Argument paper- We are too dependent of technology

Hey guys I am almost done. I found that it was harder than I thought it was going to be when finding legitimate evidence for my reasons. Here is my almost finished paper:

Technology is an ever changing trend in society. Over time things change and technology is a major change. Think back to ten to fifteen years ago. There were no iPods of any sort, people still used beepers and pagers, cell phones were just starting to really pick up, the internet was slow and developing, there was no GPS, and the most high tech gaming systems out were Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 2. If you were to mention the words beepers, pagers, Discmans, cassette tapes, or Encarta to kids these days, more than likely one would receive a blank stare. The problem with all this new found technology is that society is becoming far too dependent on it. While technology is quite beneficial it is also causing a hindrance on society and we as human beings.  

            Technology in the classroom is a major topic when it comes to being too dependent on technology. The effects of technology in the classroom are vast. A major impact of reading and writing skills is one aspect of education that faces this technological advance. Students barely have to handwrite any outside assignments anymore. They just type it into word and the program spell checks and grammar checks for them. But the computer does not catch everything and too many students have full faith in the computer to make any and all corrections. Not every correction will be acknowledged by the system. In essence by not having to write it out the student is just causing bad habits for him/herself. And now with all this new technology in the classroom there are many different learning programs used in the classroom. But do these programs really help students? There is some evidence that “learning technology is less effective when the learning objectives are unclear and the focus of the technology use is diffuse.” (Schacter) According to Dr. Martha Stone of the Educational Technology Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, “One of the enduring difficulties about technology and education is that a lot of people think about the technology first and the education later.” (Schacter) Especially on those new learning programs on the computer, students are more interested on the widgets and extras than on the reading comprehension. While some of these programs work there is evidence that some do not at all. In a study called “The Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow” (ACOT), three experts analyzed the impact of interactive technologies in five school sites in four different states. The goal of this project was to emphasize the positive use of these technologies in the classroom. What they came to find was that “on standardized tests including vocabulary, reading comprehension… ACOT students performed no better than comparison groups or nationally reported norms who did not have access to computers or to the teaching and learning reforms implemented in ACOT schools.” (Schacter) From these results one can see that it might be more beneficial to go back to the old ways of flashcards and constant reading and writing than to sit in front of a computer screen.

            Another sign of people becoming too dependent on technology is the high stake of multitasking. Everywhere you look people are walking looking down at their cell phone, iPod, blackberry completely enthralled in their technology. While some might say that they get more accomplished when they multitask, there are also many negative effects. For starters their brains are over wired which in return causes more stress. If the technology is used while driving there can be major consequences. A recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Association examined research from more than 350 scientific papers published since 2000. (O’Toole) “Driving distractions, primarily by cellphones and other electronic devices, are associated with up to 25 percent of U.S. car crashes.” (O’Toole)

Black Friday

I will start by saying that I hate Black Friday. Talk about forgetting what Christmas is really about. What Christmas is really about to all those Black Friday shoppers is being one in a swarm of many other nutcases who are up at the ass crack of dawn to "catch a deal". I put that in parenthesis because let's be honest, there were no great deals this year. I understand going through all that for a humungous flat screen or some electronic that would be well worth it to get it at a discount price. What I do not get is going out into that madness to grab some shirts. Yes, I understand it is nice to save money (who doesn't). But to go out so early all crazy in hyper snort to save a buck is nuts. Maybe it's just me though. Hell, if you like doing that every year be my guest. But I would much rather sit at home on my butt relax and decorate the house to get in the spirit or something. And especially to hear in the papers how crazy some people got, I was more than glad to be sitting at home decorating and being outside in the gorgeous weather. Like pepper spray? Really? That woman was clearly out of her mind. And over what? An Xbox? Call me crazy but why would that seem like a logical thing to do?

Crazy people. All I know is that a day after visiting with family and stuffing my face the last thing I want to do is wake up early and shop with about a million other people. If you like to though, more power to you. But be careful because someone might trample or pepper spray you to get to some discounted underwear.

Response to Katherine's "First Thanksgiving, now Halloween? Santa, give it a break!"

