Write Where I Started…

I viewed Rose Marcum’s wiki page and read all about her essay topic.  Rose did an excellent job of creating a synopsis of her Researched essay.  It appears that she was able to use a variety of sources to examine a very important issue.  As a matter of fact, I would like to read her essay to find out more about the individual she interviewed who was a victim of abuse.  Overall, I believe Rose’s presentation was very well done.  And the fact that she chose to use a wiki page made it really easy to gain access to it. Congrats Rose!

My Researched Essay was a labor of love, or to be more precise, it was about the love of crafting. The Internet has dramatically changed the way creative types, like myself, view the business of crafting. Long gone are the days of just selling our items at flea markets and specialty market trade shows. The World Wide Web has created (pardon the pun) a whole new venue for crafters to peddle their wares. More and more home-based crafters are setting up shop on the Internet. My essay takes a look at the burgeoning industry that is online retailing. The audience I geared my paper to happen to be home-based crafters who are not sure if it is the perfect route to take.  My paper gives the who, the what, the where, and yes even the how, of why now is the best time for home-based crafters to start selling their items online.

Just because I chose to write about something creative doesn’t mean my writing process was easy. I learned so much from our textbook and also the assignments leading up to writing the paper. If I had to use one word to describe my writing process, I would have to say it was “informed.” I choose the word informed because my sources really guided my writing. They literally covered every angle I expressed in my essay. I chose to use sources from publications that were industry specific, like Business Week and PC Magazine. For example, I included a quote from the owner of a company that allows crafters to sell their items on their website. Using that source gave me the opportunity to show that there is another alternative to crafters setting up and operating their own site. Of course that brings me to my final point. If there is one thing that I learned while working on my Research essay, it was stick to the facts. Once I did that, everything seemed to fall easily into place.

Also here’s a link that gives a good example of the talent that exists in the crafting world.

My Slideshow 4/18/08“>

This week’s blog reflection question is an interesting one. I can honestly say that I have already been using many of the things I have learned in ENG112. What I have learned in this class has already proven to be very valuable.

For example, I recently completed an essay for another class (Canadian Fiction). While working on that essay, I focused on creating strong topic sentences and in order to add balance to my argument I included a counterargument. That attention to detail and substance really paid off because I received an A for that assignment.

In all honesty, before taking ENG112, I didn’t have a clear understanding of the structure of a good academic essay. Now I have a better idea of how to build a strong thesis, as well as what synthesis is, and how it should be used.  Going forward, I definitely plan to use what I have learned in ENG112 in other classes and whenever I think it is appropriate.

So it’s Week 13 of my ENG 112 class and countdown time to turning in the rough draft for Essay #3, otherwise known as “The Big Paper.”  To be totally honest, my writing process is still a work in progress, but I definitely see the improvements that have been made.  First of all, I have a better understanding of the “process” of writing.

Our textbook has given me the basics of writing a good essay. And although I knew what topic sentences were prior to taking this class, I never knew how important they are to setting the tone of each paragraph.  Now that I understand how topic sentences work, my writing has been taken to a whole new level.  Of course that doesn’t mean I am on the verge of becoming the next Jane Austen, but I am very happy with the progress I have made so far. 

And with regard to my research process, I have to confess that I actually enjoy it. In fact, I have found some amazing sources for my third essay.  Oddly enough, the research process has played a major rule in helping me to craft my thesis, and create paragraphs that have a strong synthesis and/or counterargument.  

At first I thought this week’s blog assignment was going to be difficult to complete, but it hasn’t been. Actually it’s nice to look back and reflect on what I have learned so far.  It’s also fun to offer a metaphor for my writing process.  Because of that, I am providing two metaphors (or quotes if you prefer) from the entertainment world. The first one is from an old TV series, and the second one is from a really cute movie I saw a few years ago. Both are a little quirky, but I think they do a pretty good job of defining my writing process.

Here they are:

1. “I like being a mess. It’s who I am.” (a quote by Ally from the TV show Ally McBeal)
2. “I’d like to make an offer on the house. This is what I can pay, minus the work on the place, and a rental car to drive off a cliff when this all turns out to have been a terrible mistake.” (a quote by Frances from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun)

In 2003, nine ladies from Austin, Texas banded together to form a social organization for crafters; and at the time it was considered nothing more than part time fun. Today the Craft Mafia (http://www.craftmafia.com/), as it is delightfully called, has expanded to other regions of the country. Since then, their numbers have grown tremendously. Sounds like another great success story right?  The answer to that question would be both a yes and a no.

