JOURNAL ONE:
- I have quite a few questions for David Foster Wallace after reading his essay.
- What originally made you feel empathy towards lobsters?
- Would you consider becoming a vegan or vegetarian after writing and researching this essay?
- If lobster wasn’t always cooked alive, couldn’t we just cook it like people used to?
- Are lobsters endangered animals or could they be at risk for becoming endangered?
- If it isn’t okay to cook lobsters alive, is it okay to kill other animals like cattle, pigs, and poultry?
- Would you question people’s morals if you saw them eating lobster?
- Are there any other cooking options that you believe to be better?
- Is there a scientific way to find out if lobsters do in fact feel pain and suffer from it while being cooked alive?
- Do you feel cruel after eating lobster?
- Is this a popular conflict around the U.S. or just in New England?
- I believe that written discussions have a number of limits. The biggest limitation in my opinion is that it is very hard to understand the voice of the author in some occasions. For example, in this essay “Consider the Lobster” it wasn’t until the end when David clarified that he was just confused that I understood where he stood in the conflict. Another limitation is the lack of both sides of the argument as well, which I believe comes out a lot clearer in a spoken discussion rather than a written one. Written discussions limit the actual discussion piece all together in my opinion, because you cannot hear all perspectives completely. Also, you cannot ask questions which is another limitation, because for a lot of people that is how they learn. You can easily anticipate your audience’s questions because usually one side has a stronger argument so questions about your opinion would be asked. A lot of “whys” would come about because discussions have a lot to do with what you think.
JOURNAL TWO:
The drafting process has never really been a big part of my writing career this far. I will usually only write drafts if they’re assigned and graded. My writing process usually just consists of a web with all my ideas and then I jump into a final draft. This has always worked out for me in high school so I never saw the use in drafts. Last semester, we had to write tons of drafts for our biology 104 lab class, usually 2 or 3 per paper. I hated it to begin with but it started to grow on me as time went on. It ended up being really helpful because I could pick up on more mistakes and remove and add stuff more easily. I do enjoy peer review, even if it isn’t set up formally in class, I will almost always have at least one person read over my work. It is extremely useful because they pick up on things I may have missed and help point out if I may have missed something. I’ve noticed that once I like my writing I don’t like to change it because I am already content with it. It is something I am working on in my writing and peer review that is taken seriously really helps me with that. I also like to read my own work out loud this is a really useful proofreading strategy I learned in high school. It helps to check that sentences flow smoothly if we did or didn’t forget words, and it we have correct grammar. Overall, both drafting and peer review are very useful writing tools.
JOURNAL THREE:
The “Art of Quoting” chapter was a very useful resource to me. Quotations are an efficient way to support your work and an awesome source of evidence. The chapter pointed out numerous tips on how to incorporate quotations into my writing pieces. Specifically, I believe that the templates provided within the chapter will be very beneficial to my work. They give good examples on how to introduce and analyze quotations, which will improve anything I write.
The chapter also consisted of many other good tips and reminders. I learned that there needs to be a correct length of the quotations. Too little or too much will make for choppy or incomplete writing. Along with that, the chapter also stated how to put the quote in the text so that it does its job. First, you need to introduce the quote and set it up so that it makes sense and you know where it is coming from. Then, you insert the quotation, and follow it with an explanation on why it is significant. Quotations don’t speak for themselves, what they say needs to be connected to what you say. The chapter called this the quotation sandwich, which I found super interesting and a good way to remember what needs to be done when using quotations.
In high school, when writing the usual five paragraph essays, I would just throw in random quotations in my writing and try to make them work. The chapter pointed out that finding quotations that fit the part can be difficult. It was really helpful for me when the chapter said you can change the quotations as you go to fit what you’re trying to say more efficiently. Sometimes, I rush through my writing so this part was especially beneficial to me. It was a necessary reminder that it is okay to change your writing and the quotations that coincide with them. Overall, I believe this chapter to be a much needed resource to improve our work throughout the course this semester.
