Blog 7: Model Text Recipe

Analyzing Your Model Text:
For each of your model texts, answer the following questions. The questions whose headings are bolded and underlined should apply to everyone’s texts and everyone should answer. The questions with italicized headings will only apply to certain kinds of texts, and thus you should address only the questions that apply to your genre.

What modes does your text make use of?
Color, illustration, design, text, transitions, acetate
Audience
Who, very specifically, is the audience for your text?
Young Adult dog fanatics
How does the author use pronouns like “you,” “we,” and “us?” When the author uses these pronouns who is he/she specifically referring to? How do these pronouns affect the way the author is constructing an audience?
the use of pronouns is minimal in her illustrated model, because the model text is generally just a description of one specific animal.
How does the author construct a relationship between themselves and their audience?
The relationship is established with the use of the acetate looking glasses. This creates a tangible connection.
What words or phrases stand out and let you know how the author is imagining their audience?
Like I mentioned earlier, the audience is pretty general, however on multiple occasions, the use of inappropriate words targets a young adult or adult audience.
Authorial Identity:
How does the author construct his/her own identity in relationship to the reader?
The author constructs her identity by placing herself in the story. She shows her perspective on the dog by giving her glasses. She also constructs her identity by her artistic style.
Does the author use “I” or “me”? Why? And how does this affect  their relationship with their audience?
Yes, she uses “I” when speaking about her own relationship with Jazzie, this shows how personal the subject is.
Purpose:
What is the author’s purpose in writing? What is the author hoping to accomplish in the world with their text? How do they want people to feel, think, or act differently as a result of their text?
The purpose of Steph’s writing is to make a comical point, every story has many sides to it. She accomplishes showing the different perspectives that come with Jazzie. The reader is given the option to pick which side they want to believe, its one way the reader connects to the author.
Find the sentence or two where the author first gives the indication of their argument and highlight it. Where does this fall in the text
Each page has a reflection from either perspective. So, each page shows the opposing arguments.
Find the sentence where the author most clearly states their purpose or argument? Where, within the text is this?
Organization:
How does the author organize the text? How does he transition from idea to idea?
The author organizes the text by first introducing JAzzie the dog, and then following up with descriptions of Jazzie, ending with her species. The transition from idea to idea happens as the page turns.
What kinds of words or language does the author use to connect his or her ideas together?
the author uses simple sentences to get the point across quickly and witty.
Genre:
How would you define or name the genre of your text. Remember, a genre is a type of thing that reoccurs, has conventions, and uses those conventsions to convey meaning.
I would say this genre is a picture book.
What are the conventions of this genre?
conventions of this genre would be that it uses funny punch lines, the pictures of Jazzie the dog, and the color separating the perspectives.

Images
How did the author use still images (photos or drawings) in the text?
Stephanie drew each image to make the biggest impression on the reader. This is used to describe Jazzie
What work are these images doing to help the author accomplish his purpose?
This part of the book is the most important. The images are engaging and entertaining for the reader, wanting to pick which side to choose.
Are they photos, drawings, charts, graphs, etc.?
drrawings
Why might the author do this?
to make the book fun, and give a visual to help show what Jazzie may or may not be.
How do these images work with the text or spoken speech around them?
The images are the most prominent part of the book, however the text does accompany it in a very subdued and poetic way.

Document Design and Layout:
What  font did they choose to use and why?
The font is hand-written, in a very whimsical way. This gives the book an  immediate cartoon feeling to it.
How did they make use of headings, titles, bold font, or italics? Why do you think they did this?
In her perspective of Jazzie, she uses a coarse and rough font to show how disgusting she thinks Jazzie is, and the font she uses to describe my mom’s perspective is froo-froo and pretty, to give the impression that Jazzie is like a princess.
How is the text laid out on the page? In columns? Large blocks of text? Short paragraphs? Long paragraphs? Is it wrapped around images?
The text is wrapped around the images, filling empty spaces.
How does the text make use of color? What colors  does the text use and why?
the text cooresponds to the color of each perspective.

Making A Recipe for your Model Text
Now, using the information you have gained from the above analysis, imagine you are writing a recipe for creating this kind of text or genre. 
Title your recipe with “Instructions for Making ____ for __(particular audience)____.
Make a list of the ingredients that need to be included in a similar text.
Create a list of steps for making this recipe which explain what order things should be included in and why.



