Body Image: Mind vs. Media (Part 2 – 2014)

Ponder – Sometimes we are unsatisfied with a particular aspect of our body because of what we see through the lenses of the media. What makes “them” the expert on what is beautiful? Ultimately, the only expert on your beauty should be the person you see when you look in the mirror. Embrace who you are – flaws and all, and never forget that you were beautifully and wonderfully created.

Reflect – Write a 2-3 sentence comment sharing what feelings/thoughts you have about this video. Do you believe the media does have a negative effect on how people view themselves? Why or why not?

(Comments must be in complete sentences and posted by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, 11/29/14 to receive DB #4 credit)

A Revolving Door

Italo Calvino said: The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts. 

Whether you believe in the supernatural realm or not, there is no question that our ancestral lineage plays a major role in how we function. It never ceases to amaze me when I encounter people who are hell-bent on breaking generational cycles, yet, they don’t have a clue what those cycles really are. We all have our share of skeletons, and some ghosts too, but we also all have a choice as to what to do with them. You can let them determine how you will live, or you can use them as a litmus, showing you how NOT to live. The choice ultimately is yours. As long as the ghosts of the past do not resurrect themselves into demons of the present, I see no harm in having them around. We live and learn…and then we die; it’s just one big revolving door.

Image credit: “love Don’t live here anymore…” – © 2009 Robb North – made available under Attribution 2.0 Generic

Are You Really What You Eat?

Selected scenes from the documentary “Supersize Me,” directed by Morgan Spurlock, focusing on what too much Mickey D’s does to your body and how it makes you feel.

English 1010: 

After watching the video, write a 2-paragraph reflective paper, following the format listed below. Please use complete sentences and answer all of the questions.

In paragraph 1 – Discuss what problems the main character faces? Do you feel these problems are realistic? Why?
Why not? How does the food we eat affect our physical and mental health? Give an example from the video to support your claim.

In paragraph 2 – State if the video changed your thinking? Explain. Or if you were already in agreement, can you show how it validated or affirmed your thinking?

Email your response paper by 11:59 P.M., Friday, November 8, 2013.  Each paragraph must follow the above format and effectively address each question, have complete sentences, and be submitted on time in order to receive full credit.

Body Image: Media vs Mind

This video illustrates the effect media has on how we view our bodies. Whether you are male or female, there is a least one “unsatisfactory” part of your body – one thing you wish you could one day change or have changed.

Ponder – Sometimes we are unsatisfied with a particular aspect of your body because of what we see through the lenses of the media. What makes “them” the expert on what is beautiful? Ultimately, the only expert on your beauty should be the person you see when you look in the mirror. Embrace who you are – flaws and all, and never forget that you were beautifully and wonderfully created for this moment in time.

Reflect – Write a 2-3 sentence comment sharing what feelings/thoughts you have about this video. How did it affect you? (Comments must be in complete sentences and posted by 11:59 p.m. on 10/29/13 to receive credit)

Soon-to-be a Bride-to-be

Dear Pre-Wedding Woes,

Who knew the pre-engagement stage could be so stressful? Not I, said the frazzled soon-to-be bride-to-be. I never truly gave this stage much thought. I earnestly thought that the stress of a wedding wouldn’t come knocking on my Victorian doorstep until the week before the wedding.

Darn romantic flicks! You have misled me once again! (Precisely why I opt for action and suspense over a chick-flick any day!)

I suppose that’s the part that baffles me the most. Is it the fact that I am such a perfectionist that I literally am planning ahead of the planning stage? Or perhaps, it is the fact that I want to get as much out of the way as possible now, in an attempt to avoid being the horrific monster known as a Bridezilla. Whatever the case may be, I do know that “this” is not the business – as my once teenage nephew would say.

To be honest, wait, I am always honest…what stresses me the most are the details surrounding getting my soon-to-be groom’s family to the wedding. Weeks like this would benefit greatly from a marriage into a rich family – I’m just speaking the truth. I am sure my weekly therapy session (counseling is a must right now) will help me filter through the stacks of lists piling up in my cranium, in order to leave some space for my brain to actually reside in peace.

Pinterest has become a sort of haven these days; a place to gaze and calmly sort through this mess of thoughts, while still being productive. At the end of the day, I am blessed to have been granted this moment in time to spend planning a future, my future, our future with the man of my dreams. Although everything that comes with him isn’t dreamy, I am reminded that God is in control.

