I found the Hacker quizzes to be very helpful because I have problems with writing in proper format. I don’t usually have issues with writing on a topic, but I often do not consider formal writing techniques. There are three lessons that were most helpful to me because I didn’t understand how to use them before. The first exercise, "active and passive verbs”, was a technique in writing that I didn’t know was important. Now I understand the difference between the two and I see why it is important to use active sentences verses passive. They are more powerful and effective for getting the message across to the reader. The exercise on “needed words” was important for me to study because I often put in the word “that” where it isn’t necessary. After I finish writing a story or paper for class I will proof read my work and find an excessive number of “That’s.” It can be extremely annoying for the reader and take away from the message.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Prioritized Class List of "What makes a good story"
1. Be logical: a story should make sense
2. Grammar and Structure
3. Using good resources to find legit information.
4. Good choice of words but has to make sense
5. When it is made for the reader to understand. Target audience.
6. Personalized stories with your own words and ideas are more meaningful and interesting
7. Imagination: Being creative makes it more interesting to read, and more engaging.
8. Creative: Should be something new that makes story more interested and different
9. Transition from one point to another
10. Introduction: Needs to catch your attention and make you want to keep reading to find out what happens.
11. Has a good hook in the beginning
12. Creative body could make readers not loose their interests in your story
13. Conclusion that summarizes main points of the story
14. Clear and intresting ending
15. Attractive clues that makes you want to read more.
16. Mystery: don't make the topic be extremely obvious. allow the reader to actually think about it and try to figure things out for themselves.
17. Pace: How fast the story moves shouldn't be to fast or to slow
18. Emotion: The ability to connect to the emotions of what is happening
19. Put facts from least to most important.
2. Grammar and Structure
3. Using good resources to find legit information.
4. Good choice of words but has to make sense
5. When it is made for the reader to understand. Target audience.
6. Personalized stories with your own words and ideas are more meaningful and interesting
7. Imagination: Being creative makes it more interesting to read, and more engaging.
8. Creative: Should be something new that makes story more interested and different
9. Transition from one point to another
10. Introduction: Needs to catch your attention and make you want to keep reading to find out what happens.
11. Has a good hook in the beginning
12. Creative body could make readers not loose their interests in your story
13. Conclusion that summarizes main points of the story
14. Clear and intresting ending
15. Attractive clues that makes you want to read more.
16. Mystery: don't make the topic be extremely obvious. allow the reader to actually think about it and try to figure things out for themselves.
17. Pace: How fast the story moves shouldn't be to fast or to slow
18. Emotion: The ability to connect to the emotions of what is happening
19. Put facts from least to most important.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Group Assignment for 1/24/12
8.1 Active vs Passive verbs
Active verbs form more powerful and effective sentances than passive verbs. (Using passive verbs isn't wrong but can be used intentionally to soften the action, downplay the main character, or when we don't know who the main character is).
How to recognize active and passive sentances.
8.2 Active vs Be verbs
Sentences that use be verbs are more week than sentences that use active verbs. (For example: be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been).
Be Verb: Sudden loss of weight can be an indicator of many serious health problems.
Active: Sudden loss of weight can indicate many serious health problems.
8.3 Active verbs (edit and compare)
Active: Furkan cleans the room every week.
Passive: The room is cleaned by Furkan every week.
Active verbs form more powerful and effective sentances than passive verbs. (Using passive verbs isn't wrong but can be used intentionally to soften the action, downplay the main character, or when we don't know who the main character is).
How to recognize active and passive sentances.
- Find the subject (main character)
- Find the main verb (the action)
- Examine the relationship between the two (who is performing the action?)
- If the subject is performing the action then it is active
- If something else (named or unnamed) is performing the action then it is passive
8.2 Active vs Be verbs
Sentences that use be verbs are more week than sentences that use active verbs. (For example: be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been).
Be Verb: Sudden loss of weight can be an indicator of many serious health problems.
Active: Sudden loss of weight can indicate many serious health problems.
8.3 Active verbs (edit and compare)
Active: Furkan cleans the room every week.
Passive: The room is cleaned by Furkan every week.
Monday, January 23, 2012
My "Problem" Topic
I chose to study the appropriate use of commas, parenthesis, and dashes in regards to non-restrictive elements in sentences. A non-restrictive element is information that interrupts the flow of a sentence but adds important information.
Commas:
I chose to study this topic because I like using dashes in my writing. I now realize I may have been using them incorrectly. I feel like it is a fun way to break up information while using a different sentence structure.
Commas:
- The people of Haiti, who for decades have lived with grinding poverty and mind-numbing violence, are unfamiliar with the workings of a true democracy.
- Mr. Grundy's driving record (with one small exception) was exemplary.
