Seki, Yutaka. "finger warmers" 08/30/2015 via Flickr. Attribution License
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Cluster of Stakeholders
I attempted to juxtapose opposite points of view on opposite sides of my popplet. The connections of the young girls entering fields of technology oppose the connections of CEOs. The connections of technology workers opposes the connections of technology users. I tried to do this to show the contrast between different viewpoints as there are some stark differences such as the risk of job security male workers would encounter as compared to the risk of hostile reception female workers could encounter.
Considering Genre
As The true beginning of this project has come and I continue to research my topic, the issue of which genre has come up. Through considerable deliberation, I decided on quick reference guide. I know little about all the genres except the standard college essay so the decision was difficult.
Hassan, Yassin. "TeSt FoR DaiRy FaRM" 08/24/2009 via Flickr. Attribution License
1. What genre are you going to commit to for Project 1? Why?
I am going to cook,Ito a quick reference guide. I am interested in exploring this particular genre. As it is the most foreign to me. I think the easily accessible links to information provide a useful advantage to the unbiased presentation of information. Readers don't look to quick reference guides for long essays on information but rather for a short summary. I think the issue of the small her of women on fields of technology is an important issue that needs more attentions hitch a quick reference guide can easily accomplish. It summarizes the issue at hand and then provides the reader with more reading opportunities to links.
2. What genre conventions from your chosen genre are you planning on developing during next week's Production phase? What do you plan to do with the genre conventions that will help you accomplish the purpose of the project most effectively?
I am planning to develop the links that are going to contribute to my final project. I will create an outline for my quick reference guide as well as narrow down the links that will be used within it.
3. How are you feeling about Project 1 going in to the Production phase? What challenges do you anticipate next week as you create content for the project?
I am very excited. I was not sure I would find a topic that I feel passionately about but I feel that I have. I am excited to present this issue. I anticipate finding challenges in composing a quick reference guide as this is something I have never done.
Evaluation of General Sources
After determining I am going to focus on the lack of women in technology fields, I began looking into the credibility of my sources. Here are some reflection questions documenting my search of credibility.
1. What is the URL?
It ends in ".in" which simply refers to the country code of India. This indicates no presence or lack of credibility.
2. Can you identify an author? Can you verify her qualifications?
The author's name is Aindrila Chaudhuri. She is a feminist ex-IT-industry worker who now works in the social sector according to her biography.
3. Does the web page provide information about when it was last updated? Is there a way of determining if the material is out of date? What sorts of links are on the page? Where do these links lead you? Are the links still working?
The article was posted September 9, 2014. Because the material is largely opinion based, it is not really going to go out of date. The only occurrence that would make it irrelevant would be the elimination of patriarchy in fields of technology which has not yet happened.
4. What is the text trying to accomplish? Is its purpose to inform, entertain, or persuade the reader? Does it appear to be promoting a commercial product, and idea, a philosophy, or some other way of seeing something?
The main purpose of the piece is to inform readers of the patriarchy present in technology as well as some of the reasons contributing to the perpetuation of such sexist ideas. However, I believe she also has an underlying intent of persuading the reader to support her perspective in an attempt to change the sexism in technology. It is promoting another way of looking at technology.
5. Are there graphics? If so, what do they illustrate and why?
There are no graphics.
6. Does the source seem to be bias, one-sided, incomplete, or erroneous? Who profits if
viewers of the website believe the information is true? Can you verify the information with other online or print sources?
The author is. Feminist ex-technology worker so she potentially holds some bias. However, as an opinion piece it calls for her opinion and in presenting that she does a phenomenal job. If the reader believes the information to be true, women in technology fields benefit from their support. The information in corroborated by other inline sources speaking to similar patriarchal tendencies.
7. Does the source suggest avenues for further inquiry such as possible readings, research, or links? Does it cite reputable sources or note the extent to which claimed in the text are connected to recognized authorities non the field?
There are suggestions of readings similar to the article. Chaudhuri's connection to the field of technology is stated but no further reputability is stated.
1. What is the URL?
While it ends in ".com" which does not always suggest the highest level of academia, it is from the LA Times which carries some reputability.
2. Can you identify an author? Can you verify her qualifications?
Tracy Lien is the author. She is a technology reporter for the LA Times.
3. Does the web page provide information about when it was last updated? Is there a way of determining if the material is out of date? What sorts of links are on the page? Where do these links lead you? Are the links still working?
This article was published February 22, 2015. There are not links in the article. There are links to similar articles as well as advertisements around the body of text but nothing within.
4. What is the text trying to accomplish? Is its purpose to inform, entertain, or persuade the reader? Does it appear to be promoting a commercial product, and idea, a philosophy, or some other way of seeing something?
