Reflective Letter
(Writing, Research, & Technology)
___________________________________________________________________________
Writing
As we dwindle down to the last few days of the semester, I can confidently reflect on how this course has impacted my writing. To explain, the various readings that I studied in the last four months have molded my thinking process in unique ways that I was never aware of before. The web writing and blogging allowed me to notice all the ways my pieces are influenced by my subconscious surroundings. To explain, I now realize how the setting is always a vital aspect of an event, especially when you look back and reflect on that particular moment. For example, in readings such as Native Hill, nature plays an important role to the author as it makes him reminisce about his past. He tells the story of his life and the memories he had with his surroundings. His inspirations are entirely true as he writes about how the past will never be the present, but your memories will always exist. This is indeed true with many incidences that I am able to relate to. For example, as I go back and reminisce about my favorite pastimes, I see many changes that were never present years prior. Incidences such as different setups, equipments, etc strongly influences my writing when I think about place and setting.
In addition, my experiences and surroundings also help my writing process in other ways as well. To explain, when I was assigned to write the two microfictions, I didn’t realize it until later during the course that all my ideas came from my past experiences. For example, the following microfictions were influenced by my fellow Mexican coworkers that I truly gotten to connect with outside of the workplace. I was able to and write aboutthe ignorant misconceptions that most people are unaware of because it was an experience I'll never forget. The following piece is pulled directly from my reflective blog:
My microfiction will be based upon the readings of Anzaldua's "How to tame a wild tongue." I have selected a piece out of this writing that I could emotionally relate to. In my opinion, Anzaldua's words are magnificent and for me, speak the truth. The line that I have selected includes the following: “If you want to be in America, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong.”
I fumbled through the newspaper ads, browsing for any openings that I could possibly be hired for. Construction, green housing, factory work, farm/field work, dish washing, etc, etc, etc. Why, why, why I often ask myself. Why do all Mexican newspapers only advertise gruesome, useless jobs with no hopes of a future profession for my people? How come El papel de ciudad only displays minimum wage jobs that they "think" we are only capable of doing? What if I wanted to work at an office, or as a manager, or even a police? I want to be important and succeed in life. I want to make a good living and show how Mexicans can do a job just as good as and possibly even better than any American out there! But how should I start? What should I do? Where can I begin?
Today. Now. Right now. I have decided. Right now I will find myself a job that I am proud of. I will walk into a doctor’s office with my head held high and apply for an office position. I will come to work every day, on time, and dressed professionally. I am ready, and I am confident. I’ve got nothing to lose.
¿Puedo tener una aplicación por favor? I wonder if she is confused, I thought to myself. Maybe if I tried to spell it out, she might understand me. Finally, after a good 30 seconds of hesitation, the lady replied. “If you want to be in America, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong.”
The next microfiction I included is based on a tweet I posted a few weeks ago. The line I revolved my story around states the following: “Snacking on some serious candy to get me through all these classes!”
The class was quiet and the day was hot. All I could think about was when the professor was going to stop her yapping and release us from this prison hole. It was already May, and the weather was already looking beautiful. Global warming was surely doing its thing as just last week, the forecast was still in the 30’s. The only thing I could think of was how Professor Carol’s lectures could put even a horse to sleep with her monotone voice and lectures straight off her power points. “If only she would let us out even 5 minutes early,” I thought. “Ohhhh, if only!”
A two and a half hour class should never exist. I mean, a normal human being only has an attention span of 45 minutes on a certain subject before their brains become exhausted and can’t comprehend as sharply. Depressingly, I reached in my bag and grabbed out my stash of chocolates I sack around with me. One by one, I unwrapped the mushy pieces to see how coincidentally sad-looking my chocolate was too. Frustrated, I licked the candy as everyone around me stared. “Thirty more minutes,” I thought. “Just thirty more minutes until I’m freed and able to get some real food.”
