Honors History Blog #4

1. What did you gain from your experiences as an honors student in the first semester (please consider novels, leadership opportunities, writing, history, projects, etc.)?

• From my experiences as an honors student this past semester, I believe I have grown as a writer and as a student. By being required to take on additional responsibilities during projects, such as critiquing and editing other's papers, I have become better and more skilled in those areas. So, by looking over the work of others, I have gotten better at looking over my own work, and writing so as to avoid mistakes I may see being made by others.

2. Discuss what you might have done differently if you could do this past semester of honors over again.

• If I were to do this past semester of Honors Humanities over again, one thing I might have done differently would be choosing Honors book that truly interest me. Although none of the three books I chose over the past semester were necessarily boring, had I looked into it before hand and chosen books that seemed like they would captivate me, rather than just choosing one, I may have been able to enjoy this portion of Honors work a little bit more.

3. Discuss your goals for honors in the second semester.

• For next semester's Honors, my goals would be to read my Honors books quicker so that I am not hurrying at the last minute to finish them, in addition to choosing a book that I like, and continue to keep on top of Honors assignments, either individual ones such as blogs, or in a specific role during a project.

4. If you could choose any specific parts of literature and/or history for our honors work next semester, what would you pick and why?

• If I could choose a specific part of literature or history to focus on for my honors work next semester, I'm not sure what I would select. There's not necessarily a particular area in which I have a direct interest in - I'd be open to most literature or history, as long as it was presented in an interesting manner.

Honors History Blog #3

The New Deal is a series of economic programs implemented by the United States Congress, under 32^nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. These programs were a response to the Great Depression, with goals of relieving to poor and unemployed, recovering the economy to normal levels, and reforming the country’s financial system in order to prevent a repeat depression. The New Deal represented a major transfer in political and domestic policy in the United States, and ultimately resulted in a long-lasting increase in Federal government regulations in the economy. Some programs included in the New Deal were the Wealth Tax Act, in which inheritance taxes were increased in an attempt to redistribute the wealth, and the Federal Writer’s Program, which gave jobs to writers, musicians, artists, and theatre personnel. Acts such as these were successful in stimulating the economy after the previous financial crisis, and, if implemented correctly, similar acts could be helpful in stimulating today’s economy.

One such act that I believe could be utilized today in an attempt to stimulate the economy today, during the time being heralded as ‘The Great Recession’, would be the Economy Act. This act, drafted by Budget Director Lewis Williams Douglas and passed on March 14^th, 1933, was proposed to balance the Federal budget. This was attempted by cutting the salaries of government employees and cutting the pensions to war veterans by fifteen percent – the result of these cut was a saving of $500 million per year. If a similar program was enacted today, maybe not to such a high degree, millions of dollars could be saved, and the country could become less in debt.

Another act that could have the potential of helping the economy of today would be the Works Progress Administration. This program hired single women, widows, or women with disabled or absent husbands, usually in jobs pertaining to sewing or the arts. By giving jobs to those who would otherwise have had a difficult time sustaining themselves and their families, the economy was stimulated, and, as intended, relief was given to the poor and unemployed. If a program such as this one was initiated today, there could be a boost in the economy. An act like the Works Progress Administration nowadays could be aimed towards not just women, but anyone who has a higher need for a job, such as a single parent.

If acts similar to either of the ones listed above were enacted today, perhaps we could pull out of this ‘Great Recession’ in a way like we did the Great Depression.

Honors History Blog #2

Dear Mr. President:

          As you know, the time we are in right now is being heralded as 'The Great Recession'; nearly eight billion jobs have been lost already. This time of weakness in our economy has led to loss of faith in the Government, and something needs to be done about it. If you want to be popular as a president, and have any hope for re-election next term, you need to start taking steps towards figuring out a solution to this recession. Perhaps, since this current financial crisis is being considered, by many economists, the worst sinces the Great Depression of the 1930's, we should take some hints from the man who helped to get us out of that issue - Franklin D. Roosevelt.

          Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States of America, during a time of economic crisis and world war. He was inaugurated in 1933, during one of the darkest times of the Great Depression, and was liked by the people of the United States so much that he was the only President elected to more than two terms. Roosevelt took many steps to drag the country out of the Great Depression, such as initiating public works programs to get American citizens back on their feet, thus stimulating the economy. Additionally, he proposed and passed regulations to control and stabalize the stock market, and proclaimed a 'Bank Holiday', which halted the collapse of banks. Through these bold steps, among others, FDR was able to help the country through the Great Depression.

          Wouldn't you like to be known for something great, such as pulling the United States out of the second greatest financial crisis it has seen? I believe you do, and so you should indeed follow some of the initiatives set by Franklin Roosevelt. You have already passed a bill for Universal Health Care, which is a step in the right direction, in getting this country out of the current recession. It has been said that your defeat of John mcCain in the 2008 Presidential election was the most important victory of a Democratic candidate since 1932; since Franklin Roosevelt. You have the opprutunity, and ability, to pull your country out of the financial crisis it is in. Because of his actions, FDR was re-elected multiple times - whether or not you will be is based on how you respond to this crisis.

Works Cited

Coll, Steve. "The Test : The New Yorker." National and World News, Profiles, Culture, Reviews, Fiction, Poetry : The New Yorker. Nov. 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/10/081110taco_talk_coll>.

"Franklin D. Roosevelt." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt>.

Packer, George. "Obama, the Economic Crisis, and the Democrats : The New Yorker." National and World News, Profiles, Culture, Reviews, Fiction, Poetry : The New Yorker. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/17/081117fa_fact_packer>.

Federalism vs. Anti-Federalism

The two stark viewpoints throughout U.S. history have been Federalist (wanting a strong, centralized government) and anti-Federalist (wanting a less-centralized government, more for state’s rights). One instance in our country’s history when these views have been apparent was during the Civil War. The Civil War was a war between the states that took place between 1861 and 1865, in which the North fought to bring the South back after their attempt to secede from the nation. The South had tried to secede over the issue of state’s rights, and their fight for anti-Federalism was in part a fight for slavery. In the end, the North won, and so did Federalism.

Interview:

What is federalism?

·       A strong central government.

What is anti-federalism?

·       Power should be maintained by the states.

In the civil war, which side was which?

·       So, the North were Federalists, and the South were anti-Federalists because they didn’t believe the federal government should be able to tell them they shouldn’t hold slaves.

What do you feel is more going on in the U.S. now? Federalism or anti-Federalism?

·       I feel that federalism is more prevalent under the Obama administration.

Honors History Blog #1

            America’s Health Care legislation history can often be defined by several major milestones – one such being Medicare. Medicare is a United States government-administered social insurance program that provides health care coverage to those aged 65 or over, or those with other specific needs. It would appear to me that Medicare is one of the most, if not the most, significant elements of health care legislation in American history, because of the government providing health care to those who needs it most, paid through taxes from those who will need this program in the future.

              Medicare was signed into law, along with Medicaid, by President Lyndon Johnson, under the Social Security Act of 1965. This occurred twenty years after then-President Harry Truman sent a message to congress asking for the establishment of a national health insurance plan. As a result of this, at the bill-signing ceremony, Truman became the first Medicare beneficiary, and was given the first Medicare card by President Johnson. About 19 million citizens enrolled in Medicare during its first year. In 1972, amendments to the Social Security Act led to the expansion of Medicare coverage, and in 2003 President George W. Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act into law, which provided prescription drug benefits to seniors and those living with disabilities.

              In order to be eligible for Medicare, you must be a citizen of the United States, or have been living in the United States legally for five year. Age-wise, you either have to be 65 years of age or older, or be 18 or older, and have had Social Security disability benefits for at least two years, or have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease or End Stage Renal Disease.

              Medicare is made possible, and partially funded, by payroll taxes imposed by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and the Self-Employment Contributions Act of 1954. These taxes give a portion of you income to Medicare, and, in turn, you are able to partake in the program when you are older. One eligibility requirement of Medicare is having paid Medicare taxes for at least ten years, or four quarters. Some of the benefits to being a part of the Medicare Program are getting hospital insurance, medical insurance, prescription drug plans, and Medicare advantage plans, which is another way for beneficiaries to receive the rest of their benefits.

