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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Final Reflection
              Communication is, perhaps, the most crucial skill for a human being to possess. Communication is the foundation of modern-day civilization and will be the guiding force in social, scientific, and cultural progress. Any opportunity to practice and study communication skills is an opportunity to grow as a student and person. This semester was an opportunity to grow as a formal communicator and understand more about different point of views through essay writing and reading stories. I have always been a creative thinker; this course has sharpened my critical analytical skills. This course leaves me confident that my writing has improved. I am able to express my complex thoughts in a logical and organized set up.
           A major assignment for this class was the position paper. My paper was specifically on the merit of the Black Lives Matter movement. This essay was an odd experience for me partially due to the introduction of the assignment. The paper seemed less argumentative and more exploratory. My previous experience with writing argumentative essays was in relation to giving speeches. Typically, being able to read, or argue, your position on a subject allows for more concrete stances. It was a new experience to try and insert these concrete statements in essay form without being able to add inflection to words. Ultimately my original paper lacked that tone and was a dry read filled with numbers and monotone yelling. I also omitted a concrete position statement from my original essay. This made it more difficult for the audience to pinpoint my exact stance on the topic. Since the essence of the essay was to give a position and explain yourself, I added that key statement in revision. An important element of an essay is the thesis statement. Over the course of this semester, we have been given multiple prompts for writing and in each piece, the thesis is always the most important sentence. I have learned the necessity of combining the most important information of an idea into one sentence. The thesis statement captures the attention of the audience and sets the tone for the rest of the writing. It was a big theme for my growth as a communicator this semester, understanding the purpose of a writing. I tended to go off on tangents in my writing and falling away from the key purpose of my essays. I made it a goal to not include information or ideas if they do not directly relate to my topic. For example, in my position paper draft, I went on a side tangent about white supremacists’ groups and white terror organizations.  I realized that I should be able to make my point without pulling other groups into it. The focused writing was key for me. Another key was to understand my audience and control my language with them. When talking to a group of predominantly white people about racism issues, I had to be sure not to seem as if I was attacking them or blaming them personally. At the same time, I had to place a bit of responsibility on their shoulders as fellow human beings. Audience profiling is a thin line to walk and this semester, I improved my ability to read a room.
This semester also required more critical thinking and communication skills. We were asked to read and analyze the stories and point of view of others. For example, late in the semester, we viewed the commencement speeches of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.  We had to find the key theme of both speakers and compare and contrast them. In addition to comparing and contrasting, an understanding of theme and purpose is important. Creating well-supported and detailed body paragraphs is also key. In order to do achieve this, you have to do purposeful research, as well as have a basic understanding of rhetorical strategies. I don’t believe critical thinking an analysis is a major struggle for me as a writer, so I felt confident when responding to these prompts. Nevertheless, I still improved in this category in small ways through repetition on prompts.
The writing process is often key to effective writing. Before college, I never planned essays or brainstormed before writing the first sentence.  This semester, I tried to make a bigger effort in the process of writing. Before writing my first drafts, I would write out a few simple concepts and ideas. One thing that really helped me in drafting papers was to write the prompt and purpose at the top of my paper. This helped me stay on task and remember my key concepts. I believe this really helped all my writing and allowed me to be more organized in my thoughts. The narrative assignment was a great example.  Before I wrote my story, I made a timeline of events, so I didn’t get mixed up and have to backtrack through the story. I also outlined my larger essays before writing them in paragraph form.  Overall, my writing has improved because I’ve spent more time on writing as a process.
Of all skills in writing and communication, my biggest struggle is grammar, spellings and sentence structure.  Most of my writings are composed of simple sentences and simple words. This comes from the lack of understanding of academic writing conventions. Unfortunately, not much of an emphasis is placed on these conventions after middle school. My writing has improved through repetition during my schooling but, other than that, I haven’t had formal practice since. Tools like spell check and grammar 0rograms have helped me understand structure more and I am beginning to remember some of the rules of writing. I also have others read my papers and edit them before giving them back for a rewrite. An example of this is the per reviews we did as a class through the semester.  Those were a big help in noticing mistakes and being able to fix them properly. The only way I will improve upon these conventions, is to continue writing. It's important to be able to clearly communicate and lack of a solid grounding in academic writing conventions created a barrier between the text and the audience.  I have improved my ability to self-edit with the help of peer reviews and common online resources.  The other huge skill I learned this semester was how to properly cite sources in MLA format. This will be extremely important for my academic career. MLA is a standard for almost all essays and formal writings in college. Therefore, it is crucial for me to understand and be able to execute.  My semester has made me more confident in my ability to execute academic writing conventions.
