Monday, March 5, 2007

Survey on Blogging and Writing

Cambri Bigleman
March 5, 2007

Survey on Blogging and Writing

1) Overall, I liked the format of blogging because I was able to receive feedback from other students as well as yourself. The only frustration that I came across as far as the blogging format was that I had many difficulties accessing the Zocalo website at home. I enjoy reading others’ blogs because it helps me to get a better sense of what I am writing about and I am able to see how others incorporated their own thoughts and ideas into the assignments. I did most of my assignments on campus, which was in a way inconvenient because I would have rather done them at home. The blogging format is easy and quick and you are able to receive responses rather quickly, as to writing a paper, turning it in to the instructor and then waiting to get feedback. Through blogging I feel that we are able to get some comments, ideas and thoughts from many individuals.

2) Through blogging I feel that I was much more aware of my audience because I knew that everyone had access to my blog. I feel that I put much more thought into my writing because I felt like I had prove that I understood the assignment and that I was capable of writing a piece of work that sounded sophisticated and also met the criteria of the assignment. During the beginning of the course I felt like my blog was my personal writing space, but through the duration of the course I was soon aware that many individuals in my class were reading my blog entries. I think that it would be nice if there was a way that we could mark which entries we would like to be private (just for you to read) and then the rest could be left for others to read.

3) I feel that because you are not face-to-face with the individual that you are peer editing you are able to give much more critical feedback. I feel that if I were peer editing someone’s paper that was sitting right next to me, I would give much more positive feedback and not give them any criticism because I would feel bad or awkward. Through being able to peer-edit through the blogs, I am able to give much better feedback as far as what they would change, incorporate or elaborate on.

4) I often times read other students’ blogs without commenting on them because through their writing I was able to get ideas and incorporated them into my own. I also liked to see how other students in the class interpreted the assignment and what they decided to include in their writing.

5) I didn’t really use the blogging format in a fun and playful way. I took all of the assignments seriously and tried to write responses the best that I could. When we were assigned assignments that were meant to be fun I definitely feel that I incorporated playful elements into my writing.

6) I feel that overall the blogging format was very productive because we were able to complete the assignments, as well as view others work, peer-edit and receive feedback from you. I feel that you did a good job in facilitating our blogging and it in fact made it much more productive and easy.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

My Year of Meats Chapters 5-8

Accurate or Stereotypes of American Families?


When I think of the stereotypical American family I picture a wife, husband, a son, a daughter and maybe a dog. The father is a business man who works a normal forty hour week. The mother stays at home, cooks, cleans, runs the errands and is basically the “stepford” wife. The children are good kids who stay out of trouble. The son is an athlete who gets good grades and the daughter attends dance classes and also receives good grades as well. The family lives in a large house with a big yard and has no worries.

In reality, this is probably the exact opposite life for most Americans. Many families are far from perfect and there are many complications which arise in a marriage. Children are not perfect and many individuals from various countries believe that Americans have this As a documentarian Jane has become much more aware of showing the truth to her viewers. She has begun to choose families that don’t depict that stereotypical image of the American family. Jane feels a sense of shame to display false settings and actions to her audience, when it comes to choosing the families for the show. Jane now tries to choose families that are diverse and have different values, traditions, and of course recipes containing meat. (Especially Beef)

The show that stands out most in mind is the one with Suzie Flowers. This show expressed that marriage does not always end up happily ever after for Americans. In fact, infidelity is quite common amongst American families. Suzie loved her husband and thought that she had been a caring and devoted wife, but obviously her husband felt that he needed someone else to fulfill his needs. I really liked the family that Jane chose with the ten Korean children who were adopted. I think that this family was able to convey many important values to the audience.

My Year of Meats: Chapters 1-4

Jane, Akiko and Sei Shonagon: Similar or Difference

In the novel My Year of Meats there are three main women who from the outside seem completely different, but with a further glance, have many similarities. Jane, Akiko and Sei Shonagon have different morals, values and traditions and, yet there are some visible connections between these women in the reading. Jane and Akiko don’t know one another, but they both look to Shonagon’s writing for inspiration for their own writing and their personal lives.

Jane is a woman who has always struggled with fitting in whether it was Japan or America. However, America was able to allow Jane to be more comfortable with herself. Her “freakish” height and different colored hair fit in with the diverse culture of America. She has always been a more masculine, than feminine woman. She prefers to be comfortable with baggier clothing and is far from superficical. Form the start it is obvious that Jane possess the strong value of domination. She feels that she is dominant in most circumstances, even if she is the minority in some settings. She is a strong woman who got the chance to become a documentarian. She accepts the chance to work on a huge project called My American Wife!.

