Fayeann's Rough Draft

2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey was simply brilliant. This film was set in the year 2001 but produced in 1968. The movie is predicting the future, or what Kubrick thinks will be the future. 2001: A Space Odyssey is based off a novel by Arthur C. Clarke. This amazes me because of the fact that this movie has very little dialogue or narration. At the current time when the movie was first released, no one had ever seen anything like this. Might I add, it was released, coincidentally, at the height of the space race between the USSR and the US. No other writer was as innovative as Kubrick. This movie was the very first serious science fiction movie ever produced. Even though Kubrick played a major role in making this film, all the credit should not go to one single person. The music that was used was phenomenal. The actors for the time were outstanding, and the technology that was available was sufficient.
I would like to think of this movie of a story of evolution. Others think that it is the best science-fiction film of all time about exploration of the unknown. A movie coming from the 60’s with as little technology as they had, this statement is huge. The ideas and predictions Kubrick had were fascinating and simply clever. When Dr. David Bowmen talks to his little girl via video chat all the spectators were intrigued by the thought of this. Of course not everyone had the technology available then to do that, but today we do. It is not unusual for someone to use video chats on a day-to-day basis.
This film is intriguing in the sense that symbolism is used throughout it’s entirety. I watched it the first time and thought I picked up on most things. It wasn’t till the second time that I caught more, and I am sure after watching the movie more and more I could pick up on more things. For example, when the monkeys are playing with the bones. They realize these can be used as weapons. This is the first realization as technology.
As mentioned above, there is very little dialogue or narration used. In today’s day and age this is very strange. If there is not someone always talking or doing something, it is assumed that it is boring. Instead of words, a lot of music is incorporated. Classical music is used throughout. It is designed perfectly, and sends out emotional cues that are like no other. Kubrick creates a work of art with this film, more or less a moving silent picture.
I have heard many individuals who dislike this film. They say it’s to boring and hard to follow. I beg to differ. I enjoy movies that have hidden clues in them. They make you think, they are not blunt like most are today. You can watch the movie again and again and you could pick up on something new every time. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a masterpiece. Especially coming from it’s time. To think all of this was possible from writer is stunning.

Wrapping Up!

As I have talked about in my last few blogs, we have been working on a group project. Well it's about that time, we are almost finished! Today we taped the video. We taped it a couple of times in hopes of capturing the perfect video. Tomorrow we are editing the video. While we are doing that we are going to practice our presentation together, each saying there own speaking parts. I am very excited to see the finished project. We have worked very hard, we have learned a lot and although it has been fun we are ready for it to be over with.

Group #2 Blog

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I have been working on a group project. Since last week our group has been working hard on it. We are still in the planning process, and things are coming along. We plan on shooting the video on the tenth of November. We are writing our script and it will be word for word. We are having every little detail included. Some of my group members have said they know how to use movie maker, so on that part I am relying on them, although I am willing to learn. Our project is time consuming but we are willing to put the time into it. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Group Projects

In my English 103 class we got assigned a group project. The project has to be either a short video or a website. The topic was left somewhat vague as long as it had something to do with technology. So far my group has had trouble with attendance. One day one member will be gone and the next a different one will be gone. So it was kinda hard to pick a topic. Since it was a group project I feel everyone should be equally involved. But we have picked our topic and I am very excited about it. Hopefully now we can all be in attendance to class and have a great project.

Creativity

I love being creative! I like to be able to use my imagination to form new and ideas and projects. They are original, they are mine. Anyone can be creative, you can express yourself in general or how you feel. I like using graphs or some kind of table or diagram. It really enhances your writing. It emphasizes whatever you are writing, and it brings color to the page. It explains things, and best of all it gives the results! Some people might be confused on the data, but if they can visually see it, it becomes much more clear. There are so many different variations of graphs that are available. It is up to you which one you like or which one you think fits the best. It's all about you being creative, and expressing your own thoughts and ideas!

How do I start this paper?

For many of us starting a paper or any writing can be difficult. It might be the hardest part of the whole writing. We know what we want to say, we have the ideas and thoughts we want to share. There are many ways to start a writing. It is difficult for me to choose because I know someone else will be critiquing it. I never know what they like, I have found some to be biased. For example, one of my high school teachers would never let me open a writing with a question.While I found other teachers I had liked a question for the opening. I feel you should be able to start your writing however you wish as long as it sounds good and flows nicely. So go ahead start with the question, start with the quotation, start with the background information!

Comparing and Contrasting... We do it more than you think!