In conclusion, communication is so vital to our society and culture. The things I learned in this freshman English class will continue to help me throughout my life when I have ideas and concepts to share. Any opportunity to grow as a communicator is an opportunity to grow as a person.
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Position Paper
Black Lives Matter: Not Your Parents Civil Rights Movement
                  “If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” -Malcom X
           Police have killed 223 African Americans in 2017, according to the Washington Post’s fatal force database. 20 were unarmed, 6 had a toy weapon, and 22 were in a vehicle. These numbers only account for those who had to pay the greatest price at the hands of these hoodless clansmen. It’s much more difficult to track the beatings and the harassment that only result in a bruised body and a weakened spirit. Of course, this isn’t unique to the last few years. Police brutality has plagued African American communities for decades. Ask any black American over the age of 30, and he/she will tell you about the weeks following the Rodney King beating. While every generation of black Americans has done their part in the fight the injustice in this country, this new generation of young adults is not sticking to traditional methods.
           The Black Lives Movement begin after the police shot and killed an unarmed teenager, Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. A movement was born amidst chaos and pain. Like the movements of the past, BLM shouted out for justice and equality, however, this time around they were armed with a new weapon that the parents and grandparents never did. Social Media. In a matter of minutes, people around the country joined the movement. There were signs, t-shirts, stickers, and the words, “Black Lives Matter” was plastered on every social site. Since then BLM has been praised and criticized for its seemingly unorthodox methods.
           The most consistent criticism of the movement relates to the public seeing the movement has violent. It’s not uncommon for BLM shirts and apparel to be present at riots after yet another African American has been murdered by police. However, presence does not equal representation. The Black Lives Matter Movement has never sponsored a riot, and they can not control were their logo shows up. Most self-proclaimed BLM members and supporters don’t condone violence. Most of us do not want open fires in the streets and buildings being looted. Violence is a very tricky line to walk. The one man the anti-BLM likes to bring up is, Martin Luther King Jr. MLK was known for his strong nonviolence stance. He helped bring about a drastic change to America. He was not perfect, a fact people seem to forget, but he was an amazing fighter for the black people. He was not alone. There were many key contributors to the civil rights movement. Huey P. Newton, the name never spoken by the media and a name most Americas won’t know, is a strong example. Why? Because he was the leader of the most wrongly-infamous group in the civil rights era. The Black Panther Party. Even hearing the name strikes fear into the heart of white Americans. The Black Panthers are always accused of being violent hoodlums. In fact, the most famous photos usually involve a gun of some sort. The Black Panthers didn’t want violence, they just weren’t afraid of violence. They much preferred starting up meal programs for African American children and helping the community however they could. The majority of BLM protests are nonviolent. However, when police start tear-gassing teenagers and shooting into crowds, all the rage of the injustice boils to the surface. It’s not the members of Black Lives Matter that are the problem, how many times can you poke the bear?
           On their website, Black Lives Matter states their 13 guiding principles: Black Families, Black Villages, Black Women, Collective Value, Diversity, Empathy, Globalism, Intergenerational, Loving Engagement, Queer Affirming, Restorative Justice, Transgender Affirming, and being Unapologetically Black. None of these ideals encourage violence. The sad truth of being black in America means taking the blame. When a violence breaks out, all fingers point to the darker shades. Yet, in 2012 when the Giants won the world series, the mostly white fans took to the streets to celebrate by setting buses on fire and looting. The riots ended with two shootings and a stabbing.   Black Americans have been told for decades to wait. That America isn’t ready for change and these things take time. It’s exhausting seeing young African Americans keeping murdered by the people meant to protect us. It’s exhausting seeing black features being worn like costumes of the bodies of white people. It’s exhausting having to explain to black children that they must watch their back when they are playing in the park. We are tired of waiting and BLM is this generation’s answer.
           BLM is the newest movement, and it won’t end all racism. There will be new groups if racism runs rampant in this country. The Black Lives Matter movement is only doing what it can to stand up to racism. While the media and society continue to try to discourage their actions, BLM will stand strong and continue to make change for black people. Injustice anywhere is still Injustice everywhere.
   Works Cited
“Police shootings 2017 database.” The Washington Post, WP Company, www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings-2017/.
Press, The Associated. “World Series: Giants fans' postgame riot leads to arrests, injuries (Photos).” Syracuse.com, 30 Oct. 2014, www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/sf_giants_fans_celebration_turns_to_rioting_after_world_series.html.
“QuickFacts.” U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: UNITED STATES, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216.
“QuickFacts.” U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: UNITED STATES, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216.