How could anyone miss all this Christmas hullaballoo? It's everywhere! I have definitely noticed over the past few years how Christmas advertisements and such have been creeping up earlier and earlier on the calendar. I agree with you completely, it is ridiculous. And like you, I love Christmas and all the traditions and things but I like it in december... around christmas time! Not in november around Thanksgiving and certaintly not around Halloween.By doing all this so early I feel that it actually takes a lot away from Christmas and the season. Let each holiday stay in its perspective month and not advertise it any earlier than that actual month.

It is also completely sending out the wrong message as to what Christmas is all about. It is not about all the shopping and money the stores make. What do we teach our children and young ones about the holiday? That it is about giving and not just receiving, about being with family, and having traditions and such. All this early advertisement is steering everyone away from the real meaning of Christmas. And yeah, if you don't celebrate Christmas, talk about feeling left out. Jeez!

Bullying

Today when I came home I did what I normally do. I turned on my computer and started checking some emails. One email I came across was from my aunt about bullying. It had to do with a 10 year old girl from Illinois who hung herself this weekend due to being bullied. 10 years old! Are people for real? This child felt so tired of being bullied that she resorted to the only thing she felt was left to do. To kill herself. She can't come back. She chose to end her life rather than live another day going to school and being bullied by her peers. It sickens me, it really does. This is one of the youngest cases of suicide from bullying that I have ever heard. She was just a child. She didn't even get to live, to get past the stupid ignorant people in her school, and to live a great life. This is all becoming way to common. There really needs to be an end to bullying because too many young innocent people are dying as a result.

Whenever I read a story about a suicide from bullying I almost immediately wonder how the bullies feel when they hear the news. Are they ashamed? Remorseful? Do they realize and admit to themselves or others that they are the reason this other child, their peer, is not here anymore. That this child is not coming back? That he/she barely got to live their life. That they took someone from his/hers family. The sad part is I bet a lot of these bullies say to themselves, "It wasn't my fault. Not me. I did not make that person do that." I wonder if it would make a difference if someone said to the bully, "This is your fault. She did that to herself because of your constant tormenting." I wonder if that would have an impact. Would the bully stop bullying?

My father is... (STAR revised)

My father is a very kind and loving man. But, he can also be quite intimidating. Not so much from his looks but from how he comes off sometimes. My father stands at 6 foot 2 with neatly brushed gray hair and clear blue eyes. He tends to have a serious look on his face most of the time, which could very well be why some people find him standoffish and tough looking. I know I do sometimes. But in reality he is the most kind and generous man. He would do anything for the ones he loves.

His intimidation and seriousness might stem from having to fend for himself since he was in his 20's after his parents passed away. I can only imagine how hard and lonely it must have felt to lose both of the people you love the most at such a young age. I know his parents would have been very proud of him. He went to college and proceeded to receive a PhD and to this day works at a very well-known company which I like to refer to as "The Smart People Place". He is super smart. Definitely one of the smartest people I know. Although his smartness can get annoying sometimes he is not the type of person to rub it in to anyone’s face. Rather he uses his brain to help others in any way he can.

My father also has a tendency to be very blunt. Sometimes too blunt but really he is just being realistic. It's funny though because as much as his bluntness gets to me, I am exactly the same way. My father and I are very much alike. We are realistic all the time, sometimes too blunt and honest, sarcastic, stubborn, but also loving and caring people. Some of these reasons are probably why we tend to bump heads the most. Neither of us ever wants to admit when we are wrong but are always ready to yell when we are right and we are always there to help any one out. My father and I being so much alike always makes me laugh a little because I am adopted. I guess it just goes to show that not everything is through genetics but from who you are around.

Observations

I figured this week I would write about my observations. This semester I am in New Hyde Park Memorial High School. Let me just start by saying I would not mind student teaching there or getting a job there. This is an English Department that definitely has their stuff together. They are up-to-date with technology and with their teaching. For starters, I compare my experience here with that of last semesters observations. Last semester I observed at Mineola High School. Definitely a very different English Department. In Mineola HS the teachers I observed could have cared less that I was there or acted as if I was more of a nuisance. They were not very open to speaking with me and yet they gave me a mediocre review. First of all, I was there to observe and sit in on group work. Second of all, one word answers to my seemingly harmless questions did not help me in the least. What I do not understand, is why some schools even agree to allow student teachers or observers in their school if they have no plan to help us out? When I go into a school I do not want to waste their time let alone have them waste my time. Sorry I am ranting. To be honest, it was only two out of the five teachers I observed at Mineola that did not act how I expected them to act. The other three were pretty good.
Anyway, back to NHP High School. I love the teachers I am observing. They are all so forthcoming with suggestions and information. The are more than willing to show me different things and answer any questions I have. They treat me like a fellow teacher, with respect. From what I am told by some of my teachers, it seems that they all love the department and get along great. Their department head is great and helps out a lot but is not overpowering. They all feel comfortable in their positions and the students seem to love them as well. Bottom line, I am enjoying my learning at this high school very much.