Instructions for Making an historical book for the Dean of the Arts and Sciences college at UNL and the president of Love Library.


Ingredients:

Intriguing and prominent images
Very minimal text
Bursts of color
Clever text
Dynamic layout

Steps to making the recipe:
1.) First make a sketch page of all the different slides, or pages you are going to do
2.)Organize this in whichever way it seems fit. Because the book is historical in this case, I will do it in moderately historical chronological order, or by significance.
3.) Start sketching individual drawings for each page.
4.)place small text on french to introduce the section
5.) chunks of historical and factual context within the mix of images for support.
6.) Bind the book
7.) In the forward, write to the Dean and President of Love, as to why I am writing and illustrating the book.

The conventions I am going to use are historical references, the Korean language, and my own artistic interpretations of the history.

Blog 6: Multimodal Project Proposal

• Remind me and yourself of your original critical question
• My critical question is "As we age, do we become more or less closed minded, and how does this affect our ability to have happiness?" In my first Project, I focused on the growing up, and the innocence aspect of the question. Project 2 was more about a life long journey and growth. Lastly, one part of the question I didn't touch on, is the closed and open-mindedness.
• What new sub-question or sub topic would you like this project to address.
• The sub-question or topic I want to explore is closed-mindedness, and how it affects the daily aspects of life, positively or negatively. 
• What do you want the purpose of this piece or these pieces to be? What work do you want your text(st) to do in the world? How do you want people to think, act, feel, or be different as a result of your text(s)? Note, if you decide to do multiple texts/genres each text might have a different purpose.
• The message I want to get across is that most everything we have learned in our life has been from either personal experience or being told. So, by accepting what one knows is true, and I'm talking a bit generally, is like saying that "I've experienced everything and seen with my own eyes, to say that this is the truth" and therefore act on that conclusion. But then, if a person is misinformed or uninformed, they will be subject to whatever consequences come their way for acting short sighted.  I wanted to focus on the food industry but because of a time crunch I'm unable to do that. However, I love Korean culture. I'm in Love library typing as fast as I can so I can read the book about an old King from the 1500s. It seems to be, most times I tell people that I'm a student of Korean and want to study abroad, they have a puzzled look and ask, "Why South Korea?"
• This question is semi-frustrating, because its like asking "Why do you like The Office?" Its an unanswerable question. Usually I tell people its because its the suicide capital of the world, which most of them don't appreciate. Anyway, I want to show that, Korean culture is extremely fascinating, and that just because one hasn't heard about it, doesn't make it a undesirable destination.
• Who do you imagine for your audiance for your text(s)? Desicribe, as specifically as possible who you imagine reading/seeing your text? Are they simillar to another existing audinace (like readers of X blog or magazine) or are they a group you're defining (like UNL students)? What shared values, insterests, location, gender, age, class, religion, race, etc. do they have in common? Note: If you are doing multiple texts, each will likely have a different audiance.
• The audience I want to direct it too, would be travel enthusiasts, people planning a trip or my boss, who constantly bothers me with the same questions. Shared values would be an interest in history, traveling and culture, location could be anywhere but Korea, I imagine that this would be directed towards an older audience, Christian because Korea is the most Christian Asian country, and not upper class, but someone who has the means to travel.
• What genre(s) do you plan to compose in? Depending on how you choose to structure your project, you might have one genre (i.e. one text) with many modes or several genres, each with only a few modes. Be specific in defining your genre (for example, go beyond just calling something a blog or youtube video--what particular kind of blog or video would it be).
• My approach is totally dependent on how achievable an idea I had is. So, it would be in form of a Illustrated book from two different perspectives, one, a closed minded person who stereotypes SK, and then two, the other person who knows what SK has to offer. 
• What are the modes you think each genre will use?
• The modes would be text, color, design, illustration, 3d glasses, and possibly a hand drawn map with popular destinations.
• Right now, how do you understand the conventions of this genre?
• The conventions would relate directly to SK because it would be landscapes of SK, the history, the language, the culture, everything that makes up what south Korea is.
• Right now, what might you use as a model text. Be specific here. If it is  something from online, include the link to it here.
•  "Jazzie the Pretty Ugly Dog" written and designed by my sister Stephanie 
• http://www.stephwerning.com/the-pretty-ugly-dog
  

Blog 5: Project Prosal and Preparing for Interview/Observatoin

Remind me and yourself of what your critical question is.
    My critical question is, “When transitioning to adulthood, do we as humans become more or less close minded, and therefore does it limit the potential happiness we can have in our lives?”

