Technology

Taking English 102 online has been beneficial in several different ways. The online learning experience is much different then  in person learning. However, with English I find it very similar. The only difference I notice is that the teacher isn't physically in front of you. We're provided with lectures, video clips, and Skype. Having all of those features allows us to interact with the professor just as well as if we were in person. I have to say the most beneficial feature used throughout the semester was Blogger. Blogger allows for interaction of classmates and greatly needed feedback. Without Blogger many of us would have been completely lost during certain weeks of English 102. One of the greatest technologies offered to us would have to be Skype. Skype allows for people to literally talk to their professor and see them face to face. I am disappointed to say I didn't take advantage of that opportunity and in the future I will definitely be doing so. Professors are their to help you in all shapes and forms. Don't be afraid to ask for help in any way needed. 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASkype.svg:User:ZyMOS

Reflection of Revision

I am not a person to write, especially papers. When I do have to write papers I basically have heart failure every time! Writing is my worse subject since being in college. When it comes to writing papers however, revision is a one of the most important parts I've figured out. Revision is much different from editing which you must keep in mind. Revision is not simply fixing grammar and punctuation. Revision is getting rid of unnecessary details and sentences, moving around paragraphs, proofreading and making sure your paper makes sense. My process of revision includes revising the thesis statement and making sure it makes sense. Once I see that the thesis is good to go I go through and make sure my paper has evidence to support my thesis. Without evidence to back up my thesis I have nothing. I like to revise each of my paragraphs too. I make sure each one has a topic sentence, evidence and a supporting quote. Lastly, I like to end by making a great closing statement. It's always best to leave the reader satisfied. For this particular paper I hope to revise my thesis and make it one of my best so far!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARevision.svg: Tango Project and Gnome

  

Blog Post #11- Fear of Death

My thesis is not going to perfect by any means in this blog post. I have had a very busy and hectic past few weeks and have yet to finish all of "White Noise." I am as lost with this book as about half of the other students in this class. However, I am going to do my best with what I have read so far!

By Fear Inside Of Me [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons: Fear Inside of me

                             http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Fear_logo.jpg

Fear is one of the biggest motifs found in "White Noise" by Don DeLillo. Jack Gladney one of the main characters has an odd obsession with fear. Gladney is a college professor of the Department of Hitler Studies. Jack Gladney hides himself in his own world and reality to escape his fear of death. He finds a great sense of comfort while at the supermarket and finds shelter when teaching. Jack establishes his identity by naming himself J.A.K Gladney chairman of the department of HItler studies. 
                           

"White Noise"- Tom LeClair

Tom LeClair's "Closing the Loop" was one of the most helpful summaries by far. He does an excellent job of not only summarizing but analyzing this confusing story, "White Noise." He is able to describe very important but yet simple things to us such as when, where,who, and what. I got to have a great insight on the importance of the supermarket that was simply nothing to me at first. He warns us of the short, choppy fragmented sentences that DeLillo uses and how to interpret them too. Tom LeClair introduces new elements that he sees in "White Noise," "is structurally and stylistically simple; it lacks their spatil forms, temporal dislocation framed analogies, overlapping subtexts, and multiple voices." (LeClair pg.390) Le Clair gives us great insight however even after reading these closing articles I am still left with questions that I will have to go back and look for in "White Noise."    


DeLillo, Don. White Noise. New York: Penguin, 1998. Print.

White Noise

Mid-Term Check In

Dear Professor Cline,
 
      Overall, English does not happen to be my strongest subject. I struggle with it on a daily 

basis whether it's simple grammar and punctuation when writing or proper tense and use 

of a word during simple conversation. However, my biggest success thus far would easily 

be learning the world of blogging and creating my very own blog for this class. During this 

current semester I have been affected by the readings, particularly "A Modest Proposal," 

because until this class I had never read or even known what a satire was. When it comes to 

literary analysis I think I was like 99% of all other college students, meaning I did not 

understand the true differences between a summary and an analysis of a literary piece. I 

would simply summarize what I had read and feel as though  I had just delivered the most 

grandiose of an analysis. When it comes to the second half of this semester, my goals 

include fine tuning my analyzing skills along with improving my essay writing ability as 

well.  

Thank you for all that you have taught not only myself but the rest of the class this 

semester and I am looking forward to what the second have has to offer!

Blog Post # 3: Bartleby

      "Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance" (53). While reading this excerpt 

from  Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" this particular line stood out the most to me. In the 

context of the story, the narrator finds himself often times struggling internally with his temper, 

especially towards those who maintain a positive and upbeat attitude during times of stress and/or 

frustration, i,e. Bartleby. The narrator even admits that Bartleby "means no mischief" or "insolence" 

and this bothers the narrator greatly. To not get a reaction out of someone when anticipating one will 

more often then not further irritate someone even more. This is proven true not only in the excerpt from 

Melville's writings but, also in real life. The narrator continues by telling the reader that Bartleby is very 

useful to him and easy to get along with, however this doesn't stop him from continuing to push 

Bartleby until he reaches a melting point. "But one afternoon the evil impulse in me mastered me" (53).

     In relation to real life, it is safe to say that we have all be in a situation where we have been "killed 

with kindness" and this tends to amplify our original level of anger. Has humans, we are a needy 

species. We need food, water, shelter, ext. These are examples of necessities. But, if you take a moment 

to think about the things we often say we "need" they are actually "wants." The list would look as 

such;  We "need/want" attention, some reactions from time to times, but most importantly 

attention. When we get fired up for whatever reason, we want everyone to know we are deeply 

troubled by an issue or situation so we broadcast it. Once we have let those around us know that we 

have a problem that we are facing, we typically expect some sort of reply or reaction. If that reply or 

reaction is not one of which we were hoping for then we find ourselves more upset and angered then 

we had originally been. The narrator finds himself in this very predicament at times but in one particular 

scenario he lets his temper get the best of him and Bartleby has to face the narrator as he finally reaches 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herman_Melville.jpg: By Joseph O. Eaton and an unknown etcher (Library of Congress) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

his breaking point.