For my final reading response and my second free-response, I will discuss how this class and the reading have effected my view on the internet and writing in electronic environments. Prior to this semester, I never fully appreciated the read/write relationship that makes the internet so special.
Of all the things we have learned this semester, the transcendent relationship between the reader and the writer stands out as the most important. No other writing environment allows the reader to be as much a part of the writing as the writer. The duality of this relationship makes the content unique, customizable, and important. Without this relationship, the internet is no different than a book or even a Microsoft Office document. This duality is not limited to the blog genre. Commenting is enabled on almost every website. Comment sections on major websites allow for anyone's voice to be heard. Comments also allow the writer a source of direct feedback, allowing them to adjust the work according to the reader's thoughts.
The Wiki genre is a great example of how the Internets readership helps create content. Although most teachers will claim Wikipedia is an illegitimate source of information, I believe it is as reliable as any other source. Here is an interesting story that accentuates this point: A Dublin University student edited a Wikipedia page and added a fake quotation to an author's page. The fake quotation was almost immediately removed, but before there were any repercussions. When the author died, many journalists quoted this fake quotation and attributed it to him in his obituary. Although the quote did not make it past Wikipedia editors, it made it into many of our newspapers. This shows that Wikipedia does more fact-checking than many other sources of information out there. This reiterates the point that the reader is totally capable of being a writer, as well as a legitimate source.
Despite this truth, I will not be using Wikipedia in any of my Work Cited pages. I think Barstool Sports' slogan depicts this relationship best. "By the common man, For the common man." No other environment allows the common man's voice to be heard or supplies a place for the common man to read about what actually interests him.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Reading Response 9
For my first free-response, I will discuss Kimball's "Understand Web Portfolios". I figured this would be an appropriate reading to respond to because of the upcoming portfolio project due at the end of the semester. This reading helped me to understand what makes a great Web Portfolio.
Being a Writing & Rhetoric major, I am quite familiar with the Portfolio process. Every semester I have been instructed to create multiple portfolios for my writing classes, but these were simply compilations of the semester's work. Unlike the portfolios of my past, an Electronic Portfolio is meant to be reflection of one's progress. Although this was the aim of my other portfolios, I never really attacked that goal in my past.
Kimball explains the importance of both the contextual and aesthetic aspects of the Portfolio. The CARP principles outlined in past readings are reiterated by Kimball throughout the reading. Here is where the difference between my past portfolios and this one is. With a folder of written work, there is little to worry about when it comes to aesthetics, but an electronic portfolio is much different. Hopefully my work in the Website redesign project will help me utilize the CARP principles while creating my own portfolio.
In class, the professor insisted we should have some type of reoccurring theme or extended metaphor through the portfolio. I have put much though into what this theme or metaphor should be. After much discussion, I think I will stick with the Dr. Phil theme for my portfolio: I might make it a "tour though my office" or a diagnoses of my writing. By using a metaphor I can deeply analyze my own writing and give the viewer something to chew on while reading my portfolio.
Being a Writing & Rhetoric major, I am quite familiar with the Portfolio process. Every semester I have been instructed to create multiple portfolios for my writing classes, but these were simply compilations of the semester's work. Unlike the portfolios of my past, an Electronic Portfolio is meant to be reflection of one's progress. Although this was the aim of my other portfolios, I never really attacked that goal in my past.
Kimball explains the importance of both the contextual and aesthetic aspects of the Portfolio. The CARP principles outlined in past readings are reiterated by Kimball throughout the reading. Here is where the difference between my past portfolios and this one is. With a folder of written work, there is little to worry about when it comes to aesthetics, but an electronic portfolio is much different. Hopefully my work in the Website redesign project will help me utilize the CARP principles while creating my own portfolio.
In class, the professor insisted we should have some type of reoccurring theme or extended metaphor through the portfolio. I have put much though into what this theme or metaphor should be. After much discussion, I think I will stick with the Dr. Phil theme for my portfolio: I might make it a "tour though my office" or a diagnoses of my writing. By using a metaphor I can deeply analyze my own writing and give the viewer something to chew on while reading my portfolio.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Reading Response 8
SOPA and Protect IP are two highly controversial bills that -- if passed -- will change the Internet as we know it. The goal of bills like SOPA is to increase the extent that copyright laws are enforced by holding websites responsible for when user's infringe on these laws. For example, if I was to post a copyrighted image on Facebook, Facebook would be held responsible. As we learned from Lessing's lectures, the third major legal policy at the core of the Internet is (to paraphrase) that creators cannot be held accountable if their creation is used illegally.
