Generating
Growing up, there wasn't a lot of reading done by my parents, but by my sister. My sister always was reading a book. It didn't matter what it was about, she would read it. My mom read somewhat, but she wasn't an avid reader. She did encourage us to read, and one summer she made me do a book report on "A Series of Unfortunate Events" because I wanted her to buy if for me. We didn't visit the library a lot, mostly because my mom only read newer books. I didn't show much of an interest in books as a kid. My dad only read the newspaper's sport section, and sports magazines. He says the only book he ever read from cover to cover was "The Chronicle of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". My sister was a big proponent of reading in the house, but she mostly did that alone in her room. My mom read the newspaper, and some books.
Judging
While growing up and not having a heavy handed encouragement of reading, I don't mind reading. If I have to read a book about something, it doesn't bother me. My mom encouraged me to read through buying books, but they were books I would enjoy like political thrillers, and books by political commentators. I guess the relationship between early reading experiences as a kid and my current beliefs about reading is unrelated. I saw people reading, and was encouraged to read, but I really didn't get into reading until high school.
Generating
There really wasn't a specific teacher that got me into reading. I just remember one summer watching Glenn Beck on television, and picking up one of his books and reading political books throughout the school year. I also new a lady from church who's father had written several books on end-times theology, and that really is what kind of got me the most interested in reading. Then, that lady published two of her own books which I thought was really cool. The teacher that I think had the biggest impact on me as a reader was Mr. Davis, whom I had as a teacher my Junior and Senior years. He gave me an award for one of his classes, and made a comment about my always having a book with me. He then said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers". I don't think I will ever forget that. That statement still lingers in my mind today. This encouraged me to keep on reading. Mr. Davis always encouraged everyone to read, but I don't think people appreciated that. I still do to this day because it has helped me to understand things, and made me a better writer.
Judging
As I have already said, there was no particular teacher that got me interested in reading, I just kind of picked it up one summer in high school. The only teacher that impacted me in reading was Mr. Davis. My beliefs about reading in school and my beliefs now have changed in one way, and that is what Mr. Davis had to say about all leaders being readers. I honestly believe that for me to be a leader worth following, one must read to learn from those in the past, and those who are experts in certain areas.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
"The Long Good-Bye" Week 2 Assignment
When asked the question about having a specific incident where the punishment did not fit the crime, I truly had to think. There really isn't an instance that I can think of when that statement was true. I really did not cause too much trouble. I stayed away from trouble because my parents disciplined my sister and I by spanking, and taking things away from us. I saw these things happen to my sister, so I knew that there were consequences to actions that my parents did not approve of. Even when my grandparents disciplined us, they were all fair, and the punishment fit the crime. If we didn't do chores, the television was taken away. If we talked back, we were sent to our rooms and told not to come out until we were told to. My parents and grandparents did an excellent job in giving punishments that fit the crimes. I have never thought that any my personal punishments were unfair.
One reason that I think Coyne believes her sister's punishment was unfair is because Jennifer is her sister. When it comes to family, some honestly think that their punishment by other's is unfair. We love our families and hate when the get into trouble. The other reason that I think Coyne believes her sister's punishment was unfair is that all her sister did was make, "four phone calls for someone she loved" (para. 13). I don't know who the phone calls were, or what they were about, but based upon what the essay says, it was about drugs. I don't necessarily agree with the sentence of five years for her making the phone calls, but she, according to the law, did something illegal and has to face a penalty. It doesn't matter if you do it for a person you love, or a person you hate. You break the law, you have to face the consequences. Again, I don't agree with the amount of time. Instead, maybe she should have paid a fine and been required to do community service.
As for Stephanie, I don't fully know the situation. Her boyfriend went into a house, and she said she knew nothing. I have a hard time believing what Stephanie's mother said. I have learned over the years that mother's are very protective of their children, and only want what's best for them, and as their children get older, they tend to believe more of what they say than when they were younger. Stephanie may have not told her mother everything to protect her own pride. I don't know. I could be wrong. She was caught with someone with drugs in their possession. It's almost like guilt by association. I don't always agree with that, but I have a hard time believing that she didn't know her boyfriend was selling/using/distributing drugs. Was ten years excessive? Yes, I do think so. Honestly, she should have paid a fine, done community service, and depending on whether she used drugs or not, attended a rehabilitation center. I don't know all of the facts, but from what I know that is all I can say on that.