Yes, the Craft Mafia has certainly given some extra notoriety to home based crafters, thanks in large part to some savvy marketing and a cute, catchy name. But to dwell on their outward appeal may take attention away from the success the group has garnered online. Above all else, the ladies of Craft Mafia are plausible proof that home based crafters can and do make a respectable living selling their wares online.  By networking with other crafters around the country, members of the Craft Mafia have one common goal — to successfully take their home based businesses from their homes to the World Wide Web.  And along the way, these ladies are having tons of fun.

Of course it is by no sheer coincidence, fun is the name of the game on the Sacramento, California chapter’s website (http://www.sacramentocraftmafia.com/). The first part of their motto is listed as, “Crafting, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Sacramento Craft Mafia. Its continuing mission: To explore strange mediums. To seek out new members and new organizations. To boldly craft what no one has done before.” Now if that doesn’t make you think twice about taking the joy of crafting online, nothing will. And one thing is for sure. The ladies of the Craft Mafia, are all about fun, but even more important, they are all about doing business online too. 

How will writing this editorial help you with Essay #3? 

Writing this editorial certainly helped me get a feel for how the body of my essay will flow. It also helped me target my audience more effectively and “speak” to them in a more personal and comfortable manner.

I believe that writing a proposal for Essay 3 will help us get a head start on researching for paper. It is also a great way to outline what the paper will be all about. There appears to be great value in doing a proposal, simply because it provides us with a point of reference. What we write down in the proposal will guide us through our Research Essay. It may also make the task of organizing our paragraphs much easier. As far as future writing projects are concerned, I believe writing a proposal would be helpful then as well. It seems to be an effective method to work with. I am not sure if I will be writing as extensively in future classes, as I am in this one. However it is quite possible, perhaps for an assignment in a 300 or 400 level English class.

So our third paper is a Research Paper. I don’t think I am going to do a happy dance, but I am not in tears either. Actually I think I am going to enjoy this particular paper.  I am finally getting into the groove of this class and I am determined to have a little fun with this assignment.

First of all, there are so many topics that interest me. I just don’t know where to begin. Somehow I have to narrow my choices down to something that will make an interesting paper. Or better still, a paper that won’t put readers to sleep.

So what do I do about this dilemma?  Should I write about something scholarly like the “Changing the scope of secondary education in America,” or something environmentally friendly like, “How to go green in 90 days or less?”

Oh boy! So many topics and so little time.

Maybe the “6 Steps to Identifying Issues” might shed some light on this subject for me. Step #1 is “Draw on your personal experience.” Okay, I enjoy making the cyber world a prettier place (in other words, I’m a web designer).  Step #2 is “Identify what is open to dispute.” Dispute is definitely apart of the cyber world. I guess I can incorporate that into my paper. Step #3 is “Resist binary thinking.” Huh??  Just kidding, I can be objective when necessary. Step #4 is “Build on and extend the ideas of others.” Hmm…this might be something I really sink my teeth into. Step #5 is “Read to discover a writer’s frame.” Okay, the brain cells are really getting a workout now. Step #6 is “Consider the constraints of the situation.” My middle name is constraint (well, actually its Renee, but that name doesn’t exactly fit in with this subject).

So there you have it. 6 Steps to identifying Issues. Wow! All this talk about identifying issues has helped me to come up with a topic. I am going to write about the cyber world. Something exciting in the cyber world – like blogs. Not just any blogs, but beautiful designed blogs. That’s right I am going to write about websites designed by people like me. Web designers who want to make the Internet a more beautiful place.

I will examine the Picassos of the Internet landscape. Some of the questions I will attempt to answer are, “Do visually appealing websites garner more hits?  Are visitors more inclined to frequent beautifully designed websites?  What are some current design trends in web design? Are beautiful websites totally functional? I will develop more questions as I move along.

The main thing I want to do now is work on my proposal and also start the research process. I plan to use textbooks and online resources to support my thesis, which at this point is still a work in progress. Off the top of my head, my topic sentence as question is “Is the Internet turning into a Work of Art?”  The audience I plan to speak to is — surprise! Web designers of course.

But then again, that may change. Until I form my thesis, I won’t firmly commit to anything just yet.