              Medicare was an important milestone in U.S. Health Care history, because, due to the rise in insurance, medical and pharmaceutical costs, it caters to the part of the population that both is at highest risk of needing treatments, and also has less of an ability to afford coverage because of a lack of regular income when retired. Despite having to pay slightly higher taxes, the general population now helps fund those who need help paying, and, in turn, buy into a Health Care program that will become available to them when they need it later on in life.



Works Cited:

"BriefHistoryofMedicare." Senior Citizen News and Information Daily On The Web at SeniorJournal.com. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/2000 Files/Aug 00/FTR-08-04-00MedCarHistry.htm>.

"Eligible." A Simple Guide to the New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.mymedicarematters.org/aboutmedicare/eligible.asp>.

Hareyan, Armen. "The History of Medicare." Emaxhealth: Daily Health News. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.emaxhealth.com/72/1272.html>.

"Medicare (United States)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)#Taxes_imposed_to_finance_Medicare>.

"Why Is Medicare Important?" Retired Senior Volunteer Program - RSVP Information. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.seniorcorps.org/medicare/why-is-medicare important/>.

Life: The Book Work Reflection

1.       What are you most proud of in your Life: The Book writing? Try to describe this is detail!

a.       In my Life: The Book writing, I am most proud of the fact that I was able to compile all of the data I collected into an informative article. In addition, I am also proud of how I wrote it – I feel that it is written in a professional manor, with very few, if any, errors.

2.       What are some changes or new ideas that you have developed in your writing through the course of this semester?

a.       Something that I have begun to incorporate into my writing throughout the past semester is the writing tips we periodically learn.  Tips, such as ‘cut down on your –ings’ and ‘what’s your engine’, help you to create a better piece of writing.

3.       If you had a little more time to work on your writing for Life: The Book, what would you do differently? What would you change about your writing?

a.       If I had a little more time to work on my writing for Life: The Book, I perhaps would have had it critiqued a few more times. Since I was absent during this process, I had a lot less feedback on my article. Although I was happy with the outcome of my article, it most likely could have been improved upon by going through a few more drafts.

4.       How has the additional element of publication in a book affected the way you approach writing?

a.       By knowing that your work is going to be published in a book, you try to make your writing more professional and polished. Both in writing and in critiquing other’s papers, you have to be necessarily more scrupulous than if it was just a paper being turned in normally. Things that may have been fine for a normal paper may not be as professional as needed for a paper that’s going to be viewed by people outside of the class.

Senate Care Health Hearings

1) My character, a small-business owner, has a main goal of not having government-run Health Care, because her business is too small to feel it's positive effects, but large enough to have to pay additional taxes towards it.

2) I want to accomplish getting my character's opinion out there, and hopefully achieving my character's goals.

3) I plan to accomplish this by delivering a persuasive, informative opening statement.

4) I am working with other members of the Republican Senate to accomplish my goals.

More Opposing Viewpoints

The topic of Government Health Care expenses relates to my article in the same was that the topic of Health Care in general did. The money used up by health care expenses could lead to less of a money flow food companies, thus creating a greater interest in Genetically Modified Foods, as a means to speed up production and create a more desirable product.

As for the topic at hand, I think that I feel the side of Public Health Care to be the more reasonable. Both anti-Government Health Care articles throw around a lot of numbers, some seeming unreasonable, but don't tell where their information is coming from. How are they supposed to have credibility if they don't cite their sources? For example, Kudlow's article states that "the existing Medicare system is roughly $80 trillion in the hole," even though we revealed in class that the total national government debt is somewhere around 13 trillion. In addition, George Will says in his article that "...over the next two decades, the average American household's health-care spending... will go from 23 percent to 41 percent of average household income,"  without stating where this data came from.