JOURNAL FOUR:
A passage I could potentially use in my essay is on page one, and is in the second paragraph. In this paragraph, Rhinehart saw food as a burden, using too much time and as it being a hassle. In the grand scheme of things he just doesn’t understand the love for food, which was clearly displayed in my favorite meal essay. I believe this could be of potential use for my paper because I could show an opposing idea and people could see two perspectives.
Another passage that could benefit my essay is found on page six, paragraph two. It is about how Rhinehart isn’t a fan of farms and how he doesn’t see them as necessary for the environment. This could fit well into my paper because my food comes from a farm and I strongly disagree. This also would be a good way to incorporate two perspectives.
Lastly another useful passage could be paragraph two on page seven. Rhinehart goes on to explain his perspective on life and how he doesn’t see the value of materials of life. In my essay, I could contradict this because I think food, a material item, brings people together. He doesn’t value as many things as most people would so I think this would be interesting to include. I cannot agree with “”Things are worthless.”” I think that a good chunk of time has passed since 2012 when things began for him, where things may be more valuable now. He has good ideas but it is hard for me to agree with some of them.
JOURNAL FIVE:
The chapter “Entering the Conversation” had a lot of information that I needed to hear. This book and specifically this chapter teaches basic moves necessary to having good academic writing. It provides you with tips and tricks on how to write clear and organized pieces.
The chapter supplied us with two really useful templates, which I believe will be extremely beneficial to my writing. Some believe these templates will actually take away from your writing, but the book proceeds to say once you master using the templates successfully and efficiently they will actually make your writing more original and creative. I agree with this, because it won’t take away from your writing if you are filling in the blanks with your words and ideas and making it your own. Essentially these templates are just used to create a format for your writing. The first one is the “they say…I say…” template was obviously where the book’s name originated from and it is said to be the best takeaway from the book. Basically the “they say” part is summarizing others views and the “I say” part is responding with your own ideas. The other template was called the “Template of Templates.” It is longer than I would expect but it has been used in countless articles and even entire books. It is a good blueprint for papers. I plan to incorporate both of these into my work.
In your writing, you need to have an argument to keep the readers and/or audience thinking and paying attention. This argument should be due to other people and what they voice and suggest. You want others voices included into your text so your work has more meaning. Without the “they say” the “why” will not be clear to the readers. You want your writing to be unique and include others ideas, as well as your own. In the chapter it made a point, “Challenge standard ways of thinking and thus to stir up controversy.” This is significant because it will keep your writing interesting and it will not be lifeless. These were the things I found the most useful and important in this chapter.
JOURNAL SIX:
JOURNAL SEVEN:
The peer review was a very useful resource to improve my essay. The suggestions that I found the most useful were about the organization of my paper, the use of my quotations and how I should expand the analysis on them, and word choice as well as sentence flow. These were the best because I was struggling to see where I could improve so the points my peers gave me led me in the right direction. The best suggestions I offered to my peers was telling them to work on their introductions, including topic sentences in their papers, and to go further with their analysis of quotations. This also helped me because I saw ways to tweak my own paper, but these were my best suggestions because I have experience in these areas so I could leave helpful suggestions for my peers. One super important thing that came up during our discussion was hooking the reader. This was specifically helpful to Parker who ended up changing his introduction a lot. It was a good reminder to me as well, so I found this beneficial to the whole group. Another thing we talked about was citations and a title so it was nice to get one of the smaller aspects of our paper done. One thing I wish came up during peer review was our theses but it was hard to discuss this since we were all in a different place in regards to our papers. This type of peer review was much more useful and efficient than my experience with it in high school. We mostly edited for spelling and grammar in high school and the comments about bigger ideas were not well thought out. The peer review we did for this class, were more thought out and a way for me to improve my paper as a whole. I would enjoy having peer reviews like this one for large papers so others can comment and leave me with another perspective to edit my paper with.
