Reflection (2010, Nov 19th)

Today we continued to learn about available career choices. Mrs. Gunther also told us about  jobs that had the highest pay. I noticed that most of them were professional jobs that required more than 8 years of college education. I was pretty worried, but Ms. Sayler explained that most students actually get a job and work day time, and many colleges give out loans as well. My dream job is to become a bio-engineer.
We also took an anxiety test. I personally thought it was a good opportunity since I'm always overly anxious before major exams and tests.

Careers (2010, Nov 17th)

   Today we looked at what kinds of careers were available for us. Actually, I was very surprised at the huge amount of careers available. There were so many jobs that I didn't know about. For example, my friend Ribby found a job called "Blaster". We all laughed and joked about what kind of job a blaster might be. There were also some jobs that sounded very interesting such as "Food Taster".
   We also took a closer look at our learning styles. There were 3 major types of learning styles. They were visual learning, auditory learning, kinesthetic/tactile learning. It turns out that I prefer auditory learning and kinesthetic/tactile learning. Mrs. Gunther told us that auditory learners are very good at listening, and it is a very good idea to record your teacher's lectures (especially in college). Also, kinesthetic/tactile learners need movement to learn more easily.

Reflection (2010, Nov 15th)

Today I took a learning style test and a personality test. I think I got to learn more about myself through these tests. There were a few parts where it was hard to make a choice between my given options, but overall it had a wide range of answers that were possible. When the test results came out, I felt that the results depicted me very closely to what I thought I was like. It also gave me some tips on how to manage my time, classes, homework, etc. I feel that all this was a great experience for me and it would help me out in the future when I am decided what kind of career path to choose.

Reflection (2010, Nov 12th)

Today we talked about our interests and what we consider as "important". I got to realize that many of us (including me) considered materialistic things as important in our lives. I began to wonder if God was ever a priority in my life, or if I just called myself a Christian. Most people consider money and interests as a priority, but if we think about it, these things don't mean anything when everything is stripped away from us. Maybe I should try to change my priorities more towards God and not towards the world.

Talent (Nov, 11, 2010)

What is talent?
Talent is basically something one is good at. It could a natural thing or it could be obtained through hard work.
What are my talents?
Well, my best talent is being a very sociable guy. I easily get along with other people. I communicate well with people, and I always try to demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviors. I am also a hard worker. I always try my best on what I do. I try to actively participate in group works, I always try to learn new things, and I do my best on my assignments. I also have some qualities as a leader. I try to help out others and lead them.

Thought questions (Mon, Nov 8th 2010)

1. How do you plan on choosing a career?
I will have to consider my skills, financial ability, my preferences, and opinions from others. It would be good to have a career where my skills would be useful because I can be more productive. Considering my financial ability will help me because there may be some things that I might not be able to do, such as trading stocks. Also it will help me decide my path of education (because sometimes, school tuition fees can be a pain in the neck). A career that I prefer would be great for me because honestly, my career is probably going to be what I'll doing for the rest of my life. It would be a good thing to do something I love than something that I hate. Opinions from other people may help as well because there are a lot of pathways out there and it's always good to take some advice.
2. Does your gender make a difference?
Yes, it will open some doors and close others. For example, since I am a male, I can do more physical labor then women. However, I wouldn't be able to do a lunch lady because most people would prefer women over men.
3.Who will help you choose a career?
My parents, my teachers, and career searchers can help me decide my career. These people can give me advice on my current educational career and my future career as well because they had knowledge, experience, and they know me best. A career searcher wouldn't know me well, but would know what kind of person I am through the surveys that I take. My personal opinions and opinions from others will both be useful in finding a career that would fit me.
4. Can the Bible offer any help?
The Bible can guide me in how I should grow in God. It doesn't give a specific explanation of what I should do as a career, but rather a broad idea of what I should do. It tells me what is wrong and what is right.

Definition and example of Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting

Paraphrase
Def: Restating the idea in writer's own words.
Ex) There was a small pretty girl in a village. Her mother loved her very much, and her grandmother loved her even more.

Summary
Def: Restating only the main points in the writer's own words.
Ex) There was a little girl with a loving mom an grandma.

Quote
Def: Using the exact words of the author of the passage.
Ex) "Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more.

How to turn on/off you PC

     The very first step on turning on a PC is to plug in the power cord. Next, you search the motherboard for the power button. There are a few buttons on the motherboard, but the power button is the largest. Next, you wait for the computer to load. After the computer loads and the user screen comes up, use your mouse to click on the user you wish to use. This step can be skipped if wanted. Now, you are finished!

