Final Stretch!

So I'm actually taking a break from writing some of the final essays. I figured what better to do when reflecting, than to write it down online!
So looking back over this semester, it really has flown by. I remember looking at the assignments at the beginning of the year and thinking, "When am I going to write all of this?!" However, just as Prof. Scott told us, I did get it all done, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now I'm just excited to get to the final project and see what the outcome is!

Final Portfolio

So I'm actually pretty excited to get started with this portfolio. It's fun to see the final product of hard work. A sort of second motive for this portfolio is that it means the semester is ending!
I am really happy to be almost done with everything. Half the time I feel like I haven't actually done anything. When I glance back, I think, what the hell did I do these past months?
And then looking over everything I have to compile for the portfolio, I'm really proud of everything I did. It's always a good feeling to see your hard work put together. Only a few more weeks!

Website

When creating your own website, you have to pay attention to a few things. First off, you must have a plan. This may seem a bit obvious, but I have witnessed many pointless websites that get no traffic at all. It is also important to remember that a website is a lot about looks. If it looks jumbled, messy, or confusing, people are not going to waste their time with it. For behind the scenes, you need to make sure that your coding is correct. If the html does not match up, then the viewer will see either a blank page, or a whole lot of jibberish. The next thing to think about is how you're going to promote the site. Before people can go to your site, they have to hear about it. Once you have a steady traffic, it's just a matter of maintaining it and keeping it up to date.

http://www.1stsitefree.com/
http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml

IA Project Outline

Audience: Animal shelters across the United States that still use euthanasia as a common option for dealing with injured animals and overpopulation. It will also be directed to the general public.
Purpose: The purpose for directing the project towards animal shelters in America is to influence them to change their ways and to focus on no-kill methods of handling their animals. The purpose of directing this to the general public is so that they can gain knowledge and understanding about euthanasia in animal shelters and, in turn, possibly donate funds or volunteer their own efforts to make this change.
Exigence: The situation at hand is that too many animal shelters are allowing euthanasia to be a common option when dealing with injured or old animals at animal shelters. This is an inhumane way of handling with animals. Unless all other options have been attempted and a generous amount of time has been put into trying to rehabilitate animals, euthanasia should not be used. It is understandable that some animals are in more pain than can be helped, and the only option is to put them to sleep. However, many shelters are taking advantage of this option and using euthanasia to clear out space in crowded shelters and to put animals to sleep that seem to not be improving.
Genre: This project’s genre will be a website. The main page will focus on information about euthanasia and how it is currently being used. There will be links that will connect to shelters which practice no-kill methods. This will be used as an example of how animal shelters don’t need to use euthanasia as a common option. There will also be a gallery of animals that went through drastic rehabilitation that would have been put to sleep at any regular shelter. On the site, there will be a donation link where people can use online accounts to donate money to the Humane Society for the purpose of finding alternate treatments.

Essay Feedback

Once again, the essay feedback was really helpful. Prof. Scott made some really good points. When I was writing my essay, I felt that it sort of dropped off at the end, and I wasn't sure how to conclude it. Also, because it is my friend's story, Prof. Scott made a good point that it creates a better effect if I keep it that way so that it doesn't seem that I am as biased about the topic.
Another thing that Prof. Scott made me aware of is that my essay has two focuses right now. I should pick one and direct my writing towards that so I can make a bigger impact on the reader.
Other than that, I think Prof. Scott covered the areas I was shaky on. Of course I'll have to go over my grammar and organization of everything, but for the most part I got the feedback I needed.

IA plan

Ok, so for my Initiating Action project, I think I'm going to stick with the website idea. Basically what the website would be about is getting out information about euthanasia and why all shelters should ban it. The main page would have general information about euthanasia and no-kill shelters. It will also include information about animal abuse and the rehabilitation that is needed to save these animals. Included would be links to shelters around the US that are already no-kill, along with descriptions of their mission and why they chose this path. There would also be a donation option if you want to donate money to the Humane Society. I will also include a gallery to animals who were saved thanks to a no-kill shelter. Hopefully, this website would open portals to options that people may not have thought about previously, or just get information out to those who may not have heard of no-kill shelters at all.

Class Discussion

The class discussion yesterday helped a lot. I found that even when I was hearing about other people's projects, I was getting ideas about what I could do. It also helped to give feedback because giving advice to others opened up more possibilities had I just been thinking about my own project. It also helped me get more of a direction of where I was going and what I wanted to focus on. When I first read over this project, I felt it was repetitive and I wouldn't be able to come up with something new. However, after the class discussion, I felt more like I could expand on it and I knew what I wanted to do. I also like the fact that I can be creative with this and it's different from the normal English writing project.