Explain what single person (a profile) or group of people you plan to study for your project.
    This has been an extremely difficult decision for me, just because of the limitations that come with taking a summer course, where kids aren't in school etc. But I have chosen to do my interview on a group of retired folks in a nursing home. If it falls through this next week, I hope to be able to talk to as many folks in retired homes, but I am still waiting to hear back from the administer at the Legacy.

Why did you choose them?  How will studying this person/group shed particularly interesting light on answering some aspect of your critical question?
    My whole project is about the different perspectives we have in throughout our lives and growing old. So, the age group is kind of the “last stop” or last perspective we have in life. If my thesis is true, that people become more closed minded as they get older, by the time they are in their 70s or 80s, they have chosen a certain way of thinking, determining their happiness for once and for all. I am excited to find out what the results actually entail.

What aspect of this person or group will you study specifically?
    In my questions, I don't want to scratch the surface. I want to here what they think of life and their purpose. This means I will specifically ask them questions pertaining to experiences of losing innocence and that childhood trust. Of course to keep my assessment fair and accurate I will use the same questions, maybe explained a little different for the younger subjects because of possible misunderstanding, but otherwise, my curiosity is telling me to ask the same questions and seeing the difference.

What is your relationship to your person or group? (How well do you know them and in what capacity?)
    My relationship with the people at the Legacy Retirement Home is nonexistence. So most of them I wouldn't even know their names prior to the interview, which I think is essential.

How will you contact or communicate with this person or group in order to set up your observation and interviews?
    I want to, in person, interview the individual group.I will be able to see the subjects in their natural environment.

If you are doing an Ethnography of a group:
Include 3 questions you might ask of various group members
    -“What was the moment in your life you realized you were an adult”
    -“If you could, would you go back to thinking like a child, innocent and trusting?”
    -“Do you believe that you’ve become more or less more closed minded as an adult.”

Where you’re first observation will be (and when if you know)
    -While writing this I just got a call from Gramercy Retirement Homes that is allowing me to come in during dinner time on Saturday and Sunday. The director of the retirement home is giving me names and table numbers for the residents participating in the interview. 

What kinds of things you will be looking for in your observations?
    -Not that this is true in all cases, however, most people I believe say they are happier or describe a better life than what is deep down. So, I am observing to see whether the old folks act as happy as their stories depict, when they don’t think I am looking. This is why I am observing them before they know I am there, so that the observation is unbiased and natural. Then on Sunday, they will be expecting me, so I will see the differences in responses and attitude when they know they are being observed.

What will you be using to record your observations?
    I will be using my phone to audio record, just because I know old folks are usually less open when they know they are being video taped.

Blog 4: Responding to Podcasts and Brainstorming

PART ONE

In "Becoming Batman" by Ivisibilia,  the journalist focuses on one subject, profiling a progressive blind man, Daniel Kish. The podcast plays with the question of expectations, and if expectations limit situations. "Maybe, just maybe, the organization's low expectation for what blind people could do, was in some way limiting the blind people who those organizations sought to help." This quote sums it up for me, the fact that Daniel was given high expectations and no limitations as a child, he learned ways to overcome his blindness and immobility. The journalist does a wonderful job with mixing her sources by talking to medical professionals, however, leaving Daniel as the main subject. The idea that intrigued me was just the general point Invisibilia made. The journalist even mentions at one point feeling guilty because of her inherent low expectations. The predisposed expectations we have for ourselves and others, limit the possibilities we see.  I would use these texts as examples for my projects because the master of organization, and quality interview questions. Both podcasts, Summer Camp and Becoming Batman, get to the point and are organized easy to follow. I would say that, in Summer Camp, The journalists organize it chronologically, and in Becoming Batman, it is a little in chronological order, but mostly by theme.

