Response to Why Write? Reading... from awhile ago...

I really liked the section Essential Elements of Arguments. I also really enjoyed the analogy to the peanut butter and jelly sandwich because I love PB&J! I have one nearly every day! Personally, I do not like to argue face to face with another person. I like being able to think about what my arguments are before I say them because sometimes I think I can say some pretty silly things. Arguing in writing is definitely my preferred method to get out my opinions.

Reflections on Writing 150

I have really enjoyed this class. At first, I was skeptical of my abilities as a writer because I hadn’t taken a writing class in quite some time it seemed. However, I loved Sister Elliott’s energy and zest for teaching. I could tell that she really loves doing what she does. In face, in the beginning of the semester, when I was homesick, she made me feel more at home because she reminds me of my own mom. I love when I see people doing what they love. Because of this energy, it made me more willing to put more work into my writing. I will admit, I miss many reading assignments, but I made sure to go back and read them at a later date. I learned many new things this semester, especially with the rhetorical analysis and research paper. I felt like those two units were my strongest, but that didn’t necessarily mean they were the easiest. I loved the challenge of these papers and I loved the feeling of having them done! I really appreciated how much time Sister Elliott took to make sure we understood the expectations for each assignment. I never felt like I was lost or unsure of what was going on. I can see how much Sister Elliott cares about her students and that means a lot to me. This really was a wonderful semester. Great class, tons of learning, wonderful teacher, fun atmosphere, makes for a great learning experience. Thank you Sister Elliott!

Diane Rehm Podcast

I listened to the podcast entitled Healing at the Speed of Sound, which was very interesting. The author, Don Campbell, talks about many of the psychological aspect of listening to sounds. There are many factors that I would not have thought affect the way our brains process sounds. Campbell said that the rhythm, rhyme, tempo, frequency and texture all affect the way people are able to process sounds. The human brain is most able to open with even rhythm, which I found so interesting! While I was listening to this podcast, I was evaluating the types of music and other sounds I listen to. I was also thinking about which types of music I like to listen to when I am feeling different emotions. I realized that I sound give my ears a break! I am listening to something all day long and most night I even fall asleep with relaxing music to help me mentally let go of the previous day and prepare for the next day. I started this habit last year when I had a particularly difficult ballet class every morning. I made sure to take the time to prepare myself for the tough class that was ahead, so that there wouldn't be any shock the next day. I found using music to do this to be very effective. I liked being able to escape into the music for awhile. I have also found that different types of music change my heart rate or how I am feeling about myself. Music has a very powerful effect! I learned a lot from listening to this podcast and I am going to experiment with a few changes to see if changing the sounds/lessening the amount of sound improves my mental health. This was a great podcast.

My favorite Movie??

I really don't know what my favorite movie is! They are so many great movies out there with wonderful messages. Some movies are just plain funny and I definitely like those too! If a book that I really love has been made into a movie, then I usually really like both of them. I have a friend who is extremely picky about movies and how they are presented. I tend to see the overall idea and appreciate it for the work that was done. Unless the movie is obviously terrible, outdated or inappropriate, I usually won't have strong feelings about it either way. With all that being said, I can't think of my favorite movie! I really love The Lion King, which was my favorite movie as a little girl. I really love documentaries about ballet and recorded performances of ballets. A few years ago is my AP US History class, my teacher had us watch Forrest Gump. I had heard that it was a really great movie and people we always quote the "Life is like a box of chocolates" idea. However, I did not like it at all. I felt like there were a lot of inappropriate parts and I actually left the room. I am unsure if others will agree with me on that one, but it doesn't really matter if they do or not. I just think it means I have a very different taste in movies.

Issues Paper Done!

My Issues paper is done! I really enjoyed writing about Obesity and I felt like I learned a lot. Maintaing a healthy lifestyle is something I am really passionate about. I see people everywhere, everyday who do not take take of God's greatest creation, their bodies. It makes me sad because the have no idea how much their body is capable of doing. As a dancer, I am always being pushed to my physical limit. While this may not see appealing to some people, I can definitely say that I have felt such happiness in overcoming physical trials. I like to watch weight loss shows about people who overcome their physical trials. If the contestant has the right mindset, the right attitude and commitment, they always come out of the show happier.

My Research Paper Topic

I have decided that I am going to write about the obesity epidemic happening in the United States and whether or not it is a disease. This is a topic I am very interested in, so I am glad I get to research and write about it. However, this topic will be a little tricky too because I can see both sides of the argument. And I know people who are perfect examples of both arguments. I will need to carefully discuss both sides, so that the topic is understood.

The End of Rhetorical Analysis

I really enjoyed the rhetorical analysis unit. I felt really good about my paper when I turned it in. The one thing I did have trouble with was figuring out what was too much information and what was not enough. I had two larger paragraphs, but my last paragraph was really short. I hope this is not a bad thing. I felt like this unit went really well and now I am excited to move on to the Issues paper!