Akiko, on the other hand is almost the complete opposite of Jane. Akiko is a woman who is very lost and has had many ambitions (some which she does not know of), but everything she has ever wanted has been completely erased. She is married to an arrogant and abusive man who believes that Akiko should do anything that he pleases because she is his. He makes her fill out stupid questionnaires for his show and then proceeds to question every response she has made. She constantly sides with “John” to avoid confrontation and Akiko is continuously trying to portray the wife that John thinks that she should be. He wants to have children with Akiko and for Akiko this thought makes her sick to her stomach. She purposely and subconsciously purges her food after each meal or when she is upset. I think that throwing up her food is the only thing, in her mind, that she has control. This is very apparent that she in fact, does not. Due to Akiko’s unhealthy eating habits.

Sei Shonagon is an inspirational female writer from the past. Shonagon’s writing is both inspiring and motivating to Jane and Akiko. Although these women are very different from one another and possess diverse values, they both share their Japanese culture. A majority of an individual’s identity is solely based on their race and cultural background. Jane loves how Sei Shonagon uses the masculine Japanese language in her writing because it is something that she can connect with. Akiko is able to look to Shonagon’s writing as inspirational and her writing is able to help her through her difficult daily life.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Informal Rhetorical Analysis

Red Shoes
Through this essay it is easy to see how the author expresses her voice,
It is obvious she is trying to give her audience a sense of choice.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

When reading her paper it is almost as if she is trying to
Combine two into one.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

She makes paragraphs of argument, yet when reading you realize she is
No where close to done.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

She goes on to write in a different style of text of her fond memories of When she was young, as if she has a mix of tongue.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

Griffin talks of the present and then talks of the past,
Making personal references quite fast.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

As a young girl, she not only wore these shoes for special occasions,
But even on the most ordinary of days.

She had a great love for the red shoes that she wore as a child.

Griffin uses the red shoes to remember her grandparents,
Most especially her grandmother.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Using Charts to Organize Information

Charts

Through Elkin’s essay he helps the reader to see and understand how we use charts to organize information of all kinds. His essay was easy to comprehend and he didn’t have to use big and complex words to get his points across. For many individuals just the topic of the periodic table of elements sounds confusing. I think that Elkin did a really good job of expressing to the audience that charts are used in different ways for many diverse things. Charts help us to arrange our information into a more systemized way of thinking. Many of us use charts everyday, whether it is writing in your daily planner (calendar), going to get your eyes checked (eye chart) or making sure you are eating good to maintain a healthy diet (food pyramid).

There many are so many different types of charts and they are all used for many different reasons. One good example of a chart that majority of people are familiar with is the calendar. Calendars are used by almost everyone and they are extremely useful in the way that we can organize our plans, ideas and important dates. Calendars help individuals to keep track of all the obligations and prior commitments they have made. There are countless styles of calendars; some have photos, others are colorful. Individuals buy calendars for certain reasons and they buy the one that is most appealing to them.

Each calendar is designed differently because there are many diverse types of people and each person is different in terms of the way they think. Some calendars are just one page. They have the entire year printed on one piece of paper. This kind of calendar might be useful to individuals who don’t like having their life planned out. They kind of go with the flow. On the other hand, a person who writes every detail about their life might be more likely to use a daily planner or full size 12 month calendar. Some people like having calendars for decoration and they could be decorated with photos of family and friends.

Personally, I enjoy using a daily planner because I am able to keep track of all the important dates, birthdays and other commitments in my life. I am a very organized person and like having everything written down because I have many obligations and I tend to forget if I don’t make note of them. I also collect Marilyn Monroe calendars, which I write on and use for decoration in my room.

Another great example of a chart is the food pyramid. The food pyramid helps us to organize the food groups, which helps people to eat healthy and balanced meals. There are many versions of the food pyramid, just as with any other type of chart. Some of the food pyramids have pictures, some do not. Typically the food pyramid is a chart that is very easy to read and it is effortless to find how many servings you need of each food group.

I believe that the more people learn about charts, the more they will appreciate and understand how to use them. They are an excellent way to organize information of all sorts. Through Elkin’s essay on the periodic table of elements we are able to see many other connections. Charts are used in many different ways and have many different uses. From eye charts, to calendars to constellation charts, they all are able to help individuals in leaning and organizing information.