In Notes on Camp, an Ethnography, two journalists, one male and one female, interview the counselors, and camp goers in their habitat. The actual camp. the reasons why this is an ethnography is because the journalists stayed for multiple days, and interviewed all sorts of campers, old ones, young ones, girls, boys, counselors. This gives legitimacy to it, because the many signs of camp are shown. The point, I think, of this podcast would be to show, in a subtle way, that at camp, children feel like they really belong. In one of the interviews Davey Himmel describes his experience as a camp-goer, and counselor, "I think I enjoy things better now because of camp. When you live so close to people like this-- and it's sort of like college-- but everybody at camp is just real close knit. It's like a bond that just happens. And that's why a day at camp is two weeks in real life. It's like a time warp here." The idea of camp struck me in a way I wasn't expecting. To be honest, I never got to go to any outdoors camps when I was younger. My parents didn't trust an organization with their child for that long of a period. So, this podcast made me bitter because I remember all of the hours begging my parents to go, and getting shot down. My friends in school went to Camp Kitaki for four years and said that it was the best part of their summer. Something about camps, and being away, makes people fall in love with the community.

PART TWO

This is a difficult question to answer, just because I have been really looking forward to interviewing a group of people ever since I read this assignment. The project would be interesting if I chose a group of unheard and unseen people. People that maybe don’t get to have their story shown. For example, people in a retirement home, or People City Mission. The different stories and perspectives I would hear would be astounding. If I had to choose a certain person for a profile, it would be someone dynamic, and that has a lesson to learn. At my high school for one of my projects, I interviewed a blind Pius mom, who walked me around the neighborhood, made me put on a blindfold and gave me a stick. It was crazy to actually know what it “felt like” to be blind. Her whole mission was to not be tied down to her condition, and to share that with nearly blind people who she helps learn how to interact when blind. It is hilarious, she would always know exactly where I was in the room when I would be in their house. I had no idea how. Some other people I could interview could be a church, Parthenon, a Greek restaurant. Lots of different options.

Blog 3: Question Draft 2 and Artifact Free Write

                                                                   INNOCENCE
1.) At one of my jobs last night, I discussed with my coworker Jane that I was taking this class, and some of the projects and course overview. One topic that came up was the critical question. I told her that I chose to write mine on health care and inevitable rights endowed by the constitution. She kind of laughed and said I was taking the easy way out by choosing something I already knew and understood. Being an economics major, and a politics buff, it was true, I had chosen a critical question, but it wasn't necessarily personal to me, other than it was something interesting. Although I am unsure of the process, however, I wish to change my critical question.

Do we as humans become more or less closed minded than as children, and how does this affect our happiness through life?

I apologize ahead of time for the last minute change. This question not only applies to all of society, it is something I have pondered but haven't explored. I have a personal experience that hit me like a ton of bricks that has to do with this. I don't necessarily believe it is too broad, but my analysis will become more specific, but generally, I don’t like to phrase my questions as too specific because it can be constricting.

 Make a list of 10 potential artifacts you are considering for this first project.

1.) old trophy
2.) Big book Jambooree
3.) Hershey kiss stuffed toy
4.) Pokemon/ Yugioh cards
5.) Bible
6.) Art
7.) Bikini
8.) Christmas lights
9.) Old diary with written life responses.
10.) Bow for my hair

Then select 1 to do about 300 words of free writing about

Christmas Lights, I remember as a kid in West Virginia, my best friend and I would pretend that all of the Christmas light bulbs were a place. We envisioned ourselves in Santa’s workshop. Each bulb could teleport you to a place in the world. I above anything, Loved having rainbow colored lights. Some nights I would sleep under the tree and see my skin changing colors, the smell of the pine and cinnamon, thinking about all of the places I want to go. I could touch the lights and feel the warmth coming off, and wonder if there really was a city in there. Christmas lights represent more than just a memory for me. It is an artifact from the time I realized I was being lied to, and the trauma that came from it. In my essay, I want to talk about the realization of a fake Santa Clause, but it is more an analogy of the story I will tell about later in my life when I really questioned adulthood.