I have to confess that I have been practicing the writing process according to what I have read in our textbook. The examples given are excellent guides to follow. More importantly, I really like the fact that things are broken down into sections. For example, there is a lot of information on how to write a synthesis and a summary. I have tried to incorporate some of that information into my writing. So far it has made the writing process easier. 

And speaking of the writing process…

My writing process is fairly simple. It’s not at all like the detailed essays in our textbook. One specific thing I have noticed about my writing is that elements of my personality will generally find a way into it, especially if I am writing about something that is important or personal. I am finding that is a hard habit to break.  I am also finding that sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Still I think above all else, Eng 112, has already helped me to write with alot more objectivity. What I have learned so far has also helped me to write in a more structured manner.  Now if I can just get that darn synthesis down, I will be doing the happy dance in the middle of downtown Main Street.

Now that school is back in session, my TV watching time has diminished dramatically.  The only thing I truly leave my calendar open for is – yep, you guessed it, the one and only ER.  But as far as movies go, I am a big fan of Sci-Fi flicks. Two of my favorites remain “Enemy of the State” and “The Mummy Returns.” Actually anything with Will Smith or Brendan Fraser will always be on my “must watch” list.  Now with that being said, I had the weirdest thing happen to me at work on Tuesday.  It was a scene right out of a movie. Batman to be exact – the Christian Bale version of course.  I swear that man puts the “F” in Fine.

Ahem, anyway, this past Tuesday I was sitting in my cube working in the antiquated “thing” known as Microsoft Publisher. It was about 5:50 p.m., and the sun had already gone down. I was in the middle of editing a document for one of our consultants, when, out of the blue I heard a loud shriek. Then, I hear someone say, “It’s the bat!” Right after that I turned around, expecting to see Christian Bale I suppose, and instead saw a small winged creature fly right by me.  Well, as you might have guessed, it’s wasn’t my man Bale. It was, however, a real live bat.

That’s right a bat! In our building!! Flying around!!! Just a few inches away from me!!!!

What in the Sam Hill!!!!!!

So office my finally gone batty. I’m not surprised, simply because I happen to work with some offbeat people. There’s a few androids (really nice androids, but androids nontheless) a couple of mad hatters, and sevearl dollar store fashionistas. All of that is okay, but I draw the line at working alongside a bat.

Something has to be done about this. Next week I am going to tell my boss that it’s either me or the bat. One of us has to go.

Wait a minute! I better rethink this. If that wayward bat knows HTML or JavaScript, “and” if it will work for stale food, that sneaky little night creature may have a decent shot of replacing me. 

Stay tuned. The story will continue. Same bat channel. Same bat time.

I really enjoyed reading our instructor’s synthesis story, and the Justin Timberlake tie-in was so great. 

All week I have been trying to think of an synthesis example to write about on this week’s blog entry and it’s been alot harder than I thought it would be.  Then, out of the blue, yesterday at work, I figured it out.  If it had been a snake it would have bit me right in the foot.  And what do you know?  It was, ahem I mean is just that — a baby rattlesnake to be exact.   

A little while ago I was told that one of my co-workers had a wild encounter with a baby rattlesnake near the ravine behind our office complex. (I swear California is like a bad episode of Animals Gone Wild sometimes). Anyway, my co-worker, whom I say refer to as Madame X, is the cool, calm, allways in control type, so to hear that she was frazzled by a baby snake was a surprise to everybody in the office.

So how does synthesis figure in this story? Well, my co-worker, a.k.a. Madame X, is a real stickler for organization. She likes to have everything done a certain way and at a certain time, or from what I understand, she will transform into a human version of a Pokemon. 

Now this is where I enter the picture. On Monday, Madame X and I were invited to a business luncheon.  It was my turn to drive but I really didn’t want to.  My reason –I had just landed back in town on Sunday from a week long trip to Dallas and I was operating on about four hours of sleep.

So after remembering that Madame X was still spastic about her baby snake encounter, I happily reminded her as we headed out the door to the luncheon, that my car was parked a long way from the door, it was also on empty and we would have to stop at the gas station first, and lastly I told her it was parked right near the ravine — the same ravine where her baby snake makes its home. 

And just as I expected, Madame X offered to drive to the restaurant.  She probably made the impromptu offer because (a) she didn’t want to walk the long walk to my car, or (b) she thought we might be late for the luncheon if we stopped for gas first, or (c) she didn’t want to go anywhere near that ravine. 

 My money is on c.  What do you think?