Brian Scott Eng 1050-20 Writing Journal Assignmet #4

This author makes several valid points concerning english majors in the real world. It is very important for non english majors to take english classes because they can be very useful in everyday use. People working for companies always need to show their ideas through presentations and reports and to get your boss interested, you need to have some english background.
She uses many exampls such as Ken Steele's steel industry. In order to suceed, one must use the english language and be persuasive. Bosses need to understand one's proposals.
English majors may not have as many opportunities as other majors but they really do take away a lot of skills from their classes which prepares them fully for the real world. Colleges that offer english business classes are helping their students out quite a bit.
The author uses some persuasive techniquies such as "Just do It" to give english a chance. To me, things that stick in my mind after seeing an ad are successful in doing their job. The product lingers in my mind until I buy it which is very important. Catchy slogans like Johnson's bandaid are very important and English majors are prepared to create them in be successful.

Vinny Solano Eng1050 – 20 Writing Journal Assignment #4

I think that it is very difficult to disagree with the points Lisa Stefany makes in the article regarding English majors. Fully understanding a language can be a great asset in a variety of different job fields. This is because even if you have a great idea, you will not be able to take it very far if you are not able to articulate it so that other people see it the same way you do. I think she does a great job in citing specific examples that showed people's success based on the use of the language, such as William Henry Harrison's campaign slogan and a popular Alka Seltzer commercial. Without clever use of the English language, Harrison and Alka Seltzer may not have been able to achieve their respective goals of winning an election and creating demand for a product. This is why I agree with schools such as Penn State that require their business students to take English classes. By requiring business majors to take English, their students will have a great advantage over those with weak language skills when entering the business world.

Writing Journal Assignment #4

Hello Everyone,

For your fourth Writing Journal assignment, please read the following article: “English: It’s the Real Thing - As a college major, the language has more going for it than just Shakespeare." Lisa Stefany, Philadelphia Inquirer. Friday, August 21, 2009.
- From Falvey Library's homepage (on the left side), choose "Databases A-Z."
- Then choose " Philadelphia Inquirer."
- Write the article’s title in the “Search” data field, and perform your search.

You’re welcome to respond to the article however you wish. I do encourage you, though, to consider the following:

Do you know of any current rhyming advertisements or political slogans that illustrate Lisa Stefany’s ideas, or do you remember any from the past? What are they? What makes them memorable?

Considering the “four words” the author mentions that characterized a political campaign: What is it that makes an advertisement or slogan memorable to you?”

Can you take an advertisement’s slogan (examples— “Just Do It” (Nike) or “Dude, you're getting a Dell”) and turn it into a memorable rhyme?

What do you think about Ken Steele’s quotation? Would you expect her to hire an English major to work in her organization? Why or why not?

Did any of the author’s ideas surprise you? If so, which ones came as a surprise?

Please include the following information as a heading on your work:
Your name
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #4

Please post your Writing Journal response to this article / topic (200 - 250 words) by Thursday, October 8, 2009.

Have a good day.

Mr. Dierkes

Vinny Solano Eng1050 – 20 Writing Journal Assignment #3

I agree with Dr. Torrey and his assessment of how the mentally ill are being handled. As demonstrated by the several murders and crimes that have been committed by people who are mentally ill, it is vital to diagnose people with mental illnesses as early as possible so that they can receive proper treatment. Doing this will not only help the people who are suffering from mental illness, but also the people who they may have harmed if they were not medicated. The article explains how a great number of murders could have been prevented if the killer was receiving proper treatment. Although some may argue that every person should have the right to refuse treatment, with the mentally ill I do not believe this should be true. This is because they are not in the right state of mind to be able to make a rational decision for their own care. The death of just one person is too much if it can be prevented, therefore, I believe that the mentally ill should not have the right to refuse treatment.