Friday, February 2, 2007

Analyzing Postsecret Cards (4)




Postsecret cards
The secret post card “Tough with Tattoo” conveys a very strong message about a young woman who is revealing a very sad and emotional secret. From my point of view, I feel that this young woman has a lot of anger, regret, and shame. It seems she is lost in her own world. I believe that this a young woman because it looks like she is wearing black, lacey underwear, which are visible in the photograph. However, we do live in a society where young girls look and dress older than they re, so this could even be a young teen. From this photograph I feel that she has had to endure many difficulties.

Through her text “I got a tattoo so I’d stop cutting myself …It didn’t help” it is obvious that had a past of self mutilation and had gotten a tattoo to remind her to “Be tough”. Through her message we can see that she is still feeling the way she did before the tattoo and is still cutting. From the photo I can feel the sadness that this young woman experiences. I believe that this is an actual photograph of this individual because they only show the young woman‘s back and it makes a confession, but at the same time still remains private.

The text in the center of the photo looks as if the bottom of the paper is actually cutting into the back of the woman and that she is bleeding. When reading only the first and second line of text it seems that this tattoo has helped this person, but as you go on to read “…It didn’t help” it makes you realize that she needs more than a tattoo; she needs help.

When reading the “Laguna” postcard I feel a sense of humor because this person is in a way making fun of Kristin Cavallari and the rest of the kids on the M.T.V. show Laguna Beach, but at the same time wanting to experience the things that they get to. I find it amusing that this individual has cut out a photograph of Kristin Cavallari and revealed their secret “Sometimes I wish I could be as stupid, privileged and shallow as the kids on Laguna Beach.” I find this post card funny because I think that majority of us know what the kids on Laguna Beach are like. They are all attractive, rich, stuck-up and extremely superficial. I think that many people would want to be in their shoes just because it seems that their biggest worry is what swim suit they are going to be wearing to the beach for the day.

In this photo of Kristin she is wearing a very low cut jean vest and definitely has a push up bra on… She also has on a probably very expensive necklace that looks like it has chili peppers and a heart on it. Her hair is big and poofy and by the look on her face it seems that is staring down a girl that is now her worst enemy because she has the same shirt as her.

Personally, I think that the person who made this post card created it to be humorous and tell many people’s secret of wanting to be rich and not having any worries. The kids of Laguna Beach have a life of fantasy and that is not common for many. Most people have to work for things in life and they are eventually rewarded. The kids on Laguna Beach don’t have to work, are handed things left and right and from many people’s point of view, have heads that are filled with air.

After reading the text on “1 amnio picture” I instantly feel a sense of sadness, mourning and possibly regret. The photograph on this postcard is of an ultra sound of a baby. I think that the mother of this baby created this postcard to tell her secret that “This is the only picture that will ever be taken of you.” This is a very emotional statement. I believe that this mother knows she is carrying a child that is already dead, knows that the child won’t make it through the delivery or she had a miscarriage. In any of these circumstances the outcome is fatality. This would be absolutely heart-wrenching for especially a mother.

This woman is probably feeling guilty because in her mind she is thinking that there was something she could have done, but in reality, it was out of her hands. I find this postcard to be extremely sad because I personally know individuals who have had to experience these traumatic situations and endure the pain and suffering that comes along as well. I think that the individual who created this postcard used the original ultra sound picture to illustrate her loss.

I find this postcard to be one of the saddest out of all of the secret post cards that are posted because for majority of females, finding out that you are now a mother is one of the most amazing and happiest times of your life. To lose your child, the child that makes you a mother…is absolutely devastating.

The post card “Wedding Ring Pic”is very simple, yet makes a strong confession. In the center of this piece of paper there is a wedding ring that is secured with tape. Above it the text is written in what looks like black Sharpie Pen, it reads “I can’t be this person anymore.” I believe that by looking at this ring and handwriting, a woman has created this secret post card. There is a period at the end of the statement, which means it’s not an idea, it’s not something your thinking about, it is the way it is period.

I think that there are various possibilities for this post card, one, she could be cheating; two, she could be gay or three, she could just want out of the marriage because she is no longer in love with the man she married, how ever long ago. My first thought when I read this postcard was that this woman was cheating on her husband and wants out of the marriage. She could have been confused at the time she got married and throughout the years she has decided that she doesn’t want to be a secret anymore and decides to tell her husband that she is gay. Or she could just want a divorce because she is unhappy in the marriage.

