WILL ANY OF THIS HELP ME, TOMORROW?

Is this it? How will any of this benefit me in the future? I feel that I have learned a lot and it will help me tremendously in the future especially in furthering my education. I didn't know anything about form or formats or context and really knew nothing about research and know very little now. I do know that this is just a beginning and actually feel as if this course, this last semester is just an 'outline' to what I should be learning in the process of writing.

 

I have enjoyed blogging with you all and feel somehow as if we were corresponding as if in class as I imagine that is what Mr. Sentell was hoping for. This course has been a basis for a lot of research and papers that I know I am facing and I feel that I will look back over my notes and criticisms and suggestions that I received from this class.

 

I wish I had more time and had learned more but treasure what I have. Good luck everyone in your goals and your future.

Rogerian Review Prompt--One more Time

I'm stuck. I don't feel that this paper was by any means what it should have been.  I tried to go over the strengths and weaknesses of it but still found myself going around in circles.

 

I tried to point the positive and negative views of the different facts and findings but still found it lacking. It has always seemed as if the review prompt has helped me but I greatly feel that this time here at the end..I have failed this greatly. I think it somewhat met the requirements but not fully and it is definitely lacking in expectations.

 

I hope you all have better luck.

'SICKY SWEET DEBATE'

     Well here we are to another paper. A rogerian argument. I was never on the debate team but those that I knew who were, to say the least were quite adamant about their point of views.

     I am writing my rogerian paper on the same topic as our informative as per requested, sugar. As you all can believe there is some difficulty finding a point of view opposite the harmful effects of the substance.  As I researched this more thoroughly I found a few people who had pessimistic views to the harmful affects. Walter H Glinsmann, MD has several views on the aspects and outcomes of our consumption.

     The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 1986 review "Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Sugars was a comprehensive assessment that formed the basis for the agency's reaffirming sugar as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) , it stated "Other than the contribution to dental caries, there is no conclusive evidence on sugars that demonstrates a hazard to the general public when sugars are consumed at the levels that are now current and in the manner practiced.

     In this paper there are many naysayers to that conclusion.  Several years have passed since then but some points of views have not changed. In this paper I will try to point out the different views and why they feel that way. Dr Glinsmann serves on the national research council.

Glinsmann, W.H., et. al Evaluation of health aspects of sugar contained in carbohydrate sweeteners.
J Nutr116(11S): S1-S216, 1986

PESSIMISTIC, SKEPTICAL, CYNICAL=NAYSAYER

 

     Everywhere we look there are naysayers. Those who constantly denies, opposes or who is skeptical. The ones who are cynical about everything.  We all know these people the ones who habitually express negative or pessimistic views. They are constantly complaining and have a genuinely poor attitude. These people are the ones that after a while who do not want to be around for it seems as if they are depressing and bring us down.

 

     But what about the naysayers in writings, articles and the debaters of our time? They are set in their ways and are hard to influence to other ideas. But upon much research and convincing they are sometimes shown different points of views that they may begin to consider.

 

     To write a paper upon our views as well as others who believe in the same aspects of the subject as well as the 'naysayers' who do not, is a challenge. To see all points of view and consider all aspects of the subject there must be many proven and optimistic points made.

 

     Are you right or are they right? Maybe both, you just have to look at both sides and agree to agree or disagree. 

ARGUMENT VERSA AGREEMENT

      What is Rogerian argument?  An argument is just that, or is it?  When you write a paper trying to stress or argue your own point of view you may run into a  lot of different views and opinions.

     Rogerian  is a conflict solving technique based on finding a common ground instead of an  opposing debate. A way to solving complicated problems and to negotiate differences.  Common goals are identified and opposing views are described as objectively as possible in an effort to establish common ground and reach agreement.

     No two points of view are alike. Although they may have the same ideas and opinions there are always individual views as every person is individual. Our DNA is different and therefore so are our thoughts and ideas.  Indeed aren't we thankful for this for we have those individuals that has had ideas that has enhanced our world.