We compare and contrast things on a daily basis, but do you realize we are really doing it? When we are standing in the supermarket trying to pick between two items we don't think let me compare and contrast between these two. For example we automatically look at the calories, protein, or even the price to see which one is the best fit. Or when we are waiting for the big game to start and the announcers are talking about the two teams. They are clearly comparing and contrasting the two. They are pointing out there negatives and positives. The only time I really think about comparing and contrasting two things is when I have to for a paper, or when it is an assignment. Truth is we all do it everyday.

Are you really reading?

When given a reading assignment all kids are excited and can't wait to tear into the new book. Do you think this is the truth? No, it's a hasty generalization. Not all kids love reading, when saying "all kids are excited and can't wait to tear into the new book" is false. Everyone knows that some kids hate reading. Or as I must admit I am guilty, sometimes read but let it go in one ear and out the other. I sometimes day dream, in result I don't get a thing from the reading. I was first introduced to logical fallacies last year in my AP English class. I like logical fallacies because I think it can be fun to read along and see which one the author is using. This helps me pay close attention and concentrate more on the reading. I enjoy reading, reading can be a fun thing, you just have to find your nitch.

Analyzing- Who? What? Why? When? Where?

Good Afternoon,
As I was reading our assignment from the trusty Norton Field Guide to Writing I picked up some helpful tips on analyzing papers. Usually my best writing comes from free writings. I write and write and then i am finished, but I never know if it's the right thing. I am always second guessing myself. Did I stay on topic? Does this makes sense to the readers? Or it is simply missing something. What takes me forever in writing my papers are answering these questions. I never know, but by analyzing my paper asking myself certain question, answers all these problems. It can also beef up your paper if you need a longer paper. And the good thing about that is it is quality content, not just filler. So next time your stuck on a paper or aren't sure of it ask the analyzing questions.
-Fayeann

Proofreading: Read individual words instead to read for meaning

Everyone has always been taught to not read individual words on the page and instead read for meaning. This is usually the case in reading content. That is except for proofreading. In proofreading you slow down and look carefully at each sentence. Checking for grammatical and spelling errors. Proofreading for me, is where I sometimes fall short. I get to caught up in the story to slow down and really read my work. This along with peer editing can drastically improve any paper. This week from reading the Norton Field Guide to Writing taught me to relax and break down my paper.

How is that paper coming along?

This week I was assigned to read some pages in the Norton Field guide to writing. In reading my assignment I realized everything I had read I had already been taught. It was all review for me, no new content was provided. The section that interested me was titled "Getting Response and Revising." The thing that I found odd was I knew most of the content, but to be honest in my writings I didn't use these tactics. It was like I knew but these readings were a much needed refresher. After reading this assignment I feel I can already make improvements in my paper. All I have to do is ask myself questions such as what did you think when you first saw the title, is there sufficient support for the thesis, or is the ending satisfying. It always helps to write a paper and step back, or have a friend read it. This week, what I learned was always remember the basic principals of writing and you will be successful.

Specific details are more important than labels

" Specific details are also more effective than labels, which give little meaningful information. Instead of saying that someone is a "moron" or "really smart," it's better to give details so that readers can understand the reasons behind the label: what does this person say or do that makes him or her deserve this label?" This little excerpt was from The Norton Field Guide To Writing I read for my English 103 class. This excerpt says it all, if your not going to use good description your writing is meaningless. Your readers will have no idea what you are talking about. Although you don;t realize it because you were the one who was there, you lived it, you saw it, you breathed it. Now it is your turn to describe it!

Which tool is right for you??

How many of you have sat for hours trying to start a paper? Just trying to gather some thoughts and creating a thesis statement can be pretty tough. I think that is the hardest part in writing a paper. Once you get started you can just jump in and get the flow. But finding the flow can be difficult. There are many tools that can make generating ideas a simple concept. You just have to figure out which one is right for you. Most of these principles we have been familiar with since elementary school.
We all know the basics free writing, clustering, listing, discovery drafting, and outlining. However there are other tools we can use we aren't as familiar with or we have been using them this whole time and don't realize it. for example looping. cubing, questioning, and letter writing. If you would follow just one of theses idea generating tools you would be quite surprised how many new aspects you come across. These tools can improve papers tremendously, you just have to find the right fit for you.

Blog #1 Audience, How important is it?

Audience is one of the most important rhetorical situations. Whatever your writing be a paper, article, report, poem whatever it is targeting the correct audience is a must. You could be writing anything and if your not relating to the reader they are not going to be interested. That's why it is crucial you find your target audience. This could range from a vast majority some include gender, age, political views, religious views, and previous knowledge of the subject. My point is audience is a major make it or break it factor in any writing.