Reflective Letter(s)
Dear Writing,
I have learned so much about what you can be, when given the opportunity. Writing is not just the phsical act; writing includes pictures, videos, and various other forms of technology. The major of Writing Arts at Rowan University is titled the College of Communication, and appropriately so. Writing holds meaning, as do videos and pictures and quotes. Writing is multifaceted. It tells a story. Can you tell a story with pictures? Yes. Can you tell a story in a video? Absolutely. What about song lyrics, a painting, dance, poem, opera? The answer is clear. Writing my twitterive has helped me to discover this.
My Twitterive:
In the beginning, my Twitterive was the bare minimum. At the time, I thought it was great. I had this awesome idea for a story based on an article, and I sat down and wrote it. I put myself in Aria's shoes and faced a great indecision of my own: the controversy of abortion. I poured a lot into my story, so when I was told that it wasn't up to par, I was torn. What else could I add to this piece? I certainly wasn't going to find videos or pictures showing abortion procedures. I knew that my twitterive was mainly text, but I wasn't sure how I could enhance it. Then, after my presentation and the suggestions given by the class, things started to click for me. I didn't need grotesque images to get my point across. I needed different genres that would whir up more emotions in the reader, and I added just that. I tried to remain objective/distant from my own views, so that the reader is free to engage in his or her own opinions. I am so much happier with the way it is now; all of the elements tell a story. You can see all the progress I've made here.
In the beginning, my Twitterive was the bare minimum. At the time, I thought it was great. I had this awesome idea for a story based on an article, and I sat down and wrote it. I put myself in Aria's shoes and faced a great indecision of my own: the controversy of abortion. I poured a lot into my story, so when I was told that it wasn't up to par, I was torn. What else could I add to this piece? I certainly wasn't going to find videos or pictures showing abortion procedures. I knew that my twitterive was mainly text, but I wasn't sure how I could enhance it. Then, after my presentation and the suggestions given by the class, things started to click for me. I didn't need grotesque images to get my point across. I needed different genres that would whir up more emotions in the reader, and I added just that. I tried to remain objective/distant from my own views, so that the reader is free to engage in his or her own opinions. I am so much happier with the way it is now; all of the elements tell a story. You can see all the progress I've made here.
My Blog:
Toward the end of the course, my writing started to become more about me. I like how my writing in the blogs turned into something personal. I think this shift started when I began writing about the collaborative research project. I wanted to share my views on organic and natural foods; I wanted to spread the word of how beneficial organic foods can be. I did enjoy analyzing the readings, and I think it is important to do so. However, through writing about things I am interested in/feel strongly for, I felt empowered. Having a message to communicate made me realize that I was "not alone in this space" (Clandinin and Connelly).
My Website:
I loved having a website! It became my obsession; what pictures could I add to show more of my personality? How could I clearly state the objective of my site?--these were questions I asked myself almost every day. I loved discovering all that weebly had to offer: from pictures and slide shows to youtube videos and custom HTML. Honestly, before this class, I had no idea it was this simple to make a website. In middle school, I remember a lot of my peers made their own websites using HTML links. I was always jealous, because they had cute little characters and "welcome to my website" glitter words.
Toward the end of the course, my writing started to become more about me. I like how my writing in the blogs turned into something personal. I think this shift started when I began writing about the collaborative research project. I wanted to share my views on organic and natural foods; I wanted to spread the word of how beneficial organic foods can be. I did enjoy analyzing the readings, and I think it is important to do so. However, through writing about things I am interested in/feel strongly for, I felt empowered. Having a message to communicate made me realize that I was "not alone in this space" (Clandinin and Connelly).
My Website:
I loved having a website! It became my obsession; what pictures could I add to show more of my personality? How could I clearly state the objective of my site?--these were questions I asked myself almost every day. I loved discovering all that weebly had to offer: from pictures and slide shows to youtube videos and custom HTML. Honestly, before this class, I had no idea it was this simple to make a website. In middle school, I remember a lot of my peers made their own websites using HTML links. I was always jealous, because they had cute little characters and "welcome to my website" glitter words.
.