      So as you read papers and documents and arguments that may or may not agree, each point of view gives ideas and warrants research or consideration. Therefore the Rogerian method-seeking a mutually satisfactory solution.

INFORMATIVE SELF-REVIEW

     Upon doing my self-review check list I found I may have 'missed a few things'. It seems sometimes pointless to do these but then I found that I am using it as an outline, a checklist of sorts.

     When reading my draft I realised that I made notes of revisements that I wanted to make and then when going back over my checklist/review I caught myself saying whoa.."Did I leave this out?" So as a guideline, checklist, outline if you will it made me do a double take which is exactly what I think Mr Sentell was wanting us to do.

     As I read everyone's blogs, I see the most interesting subjects that my 'fellow students' have chosen as the choices are of a wide range. 

    So check your review, 'checklist' and enjoy this assignment.

SUGAR IS POISON

     I am writing my informative paper on the danger, and additions of sugar. I am still hung up on this.

     One paragraph is, Have you ever considered glucose and fructose in the same content with ethanol, or ethyl alcohol and the effect of them on our bodies? Ethanol is a toxin that affects the acute nervous system and is a chronic hepatoxin and it must be processed completely by the liver.  After consuming an alcoholic drink 10% gets broken down by the stomach and intestine and 10% is metabolized by the brain and other organs. The remaining 80% then goes to the liver where it must be broken down. But when you come to fructose 100% of it goes to the liver to be processed. So when you compare the metabolism of 150 calories in a soda to 150 in a beer  (12 oz can each) about 90 calories reach the liver in either case. This concludes that fructose causes most of the same toxic affects as alcohol because they both come from sugar fermentation.

     This being said its a scary thought when we really think about and consider the damages that we unknowingly cause our bodies. I am one who is addicted to diet coke and this paper has caused me a great deal of alarm and consideration.

     Its something we all could look into and consider regarding our health.

 

APPEARANCE, FOR WHOM?

     How does the appearance of our writing afftect the reader, you ask? Well I'm going to go back to the beginning of our course and use the term 'audience'. Who is the writing for? The neatness is a given I believe as we write but the order or form I feel really coverts back to the audience.

     If I were asked to write and explain say 'my afternoon at the park' the writng and form would differ greatly if I were writing it to my Grandmother than if I were writing it for my instructor. I would probably use more simple, everyday words and more in the form of a letter if it were to my Grandmother but would use more definite defining words and a 'form' such as MLA if for my instructor.

      As we read the CRAP reading, it reminds us to use the skills that we have been taught thus far and to cut the 'clutter' from your document. Messy, unkempt and nonsensical words can greatly confuse your reader and not hold their attention. Make your writing plain, remember less is more and don't confuse the reader jumping from one topic to another.

     Make sure you use the content, structure, and 'tone' that is meant for the audience in which it was intended.

THE TURNING POINT

     The article I've chosen for this assignment is called the 'The Turning Point', published in the October/November issue of AARP magazine by Bob Schieffer. As a 26 year old newspaper reporter he covered the killing of a president and 50 years later, as a veteran TV newsman he reflects on how the assassination of John F. Kennedy changed America forever.

     In summarization of this article he points out the different ways in which America changed. It changed the way we would look at our presidents in ways of thinking that they and the presidency itself was larger than life. That our presidents were invincible, and then suddenly in the prime of his life he was shot down by a madman. He points out to us why he, they, are as vulnerable as the rest of us.  He further points out that at the time we didn't know if this was a conspiracy or even the first shot to World War III. The first question undoubtedly in everyone's mind was, "Why did this happen?" "Who did it?"  and mostly "Why?"   Furthermore another big change he points out is the dramatic turning point for journalism. For the first time in the history of the country, the entire nation focused on one story and watched it unfold live on television.  Up until that weekend, the majority of Americans got their news from print. From that weekend on, television became the place where most Americans got their news.

