Final Learning Blog Unit#2

Choosing the popular  genre of Facebook to do for my groups research project seemed like a very easy one to perform an experiment on. Considering the fact that it is widely testable, and widely used in our society by almost everyone! I was very positive that making two "out-of-the-ordinary" groups and inviting our peers to it will cause an instant reaction. However, I was shocked to notice that there were almost no reactions! I also learned that there are always going to be limitations to everything. We then made a status after the week of research on each of my two group members' Facebook pages, that wanted the opinion of the use of language on Facebook. We only received input on one of them which was the more formal event member. Throughout our project overall, I have realized that our society in little aspects to intently react to change but not too drastically as we expected.

1/2 Way Learning Blog Unit 2

This project for unit 2 has made me realize how I can now apply what I have learned from unit 1. For example, learning about different genres, in particular what exactly genres are. I have learned that genres are not just written down on paper stating a specific topic. They come in many forms such as blogs, diaries, chalk, and even the thing I use most today, Facebook. Now that I know what genres are it makes it easier to set up my project about Facebook groups with my group. Understanding how to break a constraint, such as informal and formal writing on Facebook like on my group project will lead to different reactions among our peers. I learned that language on Facebook is an easy thing to break because the overall idea of breaking a constraint is doing something, a drastic change to a written genre, out of the social norm. I also think that this project so far has helped me understand aspects that I was confused about like even where to start! At first, I didn't know what genre we should use, but then I realized that Facebook would be an easy one to perform an experiment on since almost everyone has one. The hardest part was to actually break a constraint. As an active user of Facebook, I thought about the formation of group invites and how they are usually written. Not so detailed or precise, just stating the info that people want to know about short and simple.

Research Proposal

Alexandra, Damian, Matt. 

Children’s Workshop For Reading

1. Statement of the “Problem.” 

Facebook’s overall structure and language is that of an informal genre. For example, groups have always written very informal, depending on the event taking place. The need for groups on Facebook are usually for invitations or just unspecific groups there to spread awareness. These groups are designed with as little detail as possible, and solely stating the basics. Among friends of people, this invitation to attend is then distributed. The person must then decide to attend/accept, decline, or even maybe attend. For our genre juxtaposition piece, we are using Facebook groups. 

1. Purpose of the Study.

We are creating two similar groups (one experimental, one control). We are trying to figure out whether we would expect our peers to attend a children’s workshop for reading tutor session overall. We are creating two groups, being sent out to two different populations. One will be informal language as Facebook’s structure is, while the other will be formal because this is a formal invitation to an event, unlike a party. The formally written group would also have to be described in as little detail as possible. We would then measure the number of likes, comments, acceptances, declines, and maybes. Overall, we want to test the reaction of our peers on the language of Facebook. 

3. The Research Question.

Does the change of informally/formally written language to formally/informally written language within Facebook genres, change people’s perception of joining a group?

1. The Research Design/Method.

Our group plans to take two of our three members with Facebook accounts, and create two different groups each, with the exact same event. The event is a tutor session entailed to help children practice their reading skills. One group member will make a group about this, but will make it written formally as it should be with a lot of detail. The other group member will design their group with as little information as possible, informal, and differentiate it from the formally written one, in order to cause the anticipated reaction of our peers. This is changing the language of Facebook. We then would measure the amount of likes, comments, and most importantly who attends and who declines.

1. Significance of the Study.

This study will not only get people on Facebook to understand the idea of breaking a constraint, such as language of a written genre, but how it affects the people’s conception of how they perceive something is supposed to be. For example, we are testing the people’s reactions to a formal event, while changing it to informal text. It is surprisingly interesting because Facebook is an informal genre. People expect a certain type of formality in writing, so breaking a constraint will show what effect it will have on them, as well as what reaction. 

Breaking the "Rules" Notes

Facebook:
-Making an out of the ordinary facebook group.
-Control and experimental event. (create one group that "expects" people to come for a huge party/event, and create another group that is just a friendly get together."
-Hypothesis: We would expect more of our peers to attend the actual party.
-Testing number of likes, comments, attendances.

Cards:
-Giving a birthday card, not giving a gift card or money along with it.
-Anniversary: Not ending it with "I love you."

Standard English Questions

1. The author states that someone that speaks Standard English is called a prescriptivist. Which, in general means that there is only a single, correct version of the English language. Standard English is the most formal and accepted way of speaking and writing the language.

2. I think that this way of English became the standard from historical times as a dialect. For example, parents taught young children this English and so on. Compared to today, I also believe that language was more formal through different genres. Such as writing and speaking. As times past, language consistently changes the way it is brought up with society and is now being changed through the more genres we obtain.

