Essay Comments: Social Problems

Cynthia-I really enjoyed reading your essay on social problems within America. I completely agree that immigration is a huge problem. I liked how you proposed two different solutions to the problem of immigration. I don’t think it’s fair that immigrants can live in America and not have to pay taxes…everyone else does. If they want to become American citizens, I am all for it. What I am opposed to it is illegal immigrants living in America and not contributing. Great job!

Brittani-Great job on your essay! I liked how you incorporated the information with the fact that fetal reduction is basically just like having an abortion. Very interesting to read about! I agree with you that couples should try other methods to conceive before going to see a specialist. It is very sad that people who want a baby become pregnant with four babies, and then terminate two of them for whatever reasoning. I think that abortion is a huge debate in America, and a problem as well. Good job!

Angel-I don't know what else to say besides WOW! Your passion on this topic was displayed in your writing very well. It's always easier to write about something that you feel strongly about opposed to minimal opinion. It amazes me how our government operates and says that they are trying to help Americans, but it doesn't always seem like that it the case. I see your point 100%. There are so many Americans that are out of work and live in poverty. All of while these tragedies are occurring in America, our government continues to lend help to everyone else except us...the people who need it the most. We need to get our economy back up and running, before we try to help others. Great job!

Terrance-I enjoyed reading your essay on social practices and problems. I never thought about technology being a problem for our nation but after reading your essay, I see your perspective. Technology has consumed Americans and it basically runs our lives. Dinner at one time was family time but now so many Americans spend time their dinner in front of the T.V. or surfing the Internet. For me, dinner time is family time. No T.V. or computer...just conversation. I am not a big person of traditions, but some things I am set on. Great job!

Learning Reflection - Week 7

Learning Reflection

1. At what moment did you feel most engaged with what you were learning?

I really felt engaged while writing my essay on social practices and then revising it by coming up with a solution to the problem(s) that I wrote about. I also felt engaged while reading for the week, and responding to my committee member’s essays from last week. America has a lot of problems, and it’s interesting to read what other people view as a social problem for America.

2. At what moment did you feel most distant from what the class was doing and what you were learning?

I never felt distant from what the class was doing and what I was learning. Overwhelmed would be the adjective to describe my feelings better. Sometimes four classes can be very stressful, especially when trying to submit all assignments on time. I understood the material for this week with no major problems, even though I had to read some of it several times.

3. What action did the professor or another student take that you found most helpful or affirming?

Reading the essays and posts from members in my committee has been very helpful for me. It gives me insight into my own writing, as well as puts me on track for what I should be doing. The professor for this class has also been very helpful. Any confusion or questions are answered immediately, and then I can continue to work on my assignments.

4. What action did anyone take that you found most puzzling and confusing?

I have been rather lucky that I have not had any major confusion with this class and the assignments. Sometimes I’m not sure what to write about, or how to write it. Any questions that I have are always answered. I just contact the professor or someone in my class, and I receive the answers to my questions.

5. What about the reading and discussion has surprised you the most? (This could be about your own reactions to the course/reading, something that someone did, or anything else which has occurred.)

The reading and discussion has surprised me a little bit. There is an extensive amount of reading that is to be done every week, and sometimes can be overwhelming. This is the case even more when I have to read over the material several times to really understand, and grasp the information. However though, the extra time that I have put in has benefited me. I feel that I am achieving the learning outcomes for each week with no problems, and I am on track with what the rest of the class is doing and learning. I have thoroughly enjoyed the discussion aspect of this class. I enjoy discussing aspects of literature and things that apply to it. I also enjoy reading what other people think, and then compare ideas by discussion.

6. Review the learning outcomes for the course and list the four learning outcomes you can best say you have learned. List the work you’ve done which you could use to demonstrate your learning of these outcomes.

One learning outcome that I can say that I have learned is learning about reading and commenting on my committee’s blog posts. The discussion part of this class is actually very interesting. I have really enjoyed reading what other people think, and then discussing their ideas with mine. I have also learned more about what literature is. It is very hard to define literature, as so many people have different interpretations of what it actually is. The nice thing about literature though, is that there is no set definition. It is all based on how you interpret it. This is shown in my DB post called What is Literature.

Another learning outcome that I have mastered is learning my own ideas about how to live the good life and my own relationship with nature and to “Walking” by Henry David Thoreau. This is shown in my essay called: Living a Full Life and my Discussion Board post on Nature.

I have definitely gained a deeper understanding of why it was so difficult for individual, well-meaning Americans to find a workable solution to the problem of slavery, as well as ways that America has responded to the slavery problem. It is so intriguing yet depressing at the same time. I have shown this in my post to the Discussion Board on the topic of slavery.

