Writing 310 Response

Chapter 7 - Crafting Messages for Electronic Media was an interesting read since I'm personally often a little out of the loop when it comes to social media. It has been difficult for me to utilize different social media platforms which could've been extremely helpful while I've had certain internships to spread my personal content to more people.

I also found it interesting to read how email is dying out - I knew this before but not to what extent or what would replace it - and how everything is slowly becoming all about instant messaging.

Unfortunately, I'm not very tech savvy, so I appreciated this read since it's not something I myself would pick up and read unless it was assigned to me.

Chapter 8 - Writing Routine and Positive Messages had content that felt very much like common sense, although misunderstandings are very common in electronic messages. Especially companies that have to be extremely professional and accurate and, not to mention, careful with how they craft messages.

Even though this article feels more targeted to people in businesses, it's a good reminder to always consider how your messages (professionally in particular) comes across. I often rush through writing emails or messages since I'm used to writing a lot of professional ones.

However, I do find myself being a little sloppy sometimes so this read was a great reminder of how to craft a positive, professional, and to the point message.

The theme throughout the three texts is really about audience and how to adapt the words and style to the reader. In Understanding Rhetoric part 3, I found it interesting how we all wear different hats (in the comic, quite literally) in order to gain credibility and/or respect from a specific audience/s.

I know that I myself do that a lot. I obviously wouldn't dress the same way for an interview that I would going to a music festival. It doesn't mean I'm a different person because of the contrast of the way I sometimes dress, but I know an interviewer would approach me in a completely different way if I wore what I would wear to the music festival.

I thought it was interesting to read about the different meanings behind dressing a certain way, like how black clothing is often used as an "armor," and for the teacher who had to put on the knight's armor, could be convinced that her profession could be considered heroic. 

Writing 339 response

"Reading Like a Writer" was a great read to me. A few years ago, when my English wasn't as good as it is now, I asked my journalism professor the best way to expand my vocabulary. She said "the only way I know is to read. Read books, articles, anything you can get your hands on."

So I started doing just that. However, even though I read a lot and try to get into the authors' heads, I don't write comments in the margins, and I don't actively think about the style of a sentence or paragraph or entire book, or the effect of the way it's written.

This text was a little bit of an eye opener, and after reading it, I feel like reading will be more fun than usual. The article made me want to become more engaged in whatever it is that I'm reading for school or recreationally.

Chapter 13 - "Style in Arguments" was also an interesting read considering my personal style is to go with the flow of how the sentences "feel" to me. I often reread my sentences (unless I'm in a hurry) and make sure that it flows nicely.

But the way I do that is to "listen" to it, to find a pleasing rhythm, and I don't think I've thought about why something I write might have a specific effect. I know what I want to say, and mostly I hope that it'll come across the way I want it.

What I'm trying to say is that maybe I'm not as aware as I'd like of the power of how one period, comma, word, or sentence structure might affect a reader/s. I feel like I know by the way it sounds to my ears, but these readings help me see why a certain style or word is effective to use in a certain genre for example.

Rubin's "Pay Attention: Mindfulness" chapter was a good reminder of the mindfulness that I'm trying to implement into my everyday life. Of all the mantras Rubin mentioned that she tells herself daily, I could resonate with a few of them, or similar ones.

The "I'm in a hurry" mantra was what stood out to me the most since I constantly tell myself: "I don't have enough time to do everything that I need to do today" and because of that way of thinking, I truly believe it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead, I will follow her advise and think "I have more than enough time to complete all tasks for today." I do believe we create our own realities and sometimes we can be self-destructive or self-sabotaging without even being particularly aware of it.

Rubin's list of what she tells herself every day is something that I will implement. I will try to become more aware of the stories I tell myself and do my best to change the negative ones so I can benefit from them.

Academic Writing 310 Response

The "Everything's an argument" article was very thought provoking since I personally never really think about the fact that everything, more or less, actually is an argument. One of the most interesting mentions in the article was the one about what you eat, do, support, or even a hobby etc., are in themselves arguments. They're statements that affect the people around you in a greater or lesser scale and thinking about this makes it easier for me personally to be more careful about what I say, do or voicing particular statements.

I think it's important to have well-thought out things to say - I respect people who do - and it's something I'm trying to get better at since I know I have a tendency to blurt out whatever comes to mind if I'm passionate about it. This article helped me remember how actions and words are stronger than you might think.

I think the two comics were relevant to the longer article as well. I particularly liked the "Ethos (ethics), Pathos (empathy), Logos (logic)" concept. If I'm really passionate about a subject, I can be very convincing (pathos), although I definitely need to work on the other two sometimes when I just want people to accept what I know (from articles or books or films) and instead take the time to explain why and how I think I know what I know in order to logically convey my message and get credibility.

"About me blurb" for Personal Journal and Academic Writing Summer 2015

Hi there,

I guess this is where I tell y'all a little about me. So... I just came back to beautiful Santa Barbara about a month and a half ago after spending a year studying in San Francisco. The cold, the fog and, surprisingly, the people made me miss this lovely place (where I spent my first three years in the U.S. Oh, and I'm from Sweden originally), and I decided to finish my education at Antioch University because of its unconventional teaching methods that resonate more with my personal goals and beliefs.

Here in SB I love a bunch of activities like yoga, meditation on the beach, paddle boarding, reading, painting, hiking, writing, and I just started volunteering at an animal shelter where I help take care of the dogs (yes, poop and wet dog smell will soon become a major part of my life). Other than that, I'm working on my B.A. in media and communication, and ultimately, I'd like to work in radio. I think. Or start a non-profit to feed all the needy children and/or dogs and/or old people in the world. We'll see. It'll be one of those.

So there, that's my blurb for all the world to see. I've probably left out a bunch of stuff that may or may not be interesting, but I'm sure there is plenty of time to fill in the blanks this summer semester.

See y'all in class!