     Bob Schieffer further states his rhetoric views in a theory that the most successful politicians are the ones who master the dominant communication medium of their time.  The founders were all great writers, they got their news about government from the written word. Roosevelt was the first to grasp radio and Kennedy was the first one to truly take advantage of the power of television.

     I feel like Schieffer did a very good job in summarising the main points of the turning points in history to future. He also analyzed the pathos of this writing when he stated in the beginning of the article that he was the first to speak with Oswald's mother. He actually picked her up and took her to the police station to see her son only hours after his arrest. So he saw the grief and distraught not only from a wounded nation but from an individual, a mother, who was also stricken and in disbelief for her son.

     I liked the writing and liked the way he used the comparsions he used in thinking of the Kennedy administration. He states, Remember how the movie The Wizard of Oz starts out in black-and-white, and then Dorothy opens her door into this vibrant Technicolor? Think of the Kennedy administration doing the same for the country.

October/November 2013 aarp.org/magazine

IS THERE A SOLUTION ?

     In today's world social media now puts 'competition' on display in a way that is much more visible than it ever was.  That kind of transparency is sometimes good but what about the bad information

that's widely dispersed and the people that may be hurt because of it? This is in thanks to the instantaneous nature of new media. The one thing that is easier to do online and even through social media than it is on-air or in print is to look at the reports and acknowledge them more appropriately and discern the true and actual facts.

 

     The media and other social institutions  are well known to provide a definition or label of events that seldom portray the whole and truthful story.  Gossip serves as the 'center of our lives'.  It is sadly the most often form of discourse, valid or not. Social institutions like the media, convey images and myths that typically serve to define reality. To know whether facts are true or fictional is a great challenge in today's society.

 

 

 

     It a fact well known that politicians sometime damage their own images by trying to tarnish others. How could this be solved? What could be the solution? One solution might be is to say it could be, or may be, or I think, or facts show this could be possible...but is this realistic? I don't think so. In the fast moving pace of media flying it seems a pretty straightforward way to misinformation but very unlikely to happen. Can you imagine a website saying, "We know you are hearing these things elsewhere. Here's what you should really know about it."  Is it as simple as that? Really?





KRUZE/KENNEL OF TRUTHS

     Fact or Fiction? As I read the document by Kruze, I observed that the fine line between facts and fabrication has been repeated as far back as politics itself. In today's world with all of our media and technology the 'words' come so fast to the public that the time to verify facts and or the justification of them is no longer an option. What is said or implied is immediately consumed and set in a person's mind or point of view.

     As politicians try to make their appeal for office they succumb to the low tactics of attack and belittling their opponents in every way they can to the point of legal but not so much that it isn't within the fine line of dishonesty. The lack of respect and morals overtake their scheer desire of
                                           winning to the degree that in winning they sometimes lose the respect
                                           of the people in which they so wanted the trust. The stories and lies and
                                           fabrications have grown so large due to the media technology we now
                                           have that a person who truly wants to know about their future political
                                           candidates would have to due extensive research on their own to clarify
                                           that the results were indeed accurate.  As quoted in a speech by President
                                           Lincoln in 1856 "The ballot is stronger than the bullet".

                                                As that quote represents and past and present elections show, political
                                          candidates would rather have their name 'drug through the mud' and win
                                         than to be a clean and moral loser. 
                                           

NEW TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTIONS,,

       What is technology? It is the art or skill of evolving technical devices that for, the most part, enhance our ways of life. Does it change us? Yes it changes us as a society in whole.

 

     As so many of you have pointed out in your blogs the advantages of spellcheck, texting, researching, shopping and dating online that has changes all of our lives . Everyday machines that are controlling and do control more and more aspects of our lives everyday. Mine and yours. It has literally transformed our way of thinking, writing, socializing as well as banking, shopping and online education,

 

     Process has speeded up and compressed our daily lives. Emotionally, finaancially, and socially. Food wise and time wise. I findit to hard to beleive that in all these blogs there no mention to the medical technology and the new researchs and cures that are found everyday due to the new technology of the present and future society. 