Social Practices: Problems and Resolutions

The United States has lots of great things to offer, but seems to have gone down hill. No one ever knew how America would turn out, but it sure does seem that we have a lot of problems that are not good problems. One of our current social practices that I see as being incompatible with the ideals and basic beliefs on which the nations well being rests is America’s dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. trade deficit is rising because of oil imports. Not only has our dependence raised the deficit, but it has also linked our long term growth to relying on foreign oil. In 2008, a research study was done showing that the United States imported oil from 10 countries that are currently on the State Department’s Travel Warning List, meaning that the countries have conditions that make them dangerous or unstable. Once again, our dependence on oil could cause serious problems to the United States. The amount that the U.S. spends daily on oil is approximately 1 billion dollars. This is the daily number. It’s crazy to think about it, but it is reality. The U.S. could be spending this money to do lots of other things such as improving America’s security and doing more about global warming. Overall, reliance on foreign oil does not benefit us in any way. If we do not reduce our dependence on foreign oil, the United States will be forced to purchase oil from other countries that are volatile and threaten our security. We need to kick the oil addiction and take steps to preserve America.

So, what can we do about this problem? Well as most things, it is not as easy to fix as you would think. Everyone believes that offshore drilling is the answer, but we all saw what happened with BP. The Gulf of Mexico will never be the same because of the massive oil spill. It was absolute devastation when the oil rig blew up. Not only for families of the victims, but for animals and wildlife that reside in or near the ocean. Burning oil is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. When we buy oil from foreign countries, there is much more carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. This contributes to our problem of global warming. Recent studies have also found that climate change could displace millions of people because of rising sea levels, along with food and water shortage. There are many long term effects from our dependence on oil and global warming. What I fear is that our dependence on foreign oil will increase not only increasing our deficit, but also leaving us at a higher risk of terrorism. This poses a huge threat to America’s security, and we cannot take any more attacks on American soil. What I consider to be a workable solution for our dependence on foreign oil and global warming is to invest in clean energy. This can not only bring the economy back to life, but it will also help preserve America. Reducing oil imports through reform would not only decrease the amount of money that is paid for oil, but it would also allow more money to be kept here in America to do things with. Investing in clean energy would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, help with the issue of global warming, boost growth, and create jobs.

Learning Reflection - Week 6

This week, I really enjoyed reading about slavery. It’s depressing and intriguing at the same time. I always wondered what life would be like if I was born in a different generation. From the reading, you can get the idea of what life was like for slaves and slave owners. The moment that I felt most engaged this week was during the reading and posting to the online discussion forum. I feel engaged at other times as well, but this week the reading impacted me. As far as what the class was learning and what I was doing, I didn’t really feel distant as much as I did stressed. The reading was valuable information, but not the easiest to understand. I felt like I had to go over it several times to fully grasp what it meant. I am enjoying this class, although it is very time consuming. At the end of the week, I feel that I achieved the learning outcomes. All of the blog posts written by members in my committee have been very helpful. They give me an idea of where to go with my writing, as well as insight. For confusion, none this week…just lots of work. I have four classes this semester, and sometimes it is hard to balance everything. If I ever have questions, I just e-mail someone in my class or the professor and my questions are answered.

Most Useful Blog

The blog post that I found most useful and helpful was the “What Is An American” essay submitted on Angel’s blog. When we first had this assignment, I was a little confused because we could really write about a variety of things when it comes to America. After reading Angel’s post, I really understood what we were exactly supposed to be doing. Her writing style really captured me, and I thought that she provided lots of detail and background information, as well as capturing the essence of America. This post in particular helped me learn because it gave me insight. From there on out, I have really been into the class. I highly enjoyed this post in particular, and thought it was well written.

Essay Comments: Living a Full Life

Terrance: I really liked your essay. I agree with you on so many things, such as working your way up the ladder. People who have things handed to them, do not really understand the value of working for something. I thought that you had a very strong opinion and what it means to live a full life, but it was very nice to read. It showed that you were writing with passion. I loved it!

Cynthia: I enjoyed reading your essay on living a full life. For me, I gathered that it was about being with nature and experiencing all of the joys that it has to offer. Become one in harmony. I liked your writing style, although at times I felt a little lost in the reading. Could be me...probably is. Either way, I thought it was well written and very nice.

Angel: I liked your essay on living a full life. After reading your post, it appears that is what you did. It is always nice to be able to look back on life and not have any regrets. We are all only young once, so why not enjoy it? That's what I always say. Even though you didn't go to college when you first got out of high school, you are still setting a great example for your kids as you are doing something with it now. Good luck!

