Presentation Flop

I feel like my presentation was a major flop. Well maybe not a major one, but it was clearly a flop. My actual presentation in class did not reflect the amount of work that I put into the project. The day we were given the annotated bibliographies I dissected Mary's annotated bibliography; I read every page and took notes in the margins. Later on, I wrote a few pages worth of notes that helped me organize what I wanted to include in the presentation. Then I translated my notes onto cards that I could use them during the presentation. I practiced the presentation several times, to make sure it was long enough and that I could easily make the connections that I left out of the notes. I even visualized myself giving the presentation over and over. When it came to the actual presentation, I feel that all my preparation disappeared. I tried to remember it all during the presentation, what I went over while practicing and the tips we went over in class, but I couldn't turn those thoughts into actions. I guess presentations are not my thing, I tend to keep to myself, and hate being put in the limelight. I should probably try to fix this, so my future presentations are better.

Developing an Argument of Your Own

This section of "A writer's Reference" is going to be very helpful when I get further along in the writing process of the argumentative essay. What really stood out for me was the first half where it explained the proper preparation of writing a good essay.

In the section "Getting Ideas" I thought that free writing was a great idea. To just sit down and write for a few minutes about the subject that the paper is about, without a filter, will really help to get the ideas flowing and the thought process moving. I feel that I would really benefit from this. It is really easy for me to think without a filter, but to actually write what I am thinking is a different story. This might be because I feel like that the majority of my writing should be organized or just because I think too fast for me to write; by the time I get the chance to write something down I am five thoughts ahead. For the most part I stick to listing. The grocery list method helps me think of new ideas, with the word association, and it also helps me organize my thoughts a little bit before I actually start to write my essay. I also thought that asking yourself questions was a very good idea. By asking the recommended questions, you can be sure that you are covering all aspects of your research.

I feel that the audience of an essay is really important. By understanding who your audience is, what they believe, and what you want them to get out of the essay leads to a better essay overall. Knowing the audience also tells you the level of formality you should use while writing the paper. I agree with the article when it says that the title is a great way to introduce the subject of the essay, and should include part of the thesis. Lastly, the opening paragraphs of the essay should grab the reader. The opening should tease the reader and leave them wanting to read on.

Catch Up

So here's an entry I wrote a few weeks ago but never got around to posting...

Lately I have been thinking about what I will eventually decide to major in.  Right now I'm in Mass Communications 101 and really enjoying it.  I think its really interesting to take a closer look at how communication has progressed from the early years to what it is today.  I have a pretty good feeling that I will decide on something within mass communications, right now I'm considering journalism or photojournalism (if vcu has it).  Within that last few weeks I have been fantasizing about working for Rolling Stone Magazine;  it would be a really cool job.  I have been picking it apart for the last few years.  With each new month I dissect each new issue, reading every article, and really taking them in.  I would read it even before my dad would allow me.  As a family, we have been subscribing to it for many years.  I was in middle school, when I started to get really interested in music, but my dad didn't want me reading the magazine because some of the language featured within the pages.  He wanted to protect his daughter from the curse words, or at least that's what I assume.  As I got older my dad made sure that he waited to trow away his copy until I got the chance to read it, he even would point out articles that he found especially interesting, and we would talk about them.  Even though the magazine isn't the most intellectually challenging piece to read, it was nice to talk about a few of the articles with someone.  Now at school I have my own subscription and read it every month.  I really enjoy the style of writing of the majority of the writers and think it would be nice to have some of my writing, even if its just album reviews, under the same cover as the kind of writers that write for RS.  Part of me doubts that my writing is good enough for a publication such as the Rolling Stone but I can dream and hopefully that dream will carry me to where I want to be.

I have also been thinking that it would be nice to travel the world and share people's stories with photos and words.  I love traveling and I love seeing how other people live. I like understanding their daily struggles, chores, hopes, and dreams.  It would be nice to show the people of the world that we are really not that different from each other.  We all dream, but we all often have constraints that prevent us from fully achieving out dreams.  Just writing the stories could work but I feel that pictures can often speak louder than words.  The photos will give the reader/viewer a visual to really see whom the true self of the people described in the words.  The words will provide the background and the story.

These are two ideas of what I could do when I 'grow up' but I'm not sure if I really want to grow up.  I'm happy with the way things are now; I'm enjoying leaning and just experiencing the world.  I hope I can find a job that won't force me to grow up too much, a job that will continue to let me learn and experience the world.