3. I believe that students are used to speaking among peers and friends in different dialects of English, as for a different language. For example, I speak fluent Spanish with my close friends in classes that speak Spanish fluently as well. But while associating myself with a professor or reading aloud, I would speak Standard English. Talking with our peers in the classroom is also mostly informal. I know I would not talk to another students very properly, as compared to someone of higher status. I think that technology has something to do with this placement of English in different genres because we are used to seeing informal language, like on Facebook or through texting. As for writing in class, such as papers or emails, Standard English is more appropriate and formal.

4. I think that everyone is a good writer in their own way. People have unique ways of writing that are either similar to others' or different. This is a good thing because someone that is great at writing long research papers, is probably not so good at writing articles. I think one key thing to being a good writer is being organized in their style of writing as well as catching the reader's attention in their work. Grammar should not be looked at because I think that that would take away the entire reason of why someone is reading a piece of work. It becomes a negative aspect while reading it. But, I also believe that great word usage could make a piece of work more visually appealing as well, that could potentially make the writer a better writer, but it shouldn't be the only thing focused on.

5. A bad writer, in my opinion, is someone that is unorganized in their work, uses poor word usage, and writing something that it's obvious they aren't passionate about. I like when the writer can show his/her emotion through text, that gives the reader a positive thought that they'll want to continue reading further.

6. There are plenty of times that I associate myself with people that don't speak "correct" English. They are mostly people my age, although I have heard numerous adults speak incorrectly too. For example, they use slang words in their sentences, have run on sentences, incomplete sentences, and talk as if they are talking through text.

7. I think that students in elementary and secondary schools, in preparation for college, should learn how to construct different writing genres, and how to organize these pieces. For example, learn about the layout of papers, articles, title pages, etc. They should definitely know that there isn't only one type of writing out there. Learn how to construct sentences should be the first thing. They should also learn how to apply these rules to speaking in order to prepare them for interviews and such.

8. In my opinion, everyone has a different view as to what is the correct form of English. I believe that Standard English could be the most formal and the language that is spoken among most people in different situations. But I believe that there are always contrasting ideas as to what is correct and what isn't. So overall, no I do not believe this is the correct English.

Learning Blog #2

At the beginning of this unit I thought that understanding what to do without following a rubric or outline, was tough. I later learned that thinking things through thoroughly and evaluating the information I have has helped me. For example, the examples you gave us on your learning blog, have helped me analyze articles similar to the ones you gave us. Developing the structure as well as how to apply its characteristics to our own. Eventually I realized that peer sessions as well, especially over our articles the second time, have helped me greatly. At first, I was worried about someone else looking at my work and not necessarily looking at my information or setup, but more on grammar and punctuation. I now know that I am not being critiqued, but rather being told of the good parts about my article and what I could do to improve it. Now that my article is finally done, I feel that this concept of researching for articles, analyzing them, and then developing my own, has improved. I have also become more informed on my own topic that is important to me, just by doing the interview for my article. Especially, since I am used to writing essays and papers on different topics like in past english classes.

The Trajectories of Literate

1. Began with the concept of New Year resolutions, and spreading the idea of the importance of exercise which is highly recommended for ISU students. Moved out into the world, first of all through a newspaper article, then ilstu emails, posters, just overall spreading its importance through friends as well.
2. I used online newspaper articles to inform me of the production of my own. As well as using an interviewee source for facts and ideas.
3. ISU students read it.
4. More college students at other local colleges and universities since it pertains to them.
5. Students will most likely implement ideas and receive benefits from it in order to become more aware of it.
6. Using our college spread emails, it would be an easy task to send the text to most of the ISU population of students.
7. Text helps support the recreational center on campus, while implying the idea of the fitness classes being available and free! As well as using the recreational center in general.

Production:
Researched online newspaper articles, took notes, wrote them out into bullet points for my rubric first, interviewed someone of knowledge on the specific topic and then implemented their quotes into my work, took those notes then edited them into my actual paper in new words. 

Representation:
Using my notes and took out the most important ideas that would pertain most to ISU students. Took basic ideas that would be easy to follow and easy to understand.

Distribution:
 Distributed to the world from my blog, using ilstu emails to spread around campus overall in order for more unhealthy students, stressed, etc., students to exercise more in their free time. In other words, to an extent, to persuade students to live longer, healthier lives especially during their college years.

Reception:
Students could take the information and show other friends or people the importance of exercise.Take the text from my article and help make new plans for themselves.

Activity:
Did an interview for my article as well as looked online for the importance of exercise newspaper articles.

Ecology:
Listened to music in order to help me focus. My dogs were barking which annoyed me, so I had to go to Milner and focus on my own.

Socialization:
Talked with peers to get positive feedback on my article, as well as my interviewee. Used online internet sources to retrieve information.Socialized with what is expected with writing news articles since it is a new genre for me.