The purpose of this article is to inform people of the startling loss of women in the technology industry as well as to inform them of the extreme prevalence of male workers.
5. Are there graphics? If so, what do they illustrate and why?
There are no graphics.
6. Does the source seem to be bias, one-sided, incomplete, or erroneous? Who profits if
viewers of the website believe the information is true? Can you verify the information with other online or print sources?
The information appears to be unbiased and complete. If the article is believed to be true and motivates more women to become involved in the field, then the technology field benefits.
7. Does the source suggest avenues for further inquiry such as possible readings, research, or links? Does it cite reputable sources or note the extent to which claimed in the text are connected to recognized authorities non the field?
There are suggested similar articles at the end of the article. The citation of Lien's specialty as a technology reporter suggests some credibility.
Reddit and What I Found There
Thus far, I have found the most interest in stories pertaining to psychology. So, for this post, I decided to deepen my investigation.
Klee, Romana. "in the hay" 06/13/2011 via Flickr. Attribution-ShareAlike License
1. What kinds of things do people in the Reddit forums seem to be arguing about, debating, disagreeing about or otherwise engaging in meaningful exchanges of ideas about? Give us a descriptive and clear sense of the kinds of stories you're seeing in the Reddit forums.
For the most part, threads seem to be focused on debate or answering of questions. Unlike Twitter, there is less of a focus on simply sharing information and more of a focus on debating information. The debates are centered around a broad number if trending controversies related to psychology (i.e. positive psychology, academic practices, etc.) additionally, the questions and answers are often about the realities and options of a career in psychology.
2. In your opinion, what are the two most interesting debates/disagreements you found in the Reddit forums? Hyperlink us to the two different Reddit threads and explain why you found those debates interesting. Be specific and honest and be yourself. I don't want you to blah-blah-blah this. I want you to really engage.
An AMA thread posted by a psychology grad student provided fascinating insight into the world of finding a career as someone studying psychology. I was not aware that there is a perceived bad market for jobs or even that there were no clinical options for careers. Likewise, I found an undergraduate's post asking what unknown job opportunities are there if you have a degree in psychology very interesting. On-call-esque jobs sound interesting to me such as working with kids with behavioral issues at home. They give you a free-feeling job filled with satisfaction and engagement.
3. Overall, what impression do you get of your discipline based on what you saw happening in the Reddit forums? Were the people in those forums talking in ways you expected or did not expect, about things you anticipated they'd be talking aboput or things you had no idea they'd be discussing? Explain in concise specific detail.
Evaluation of News Magazine Stories
I strayed away from any particular focus with these articles. I know very little about technology so I thought it might be something interesting and relevant to explore. Conversely, feminism is something I feel passionately towards so the feminist air in each article is what drew me in.
Row, Karen. "Edinburgh Cow Parade 05-2006" 05/23/2006 via Flickr. Attribution License
1. What is the debate, disagreement or argument in the story about? Explain concisely, but with specificity and precision. Name specific people, places, things, events, dates, times and/or other identifying details.
In "Hacking Technology's Boy Club" Anna Weiner utilizes the thoughts of engineers, Ellen Ullman and Leslie Miley, to demonstrate the lack of change in the makeup of the engineering industry. She argues that if engineers were not primarily made up of white men, the world of technology would look very different. Not only is sexism rampant but also the expanse number of technological possibilities are not reached due to a lack of diversity. With diverse bodies of people come diverse ideas.
In "'Fat' Barbie Could Be Our New Cultural Muse" Mona Awad argues that it is not in the hands of the corporations or the general public to change societal norms regarding body image but rather in the hands of those who play. When the imagination behind games played with babies changes, society will begin to change. When 'fat' Barbie is no longer called 'fat' Barbie, society will change.
2. Who is the most sympathetic character in the story? Who are they? How are they involved? Why do they evoke feelings of sympathy from you?
Ellen Ullman is the most sympathetic character in the story. As she describes her experience dealing with the sexist backlash after the publication of her essay The Bug I feel the nastiness of her experience. As a woman in a STEM field, she must deal with this backlash frequently. But as she describes the "more and more ugly postings" in response to the publication of her essay, it is difficult not to be angry with the sick patriarchy rampant in our society.
The author is the most sympathetic character. As she illustrates her struggle with her body image as the images she saw did not reflect her own image, so many readers can relate on an intimate level. The pain of feeling ugly and out of place can be so huge. The ease with which the reader can relate, makes her struggle very sympathetic.
3. Who is the least sympathetic character in the story? Who are they? How are they involved? Why can't you easily sympathize with them?
The men responding to Ullman's essay are the least sympathetic. They create a feeling of hatred within the reader. How can such a crucial industry be so limited? How can people be so inconsiderate? How can people be so thick headed? Their involvement in the stagnation of the technology industry is sickening.