JOURNAL EIGHT:
I spent a good chunk of time revising my paper. I spent the most time on organization and analyzing my quotations. My paper had a few places that needed the sequences of paragraphs and sentences to move around in order to flow more smoothly. I also needed to analyze my quotations a little bit further so that readers could understand my argument. I didn’t realize it may make sense in my head but not to readers, so I needed to add some clarifying pieces into my paper. If I could change anything, it would have been nice to maybe work with others while revising the paper. Then I could ask questions and they could help me spark ideas. Previously, I haven’t written too many drafts unless it was required, which it often wasn’t. In the past, I would just make an outline and then jump right into the essay and hand it in when it was complete. I was a lot more thoughtful when it came to this paper. We had a few drafts, one that was peer edited, and another looked at by Vic, so I was able to improve my paper more and more with each draft. I actually had comments to think about and revise because they weren’t all about grammar mistakes. I think that my approach to this project would have been much different if there hadn’t been expectations for this class. I did follow the expectations to the best of my ability which allowed me to realize how beneficial they actually are. It was a lot of work, time, and effort to complete this project, I will admit. With that being said, I did enjoy being able to learn new things and seeing the finished product.
JOURNAL NINE:
There were a lot of important passages in Mann’s essay. One I found centrally important can be found on page 2 and it’s the second paragraph under the section “Bitter Rivals.” This paragraph discusses Vogt’s perspective on how to deal with global warming. I do agree with what he has to say because it is one way we can try to stop the damage we are causing to this Earth. We only have one Earth, and it can only give us so much so I think it is reasonable to cut back on consumption. In this paragraph, Vogt argued, “affluence is not our greatest achievement but our biggest problem.” Affluence means wealth, and I can totally get on board with this argument Vogt has. A lot of us do not see the effects that our wealth can have on the environment and along with that wealth comes entitlement. With that being said, I think that Vogt has a good idea, but I don’t think it will be easily obtained because a lot of people will not see his argument or be willing to cut back. On the other side of that, another passage I found centrally important was on page 2 and it was the third paragraph under “Bitter Rivals.” This paragraph contains the opposing view of Borlaug who believes technology is the answer to the issue of global warming. I do think that technology can help us improve the destruction we have done to the environment so in that sense I agree. With that being said Borlaug thinks the opposite of Vogt when it comes to affluence, he argues that “affluence was not the problem but the solution.” I do see where he is coming from, and I do think that wealth could be beneficial if used correctly, but it isn’t used in the right ways most of the time. Technology is helpful but it is important to see that it is not the answer to everything, so that is where it gets complicated in where I stand in regards to Borlaug’s argument. He thinks getting richer and more knowledgeable is how we can fix the issue, the knowledge piece I agree with. It isn’t about getting richer though, I believe people need to adapt their lifestyles to accommodate the environment. The last paragraph I found centrally important is located on page 6 and it is the second paragraph. This paragraph has a lot of factual information, which I know is all true and needs to be fixed, but I work on a small farm so it is hard for me to hear how it is part of the problem. More affluence, means more people spending money on animal products and this requires a lot of work for farmers. These farms require a lot of resources, which also takes a toll on the environment. Although, there are times where I’d like to give up meat because I know it is a poor choice in regards to saving the environment. With that being said, I don’t see myself ever realistically giving up meat, and I think a lot of people who live on this Earth agree. This is why it is complicated because I want to but also don’t want to and that is a huge part of the divide in this global warming argument. This essay gives me a lot to consider.