The design of this postcard is very plain, with the white paper and the black text. It is forward and straight to the point. There is nothing distracting in the background. There is a confession to be made and this woman has conveyed that through her writing. I think that the woman used her actual wedding ring to make her confession more real. In a sense, she is giving the wedding ring back. It is no longer on her hand, but a piece of paper admitting she doesn’t want to be the person that she is and to solve that she needs to get a divorce.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Wartime Poster

Rhetorical Analysis

I felt that each wartime poster was designed to have a specific purpose and to convey a personal and strong message to the audience. I chose to analyze the poster that looked as if a pointing finger had been torn through the poster. I believe that the design of this poster was meant to strike the public because the majority of people were used to seeing the original Uncle Sam poster displayed everywhere. This poster has a different feel and from that effect I think that it gave off a different voice.

The poster is red, white and blue, which represent the United States of America. The background is red and white striped with white text. The pointing figure in the center of the torn edges gives the effect that this hand has come through the paper with force and is passionate about the topic. The hand seems to be masculine and it is visible that there are red and white strips around the end of his shirt where it meets his wrist. The Cuff of the shirt or jacket is blue with white starts, which represent the states within America. It is obvious that this poster is trying to communicate on a personal level with its audience because the “You” is outlined in blue and stands out from the other text.

The design of this poster is simple, yet memorable. It has nothing extra, which might distract from the message, “Are you doing all you can?” It points out “YOU” as individual and makes anyone who sees this poster ask themselves the question “Am I? This is a powerful poster and I think that through its design it has encouraged many individuals to become more patriotic and serve their country as an American.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Movie Posters from Other Countires Publicizing Vertigo

Photographs or Drawings?

Posters are a way for people to promote various topics and audiences are attracted to posters for an assortment of reasons. When I look at these posters my eye is attracted to many things. I am first drawn to the photograph in each of the posters. I think this is because they stand out on the black and orange backgrounds. My eye then starts to move to the text starting downward and going counter-clockwise. I think that yellow text in the first poster and the solid yellow rectangle in the second poster catch my eye because yellow is a bright color and next to black it really stands out.

Designers have specific purposes for using a photograph instead of a drawing or a drawing instead of a photo in their poster layout. Personally, I don’t know which I am more attracted to. When I see a photograph on a poster it seems to stand out more in the sense that it is bold and accurate. When I think of drawings, I think of more creativity and elaboration.

When a designer chooses to use a photograph rather than a drawing, or visa versa, it changes the poster’s visual composition. There are many principles of visual composition all of which are used in a variety of ways. It can greatly impact the over all look when deciding to use either a drawing or a photograph or even both. For these specific posters I feel that using a photograph instead of a drawing was much more effective because it shows greater emotion between the male and female.

In our society we know that when a man holds a woman he is trying to comfort her. In these posters I get a sense of comfort and reassurance through the photos. If the designer were to use a drawing rather than the photos I don’t feel that these messages would be conveyed to the audience because it would just be overlooked. For the majority of the public, they need photographs on posters in order to feel compelled to read and look at them. I think that many individuals feel that they connect more with a photograph rather than a drawing. Overall, I believe that photos are more effective on posters because are able to grasp the audience’s attention.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Logos as Word Play

Analyzing Titles

I believe that titles are very important to the audience because they are first thing that we see when looking at a piece of writing or a poster for a movie. Titles should be bold and from the arrangement of the words, the audience should be able to get a sense of what the writing or movie are about. When looking at these titles I am interested in reading “Working Women and Society’s View of Them”, Earth: Used and Abused”, “Youth of America”, “I’m 18. Give Me a Drink!” and “Same-sex Marriage”. I believe that these titles engage me for several reasons. I think that for some of these titles I am able to relate to the topics, such as “Working Women and Society’s View of Them”. I am a woman and I think that if I came across this title I would be interested in reading it because I am a working woman in today’s society and I would be curious to see the public’s view of me.

These titles would engage various types of individuals, from young to old. I feel that both male and females would want to read these pieces of writing based on their titles. The title about working women and how society views them would probably be more appealing to females, especially those that are in the work force. The title “Youth of America” would probably be alluring to adolescents across the United States or adults that are trying to gain more knowledge about America’s youth. I believe that the title “I’m 18. Give Me a Drink!” would be most appealing to that of eighteen year olds because they are able to relate with this title and would therefore, would be interested in reading this piece of writing.