The Barbie industry is the least sympathetic. It is difficult to sympathize with the people causing the pain in little girls who cannot find beauty in their own image. They perpetuate negative body images. Because this has become such a horribly relevant issue in our society, I find it much too difficult to sympathize.
Twitter and What I Found There
Because I have not declared my major, I have a somewhat large array of options to choose from while deciding on topics to research. For a while I have been quite set on public health or anthropology. However, recently I have not found much interest in them. Instead, I have been drawn to psychology. So, for this post, I decided to explore psychology on Twitter.
Olney, Helen. No title 7/19/2007 via Flickr. Attribution License
1. What kinds of things do people on Twitter seem to be talking about, debating, arguing about or otherwise engaging in meaningful exhanges of ideas about? Give us a descriptive and clear sense of the kinds of stories you're seeing in these Twitter feeds.
What I found from the feeds that I looked at was that there is less of a discussion and more of a dissemination of information. Each feed is filled with either short descriptions of a story with a link attached or short opinions of that psychologist's take on a story with a link attached. Many stories were pop culture related. They focused on dating advice, online quizzes, personality types and other concepts that the Twitter audience might find interesting.
2. In your opinion, what are the two most interesting conversations or stories you found in the Twitter feeds? Hyperlink us to the two different Twitter feeds and explain why you found those conversations nteresting. Be specific and honest and be yourself. I don't want you to blah-blah-blah this. I want you to really engage.
I found Psychology Facts' and Vaughan Bell's feeds to be the most interesting. I liked the mass of information provided by Psychology Facts. It requires a small attention span, a little knowledge base, and a short amount of time. It caters to the culture of quick information in an entertaining way. Conversely, scrolling through Vaughan Bell's feed requires a bit more time and concentration. He gives a short opinion about a post or a reply to someone else's post with an attached link to an article or piece of research. I like this for the opposite reason that I like Psychology Facts - it is long. There is more information that you can pick and choose from when you have the time.
3. Overall, what impression do you get of your discipline based on what you saw happening on Twitter? Were the people in these feeds talking in ways you expected or did not expect, about things you anticipated they'd be talking about or things you had no idea they'd be discussing? Explain in concise specific detail.
There is a huge focus on discovery in the field of psychology. The majority of the posts are sharing new studies, new information, new research. I actually expected this because this is one of the reasons I am interested in psychology. There is a constant possibility for discovery. It is interesting that there is little debate. It is mostly just sharing information.
Evaluation of New York Times
Throughout the process of narrowing down sources and stories, it is important to slow down and reflect on each story your read. Here is my reflection on two stories found on the New York Times website.
"Flint Weighs Scope of Harm to Children Caused by Lead in Water" poses the government as the antagonist. However, no real protagonist can be identified. Since the lead poisoning get catastrophe, many questions have been raised about the standard of living of lower socioeconomic groups. The people who consumed contaminated water play an important role in demonstrating the gap in living standard.
1. Does there seem to be a "main character" or "protagonist" to the story? If so, who is it and how are they are the "center" of the story? If not, are there any important or central characters in the stoy at all? What role do they play?
Locusts are the main character in "Argentina Scrambles to Fight Biggest Plague of Locusts in 60 Years". The story is centered around farmers' and the government's struggles to minimize the damage as well as the presence of a huge plague of locusts. Many farmers are blaming the government for ignoring warnings in the previous president's term.
2. Where do the specific events in the story take place? Is there a specific setting? Describe the settings for the stories and how they influence the plot and characters.
The events of "Flint Weighs Scope of Harm to Children Caused by Lead in Water" take place in Flint, Michigan. The fact that the people living in this neighborhood are of the working class and generally of lower socioeconomic status raises concern about the discrepancy in living standard between classes.
"Argentina Scrambles to Fight Biggest Plague of Locusts in 60 Years" takes place in Argentina. The importance of the lifestyles of the farmers paired with the magnitude of the plague contributes to the devastating possibility of losing crops.
3. Is there any kind of disagreement or debate happening in the story? If so, who is participating, why are people debating and what seems to be at stake for the different characters in the story?
There is less of a focus on debates and more of a focus on the concern created by the story of "Flint Weighs Scope of Harm to Children Caused by Lead in Water". While the effects are not fully present now, many doctors are looking to the future with concern for the effects the children may continue to experience.
There is some debate in "Argentina Scrambles to Fight Biggest Plague of Locusts in 60 Years" over who caused it (did the government really ignore warning signs?). However, similar to the case of Flint, Michigan, there is mostly a concern for minimizing the consequences.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Course Projects
Throughout the semester, there is a broad range of major assignments with a broad range of genres. The opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that will come with each project will help to prepare for any obstacles and major time commitments.
