8/1 Reading

How do you grade a conversation?
This article, written by Trent Batson, talks about "academic conversations" and the principles for evaluating online conversations. He gives an example of how he talked to a friend who told him about a colleague who based all of the grades for he semester on the students conversations through blackboard. The learning experiance depended on how well they conversed throughout the ongoing conversation.
The criteria he provides for evaluating online conversations is one, creating conherence. This creates a conversation that is easily understood. The second criteria provided is the awareness of audience. By being aware of the audience, the writer is able to target their writing towards a person or a group of people. The third criteria is purpose. A purpose will help to convey the message across in an academic way. And the fourth and final criteria is the diction. The diction is the words. The use of words is very important because it can help to distinguish between an academic and social conversation.

Reaction Blogs

What is happeneing to New Orleans now?

According to an online article from July 2nd, 2008, the lower ninth ward, which was the worst hit, only has about 1 out of 10 original residents living there. many of the buildings and houses are still abandoned.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-13576_3-6242942-1.html?tag=st.nl

Also an article mentions that there are tourists coming to New Orleans. But they are called "disaster tourists." They just come to view the devastation. Many people of New Orleans are mad because these people are paying to just see the devastation. None of them actually get out and experiance the devastion close up.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-13576_3-6242942-6.html?tag=ne.gall.pg

Overall, New Orleans is being rebuilt but very slowly. People are slowly starting to come back to a city that they once called home

Reflection Blog

What is lost if people don't return to New Orleans?

New Orleans is known for having a diversity of cultures and people. I think this widespread diversity is what makes New Orleans itself. I think the city will be hard to return to its original state, and if it ever gets there it will take a while, but it will take even longer if people don't return to New Orleans. The people make New Orleans what it is and what it will always be remembered for.

8/1 Readings

This weeks reading was an article entitled "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower" by "Professor x". This professor works part time in the evenings as a adjunct instructor of English. He teaches Engligh 1101 and 1102 at a small private college and at a community college. In this narrative, he goes on to explain that for many of his students, the colleges that he works at are last resort colleges. And by last resort, he goes on to explain that many of his students have screwed up and all either have children, a full time job, or mortgages to pay. Some of his students are fresh out of highschool and others have been out of high school for quite some time, but for most of them, college was never a goal they worked hard for.

I thought that this article was very interesting to read. I primarily enjoyed when he went on to explain that the classes that he teaches must be passed by students and that his class is not like a biology class where you have to know the facts and the teacher just had to grade a multiple choice exam. His class is a class where he has to grade essays and papers. He is essentially the person who "lowers the hammer". The person who deams whether people are fit for college or not.

I definately agree that college is not for everyone. Not everyone has the patience, time, self discipline, and motivation to complete college and let alone, enter college. I cannot imagine having to be the person who, in a sence, tells a person that college is not right for them.

Questions...
1. How do students treat you after you fail them?
2. How does failing a great number of people make you feel as a professor?
3. How can we tell someone that "college isnt for them" in an easier, lighter way...?