I feel that “The Quiet War for Freedom of Thought”, “A Story Success”. Don’t Hurt Fluffy!” and “Textbooks: The Other College Expense” wouldn’t interest me as much because the titles don’t really pop out at me. I liked the other titles because they were something that I could relate to, was curious about or wanted to gain more knowledge on. It’s funny that the title of a piece of writing can determine if the audience would be interested in reading it.

From these titles I believe that each is easy to decipher what the body of the paper will be on.
“Textbooks: The Other College Expense” – Research and costs of textbooks in college
“Same-sex Marriage”- Statistics and personal opinions on gays and same-sex marriages
“A Story Success”- A story of an individual that came from nothing to everything: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Instruction Set

"Laying Out a Design Plan" and "Analyizing Instruction Sets"

Cambri Bigleman
January 22, 2007

Audience


My instruction set will include an audience of both male and female students with diverse races and ethnic backgrounds from Cascadia Community College. These students range from the ages of 17 to 50 or perhaps older. My audience is focused on that of students who find studying for an exam challenging because they are worried that they will fail. The audience might feel worried that they will fail for a number of reasons. These stresses could come from not being familiar with the subject, which they are being tested on; coming from a culture where exams are given much differently; or even an older individual coming back into the college scene and has forgotten how to prepare for an exam. These students will soon find an easy way to study, which will enable them to receive the grade that they are striving for.

Context


From this set of instructions, students can access these fun and interesting study tips without difficulties, in a variety of places all year round. One place in which these study tips will be located is in Cascadia’s Open Learning Center. There are print outs of helpful tips, as well as individuals, which excel in test taking. These individuals will be there for the struggling students who would like to hear how a good test- taker studies. I believe that this will be beneficial to the students seeking helpful tips because they are able to communicate with someone face-to-face, rather than reading a piece of paper. Because every student learns differently there are many ways and places in which students can find these useful instructions. Another way that students can access them is under the “Student Resources” link on the Cascadia Community College website. For students that are not comfortable studying with others, they have the ability to learn these studying tips from their computer, in the comfort of their own home.


Purpose

I want to be able to help students succeed in their classes by teaching stress-free study habits through this instruction set. As a college student, I understand that exams can cause a lot of stress in students’ lives. I understand that many students, here at Cascadia Community College, have other obligations other than school. Students have jobs; some part time, some full time; families; recreational activities and other commitments. It is sometimes very difficult to balance the life of a college student because there are many stresses. I have been able to create and follow study habits that allow me not to focus so much on failing, but on accomplishing a good grade. I believe that I will be able to help apply these habits to other Cascadia students as well.

Statement of Purpose


My instruction set will encourage the diverse students of Cascadia Community College to not stress so much about failing their exams. I have created fun and interesting study tips that can be easily accessed on or off campus. I believe that these tips will help students to be able to relax before an exam, feel competent and receive a good grade.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Arrangements in Writing



Arrangements in Advertisments
The advertisements I chose for this assignment were completely different. One ad was on a golden retriever puppy that was for sale and the other ad was a personal ad for a middle-aged woman who was seeking a relationship. Both of these advertisements seemed to be straightforward and got the points across to the audience easily. The arrangement of the text and pictures was simple, yet organized and it wasn’t hard to follow. It allows your eye to be guided in an effortless manner, which was pleasing. I believe that both of these ads fall under the problem-solution arrangement because the ads convey that there can be a solution to their problem.

For the puppy ad, the owners are trying to send the message that a puppy needs a safe and loving home and they are trying to find one. Finding a home for the dog could be seen as the problem and the solution is that people viewing this ad can’t resist such a cute puppy and someone will end up purchasing it.

For the personal ad, this woman is trying to find a man who can provide for her and give her the love and compassion that she desires.The problem for this woman is that she can’t find someone that she is interested in, but through online dating she is able to present herself positively to others. The solution is that she will eventually find someone that she is compatible with and can then date.


Wednesday, January 17, 2007


How to Tie Your Shoe


The first step in tying one’s shoe is
Picking the pair you’d like to wear.
Then place them on your feet.

Make sure they are nicely laced,
You can even make tying your shoes
A race.

Take the end of the laces,
One in each hand,
And make two bunny ears.

Cross the loops over one another,
If you need help, Just ask your mother.

Then just pull one loop through,
So you can make the knot.

Proceed to pull the laces tight,
Now you’ve done it right!