These writing pieces were inspired by my surroundings and past experiences that make my writing process more enjoyable and memorable. When I look back on how my writing has improved, I can definitely say that everything around me influences and inspires me to become a more creative and unique writer. After many readings and great lectures, I now realize the impact of how powerful "place" is to a piece of writing.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Research
As I browse through my finalized product of my weebly website, I can see how my writing has been improved by my researching skills. Assignments such as the oral history and collaborative research assignment have allowed me to understand the importance of field research, note-taking, teamwork, as well as narrative inquiries. I learned how hierarchy is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad when working in a team. To explain, when work is divided among a group and each person is only responsible for only their portion of the assignment, the only person that is going to truly learn the information is that one person; it’s obvious that each member will only learn their specific area of study. Likewise, during the collaborative research assignment I learned that our group was constantly leaning toward quantitative research more than the qualitative research. In certain situations, I found that you must adjust your research questions in order to accommodate the right type of research you are looking for; otherwise, you may be researching more quantitative information when you really want qualitative research.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Technology
After spending over 4 months in this course, I finally came to the realization of how important the internet truly is to me. If I had to be honest with those of you viewing my page, I'd have to say that I am definitely an obsessive Facebooker, emailer, Googler, blogger, and even instant messenger pretty much 365 days a year. A little obsessive, right? Yeah, I know. But if you really want to know what I mean by this, this is what I'm talking about. I hit up Facebook, because it's popular and an easy way to find out the scoop about everyone's drama. I'm constantly checking my emails because it's the easiest way for others to notify or send me important information. I rely on Google to inform me about everything and anything because it's fast and also the most convenient. I write in my blogs because all my classes require it, and I enjoy the public's opinions. And yes, I really do use instant message, because it's so much less intimidating than conversing with someone in real life. So basically, my confession is that I am a daily user of the internet, as are millions and probably even billions of others out there. But whether or not everyone else's reasoning for usage is the same as mine, they're probably relatively close. Below, I have lines from the piece “Rock My Network” to support my thoughts.
“In an era of text messaging, online shopping, and movies on demand, why would anyone do anything more than a day or two in advance? It’s not that we’re lazy or bratty or glib; it’s just that we’re fast. We know how to access all kinds of information, and we have absolute confidence in the tools at our disposal…I spend the majority of my time searching the Internet for new communities and ways to connect… Plazes.com yet? Is it worth it to make a profile on Consummating? Am I hip enough for Nerve?… Can I be a part of Geocaching.com without having a GPS? Are the people on Fark.com my kind people, and should I spend my time and energy making a profile?… I’ve had more than two hundred Friendsterviews in the past week. Beat that!… Every morning before I brush my teeth, I check my phone for text messages and sign in to my AOL instant messenger. I need everyone I know to know I’m awake…. Do I have any new e-mails, messages or views, bulletins, invitations, or friend requests? Do I have recent comments on my blog or mentions on my friends’ blogs? My celebrity status is uncomfortably quantifiable… I flip through the messages to see where and when my friends went last night, tracking their progress through various bars and noting the crossed paths, I check the: MapQuest map that displays their locations and their proximity to one another. I note how close Christopher and Tom were last night, only a block away, but see that they never met up…. Not a day goes by when I don’t send out or accept a new: friend request. It’s a beautiful example of mutually assured popularity… I click through the profiles: of my friends to the profiles of their friends of friends and friends of friends of friends, always aware of the little bar at the top of each profile indicating my multiple connections… On Facebook, I skip from profile to profile by clicking on the faces of posted pictures. I find a picture of my sister and her boyfriend, click on his face, and jump right to his page… Pictures are extremely necessary for enticing new friends and fans, the more pictures, the better. I change my pictures at least once a week… I click on the Friendster “who’s viewed me” bar to see who has stumbled upon my profile over the last day, week, or month, and if people I don’t know have checked me out, I immediately check them back. I get an adrenaline rush when I find out that a friend