 

 The technology of ordering food has simplified our lives as we can now place orders and even pay for it online and have it delivered all from the comfort of our homes.

 

     There are new technoligical discoverys everyday, and for some of you very young students there is a percentage of you that will work in careers that have not even been invented yet. After all think about the last 30 years and who know what changes and jobs the 'next 30 years' will bring.

 



TECHNOLOGY HAS A HOLD ON WHO?

        It seems like there is absolutely NO ONE who isn't on a computer these days. It does affect the way we think, the way we live our everyday lives. From email to texting to paying ours bills on line
as well as connecting with loved ones and friends our lives are most certainly controlled by technology. The way I think, write an everyday note, from spelling to math I'm using some sort of technology.

        Our social media has taken over. From on-line college degrees, to banking, to the shopping, chatting, and even dating, our world and behavior is affected.  We no longer correspond as our ancesters did. We date online where they met in public and they wrote actual letters and did math in their heads, on paper (counting on their fingers) and actually walking into a store and shopping. My behaviour is such that I shop online and have it brought to me. Why fight the crowds? Waste gas and time?  But as we look at the entire picture it shows us what a technological society has become, as distant in personality and everyday connections as we are from the moon.

        There was actually a time when the phone rang everyone would jump up and say "I'll get it."  Now if a phone like 'this' would ring no one would want to answer it for they'd say,  "It's not for me, or they'd called my cellphone."

TRACKING US? ROAD BLOCKS (Filters) ALONE?

     Sometimes the frustration of just "googling" a subject makes me want to scream "Google, could you please let me put in more than two letters before you already start guessing what I am looking for?"

     I can deffinitely relate to the filter bubbles and the difference in the informational leads I recieve. I have noticed for instance, that if I enter a search word into google search engine from my laptop and then again from my IPhone I will recieve two totally different search pages.  I have also noticed that putting the information in on a different day will get me some different leads and the 'web' is filtering out some of the information that I was looking for or from some that I have posted.

     Now we come to tracking, or stalking I would say on the interent. I actually put in the words 'infrared heater' as a green heating source into my google search engine today. I have actually recieved (5) FIVE e-mails today on infrared heaters. SERIOUSLY??? Seriously, every arcticle that I seem to google provides me with dozens of 'pings' on similar products. Its a little overwhelming as to how much we are being 'observed" in today's society.

 

     This brings us now to the phrase "Is Anybody Out There"? The word of technology had definitely got us to the point of not directly connecting face-to-face anymore. I am most certainly alone-together. Due to a reccent personal loss, I haven't been 'out' much in the last year and every contact (with the exception of a few) has been through facebook, text or email. My daughters live in Colorado and Arizona and if it weren't for text I don't believe I would ever 'talk to them' for we only text.  Most every day, but still not a vocal conversation. All my friends/aquaintances are on facebook. And this may be a suprise but even my classes are 'on a computer'.  I felt this was best and at the time it was but now  am wondering if maybe some actual 'classroom' experience may benefit me which I am considering.

 

    Yes, today is a tracking, filtering, alone together kind of world....Hello??? HELLO??? Can you hear me now?

 

We are to do "WHAT'? for Assignment Three..

     I have an idea that our preparation for assignment three is centainly going to be detailed in techniques  teaching us to think and form the right paper based on the things we have learned thus far.

     1) We should focus on a central idea
     2)  We need to stay neutral or objective to the information
     3) Research and document our findings  and..

     This is not all the steps but some of the basic ones. Our informative paper should be just that. Information.  The various means of research or facts can be unlimited, so we need to present the information clearly and consisely so that our readers will fully understand and be drawn in and want to find out more on the subject. It should be organized, establishing our points from early on.