On the other hand, pro-public health care author Joel A. Harrison gives supporting information and tells where he got it from, such as in his quote : "more than 60% of the $2 trillion annual U.S. health care bill is paid through taxes, according to a 2002 analysis published in Health Affairs." He doesn't just leave you guessing. Similarly, Randall Hoven tells where he got his facts throughout the article, such as in "...according to the U.S. Statistical Abstract, government spending on health care in the U.S was $2,168 per person in 2001..." So, I think that simply by making their information credible, they would have seemed correct, but the information itself that they provide make me agree with their stance.

Opposing Viewpoints

My topic for Life: The Book is Genetically Modified Foods, and the effects  they have. I can't really make any immediate links from my topic to the topic of Health Care. However, since "...$2.4 trillion dollars, and 18 percent of our GDP..." is spent on Health Care, there has to be less money available for other uses. This may be one of the reasons companies are looking to make more money, and are turning to Genetic Engineering to get a faster, better result.

As for the issue of Government-given Health Care, I'm not sure where I stand. On the pro-health care side, I agree that, in the case of an unforeseen, unpreventable medical emergency, you shouldn't be worrying "...how will I pay for it?". When your well-being is at stake, you shouldn't have to be afraid that a doctor's visit is going to bankrupt you. And what about all those who are unable to afford Medical insurance, but require it regularly, such as the mentally ill? When they can't get treatment, the results are not good; "The US Department of Justice reports about sixteen percent of inmates; more than 300,000 people; has a mental illness.".  I can agree that Health Care should be a right, not a privilege.

On the other hand, I can see where the defnition of a 'right' has been skewed - "The true nature of rights — the type of rights the Founding Fathers believed in — involved the right of people to pursue such things as health care, education, clothing, and food and that government cannot legitimately interfere with their ability to do so.". Also, I can see how a "...health care “public option” would further increase costs and reduce individual liberty...", as it would increase costs for consumers, as well as could send the nation further into debt. Overall, I think that I believe "...health care is a fundamental right—a human right—and not just a privilege for the most fortunate."

Life : The Book & American History

The United States of America is the only industrialized country that doesn’t provide a public health care option, and so Americans need to find other ways to get their health care. Many get health care benefits from work, and others get it for little to nothing because of their position in the federal government or military. Others may qualify for federally administered health care programs, such as Medicare, which is available to persons aged 65 and over, and Medicaid for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. The rest of the population, however, is stuck paying full costs - 1/6^th of Americans have no insurance. It has been estimated how much Americans without health insurance pay per year at 124 billion dollars, which is more than the cost of the Iraq war during a one-year span. This enormous number has resulted in medical debt for many people; 62% of foreclosures in America are a product of medical debt.

 ---

A compelling character arises in narrative nonfiction or literary journalism by being someone who you can someone connect with – either in their characteristics, background or experiences. You have to actually care about the character in order for them to be compelling. For example, in ‘The Covenant’, an article from The New York Times, there are many opportunities for you to make a connection with the main character, Francis Collins – possibly in his religion, his career, his childhood, or maybe his political stances. Even if you are unable to make a specific association, you are still interested because all of these things make for an interesting read.

An attention-grabbing plot in a narrative nonfiction or literary journalism comes from the author knowing his audience, and writing in a way that they will find intriguing and are able to understand. For example, in the article ‘FDA rules won’t require labeling of genetically modified salmon’, from The Washington Post, you find yourself interested because the plot involves something that really affects everyone, and you want to know more about the topic. In addition, he doesn’t write in jargon, but rather in a way that the audience will be able to comprehend.

In order to write an article with non-jargon science, the author has to write in a way that the average reader will be able to understand. This means using terms that the audience would be familiar with, and explaining what various things mean, rather than just assuming the reader will know.

Authors encourage their readers to connect with their stories by, for one, writing about a topic that is both interesting and has something to do with the audience. Readers won’t want to spend their time reading something that they can’t connect with in any way. Another way that connects readers to the author’s story is to have characters that are compelling and relate to the average reader in some way. As I said earlier, if the reader is able to connect themselves to a character in the book, such as though their experiences or personalities, they will find themselves more involved in the writing.  