Dex, Dennis. "cow_glasses" 08/03/2011 via Flickr. Attribution license
1. The variety of genres makes me a little nervous. I have never put a podcast, video essay, or quick reference guide together. I am excited for the opportunity to incorporate more creativity into my projects but the uncertainty of each genre is still concerning. Or will certainly be an adventure!
2. I am very excited to have the chance to explore different fields of study. I am currently undeclared. I have been leaning towards public health or anthropology but I am also interested in medicine. Each project's focus on expanding your knowledge of a career field will hopefully help me narrow down my decision. I cannot wait to explore majors.
3. The portions of each project that require collaboration with another person will require the most amount of planning beforehand. Specifically the interviews of project two and peer review. Additionally, the process of finding an idea to focus on for projects one and three will require open mindedness and thoughtfulness in the time leading up to the beginning of the project. This will be a challenge as it requires a fair amount of planning ahead. I struggle with working on a project over the span of a few weeks and rather prefer to save the bulk of the work for the last two to five days. However, with these projects, that will not be an intelligent option.
4. In my last Spanish classes, I have been required to put together current events reports. Of all my high school classes, this has probably prepared me the most. I developed research skills and critical and objective writing skills. One of the fields I'm most interested in is public health. Researching current events in South and Central America and Spain gave me a bit of a taste for some issues that might be relevant to public health as well as some skills that will be useful for the course projects.
5. At this point, all my questions have been answered by the d2l resources. But as I do further research into each project and the topics I choose, I may have more questions. Should that happen, I will bring them up.
Reflection
From reading Elizabeth Hernandez's post and Ben Barnett's post I found a commonality between our concern about time management and focusing on planning. As this is one of the main things I am concerned about, I felt reassured knowing I am not alone. The interviews also seem to be either a concern or an interest in both Ben and Elizabeth's as well as a few other posts I read. I really appreciate the focus on field of study in the projects and I see that this is also an area of interest in many other's posts. I'm excited to learn about different fields and possibly narrow down my interests.
Investigating Genres
With so many writing genres, having a full understanding of the genres that you use is important. However, due to the large number of genres it is more manageable to tackle the process one genre at a time. I will begin with the video essay.
Comfreak. "109 Images" 07/09/2014 via pixabay. Public Domain License
1. Video essays simplify information while simultaneously adding interest. They bring important topics to light in visually engaging and creative ways. For those who find themselves losing interest in a long article, who find themselves too tired to focus on small print, or who simply find themselves craving more than black words on a white page, a video essay is a great alternative to reading.
2. Video essays are found almost exclusively online. YouTube and other similar video streaming sites are the primary deliverers of video essays. Because of this online focus, social media is also an important method of sharing video essays.
3. Younger or tech-savvy audiences are the typical audiences for video essays. Video essays are mainly online which restricts access for people who do not have an understanding of how to use technology.
4. The author is able to incorporate voice over, film, text, photos, music, and so much more into each essay. There are limitless possibilities. The main distinguishing feature of video essays is the visual focus. Video essays are not limited to words on a page. Art, photos, music, words, and ideas combine to create a fascinating delivery of an important issue.
5. Video essays are engaging visual experiences that present an argument. They are targeted at online viewers who may be interested in learning more about an issue without reading extensively.
Reflection
After reading Diego Alcantara's post and Erin McCabe's post the accessibility of information stood out. While you need a significant understanding of the workings of technology to find many video essays, you just need an audio capable device to access podcasts. This is a good thing to keep in mind when trying to distribute information. If you are targeting a more tech-savvy and potentially younger audience. Video essays are the way to. However, if you are looking for a broader exposure to many different age groups and tech-capable groups, podcasts are the way to go. Video essays are best for a targeted audience while podcasts can reach a greater audience.
My Writing Process
Reflecting on your writing process is important - important to maintaining your ability, important to improving your ability, important to changing your ability. Gaining awareness of what techniques you use can help to zero in on specific ways to improve them. As I looked at my methods, I realized the value of focusing on my revision process.
1. I consider myself to be a creative Heavy Reviser. When inspiration hits me, I like to find a unique way to look at a prompt. However, I often find difficulty in getting that inspiration.
2. As I write, I combine focusing on revision with an occasional and unfortunate focus on procrastination. When I write, I tend to just sit down and write. Planning never seems to help much. Because of this, revising is important but I sometimes ignore this in a time crunch.
3. My process is successful when I get some inspiring idea. Although, this does not always happen. My main struggle is feeling confident about my work when I and working without inspiration.
4. You can never harm your writing style by trying different approaches. I would like to try different methods of planning, writing, and revising. How can you truly rule out a writing style if you have never tried it?
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