Brian Scott Eng 1050-20 Writing Journal Assignment #3

Dr. Torrey's article is very informative. It is easy to see why there is such high crime rates in some states and why there is lower crime rates in states with laws that would mandate treatment for the mentally ill. It should be a requirement in all states to require treament for the mentally ill. In order to protect our citizen's safety, we must treat these people who do not know what they are doing so they do not committ any crimes. Mentally ill people committ many crimes, suicide, and should not be left on the street. It is not their faults completely though. The states refuse to spend money on these programs because they think they are expensive but in fact, they lose more money by not doing the programs. The costs of hospital fees associated with their crimes and suicides is more expensive. In the end, it is very important for the mental hospitals to accept all patients and get them off the streets. If they can accomplish that goal, suicides and crime rates will decrease. Dr. Torrey makes very valid points and his article is very persuasive to mandated treatment for the mentally ill.

Vinny Solano Eng1050 – 20 Writing Journal Assignment #2

My desk and computer desktop are very similar to that of Chabris's when he wrote his article. I currently have 8 windows open including this website, AIM conversations, and Full Tilt Poker. My desk is somewhat cluttered with books and notes that I need to write a paper that is due tomorrow.

It seems that the skill of multitasking is becoming more and more important as time goes on. People are now able to eat, read, write text messages, and drive all at the same time. While this is convenient, it is also risky. Many automobile accidents happen because one or both of the drivers were on their cell phones or doing something else that took their attention off the road.

Technology itself is even beginning to multitask. Devices such as the Blackberry and the iPhone allow you to talk, listen to music, and go on the internet all by themselves. With all of these incredible advances coming mostly within the last twenty years, it is difficult to imagine the types of devices that will exist twenty years from now.

Writing Journal Assignment #3

Hello Everyone,

For your third Writing Journal assignment, please read the following article: “Compassion Compulsion and the Mentally Ill" by E. Fuller Torrey, Wall Street Journal. (Eastern Edition). New York, N.Y.: Jun 9, 2008. p. A.17

- From Falvey Library's homepage (on the left side), choose "Databases A-Z."
- Then choose "ABI/INFORM Global (ProQuest)."
- Next, click on the "Publications" tab.
- Choose Wall Street Journal: Eastern Edition.
- Write the article’s title or author in the “Search for articles . . .” data field, and perform your search.

You’re welcome to respond to the article however you wish. I do encourage you, though, to consider the following:

Do you think the ideas discussed in the article need to be treated as a homelessness issue, a mental health issue, or something else? Why?

Consider the arguments both for and against keeping people with severe mental illnesses confined to institutions. Which arguments do you find to be persuasive? Why? Which arguments are weak? Why?

Suppose the medical community determines that a person must take medication, otherwise he may become a danger to himself and others. What can or should be done if he refuses? Do such patients have a right to refuse treatment?

Please include the following information as a heading on your work:
Your name
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #3

Please post your Writing Journal response to this article (200 - 250 words) by Thursday, October 1, 2009.

Have a good day.

Mr. Dierkes

Brian Scott 1050-20 Writing Journal Assignment #2

Sorry about two posts, I lost internet. As i was saying, we must use our time wisely in the present so that when another task comes up, we are ready and there will be no need to multitask which is highly inefficient. Until there are discoveries to increase the brain capacity, we need to use our time efficiently and focus on on task.

Brian Scott Eng 1050-20 Writing Journal Assignment #2

I think Author Christopher Chabris makes many valid points. Multitasking is a very common activity but is it very useful? The author himself was multitasking as he was writing the article but the brain can really only focus on one activity at a time. People can be much more efficient at work, school, and life if they can focus on one task and them move to another one without any interruptions leading to a much more productive lifestyle. Our brain can only remember things for so lond before it forgets something because of an interuption leading to ineffieciency in the work place.