Good Job to you,
You have now tied your own shoe.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Instruction Set for Communicating with Others…

Arabic Calligraphy

  • From this instruction set I find it to be very organized and neat. It is apparent that the author’s purpose is to teach an audience how to write in Arabic Calligraphy through a clear set of instructions.
  • When reading through the instruction set it was obvious that the author was trying to create a peaceful and relaxing mood. The words prompt the reader in a very calm and delicate way.
  • Over all, I feel that the author did a good job of wording the instructions because they make the audience feel capable and skilled to perform such tasks.
  • I think that Mustafa writes such expressions to convey to the reader that his goal is for them to become a graceful and neat calligrapher. Through these expressions he is able to reward the readers and let them know that they are doing a good job.
  • I feel that text in this instruction set is neat and is placed in an organized matter throughout the spread. I like how there is a different font under the pictures because it differentiates the actual directions and the preparation.
  • My eyes are always attracted to things that stand out and through this instruction set my eye catches the bold print. The bold headers stand out and make the audience aware that they are the titles and are there to help the readers find what they are looking for.

Monday, January 15, 2007

The Rhetorical Process

Comparing the Rhetorical Process to my Own Communicating


After learning of the rhetorical process through Compose Design Advocate it was interesting to compare my own communication composition. When I communicate I usually just open my mouth and do so, but when talking about something I feel strongly about, I am able to morph my words into powerful statements. I think I would benefit from considering these steps because it would make me a much stronger communicator. I believe that there are three steps that would be most useful to me. 1) Having a specific purpose and getting across my thoughts, ideas and opinions. 2) Thinking about who I am talking with and what they expect from our communication. 3) Being aware of the larger context. By using these three steps I would be able to get my points across, while still being aware of my audience, expectations and the outcome.

I feel that if I were to use the step of arrangement in conversing with an individual I would have trouble coming up with strong points or things to say because my mind would be preoccupied with thinking about what I should say first. The step of arrangement is different for me when I am writing a paper or a speech because I always move things around. I read through it several times and see what sounds better where and I am constantly re-wording and changing sentences.

I think of myself as pretty creative person and I believe that shows though when I speak and write. The rhetorical process will give me many chances to show my creativity through communicating. I believe that I will use these steps in different ways, depending on if I am communicating through speaking or communicating through writing.

Seven Steps in Communication

Applying the 7 steps to ME, as a Communicator

There are numerous pressures that surround many individuals and by talking to others we are able to feel better about the situations. Through communication we are able to express how we feel in various ways. I can think of several occasions where I have been upset, stressed or angry and I needed someone to talk to. When encountering these emotions it is not always the best idea to talk with an individual right away because you could end up pushing these emotions towards the person you are talking with. I can remember a specific example of being irritated and upset about a certain situation and talking to my mom about what I was going through. The conversation was not very successful, in the way that there was a lot of disagreeing and arguing, which took place.

After reading the seven steps in chapter one from Compose Design Advocate it occurred to me that the confrontation that I had experienced with my mother could have been prevented. If I would have known about these seven ideas I could have applied them to my communication skills and I would have been more prepared for the conversation with my mom. Many of times people don’t think to “practice” or “rehearse” what they would like to say to an individual or how they could use various kinds of communication strategies to say what they would like. There are many ways in which can help make a conversation more productive and I can now see that through the steps I have read about.

The first step is to make the content of the conversation have a specific purpose. When I talked to my mom about my frustrations I didn’t have a specific topic or purpose, for that matter. Now looking back at the situation, it seems that I just wanted someone to vent to and I now understand that it is not always a good idea… By making sure that there is a specific purpose to what you want to say, it helps to eliminate that urge to vent. The authors asked these questions at the end of the reading, “Why are we communicating?” and “What do we want to achieve?” I think that if individuals asked themselves these questions before jumping into an important conversation then there would be a lot less arguing and disagreeing.

The next two steps are to consider your audience and to think about the larger context. When talking to an individual I now know that you should think about whom you are talking to and how what is said can affect them. If I would have considered what my mom expected from our conversation and how the place and time could have affected the outcome, our talk would have been much more productive. The forth step is to be aware of your communication strategies. Many people don’t realize that they possess a variety of strategies that help them in communicating.