Problems with Tech

In class today, we went over the problems that we've noticed in Virginia Tech.
One of the problems I have the biggest problem with is that it is way too cold here! I'm from northern Virginia, so I'm used to cold weather, but this is even worse when I have no choice in what I put on to keep me warm!
Another problem is that all the food is the same to me. I am personally sick of eating the same thing every day. I need some variety, some of mom's good cooking. So I do miss that.
Virginia Tech is also very large. It takes a long time to go walk anywhere, and if you decide to take the bus, it is sometimes better to walk because it takes just as long. The gym hours are also restrained, so that makes it difficult to work my schedule to fit.
Honestly, as much as there are problems at Virginia Tech, they don't bother me as much as the problems with the Corps. I could write a book on the problems with the Corps. So overall, Tech is pretty perfect!

Peer Letters

I always love getting feedback from classmates. Most of the time, I feel like I have no idea what to write about or what kind of organization it should have. Having peer editing helps because I know what I'm doing wrong, and I learn what I can do to improve. It's also helpful to get feedback from an outsider's point of view. When you write a paper, you know what you're talking about and may not necessarily be able to catch yourself when you're rambling or going on about a subject that is not generally known. Peer editors catch your little mistakes that you normally would miss. I also like to hear what my peers are interested in. This way I know what to focus on in order to make my essay more intriguing to the reader.

Essay

So I missed class on Friday because I wasn't feeling well. Thankfully, Chris missed it too, so we just had to email each other our papers. This is why I love this class. I'm not afraid about missing something, because it's so easy to get in touch with people and work things out. Other classes, if I emailed a teacher, they wouldn't even know who I am. I like how personal it is, and how we get to interact with each other. It really makes me happier to come to class and it motivates me to work harder, because I know that, in this class, I'm not just a name on a chart, but a person that the teacher knows. It's a familiar thing when comparing high school and college. I'm glad that at least in one of my classes, I feel like the teacher cares and this isn't just a money maker for her.

What is an essay?

After reading the articles on essays, I am more reassured with my beliefs on what makes a good essay. A lot of the authors felt that an essay must be personal. You have to sound like you really care about what you're writing about so that people will care about what you have to say. Another thing that was mentioned was how fictitious stories can sometimes be used to enhance a nonfiction story. Of course, only to a certain amount. The point is that you must write your essay knowing your audience and working to get a reaction out of them. Even if your essay is strictly factual information, you should write it with the intent to stir something up in the audience. Another thing that was common was that a good essay does not generally have a set structure when it is being written. The first goal is to write what matters. Once everything is put down, you can then work on the flow and introduction and conclusion. However, you should not go into your essay with the exact format of 1st paragraph will say this, or 3rd paragraph will say this, etc. This will only limit the potential of the essay. Overall, a good essay should have a voice that is you, and should be about something you care about.

Goals

So looking back at my original goals for this semester, I am doing a shitty job! I am keeping up mostly with English and my Air Force Classes, but I am sucking in my major! I understand that the engineering system is designed to weed people out of the program, but I did not think that it would be me! I think that I am going to have to drastically change my study methods, because they obviously are not working. I also think that because now I have more time in my schedule, I'll do better on my next tests. The first bit of the school year was stuffed with Corps activities and getting use to the college lifestyle. I know I should be studying more, but then when do I sleep, and run, and eat?!
I wouldn't say I'm at the point of being overwhelmed yet, but I am definitely getting there! Hopefully my concern will go away with this next round of tests, and if not, well there will be even more complaining on my blog!

Paper Feedback

The feedback that Ms. Scott gave was really helpful. She pointed out things that I hadn't even noticed when reading over my paper. When I turned my paper in last week, I was still unclear as to what the focus of my paper should be. I also was still unclear as to how I was supposed to approached the reader, and in my case, the Governor of Virginia. In a lot of papers, you're not supposed to use personal references such as, "I think" or "you have to", etc. Going through the comments Ms. Scott left, I had sort of a "duh" moment with the fact that I am writing a personal research proposal, so it would be wise to get personal!Probably the biggest thing for me to fix is writing my paper to the proper audience. I went back and forth a lot of who I was writing to and about what. With my final, I need to go through and decide on what exactly I want to focus on and how I should go about addressing it to the Governor.

This Past Week...