This artifact relates to most of American society and childhood because of the years we grow up being lied to about Christmas. There still exists an innocent and sentimental feeling towards Christmas, but I find myself a little bitter (rhyme unintended). It makes me wonder that if a child is told the truth all of their lives, they would be a content adult, or if it would in the end, make them unassuming and cynical just as I have partially become. The thought that maybe it is adulthood that makes us close-minded, and that's why we’ve become close-minded, not because people have sheltered us. Like I said earlier, it is a universal question because most children don’t come out of the womb with obituaries to read instead of fairytale books, and watching documentaries on rape statistics instead of watching barbie.

Blog 2: Critical Question Draft 1 and Free Write

 PART ONE: BRAINSTORMING

1.) Looking around my room, it's all black because my lights are off. I tend to write at night when I'm tired and can let go a little easier. I can see the faded mounds of clothing outline my floor. Never been cleanly about my clothes. The amount of clothes I have is enough but also never enough. Wearing something twice is my worst fear. Okay, maybe not wearing something twice, but wearing something twice while in company of others who have seen me wear the same outfit.

2.) What I thought about while showering probably had to do with how tired I was, or how people always overestimate the amount of shampoo they need to wash their hair. A quarter amount is enough for me, and I have decently long hair with a lot of layers.  Most of the excess shampoo ends up in between the cracks of your fingers anyway.

3.) When I was falling asleep last night, I was thinking about my next days events. From this time until this time I will run errands, oh make sure to set your alarms. Then from that point on I will go to class, I should probably check my alarm again to make sure I wrote AM instead of PM. Okay and then I will go to work, wait did I just check my alarm, did I put it on loud? When all my t’s were crossed and i’s dotted, I fell asleep. Check the alarm for good measure.

4.) that's a pretty hard question to answer. I have a difficulty picking favorites and anything usually, especially with interests. My favorite things to read about usually are historical, Nonfiction, or a super cliche and romantic comedy. I enjoyed all of my history courses in high school and my psychology course was extremely fun. Keeping in mind that the most fun I had, was in the Study and effort I put it in after class.

5.)I like to banter between ideas with my self to be honest. My parent, however, have always been proponents for knowing how to defend what you like, arguing, and sharing ideas. Sometimes with my parents it gets heated, because all of us are extremely competitive. The last argument was between my father and I about the over population of government organizations. Keep in mind, he is the head administrator for his federal division.

6.) Right now I am thinking about how tired I am. The truth is that I can’t help but to stay up later, I love to read at night, as well as talk to people on the phone because I'm a night person. It can be frustrating when I wake up exhausted, but I don't feel bad or have regret about it. I also am thinking about the fact that my uncle is leaving the priesthood after like 25 years. Why? What does that mean? He is the man that baptized me. I think it is extremely intriguing. How could someone have a vocation for so long, and then one day realize it isn't meant to be. It is truly mind boggling to me as well as hard for me to face, just because I only knew him in that way.

7.) My home community has all of my family in it. To be honest, I don't really grasp the question, but to the best of my ability I will answer it. My ideal community, I imagine the ocean, beach houses for all of my family just off the eastern shore. I imagine late night walking on the beach, and early morning sunsets. I imagine eating crab until the bay seasoning makes my lips sting. Swimming in the endless ocean, splashing around, and diving into incoming waves. This is my community, because I grew up going to big family reunions at the beach. That's what I pictured. My questions would be: Can a home be figurative? Why are we expected to love our families?


PART TWO: CRITICAL QUESTION
1.) I have a difficulty choosing topics to write about, just because I want to make sure it is the perfect one, or that I am choosing one, not too hard, not too easy. Listening to the ‘Worth’ podcast, I could only think about how our society is becoming more and more dependent on one another. Some say this is good, others not. The responsibility to help others by paying for their health care is a debate circulating around now. Question: In fellowship in the United States of America, are we responsible to take care of others or to help them have opportunity.

2.) I chose that question because my favorite things to talk about are economics, politics and theories. This seemingly simple question has many different circumstances that can apply. For example, the Constitution, our rights as American citizens, and our right to a pursuit of happiness in a way.

3.) This question to me has been circulating around the world for hundreds of years. The reasons why I chose it are the same as why it relates to me personally. It is a question that has one thousand opinions, has been debated through history. This kind of thing intrigues me. Questions that may or may not have a definite answer. I guess thats most things though. In my opinion grey’s exist in the world more often that blacks and whites.

