Until we meet again...

Dear EGL 101-036,

I don't know if any of you are going to check this blog again. This past semester was my first at Oakton, and it's been a huge switch from high school: Olivia is the only teacher who I felt cared more about me than how well I did in class, and Comp 101 is the only class in which I honestly feel like I started to get to know other students. I probably didn't realize this until yesterday when I got the sudden urge to catch people on the way out and trade e-mail addresses. I think part of this is because we had leaders; each person, no matter his or her comfort range, got to express ideas in class.

Well, anyway, to cut the sappy crap short, hopefully I'll see you all around next semester! (You should take Olivia's EGL 129 next semester -- but save some room for me!) Have a great winter break, all!

~Alicia Singer
P.S. After our discussions on technology, I'm hesitant to mention that I'm on facebook... but I am, so look me up!

Th Dec 3
Discussion (leaders) // Video clip: King of Kong (AND: EC RECORDING!) // Quickly: Portfolio guidelines
HMWK:
1. Keep working on the ideas related to your photograph! Make a clear copy of it, if it is your only copy. BRING THE PICTURE TO CLASS.
2. in your journal: List: ten or more questions (grammatical, practical, textual, etc.)

T Dec 8
Short Prep for Portfolio // Questions Day // Explanation of FINAL (plus HN)
HMWK:
1. IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR FINAL EXAM IMAGE to class!!!
2. Work on your portfolio

Th Dec 10
12:30-12:55 last-minute questions, work/prep, peer review of thesis statement // 1-1:45 EXAM
HMWK: Portfolio

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15:Portfolios (with ripped out journal pages organized and stapled together) are due by 12:30 p.m. in the adjunct office (B200) or in my mailbox. If your work is not in my hand (no e-mailed copies) at this time, you will get a zero. Absolutely no exceptions.

Portfolio Guidelines

You MUST make TWO copies of your Final Portfolio. These are the guidelines/steps:
1) The Portfolio is a collection of revised essays and a Statement of Belief.
2) It must be 10 pages long (minimum). It MUST include revisions of 2-3 essays and MUST include a 2-3 page Statement. It MUST be in 12-point font.
3) First, choose 2-3 essays that you'd like to revise.
4) For each essay, make a list of the corrections you have to make. (Use my notes, peer notes, old drafts, things you notice.)
5) Go into your files, and open up the documents so that you can start to change small things.
6) After you've made MINOR corrections, read the whole essay and decide on what MAJOR changes you will make (add ideas? expand ideas? include another comparison?). Work on those. Be creative and thoughtful.
7) Read the essays aloud--with corrections and changes made. What else needs to be done? Do the essays make sense?
8) Read the descriptions of each component of the Rubric. Are you doing work that strives for the "Excellent" description?
9) Make more corrections and changes.
10) Print up final copies of the essays. Read them all at once. What do they have in common? Think about your writing style and your ideas.
11) Write your Statement of Belief. This statement will explain what's in your portfolio and how you feel about your writing and ideas. (You should have started to think this over in class.)
12) In 2-3 double-spaced pages, answer ALL of these questions:

What is something in which you strongly believe?
How does that belief make you unique?
What have you learned/do you know about the struggles of individuals within systems?
When do systems work? When do they fail? Who gets hurt? Who benefits?
How do your ideas about individuals/systems connect to your belief?
How do those two things connect to the writing in your portfolio?
How have you used rhetoric to communicate these ideas?

From Olivia: Coming Up:

1) Extra credit paragraphs (your BEST paragraph of the term) are due (edited and proofread) on Tuesday December 1.

2) Leaders: Prepare for the second half of our Satire discussion. Others: read five of our satires (your choice); complete the modified RR (just a list of five theses).

3) Here is what remains of our schedule:

T Dec 1
Discussion of satires (leaders)
HMWK:
1. Find a photograph of yourself that illustrates you (as an individual) in a system; what are the key details? What is the system? How is that you in the picture? How is that not you?
2. RR17: ND p. 121-146—leaders

Th Dec 3
Discussion (leaders) // Video clip: King of Kong (AND: EC RECORDING!) // Quickly: Portfolio guidelines
HMWK:
1. Keep working on the ideas related to your photograph! Make a clear copy of it, if it is your only copy.
2. in your journal: List: ten or more questions (grammatical, practical, textual, etc.)

T Dec 8
Questions Day // Explanation of FINAL (plus HN)
HMWK:
1. IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR FINAL EXAM IMAGE to class!!!
2. Work on your portfolio
On December 10, we will meet in our classroom for 25 minutes; then, we'll be in a lab.

