Blog #10- Finding a Controversial Topic

1. The Body Image Presented by the Media Promotes Disordered Eating
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010003228&mode=view


"The Body Image Presented by the Media Promotes Disordered Eating" by Jennifer Derenne and Eugene Beresin. Anorexia. Stefan Kiesbye, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Jennifer Derenne and Eugene Beresin, "Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorder," Academic Psychiatry, May-June 2006. Copyright © 2006 Academic Psychiatry. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.


Through time, the ideal body image type has altered greatly.  Women used to be wholesome and natural, never too thin.  What we see defined as beautiful in the media is often how we aspire to look ourselves.  Unfortunately, the media often features models and actors who are extremely thin.  Then, magazines often airbrush the celebrities featured to make them seem even more perfect.  Even dolls like Barbies, which are played with by young children, have a "perfectly" formed body. The idea of beauty portrayed in the media is causing a downfall of health, including eating disorders.  My stance is that i feel as though media influence and the idea of being perfect is stirring a lot of controversy and i don't think it is fair to portray beauty in a particular way.




2. Children and Divorce
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre1991060700&type=hitlist&num=2


Jost, K., & Robinson, M. (1991, June 7). Children and divorce. CQ Researcher, 1, 349-368. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/


The divorce rate has increased and continues to increase through time.  It obviously causes distress on the parents, but children have strong negative side effects to the split as well.  I feel sternly about this topic because my parents are divorced, so i understand how it feels to be a child and witness the heartbreak of it all.  However, both of my parents are both much happier now, so i argue that divorce can have a good influence on children.  By seeing my parents happy and being able to spend time with them separately, i have grown closer to each of them.  Also, it has turned me into a more independent person and teaches me that people can not force themselves to stay married to decrease the chance of turmoil in a family.  If the parents are happy, it diffuses through everyone.  Therefore, despite the beliefs that parents should stay together for kids because of the negative psychological and behavioral effects it will have on the children, i have an argument against it.


3. College Costs Gone Wild
http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/?shr=t&csi=224239&sr=HLEAD(College+costs+gone+wild)+and+date+is+May,%202011


(05/16/2011). "College costs gone wild". Investmentnews (New York, N.Y.) (1098-1837), 15 (20).


College costs keep rising, which will cause a significant debt among students from their student loans.  I think the idea of college costing more and more is unfair.  As an out of state student at a public university, I currently have to pay at least double the price that in-state students do.  On top of that, to get accepted to a state school when coming from out of state is a much more competitive process.  I think this process is extremely unfair.  Students come to college to gain success and hope to retrieve a career upon graduation.  However, no money will be made if the tuitions continue to rise because we will simply be paying off our debts instead. 

Blog #9: Compare/Contrast

Life Water vs. Vitamin Water

Both of these drinks are healthy alternatives to soda, and have a variety of colors and flavors.  But how does the design make them different?

Life water- Life water gives more of a animalistic feel.  With a lizard practically crawling up the bottle, it almost feels as though when you drink it you will be part of "life" or part of nature; hence, the name of the drink.  The bottle has curves in it, with the design like a twist.  This design almost gives the bottle a better grip-format, making the person drink more comfortably.  The colors on the drink look almost tie-dye and make the bottle look fun.  This bottle has a colorful, fun, innovative design.  The outside appearance of the drink covers the actual liquid itself so you can not see through the bottle.  There are many different elements to the bottle keeping the person drinking it interested.  The title of Life water is written across, with "life" bolded.

Vitamin Water- The design of Vitamin Water is extremely structured and simple.  With a wide shape it keeps a somewhat geometrical appearance.  Also, there is only three colors ever included in the design.   Usually it is black, white, and the color that matches the color of the drink.  The drink can be seen through the bottle, and that is where most of the color is shown, it is translucent unlike Life Water.  For newer zero calorie type of Vitamin Water, the colors vary.  Yet, the design is still simple.  Unlike the Life water, the colors are in one place and do not blend into a tie-dye form.  The text is easy to read and structured, and actually includes a humorous story.  Each flavor represents a part of health and the story goes along with that, keeping the person drinking it occupied and possibly laughing.  Also, opposite of Life Water, Vitamin Water is written up the side, with "vitamin" bolded.