I still thought that making a website was like that; that people had to be extremely technologically savvy to be able to find codes that told the website what to do. I am a prospective teacher, so knowing that it is so simple to make a website comforts me. I was thinking of making my own site with a sidebar, containing homework, texts used, and a description of my credentials.
On my website, I am definitely a different person. I am more mindful of my place depending on my mode of communication. For example, when I use my website, I am more professional with my writing and tend to lean toward more sophisticated writing. My website is a public place. Prospective employers may look me up and find this space. In this way, my website defines who I am, so I have to be careful of the information I present.
In summation, writing--you truly are my saving grace. Even though my view of you has changed, it has changed for the better, and I've gotten to know you more intimately over the course of the semester. I hope that we can continue to remain close for the rest of my life.
On my website, I am definitely a different person. I am more mindful of my place depending on my mode of communication. For example, when I use my website, I am more professional with my writing and tend to lean toward more sophisticated writing. My website is a public place. Prospective employers may look me up and find this space. In this way, my website defines who I am, so I have to be careful of the information I present.
In summation, writing--you truly are my saving grace. Even though my view of you has changed, it has changed for the better, and I've gotten to know you more intimately over the course of the semester. I hope that we can continue to remain close for the rest of my life.
Sincerely,
Jessica Winter
Dear Research,
I feel a little bit "iffy" about our relationship. I know that you are good, but sometimes you frustrate me. For example, it was difficult to find information that conventional farming foods are "bad" for you. The whole "Correlation versus causation" thing makes me upset. The information and research out there kind of makes it so that the consumer [in the case of organic vs. non-organic] has to decide for him or herself. We know that smoking is bad, because there is direct cause. But because of all the factors the could be attributed to somone's health, you cannot tell me explicity which way of growing vegetables or caring for food is better. Take, for example, this chart:
Ok, research; I see what you are trying to tell me: that organic foods have more or the same amount of antioxidants and nutrients than conventional farming. But, you are not telling me that conventional foods are bad. From this chart, I see that conventional foods still have "the good stuff," just in lesser quantities.
Even though we're not entirely close, I enjoyed researching for the Oral History project. I learned things about my mother that I hadn't known before. I feel like it must have been therapeutic for her--to talk about her experience and to see how far she's come today. She really started to get into the project, and for a whole entire day she scoured her CD collection, looking for songs that described the different emotions she felt when she was going through radiation. She liked songs by a local artist named Fran Mooney.
Even though we're not entirely close, I enjoyed researching for the Oral History project. I learned things about my mother that I hadn't known before. I feel like it must have been therapeutic for her--to talk about her experience and to see how far she's come today. She really started to get into the project, and for a whole entire day she scoured her CD collection, looking for songs that described the different emotions she felt when she was going through radiation. She liked songs by a local artist named Fran Mooney.
.
Tracks:
1. Godman
2. Somebody to God
3. Yea Though I Walk
4. Rest In You
5. Here To Stay (For Louise)
6. Spirit Wings
7. Weathered Fences
8. Alisa
9. (thank you) Good Shepherd
10. Song For Papa
1. Godman
2. Somebody to God
3. Yea Though I Walk
4. Rest In You
5. Here To Stay (For Louise)
6. Spirit Wings
7. Weathered Fences
8. Alisa
9. (thank you) Good Shepherd
10. Song For Papa
Katherine Roberts edited my mom, Sharon Winter's, Oral history. I am extremely proud of my mother and this video in favor of organic and natural foods.
Research, since you are so subjective, I will choose for myself. Because of the research I've done, I believe that incurable is curable, and that organic foods are healthier for our bodies than locally grown foods that use harmful pesticides. I am actually more deeply rooted in this belief. I know that organic foods helped to cure my mother of cancer.
P.S. Maybe if you were more decisive, we could be better friends.
Sincerely,
Jessica Winter
Dear Technology,
I know that you know we have a love hate relationship. This semester, when I had to cut my .mod into four pieces, you really ticked me off. Here was the process I had to go through:
1. load the whole raw video
2. click the timeline
3. highlight it from 0 seconds to 8 minutes
4. then, edit (or one of the buttons on the top)
5. there should be a button that says split video
6. from the last video, highlight the next 8 or 9 minutes and split it again
7. do this for four pieces
8. then click story board, and the video should show up as 4 separate clips
9. then save
10. then exit, and re-open the file that was just saved
11. click on story board and then delete the last 3 clips and keep the first one that was 0 to 8 minutes, then under finish movie, click save to my computer and name the file. It should be named in parts.