The fifth step in improving one’s communication skills is to think of the medium of communication. You should ask yourself questions like, “What is the audience expecting about the medium we are using?” and “Is it the best medium?” The sixth step is the order in which you arrange and combine your communication strategies. If I would have kept this step in mind through the duration of my conversation with my mom, I believe that I could have avoided majority of the confrontation. I think that if I had known these steps in communication prior to my conversation with my mom it would have ended up much more differently. We probably would have been calmer and I would have been prerpared.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Developling the Ethos through the Introduction



.Compose Design Advocate.
Pages 196~197

From these seven introductions I liked the one that refers to our world as becoming this “ecological wasteland”. For me, this introduction captured my attention the best because it had me imagine something and was something that I felt strongly about. It asked questions, which made me feel like the author was talking to me through his piece of writing. Jared Yach’s introduction stood out the most for me because this is a real issue on our earth. I believe that Jared Yach has developed a very strong ethos through this introduction. In just the beginning of this writing I can tell that he is trying to convey something that is very important to him and others. It is apparent that he is trying to grasp the audience’s attention by discussing something that affects everyone. In just the beginning of his writing he has been able to set up a relationship between the audience and himself. The subject, in which he is writing about, is very powerful and each and every reader it can relate. Through his tone it is obvious that he is speaking of an important issue that addresses everyone who reads this piece. I feel that through Yach’s writing I am being told something that I need to share with others because we are taking our world and our economy for granted. People are using our resources without end… The author talks of an isolated and depressing place with forests that have no trees, water that is poisoned and air that is filled with pollution and various toxins…This could in reality, be our earth at one point. From the introduction, I expect this paper to be about global warming, dependence of our resources, harm of wildlife and other topics that have to do with the negative choices we make that affect our earth. We rely far too much on the resources that we have today and from that, we are harming not only our earth, but everything that comes with it, as well.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Letters to The College President

Dear Christopher William,

When walking through the Cascadia building I feel that as students, we don’t have the same opportunity to access the library that the UW students do. I am writing to inform you that because there is no enclosed bridge or walkway connecting the Cascadia buildings to the library, students feel as if the library isn’t a part of Cascadia and that we don’t have the same privileges that the University of Bothell does. For many of the students that are new to Cascadia they don’t realize that the library is a resource for both UW Bothell and Cascadia students.

I believe that as a representative of this school, you should push for the administration to consider building multiple walkways or bridges, which connect the library to Cascadia. This would allow students from all over campus to use the library whenever they desire. If a student only has twenty minutes in between their classes, these several pathways to the library would enable them to not only get there faster, but they would actually be able to get something done. Having alternate ways of getting to the library would help many students get there quickly in comparison to taking the current route.

Together as students, we don’t see any negative aspects of having bridges or walkways that allow students from Cascadia to access the library from all over campus.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I would greatly appreciate if you would speak up, on behalf on the student body. Think of how this could positively impact not only our students, but our school as well.

Sincerely,

Cambri Bigleman

Which Student Do You Think I Am?
~The student who studies way too much…
OR
~The student who parties way too much…

___________________________________________________________________

Dear Christopher William,

I wanted to let you know that it gets pretty tiring having only a couple of routes in order to get to the library. I mean if I happen to be studying (must be a good day) upstairs on the 300 level and I realize that I have to go check out a book for one of my classes I have to gather all of stuff, figure out where I am, the shortest path to the library and then get there. It might not sound like a lot to you, but it definitely is for me.

I really think that you should talk to someone who could build a couple of walkways for students to get to the library easier. Some of the other students would definitely agree with me. I have a lot of friends here at Cascadia and they don’t like having to figure out which is the shortest and quickest way to get the library.

Thanks for reading this letter and I really hope that you can figure something out because I am just way too tired trying to find ways to get to the library, especially on Mondays …

But thanks for your time,

Cambri Bigleman


I think that this one is pretty obvious….

Monday, January 8, 2007

Me as a Communicator


Me as a Communicator

Communication is a topic that I find incredibly interesting because there are so many languages across the world and through various ways we are still able to communicate. Through communicating we are able to share stories, thoughts, ideas and opinions. I feel that I can convey my thoughts through my writing much better than I can verbally. I love talking with my friends and family because we have so many things to discuss. I prefer to talk in person, rather than on the phone because I like to see people’s expression and body language. When I speak with close friends I can talk forever because we share that common way of communicating. We are able to relate to one another.














When my friends and family feel like they need someone to talk to, I always seem to be the one that they come to. I feel that I am a very good listener because I am pretty patient and caring. I try and put myself in the other person’s place and try to comfort them and give them reassurance. I love to make people smile and I am able to achieve that through cracking jokes or telling funny stories. My friends and I always have long and intimate conversations and we never run out of things to say. I enjoy having conversations with my friends and family because it seems we never run out of things to talk about.



