Reflection on Technology

The revised version of our class differs from the first version in that we blog on the internet rather than writing it down in a journal. Also, we are not required to read the book “Fast Food Nation” and we usually meet in different technologically oriented classroom. I prefer the new one because I like blogging on the internet instead of writing something down in a notebook. Also, I like our classroom in Clark Hall because we get to use laptops. However, next time we should try and meet in the same class room. I liked the features Clark 111 offered because it was spacious, the laptops we nice, and we had the ability to control the bigger screens which was fun. The only thing I didn’t like is that the door became locked to the classroom if you came late.

Assessing Assessments

My research paper still requires a book resource for evidence.

I do not believe I have assessed my resources effectively. I need to discuss more about why they are an authoritative source or not.

Resources Reflections

1) How did you find your resources?
Using key terms I searched on:
Google
Nytimes

2)How has research altered your original idea?
Research has caused me alter my idea due to the difficulty caused by the lack of information.

Research Topic

I've decided to change my research topic

from:
Facebook is a great social networking tool does it provide hackers or thiefs with a database for your information?

to:
Young adults looking to date utilize Facebook instead of online dating websites as a tool for learning about and communicating with each other.

to:
College Students who utilize Facebook as a tool for dating reduce their privacy by providing sexual predators with a database of their personal information.

Blog Assessment

This blog compares Facebook to other dating services. The blog's main page is updated with discussions on various news articles and the posting is very informal. The blog is helpful because the author is a Facebook user who outlines the features of the website. He discusses Facebook's role and importance to dating.

http://www.imperishableinheritance.com/2005/facebook-and-dating/

Personal Interview Assessment

I chose to interview Al because he is legit and uses Facebook.

Me: Hey, I was wondering if you have ever used an online service?
Al: Yes, Persian Wife Finder is legit.

Me: Haha, do you have a Facebook account?
Al: Yes, I do.

Me: Do you ever add girls because you think they are hot?
Al: Totally, only if they're smoking.

Me: Have you used Facebook's poke feature?
Al: No, sounds like its for getting attention or something.

Me: Have you ever met with a girl because you talked to her on Facebook.
Al: Definitely, back in the days AIM had that on lock.

Me: Have you ever added your girlfriend as a friend on Facebook or changed your relationship status?
Al: Yes.

Me: Fantastic, thank you.
Al: Word, peace.

This interview should be useful because it demonstrates the fact that people in various relationships use Facebook as a tool to communicate with each other. My interviewee was helpful because it confirmed and demonstrated my thesis.

Newspaper Article Assessment

This newspaper article discusses a new Facebook application for an online dating service entitled Are You Interested. Instead of discussing what goes on in the real world outside Facebook; users are informing each other on the the social networking website about applications such as Are You Interested. The article details this new application and how it competes with rival dating websites. The newspaper article has accurate information and cites where it received its numeric data. The article clearly demonstrates how powerful Facebook is and how it competes with unrelated websites. The newspaper article is authoritative because it demonstrates its facts with evidence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/business/businessspecial2/20date.html?_r=1

Journal Article Assessment

This article was published in a journal entitled "Computers in Human Behavior" by a group of professionals working in the Department of Sociology at Temple University. It describes how Facebook causes people to act in a personal online environment. This article demonstrates that people mold their online identity to fit relationships with others. This article was written by experienced professionals who clearly did proper research and examination before it was published. The journal that this article was published in is only to be used for educational purposes. The article references many various sources and cites all of them.

http://astro.temple.edu/~bzhao001/Identity%20Construction%20on%20Facebook.pdf

Magazine Article Assessment

This article comes from a column entitled Office Hours with Dr. Jim from Online Dating Magazine. It outlines the pros and cons of social networking websites compared with online dating services. The article was written by James Houran who has a Ph.D. in psychology and claims to be an expert in relationship compatibility. He discusses much about online dating but writes almost nothing about trying to meet people in real life. The article clearly demonstrates my thesis.

http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/datingoffice09/socialnetworkingonlinedatingsites.html

Bio of author
http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/about/drjimhouran.html

Book Assessment

This article discusses how telemarketing is an invasion of domestic life. This shows how people invade your privacy over the phone and this directly relates to the social networking tool Facebook and how others invade your privacy through the internet.