Brittani: I really enjoyed your essay on living a full life and what it means to you. I think we are very similar in what we need to be happy. Family and education are so important to me as well. In a way, they lay the foundation for the rest of your life. I also know first hand about trying to balance everything. I do not work full-time now but have in the past while going to school full time. It's definitely not an easy job, but it is all worth it in the end. Keep up the great work and stay focused on your dreams!

LIving A Full LIfe

What does living a full life mean? This question has many different answers and is dependent on the individual. From reading Thoreau, I saw his views on how to live a good life. It’s comes down to what we actually need, not want, in order to live a fully awake and complete life. We have to deal with the obstacles that our put in our way, understand the Sublime, and in the end be happy with ourselves.

I don’t need a lot or ask for a lot, but there are several things. For one, I need people that love me in order to have a full life. Family is the most important thing to me and without them, I can’t say that I would be living an engaged life. I am positive that without someone in my life that gave me love and support, I would be absolutely miserable. As a matter of fact, I think that most people would be rather miserable.

Second, I need communication. I can’t be shut off from the world with no one to converse with. Communication is key…it makes you feel emotion. Whether you are happy or sad or angry, communication brings all of these emotions out. Too many people walk around with their emotions bottled up. Personally, I think it’s a bad idea. What ends up happening is these people eventually burst, and often on an innocent bystander. I know that a person can only take so much before they break, and each one of us has our own breaking point. However, if you talk about problems when they arise, then they don’t mound up and eventually lead to an explosion. I am a firm believer in communicating, and this is another reason why I would need communication in order to live a full, complete, fully awake, aware, and engaged life.

Music is very important in my life as well. It goes along with the emotions. Music can make you feel so many things. It can be inspirational, motivating, or depressing. Either way, as humans we need to feel these emotions. It’s all part of human life. I also need activities. I love to stay busy and go out and do things. You’re only young once, so why not enjoy it. I like interacting with nature in particular. Nature is a beautiful thing that provides multiple benefits, and so many of us are destroying the ecosystem. If we all just do something small, it pays off in the end. The reward is so beneficial. If we stay on the same path that we are on now, the Earth and ecosystem will be so polluted. It will be a horrible environment to bring another generation in to.

As far as materialistic items, I need to have a computer with the Internet. If I am ever looking for something to do, I can always surf the Internet. Or sometimes when I’m wondering the answer to a question, I can just look it up on the Internet. And of course, electricity and running water are absolutely necessary. For miscellaneous items, I can deal without. Obviously they are a convenience item, but not necessarily a necessary item. I think that a lot of people have problems differentiating between their wants and their needs. It’s not all the materialistic things that make you happy…they just entertain you. If we all established what we needed to survive, we would all be a lot happier.

Learning Reflection - Week 5

Learning Reflection

For the most part, I feel that I am accomplishing the learning outcomes for the week, and retaining the information. I had a bit of trouble understanding the Sublime, but I do now. Thoreau was an interesting person, and although his writing may not always be the easiest to read, it is the most intriguing. He really makes you think about things…all sorts of items. I felt that this week was a good week because I learned the learning outcomes, and really feel like I understand the material. Sometimes I have trouble discussing the information when I am not very sure what it means, but I feel confident with this week. I am the most engaged when participating in the online discussion forum. I have my own ideas about literature, but it is always nice to see what someone else thinks. Sometimes you need to look at things from a different perspective to see the whole picture. Also, I enjoy reading the comments from my committee members. They see something that I don’t see in my writing, and I love the feedback. It can only help me to become a better writer. I can’t really say that I learned anything that wasn’t on the list of outcomes. Learning the outcomes for this week was enough…I didn’t have time to look at new material. However though, I am always trying to balance my school work. Maybe next week will be better.

Essay Comments

Cynthia-I loved your blog on “What Is an American.” I really thought that you captured the essence of America in your letter, and I also like your style of writing. You provided lots of background information which is very helpful to someone who has never been to America, and expressed how great this country really is. I also thought that you incorporated the history of America into your essay as well. It all tied together. Good job!

Brittani-You really went over and beyond on this assignment. First, I would like to comment on your writing style. I thought you did a wonderful job of expressing America for what it really is..The land of the free and the home of the brave. Each quality was discussed in detail, and you promoted them at the same time. America is truly the greatest place to live, and I feel that you expressed that in your writing. Good job!

Angel-I thought you did an excellent job of portraying life in America to an immigrant thinking about visiting. You also followed directions and put your post in the form of a letter. I was a little confused last week, but after reading everyone’s essay, I now know what I was supposed to do. Thanks for the insight…very helpful. Also, I thought that you provided lots of detail for each specific thing you were talking about, as well as good grammar. Good job!

Terrance-Great job on your essay! I liked your writing style and thought that you provided detail and lots of information about America. I thought you writing was clear to understand, and gave the reader incentive to keep going.