So I'm really not happy to be back. Well I shouldn't say not happy, I guess I just miss being able to sleep in and do whatever I want like I did back home. Fall break wasn't long enough for me to get comfortable; it was more like a tease, so that right when I'm almost enjoying myself, I have to leave. But it was nice that our Report was due Wednesday, that way I had the rest of the week to relax. The break also was sort of re-energizing, so now I'm ready to get back into things.
So I guess I'm ready to go!

Essay Responses

The three essays, "Silent Dancing", "The Stunt Pilot", and "Ali in Havana" all had their own unique tones and purposes, but still maintained what it is that makes a good essay. Each of the essays were very descriptive. They included conversations and events that were unique to their experiences. Another thing I realized is that each story was telling an event or a group of events that lead up to something that changed how the author view something or acted from that point on. The essays had meaning and purpose to them; they weren't just pointless stories for entertainment. The essays were still very different, however. "Silent Dancing" was a much more personal story, letting the reader know the kind of life the author lived. Ortiz uses her native language in many of the descriptions and explanations, which really gives the reader a better feel for how things are where Ortiz lived. There is a lot of culture in this essay, and she does a good job of showing it. "The Stunt Pilot" had a lot more informative observations, but it was still told in a story format. I liked how this was done, because it gave a lot of good information, while keeping the reader interested. "Ali in Havana" was sort of an in between story for me. This story was still based on being informative, but it had more of a personal feel to it than did "The Stunt Pilot". However, it was not as abstract as was "Silent Dancing."
Overall, every essay had the same basic principles to them; keep the reader interested, be organized, and have a purpose to the story.

Yea i forgot...

Ok so I completely forgot that we were supposed to be doing weekly blogs on top of our assigned blogs. So here is my blog for last week:

The peer editing and reading was really helpful for me. When I was writing my paper, I wasn't exactly sure on what I was supposed to be focusing on and talking about. Being able to hear about everyone else's ideas and layouts made it much more clear as to what I should be writing about. It was also cool to hear the different voices in everyone's paper. Bradley had more of a story telling kind of paper that fit perfectly with his research on SEEDS, while Rachel's was more formal, and she was researching genetics. So it was pretty cool to see the different takes on the research proposal.

Literature Review

Animal cruelty is an issue that is being addressed more and more as people are further understanding the bond between humans and animals.
This topic has been argued over for many years. The problem with the laws already layed out by governments is that much of the written laws are set for interpretation. There are many theories as to what the causes and effects are of animal cruelty. It has been argued that animal cruelty has a harmful effect on people, reflecting on their character and desensitizing them. This can cause them to lose sight of what is right and wrong, and end up hurting another human in the same way. Thankfully, as more people are becoming aware of the emotional bond that is formed between an animal and its owner, more is being done to stop animal cruelty. This text will review the ways that the connections with animals and people have become more real and have caused people to change the way they look at the treatment of animals.
Just a Dog, by Arnold Arluke is a book that explores the human-animal bond and analyzes the theories that surround why animal cruelty takes place. This book was written with the goal to educate the public on matters that are commonly ignored. Arluke stated that, “by understanding how people make sense of cruelty and why cultural and social factors encourage its persistence, the public might be better equipped to debate and formulate policies to define and combat it.” Many people are unaware of what is going on around them, on a daily basis. They are too wrapped up in their jobs, their lives, their problems, to be worrying about animal cruelty. When these topics come up for debate, there are people who attack the subject, without truly knowing what they’re talking about. Just a Dog aims to inform the public on these matters so that they will have a better understanding of what is going on around them.
Bridging the Bond Tami L. Harbolt is a book that focuses on personal accounts of animal and human bonding. The author beings by telling the story of what brought her to adopt her dog Camille. She then moves on to tell stories of personal accounts with animal shelters, specific animals, and other people surrounding the animal environment. This book emphasizes the trust that is developed between animals and humans. For animals that have been mistreated, it can take a while for that animal to trust again, if ever. Many animals are scarred for life, being always nervous and jittery, afraid to come close to certain kinds of people. Harbolt’s book tells stories of how patience and kindness is needed to help these animals, and that it these kinds of people are necessary to put a stop to animal cruelty.
From reviewing these two sets of literature, I can definitely say that I am going to focus on how the bonds between an animal and a human can change people’s views on animal cruelty. From personal experiences, I can say that it is different to say something, than to do something. A person could say they don’t care about a topic, but the moment that issue becomes a part of their life, their whole outlook on it has changed. I still, however, want to gain more sources on how connections between animals and humans have changed people, and also what people have needed to do in order to rehabilitate an animal.