JOURNAL TEN:
Pollan has a lot of centrally important ideas presented in this essay, that discuss food and the significance of food in the lives of Americans. A good passage is on pages 10-11, and it is the last paragraph on page 10 which goes onto page 11. It discusses some of the shows Americans enjoy watching today. Traditional shows spent 80 percent cooking and 20 percent eating, but now a lot of these shows are flipped and it is more about the eating. For me, it is just hard to comprehend why America spends so much time watching Guy Fieri or others eat food. America is engulfed in this type of entertainment and I simply don’t understand or agree with this. I think that this is a significant paragraph in Pollan’s central idea because when he poses the question at the end, it really gets you wondering why people do spend their time watching these pointless, in my opinion, shows. America loves food but won’t spend any time making it which is just a whole contradiction within itself. I didn’t realize the problem had gotten this bad until after taking the time to read this, and I didn’t realize the effects that these television productions had on the lives of Americans. On page 14, paragraph 2 of the page, it goes on to talk about why people aren’t cooking anymore and the priorities that Americans have. I do agree with seeing why the amount of cooking has gone down, because many of these reasons are true. Cooking isn’t money driven and that is a major part of the problem. Money is practically everything. Along with that, in the time we spend working to obtain that money there isn’t time for anything else, including cooking. Americans work more than any other industrialized nation, Pollan states, which means other countries still see the significance for other things besides work too. There is a lot of pressure on Americans, but things need to change, because without time for cooking and other housekeeping activities it is really going to begin to take a toll. Everyone seems to have more time to cook than us, which is where my opinion gets foggy because I am not sure how we will make time for these things. I find this passage important because I don’t think we realize how much we overwork ourselves. Other nations don’t and maybe we need to look to them for guidance. Lastly, an important passage is on page 19 and it is the third paragraph. It talks about corporations and how they’re pretty much our primary source of food. I don’t agree with how we live like this, I think things should be different because these large corporations prey on and take advantage of the people. However, I agree this is all true and that we are now dealing with the consequences. Corporations win and we lose. They make foods out of products poor for our health, they’re easy to access, and save us all time and money. This connects to the previous passage because since we are constantly working these “foods” appeal to us and we give in and purchase them. I think this connects to the point Rhinehart was trying to make, we just are eating all this junk to save time, so at least if we drank Soylent it would be healthier and more beneficial as well. Cooking would be a benefit because without it our diet is going downhill fast. I thought this is significant because it shows the disadvantages eating processed foods will cause. We need to bring cooking back, and soon.
JOURNAL ELEVEN:
When reading the piece, “Starting With What Others Say,” it provided me with a lot of good tips to create a paper with a strong argument and support to make it efficient throughout the whole paper. As always, this section included many useful templates that I could add into my writing to make it stronger. Most were ways to set up what “they say” which was the main topic of this section of “They Say, I Say.” These will help create variety in my work, so I think these are very beneficial to me. The article also stated how important it is to keep in mind the order in which you write your work. You need to explain what you’re responding to in the beginning and start with what others are saying. To be successful in writing a paper with your strong argument, you need to clearly state your thesis and the larger conversation the thesis is responding to. This was a helpful reminder because sometimes we forget the readers may not have the background knowledge we have. It is important not to forget to state where you stand and your opinion too though so you don’t bore the reader with just facts and already developed work. As you develop your own thoughts and ideas, it is important to continue with the “they say” as you move into the paper. If you just drop all the background in the beginning and never repeat it as you continue, it will get super confusing for the reader. If you keep repeating, it ensures a sense of mission and urgency, which will create a well written, thorough paper. This passage in the book was full of many useful reminders and tips on how to make my papers better and I definitely plan to include a lot of this as I work on the next draft of my essay.
JOURNAL TWELVE:
My essay is coming along well so far. I am wrapping up my third page, it is pretty rough draft as of right now though. I have my paper organized well for the time being and I am just writing what I am thinking for right now which is actually useful. Obviously, I will need to go back and edit this later but I don’t want to forget what is going through my head at that time. I have skipped a lot of the analyzing quotations for now, but this is because I need to think about where I stand and gather my thoughts before just throwing it on the paper. This can be challenging for me at times, but it is what I plan to work on this weekend. With the texts, I feel fairly comfortable. There are some parts in the Mann paper that are over my head, but I have been working with the text a lot recently trying to find quotations and I have found the more I reread it, the more I understand. As I continue to develop my paper, I plan to meet with Vic and time permitting, meet with Professor Miller to discuss the paper. I am not behind which I would say is a good start and I will continue to work on my paper over the time we have left to complete it.