Creative Writing Piece

Untitled for now. And unwritten for now. For starters I do not like to actually write creative writing pieces for the simple fact that I am not a creative writer. When I read I prefer nonfiction over fiction. So that is probably why I am not a very good creative writer. I have been thinking about what I want to write about and have come up with a pretty good idea of what I want to do. I have scribbles all over looseleaf and am still in the process of figuring out where I want to go with my character and story. I started writing a little and realized, that for me personally, I need to have it all figured out before I start to write. I do want to tell you all a little about it though, but since I do not know which of the three routes I want to take with it I can only tell you so much.
Basically my unnamed male character is in a famous rock band and is performing at a huge show. Throughout the night however he gets to meet and hang out with four of his rock idols. But during this night a few unusual things happen.
As you can see there are many holes in my story and mainly because I do not want to give away too much. In the top three routes I came up with they all have twists so that is why I am only sharing this little. By next weeks blog I will have my whole story to share with all of you.

Concerts

There is nothing I love more than concerts! Okay, maybe not my "absolute" favorite thing but I do love them very much. Let’s put it this way, I went to over 15 shows last year alone. Over this past summer I went to a bunch of shows and just recently I went to some and I must say they give me some of the greatest joy ever! I am a big music lover; especially rock music and by rock music I do not mean fake "rock groups" such as Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, or The Starting Line. (No offense to anyone who does like bands like that. All I am saying is that they aren't hard rock.) I recently watched an interview with Dave Grohl and he was saying to the interviewer "Like rock is coming back. I am determined to bring it back. I have had enough of those sissy groups that call their music rock when it totally isn't. We need to bring back the real rock." And I must say I totally agree. But anyway, I am getting off topic a little. Concerts! What I love about concerts is the camaraderie. Everyone is there for the same reason. They are there to rock out and sing and just be in the moment. Nothing else matters when you are there surrounded by fellow fans and some of your favorite music. Especially some of the shows I go to. Recently in September I went to The Big 4. This show consisted of four of the heaviest rock groups still rocking out, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, and (one of my top 3 groups) Metallica. Now here was a show that you definitely would not go to unless you were heavily into this kind of music. Granted, I can only handle so much of the screaming type rock music as that of Slayer but still as the show goes on, you look around and everyone is in the same mood and hype as the band playing. I love it! I also love concerts and music in general because of the self-expression. I love the self-expression of the bands and of the fans. Music lets people feel what they want to feel. At shows, music allows people to act however they want and jam however they want. Take me for instance. In class, I am sure most people notice that I am quiet and more of a listener than a hand raiser. In reality, I am a pretty outgoing person. All through my schooling years I have been a quiet student. My motto is, especially now in graduate school, get in get out. I come to class to do what I have to do to succeed. What I am getting at is the fact that I bet I am perceived as quiet when really I am outgoing and that person at a Metallica, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Red Hot Chili Peppers concert that is in full worship of the band with my fellow people. I yell, chant, hoot, holler, and sing with the best of them. Bottom line, I think music is a great outlet for people. Whether they are writing the music or going to see the music live, it is a great form of self-expression and I highly recommend going to some of these shows and joining in on the world of rock.

Revised Critical Lens

Critical Lens Essay

“All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.”

-paraphrased from an interview with Duff Brenna

            According to Duff Brenna, “All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.” In other words literature is an expression of emotion and the emotion is what makes the characters real. Emotions not reason is what drives the characters. This is shown to be true in Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare and Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer.