- Mr. Grundy's driving record -- with one exception -- was exemplary.
I chose to study this topic because I like using dashes in my writing. I now realize I may have been using them incorrectly. I feel like it is a fun way to break up information while using a different sentence structure.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What makes a good story?
-Organization: Intro, body, conclusion
-Interesting topic
-Theme related to topic
-Transition from one point to another
-Statement of topic and sub topics
-Good choice of words but has to make sense
-Spelling
-Grammar
-Has a specific message for the reader
-Uses a unqiue/original writing style
-Interesting topic
-Theme related to topic
-Transition from one point to another
-Statement of topic and sub topics
-Good choice of words but has to make sense
-Spelling
-Grammar
-Has a specific message for the reader
-Uses a unqiue/original writing style
Story In a Box
Charished Memories
Through out my house there are items that paint a picture of the past. The décor is dusty, old, and mismatched but it is intriguing to those who see it. Each item has a story behind it that I will be more than happy to tell you about. I am now an 83-year-old woman with the spirit of the young hearted girl that I once was. My most cherished memories are those that are related to 12 items sitting on a shelf in my livingroom.
Through out my house there are items that paint a picture of the past. The décor is dusty, old, and mismatched but it is intriguing to those who see it. Each item has a story behind it that I will be more than happy to tell you about. I am now an 83-year-old woman with the spirit of the young hearted girl that I once was. My most cherished memories are those that are related to 12 items sitting on a shelf in my livingroom.
I was a young woman, fresh out of college, with an ambition to do more than settle down and get married. I spent the next 7 years of my life working and volunteering for various organizations. I began my journey teaching English to young children in China. That winter I came down with a terrible fever. Some of my students became concerned and sent an elderly woman to take care of me. She boiled a pot of water and poured it in a cup. Before letting me drink it she dropped in three small chestnuts. It was an old Chinese remedy for curing a fever. She gave me an extra handful of chestnuts to use as needed. Then she covered my shoulders with a cloth that had a pink floral pattern on it. Soon after, I overcame the fever. Nine months later my contract was fulfilled and my visa was on the verge of expiration--it was time for me to leave. On the day I left, each of my students gave me a small gift. I received a stamp made of Jade. In Chinese it said “Inspiration.” Another student was the daughter of a craftsman from Mongolia. She gave me one of the handmade wallets her father made. It had a picture of an elephant on the front. In Mongolia, Elephants are the symbol of knowledge. The last item I received was a Singaporean coin collection which was titled “The year of the Dog.” The boy who gave it to me loved collecting things that related to his horoscope. He bought the collection from a local pawn shop. After the gift exchange I went to the airport and boarded a plane. I was headed to Africa for my next project.
I arrived in Kenya to volunteer at the Amboseli National Park to help preserve wildlife while spreading awareness to local communities about the benefits of eco-tourism. I often worked closely with the local Maasai tribe. I remember a young woman who was an artist. She created the most beautiful sculptures that were modeled after the traditional art pieces from her tribe. I loved her work so much and I bought a small sculpture of a woman. My time in Africa was short but I will never forget it.
I arrived in Kenya to volunteer at the Amboseli National Park to help preserve wildlife while spreading awareness to local communities about the benefits of eco-tourism. I often worked closely with the local Maasai tribe. I remember a young woman who was an artist. She created the most beautiful sculptures that were modeled after the traditional art pieces from her tribe. I loved her work so much and I bought a small sculpture of a woman. My time in Africa was short but I will never forget it.
After my work in Kenya was finished I flew north of Africa for a relaxing vacation in the Mediterranean Sea. I had spent almost two years working non-stop and needed some ‘me’ time. I found myself on the small Island of Gozo located off the coast of Italy. I fell in love with a young local man who was a glass blower for a living. The romance was short-lived but never forgotten. Upon my departure he gave me a small, turquoise jar that was corked at the top. Inside was a note which has never been read. While taking the ferry back to the mainland of Italy I found myself in a conversation with the owner of an archeological museum in Bulgaria. He invited me to come work there as a tour interpreter. I decided to take up the offer. After a month the owner and I ended up eloping. We lived in a small cottage with his mother. She was a horrible old woman who hated me because I wasn't the Bulgarian daughter-in-law she dreamed of. Her hobby was in the doll making business. Her favorite doll was bald and had piercing blue eyes. One night we got in an argument and I was pushed into the shelf and knocked it down breaking its head off. I was forever blamed. About a year later, I finally was fed up enough to leave. I took the head and headed out the door, never to return.