Signed…

A soon-to-be Bride with a wish for continued sanity

The Busy Bee

*buzz* buzz*

At 10 a.m., I left Statesboro, Georgia, in route to Augusta; took a flight from Augusta to Atlanta, and from there, traveled to Houston, Texas. After a 2.5 hour wait at the airport, I finally received the long-awaited transportation, only to arrive in my room and sit at my computer for another 3 hours – working! But it is no surprise that I was working on each of the two flights. For the past month, work (two jobs, 3 classes, and everything in between) have consumed most of my “free-time,” and have left me utterly drained to the point where falling asleep is a hazy memory that never lasts long enough.

The busy little bee – that’s me. It amazes me how just five years ago, I swore that in 5 years, my life would not be so hectic. Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? A little too ironic, yea, I really do think!

But once again, I am making that same vow to not be the same frazzled little bee 5 years from now. Now will I cease to be active? Never! But will I spend more time doing things that contribute to the growth of my personal relationships and less time “working”? Most definitely.

Do I regret any of the tasks I engage in? Of course not. Everything I do is with purpose. The question now is, how much of the task’s purpose is beneficial to me? Looking toward the future, towards a tomorrow that is never promised, pushes me to work less, love more, and make as great a difference in this world as possible.

Signed,

A bee on a mission to smell a rose or two…or three!

Guidelines for Annotated Bibliography (English 1010)

By 12 Noon on Friday, September 27 (Fall 2013) or Friday, February 14 (Spring 2014), each person in the Research Paper Project group will post two sources. 

Follow the instructions below:

1. In the subject line of your email, write “Annotated Bibliography” and your group number. (Refer to the Project Groups list to see your group number)

2. As an attachment, include your annotated bibliography, including your two entries (PER PERSON): be sure there is a brief explanation (the annotation) for each entry/source (two-three sentences) of the importance of this source to your research and the idea you’ll take from this article, blog, book, etc. Review the posted Sample Annotated Bibliography for examples. 

3. Email your completed annotated bibliography to: nstampley@altamahatech.edu by the due date and time.

Remember – there are two parts to every entry in an annotated bibliography: the citation and the annotation.  You will not receive full credit if both components are not present. 

The Annotation: What is it?

An annotated bibliography is a list of cited sources about a particular topic, in which each citation is followed by a brief annotation, or discussion/reflection of the source.  It is useful for documenting your research and summarizing main points from various sources. It will only add to your knowledge, so embrace it!

The annotation is a brief paragraph (in this case, 2-3 sentences) following the citation.

English 1010, your annotations should do the following:

* assess the usefulness or relevant application of the source (Why is this important to your research? What idea will you take from this article, video, blog, book, etc.? )

Sample Annotated Bibliography (English 1010)

SAMPLE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (MLA)

The focus of the following sample annotated bibliography entries is the use of reading and literature in the composition classroom.

——————————————————————–

George Hollway

Ms. Stampley

English 1010

27 September 2013

Annotated Bibliography

Gilbert, Pam. “From Voice to Text: Reconsidering Writing and Reading in the English

Classroom.” English Education 23.4 (1991): 195-211. Print.

Gilbert provides some insight into the concept of “voice” in textual interpretation, and points to a need to move away from the search for voice in reading. Her reasons stem from a growing danger of “social and critical illiteracy,” which might be better dealt with through a move toward different textual understandings. Gilbert suggests that theories of language as a social practice can be more useful in teaching. Her ideas seem to disagree with those who believe in a dominant voice in writing, but she presents an interesting perspective.

Greene, Stuart. “Mining Texts in Reading to Write.” Journal of Advanced Composition 12.1

(1992): 151-67. Print.

This article works from the assumption that reading and writing inform each other, particularly in the matter of rhetorical constructs. Greene introduces the concept of “mining texts” for rhetorical situations when reading with a sense of authorship. Considerations for what can be mined include language, structure, and context, all of which can be useful depending upon the writer’s goals. The article provides some practical methods that compliment Doug Brent’s ideas about reading as invention.

More Examples:

Note: The focus of the following entry is gun control.

StyleJohnson, Jaime. “Gun Control: Your Only Means of Defense.” Researcher’s Special

               Journal (1999): 254-325. Print.

The author researches several federal and state firearms regulations and their effect on the everyday citizen. By testing his hypothesis that firearms regulations have an inherent effect on everyday citizens, findings yield in support of the hypothesis. In contrast, Baker cited in an earlier study the complete opposite.

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

This video gives a clear overview on how (and why) you should write an Annotated Bibliography. Again, this is specifically for English 1010…so pay attention. 🙂