Mauk & Metz Inventing Arguments Pg. 260 Don’t Call

Research Questions

Facebook is a great social networking tool does it provide hackers or thiefs with a database for your information?

The importance of your privacy and security.

How easy is it to access your personal information or data.

Loopholes in the website reducing your security.

How easy is it to get your password.

How easy is it to control someones identity.

Social Networking and Privacy

Thesis statement: Social networking websites promote identity theft and make it easier to access our private information.

Sources that might be helpful in this proving this point:
News article
Library
Personal story or blog

Facebook Wikipedia Assessment

The Facebook Wikipedia article is very accurate and informative.

It details Facebook and its history and role as a social networking tool.

It clearly shows how much money is invested into Facebook and its value to the current generation.

The discussion page for the article has debates over various issues.It demonstrates the website's problems and people's responses to them.

Assessment of Social Networking Services

Facebook is an online social networking service originally oriented towards college students. Now accessed by users of any age it brings all kinds of people together.

Users are able to join networks organized into groups by region, interests, or education. You are able to exchange media or information with your friends by posting on each others wall or main page. You are constantly updated and informed of everything your friends do on Facebook.

It is used by all different varieties of people looking to meet new people, stay in contact with friends, waste time on the internet, or exchange information.

Facebook brings forward the web 2.0 movement or the next generation of website development on the internet.

It is useful because it allows individuals with an account access to a great wealth of information. However, the information presented may not be useful to everyone.
It is up to an individual to determine what constitutes private information. The information presented on a user’s page is viewable to only those with a Facebook account. If your page is set to private then only your friends can view it. Private information about a user may not be apparent unless the user directly posts personal information on their page themselves.

Assessing Technology Articles

"Text Me All about Yourself: The Rise of Mobile Networking"

The article seems to poke fun at those who text or twitter to stay constantly updated with useless information.

I enjoyed how the article discusses recent web 2.0 developments such as the website twitter.

Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter discusses “The day-today advantage is the ability to stay connected with friends and family members any time using a variety of devices.”

Charles Klein, a web designer enjoys Twitter because it is quick and to the point.

These new forms of technology allow us to be contacted by just about anyone at anytime.

Technology and Privacy

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0217092samsung1.html

I found the Smoking Gun's Article very interesting because it involved a 14 year old girl being arrested. The reasoning behind it was that the girl was texting in class and refused to stop. She was then arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. This made me laugh and made me very angry at the same time. It made me laugh because no one should ever be arrested for sending a text message. And it made me angry because the little girl does not deserve that punishment. I was quite relieved when i discovered the website is full of fake news articles.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

I enjoyed the information the Did you Know video on Youtube presented. It demonstrated the effects of technology on our society. It showed that our world is undergoing great technological changes and that these altercations will only increase in number.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkSaNToDbW8

I found the social networking wars video on Youtube to be very funny. It demonstrated the fight for control of social networking websites. It showed how Myspace and Facebook constantly want to be better than each other and appeal to your needs. It shows how heavily influenced our generation is by the internet.

Brainstorming Technology

What is technology:
The knowledge and usage of tools to control and adapt to an environment.
Can refer to the development of techniques or material objects of benefit to humanity.

What represents this technology:
Communication - Computer, phone.
Transportation - Car, airplane.
Medicine - Birth control, vaccine.

Who controls this technology:
Everyone.

What happens when you lose control of your personal information:
Someone else may control a certain aspect of your life.

Thesis Statement & Outline

Thesis: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed the new 2009-10 California state budget. This new budget delegates who receives money, introduces sources of funding, and also severe budget cuts which have a great impact on a variety of citizens.