Blog #8- Establishing merit and criteria for evaluations

Blackberry

1.     For my critical review I chose to evaluate a product.  I am evaluating the blackberry device/software.  It merits evaluation because it was a big phenomenon throughout my school, and the popularity remains on the Penn State community. The advanced technology of blackberry made it revolutionary, which also grants it merit.  With built in applications, and a soft-ware that appeals to both young adults and businessmen alike.  Also, new models of the device, as well as new software updates are coming out constantly which keep the product new.  However, I, and many other blackberry owners, are unhappy with he product as it constantly seems to freeze and have issues. Therefore, blackberries could also be classified as controversial.  For these reasons, blackberry gains merit for evaluation. 

2.     The category that this product falls in is a cell-phone device.  It is functional and valuable.  It is not cheap and it is even more expensive due to the media/network plans that are required to have with a phone.  I will compare it to an iPhone, because it is another big contender as a phone, and it is the top competitor in my opinion to a blackberry.  A droid is also another option for comparison.  Almost everyone I know that has had a blackberry now has an iPhone and has so many less issues.   I personally want to make the switch from blackberry to iPhone.

3.     Criteria:

a.     Is the messaging software good?  Bbm- Blackberry messenger is an application that seems interesting, yet it has issues.  Owners of this device can chat in an exclusive way by sharing one another’s pins.  However, many users don’t even use this application because its only slightly different than texting.  So many blackberry users have changed their phones too, leaving you with no bbm contacts.  People often times steal one another’s phones and send broadcast messages- which means they are sent to all contacts- and they are unnecessary and stupid.  Other times, they are fake warnings about the system shutting down or something.  Then everyone gets afraid and the warning message goes viral through blackberries.  Another issue with bbm is how it freezes easily due to the slow server. 

b.     Can it be used easily?  Frozen, overload of applications- I constantly have issues with my blackberry freezing. When locking my phone I used to have a password.  There were so many times I couldn’t even get into my phone without having to take the battery out and reload my phone.  Turning the phone on and off takes forever and I constantly have to do it.  Other times, my phone just freezes while I’m in the middle of doing something and it is extremely frustrating.

c.      Is it durable?  Easily broken- This past summer, my phone broke extremely easily.  It fell off a shelf and shattered, and then it didn’t turn back on.  I lost all of my contacts and had to get a new phone.  Another friend of mine who owns a blackberry had hers break because she walked with it in the rain.  The rain completely caused it to stop raining.  It seems like those who own blackberries have more than one because they are always having issues.

d.     Does it have extra applications that make it more worth the value?  Applications- The Blackberry has horoscope applications, music applications, and other random applications for our enjoyment, but they do not match well with the iPhone’s.  The iPhone now has more advanced technology and applications, allowing us to video call people from our phone or print something wirelessly from the phone.  These applications are compatible with those of a mac or an ipod, which also make them more useful in daily activities.  Blackberry applications do not have much use and they often times cost money.

e.     How does the appearance add to the phone?  Small screen- with all of the things to look at while using the phone internet, it is really difficult to accomplish these things on a small screen.  Blackberry users constantly have to scroll and zoom in order to see they’re entire message or page they are looking at.  

Blog #7- Blog Design

I would describe my original blog design as serene and peaceful.  This is the type of mood i like to give off when i write.  The blog is a great way to express our writing in a public journal, so it is important that the tone is set in a comfortable way for both me and my audience.  However, I don't think this is an ideal design for a blog.  When making it, i was exploring blogger for the first time and wanted a feminine, somewhat plain design.  I think though, that the font is a bit too light, which makes it difficult to read, and my design should stand-out more, yet stay professional and appeal to both genders.  The font has also changed throughout my blog entries which has angered me a bit and ruins the organizational flow.  It is definitely appropriate for a college student and a college class, but it does not define me.  As a writer, I see myself as a creative, emotional, and detailed story-teller.  Therefore, my design should be fun and unique to reflect who I am as a writer.   Currently, it accomplishes the purpose of adding “a bit of Morgan” to each story, along with setting a peaceful tone to the readers of each blog entry.  The purpose of my blog is to express myself within the assignments English 15 instructs us to do.  I express literary knowledge, insight, and opinions on each blog.  All of those elements are a huge component of who I am as a writer.  I love to write and I plan on improving my blog design to make it appeal to both my audience and me more than it currently does. 