            Romeo in Romeo and Juliet bases all his decisions and motivations on his love for Juliet. The power of love conquers all in this tale. Romeo does not care that both their families have an intense hatred for each other. His love for her will triumph over everything else and one can see this through his characterization. From the very beginning of this tale, Romeo is portrayed as an emotional person who is spontaneous and enthusiastic as well as dramatic. He goes from being heart broken and lovesick over Rosaline to falling deeply madly in love with Juliet just from her first sighting.  He lives his life through his emotions with no reasoning. Another example of this would be when Romeo kills Tybalt. Tybalt not only threatens Romeo’s love for Juliet but kills Romeo’s best friend who he also loved. Romeo, now full of love and intense hatred for someone, kills Tybalt. He never stopped to think what this might do but just acted on his emotions.

            Chris McCandless in Into the Wild was another character who let his emotions motivate him. Although a very outgoing person, Chris longed and searched for what he thought was “ultimate freedom”, which is one of the main themes in this book. Chris did not care for money or material things and more than anything he refused to live life by rules of the man. Chris’ whole journey, especially to Alaska, is fueled by the idea of “ultimate freedom”. Everyone Chris comes across is told of how he has set out to “live in the wild” free from authority and rules and structure. This theme of “ultimate freedom” is so strongly set in Chris’ head through his past emotions of disconnect and disappointment of family, the corporate world, and the way in which people treated each other. At one point in the book, Wayne Westerberg recalls how Chris was very intelligent but thought “he spent too much time trying to make sense of the world to figure out why people were bad to each other too often”. Chris lived through his emotions and was not afraid to let people know.

            Both Romeo and Chris had extreme emotions that drove them to dive into what they were focused on without reasoning. While Romeo acted on love Chris acted on his love for nature and his disgust with authority. They both felt their emotions intensely and then had tunnel vision and went for it regardless of what the consequences may be. In both these stories, the main character is driven by emotions not reasoning.

            “All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.” This is shown to be true in Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare and Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer. Both main characters in these stories are driven by their intense emotions. One is driven by love and the other through the theme of “ultimate freedom” through his emotions of love, disconnect, and disappointment. Through these examples one can see how emotion is what motivates characters in literature. It is what makes the audience feel that these characters are real and feel what we feel.

Critical Lens

Critical Lens Essay

“All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.”

                                                                                    -paraphrased from an interview with Duff Brenna

            According to Duff Brenna, “All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.” In other words literature is an expression of emotion and the emotion is what makes the characters real. Emotions not reason it is what drives the characters. This is shown to be true in Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare and Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer.

            Romeo in Romeo and Juliet bases all his decisions and motivations on his love for Juliet. The power of love conquers all in this tale. Romeo does not care whether both their families have an intense hatred for each other. His love for her will triumph over everything else and one can see this through his characterization. From the very beginning of this tale, Romeo is portrayed as an emotional person who is spontaneous and enthusiastic as well as dramatic. He goes from being heart broken and lovesick over Rosaline to falling deeply madly in love with Juliet just from her first sighting.  He lives his life through his emotions with no reasoning. Another example of this would be when Romeo kills Tybalt. Tybalt not only threatens Romeo’s love for Juliet but kills Romeo’s best friend who he also loved. So Romeo, now full of love and intense hatred for someone, kills Tybalt. He never stopped to think what this might do but just acted on his emotions.

            Chris McCandless in Into the Wild was another character who let his emotions motivate him. Although a very outgoing person, Chris longed and searched for what he thought was “ultimate freedom”, which is one of the main themes in this book. Chris did not care for money or material things and more than anything he refused to live life by rules of the man. Chris’ whole journey especially to Alaska is fueled by the idea of “ultimate freedom”. Everyone Chris comes across is told of how he has set out to “live in the wild” free from authority and rules and structure. This theme of “ultimate freedom” is so strongly set in Chris’ head through his past emotions of disconnect and disappointment of family, the corporate world, and the way in which people treated each other. At one point in the book, Wayne Westerberg recalls how Chris was very intelligent but thought “he spent too much time trying to make sense of the world to figure out why people were bad to each other too often”. Chris lived through his emotions and was not afraid to let people know.

            Both Romeo and Chris had extreme emotions that drove them to dive into what they were focused on without reasoning. While Romeo acted on love Chris acted on his love for nature and his disgust with authority. They both felt their emotions intensely and then had tunnel vision and went for it regardless of what the consequences may be. In both these stories, the main character is driven by emotions not reasoning.