12. repeat the process w/ the other clips
This was quite irritating. Why can't you just be simpler? Then, I had to convert the .mod file into .wmv. I had to research "how to convert .mod file." Then, I had to download a converter. The whole movie clip [of my mother's oral history] took an hour to convert. What really pissed me off was that there was now a "watermark" on the video covering my mom's face. I thought that was quite rude. The watermark couldn't go in the corner or something? Why did there have to be a watermark at all? For fear of losing my cool, I will now talk about the "love" in our relationship.
My Twitter
I took Introduction to Writing Arts, and there was a twitter and technology module, but for some reason my view of writing hadn't changed. Once the course was over I stopped using my twitter and I never looked at netvibes again. This semester, I've learned more about twitter and like it a lot more. I've learned about different genres and I love the creative license I have as a writer to be able to choose my mode of communication.
Twitter is so much fun! I used to be solely a facebook fan, but more and more I am getting into twitter. My cousin Jaime is on twitter, and she shares information on this site that she doesn't on facebook. It's nice to be able to see the feelings that she doesn't believe she should/can share on facebook with others. Jaime is 9 months pregnant, so I also get more glimpses into my second cousin's life in the womb. I actually used her picture in my twitterive to show that Aria's baby was "fading."
1. load the whole raw video
2. click the timeline
3. highlight it from 0 seconds to 8 minutes
4. then, edit (or one of the buttons on the top)
5. there should be a button that says split video
6. from the last video, highlight the next 8 or 9 minutes and split it again
7. do this for four pieces
8. then click story board, and the video should show up as 4 separate clips
9. then save
10. then exit, and re-open the file that was just saved
11. click on story board and then delete the last 3 clips and keep the first one that was 0 to 8 minutes, then under finish movie, click save to my computer and name the file. It should be named in parts.
12. repeat the process w/ the other clips
This was quite irritating. Why can't you just be simpler? Then, I had to convert the .mod file into .wmv. I had to research "how to convert .mod file." Then, I had to download a converter. The whole movie clip [of my mother's oral history] took an hour to convert. What really pissed me off was that there was now a "watermark" on the video covering my mom's face. I thought that was quite rude. The watermark couldn't go in the corner or something? Why did there have to be a watermark at all? For fear of losing my cool, I will now talk about the "love" in our relationship.
My Twitter
I took Introduction to Writing Arts, and there was a twitter and technology module, but for some reason my view of writing hadn't changed. Once the course was over I stopped using my twitter and I never looked at netvibes again. This semester, I've learned more about twitter and like it a lot more. I've learned about different genres and I love the creative license I have as a writer to be able to choose my mode of communication.
Twitter is so much fun! I used to be solely a facebook fan, but more and more I am getting into twitter. My cousin Jaime is on twitter, and she shares information on this site that she doesn't on facebook. It's nice to be able to see the feelings that she doesn't believe she should/can share on facebook with others. Jaime is 9 months pregnant, so I also get more glimpses into my second cousin's life in the womb. I actually used her picture in my twitterive to show that Aria's baby was "fading."
Twitter, I think you are what saves me from frustrating out with technology altogether. Of course, weebly, I haven't forgotten about you. Both of you have opened my eyes as to what writing can be, and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Sincerely,
Jessica Winter
Dear Professor Mangini,
You have pushed me harder than any other class I am taking this semester, and that is saying a lot. I took School Reading Problems, Math Pedagogy, Fiction Writing, Adolescent Development, Differentiated Literacy Instruction, field at Holly Glen, and this course. I was really excited when you complimented my writing; it helped to build my confidence and cement my choice of becoming a writer. I have to admit, though, that I was let down some when you said it could be better [my twitterive]. Once I started revising it, I saw the potential in it that I think you saw from the beginning. It has definitely improved, and I've broadened my view/concept of what writing is. Thank you for believing in me from the very beginning.