JOURNAL THIRTEEN:
The passage, “Planting a Naysayer in Your Text,” has been a very beneficial read. The passage drops an important reminder in the beginning that revision is a huge way to improve your work by making it stronger and more interesting. Even professional writers do this, which is why the peer review we do in class is such a helpful resource. Criticisms are actually pros not cons and they work to our advantage. The main point of this passage was that saying what others argue, actually enhances your credibility rather than undermining it. It makes your paper more like a discussion not just what you think and keeps the reader informed. This shows that your view isn’t the only view that there is which helps makes readers feel respected. To our advantage, it also gives us more to say and broadens our work, which the passage said will likely help us reach our word count. As always this section included important templates for us to be able to incorporate into our essays. This all was a good reminder of why we need to include the other side, but the passage even goes further and tells us how to do it. We need to write more than just a sentence about the opposing view, we need to stick with it and explain their position on the argument thoroughly. With that being said your counter argument shouldn’t be more persuasive than your own. Still stand your ground and show you believe in your argument even though the other has good points. While including their good points we can even name the naysayers. This adds precision and impact and helps make it a larger conversation, but just be careful of stereotyping. Not all writing needs to be formal, you can use informal templates and still have good writing like using questions for example. Although direct quoting naysayers works well also, it depends mostly on your piece and own writing style. Overall, the point is using naysayers will strengthen your work and this was all such valuable information to me.
JOURNAL FOURTEEN:
JOURNAL FIFTEEN:
These narratives all were very interesting and good reads. One that I really enjoyed was in the “I Survived” section and it was told by the storyteller Clella B. Gregory. She talks about how everything was closed and right now I can really relate to this. This narrative specifically left me with some hope. Her dad not only took care of the entire family, but he also showed what it meant to be a strong and reliable neighbor. He took care of others during this vulnerable time and kept morale high. This is what we should be doing. This dad is the symbol of strength and hope. In times like these, you cannot fall apart. The whole family survived! A question I would have for Clella is, how was your dad so positive during this tough time? Another narrative that stuck me with me is Alvena Buehler’s story in the “Finding A Cure” section. Alvena was 17 when the 1918 pandemic was happening and she had to step up for her family. She walked approximately 22 miles to town alone to get medication for her family. She returned with it and in result everyone made it, she was so humble about it. As if it wasn’t her who was the reason her family got to live past this horrible time. She is the image of what a woman should be, strong. I would ask Alvena, if she could change anything would she? I would also go on to ask her how she kept motivated during this long walk? Both of these narratives are an inspiration as we try to handle the similar difficult situation present. We should help others when we can, stay positive, and be strong.
JOURNAL SIXTEEN:
Comments on 2 peers journal 15 posts.
JOURNAL SEVENTEEN:
Intro:
A virus is an infective agent that is too tiny to see with the natural eye. Viruses can be harmful and cause diseases. There are tons of viruses that can be found all over the world, so when Covid-19 came to light I never expected this to have such a large impact on my life. No one tells you that viruses can lead to pandemics, deaths, or social distancing. No one tells you it will take away the end of your first year of college or your friends, new or old. No one tells you that you will lose your job for the time being, people will be scared because so much is unknown, and supplies will start to run low. The thing is this virus turned into something bigger and something no one has ever experienced before. In the past 2 weeks, while doing remote learning and being bored out of my mind, I’ve had time to reflect. Covid-19 has taken a lot from a lot of people, but during this time it has brought out the best in a lot of people.
Body:
- What have you learned about yourself?
- I will put others before myself.
- What have you learned about your friends/family?
- They’re willing to sacrifice a lot for others.
- I miss seeing them all the time and that they’re a huge part of my life. Sort of one of those you don’t miss it until it’s gone moments.
- What have you learned about your community?
- My community is one that I am so proud to be a part of. Here in Massachusetts, things are getting worse and the news has been a bunch of devastating information. Even with all this going on, my community looks out for each other. Most people have stayed home unless completely necessary, people have helped the elderly, and got each other supplies that we are low on. This community has companies donating masks and others at home making them. On top of all of that, Saturday March 28, there was a car parade. People across town decorated their cars and met up, they then proceeded around town honking and waving. Kids and even adults’ days were made, it brought happiness during a dark, scary time. I have learned that this is why I am proud of my hometown and that it is significant to look out for other people during a time like this.
- Turkey Farm
Conclusion:
- Despite all the hardship and negatives, this is a time where many came together and that is important to see through all that we lost.
- I am lucky to have such amazing friends, family and be part of such a caring community.
- We will get through this because of our strength like they got through the 1918 pandemic.