            “All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature.” This is shown to be true in Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare and Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer. Both main characters in these stories are driven by their intense emotions. One is driven by love and the other through the theme of “ultimate freedom” through his emotions of love, disconnect, and disappointment. Through these examples one can see how emotion is what motivates characters in literature. It is what makes the audience feel that these characters are real and feel what we feel.

Damn Technology

I am finding that the older I get the more I am beginning to see the negatives with technology. Do not get me wrong I am very much up to date with all the new technology. But what I am finding is that children are becoming overexposed and way too dependent on all this new technology. I am a nanny to two boys ages seven and four so I really see firsthand what all this technology does to them. It is very different from when I was a kid. I grew up here in Garden City and there are a lot of parks for kids to go to. As a kid I basically lived at the park. I was there every day after school. I would come home from school, drop my backpack in the house, grab a snack, and immediately run up to the park that was always packed with kids. Now that I am a nanny I am seeing very different things. The parks are never packed any more. And what I am finding is that so many kids go home from school and immediately hit the computers, TVs, iPads, and video games. The boys I watch used to be very gung-ho to go outside and run around for hours. But within the last year I have noticed how addicted they have become to all their technology. The mother of the boys I watch stayed home from work the other week because I had to take off for something and she even mentioned it to me how she went to the park and no one was there. I told her that I try and take the younger one, who is only in pre-k, to the park any day its nice out and how there are many ten people there at a time.  We were both saying how sad it is how technology has changed things. The parents of the children I watch have definitely spoiled their kids with technology but have seen that they have done that and have made some serious changes to better their kids when it comes to technology. I wish more parents would pull back on the technology and force their kids to be kids and run around outside more and find other things to do other than sitting at home on the computer, iPad, xbox whatever it may be.

Thoughts...

So for my second blog I wanted to expand and voice my opinions and observations on the free write we did in class. In the free write in class I mentioned two reasons why I thought so many secondary students struggle with writing. One reason I think is because students just do not care about writing.  I found in my observations last semester that so many students could care less about writing. Most of their writing done in class was half-assed or sounded exactly like each other's because they would just copy each other. I think that students at the secondary level are very much in a "me" stage.  Unless what they are writing about pertains to them personally on some level, they just do not care. I believe there would be more success in writing if sometimes the free writes or assignments allowed the students to express themselves more.
 Another reason I mentioned in my free write was because students do not do enough writing. I found in my observations last semester that students are rarely asked to write in class. Unless it is a specific assigned piece, the students are not writing. In my observations I can honestly say that I only saw one free write. These students are never assigned free writes or journals or any writing where they can express themselves or voice their opinions. Especially with this age group, it makes me think, if they cannot express themselves at all then why would they care?

My First Blog

I have never been much of a writer.  Do I enjoy writing?  Sometimes.  I find myself to be a better writer when I am given a specific assignment.  Maybe, because the only writing I have ever really done is for school assignments.  I have never been the type of person who just loves to write and can write about any and everything.  I am way more of an active person who likes to be outside doing physical activites.  So, for my first blog I am just going to write a finished piece of the free write that we did in class this past week.In starting with the first question from the free write, as stated above, I do not have much of a history as a writer.  I just write what is assigned to me and not much else.  I do not really remember learning to write or who taught me how to write.  I just sort of remember just writing.  But I suppose I learned from past teachers.  Although, I can only remember a select few teachers who even put the tiniest emphasis on writing.  Of those select few only about one or two of them cared more about the content than anything else.  The other teachers just used the method of an over-head projector to teach the students how to write.  They were more concerned with the grammar and the structure then what was actually written.  I guess to them they were just following the orders of the people above them to make sure the student's understood correct grammar and the structure of the essay but to not pay as much attention to what was actually written in a piece.  One specific problem I have with writing is starting.  I tend to find starting a piece quite difficult especially if it is a free write piece and not an assigned piece.  As with most things I figure the more I practice the better I will get at it.  In undergrad I became a better writer due to the fact that I had to write different pieces all the time for so many different classes.  I hope throughout this class this semester I become a better writer and will ultimately be able to teach students how to be talented writers.