Life : The Book & Humanities

1.
      

a)      I’ll be writing about genetically modified foods, and the age that would go along with this topic would be childhood, because I would be looking into the effects that the altered food would have on children.

b)      One government agency that is involved with the topic of genetically modified food is the FDA, who makes decisions concerning genetically altered foods. For example, this article is about the FDA considering whether or not to approve the sale of genetically modified salmon. An article that I read in class explained further that the FDA also is responsible for deciding if these salmon, as well as other genetically altered foods, must be labeled accordingly, so that consumers know what they are buying. Article 

c)      This subject relates to the economy, because food is something that is always in demand. Through genetic engineering, such as is being done with the salmon in the above article, companies are able to create a larger output in less time, thus giving them more money. Article One - Talks about how the FDA favors industry profit over consumer health. Article Two - Talks about how the genetically altered foods save even more money, because they can be pest resistant, resulting in a higher yield.

2.
         

a)      Same as before, I’ll be writing about genetically modified foods, but another ‘stage’ that could be associated with this topic is ‘Beyond’, because it doesn’t really relate to any specific stage of life.

b)      The EPA is involved with genetically modified foods, because they require permits and testing for pest- and herbicide-resistant crops, and are looking into ‘superbugs’ and ‘superweeds’. This concept is that, when altered crops are herbicide resistant, creators will overspray with pesticide, without having to worry that their crops will be destroyed. However, this has led to new strands of bugs and weeds that have become resistant to the pesticides. Article

c)       Another example of a geographical/economical connection to my topic is that GM foods could be a solution to world-wide hunger. Because genetically modified foods are able to grow in and withstand harsher conditions, and produce a higher yield more quickly. Article One Article Two

Life - The Book

Three of the options, from the list we were given, that stood out to me were...

1) Genetic Screenings

          Genetic screenings during pregnancy are performed by 'inserting a hollow needle into the woman's abdomen to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from around the developing fetus.' This allows for the parents to know if their unborn child would be at risk for various genetic diseases. If the child is found to have a great genetic disease, and that they will not have a normal life, the parents could have the option to terminate the pregnancy to prevent suffering. This is somewhat controversial, because it can lead to more abortions, and so their are many groups against genetic screenings.

2) Cord Blood Banking

          Cord blood banking is the act of collecting and storing your child's umbilical cord blood for future use. This cord blood is desirable because it contains stem cells, which can be used to treat various diseases, such as leukemia or sickle cell disease, should your child ever develop it in the future, or should a family member. Cord blood banking can be viewed as expensive and unnecessary, though, considering you must pay an annual fee to keep the cord blood stored, and the estimated rate of your child actually need their cord blood is somewhere from 1:1000 to 1:200,000.

3) Genetically Modified Food

          Genetically modified food is food (animals and produce alike) that has been genetically altered in order to produce a more desirable result. It is argued that this is a cost effective method, as foods can be altered to grow faster, or be more plentiful, and genetically-engineered food can have potential benefits such as being naturally pest-resistant, which reduces the use of dangerous pesticides. People can be opposed to the idea of consuming something that has been genetically changed, and this process is too new to know of any harmful effects on the body.

Internship Brainstorming

1) The environment I envision myself working in for internship would most likely be indoors, in an office, working with computers (doing what I'm not sure), and working both alone and with others.

2) During Internship, the skills I'd require would depend on the Internship I end up with, and since I'm not sure of that, I'm not sure of what skills I'd need. However, I could imagine myself utilizing skills with various computer programs, such as PhotoShop or Excel, I've gained through school.

3) I have no specific areas, as of now, of what I'd like to learn during Internship. I would pretty much just like to learn what a job/business is really like, and hopefully in a field that I find interesting.

Twitter Article

The article I read was about the Supreme Court's case selection. I found it interesting that they were able to just choose the petitioner's that they wanted - that their selections were able to be biased based on interest. I hadn't really ever considered how the Supreme Court went about choosing the cases to try, but I definitely wouldn't have imagined that it went about this way.

The article that I found to suplement the above article is about the Snyder vs. Phelps case - which is about military funeral protests - mentioned in the previous article. I chose this article to read because it was an aspect from the Twitter article that I'd heard somewhat about before, and had found it interesting. Reading this supplementary article gave me details I hadn't known before, such as both sides of the argument, and how the WBC are defending their actions.  