Took some time...

Alright, so I went by the Humane Society again today and got a good interview and pictures. I interviewed Jamie Burton, who had been there for 14 years. She was very nice, but seemed a little distracted. I think I should have been more specific with my questions because she ended up asking me to clarify a few of them. I also think that if I had been more specific and professional, then she would have seemed more interested in what I had to say. Other than that, I really just wished that I could stay and play with the puppies the whole day!I also remembered to bring my camera this time, so if you see any cute puppies or kittens, feel free to go adopt one!!

First Site Visit!

So on Sunday I stopped by the Humane Society. I did not anticipate the length of the trip in taking buses and walking and figuring out where I had to be. I was able to stop in and check the place out, however, by the time I got there, I didn't have long before I had to leave. I talked to one of the volunteers and am planning on going back this Friday to complete my interview. Now that I know where to go, things should run smoothly.

Interview Q's / Goals

Interview Questions for: The Humane Society of Montgomery County

1. How long have you worked here?

2. Is the shelter purely staffed by volunteers

3. Was it always a ‘no kill’ shelter?

4. On what occasions, if any, do you have to put an animal to sleep?

5. Have you personally adopted any of the animals here?

6. What is your favorite part about your job?

7. What is the hardest part about your job?

8. What is the most important thing people should know about stray cats/dogs?

9. What can people do to help?

10. What do you do with the animals that interact harshly with the staff?

11. Do you have a favorite in the animal shelter?

12. Can you walk me through a typical day for you?


Course Goals:

1. My biggest goal would be to see myself develop as a writer and to be challenged. I love being able to look back and see how I have improved.
2. My next goal is to accomplish or do something I never have before through an English class. This could mean getting further involved in my chosen community, or something later on in the year.
3. Lastly, I know it will sound cliche, but I hope to maintain at least a B+ average. If an A is possible, then an A it is, but seeing as how I'm doing engineering and the corps, I am being reasonable with myself!

Don't Gaze!

As some of you may know, freshman cadets are not allowed to 'gaze' on upper quad. What this means is that you may not look left or right while in the area around the Corps dorms. Basically, your eyes must always be locked forward and your head may not move. If you wish to look to your left, you much complete a facing movement which involves a full body turn.

Now, because of this, it is hard to observe other cadets. I decided to observe the freshman cadets on upper quad. I sat myself down in front of Squires so that I had an open view of one full side of upper quad.

It was an interesting experience to actually be able to see what is going on when we are doing the facing movements. Some cadets take their time, thinking no one is watching them and, therefore, they will not get yelled at for going too slow. Other cadets dragged (a walk/run) as if there were a whole company watching them, even though no one else was around. Another thing that somewhat annoyed me was how long the upperclassmen would stare at the freshman. The purpose for this, as I would assume, was because they were waiting for that freshman to screw up. They wanted the freshman to forget to say, 'good morning sir,' or for them to forget to pivot on their turns, so that they would have an excuse to yell at them.

Now, I am a bit biased in this situation, and there were some upperclassmen that just ignored the freshman. However, there is definitely a different atmosphere on upper quad; students seeming to have a switch from 'normal' to 'cold hearted cadre'. But I digress.

Overall, while I was observing the freshman I noticed a few things I had not been aware of before, but also was reaffirmed on other things. For one, I did not realize there was such a change in attitude of all ages of cadets on upper quad because I had never been able to really look. I also got to see examples of what cadets do when they think no one is watching (that was kind of fun). The one thing I was reaffirmed on was that the freshman look pretty stupid dragging and pivoting around every corner!

Community Project

So I'm really excited about doing the community project, because getting involved in volunteer work is something I've always wanted to do, but either never had enough time or motivation to follow through with. I have done little bits of volunteer work within my highschool or church community, but I feel like the Humane Society is on a different level. I'm not sure how much time I will have to really get involved, but I am willing to try. It's really difficult to have any free time when my main priority seems to always be the corps, but I want to be able to do other things and step off of upper quad for something other than classes!
I'm really going to look into this and see what I can do with it. Worst case scenario, I end up just doing the minimum on this project and only get to do interviews and a few site visits. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed, though!

-CBarry

Trying things out...

Well, while I really should be doing things like homework for my classes, I have decided to be a major procrastinator and design my blog page. I always have fun messing with these things! But now that I've pretty much done everything I can to the page, I suppose I'll start on some other work. However, I'll probably be back later to edit some more things.
-Christine