I was a nerd in middle school.  I was known as a “xanga queen”.  That is another blogging website, and I was a queen because not only did I blog frequently, but I also made layouts.  I have always had a keen eye for design, but at the same time I do not consider myself to be an artistic person.  Nonetheless, I somehow knew how to use the html to design my own “layout.”  On this website I had no idea how to do that, so I just used a template and designed it with my favorite type of style: vintage/floral.  Inspired by Lily Pulitzer and her website along with the freepeople website.  Both websites are inviting in their own way, and as retail stores, they display their taste from the minute the page loads. Both of the websites have warm colors and a girly look, and I did the same thing with my redesigned page.  I was inspired by those two websites and my own personal style, to use a simple and floral layout with darker colors highlighting the important text.  This way, everything seems more organized and easier to read.  The changes I made will help others read it in a more organized way, and the website as a whole will be more inviting to its audience.  By going on my blog, “Diary of a Penn Stater” you can learn about me just based on the appearance.  Showing who I am before anyone gets to read I think will prove that I’m letting people into my world in a way.  My English 15 blog will be enhanced because it will seem like more of a public diary than a blog.  Hopefully people will enjoy reading what I have to share more now because of my new design. 

(before redesign)

Blog #6- Investigative Report Prep

 Part 1: Description of a Place- Canyon Pizza

It’s 3 am and through a glowing fluroscent sign, a huge line of loud and uncontrolled young adults can be seen all the way down Beaver.  Females often are carrying there shoes, eyeliner smeared everywhere with tight skirts and dresses on, while guys sport their backwards hat and are soaked in beer like a typical fraternity brother. Why would there be such a crowd at this time?  After a long night of partying and probably drinking, nothing tastes better than the ridiculously unhealthy Canyon Pizza. Penn State’s famous late night snack would be the one dollar slices offered at Canyon Pizza; Many times while people eat it, they probably are incoherent to how unhealthy what is on their paper plates truly is.  While dipping it in ranch and flinging it all over the mucky floor, the pizza is consumed and not really felt until one wakes up the next morning.  Loud, grossly-delicious, and cheap, nothing beats Canyon Pizza for late-night Penn State students.  At this time, the calories consumed can be extremely harmful.  They may be the cause of the infamous, “Freshman Fifteen.” But is it more the greasy pizza or the drinking that was filled with a ridiculous amount of calories that would cause weight gain?

Part 2- Interview Questions and quotes 
Interview with Natasha Cooper, a freshman who does not drink alcohol.

1.     Since getting to state college, do you feel like your health-habits have changed?  (This includes eating, exercising etc.)

Since getting to State College, i think i have actully gotten much more healthier! For the most part, exercise is a part of my daily routine between walking to classes and actually going to the gym! Everyone is very into working out which is nice because u always have people to "push" you and get you more enthusiastic about excersising! Also, the food they serve at the dining halls always has nutritional facts so that helps you decide what is healthiest and least fattning to eat!

2.     Do you think there is a difference in your weight?

3.    I think i have gotten into more shape and lost some weight from excsersising and doing so much walking around the campus.

4.     Do you think changes in weight would more likely be caused by irregular eating habits or drinking?

I think the changes in my weight are due to my healthier eating habits and my daily routines.

5.     Do you think the freshman 15 can be prevented?  How?

think freshman fifteen can definitely be prevented by choosing what to eat that is a healthier diet and by going to the gym or even attending fitness classes that the campus has to offer.

Part 3.  Research facts found form different sources

1.     “Pizza becomes your enemy at 2:00 in the morning after you've already had dinner. Staying up late usually means eating more, and late-night snacks tend to be on the unhealthy side. You're better off planning for late night snacks by eating a little less throughout the day. You'll enjoy your pizza a lot more knowing that you're not adding extra calories to your diet.”