'Dying for Dixie'

I recently read a chapter out of Tony Horwitz’s book, ‘Confederates in the Attic’, in which a young white man is killed by a several young black males, showing that the Civil War is still alive in some parts of the country. The root cause of Michael Westerman’s death was the Confederate Flag. It was in the Civil War that the Confederate Flag flew, and it was through different interpretations of this symbol that Westerman was killed.

Michael Westerman died by being shot, after displaying a Confederate Flag on his truck. The town he lived in, Guthrie, already had racial divisions prior to his death, which just escalated afterwards. One side of the argument over the flag is that it is a symbol of pride. The town’s high school mascot is the rebel, whose logo is two flag-waving confederates. When there was a movement to change the mascot to something else, in order to ease racial tension, there was a huge uproar. During a school-board meeting on the subject, white woman after white woman protested that their children’s rights were being taken away through equality, and that their mascot was a representation of a proud history (even though their area hadn’t even been confederates). To them, the flag stood as a sign of rebellion in general, not as a flag of the Civil War. They feel that they are being the ones discriminated against, although they are the majority and had the same rights before as they do now, and that the flag is a symbol of stopping oppression.

The other side of the argument is that the Flag is a sign of defending slavery and what went on during that time, as a racist symbol of the past. The simple sight of the flag on the back of Michael Westerman’s truck led to the three boys to shooting and killing him. Black families attending the afore-mentioned meeting felt as if they should have a say in their children’s school mascot – a mascot that stands for the pro-slavery south of the Civil War. To them, the Confederate Flag is “a way of saying what white people have kept bottled up”.

Michael ‘s views on the subject changed based on who you asked. His wife stated that he only sported the Confederate Flag because his friends had done so and he thought it looked sharp. On the other hand, his father made it out as is he had died for the Confederate cause, while others still, such as past coworkers, described him as a racist bully.

Between the two stark views, as well as Michael’s muddled ones, there are many different views and interpretations of the Confederate Flag. People take it for what they want to take it, whether as a sign of rebellion or a sign of slavery. The many interpretations are what led to Michael Westerman dying, as well as the racial differences in the town of Guthrie. Although other things may have contributed, the root cause of both events was the Confederate Flag.

Lasting Effects of the American Civil War

Click here for article.


I chose this article because it seemed interesting and tied into a current issue. This article was about the legalization of Marijuana, and was related to the American Civil War because, apparently, after the abolition of slavery during the civil war, the law that criminals are unable to vote arose. The article states that fewer black males in the deep south now count less during votes than before the civil war, because during the war, they were counted as 3/5 of a person, and now 30% of them are unable to vote because of the felony law. It also says that, although white males, statistically, should be 50% more likely to be arrested for drug possession, black males get arrested 3.5 times more, thus leading to a high felony rate.

The Constitution, The News, & You

1) The article I read was about how Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, is uncovering FDA records that tell of how the vaccination Gardasil has led to 16 deaths in the past year.
          "To say Gardasil has a suspect safety record is a big understatement. These reports are troubling and show that the FDA and other public health authorities may be asleep at the switch..."

2) This article relates to the Constitution because the group Judicial Watch, looks into government corruption, such as things that may be unconstitutional, and prosecute them. As such, they are investigating the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which is part of the federal government, as stated in the Constitution.

3) This article interested me because it was about a group that looked for corruption within the government, and seeks out things that may be unconstitutional and try to right them. As the name - Judicial Watch - shows, this is somewhat similar to the Judicial branch of government, in that the Judicial branch has the right to overturn laws that are deemed unconstitutional.

What Stands Out So Far

What stands out to you in your learning?

          -What stands out to me in our learning so far this year is how quickly we jump into things, and, even so early in the year, that we are capable of it. We started the American Icons project nearly at the start of the year, and managed to wrap it up in less than a month. Even though school had just began, we managed to produce quality work in the time given, by doing multiple drafts of our writing and working hard.

 

What is working well in this class?