Th Dec 10
12:30-12:55 last-minute questions, work/prep, peer review of thesis statement // 1-1:45 EXAM
HMWK: Portfolio

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15:Portfolios (with ripped out journal pages organized and stapled together) are due by 12:30 p.m. in the adjunct office (B200) or in my mailbox. If your work is not in my hand (no e-mailed copies) at this time, you will get a zero. Absolutely no exceptions.

Do we have somthing to eat?

Do we have something to eat?

One day, I walked to the market; I heard two people talking about food, which was interesting. That was conversation is presented below:
“Do we have something to eat?” Person N asked.
“We have plenty of food to eat.” Person P answered. “You just take a look; there are McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, TCL Friday, etc.”

“Yes. ‘I’m lovin’ it.’ Surely, love it! If you want ‘Super Size Me.’ Then McDonalds take money from me, and also take health from me. If you hate your body, then go to McDonalds. If you hate your child, feed them McDonald's. ” Person N said. “Do you know Charlie Bell, McDonald’s former CEO, died in 2005. He was only 44 years old, and began his career with the chain at the age of 15 and ate McDonalds’ almost 30 years. ”
“What about TCL Friday? Beef steak? ” Person P said.
“Every steak you crave has uric acid. Every bite contains antibiotics. Mad cow mad people feed cow antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals and hormones. Cows take revenge. Swine flu is the same issue.”
“We are talking too much and I feel thirsty. Let’s have a drink.” Person P suggested.
“Drink? Milk? Bottled water? Pure water is put in the poison plastic bottle? It can keep fresh, pure in three years! Do you dare to drink it?”
“’Got Milk?’” Milk poisoned over 60,000 infants in China last year.

“How’s Coke? ‘Open Happiness’.”

“Let’s see, Coke is fizzy chemical water and sugar. If you want to clean a toilet, you pour a can of Coke into the toilet bowl, let it sit an hour, and then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china. If you want to be damn in the twenty years later, please start to drink Coke today. Coke really loves you.” Person N said.
“We really encounter the food problem.” Person P answered.
“Not at all. We just follow the industry and do what they want us to do. We don’t have to think about it. That will be fine.” Person N answered. “Let’s go to McDonalds.”

Improving Economy has no effect on Main Street

News about the improvement in the American economy has left many puzzled as well as frustrated. According to many experts, the stock market seems to be on a rebound and stock prices have been growing steadily since March. However, although there are many signs to illustrate that the economy is in a better shape than it was last year, the unemployment rate continues to increase.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national rate of unemployment just reached 10.2 percent last month, after 25 years of being a single digit number. More than 29 states have reported an increase in the jobless rate and 13 states have reported an unemployment rate higher than the current national rate.
“The best thing we can say about the labor market right now is that it may be getting worse more slowly and the only thing left to do is to wait it out,” says Peter Griffin, an economist at the University of Virginia.
In a recent interview, Lu Pai, a Federal Reserve officer states, “The government is currently occupied with bailing out financial institutions and will consider the unemployment crisis at a more convenient time.”
A recent study shows that the number of part time workers who say they would like a full-time job but can’t find one has doubled since the recession began. This trend might continue for the next few years until companies decide to stop laying off millions of workers because of takeovers, and bailouts.
The only practical solution to this problem is, to continue to invest if you belong to the “investor class” and if you belong to the “working class,” continue to watch the government bailout failing banks and companies.

Muhammad Ali Tahir

Scientists and Politicians

Somewhere in california. Scientist build a time machine. Laser sounds with green and red lights in the center of the dark room. The time scientist press a button that bring one person from the past into the future. They don't know what happens after they press the button but they press it anyway for the sake of science. The lights turn off. The switch is turned on. A loud sound from a machine followed by a evil laugh. The scientist get hit with a club, pass out. The doors open bursting out the room, it's a man wearing a fur coat. Like from the jungle fur coat. His eyebrow put together and the cold smoke from his nose, he stops and stares around the room. Nuclear missiles to his right and guns to his left, takes a look back at the lights, the rooms a mess. A strong feeling to press buttons in a urge to helping himself so he kept pressing as long as he felt. Meanwhile, the scientist got up and the soldiers came in. The world is about to end the general shouted the missile launch just begined. The whole world got the message for the first time. For once the goverment had nothing to hide. As the world was exploding I got on my spaceship. Before I headed for Jupiter. I interviewed the last man alive. I asked him if any girls came on to him yet. He didn't respond. He asked me a question "Do I know what's the greatest lesson in the world?". Huh. He said "Never mix the game of knowledge with a game of fear". The more our goverment focuses on bigger weapons the more our country will practice agressive methods, I suppose. Why else would you be building better weapons for fifty years without creating war from time to time to create fear, it makes sense. I would offer him a ride but then how would I be the last last man alive. So luckly for him i told him i will always remember you as the last man alive when I'm living on Jupiter. He said he was a politician and I left.