Source: http://exercise.about.com/cs/exercisehealth/a/freshman15.htm

2.     There are 55 calories in a single shot, and 110 in a can of light beer.

http://www.shapefit.com/alcohol-calories.html

3.    “The freshman 15 challenge is to stay fit and eat healthy while maintaining a very busy schedule. Most college students are constantly on the go, which makes it more difficult to find time to exercise, and to eat right instead of just grabbing "fast food". Challenge yourself to make healthy eating and regular exercise part of your daily routine to help avoid the freshman 15.”

http://www.freshman15.com/

4.     “Your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. Thus drinking slows down the burning of fat. This could account for the weight gain seen in some studies.”

http://www.shapefit.com/alcohol-calories.html

Part 4- New ideas and changes of direction since starting research

At the beginning of my research process, I was planning on simply writing about whether the freshman 15 is caused by new, irregular, “on-the-go” eating habits, or the consumption of alcohol.  In reality, it is caused by a mix of both and a lack of exercise for most students.  I want to research this more, and to do so I think I want to interview both people who think they are gaining weight and contrast/compare them to students who feel like they’re losing weight or staying the same.  Then, I will evaluate each of their habits to see what they eat, drink, and how much they exercise.  There is no true answer to how you gain the freshman 15, but I want to evaluate different students to strengthen the various causes.  Also, upon research, I found out that many freshman girls only gain about five pounds.  So why is it called the “Freshman 15” then, when that title only scares us more?  I want to research the myth of the freshman 15, and see how it was started to add great background to my report. 

Blog 5- #1 Party School

1. What is the issue of the piece? 
Alcohol is a big issue at Penn State, giving the University the rank of #1 party school. The school has tried many different approaches to eliminate this dangerous issue that effects students of Penn State and residents of State College.  But, it is extremely difficult for university administrators to fix.  


2. What reasons are given for why the issue needs to be investigated?
Penn State has earned the infamous reputation of "#1 Party School"; the campus is getting out of hand.  It comes with many dangers; including the death of a freshman, Joe Dato.  The amount of drinking is obviously unsafe.

3. Who is the intended audience?
People who are looking for information about Penn State.  I think parents of current or potential future students would want to hear about it so they are aware of the party scene. Also, i think administrators of Penn State should listen to hear how Penn State is perceived, and then they can take action to fix the issue. 


4. What facts and details are given to explain how the issue affects different groups that might have an interest in or connection to the issue?
I liked hearing the details of how college students live on the weekends, from students, employers, and police officer's point of view.  The student point of view shows how they all have a great time, drinking the cheapest alcohol available but still being the "hero" when they bring it.  Also, the party scene at fraternities is discussed.  Then, when seen from the Police point of view, we see how much trouble the students can be for being publicly intoxicated, like urinating in public.  Also, most students who end up in the hospital have BAC levels of 3x the legal limit.  This proves how although going the the #1 Party school seems like it's all fun and games for students, it causes serious legal and health issues that we should all be aware of because we as Penn State students can all relate to it.



5. What conclusion is drawn by the end of the report? 
You reduce risk by limiting kids availability to alcohol. The less alcohol available, the less students will drink, which will lead to less regrettable things.  They believe, essentially what needs to happen is a police crackdown. There has been a shift from earlier eras though however, with Spanier and other associates who want to make a change and they have to keep working on it to fix the issue.


6. What research and interviews were included in this report? 
Police, students (drunk and sober), other colleges who have cracked down on alcohol, bar owners, and residents of State college were all interviewed.  By obtaining these interviews he got the view of the drinking/partying issue at Penn State from all different types of people.  Research was conducted when they found information on how other colleges cracked down on the issue, like University of Nebraska at Lincoln.


7. What narrative techniques were used in this report? 
This American Life includes dialogue and multiple interviews, creating a successful array of opinions from various people.  Since it is on the radio and therefore there are no visuals, they use catchy music and actual sound clips to draw in the audiences' attention.  The beginning started with an anecdote/ story that we could visualize, drunk students, and it ended with the nutgraph that the culture of Penn State is extremely difficult to change, but if the amount of alcohol is limited that would solve most alcohol related issues.  It ends in a catchy way that leaves us remembering it, as it summarizes the issue and then we hear the, "WE ARE!" chants.