These bills relate to social networking sites because sites like Facebook and Twitter are completely controlled by its users. If SOPA was passed, Facebook would be required to ensure every image, upload, and wallpost abides by copyright laws. Even suggesting this is absurd. There are millions of people on Facebook and to closely regulate all of their activity would be nearly impossible. This would require Facebook to spend millions of dollars on employees and technology to ensure no copyrighted material is hosted on their website.
Boyd and Ellison highlight an interesting aspect of Social Network Sites in their writings. They assert that the "Social" part of SNS is the most important part. To regulate this would to be regulate our human interaction between each other. This is blatant censorship at the highest level. At this point in the Age of Information, the internet should be seen no differently than any other medium, like newspapers, books, etc. It would be like censoring a newspaper. If we start censoring our human interactions, it is the first step to living in a completely controled Police-State.
Bills like SOPA is exactly what Lessings is talking about in his lectures. The higher the amount of regulation on the Internet, the less innovation there is. If companies were constantly worried about infringing on copyright laws or their users infringing on copyright laws, it would detract from their overall goal. It is simply a waste of resources. I could never imagine a bill like this being passed; Not only because of the damage it will do to Internet companies, but because of the damage it will do to our freedoms as Americans.
These bills relate to social networking sites because sites like Facebook and Twitter are completely controlled by its users. If SOPA was passed, Facebook would be required to ensure every image, upload, and wallpost abides by copyright laws. Even suggesting this is absurd. There are millions of people on Facebook and to closely regulate all of their activity would be nearly impossible. This would require Facebook to spend millions of dollars on employees and technology to ensure no copyrighted material is hosted on their website.
Boyd and Ellison highlight an interesting aspect of Social Network Sites in their writings. They assert that the "Social" part of SNS is the most important part. To regulate this would to be regulate our human interaction between each other. This is blatant censorship at the highest level. At this point in the Age of Information, the internet should be seen no differently than any other medium, like newspapers, books, etc. It would be like censoring a newspaper. If we start censoring our human interactions, it is the first step to living in a completely controled Police-State.
Bills like SOPA is exactly what Lessings is talking about in his lectures. The higher the amount of regulation on the Internet, the less innovation there is. If companies were constantly worried about infringing on copyright laws or their users infringing on copyright laws, it would detract from their overall goal. It is simply a waste of resources. I could never imagine a bill like this being passed; Not only because of the damage it will do to Internet companies, but because of the damage it will do to our freedoms as Americans.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Project 4 Brainstorming
Audience: Central Falls community, Rhode Island government officials, people interested in the public library issue, potential donors.
Purpose: To raise awareness about what is happening in central falls, to attract donors to the library, to raise awareness about the problem threatening public libraries across the country, provide a place for library enthusiasts to communicate and network.
Stance: Pro-education. I plan to stress the importance of libraries in our country. There is no need to be nonpartisan in a writing environment like this.
What should be in the site: Information about the problem -- how it started, evolved, and the situation today -- history about the library, a blog for us to discuss our ideas and plans, a list of events relevant to our cause, a forum for us to ask and answer questions, pictures of the library, contact information, and anything else relevant to our cause. I'm not so sure what type of music we should have; there are not a lot of library anthems.
Purpose: To raise awareness about what is happening in central falls, to attract donors to the library, to raise awareness about the problem threatening public libraries across the country, provide a place for library enthusiasts to communicate and network.
Stance: Pro-education. I plan to stress the importance of libraries in our country. There is no need to be nonpartisan in a writing environment like this.
What should be in the site: Information about the problem -- how it started, evolved, and the situation today -- history about the library, a blog for us to discuss our ideas and plans, a list of events relevant to our cause, a forum for us to ask and answer questions, pictures of the library, contact information, and anything else relevant to our cause. I'm not so sure what type of music we should have; there are not a lot of library anthems.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Project 4 - Annotated Bibliography
Libraries In Crisis Throughout The US and Canada – Philip Rozes
Oliviero, Helena. "Metro Libraries Cope with Money Woes." Ajc.com. The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, 8 Apr. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
In this April 8th article, Helena Oliviero discusses the desperate condition of Atlanta’s Public Library
System. As recent as 2010, Atlanta legislators were pushing to renovate and expand all of the city’s
public libraries; but now, only two years later, these same libraries are struggling to survive. This
cutback in library funding is a national trend. Oliviero highlights similar situations in Fulton County,
Georgia – where legislators did not anticipate the cost of upkeep for their eight new libraries – and in
Philadelphia – where eleven of the city’s forty-eight were closed in the wake of budget cuts. The
article concludes by explaining what people are doing to keep their libraries alive and how you can get involved.
