Coping

Are you fearful or anxious in certain situations?  I know plenty of people who avoid elevators, though they don't both me at all. Others I know refuse to travel on an airplane, or drive on I-95.  Every person, if he or she is honest, experiences anxiety about something.  In your assignment this week, you will tell about ONE thing that causes you to be fearful or nervous. If you have been lucky enough to overcome that thing, explain how you did so. If, on the other hand, you have to use coping mechanisms, then you should explain what those devices might be.

Here's my example:  I have always been afraid of cockroaches. Just the name of this creature sends shivers down my spine. I blame my irrational fear on my dad who, knowing about my fear, tried to "cure" it (ha, ha, ha) by chasing me around the house with a dead roach on the end of a flyswatter. I knew the dreaded insect was dead; however, that did nothing to stop my incessant screaming nor did it cure me of my fear. It was only when I became an adult and had to deal with cockroaches on my own that I learned to cope with this dysfunctional anxiety. Now, that is not to say that I am not initially paralyzed by my first encounter with one when I turn on a light and see those twitching antennae.  I have learned, though, to face my fear by running out of the room and grabbing a can of Raid, running back into the room, and spraying it with what amounts to a lake of chemicals. Thank God for insecticide! And thank God that I know how to keep a clean home so that I don't have to encounter this vile creature very often.

Okay. Now it is your turn.  remember to use vivid and descriptive language, correcting grammar errors (to the best of your ability) before you publish. You have until midnight on March 1st to post your response.

Prof. McD

Lifelong Learning

School is not the only place where learning occurs. We should be learning something every day we are alive. What have you learned this week? (Nothing academic please!)  Remember to use the R.A.G.E. writing strategy, to  properly punctuate your response, and to apply the appropriate grammar points we have learned in class so far.  Please respond by midnight on Tuesday, 2/22/11.

My response: I have learned that the older I get, the harder it is for me to operate on a shortage of sleep. When I consistently get too little sleep, I am easily distracted and much more serious than I need to be. To keep my joy and sense of humor, I need at least 7 hours of sleep.  Good night!

100% You!

Each one of us associates with specific groups of people in our world. Often we don't reflect upon those groups, but I am going to ask you to do just that because, even though the groups may change over time, our connection with them helps define who we are.

Here's your assignment: Carefully consider the groups with which you can identify and claim kinship. List the groups and assign a percentage to each one until you reach 100%. You must have at least five (5) groups listed.

Here's my response: I am 30% Christian (I'd like to say 100%, but based upon the restrictions of this assignment I cannot go higher without disregarding the instructions); 20% wife and mother; 15% reader and learner; 10% teacher; 10% creative blogger & photographer; 7% singer; 5% Cuban-American; and 3% Italian-American. That's 100% me!

Colorful Writing

Using original similes and other figurative language is one way to take your writing to the next level. For me, encountering a well-constructed sentence is like being kissed by a young Sean Connery. It is a totally breathless, heart-pounding experience. I am amazed at the level of purposeful creativity that has birthed such an incredible image. 

The only way to become a more colorful writer, of course, is by practicing. So, this week's  assignment will require you to think -- and write -- outside the box. Oops! That's way too cliche. Uh, let me rephrase that. This assignment will catapult you into thinking beyond and writing above your standard phrasing or comparisons. 

Here's your task: What is the color of hunger? Why is that true?

Here's my example: The color of hunger is unpolished copper.  It is a cloudy shine that demands your attention while trying not to dazzle you. To do so might blind you to its importance.

Be sure to post no later than midnight on February 8, 2011.

Description: The Art of Engaging the Reader

There's a huge difference between the following two sentences:

• I have a big dog.
• My dog, Bear, is a hairy brown beast weighing over 100 pounds, whose right ear rarely stands at attention.

The first sentence just leaves too much to the reader's imagination, while the second sentence provides a better picture. That's the essence of descriptive writing: using enough detail to help the reader form a picture inside his or her mind.

Here's your task: Describe what you ate for dinner tonight (remember to give sufficient details to help the reader visualize clearly).

Here's my example: Tonight my husband and I ate a simple dinner of meat and potatoes. The meat simmered for eight hours in a mouthwatering mixture of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and a special blend of herbs and spices. The meat had cooked so slowly in the crock pot and was so tender that it fell apart as I attempted to place portions on our plates. I also served baked potatoes, split and steaming hot. I doused the potatoes with low fat margarine, a dash of salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese. This simple fare was satisfying indeed.

Your turn! You have until Tuesday 2/1, midnight to post your description.

Now that you're warmed up...

As I am sure I mentioned sometime in class, perfecting your writing is a thinking activity as much as it is practicing the mechanical skills you are learning. Page 417 from Grassroots with Readings lists the following as a writing assignment:

       "Which of your possessions are crucial to your happiness? What things do you own now that you could live without?  What possessions do you lack that you believe will make you happier?"

Answer all 3 questions in complete sentences. Check back to see my answer; I need to do some thinking myself. I don't want to jot down just anything.  Remember to use first name and last initial or first initial and last name. No full names, please -- and no aliases. Posting must be done by midnight of January 25th.

Welcome!

Welcome to our writing blog. Here's your first assignment: Be on the look out for a sentence that really grabs your attention. Quote the sentence and cite the source. Write one sentence that clearly explains the power of the sentence you have quoted.  

Here's an example:  "A good writer tells the truth by telling lies" (The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy, p. 161).  I love this sentence because that is the aim of all writing -- to tell the truth, even if that truth is good for only me.

Now it's your turn!  Select "Post a Comment" and add your assignment. Use the "Preview" button to make sure your assignment is complete before you select "Post Comment". Be sure to complete your assignment by 12 midnight on January 18, 2011.