of a friend I was always interested in is evidently interested in me, too, and wants to make a connection. Just imagine if we could be this good in person. Online, everyone has a bulletproof social armor… Not only does my online profile need to be tended to and updated regularly, but the text messages demand a prompt response… I also use instant messenger as a tool for keeping track of my exes. I know when they sign on, and I read their away messages. I can keep track of what’s happening in their lives without their ever knowing I still care. Good or bad day, sick or asleep, I see what they’re doing. I know at all times if and when they’re on the Internet… I honestly don’t know why anyone wants to socialize in public anymore. It’s so difficult to concentrate on talking to just one’ person at a time. Eye contact isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and facial expressions are so hard to control…” (Stites)
As I read the piece “Rock My Network” in the writings of “Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers,” I couldn’t help by catch myself constantly shaking my head in agreement with every word. Many times I found the reading to be quite shameful yet very truthful in today’s society. Just think. Is it not true that the world has vastly become dependent on technology and its growing mobility out there? Are our internet providers not racing to market the quickest and most affordable devices to all sellers before their competitors? I mean, if you took a poll of the few people located just around you, how many of them would have a Facebook, a personal blog, or simply rely on the internet to get them the majority of their information? How many of them would have a Blackberry, an iPhone, a Droid, a cell phone with internet or wifi? A lot right? Now, how many of them would agree with being a daily user or visit their Facebook at least two-to-three times, or any chance they get during the day? Once again, a lot right? Even if I, myself, had to be honest and describe my relationship with the internet, I’d have to admit that I am also among the obsessive users that are hooked on my friends’ statuses that quickly become updated minute-by-minute, day-by-day. Like Theordra Stites said, I “live for smiles on MySpace, winks on Match.com, and pokes on Facebook.” (Stites)
So the question I’ve been pondering throughout this realm of technology is this; in the year 2011, where high speed internet has hit an all time high of 150/35 megabits per second (Mbps) with Verizon FiOS network, is it “okay” to be a compulsive internet user? Is it unhealthy for me to want to Google everything rather than look it up in an encyclopedia? Should I not be constantly stalking my friends, or their friends, or their friend’s friends’ Facebook statuses? Should I delete my RSS Feed and stop tweeting about all my feelings and daily activities so that the public can no longer be informed? Or is this all normal and expected from a typical 21 year old college student like me? All I can say is that in today’s fast and openly public society, all we care about is getting or sharing information quick and through the simplest way possible- the internet.
Since the internet is here and quickly engulfing the lives of the newer generation of students, everything seems to revolve around it. For instance, this semester, four out of six of my classes require weekly or even daily responses, postings, summaries, tweets, etc, etc, etc, as apart of a major grade in each and every one of these four classes. Everything seems to be based upon posting your every detail in life for the public to see as well as publishing your reflective blogs for others to comment on. Nothing is ever written out on paper anymore. Either submit it on Blackboard 9, Google Doc it, or send a Microsoft attachment to their email address. Technology is definitely the new trend. If I had to put in my two senses, I would say my words are meant to be voiced out to the billions of strangers out there who are also doing the same thing. Post it, link it, attach it, share. Why not? Everyone’s doing it.
By using different sites and styles of online writing such as tumblr, weebly, reflective blogs, twitterive, facebook, etc, etc, etc, I have definitely been able to “connect” myself to a completely different aspect of writing that I’ve never realized before. Truthfully, I find that when I share my thoughts, opinions, and even my profiles on public sites, I realize how personal I get with my postings. To explain, I have found that my online identity posted on my twitterive, reflective blog, as well as my facebook page are all truthful representations of my “real” identity that come from my conscious writing. Similar to Stites’s work of literature, the information that I express on my weebly, twitterive, and even my reflective blog posts are more of my daily expression with words rather than formal writing and falsely interpreted styles of me. My tweets, facebook statuses, blogs, etc, etc, etc, are all the real me. On the web, I type freely. I let out everything that’s on my mind and only go back for seldom typos here and there. And truthfully, I think that is what’s so great and engaging about personal blogs and social networking. It shows the true side of people and simply let’s people show others who they are, both socially and educational wise.
