Final Blog Reflection

The blog that I'll be reflecting upon is one of my recent blog posts I uploaded. (Here)

The quote I chose for my blog is one of the points FitzGerald made about the education. It was "it takes the joy and passion out of teaching and education." I used this quote for my post because it's one of the many points he made to convince others while he was giving out his speech. Using a short quote utilizes the reader to be further engaged in my post keeps them from getting bored. The use of a short quote also provides first-hand experience with the article and the whole conversation. Using a quote allowed a more thoughtful analysis for the writer and a more engaging read for the audience because it brings together the text and the post in one. Short quotes provide a more engaging read for the reader by providing straight from the article so that way, the reader knows what's going on.

The diction and syntax I used were medium sentences and anaphora. Diction and syntax help improve my posts because it gives much more of an educated vibe in my posts. Using diction and syntax also provides a more engaging read for the reader. An example of a medium sentence I used is "Democratic Ed FitzGerald thinks that standardized tests is what holds the students from going into the next grade. He doesn't want to cancel the tests, but only delay them for students to be more prepared for such a high-stake test." This pair of medium sentences helps me get my information through to the readers. The sentence isn't too short but it also isn't too long so that the reader would be bored. An example of anaphora I used is " Summer is approaching, tests need to be taken, last minute work needs to get done. These are some of the things that can be prevented if children are more prepared with their learning. Summer is approaching and for the most part, kids are procrastinating. Summer is approaching and all kids want to do is get out of school." This use of anaphora stresses that the end of the school year is where it all happens.

The specific technology I used was to utilize an article from the Cincinnati Enquirer's website. Instead of using a book, I talk about a topic that's actually happening. I'm using a modern-day event to capture the moment of what's happening outside of school. The benefit of finding my sources online is that it saves time from looking in a book and you can just look up stuff and get the answers to it in about 30 seconds. This technology helps involve further thought to the reader because the reader is brought upon a connection with technology from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Update on Between the Lines

I can describe the setting a bit easier than I could do before.

All I did was not even read and now I'm just starting to read again because it's the end of year and I procrastinate.

Anyways, the setting is also, very cliche. It's in some Hollywood-like movie set. Again, the main guy and girl of this story start to have a connection. Personally, I think this book is complete garbage for me to read. It doesn't even improve my vocabulary and I feel like this book is even dumbing down my knowledge. Seriously, I think the only reason I got this book was because it was $2.99 on the Amazon book store.

Back to the setting. It's partly inside, but it's also outside as well. So far, I've only read a page where it's outside but the rest was either in a house or in the building. How did this book get to the publishing point. If your book has only two settings, it's best not to publish it and change the whole book with some new settings.

So this is what I learned: I'm done with this book. I quit. The best thing to do is find a different book I can actually stand.

"FitzGerald hates high-stakes tests" Reaction

-> Article Link Here <-

      With the summer arriving very soon, debates for next year's school year are beginning. This includes the standardized tests like the OAA that are becoming a problem. Democratic Ed FitzGerald thinks that standardized tests is what holds the students from going into the next grade. He doesn't want to cancel the tests, but only delay them for students to be more prepared for such a high-stake test.
      FitzGerald also wants to have kids in kindergarten save up for their college funding early as he says that it will help them be more prepared when that time of departure comes.
      Another point Fitzgerald has on the tests is that "it takes the joy and passion out of teaching and education." While that is true, the board of Ohio's education  is starting to consider this a good idea. They hope to pass legislation to delay the tests to further prepare the upcoming students.
      Many of these points are stated in the article, but some surprise me. I think this is the first time I heard a Democrat talk about something other than the child's education- but also consider their hobbies as well.
      I thought this article was very interesting because it made me consider that the schools do care that kids are failing the tests and I hope this continues later on in the future.
     Summer is approaching, tests need to be taken, last minute work needs to get done. These are some of the things that can be prevented if children are more prepared with their learning. Summer is approaching and for the most part, kids are procrastinating. Summer is approaching and all kids want to do is get out of school. But, if they fail this test, they'll have to study more during the summer.
    Just think and consider this.

Media Post- Will the movie be as good as the book?

Ah yes, "The Fault in Our Stars," the book I read the summer before imagining I would be in high school.

And now with the movie coming out this July, it's like I almost forgot about the book.
I learned somewhere that the movie will follow 95% to the book. That's good I guess. The trailer, though. Wow. It's really amazing. It's like it gives off a vibe that the movie will turn out really happy.

So, will the movie have the same effect as the book did? The only way to figure that out is by watching it.

Thoughts on a recent article

http://nypost.com/2014/02/22/why-doodling-is-a-habit-you-dont-need-to-break/

The article I read is called "Why doodling is a habit you don't need to break" And I think it mentally speaks to me.

It's about that it's ok to doodle on your notes and it's healthy to draw ideas rather than just to write them down. After given examples from recent presidents, you think that's more than enough to convince you.

Some of my thoughts while reading this is "I already do this so why do I have to know more about this." Towards the middle of reading this article, I got to think more about the things I think about and how that effects the way I learn. It shows that I'm more of a visual and creative person rather than just leaning with verbal commands.

This article also convinced me that I should tell more people that it's ok to just let your mind go and draw on your paper, because who knows, they might turn out to be masterpieces or autographs.

Between the Lines-Beginning thoughts

After reading the first 10% of the book (I don't have the page numbers because I'm reading this on my kindle), I realized it might be one of those instant love cliche books.
But it actually is.
It's one of those classic novels where the girl meets the boy by taking the lead role in a movie. Then she realizes that she's in love with him and basically parts from Twilight (excluding the vampire parts) happen.
I do have two questions for this book-

1) Will there be action soon? It really feels like a love story of mush.
2)  Is there any part where the character will show interest in anything relating to love or is that just going to continue for the rest of the 90%

Overall, it's a nice book, it just needs to be something not relating to love for a little bit.

A Study on Krista Ramsey's Writing

(Photo from the article)

The article I chose is "Locking into the Magic of Legos." (Link can be found -> here <-)
It was about the controversy of Legos and how it affects how children play today. It's as almost parents are concerned that their child isn't making even the slightest sound after their wide-awake early parenthood years.

The quote I thought that had the most thought was "that's because kids are off the clock with Legos. They're in a world beyond learning objectives and select soccer, safely out of reach of arranged play dates and online language programs. Legos let them claim the two things adults don't even realize they need: space and silence." The beginning of the sentence starts with a short sentence to grab the reader's attention of the problem with Legos. This quote tells the reader that kids need time to their self no matter what they're really doing-because if that silence or concentration is broken for a second, it may never be the same way again.

Ramsey's writing style is using syntax as a way to get the readers to pay attention to what she's trying to say. In all three columns, it was likely that there was a short sentence to start an idea she had. When she was explaining something, medium and long sentences were used. She also uses thoughts and meanings that connect us with the article in some way that remind us "hey, I do that sometimes too."

My three questions to Krista Ramsey would be-
1) How far and deep do you look for a fresh piece of news to write about?
2) If another job was presented to you before you started working with the Cincinnati Enquirer, would you take it up?
3) What do you like to write about the most?