     This paper should be researched throughly and notes compared. Many different searches will come up with various quotes and objectives to this subject.  We should not be argumental or our points of view should not be noted.  It is not our views upon which we write but information based on others point of view and proven knowledge and information. All credits should be specifically stated and in order and a easy to locate reference for the reader to have verification, should they choose to do so.

     It should be concluded with a strong statement, an example that will stand out to the reader. A key point as to the reason, facts or implications of the information you have provided.

   Knowledge and information from one source to another in vital to our universe.



RESEARCH..Finding something about "everything"

Research, trying to find out all you can about something.   There are so many places one can look. My experiences are so minimal at best.  In researching for this second paper, I tryed the world wide web first, of course, easier and more simplified it seemed but very limited.

The Kent library was much more extensive and a learned some from just searching it. I feel that it should be a course of its own. I remember going to a library and looking up an index card and going to shelves and "hoping" that the book was put back into the "right place".

I realize now that the search methods are so extensive that it makes that system seem like child's play.

In researching for this paper I found most of my sources in the magazine National Geographic.

 

I believe however that I did not submit my paper on Mr. Sentell's requirements. After reviewing the assignment over again, I feel like I wrote a good paper but I don't feel I analysed the information. I consumed it and wrote it but didn't feel like I made comparisons in an analytic form.

 

Research and the tutorials make it possible and I am discovering new ways and methods every day. I am learning and have learned a lot of techniques from several of you. Reading your blogs give me ideas, tips and new information so I feel that they are research in itself.

 

So I can definitely put word of mouth, or in this case blogs, a vital source of research and information.

 

I feel I need a great deal more research on "research".

 

 

 

SUGAR.. The Not so Sweet Side of It

I have decided to write my rhectorical paper on sugar and glucose and the addiction that we all have of it.

I found this article in the August issue of National Geographic Magazine. The thesis part of this which I have already looked into and done research is how much sugar the average American eats each day without dipping into a sugar bowl. It reads, quote; " The average American eats 22.7 teaspoons of sugar a day due to sugars in processed foods. I futher hope to explore the differences and dangers (context lexical ties) in sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and other sweeters.

One of our most studied concerns in this age is diet soda due to the dangers of the high content of high-fructose corn syrup that is used. I don't know about you but I love my diet coke. LOVE LOVE and crave it. It is 10:00 AM and I have already drank two of my most "delicious drinks".  So hopefully with this research and paper that I write I will learn as well as be able to explain some of the myth,s dangers and concerns over this subject as well as write a convincing and interesting rhectorical analysis.

Will I give up my diet coke due to findings?  i don't think so, matter of fact think I'll have another, Cheers!!

                         

Mine, ALL MINE!







                                                 

                                                       

LET'S JUST GET TO THE POINT

The Paramedic method of writing, orginally developed by Richard Lanthan in Revising Prose is now used to edit any kind of professional writing. It is used to make your writing a more consistent and clear writing in order for it to be easier to comprehend.

In regards to our assignment of finding or writng the "longest sentence", there are so many in which to choose from that the sentence I am using is by no means the longest.

The paramedic method, or to say more with less, is a method that takes work and practice as well as a lot of thought.

Used by a collection agency the sentence read

We use a professional collection agency whose expertise has proven successful in the recovery process because we believe that a specialized approach and focus for recovering from insured individuals are the most effective.

My revised sentence
 
 We have found that collection experts do the best job of recovering money from uninsured individuals.

As we are just learning this method it is a lot easier for us to write words that come to mind and in sometimes we feel that we just need to put something down in order to get the word count required.  That effect is useless if the writing is jargon that really makes no sense to us as students and is not helping us to learn the methods.

CATCHIN' UP.

Well everyone after 2 weeks of extreme stress and sadness, I feel like I'm getting close to catching up witth my assignments and the rest of your blogs. Slloowww down, Ronnie . 

