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.