Did you like it? Why? Why not? What worked for you? What didn't? What would have liked to hear more of/less of in the story? 
I really enjoyed this story.  Despite the length, i was entertained because i can understand everything that was discussed.  Now that i am adapted to college-life, i have heard of all of those places and a lot of the anecdotes made me laugh because i have witnessed or experienced some of these things on my own.  What worked for me how relatable yet informative this story was.  Being the #1 party school seems like an honor to some, but it really is a serious issue that the administrators have found nearly impossible to fix.  What didn't work for me was how a lot of the information was brought back up in several different sections where it didn't relate.  Football tailgating kept being brought up unnecessarily, for instance.  I would have liked to hear less about alumni and whether or not we can ban them drinking for tailgating, because as Spanier said, we obviously can't prohibit drinking for those above the legal age.  I would have liked to hear more about how parents or elders feel about the drinking at Penn State, and would have liked to see if that would have effected whether or not parents would pay for their children to get an education here.  Those people probably aren't as aware as the party scene as we are.  However, the views of all people interviewed provided great insight to the pros and cons of once being titled, "The #1 Party School."

Blog #4: Bird by Bird- final analysis

Anne Lamott's sarcastic and down to earth tone makes it easy to learn writing techniques.  She uses vivid descriptions, flashbacks, and amazing metaphors (such as the picture frame, polaroid, and "bird by bird") that help us relate to writing, even if we don't particularly like it.  To expand upon this concept, her chapter about polaroids really had a memorable effect on me.  As a writer, i like to get through my first draft all at once, and i usually like to have a clear idea of what exactly i will write before hand.  However, Anne Lammott dismisses the idea of perfectionism in first drafts because she says they are meant to be "shitty first drafts."  We must let our story unfold like a picture develops; one piece at a time.  I think the idea of mystery with how your first draft will turn out is brilliant. This piece of the novel moved me the most because of how opposite i think while writing.  As stated before, i am a perfectionist who likes to have everything planned out on my head and on post-its prior to starting my first draft.  However, if you just sit down and write freely, not knowing where your words may take you, a surprising masterpiece often shows up in your work; creating a totally different tale than what was expected. THAT is what writing should be about.  Getting lost in the words and creating something "magical." And, if the opposite of this occurs, Anne Lamott makes us realize it is OKAY to have poorly written first drafts, or as she says "shitty first drafts."  In her chapter titled Perfectionism she quotes, "Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation, while writing needs to breathe and move."  Her chapter about having people edit your work also made an impact on me as a writer.  In my life, i always need friends or family to read my work in order for me to feel "complete."  I especially always seek help from teachers at least once before feeling as though i can turn it in and receive a good grade.  As I write my papers, i need incoming feedback.  Anne is somewhat opposite of this.  She is afraid to reveal her work to others because she doesn't want their opinions if she doesn't think they're opinions matter.  She is very defensive of her work and acts as though she will lose friends from it, so she is careful who she shows her work to.  Although i am very opposite of this in my ways, i understand Anne completely.  If i was criticized on work that i was proud of after writing it, i would be furious.  While i love having my work read and opinions gathered, i hate when people who i think have less knowledge than i do try to correct me.  What i just discussed is compiled of more than one concept, and that is why Anne Lamott's book made such an impression on me.  In general, she says to let the story come to you, to develop like a polaroid.  Perfectionism is bad, our first drafts aren't meant to be tidy, because often gold can be found in the depths of our extra, unnecessary and messy work.  First drafts are not meant to be perfect.  With all of these techniques, Anne inspires me as a writer and a person.  Each of her teachings can be a lesson on life as well.  However, with writing, she proves that writing should be done with purpose; as a gift, or because its something one truly loves to do.  I truly love writing and Bird by Bird was an inspiring book that really encouraged me to improve upon techniques and continue to write throughout my life.