As we dwindle down to the last few days of the semester, I can confidently reflect on how this course has impacted my writing. To explain, the various readings that I studied in the last four months have molded my thinking process in unique ways that I was never aware of before. The web writing and blogging allowed me to notice all the ways my pieces are influenced by my subconscious surroundings. To explain, I now realize how the setting is always a vital aspect of an event, especially when you look back and reflect on that particular moment. For example, in readings such as Native Hill, nature plays an important role to the author as it makes him reminisce about his past. He tells the story of his life and the memories he had with his surroundings. His inspirations are entirely true as he writes about how the past will never be the present, but your memories will always exist. This is indeed true with many incidences that I am able to relate to. For example, as I go back and reminisce about my favorite pastimes, I see many changes that were never present years prior. Incidences such as different setups, equipments, etc strongly influences my writing when I think about place and setting.
In addition, my experiences and surroundings also help my writing process in other ways as well. To explain, when I was assigned to write the two microfictions, I didn’t realize it until later during the course that all my ideas came from my past experiences. For example, the following microfictions were influenced by my fellow Mexican coworkers that I truly gotten to connect with outside of the workplace. I was able to and write aboutthe ignorant misconceptions that most people are unaware of because it was an experience I'll never forget. The following piece is pulled directly from my reflective blog:
My microfiction will be based upon the readings of Anzaldua's "How to tame a wild tongue." I have selected a piece out of this writing that I could emotionally relate to. In my opinion, Anzaldua's words are magnificent and for me, speak the truth. The line that I have selected includes the following: “If you want to be in America, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong.”
I fumbled through the newspaper ads, browsing for any openings that I could possibly be hired for. Construction, green housing, factory work, farm/field work, dish washing, etc, etc, etc. Why, why, why I often ask myself. Why do all Mexican newspapers only advertise gruesome, useless jobs with no hopes of a future profession for my people? How come El papel de ciudad only displays minimum wage jobs that they "think" we are only capable of doing? What if I wanted to work at an office, or as a manager, or even a police? I want to be important and succeed in life. I want to make a good living and show how Mexicans can do a job just as good as and possibly even better than any American out there! But how should I start? What should I do? Where can I begin?
Today. Now. Right now. I have decided. Right now I will find myself a job that I am proud of. I will walk into a doctor’s office with my head held high and apply for an office position. I will come to work every day, on time, and dressed professionally. I am ready, and I am confident. I’ve got nothing to lose.
¿Puedo tener una aplicación por favor? I wonder if she is confused, I thought to myself. Maybe if I tried to spell it out, she might understand me. Finally, after a good 30 seconds of hesitation, the lady replied. “If you want to be in America, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong.”
The next microfiction I included is based on a tweet I posted a few weeks ago. The line I revolved my story around states the following: “Snacking on some serious candy to get me through all these classes!”
The class was quiet and the day was hot. All I could think about was when the professor was going to stop her yapping and release us from this prison hole. It was already May, and the weather was already looking beautiful. Global warming was surely doing its thing as just last week, the forecast was still in the 30’s. The only thing I could think of was how Professor Carol’s lectures could put even a horse to sleep with her monotone voice and lectures straight off her power points. “If only she would let us out even 5 minutes early,” I thought. “Ohhhh, if only!”
A two and a half hour class should never exist. I mean, a normal human being only has an attention span of 45 minutes on a certain subject before their brains become exhausted and can’t comprehend as sharply. Depressingly, I reached in my bag and grabbed out my stash of chocolates I sack around with me. One by one, I unwrapped the mushy pieces to see how coincidentally sad-looking my chocolate was too. Frustrated, I licked the candy as everyone around me stared. “Thirty more minutes,” I thought. “Just thirty more minutes until I’m freed and able to get some real food.”