I find this article to be invaluable to our research, because not only does it show multiple
instances where libraries are struggling; it elaborates on what people are doing to make a difference.
The final portion of the article can guide us in what we do with our project.
Rego, Mike. "East Providence Library Branches Fuller, Rumford to Close at Month's
End."EastBayRI.com, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
In a story much closer to home, “The East Providence Public Library Board of Trustees “regretfully”
announced the closing of the Anne Ide Fuller and Rumford Branch Libraries at the end of April in a
press release Thursday, April 5.” Due to budget limitations, the city was forced to close two of their
four libraries, despite public opposition. The article stresses how reluctant the council was to make
these cuts.
This article is an example of how relevant the issue is to us. The location is terrific for an
appeal to Pathos in our project. Although the article is not very dense, the pathetic appeal is invaluable.
Thanh Hu, Tu. "Walkout to Shut down Toronto Public Libraries." Home. The Globe and the Mail, 18
Mar. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
Last month in Canada, the public library problem reached its boiling point. Thousands of library
employees throughout Toronto staged a walk-out in opposition to the city’s plans to cut library
funding. The city has already ravaged the city’s libraries of much of their funding, and this protest is
their last resort.
This article hits two major points. First, it shows how this problem is not only limited to the
United States. But more importantly, it presents what could be a frightening future for America’s
public library system. Unlike Central Falls or East Providence, the Toronto Public Library System has over ninety branches; this is an example of the problem on a much larger scale – where literally billions of dollars are at stake. Because this story happened last month, a follow up article will be useful in discovering what the future may hold for America’s libraries.
Oliviero, Helena. "Metro Libraries Cope with Money Woes." Ajc.com. The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, 8 Apr. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
In this April 8th article, Helena Oliviero discusses the desperate condition of Atlanta’s Public Library
System. As recent as 2010, Atlanta legislators were pushing to renovate and expand all of the city’s
public libraries; but now, only two years later, these same libraries are struggling to survive. This
cutback in library funding is a national trend. Oliviero highlights similar situations in Fulton County,
Georgia – where legislators did not anticipate the cost of upkeep for their eight new libraries – and in
Philadelphia – where eleven of the city’s forty-eight were closed in the wake of budget cuts. The
article concludes by explaining what people are doing to keep their libraries alive and how you can get involved.
I find this article to be invaluable to our research, because not only does it show multiple
instances where libraries are struggling; it elaborates on what people are doing to make a difference.
The final portion of the article can guide us in what we do with our project.
Rego, Mike. "East Providence Library Branches Fuller, Rumford to Close at Month's
End."EastBayRI.com, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
In a story much closer to home, “The East Providence Public Library Board of Trustees “regretfully”
announced the closing of the Anne Ide Fuller and Rumford Branch Libraries at the end of April in a
press release Thursday, April 5.” Due to budget limitations, the city was forced to close two of their
four libraries, despite public opposition. The article stresses how reluctant the council was to make
these cuts.
This article is an example of how relevant the issue is to us. The location is terrific for an
appeal to Pathos in our project. Although the article is not very dense, the pathetic appeal is invaluable.
Thanh Hu, Tu. "Walkout to Shut down Toronto Public Libraries." Home. The Globe and the Mail, 18
Mar. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.
Last month in Canada, the public library problem reached its boiling point. Thousands of library
employees throughout Toronto staged a walk-out in opposition to the city’s plans to cut library
funding. The city has already ravaged the city’s libraries of much of their funding, and this protest is
their last resort.
This article hits two major points. First, it shows how this problem is not only limited to the
United States. But more importantly, it presents what could be a frightening future for America’s
public library system. Unlike Central Falls or East Providence, the Toronto Public Library System has over ninety branches; this is an example of the problem on a much larger scale – where literally billions of dollars are at stake. Because this story happened last month, a follow up article will be useful in discovering what the future may hold for America’s libraries.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Reading Response 7
For this assignment, I have analyzed one of my favorite websites and applied Tollett's CARP principles to it. Barstool Sports, a Boston based satirical blog, has grown tremendously over the years and has attracted quite the following. Controversy and politics aside, the website does a great job of utilizing the CARP principles to make a usable and appealing blog.