JOURNAL EIGHTEEN:
Effects of Covid-19 On My Life
A virus is an infective agent that is too tiny to see with the natural eye. Viruses can be harmful and cause diseases. There are tons of viruses that can be found all over the world, so when Covid-19 came to light, I never expected this to have such a large impact on my life. No one tells you that viruses can lead to pandemics, deaths, or social distancing. No one tells you it will take away the end of your first year of college or your friends, new or old. No one tells you that you will lose your job for the time being, people will be scared because so much is unknown, and supplies will start to run low. The thing is that this virus turned into something bigger and something no one has ever experienced before. In the past 2 weeks, while doing remote learning and being bored out of my mind, I’ve had time to reflect. Covid-19 has taken a lot from a lot of people, but during this time it has brought out the best in a lot of people.
I have given up time with those close to me to social distance so we can sooner end this pandemic. I have also given up the end of my first year of college and have given up working to pay for school. Despite all the bad stuff that comes along with this, I have learned a lot. I learned how much my friends and family mean to me. I miss them all so much and not getting to see them all the time has been much harder than I would have expected. I have learned how much school and my career path means to me. I would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now. I have learned that I love my job, no matter how tiring or aggravating it can be. Mostly, I have learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds. I will work on doing this in the future.
During this time, I have gotten to see that my family and friends are willing to sacrifice a lot for others. I knew that before, but now it just has been emphasized. My parents are going to work during this time, rather than safely waiting out this virus in our home. They’re both risking their own health by going into work, and not knowing if one of their coworkers could potentially be infected. My friends have given up things as well, such as their high school or college graduations. They have given up vacations, sports, birthdays, and time with others. We have all sacrificed a lot but I am proud to say that all of us are doing it for the greater good.
The turkey farm has been an excellent example of what it means to put others before yourself. Phones ringing off the hook and swarms of people looking to get food, is what the last few weeks have looked like. My work staying open was a huge sacrifice this family business made. At the beginning of this crisis, the owner made the decision to send all employees home, except myself and a coworker of mine. This included one of my bosses being sent home due to being immunocompromised and the owners going home due to a sickness one was already battling. I was willing to help stay despite the risk it may have been. I worked with customers for hours, wondering if one may be the one to get me sick. It was important to me that I stayed during this time of chaos because people, especially the elderly, were worried they may not have food to eat. I worked 9 hours a day, for many days. Eventually the owners made the decision to send me home, as they wanted to put as few people at risk as they could. The farm is still open as of now, selling what there is to sell. I am proud of what this farm has done to care for those in their community.
My community is one that I am so proud to be a part of. Here in Massachusetts, things are getting worse and the news has been a bunch of devastating information. Even with all this going on, my community looks out for each other. Most people have stayed home unless completely necessary, people have helped the elderly, and got each other supplies that we are low on. This community has companies donating masks and others at home making them. On top of all of that, Saturday March 28, there was a car parade. People across town decorated their cars and met up, they then proceeded around town honking and waving. Kids and even adults’ days were made, it brought happiness during a dark, scary time. I have learned that this is why I am proud of my hometown and that it is significant to look out for other people during a time like this.
Despite all the hardship and negatives, this is a time where many came together and that is important to see through all that we lost. I am lucky to have such amazing friends, family and be part of such a caring community. This definitely came into perspective for me while being at home these past couple of weeks. It is a beautiful thing to see how people come together when times get tough. Although all of this is unfortunate and glum, we still have a lot to be thankful for and we cannot forget that. We will get through this because of our strength, similar to how they got through the 1918 pandemic.
JOURNAL NINETEEN:
Americans that were working and volunteering for the Red Cross during this time were most likely scared and worried. They were tired, defeated, and concerned when the pandemic would end. They had to work with very ill patients and risk their lives to help these people get better. Some may question, why would you do that? I believe that for these Americans, although scary, it was a no brainer whether or not they would help. They’re the heroes in times like these, but that isn’t why they do it. They do it because they’re selfless and caring, and know it is the right thing to do. I would 100 percent be willing to do what these Americans did during this time. I always look to put others before myself and if I could save lives then it would be totally worth it. Many may say it is easier said than done, but I have a huge heart and would be the first to step in and help. That is a big reason I am going into a health profession, I want the chance to help change lives. I would rather risk my own health and life, then watch sick, helpless people die from an illness when I could have been helping them. In times like these, it is important to come together. My community is doing all they can to fulfill their civic virtue right now. For example, companies such as nail salons, are donating all the masks they have while they remain closed due to Covid-19. Residents are searching their houses for masks and if not they’re making homemade ones to give to the doctors and nurses in our community. It doesn’t stop there, people are helping the elderly and immunocompromised people get supplies. People are supporting local businesses by getting take out or buying gift cards. This community is working together for the greater good and I am proud to be a part of it.