I'm attempting to explain the assignment paper one and I feel like Mr. Sentell asked us to do that paper in order to embed in our minds the processes of writing and the steps necessary in order to achieve the effect we are aiming for. The explanation of analysis and context were repeated so many times in pre-writing, to writing, to reviewing I feel that I know how to explain them fairly well.

But can I apply the steps and processes that I feel I've learned? That I'm not so sure about. For us to write a paper on the analysis processes was a challenge indeed but I feel that the reason was a good one and was used to get us accustomed to writing essay papers 1200 words and more. It's a "way of writing" that I know I certainly need to incorporate. I feel it was also to our benefit in the way that this assignment helped us get aquainted more with the terminolgy used in the writing process, as well as the methods.

 

I know I have so much more to learn and do to actually catch up not only with assignments and blogs but with the whole concept.. and I'm getting there



CHOOSING WISELY

 

I have chosen an article in the Consumer Health Report Journal to use as my reading in defining "ethos", "pathos", and "logos".

As read in this journal dated Sept 16, 2013, the misuse of antibiotics harms millions of people each year and kills thousands, according to a report put out on Sept 16, 2013 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. It further states that half of the antibiotics prescribed by doctors each year are given unnecessarily or used improperly. Much of the harm comes when doctors and patients overuse antibiotic drugs, a practice that breeds superbugs, such as MRSA that are resistant to antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics also harm in another way too by destroying the good bacterria that normally lives in your gut. (ethos)

Such antibiotic infections sicken at least two million people annually and kill 23,000, according to the CDC. (pathos)

According to the CDC almost 250,000 hospital patients each year are infected with the bacteria Clostridium difficile or C. diff and 14,000 of them die. (logos)

Choose Wisely and do not take or ask for antibiotics for common conditions such as mild sinusitis, the common cold and/or eye and ear infections.

 (Consumer Reports/2013/CDC

Writing Comparisions

 

Writing Comparisions

 

As several others have written we are as individual as snowflakes. No two are alike, nor will two write alike. There are comparisions though and after reading my fellow classmates bloggs I find I relate to and differ from several.

 

I relate to Natasha and Armando when needing quite and solitude in which to think and process my words. But also like Brandon and Natasha who have both stated, as well as Ronnie, that we are all still learning new methods and processes in which to write.

 

Unlike some I am not nor have ever been a procrastinator and although it may seem that way to some of you, for I am quite behind, I assure you it is due to recent personal afflictions and not procrastination.

 

I find I do tend to make a rough draft and proceed from there. I don't normally make an outline,

however I do feel like it is something I am going to try in the future.

 

I am not a writer. I do not ever aspire to be a writer. My goal is and I do hope that I will be able to utilize the methods and procedures learned in this class  to be able to express myself better in communication both verbal and written and will be better able to present more clarifying and precise papers in my future studies.

 

I do praise all of you on your images and icons, for that is a big problem for me.

 

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

Three Modes of Persuasion

 

The Three Modes of Persuasion of Rhetoric

 

When writing rhetoric or discourse you will need to use 3 modes of persuasion commonly known as logos (reason or logic), pathos (compassion or reason) and ethos (credibility or believability)

 

I have chosen the subject of money to define these modes. Money or access or lack of it defines our way of everyday existence. The more you have or have access to it the easier it is to maintain a "middle class living". To be able to obtain shelter, electricity, transportation, fuel and food in order to sustain a comfortable existence. This is logical (logos).

 

Sadly hundreds of thousands of US Citizens have no money and are considered homeless. They live on the streets, scourging for food hoping to find a tidbit to eat, with no heat, shelter or food or clothing. Thousands of these are children whom have never known any other way of life. They've never been able to have enough to eat, or a warm bed at night or watch a "favorite television show". Small things that most of us take for granted. (This defines pathos.)

 

The US Department of Housing and Urban development estimates that there are 633,782 people in the US alone in a state of homelessness and the national debt is now estimated at more than 16 trillion dollars. (ethos)

 

Our world, our lives, our money defines us as a people, as a nation, our mere existence.

