this is a fun experience and hopefully we will all learn how to use it! well, take care! chaoo!

FACT OR BLOGINIAN

Hubert is my name. This is my first blog entry ever. I guess this will be the place where i will write and record what is currently on my mind. That is challenging thought, considering that generally keep things to myself. however, i suppose that putting what im thinking into text and words, will better help me express my thoughts. it is still going to be a challenge this is a public venue. I'm really not sure what bloggers actually write in their blogs, I have never, myself, even read anyone's blog. Social Internet sites such as myspace, facebook, or blog forums have never been of any appeal to me. i will have to go into this new experiment with an open mind.

first blog?

Hi everyone. I hope I'm doing this right! This is definately my first blog ever and to be quite honest i don't have a clue on what I am doing. I'm not even so sure on what I am supposed to be writing about? I think I'm supposed to express how I feel towards having this blog? Well if thats what I'm supposed to write about I guess I can start by once again saying that this is my first and the only blog I have ever done. I am guessing this will benefit us by showing us and allowing us to see the work of our fellow classmates. Hopefully next blog I will understand how this works a little better and I'll be able to write about something that makes a little more sense! Sorry, but I'm a little slow, and this whole online thing is making me a bit confused!!!

My first piece

Private vs Public spaces. I get to share pieces of me. Do I want to share pieces of me? Love me for who I am, hate me for who I am. The pieces that make me who I am. Put those pieces in public, but who really knows if those pieces are real? I can say I share the real pieces of me, but the real pieces of me are really in private. Who is reading these pieces of me? Who do these eyes belong to? Brown, blue, hazel, all color eyes spying, probing, analyzing, critiquing, my words, my language, my style, my pieces. Do I write for those eyes? Do I write for mine?? Do I want to entertain them, inform them, surprise them? My goals, my purpose. They are my audience and I have a purpose. How do I share these pieces of me? Which style of mine do these eyes prefer? Comedy, professional, cynical, mature, intellectual. Pieces of me. Change, mold, adapt, subscribe. Give them what they want, when they want, how they want. But always pieces of me.