JOURNAL TWENTY:
I am discussing both Emily and Tori’s responses for Journal 19 and their views on the 1918 pandemic. In Emily Taylor’s response, she talks about how the people volunteering were putting themselves, as well as their loved ones, at risk. This is similar to how I felt but she also said she would sacrifice to help as well. It is refreshing to know that others would be willing to help during such a difficult time. I also really liked how Emily talked about how both of her parents are working in healthcare currently and are also risking their health. They are the true heroes so I hope her family stays healthy! It would be really cool to hear their perspective on this whole Covid-19 pandemic. I also agree with her about how restaurants should be closed. The least exposure to others during this time is really significant to keep everyone safe right now. In Tori Boutin’s response, she goes into great depth of what those volunteering for the American Red Cross had to feel and go through. I really liked her word choice and sentence flow, it was really nice to read what she wrote because it was impactful. She talks about how these people make a difference, and that sits with me. These people are the difference, then and now, and that is important for us all to remember. Tori, like Emily and I, would also risk her own health and safety to help the sick people. She said that helping others get back on their feet was something she strives for in her career, so I was curious what her career path is. At this point in her response, she makes it clear that it is not these peoples careers and they’re doing it out of their own free will. I think that was an important thing to point out and I liked how she did that. I also was left wondering how it connects to her community which was what I was curious about. Overall, all three of us had similar views for this journal.
JOURNAL TWENTY-ONE:
The spread of Covid-19 came much faster than anyone could have imagined. For me, my friends and I didn’t think that much of it because at the time it was over in China. Things quickly went downhill from there. News spread, as quickly as the virus, and soon it was here and uprooting lives in numerous different ways. The thing is that when it arrived in China in January, I believe it was, that is when we should have started to prepare. We didn’t do that and the harsh reality is that our country is now in a devastating position. This is because we had the “that’s not going to happen to us” mentality. Now there is a rush to get supplies, help healthcare workers, and save lives around this country. We haven’t seen anything like this but we had time to prepare and didn’t. This in some ways connects to climate change. Climate change has been happening for a while now, the results are much slower than those of Covid-19. The overall results are destructive and harmful, and quite frankly Earth may not be a place many of us will be able to live. We are doing little as human beings to fix this issue, similar to Covid-19. When climate change hits hard, it will be too late and we will have to deal with the consequences as we are now. We’ve had the time to prepare but we once again have the “that’s not going to happen to us” mentality. We will rush around trying to fix it but by then it will be much too late. I do want to give credit to those working to solve climate change and Covid-19 because your hard work isn’t unnoticed. I just believe that the speed of these events are rather irrelevant to most people because it doesn’t really bother or affect them until there is no avoiding it. That is when the true action takes place.
JOURNAL TWENTY-TWO:
Ellen Byrant Voigt wrote a poem about the 1918 flu pandemic and the lives of those affected by it. When reading it, I had quite a few questions. What was the purpose of killing the cat? Also why did they need to draw the flies? Was it to draw flies from the bodies of humans or am I totally off? What was the purpose of the removal of their hair? This poem poses a lot of questions and a deeper meaning than I believe I understand. The image that really stuck out to me is the cutting of the cat’s throat. This is the part that makes the least amount of sense to me. It is gruesome and almost seems unnecessary. With that being said, I’m sure their reasoning for doing such was valid. Another image that spoke to me was the routine they had. I could picture it so clearly, without even knowing the purpose. I can picture the locked doors, the singing at night, and the small portions with boiled water from the well. I picture this in an old fashioned kitchen like you see in movies for some reason. A parallel I really take from this is the singing each night. People all over the world today have been singing from their balconies or doorstep to try to radiate some light in the darkness. The locking of the doors and not letting anyone in is also a parallel to what we all are doing, or should be, while dealing with Covid-19. I really do wonder what Ellen was thinking when she wrote this poem? Her tone and word choice really provide a somber mood for me. Both pandemics have this feeling as well, so she definitely portrayed that. Her poem was good but a little bit confusing for me.