 

               These three modes of persuasion are important to writing in communicating to your audience. To create an interest and present them with logic to appeal to their emotions and morals and to be able to state facts to the subject.

 



Getting Your Point Accross

Getting Your Point Accross

Sucessful Writing and Structure Adaptation

 

 

To be really successful at writing it is important to have a solid structure, and to know whom you are addressing the writing to. This enables you to do two things well

   a) It assures that you are answering your question (or focusing your thesis)

   b) It approaches what you are trying to say in a logical (and hopefully convincing) fashion

 

For the basic structure of an essay or writing you need to begin with the thesis statement of the position you are going to be writing, put simply it is like the topic sentence of the whole essay.

 

Whom are you going to address? Know your audience. Who are you writing for? Are they young, older, religious, political, academic? Know what audience, generation, group or association of people who may read what you write. Adapt your words, sentences, topics, explanations accordingly to fit your audience so that they may relate, understand and absorb your argument or statements.

 

If the introduction is strong it means the essay or writing is more likely to be well structured and each point of boy will support the writers thesis.

 

Your writing should begin with a strong introductory paragraph, evidence. First piece of evidence (or point of view) begins with a strong introductory paragraph which introduces the topic. States the points it will use and explains how they support the thesis.

 

The writer should make their point of views into a simple but well defined structure that allows the writer to make their argument clearly and logically.

 

It should finish with a conclusion that summarizes the argument or statement you have been making, restates the points you have used and strongly makes your thesis statement.

 

With a well thought out structure, it doesn't matter what question you are answering nor does it matter if you are simply presenting an argument without a question provided you have a strong structure, thesis statement and can provide at least three points to support it you will have enough for an essay

 

  

Vicki Burks and my Process of Writing

My process of writing is weak and scarce at best and probably not any more often than my cat here writing his bio on the computer. However, if I am right about the blog of The Usual Process the following are the steps that I would and should follow.

Now I need a topic. What am I writing about? Who will be reading it? Who will my audience be? Once the topic has been defined I will need to research. Research online, at the library and ask questions. Any material, anywhere that I may come up with information on the subject.

Now I need to write a draft. Just write an outline or rough draft. Then I'll read it. Does it make sense? Does it say what I want it to say? Then I'll ask someone else to read it and give suggestions. Does it make sense to them? Do they understand it, and ask for their input.

After all of this and time has elapsed I need to revise it. I'll think about the suggestions and take out parts or words that don't belong or rearrange them along with rearrangement of sentences and paragraphs. Reading it aloud will make sure it flows more smoothly. I then need to proofread it and check all spelling, punctuation and capitalization and make sure it is rewritten correctly and neatly.

After all these processes I would turn it in, post it, send it or consider it acceptable for the reason it was written.

Isn't this a beautiful place in which to enjoy nature? To engage in the serenity of the water and the peace and tranquility? This seems simple enough to do, doesn't it? But how do we engage in a class, especially an online class where we are most probably alone.

An online class will definitely differ from a physical classroom, and most certainly change the aspects of such. Logic tells us to show u, be in class and I believe an online class is relatively the same. Show up, log in. Check your e-mails often. Check your classmates blogs in order to familiarize and involve yourself with others and their ideas.

Take notes whether you are in an actual classroom or not for this will help remember specifics. Involve yourself with all aspects of the class from research, notes, videos,and probably the most productive way to engage, in my point of view, is through communication.

There are so many ways to engage ourselves but also our minds. Do you feel sometimes not in a class? Maybe just working on a computer? Transport your mind to an actual classroom. See all the desks? Tables and chairs? Hear the shuffling of papers and the clearing of a throat and the shuffling of people as they listen to the instructor. Smell the chalk as the fan keeps a constant whir...now there you are. Engaging your mind as well as body.

Till the next time got to go...class is dismissed.