These writing pieces were inspired by my surroundings and past experiences that make my writing process more enjoyable and memorable. When I look back on how my writing has improved, I can definitely say that everything around me influences and inspires me to become a more creative and unique writer. After many readings and great lectures, I now realize the impact of how powerful "place" is to a piece of writing.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Research
As I browse through my finalized product of my weebly website, I can see how my writing has been improved by my researching skills. Assignments such as the oral history and collaborative research assignment have allowed me to understand the importance of field research, note-taking, teamwork, as well as narrative inquiries. I learned how hierarchy is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad when working in a team. To explain, when work is divided among a group and each person is only responsible for only their portion of the assignment, the only person that is going to truly learn the information is that one person; it’s obvious that each member will only learn their specific area of study. Likewise, during the collaborative research assignment I learned that our group was constantly leaning toward quantitative research more than the qualitative research. In certain situations, I found that you must adjust your research questions in order to accommodate the right type of research you are looking for; otherwise, you may be researching more quantitative information when you really want qualitative research.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Technology
After spending over 4 months in this course, I finally came to the realization of how important the internet truly is to me. If I had to be honest with those of you viewing my page, I'd have to say that I am definitely an obsessive Facebooker, emailer, Googler, blogger, and even instant messenger pretty much 365 days a year. A little obsessive, right? Yeah, I know. But if you really want to know what I mean by this, this is what I'm talking about. I hit up Facebook, because it's popular and an easy way to find out the scoop about everyone's drama. I'm constantly checking my emails because it's the easiest way for others to notify or send me important information. I rely on Google to inform me about everything and anything because it's fast and also the most convenient. I write in my blogs because all my classes require it, and I enjoy the public's opinions. And yes, I really do use instant message, because it's so much less intimidating than conversing with someone in real life. So basically, my confession is that I am a daily user of the internet, as are millions and probably even billions of others out there. But whether or not everyone else's reasoning for usage is the same as mine, they're probably relatively close. Below, I have lines from the piece “Rock My Network” to support my thoughts.
“In an era of text messaging, online shopping, and movies on demand, why would anyone do anything more than a day or two in advance? It’s not that we’re lazy or bratty or glib; it’s just that we’re fast. We know how to access all kinds of information, and we have absolute confidence in the tools at our disposal…I spend the majority of my time searching the Internet for new communities and ways to connect… Plazes.com yet? Is it worth it to make a profile on Consummating? Am I hip enough for Nerve?… Can I be a part of Geocaching.com without having a GPS? Are the people on Fark.com my kind people, and should I spend my time and energy making a profile?… I’ve had more than two hundred Friendsterviews in the past week. Beat that!… Every morning before I brush my teeth, I check my phone for text messages and sign in to my AOL instant messenger. I need everyone I know to know I’m awake…. Do I have any new e-mails, messages or views, bulletins, invitations, or friend requests? Do I have recent comments on my blog or mentions on my friends’ blogs? My celebrity status is uncomfortably quantifiable… I flip through the messages to see where and when my friends went last night, tracking their progress through various bars and noting the crossed paths, I check the: MapQuest map that displays their locations and their proximity to one another. I note how close Christopher and Tom were last night, only a block away, but see that they never met up…. Not a day goes by when I don’t send out or accept a new: friend request. It’s a beautiful example of mutually assured popularity… I click through the profiles: of my friends to the profiles of their friends of friends and friends of friends of friends, always aware of the little bar at the top of each profile indicating my multiple connections… On Facebook, I skip from profile to profile by clicking on the faces of posted pictures. I find a picture of my sister and her boyfriend, click on his face, and jump right to his page… Pictures are extremely necessary for enticing new friends and fans, the more pictures, the better. I change my pictures at least once a week… I click on the Friendster “who’s viewed me” bar to see who has stumbled upon my profile over the last day, week, or month, and if people I don’t know have checked me out, I immediately check them back. I get an adrenaline rush when I find out that a