When I was younger I loved to write short stories, poems, song lyrics and I even kept a daily journal. I really feel that I have benefited from using these forms of communication because I am able to use words in an artistic way. I feel that I have come to be a pretty strong communicator because I am always able to get my points across as well as and understand what others have to say, as well. I believe that my friends and family have enabled me to become a strong communicator because they are the people that I have interacted with the most.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

L.A.Confidential

L.A. Confidential

Possessing a double identity seems like it would be extremely difficult for the average individual. A person who tries to lead more than one life, or has multiple personalities can’t be healthy. If you are trying to be not only yourself, but someone else as well your mind would have to be going non stop. Of course at some point in one’s life they will come to the decision to portray a persona that is different than their own, but it will probably be because they are trying to fit in during a certain situation.

Throughout the movie “L.A. Confidential” it was apparent that many of the characters possessed double identities. I believe that betrayal was the theme in this movie because when leading a double life, you are deceiving the people around you. From the audience’s point of view, it looked as if the cops in this movie were friends and shared a close bond. The public viewed the Los Angles Police Department as the heroes of the city. But it was soon apparent that almost everyone in the police department had a double identity and they were definitely not the people that the public thought they were.

I believe that the characters in the movie were affected in various ways by leading double lives or identities. Throughout the film Ed Exely had a difficult time trying to forget the identity that the public had given him of the “son of the legendary Preston Exely”. This was an identity that Ed did not choose for himself. It was evident that he wanted to prove to everyone that he was more than just a legend’s son, but that he could make a name for himself as well. Each character chose to have more than one identity and would try and use it to their advantage. For Lynn Bracken, her double identity made men want her, but made her forget her true identity. She felt as if she had to portray someone else to be noticed and we found that is not the case. I believe that there are negative aspects of portraying a double life or identity and Ms. Bracken is a good example. When trying to be someone you’re not, you loose sight of who you truly are.

I think that having a secret identity can be both empowering and damaging. Sometimes it can work in your favor and sometimes it can work against you. When leading a double life you are able to get the best of “both worlds” and that isn’t realistic. People who portray multiple personas are cheating themselves because they are trying to escape who they truly are. It really depends on the situation, in which you are portraying this secret identity. When having more than one identity, there are various circumstances that can alter the outcome. For instance, people can possess secret identities online, in a relationship, in business…There are so many ways, in which people can deceive and be deceived and I think that through L.A. Confidential we are able to see that.

Saturday, January 6, 2007

New Years Resolution

New Years Resolution

Many people seem to wait until the New Year to make resolutions for themselves. Personally, I try to always have realistic resolutions for myself all year round. I consider myself a pretty healthy person and I enjoy working out and eating well. For my New Years resolution I would like to continue my healthy habits and continue to have a positive attitude. Of course I could make various goals for myself for the new year, but right now I don’t think that would be very realistic. I have been quite busy maintaining every thing else in my life right now. I am glad that 2006 is now behind me and with 2007 I hope I can make it a year of positive outcomes.

When setting goals for yourself you must be realistic about them. I would recommend that individuals should not make huge goals because a goal should be something that you can work towards and eventually achieve. If your goal isn’t realistic for you then you won’t achieve it. I believe that when making goals it is better to make more than one. Make some goals easy to achieve and some harder. Make one that you know you can achieve and make another goal that you know you will have to work hard towards, but you believe you can achieve. This way, you are allowing yourself some variety and will enable to work for your goals. Goals need to have a timeline in order to be achieved.

Most individuals aren’t able to achieve their goals solely because they don’t have the positive encouragement to do so. Most people need motivation, not only from themselves, but from that of others as well. I feel that I have been able to help my friends and family through positive encouragement, which allows them to achieve their goals.

Thursday, January 4, 2007

My Name

CAMBRI

As a child I always wished that my parents had named me something other than Cambri. I wanted to be a Michelle or Ashley. I didn't understand why no one had the same name as I did. Growing up I started to like the fact that I was the only Cambri.(At least that I knew of..) It made me feel unique and different. I liked that. I don't think that my parents had ever agreed on anything when they were married. So of course when I was born they weren't able agree on what to name me. My dad wanted to name me Bri and my mom wanted to name me Camille. My mom was always the "compromiser" and she thought to come to an agreement of Cambri. And that was that.. Considering my name was made up, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. But if I had to define my name I would say that it means compromising or sharing because that was how my name was created.My mother made a compromise and the two names were shared. As an adult I think that having a name that no one else has sets me apart from others and that makes me stand out.