          -I think one thing that is working well in this class is the writing tips. We have been learning writing tips, such as 'Make Meaning Early' and 'Activate Your Verbs', this past month, and, through learning these tips while working on a writing assignment, we were able to incorporate them in order to make our writing better.

 

What can you do to build upon your successes?

          -I think that, in order to build upon my successes, I can continue putting effort into the work I do, and keep getting my work done on time. During the icons project, I got both my picture and writing done on time, and, by working hard, I was happy with the initial versions, and through drafting and revision, was even heppier with my work.

 

What very specific, concrete & manageable steps can you take to make the most of your opportunities to learn in this class?

          -To make the most of the opportunities to learn in this class, I can be sure to take good notes to refer back to if need be, as well as write down my homework for every night, so I don't miss or forget to do anything.

 

What are your goals for the next few weeks in class?

          -I think that my goals for the next few weeks would have to be the same as the steps I can take to fully learn in this class - take good notes, and make sure I understand what to do for homework each night, as well as put effort into the work I am doing.

 

Final Paper & Image

An American Icon

Kimberly Freeman is the lead singer and guitarist of the Texas-based band, One-Eyed Doll. Since coming out with her band’s first album in 2007, her fan-base has jumped from a small following to thousands of fans world-wide. She has released three other albums since her debut, including one piece of solo work. Those three successful albums have led to multiple nationwide tours, making her a rock star in her own right. Musicians like her give me the inspiration to play music.

My fascination with music began about six years ago, when I started to take piano lessons. After grasping the basics, I soon grew accustomed to the piano; playing became second nature. However, as I grew older and my interests began to shift, I found myself bored with the instrument I had once been so fond of. The slow-moving music I had been taught to play over the years no longer kept my attention. Around three years after I first began to play piano, I quit.

            The next few years flew swiftly by; my mind occupied by other things. The absence of piano hadn’t been as apparent in those hectic couple of years, but as my life began to slow down, I felt the need to do something. My taste in music had shifted drastically since I initially wanted to play an instrument, and I found that the guitar better suited my new interests. Upon this revelation, I got myself an electric guitar and began taking lessons.

            Slow-going at first, I started to play guitar. As I gradually got better, I found I was able to mimic the sounds of my favorite bands, such as One-Eyed Doll. The music I’d grown to appreciate was now at my fingertips, as I was able to reproduce the notes from much-loved songs. By adopting the guitar as my instrument of choice, I was now able to emulate my icon – Kimberly Freeman.   

            I find Kimberly Freeman to be inspirational not only in the music she plays, but in the attitude she carries. She makes music for the sake of making music, putting every one of her albums on her website for free. She does this because she wants all of her fans to be able to enjoy her music, whether or not they can afford to purchase it. Although I can’t say I’ll follow in her footsteps as a professional guitar player in a rock band, or that I’d want to, I can definitely take inspiration in her lifestyle – doing what she loves to do on a daily basis by following her dreams and working hard. If I am able to achieve this in life, I will feel as if I have succeeded.

Questions About Your Writing...

1. I think that the most successful part of my artist statement has been getting all of my ideas down onto a single sheet of paper, in a way that flows from paragraph to paragraph. I think this because it took me a while to convey my ideas surrounding my icon into writing, and then even longer to self-edit in order to making it sound right as a whole.

2. The writing tip that has been the most helpful to me would have to be 'The Loop', because it teaches you how to bring all of your ideas together in a polished way. Through use of this tip, I was able to better organize my paper, by switching several paragraphs around, thus creating a paper that flows more easily and showcases my ideas.

3. The most challenging part of composing my paper was placing myself in a continuum of icons. I found this to be difficult initially, when choosing my icon, because I had a hard time finding a connection to any icon. I ended us choosing a singer/guitar player as my icon, and was able to make a connection through our instrument of choice, but still had a tough time actually seeing the continuum. In the end, I was able to connect through the idea that she, as an expert guitar player, is able to make a living doing what she enjoys, and that I, a beginner guitar player, although I may not want to follow in her footsteps as being in a band, I definitely would like to take her lead of doing what she loves as a career.