friend of a friend I was always interested in is evidently interested in me, too, and wants to make a connection. Just imagine if we could be this good in person. Online, everyone has a bulletproof social armor… Not only does my online profile need to be tended to and updated regularly, but the text messages demand a prompt response… I also use instant messenger as a tool for keeping track of my exes. I know when they sign on, and I read their away messages. I can keep track of what’s happening in their lives without their ever knowing I still care. Good or bad day, sick or asleep, I see what they’re doing. I know at all times if and when they’re on the Internet… I honestly don’t know why anyone wants to socialize in public anymore. It’s so difficult to concentrate on talking to just one’ person at a time. Eye contact isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and facial expressions are so hard to control…” (Stites)
As I read the piece “Rock My Network” in the writings of “Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers,” I couldn’t help by catch myself constantly shaking my head in agreement with every word. Many times I found the reading to be quite shameful yet very truthful in today’s society. Just think. Is it not true that the world has vastly become dependent on technology and its growing mobility out there? Are our internet providers not racing to market the quickest and most affordable devices to all sellers before their competitors? I mean, if you took a poll of the few people located just around you, how many of them would have a Facebook, a personal blog, or simply rely on the internet to get them the majority of their information? How many of them would have a Blackberry, an iPhone, a Droid, a cell phone with internet or wifi? A lot right? Now, how many of them would agree with being a daily user or visit their Facebook at least two-to-three times, or any chance they get during the day? Once again, a lot right? Even if I, myself, had to be honest and describe my relationship with the internet, I’d have to admit that I am also among the obsessive users that are hooked on my friends’ statuses that quickly become updated minute-by-minute, day-by-day. Like Theordra Stites said, I “live for smiles on MySpace, winks on Match.com, and pokes on Facebook.” (Stites)
So the question I’ve been pondering throughout this realm of technology is this; in the year 2011, where high speed internet has hit an all time high of 150/35 megabits per second (Mbps) with Verizon FiOS network, is it “okay” to be a compulsive internet user? Is it unhealthy for me to want to Google everything rather than look it up in an encyclopedia? Should I not be constantly stalking my friends, or their friends, or their friend’s friends’ Facebook statuses? Should I delete my RSS Feed and stop tweeting about all my feelings and daily activities so that the public can no longer be informed? Or is this all normal and expected from a typical 21 year old college student like me? All I can say is that in today’s fast and openly public society, all we care about is getting or sharing information quick and through the simplest way possible- the internet.
Since the internet is here and quickly engulfing the lives of the newer generation of students, everything seems to revolve around it. For instance, this semester, four out of six of my classes require weekly or even daily responses, postings, summaries, tweets, etc, etc, etc, as apart of a major grade in each and every one of these four classes. Everything seems to be based upon posting your every detail in life for the public to see as well as publishing your reflective blogs for others to comment on. Nothing is ever written out on paper anymore. Either submit it on Blackboard 9, Google Doc it, or send a Microsoft attachment to their email address. Technology is definitely the new trend. If I had to put in my two senses, I would say my words are meant to be voiced out to the billions of strangers out there who are also doing the same thing. Post it, link it, attach it, share. Why not? Everyone’s doing it.
By using different sites and styles of online writing such as tumblr, weebly, reflective blogs, twitterive, facebook, etc, etc, etc, I have definitely been able to “connect” myself to a completely different aspect of writing that I’ve never realized before. Truthfully, I find that when I share my thoughts, opinions, and even my profiles on public sites, I realize how personal I get with my postings. To explain, I have found that my online identity posted on my twitterive, reflective blog, as well as my facebook page are all truthful representations of my “real” identity that come from my conscious writing. Similar to Stites’s work of literature, the information that I express on my weebly, twitterive, and even my reflective blog posts are more of my daily expression with words rather than formal writing and falsely interpreted styles of me. My tweets, facebook statuses, blogs, etc, etc, etc, are all the real me. On the web, I type freely. I let out everything that’s on my mind and only go back for seldom typos here and there. And truthfully, I think that is what’s so great and engaging about personal blogs and social networking. It shows the true side of people and simply let’s people show others who they are, both socially and educational wise.