The site design of Barstool Sports is rather methodical and organized. The site that I linked to is the "Superblog" -- a combination of the website's four city blogs: Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and The U. Each blog follows the same format and content is the only difference between the blogs, which displays successful use of Repetition by giving the user a familiar format to navigate. Another way the site uses repetition is in the blog posts themselves. Each post starts with a picture/video followed by an article/story from another source, and then the blogger writes his satirical view on the story. Every post follows this guideline and the comments are below the blogger's write-up. Daily posts like "Guess That Ass" and "Wake-up with ..." are other examples of repetition within the blog, because they are posted everyday in the same format.
When speaking on the Contrast part of CARP, the site does a stand-out job. There are not too many advertisements or distracting pop-ups. Pictures and video are used in every blog post. There is a sidebar filled with Viral Videos and galleries of attractive co-eds. The bloggers will frequently use bold or italics to emphasize their point while writing, another great use of contrast. The Alignment of the site is also very strong. The posts are displayed in chronological order and are never scattered around the page. The organization of the site makes it very usable. When it comes to Proximity, no pages are cluttered and most images have borders. It is hard to find any rhetorical flaws within the site using the CARP system, but this is no surprise, because the website is essentially the heart of the business.
The audience of the website is clear. Each blog is directed towards a different city, so posts on the sites will be concerning the local sports team. Although it is safe to say the target demographic is males, because things like "Smokeshow of the Day" and "Guess that Ass", it has been noted women view the site as well. A relevant argument that can be brought up is that sections like these may deflect potential female readers from the site. Each blog has a number of different writers with one head blogger, who does the majority of the posting. The name or alias of the blogger is at the bottom of each post. And although these names are pseudonyms, like Elpresidente and KFC, the bloggers make no effort to conceal their identities. In fact, they frequently post humorous picture or videos of themselves, which I see as a great way to build Pathos within the blog, because of the personal attachment it creates with the reader. The main style and stance of the blog is satirical. While sarcasm is often difficult to detect in text, the bloggers will often take an absurd stance on an issue in order to make a point or demonstrate the ridiculousness of an argument. The comedic nature of the blog is often stressed and the writers insist nothing on the blog should be taken too seriously.
In conclusion, Barstool Sports has masterfully created an example of Rhetoric within an online writing environment. Aside from nailing all the CARP principles, they know their audience and know what they want. Its ability to stick to its satirical nature allows it maintain its readership as it grows.
The site design of Barstool Sports is rather methodical and organized. The site that I linked to is the "Superblog" -- a combination of the website's four city blogs: Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and The U. Each blog follows the same format and content is the only difference between the blogs, which displays successful use of Repetition by giving the user a familiar format to navigate. Another way the site uses repetition is in the blog posts themselves. Each post starts with a picture/video followed by an article/story from another source, and then the blogger writes his satirical view on the story. Every post follows this guideline and the comments are below the blogger's write-up. Daily posts like "Guess That Ass" and "Wake-up with ..." are other examples of repetition within the blog, because they are posted everyday in the same format.
When speaking on the Contrast part of CARP, the site does a stand-out job. There are not too many advertisements or distracting pop-ups. Pictures and video are used in every blog post. There is a sidebar filled with Viral Videos and galleries of attractive co-eds. The bloggers will frequently use bold or italics to emphasize their point while writing, another great use of contrast. The Alignment of the site is also very strong. The posts are displayed in chronological order and are never scattered around the page. The organization of the site makes it very usable. When it comes to Proximity, no pages are cluttered and most images have borders. It is hard to find any rhetorical flaws within the site using the CARP system, but this is no surprise, because the website is essentially the heart of the business.
The audience of the website is clear. Each blog is directed towards a different city, so posts on the sites will be concerning the local sports team. Although it is safe to say the target demographic is males, because things like "Smokeshow of the Day" and "Guess that Ass", it has been noted women view the site as well. A relevant argument that can be brought up is that sections like these may deflect potential female readers from the site. Each blog has a number of different writers with one head blogger, who does the majority of the posting. The name or alias of the blogger is at the bottom of each post. And although these names are pseudonyms, like Elpresidente and KFC, the bloggers make no effort to conceal their identities. In fact, they frequently post humorous picture or videos of themselves, which I see as a great way to build Pathos within the blog, because of the personal attachment it creates with the reader. The main style and stance of the blog is satirical. While sarcasm is often difficult to detect in text, the bloggers will often take an absurd stance on an issue in order to make a point or demonstrate the ridiculousness of an argument. The comedic nature of the blog is often stressed and the writers insist nothing on the blog should be taken too seriously.