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Brief but spectacular
https://liveuwstout-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/pattersona5087_my_uwstout_edu/Ecf4RByzeKVPvul8-hlUsacBAPJJXTQfmpzYkimxjCHw8g
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Narrative
A Special Kind of Girl
   It’s not like I hadn’t done it before. I have kissed my fair share of females and this shouldn’t have been different. Yet, there I was sitting in front of the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Lydia had deep, dark purple hair and fair skin. She was thin and only stood at 4 feet and 10 inches. We had been getting closer over the last few weeks, most people considered us an item. I had been wanting to make my move for some time but couldn’t find the right moment. We were both juniors in high school and were only able to see each other in passing so, our time together was limited. We did have the same lunch blocks, however, and this time I wasn’t going to chicken out.
Lunch had been typical that day, same lukewarm salmon nuggets they serve every Tuesday. We both sat in an empty bay of lockers. We had been talking about something stupid our friend had done but I couldn’t concentrate on the topic. I was busy staring at her lips. She was wearing her favorite coral lipstick and I’m pretty sure she had put chapstick underneath because I could smell mint. That could have been the 4 sticks of gum I had been chewing 5 minutes before though. The clock was ticking, and lunch was drawing to a close as students were getting up to throw their food way. I knew that this was my chance. I waited for a natural lull in the conversation. I moved closer to her. I Leaned in, waiting for her to catch my signal. It’s important to mention that I had been silently talking myself up in my head. I knew I could do this and had a whole crew of mental hype-men cheering me on. So, I went for it.
“Ash!” She sounded very concerned. Oh no, maybe I had made the wrong move. “Ash!” she spoke a little louder, “are you bleeding?” Apparently in all my excitement and stress to kiss the beautiful girl in front of me, my poor blood vessels popped, and blood was pouring from my nose. Onto this beautiful girl’s jeans. She gave me a pitying smile and a tissue. Needless to say, I didn’t get my kiss that day. Lydia did, however, take me to the nurse and assured me that, “we girls are experts at getting blood out of our clothes.”
I eventually got my kiss and we’ve been together for 2 years, 2 months, and 8 days. But who’s counting?
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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42 Review
                  The runtime is 2 hours and 8 minutes, but like any great film, the story sits with you well after the ending credits.  Brian Helgeland’s movie, 42[i], is a great film. The story follows baseball’s first African American to play in the major leagues, Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), and the trials he had to face during this tense period. It also follows the story of Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) and how he handled the backlash for his decision to sign the first Negro ball player What makes this film such a masterpiece is that it not only captures the large, brooding concept of racism in America. The true beauty of this movie is the showings of the subtle face of racism. A prime example is a scene showing Ben Chapmen (Alan Tudyk) yelling obscenities at Robinson during a game. Chapmen claims that “after the game, all is forgotten”. The next scene is Robinson crying in the shower after the game. It’s moments like these that the film really shines. Helgeland really captures the true reality of modern-day racism in everyday people’s thoughts and actions. There multiple scenes with just as much impact. This is the kind of movie that will lead you to spend time on self-reflection. This movie can only leave a mark if you go out and see it. 9.5/10.
[i] Helgeland, Brian, and Thomas Tull. 42
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Flash Mob Reflection
  Our group got along well so we were able to throw out ideas effortlessly. It would have been more helpful to have a skeleton to go off instead of a Wiki-How. Group Projects aren’t very difficult but tend to require more time, mostly due to scheduling and a need for chemistry building. This is especially trying for assigned groups. While I was sick on one of the work days, I was the main presenter, so our contributions evened out. I learned more about the planning process and all the moving parts that go into planning a large scale event.
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dreadedpegasus-blog · 6 years
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Ash Patterson
McDonalds Corporation
1505 N. Broadway
Menomonie, WI
54751
Dear Mr. Honl,
 I am writing in response to your Monster.com posting for the janitorial position. I believe that I have the skills and experience that would enable me to contribute to your organization, and I am interested in the position.
I am a college freshman at UW-Stout, majoring in Game Art and Design. The enclosed resume provides details of my skills, education, and work experience. One item that may be of interest to you is my previous experience in team and leadership positions. As a student-athlete, my ability to work with others is crucial on and off the court.
I would welcome the opportunity to put my experience and abilities to work for McDonald’s and discuss the position further with you.
Ash Patterson
1105 3rd St E Apt. 362, Menomonie, WI, 54751 | 702-403-0537 | [email protected]
Objective
To obtain an internship related to the field of game design
Education
bachelor of fine arts | expected 2022 | University of Wisconsin Stout
·     Major: Game Design and Development- