Thursday, April 21, 2011

Unit 3 Completed

I have just about finished revising my unit 3 essay. Despite frustrations going into the paper, and especially those along the way, I am very pleased and satisfied with my finished product. When I get back to my room (as I am currently at work) and have a few more resources at my finger tips, I will be able to complete my essay once and for all. I need page numbers for two quotes and other than that my only other adjustment is that I am adding two graphs from my primary research to compliment the description of my results that I have already included in my paper. 

As for my peer review group, this time around things were very rough. I missed class the day we exchanged papers which just threw off the entire group. Interestingly, all my group members ready my essay that I emailed to them, though none of them sent me theirs even though I asked them to. I finally got ahold of Tina's and sent her some feedback via email. I have yet to hear from Cody or Bobby, and Bobby's is the one I am supposed to fill out a worksheet for. It's just getting frustrating cause I don't want to get docked for not completing the peer review worksheet for my partner when I never recieved his paper.. or didn't recieve it until late the night before it's due. Though I'm sure we will get everything worked out. Overall, I'm just ready to be done with this paper and take a break from these ideas while returning to revise my unit one paper. We're so close to the end of the semester and I can't wait to be done! 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Peer Review w/ a Worksheet

I don't feel peer review was a effect this time around as it was for Unit 1. Unfortunately, though having a worksheet to prompt questions while reviewing someone's work is a good idea, I think it ended up lessening the feedback provided. It seems as though people felt that only answering the questions would be enough and that similarly the areas that the questions prompted us to focus on were the only things we needed to pay attention to. In the end, I think peer review with out the worksheet allows students to really focus on what stood out to them as a reader and ultimately I think a simple opinion on a piece of work is the best feed back possible.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Argumentative Essay

It is currently 12:40 AM on Saturday morning. I am at work and beginning my essay. I have finally finished reading through all my research and have constructed an outline. Though I am not looking forward to this, I think it'll be ok considering the bulk of the tedious work is over. My approach to the argument has shifted from my initial proposal though I feel this will be a more interesting paper. Now, I just have to hope the writting process goes relatively smoothly (and that I don't fall asleep).

Peer Review

Peer review can only ever be as successful as the students make it. Unfortunately, more often than not it seems as though the majority of students give little to no effort in this regard. However, I think the methods of peer review we have been using seem sufficiently effective. I personally prefer the letter response. I find it the most useful and requiring this 'feature' forces students to at least provide some thought and feedback. As for a worksheet, I think it could be beneficial, especially for those less inclined as it points them in a clear direction for responding. My only other comment regarding peer review is that I think it could be beneficial to dedicate an entire class period to work on the revision of our partner's essay. By utilizing class time for this, I feel students will be more inclined to put forth effort as it is so easy to put off and consequently give crappy or insufficient feedback. I realize this is probably a bit much to ask as we don't have that much class time, however I still feel it is good food for thought.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Pink's "School's Out"

Though my first thoughts when realizing I am now required to write yet another paper, this time 8-10 pages, were mostly negative, in reading Pink's essay I became slightly more enlightened to the idea. I had forgotten how personal and possibly even fun (yes, I did just use the word fun) persuasive writing can be. Pink's essay was grasping, convincing, and held my attention. 

One thing I particularly enjoyed about Pink's writing was that he included connections I never would have considered. For example, interestingly enough, Pink wrote about studies that have shown individuals of all ages "[losing] the intrinsic motivation and the pure joy derived from learning and working when somebody takes away their sense of autonomy and instead imposes some external system of reward and punishment." Just yesterday, Dr. Henderson at Boise State University was lecturing over the very same ideas. Though merely a coincidence and particularly good timing, Pink's inclusion of this idea made me that much more intrigued in what he had to say, not to mention it also increased the respect I feel towards it. I think my point here is to make note that many and diverse connections drastically improve your writing, something worthy of taking note of as I begin a new writing assignment. 

Though I felt the recognition of opposing arguments to be rather scarce in comparison to his portrayed beliefs, I felt what he had included to be sufficient. Often times in reading argumentative essays I find myself disagreeing or refuting much of what is said. However, here I found myself so intrigued that I acted as a sponge and absorbed information rather than assuming the role of my typical stubborn self. 

Another interesting idea I have taken note of in my reading is that Pink's arguments relate to one another only through 'home schooling." He attacks his argument from such diverse directions that I almost feel too intimidated to argue against him. Home schooling has never really been a topic of discussion I have been involved in and I never though much of it. Now, after reading much of what Pink has to say about it, I almost find myself wishing that I had been home schooled. Still, I feel this is a tough decision as it is easy to fall into believing the traditional route as the best. 

On a separate note, I found some of what Pink had to say a bit unnerving. Change is a difficult thing to face and when it is as big as the end of high school or high school teens running their own online businesses, it can be overwhelming as with technological advances. I must admit that I fear many things will 'ruin' the world despite the fact that most things are portrayed in a positive manner. Regardless, my sponge of a brain in reading this essay, though uncomfortable, didn't want it to end.

Overall, I enjoyed Pink's essay more than most materials I have read recently.I found his writing to be bold and ambitious, something I greatly admire. We've talked about taking risks in our writing and if there is ever a place to do this in non-fiction writing I argue that it is here. I will even go as far as to say I am inspired and more ready and willing to pursue my upcoming assignment.