Learning Log

English 2010
openenglishatslcc.pressbooks.com
January 15, 2019
“Donald J. Trump, Pope Francis, and the Beef that Defied Space and Time”
Benjamin Solomon
1. “Instead, they used intentional, crafted language to take specific actions, to create new
meanings, and to assert their identities in the world.” “In this case, he wanted to show
that he was the opposite of those “all talk, no action politicians,” and he used language to
help him construct that identity.”
2. This article discusses how speaking and language can be used for purposes outside of
communicating. Solomon uses examples from a heated debate between Trump and
Francis, and how they used language for something bigger.

January 17, 2019

“Language Matters: a Rhetorical Look at Writing”
Chris Blankenship and Justin Jory
1. “In one instance, it generates a way of understanding, and thus a way of interacting with
an individual or group and their beliefs.” “It’s a method that you can use systematically
as a way of revealing and handling the complexity of language.”
2. English is one of the most difficult language to learn, because of the infinite rules and
exceptions to those rules. This is why it is messy, and is no longer just communicating
thoughts A to B when people are starting to understand what rhetoric is. Rhetoric is
designed to make such a complex language like English more simple.

January 22, 2019

“Genre in the Wild-- Understanding Genre Within Rhetorical (Eco)Systems”
Lisa Bickmore

1. “We begin to classify a kind of writing as a genre when it recurs frequently enough and
seems to perform the same functions in recurring situations.” “In these cases, simply
knowing that there are genres—typical ways of using language that recur in the
situation—can help a writer assess how to respond, and to figure out what genres are
typically used in that situation.”
2. In a way, yes. The different ways that it describes genre in this essay makes it sound as if
writers go to write in a way that is known to them, and almost repeat it. They also then
say they repeat it, but bounce off of these old ideas to come up with a new concept.
January 24, 2019
Writing For a Community Change
1. “With this privilege comes an obligation, and that obligation is to be contributing
members of society who work toward the greater good of all​.” “​But let’s face it—being a
good citizen doesn’t always help us make rent, or have enough money to see a movie.”
2. I would want to become more involved in hands on volunteering experiences, such as
going to shelters or organizations and doing things for them. Rather than just sending a
mindless $10, I would want to put my time into use and make sure people are getting help
they need and not just hoping my money is going to good use.

January 28, 2019

The Elizabeth Smart Case: A Study in Narrativized News
1. “And so, sadly, the 800,000 missing children cases that didn’t easily fit story structure
did not ‘mean as much.’” “Those that do not, sometimes despite their importance,
languish untold or are quickly forgotten.”
2. This case gained importance because her family had the means (the money) to keep her
story alive in the press. If this had happened to a poor family, they would not be able to
afford to have search parties and all the other things that took place in her rescue.

January 30, 2019

Writing is Recursive
1. “...the process that leads to that product determines how effective the writing will be.”
“...professional writers...don’t view each part of the writing process as a step to be visited
just once in a particular order.”
2. There is not a simple A to B plan on how to write a perfect essay, and there never will be.
Good writers know all the steps and know that they will visit A, go to C, and go back to
A. The new model is more inclusive to how scatter brained thinkers organize their
thoughts.

February 1, 2019
Writers Make Strategic Choices by Charlotte Howe
1. “It can seem like a Las Vegas buffet with too many dishes to choose from and not enough
time or space to try them all.” “If we want to be heard, understood, and perhaps even
agreed with, we must make choices, develop strategies, and enact decisions that go
beyond simply deciding what we want to say.”
2. Text & Its Message (a purposeful, written communication,) author (the person who
creates and often delivers the text,) audience (the individuals who receive the text,
 whether intended or not,) purpose (the reason for sending the message,) context (the time,
place, and environment for the message.)

February 5th, 2019

An Open Letter to Ninth Graders by Patrick Sullivan

1. “Many studies and reports in the recent years have argued that there's an important
‘expectations gap’ between the skills students are typically bringing to college and what
college teachers like me thinks students should bring with them to college.”
2. This open letter has a very good insight into how college students-- good ones anyhow--
think about their schooling. This letter could be beneficial to anyone, but it is addressed
to ninth graders as they are new to the high school experience.

February 7th, 2019

Peer Review

1. “​The least helpful thing you can do when peer reviewing is correct grammar and typos.”
“Pose questions to your classmate; let them know where they need to give you more to
clarify and convince you.” “Integrate peer review into every step of your writing process,
not just when you have a complete draft.”
2. Sometimes it stresses me out to give peer reviews to others, because I am scared of
hurting their feelings or offending them. It does seem helpful when I receive the peer
review back because the editor will see things I did not see when writing or reviewing it.

February 11th, 2019

Personal Literary and Academic Learning by Marlena Stanford

1. “...t​o be literate means to be able to communicate through texts in ways that help you
meet your needs and the needs of others.” ​“One of the ways we can develop our
understanding of ourselves as learners (in order to enhance our learning) is by reflecting
on our personal literate history.”
2. Before I had to sit and write essay for a grade, I loved writing stories about everything--
creative stories especially. Now that I am ending my high school career, I am writing
more academic things and it is very different from that of a seven year old.

February 13, 2019

You Will Never Believe What Happened: Stories We Tell by Ron Christensen

1. “​Telling stories is one way we use language as a resource to create and build
relationships. When we use language to recount events in our life, we are deliberately
utilizing strategies in order to enact a particular type of response to our words.” “We are
 naturally rhetorical beings who attempt to engage those around us through narrative—we
shape the events in our life so they have a plot, characters, conflict, and some sort of
resolution.”
2. I think it means that when we are telling stories, we are allowing others to become
involved with a problem, issue, revelation, or a life-changing story. By doing this, it
allows us to become one.

February 15, 2019

Is That a True Story? By Ron Christiansen

1. “Awareness of the decision-making process itself is the core of effective writing.” “True
stories, even when told through the genre of memoir, are about much more than simply
transcribing each fact.”
2. Even when you are telling stories of a true event, there is not one hundred percent truth.
There are many other options to add to a story to increase how truthful, and credible it is.

February 21, 2019

Adding the Storyteller’s Tools to Your Writer’s Toolbox by Clint Johnson

1. The Power of: scene, experience, sensory detail, voice, and conflict.
2. Scene: making the reader feel as though they are experiencing it themselves.
3. Power of Experience: give the reader a familiar story to relate to their own lives.
4. Sensory Detail: know the most important criteria for readers.
5. Voice: draw reader’s focus without your own voice
6. Conflict: allow reader to take sides

February 25, 2019

Memorability: 6 Keys to Success by Nikki Mantyla

1. Simple: taking a direct approach

2. Unexpected: ​“I’m sixty-one years old!”
3. Concrete: Seinfeld gave the audience features to see
4. Credible: his previous fame and his reputation gave him credibility
5. Emotional: he used emotions to draw in the audience’s frustrations
6. Story-based: his bits follow a storyline.