In conclusion, Barstool Sports has masterfully created an example of Rhetoric within an online writing environment. Aside from nailing all the CARP principles, they know their audience and know what they want. Its ability to stick to its satirical nature allows it maintain its readership as it grows.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Final Webmap
Sarah Golden Jermain Stephens
Phil Rozes Jake Levin
1) Schools
i) North Kingston
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) e-portfolio
(f) Guidance
(g) Policies and Handbook
ii) Davisville
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Resources
(f) Volunteers
iii) Wickford
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Media Gallery
(f) Volunteers
(g) Handbook
iv) Fishing Cove
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Educational Links
v) Forest Park
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Volunteers
vi) Hamilton
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Volunteers
(f) Educational Links
vii) Henseler/ Quidnessett
(a) News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Mission Statement
(f) Educational Links
(g) Volunteers
viii) Stony Lane
(a)
News
(b) Parent Information
(c) Clubs and Groups
(d) COZ/After School Programs
(e) Educational Links
(f) Volunteers
2) Administration
i) Academics
(a) Learning Expectations
(b) Curriculum
(c) NECAP Assessment Results
(d) Professional Development Opportunities
ii) Business Office
(a) Hours of Operation
(b) Forms & Documents
(c) Procedures
(d) FAQs
(e) Budget
(f) Jamestown Contract
iii) Food Services
(a) Shape Up RI
(b) Lunch Menus
(c) School Lunch App and Online Payment
iv) Human Resources
(a) Substitute Applications
(b) Application Process
(c) Employment Opportunities
(d) Department Information
(e) Contracts
(f) Payroll and Benefits Office
v) Information Technology
(a) Requests for IT
(b) SchoolMAx Information
(c) Online Resources
(d) District Technology Plan
(e) Technology Training
(f) Technology Policies
3) School Committee
i) Superintendent of Schools
(a) Policies
(b) Mission Statement
(c)
Strategic Plan
ii) Policies
(a) Foundations and Basic Commitments
(b) Board Governance and Operations
(c) General School Administration
(d) Fiscal Management
(e) Support Services
(f) Negotiations
(g) Instruction
(h) Students
iii) Meeting Information
(a) Agendas
(b) Minutes
(c)
Videos
iv) Powers and Duties of School Committees
4)
Parents
i) Aspen
(a)
Login
ii) Transportation
(a) Attendance Boundary Directions
(b) FAQs
(c) School Bus routes for current year
(d) Useful Links
(e) Current Year School Boundaries
iii) COZ/ After School Programs
(a) Family Learning Partnership
(b) Extended Learning
(c) Early Learning Programs
(d) Family Centers
(e) Volunteers and Community Partnerships
(f) Parent Development and Adult Ed
iv) New Student Registration
(a) Kindergarten Registration
(b) Student Handbook
v) Policies
vi) Access to Public Records
(a) APRA Procedures
(b)
APRA Request Form
vii) Parent Complaint Procedure
viii) Transfer Request
ix) PTOs
5) Students
i) WebMail Access
(a) Login
(b) Close
ii) COZ/ After School Programs
iii) Schools
6)
Staff
i) AESOP
(a) Login
ii) Aspen SIS
(a)
Login
iii) Tienet
(a) Login
iv) Webmail
(a)
Login
v) Staff Information
(a) Forms
(b) AESOP Introduction
(c) Online Activities
(d) Guides
7) Calendars
i) School Calendars
(a) North Kingston
(b) Davisville
(c) Wickford
(d) Fishing Cove
(e) Forest Cove
(f) Hamilton
(g) Henseler/ Quidnessett
(h) Stony Lane
ii) COZ Calendar
iii) School Committee
8) Staff Directory and Contact
i) WhistleBlower
ii) Administration List
iii) Staff List (by School)
(a) North Kingston
(b) Davisville
(c) Wickford
(d) Fishing Cove
(e) Forest Park
(f) Hamilton
(g) Henseler/ Quidnessett
(h) Stony Lane
iv) School Committee
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