Outline:
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Intro
1. Thesis statement

II. Body Paragraphs
A. Educational system
1. Students and raised tuition
a. Larger class sizes
2. Teachers losing jobs
a. Smaller paycheck

B. Economy and job market
1. New state programs attempt to assist our job economy

C. Higher taxes
1. New sources of state income

III. Concluding Paragraph
A. Restate thesis
1. Closing argument or statements

Summary of my Authoritative Source

A video of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing and discussing the importance of California's 2009-10 state budget.


California is currently in a $42 billion deficit and needs a new budget to help solve its problems and spend its money effectively. This new budget is made to reduce spending, increase efficiency, boost revenue, and create jobs. Schwarzenegger made $14.9 billion in spending reductions and replaced some general funding with federal funds. “Higher education will receive federal funding to replace general funds in the amount of $255 million each to the University of California and California State University systems.” “The budget includes temporary revenue increases totaling $12.5 billion through a one cent increase in the state sales tax, an increase in the vehicle license fee to one percent and an increase in the personal income tax.” “With the budget asking Californians to pay more in taxes and also reducing their services, the Governor fought hard to include needed economic stimulus to help create jobs and boost our economy.” In light of the nation’s economic recession, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger takes decisive action to make progress and move forward with California’s finances.

http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/11522/

Transcript of my Interview

I chose to interview my dad because he understands our economic recession and is concerned with losing his job or being transferred to another state/country in order to keep working.

Hey, dad ok so how has the new California Budget impacted you?
Well, the only change I would really take notice in is the increased funding to the California State School system. Which in turn hopefully reduces your tuition (haha).

How do you feel about the new budget?
I believe Governor Schwarzenegger is doing a great job and actually seems to be concerned with our state’s economic budget. We need an effective leader with a plan if we want to make any progress with our current deficit.

What changes have you made because of this crisis?
During this recession not only the state but all of us need to reduce unnecessary spending and make more money. I stopped putting money into the stock market and haven’t taken out any loans for your education in fear that I won’t be able to cover their cost in the future. This new budget aims to create jobs, which is great because I might lose mine and need a new one soon.

Rhetorical Strategies

Detail the rhetorical strategies used in "A Plea for Captain John Brown".

One strategy used is the assumption that slavery is evil.

The article also persuades the reader that defying the government is proper when morally acceptable even if it is considered illegal.

Examples: tone, assumptions, evidence, argument, persuasion.

Politics Summary

In my assigned homework I read "A Plea for Captain John Brown". It details how in 1859 John Brown took control of a federal armory at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Brown subsequently failed, was captured and hung for treason. It clearly demonstrates the growing anxiety and tension over slavery throughout the country.

Obama's Speech

In Obama's inauguration speech how does he persuade people to believe in him and follow him?

He pauses after important points to enforce their value.

Instead of discussing how he is going to fix our nation’s problems he makes it seem as if it is our task.

Calls us fellow citizens and whenever he refers to us he includes himself.

He is grateful and humbled at the task we have given him.

He constantly references us as a collective or as we the people.

He discusses the work that must be done in order to restore and transform our economy.

Declares what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

He questions whether our government works and wishes to restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

He discusses the importance of alliances and unity regardless of one’s religion or culture.

Discusses the importance of the Middle East and nuclear threats.

Discusses and relates the importance of how our forefathers fought and labored for us. Struggling and sacrificing that we might live a better life. They saw American as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions, greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

He refers to our land as the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth.

Discusses the crisis we face involving war, a weak economy and the jobs and homes that have been lost.

Obama reaffirms the greatness of our nation using scripture and referencing God throughout his speech.

Some relatively important quotes:
“Your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”

“For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”

“For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.”

“Our journey down a long and rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

"So it has been; so it must be with this generation of Americans."

Reflection on Changes

I am very excited about ripping my old schedule into pieces and enjoy the new classroom we are using. The idea of blogging and reviewing each others work sounds great. This new style of teaching is much better and I like that I can post pictures in my blog unlike writing in a journal.

Journal 2/12/09

A list of topics I would like to write about throughout the semester.
Current events
Middle East
San Jose
Meaning of life
Other countries or places
Issues we face