4.) This question greatly influences the mentality of our generations, what is believed to be entitled to them, and the drastic effect it has on our country financially as well as generously. Because government money is circulated around in taxes, most government programs are paid with tax money. Tax money is given to the government by the people who live in the US. That id why this has to do with the United States.

5.) I could apply this question to any of my projects just because of how universal it is. Im especially looking forward to the second project because I get to observe a group of people and interview, and based on that and research, make my conclusions. The first project, I could focus the critical question on a more broader outlook. Make it more so about the tendency of humans to feel codependent and wanting what they cant have. Also focus on the tendency of humans to not be generous and caring. The third project seems very fun, this is something that will cater to my more creative side. Because I was in creative writing and AP literature at Pius X High School, we did multi-genre projects, which are similar to the third project. I love the idea of doing ‘real-life’ writing projects.

6.) My concerns for this course would probably be the work load. I am working at two other jobs during the summer, I go straight to a law firm after class. Because of my somewhat hectic schedule, I would want you to understand that I will work to the best of my ability to be on time and have quality product to give you.

Blog 1: Introduction

CREATIVE WRITING    

     When I'm hungry, I order too much. I'm currently sitting in Asian Fusion, and hating myself as I look down at the 1/4th eaten plate of sweet and sour chicken.  Never go to a food establishment alone, you are bound to order too much.
     My name is Kally. I have a dry sense of humor, maybe just a dry personality. Sarcasm is a natural tendency of mine. This can become an issue when I am writing, mostly because sarcastic writing is hard to pick up on unless spoken out loud. Writing reminds me of drawing. It is just as difficult, taking eight drafts for one somewhat good product. It is creative, is vulnerable, conveys a message, brings laughter, harbors sadness, invokes every emotion but also no emotion at all. There are great artists, great writers, bad artists, bad writers. Writing is art.
     It is hard to let myself go in my art. Exposing myself to whoever is willing to listen. If the world wasn't aware of my emotions and vulnerabilities, I would feel safe. However, that is the very reason why I force myself to write. Writing lets me let loose those repressed emotions, but in secret. Almost like a therapist. haha. My biggest issue with creative writing is choosing a topic.
It needs to be powerful, impactful….I want it to be timeless. I don’t want a reader to be selected by my topic. Maybe I am doing that without knowing it. Should I write about something so small as a leaf, or the hairs on my arm. Going to the other extreme, I could write about something humongous, like the Idea of Freedom, or my ego. No matter what, I would hate to be cliché. My head hurts.
I have many stories, but no skills to convey the emotions within my brain. I can’t seem to fathom writing a story, or what I figure as a story. My ideas are flat, like an infinite flat plane of points on a graph, every point a new topic that I wish to address. I need to realize how to “connect the dots” and create a universal shape. Whether it is a heart, a circle, a trapezoid, who cares?
The left side of my brain hurts, but my right is calm. People say that I am a “right-brained” thinker, because right- brain thinking supposedly deals with creativity, whereas the left-brain is logic and processes. They are not in sync. Honestly I get angry when others assume that I am a creative. Or I get labeled as that one girl, “She wants to draw me a picture because she is a talented artist”.  Secretly I am very realistic and possibly cynical. I can imagine two sides in my head, two personalities. A war between my personalities. Back and forth they spew ideas at each other.  They never match up to a common notion. That’s why I stay away from creative writing.
     That is one type of writing. I need it, but I hate it. I enjoy writing clinically or in research. I like to think of myself as open minded. However, I love to debate, ponder, analyze, observe and transcribe those dissertations.  My current aspirations in these next four years at UNL will be geared towards going to law school. Therefore, any practice in rhetorical and critical thinking is integral. People say law isn't a school of fact, it is a school of thought. Professors teach you to think a certain way and to consider all circumstances and possibilities. Critical and persuasive writing are my favorite because not only do I become more educated because of research, I learn to take what I see and make conclusions. Which is, what I believe, one quality of a successful person, no matter what success means to that individual.
     Thinking about it, this blog is my first ever homework assignment for college. Oh no.