       If you are using a laptop, the steps are all the same except for the first step. Instead of searching for the motherboard, you have to open you laptop and search for the power button. The power button is usually on the very top of the keyboard.

      To turn off your PC, first you have to click the start menu, which is located at the bottom left of the computer screen. When you have clicked on the start menu, select the option "Shut down system". This will shut down the computer. However, if you are using an older version of the PC (XP, 2000, 95, etc) you must wait for another screen to pop up. This screen will ask you what you want to do. Select the "Shut down system" option in this screen as well. Now, you just wait for your computer to log off and shut down.

What is voice?

For me, voice is the life of the writing. Without voice, writing is dead. If we want to give the reader an impression about the writing, voice is crucial. Voice can be shown by word choice, personal experiences, and more. We can also relate with the readers through voice.

Blog post response

This picture posted on our class blog depicts a mother with her children during the US Great Depression. What conversation would this mother have with her children? What "voice" would she use?

  Mother:  "Shh. Don't cry darling. If you cry, then Santa won't come this Christmas."
  Daughter & Son: *Sniff* "Okay Mom... Mom, where's Papa?
  Mother: Mommy told you that your father's gone to look for work, and hopefully bring some food home as well.

The Three Little Pigs (Wolf's POV)

   Dear honorable judge, I stand before you today to prove my innocence relating the case of the the 3 little pigs. Yes, I will admit that I have attempted to break into the 3 pigs' houses, but I never meant to do any harm. All I wanted was to ask if they had any food to spare. Please, listen to this pitiful wolf's sad story.

   Everyday, I would go out searching for any scraps of food that I could get my hands on. I was broke, so I did not have the ability to afford food. I have a wife and 3 children, and it was my responsibility to keep my family from starving. I would have done anything to save my family.

   Back in the old days, I used to have my own business. It was named the "Huff & Puff House Cleaners". As many creatures may know, I have a reputation for blowing strong gusts of wind. I would usually go from house to house and blow away all their trash and dust. My business was doing great until strange rumors started arousing. The rumors told that wolves were vicious and violent creatures that would kill eat up any creature in it's way. I do not know exactly how these rumors became, but it did damage my business immensely. (The rumors might have been originated from my competing company, "Garbage Disposal Goats")

   After the rumors spread, creatures began to avoid me, and my customers started to decrease. I had only one option, which was to beg for food. However, that didn't work out well either. All the creatures were afraid of me due to the rumors. They would shut their doors on me, not caring whether I have a family or not. This went on for months, and everyday was spent in despair. My marriage was on the verge of breaking down, and my three little children were now starving to death. I was desperate.
   Then one day, I heard from the streets that the 3 little pigs had just moved into the town. I thought 'Maybe, just maybe, those 3 young lad would give this old wolf a chance.' So, I walked up to their front door, and to my despair, they shut their doors on me as well. I tried to get some food my pretending to be a lamb, a salesman, blowing their houses away, and even entering through their chimney. All I wanted was to ask them if they could spare any food for my poor family. However, all that came back was verbal and physical abuse. They would taunt me and call me names. One pig even poured turpentine into a burning pot when I was coming down the chimney. I had almost died!
   I sincerely apologize for the damage that I have caused, and I would be more than happy to rebuild their houses. However, I plead with you that you take our family's situation into consideration.

Short story: The scream

The audio files presented in the next few paragraphs relate with the unexpected death of Samuel Jones.

Audio Diary Log 4

(bzzt… click) It’s funny how life messes with you. One moment, you feel like you’re at the top of the world, then the next thing you know, the weight of the whole world is on your shoulders. You see, I used to have a great life. I had a wonderful family and a powerful job. People used to look up at me with respect and admiration. But then, life hit me. I lost it all. And now I’m trapped in this cage.

These people wearing white overcoats come in everyday and run tests on me. “Mr. Collins, would you please draw a picture of your family?” “Could you please match up this sentence for me?” “Who is smiling and who is frowning Mr. Collins?” Pathetic… I use my pen to sign contracts, not to draw you fools! I am not a lab rat! I want out! NOW! OUT! OUT! OU(siren wails, sound of heavy door opening, and a voice on the intercom) “Nurse! We have a problem at room…” (Jumbled messages and sounds… bzzt click beep) TRANSMISSION ENDED.