At this point I had no plan in mind so I decided to go back to teaching. I found an organization who taught geometry to children in Peru. The schools in the local community were under-funded so we provided supplies such as compasses, rulers, and books. Outside of teaching I spent my free time exploring the natural and historic wonders of Peru. I bought many souvenirs from local shops; my favorites were a wooden cut-out of a man playing a drum and a clay depiction of a “finca” farm house. Once my contract ended in Peru I decided it was time to return home.
I ended up back in Minnesota working towards preservation against pollution of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Here I dedicated 25 years of my life educating children and visitors of this area. As a symbol of this I keep a small canoe on a shelf with 11 other items from my most cherished memories.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Story in a Box- Inventory List
1. "Finca" Display Finca is the Spanish word meaning Farm. This piece is molded and carved out of a material that appears to be clay. It shows a house with an attached garage, a yard, and some trees.
2. 12 inch ruler A wooden ruler with inches on one side and centimeters on the other. A typical ruler that you would find in many classrooms.
3. "Year of the Dog" Singapore coin collection A booklet containing 6 different Singaporean coins. There is an assortment of sizes, five are silver or nickle and one is copper. On the left side there is a description of their meaning.
4. Chestnuts Three small chestnuts, dark brown in color, and of different sizes.
5. Wooden Peruvian Carving This wooden carving, no more than a foot high, is of a Peruvian man beating a drum. His gaze is focused, feet in motion, and scarf is moving in the wind as though his body was in motion--moving to the beat of his own drum.
6. Small glass Container The small hand-blown glass bottle is from the Island of Gozo which is located of the coast of Italy. The colors in the glass are turquoise and tan. It is plugged at the opening with a cork.
7. 200-year-old cloth A cloth about the length and width of a pillow case made of a material you would find on a sofa. The pattern is pink and turquoise flowers on a grayish-silver background.
8. Wooden Head The head of a women with piercing blue eyes, ruby red lips, and dark brows. She is bald, and body-less.
9. Mongolian hand stiched billfold A wallet which appears to be stitched by hand. It has a picture of an elephant on it. Inside contains folds and pockets for money. It contain 50 Euros.
10. Maasai Sculpture An ebony sculpture of a tall, slender African women. She is young and beautiful.
11. Chinese Jade stamp A small handheld pillar with very detailed carvings at the top and a red stamp with Chinese writing on the bottom. It is carved out of Jade. Many can find this traditional item at local shops in China.
12. Native American Canoe About the length of a 12'' ruler, this item appears to be completely handmade from pieces of tree bark and bond together with twine.
2. 12 inch ruler A wooden ruler with inches on one side and centimeters on the other. A typical ruler that you would find in many classrooms.
3. "Year of the Dog" Singapore coin collection A booklet containing 6 different Singaporean coins. There is an assortment of sizes, five are silver or nickle and one is copper. On the left side there is a description of their meaning.
4. Chestnuts Three small chestnuts, dark brown in color, and of different sizes.
5. Wooden Peruvian Carving This wooden carving, no more than a foot high, is of a Peruvian man beating a drum. His gaze is focused, feet in motion, and scarf is moving in the wind as though his body was in motion--moving to the beat of his own drum.
6. Small glass Container The small hand-blown glass bottle is from the Island of Gozo which is located of the coast of Italy. The colors in the glass are turquoise and tan. It is plugged at the opening with a cork.
7. 200-year-old cloth A cloth about the length and width of a pillow case made of a material you would find on a sofa. The pattern is pink and turquoise flowers on a grayish-silver background.
8. Wooden Head The head of a women with piercing blue eyes, ruby red lips, and dark brows. She is bald, and body-less.
9. Mongolian hand stiched billfold A wallet which appears to be stitched by hand. It has a picture of an elephant on it. Inside contains folds and pockets for money. It contain 50 Euros.
10. Maasai Sculpture An ebony sculpture of a tall, slender African women. She is young and beautiful.
11. Chinese Jade stamp A small handheld pillar with very detailed carvings at the top and a red stamp with Chinese writing on the bottom. It is carved out of Jade. Many can find this traditional item at local shops in China.
12. Native American Canoe About the length of a 12'' ruler, this item appears to be completely handmade from pieces of tree bark and bond together with twine.
"Who Am I?"
When 20 different members of our class were asked the question "What do people write about when they are asked 'Who am I?'" many came up with similar answers. People often start with the simple stuff like where they are from/grew up, how old they are, about their family background, cultural traits, religious values and so on. This gives the writer a chance to set the reader up with background information. Many will go on to write about who they are in the present. They will say things about their values, personality, hobbies, and interests. Also they will talk about what they are going to school for and where they work and why. Describing yourself in the past and present aren't they only ways people can express themselves. Often they will tell a reader about their future goals, not only who they are but who they want to be. All of these are examples of who we are as people.
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