Final Blog Post

When I first started this class I considered myself to be a pretty good writer. As the quarter moved on, I found myself gaining more confidence in my writing skills. English 102 has definitely helped me to master these writing skill in different ways. My teacher, Rachel Kartz, helped me throughout the quarter by both being available in person and online. This was helpful because when I had a question, concern, or problem with my writing or focus of my paper, Rachel was always there to help. I have been in classes where the teacher really isn't available, and it made my experience with those classes difficult. My classmates also helped me occasionally. Personally I struggled with some students because they were not as involved in the online portion of the class, and this made my assignments harder to accomplish. When in class however, students had a lot of input concerning my writing which I could use to improve my papers. One example is my peer critique partner who pointed out that the overall order of my essay was confusing. Thanks to him, I improved my final paper, and i am confident it is a success. The course in general helped me as well. I learned how to compose an annotated bibliography and how to write 8-12 page papers successfully. These are things I would have never learned without this class. Most of all, I have grown as a writer because of my own contributions. Without my time, commitment, and persistence with each and every assignment in English 102, I couldn't have possibly grown as much as I have. I think as a writer, I am well on my way to accomplishing my goals. I put a lot of effort into this class. I hope that this shows and that it will bring me closer to graduating with my AA this Spring.

Thesis Statement

Humans can't be held accountable for their actions because underlying factors such as environment, genetics, and the theory of determinism prove otherwise.

Topic Proposal

I am interested in writing my research paper on whether or not humans have control over their own actions. In my philosophy class we are studying this argument. I am interested in this topic in my philosophy class, and I would like to do further research. I do have a little knowledge of this topic since I am reading about it, but we are only using one source of research in my class. There are many arguments for and against the idea of free will, and I have not yet chosen a side. If I research this topic further, then I will be able to answer my question with a firm stance. I think that most people would care about this argument, because I believe most people think they do have free will over their actions. This is why it is an issue everywhere with all people. I have read a few arguments so far, and it is interesting to me how both sides pose strong cases. I would like to see what other authors, philosophers, and scientists have to say about this subject.

Response to Scott Russell Sanders' essay "The Men We Carry In Our Minds"

Scott Russell Sanders' essay, "The Men We Carry  In Our Minds", really got me thinking. In his essay, Sanders talk about how we view different sexes. I agree with Sanders, that how we view the opposite sex all depends on what kind of childhood we had. I, specifically, grew up learning that men have a strong sense of authority outside of the house. On the other hand, women were the leaders when it came to discipline and parenting. My father has a job where he is above others and is responsible for watching over coworkers in his section. However, when he used to come home from work my mother was always the one watching over me and my sister. In this sense, I grew up thinking that men had it easier than women. This is because my mother worked almost as much as my dad, but when they both got home from work my mom is the one who kept on working. My mom always seemed to have so many responsibilities, and I can remember thinking, "I am never going to have kids". I know now that my dad also had his share of responsibilities. As a child, though, I never envied the life my mom had, and I always dreamed of having a successful career so I wouldn't have to stay home and take care of the kids. I always viewed my mom as having alot on her plate, but I'm sure that if I grew up in different curcumstanses I would have different views.

"The New Vocationalism: What It Is, What It Could Be." by W. Norton Grubb

W. Norton Grubb, author of "The New Vocationalism: What It Is, What It Could Be", argues that "new vocationalism" in high schools can better prepare students for further education, a future career, or both. I am in college soley because it is the next step. I know I want a successful career someday, even though I'm not yet sure what that career may be. As a result, I have decided that college is a good idea while I continue to find which career path is best for me. I think that the "New Vocationalism" that Grubb describes is ideal. It would help students to experience differen't fields while maintaing a high school-like atmosphere. Further, It would benefit students by introducing a variety of career options ranging from entry-level jobs to jobs which require additional schooling. Most importantly, it would put courses like mathematics and english into real-world perspective. I decided to enroll at SFCC because it is cheaper than heading straight into a university. I also haven't decided exactly which career to persue. Therefore, it made sense to use this time, at community college, to  figure it out. My goal at SFCC is to graduate with my AA, while putting my best effort into each and every class. I also hope to identify which career field I am interested in persuing. After SFCC I will continue my education at Eastern Washington University.  However, my goals seem to be lacking direction and purpose. If I had attented an occupational high school or took part in a career acadamy, like the ones described in Grubb's essay, then I believe I would have gained some direction. I might even be working in the career of my choice right now, rather than attending community college. In all, I support Grubb's arguement for "new vocationalism".