JOURNAL TWENTY-THREE:
I am responding to Parker’s journal 21! He has similar views to mine in regards to mobilizing for COVID-19 and climate change. He didn’t think too much of Covid-19 because it was all the way in China, but things changed very quickly here as we became the nation with the leading number of cases. I also agreed with how people are taking much slower precautions to find a solution for climate change. Since most are not directly impacted, they aren’t seeing it as an issue. Climate change is pushed into the back of our minds, and like Parker said this is not good. Parker went on to say that people won’t do anything until climate change noticeably and seriously impacts our everyday lives. I often wonder if our generation is more aware and takes a bit more action because we know we will be the ones to live through this in the future. Don’t get me wrong there are people older than us who care and are taking action, but I do notice more people in my own generation who advocate for a healthier planet and have stronger feelings about climate change. Parker wrote, “If there is something important people can learn from the Coronavirus pandemic, it could be how fast the world can change and take serious action to solve a problem.” I think this is really significant and a lesson people definitely need to take from this pandemic. This pandemic really has gone to show the negative impact humans have on Earth. Since we have been in lockdown, there has been news of clearer skies, cleaner waters, and more animals out and about. It is now clear that we are the problem and we need to fix it. I think that waiting like we did to prepare for this pandemic is not the answer, but as Parker said it will be how things happen. I just hope people start to see the effects of their day to day lives as it is now on display.
JOURNAL TWENTY-FOUR:
My peers responded to the Ellen Bryant Voigt poem about the 1918 pandemic. Morgan Lindsey shared many questions just like I did about the rather dark poem. She asked “How many times did they kill an animal and leave them outside the house?” I didn’t even think about this because the pandemic must have gone on for quite some time, so they may have had to kill a couple to obtain whatever the goal is that they were trying to reach. Morgan also went on to question their routine much like I had. It seems odd what they were doing, but I suppose it had some sort of purpose, and they didn’t have as much advanced technology then as we do now. She went on to emphasize the need for staying at home during both of these times, and I totally agree. Alexa thought the poem was a little strange, and I also got that vibe from reading it. Alexa also shared many questions about the cat. She questioned how they could kill their family pet? I didn’t even think of that and now I wonder the same thing, because no matter how bad the situation my family could never do that. She also went one to talk about the routine, like Morgan and I. Alexa wrote, “Panic and fear has caused people to act like complete idiots during this time.“ She connects this line to then and now and I feel that was a really good way to put things. Then the people killed their pet and used weird remedies, and now we are buying things in mass bulk. We are also not using medical supplies to their best use, which is extremely concerning. I can understand why people are panicking and fearful but at the same time it is only escalating the problem.
JOURNAL TWENTY-FIVE:
JOURNAL TWENTY-SIX:
For project 3, I have done a lot more editing than I have for my previous projects. With that being said, I am the most confident in this paper and how it turned out. The biggest edits I made to this paper were reorganization and adding much more analysis. My peers pointed out places I could maybe make new paragraphs which ended up helping my paper flow much more smoothly. I did this specifically in my intro, which ended up needing to be 3 paragraphs which is something I am not used to. I also split up my first body paragraph because it was much too long. My peers, Morgan and Emily, also pushed me to dig deeper and analyze my already developed ideas more. I added more to each analysis following each quotation used. After peer review, I added 2 more whole paragraphs at the end of the paper where my thoughts really came out. This was probably the biggest move I made in the paper, but my paper became a lot stronger following this suggestion. This was really beneficial to me, because I ended up connecting with the 3 narratives more and explaining my feelings in depth and making connections. Courtney, as always, also gave me feedback on my essay which helped me to tie up loose ends. This paper has easily been my favorite and most improved from first to final draft.