Neurons in our brain slow down when we have interuptions which is why it is important to never take the present for granted. One must use one's time

Vinny Solano Eng1050-20 Journal Assignment #1

The way in which people accessed information has changed throughout the course of history. It has evolved from simple word of mouth, to books, and now most recently, to the internet. There are many people who are resisting the change of accessing information from books to the internet. This is because they feel that the information that can be found in books located in libraries is more reliable than information found by using a search engine, such as Google. While it is true that some information found on the internet is false or misleading, if the researcher knows what they are doing and checks their findings with other sources they should be confident that their results are accurate.

The reality is that even people who are adamant about using books as sources do not have any choice but to learn how to look up information on the internet. This is because literature is going digital with internet libraries and e-books. People will be able to find the same books that old-fashioned researchers are going to the library for on the internet only much faster. Those who refuse to find their sources using the internet and spend hours researching in a library will struggle to stay on pace with those who do.

Writing Journal Assignment #2

Hello Everyone,

For your second Writing Journal assignment, please read the following article: “You Have Too Much Mail" by Christopher F. Chabris, Wall Street Journal. (Eastern Edition). New York, N.Y.: Dec 15, 2008. p. A.17

- From Falvey Library's homepage (on the left side), choose "Databases A-Z."
- Then choose "ABI/INFORM Global (ProQuest)."
- Next, click on the "Publications" tab.
- Choose Wall Street Journal: Eastern Edition.
- Write the article’s title or author in the “Search for articles . . .” data field, and perform your search.

You’re welcome to respond to the article however you wish. I do encourage you, though, to consider the following:

Consider the situation described in the first paragraph. How does it compare to your own experience?

Do you accept the writer’s ideas about technology’s affect on productivity? why or why not?
Do you agree with the writer’s ideas about multi-tasking and our brains’ limits when paying careful attention? why or why not?

Are the writer’s ideas about the “mismatch between our modern lives and ancient brains” persuasive? why or why not?

Please include the following information as a heading on your work:

Your name
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #2

Please post your Writing Journal response to this article (200 - 250 words) by Thursday, September 24, 2009.

Have a good day.

Mr. Dierkes

Brian Scott Eng1050-20 Journal Assignment #1

It is a different age in the information world. There is a new and much faster way to obtain information than just going through books in the library. Is the internet really better though just because it is faster? No, it provides a lot of true information but also a lot of false information that most people will believe just because it is on the internet. Teachers can be a part of this problem. I remember doing a research paper when I was in highschool and the only sources I could use were books. They need to get students in the habit of using books instead of the internet. That way, when they get to college, their papers will include more facts and less false information. Students are getting lazier because books take more time to do work but they would be doing the right thing. They need to learn to go up to librarians and ask for help. Librarians are all about the truth and can help with anything.

Writing Journal Assignment #1

Hello Everyone,

For your first Writing Journal assignment, please read the following article: “Truth: Can You Handle It?" by Monica Hesse, washingtonpost.com April 27, 2008. p. M01

- Go to the website for washingtonpost.com
- Then choose " Web: Results by Google" (next to the SEARCH: data field).
- Next, Type the article’s title in the SEARCH: data field, and perform your search.

You’re welcome to respond to the article however you wish. I do encourage you, though, to consider the following:

Consider Monica Hesse’s points. How does your own experience confirm or disprove what she says about conducting research in the current information age?

Considering the author’s explanation of “wikiality,” what (if anything) can students do to avoid that trap? What are some possible consequences of this phenomenon?

The author mentions the notion of discerning fact from opinion. How do you yourself tell the difference (in your sources for news, for instance)?

What do you think about the amount of time the one student, Hillary Swain, is willing to spend “to track down an answer before giving up”? How much time do you think is reasonable?

What can be done to encourage students to use research as an opportunity to educate themselves and deepen their knowledge rather than a chance to reinforce their own beliefs?

Please include the following information as a heading on your work:

Your name
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #1

Please post your Writing Journal response to this article (200 - 250 words) by Thursday, September 17, 2009.

Have a good day.

Mr. Dierkes