One reason that I think Coyne believes her sister's punishment was unfair is because Jennifer is her sister. When it comes to family, some honestly think that their punishment by other's is unfair. We love our families and hate when the get into trouble. The other reason that I think Coyne believes her sister's punishment was unfair is that all her sister did was make, "four phone calls for someone she loved" (para. 13). I don't know who the phone calls were, or what they were about, but based upon what the essay says, it was about drugs. I don't necessarily agree with the sentence of five years for her making the phone calls, but she, according to the law, did something illegal and has to face a penalty. It doesn't matter if you do it for a person you love, or a person you hate. You break the law, you have to face the consequences. Again, I don't agree with the amount of time. Instead, maybe she should have paid a fine and been required to do community service.
As for Stephanie, I don't fully know the situation. Her boyfriend went into a house, and she said she knew nothing. I have a hard time believing what Stephanie's mother said. I have learned over the years that mother's are very protective of their children, and only want what's best for them, and as their children get older, they tend to believe more of what they say than when they were younger. Stephanie may have not told her mother everything to protect her own pride. I don't know. I could be wrong. She was caught with someone with drugs in their possession. It's almost like guilt by association. I don't always agree with that, but I have a hard time believing that she didn't know her boyfriend was selling/using/distributing drugs. Was ten years excessive? Yes, I do think so. Honestly, she should have paid a fine, done community service, and depending on whether she used drugs or not, attended a rehabilitation center. I don't know all of the facts, but from what I know that is all I can say on that.
Monday, September 2, 2013
My First Blog Post
My first memory of writing was in elementary school. We had to write a short story about something. I don't remember what it was about, but it was short and obviously poorly written because it was in early elementary school.
The turning point for me in writing was my high school senior thesis. I wrote about Biblical end-times theories. I was studying it very deeply at the time, and I felt it was appropriate for the class. I put many hours into writing the maximum 12 pages. I ended up getting the highest grade in the class for it, and that was when I became more interested in writing. This was a strength for me because it began to form the way I currently write papers.
Writing is daily for everyone, and mostly in the form of Facebook and Twitter. These roles have helped me to communicate a point more clearly than when speaking. It has sharpened my grammar, and helped me to see other mistakes that could be made by others through the use of text language, which is a pet peeve of mine.
The most successful thing I wrote was at the previous college I attended. I wrote about the need for a new tax system in America. The instructor was very impressed by my grammar, and by the way I presented the argument for a new tax system. I spent many hours researching both the flat-tax and fair-tax to come up with the best solution to the current tax system we have. Political papers are a strength for me because I put thought into them, and see the differences in the ideas between conservative and liberal.
Blog:
http://www.redstate.com/
The turning point for me in writing was my high school senior thesis. I wrote about Biblical end-times theories. I was studying it very deeply at the time, and I felt it was appropriate for the class. I put many hours into writing the maximum 12 pages. I ended up getting the highest grade in the class for it, and that was when I became more interested in writing. This was a strength for me because it began to form the way I currently write papers.
Writing is daily for everyone, and mostly in the form of Facebook and Twitter. These roles have helped me to communicate a point more clearly than when speaking. It has sharpened my grammar, and helped me to see other mistakes that could be made by others through the use of text language, which is a pet peeve of mine.
The most successful thing I wrote was at the previous college I attended. I wrote about the need for a new tax system in America. The instructor was very impressed by my grammar, and by the way I presented the argument for a new tax system. I spent many hours researching both the flat-tax and fair-tax to come up with the best solution to the current tax system we have. Political papers are a strength for me because I put thought into them, and see the differences in the ideas between conservative and liberal.
Blog:
http://www.redstate.com/
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