4. Although the most helpful, I think that the most difficult writing tip to implement in our writing has been 'The Loop'. While this writing tip could easily be used to write a paper, it was somewhat difficult to alter an existing piece of work in order to incorporate 'The Loop'.

5. "I find Kimberly Freeman to be inspirational not only in the music she plays, but in the attitude she carries. She makes music for the sake of making music, putting every one of her albums on her website for free. She wants all of her fans are able to enjoy her music, whether or not they can afford to purchase it. Although I can’t say I’ll follow in her footsteps as a professional guitar player in a rock band, or that I’d want to, I can definitely take inspiration in her lifestyle – doing what she loves to do on a daily basis by following her dreams and working hard. If I am able to achieve this in life, I will feel as if I have succeeded."

- How can I transform my final paragraph into an outro, rather than a conclusion?

- Are there any writing tips I can inorporate into my final paragraph in order to make it stronger?

- Does my closing paragraph properly flow with the rest of my paper?

Icons Loop

"Kimberly Freeman is the lead singer and guitarist of the Texas-based band, One-Eyed Doll. Since coming out with her band’s first album in 2007, her fan-base has jumped from a small following to thousands of fans world-wide. She has released three other albums since her debut, including one piece of solo work. Those three successful albums have led to multiple nationwide tours, making her a rock star in her own right. Musicians like her give me the inspiration to play music."

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"I find Kimberly Freeman to be inspirational not only in the music she plays, but in the attitude she carries. She makes music for the sake of making music, putting every one of her albums on her website for free, because she wants all of her fans are able to enjoy her music, whether or not they can afford to purchase it. Although I can’t say I’ll follow in her footsteps as a professional guitar player in a rock band, or that I’d want to, I can definitely take inspiration in her lifestyle – doing what she loves to do on a daily basis by following her dreams and working hard. If I am able to achieve this in life, I will feel as if I have succeeded."

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1. I chose this intro/outro combo because I felt that starting out by introducing my icon, and then returning to explain why she is my icon in the final paragraph, best followed the 'loop' format. I originally had what is now my intro as my fourth paragraph, but found that my entire paper flowed better when I set it as my first paragraph.

2. The opening and closing paragraphs tie together my big ideas by describing who my icon is, and then why she is my icon.

3. I hope that the reader of my paper walks away from it feeling as if they understand what I was trying to convey in my paper, such as why my icon is my icon, as well as how she has inspired me for the future.

American Icons & Resources

I only really focus on one American icon in my paper – Kimberly Freeman. However, another icon, American or otherwise, featured in my paper is the guitar. To me, Kimberly Freeman represents the type of music I enjoy, as well as someone who is successful in living a life in which they do what they love. The guitar, or more specifically the electric guitar, also represents the genre of music I enjoy listening to, as well as a way to replicate the music I love. These two ‘icons’ fit together quite easily, as Kimberly plays the guitar in her band, One-Eyed Doll. With the guitar, I am able to emulate the tunes played by Kimberly Freeman in her band, thus making her an apparent choice as my American Icon.

The only resourse, so far, that I have used to complete my artist statement is the band's website, in which background information on the individual members of One-Eyed Doll.

American Icon : Ideas

1. Shel Silverstein

- Became an 'icon' as a children's poetry author, although he never intended to get into that market.

- Didn't have many influences growing up, when he first became interested in writing and drawing. He says that not having anyone to copy, he was able to develop his own, unique writing style.

- His books inspire thought & creativity in children.

- Represents a love of reading for me; his books got me interested in reading when I was younger.

2. Warren Zevon

- Became an icon as a rock singer, with hits such as 'Werewolves in London'.

- A literary hero of his was Ken Millar, whom one of his albums was dedicated to.

- Represents to me the time when I first became interested in music.

- Became an important figure to me when I was introduced to his music, and greatly enjoyed it.

3. Kimberly Freeman

- Not quite an 'icon', but a lead singer of a band.

- Represents to me an icon in the music field, both for her music and personality.

- Became an important figure to me when I began playing guitar and listening to her band's music.

- Influences and inspires her band's fan base, as well as other bands inspired by her music style.