   From The Doctor’s Desk

(bzzt… click) Subject: Samuel Jones, age 25, calls himself John Collins. Mr. Jones has a severe case of depression and paranoia. He has convinced himself that he is John Collins, a highly successful businessman. He seems to deny the fact that he is Samuel Jones. Most people that show similar symptoms have usually experienced something very painful in the past. Their way of escaping their mental pain is to forget and rely on their imagination. They would enter an imaginary world that would block out any kind of mental pain that they are experiencing. As this dependence on their fantasy grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for the person to distinguish the real world from their imaginary world. They will try to cling onto that fragile dream, and when the dream is shattered, most lose all hope and end up committing suicide. I still require some more background information on Mr. Jones to understand his full story. Hopefully we can wake him up before it’s too late. (bzzt… click beep) TRANSMISSION ENDED.

   Audio Diary Log 11

(bzzt…click) Samuel Jones? Ha, who is this Samuel Jones? It’s just another phony game of theirs isn’t it? Ha, I’ll play your game. I’ll play each and every one of your silly games. But you can’t fool me! AHAHAHAHA! (sound of heavy door opening) Oh, dang it. (ruffle ruffle) Why hello there! It’s nice to see you Mrs. Anderson! (sound of woman speaking) Hello Mr. Jones. It’s time for your morning walk. Would you like me to assist you on the way? (Collins speaking) Well, I appreciate your offer Mrs. Anderson, but I’ll do find myself, thank you. (ruffle ruffle) Whew, that was a close call. My cover will be blow the moment they find my audio logs. Anyways, my clever acting has left them thinking that I’m “getting better”. I’ve even got the privilege of taking a walk outside each morning as “therapy”. Those fools will never get me! (bzzt… click beep) TRANSMISSION ENDED.

   From The Doctor’s Desk

(bzzt… click) Jones seems to be getting better every day now! It’s a great improvement that he has made. Of course there are those short moments when he laughs or murmurs with no apparent reason, but everything seems to be fine.

   I’ve figured out some things about Jones past. Both Jones’ parents passed away due to a car accident when he was 3 years old. He was then sent to an orphanage. Numerous records show that Jones didn’t get along well with other children. Later on, Jones was adopted at the age of 13. His new parents abused him and so Jones left home. At the age of 18, Jones dropped out of high school and started looking for a job. No one wanted to take him in, so he fell into deep despair. Later on, he was caught by the police while robbing a convenience store. He was 22 then. The Police Department sent Jones to receive mental treatment. He was sent from hospital to hospital, and now into our hands. It’s a man’s life that depends on us and I’m willing to do my best. Jones used to carry a sack doll wherever he went. It was from his orphanage, and he called it Sammy. Maybe this might be useful for further treatment. (bzzt…click beep) TRANSMISSION ENDED.

   Audio Diary Log 13

(bzzt…click) It can’t be… No… NO! NO! NO! THIS IS ALL A LIE! ALL OF YOU ARE WRONG! ONLY I AM RIGHT! I AM JOHN COLLINS! ARGH! (deep breath) Ok. Calm down. This… this was quite unexpected. So, they’re playing a new game now. This is just another one of their “mess with your mind until you lose” kind of game. I can deal with this. I’ve done this hundreds of times. So, Sammy the sack doll is here isn’t he? Well I don’t know you SAMMY! (deep breath) So Sammy and Jones are supposed to be buddies, right? Well, how about this! (RIP!) Now where’s your buddy Sammy? Isn’t he supposed to stop me? HAHAHA! (ripping again) Ahahaha… Sigh… (sobbing) No, no , no , no… (bzzt… click beep) TRANSMISSION ENDED

Audio Diary Log ??

(bzzt… click) I’ve lost my audio diaries. I’ve searched my room today and I couldn’t find it. The doctors must have took it. I guess all my plans are ruined then... Sigh...You know, I never looked up at the sky before. All just blood red, contradicting the blue of the river. It's just like Jones and Collins contradicting each other... I'm just no one... Huh? Oh no! It's the shadow of two doctors coming to get me! (screams hysterically) What am I going to do? Um.. Right! The river! (Splash! gurgle gurgle...) TRANSMISSION ENDED
   Samuel Jones was found dead from drowning in a lake during his morning walk routine. On his body were a sack doll sewn together, and a tape recorder.

What makes "good" writing? What is the process of writing?

    What makes good writing? Well, first, the writer should try to use correct grammar and "big words". People say it feels more professional if people use good grammar and difficult words. Also, good writing includes strong, well organized, and accurate content. That is probably the most important part. The content depends on what the writer is trying to write and what the goal is (to inform, persuade, or entertain).
    The process of writing is quite simple. First, we brainstorm. This allows us to decide the main focus and ideas of the writing. Next, we organize our thoughts into sections. This gives us the basic structure. After we finish the basic structure, we search the information that we need for writing from diverse sources (internet, books, articles, etc). After we have all we need, we start writing a draft. It might take a few drafts to perfect what we are writing. Then we write the final draft and the work is done.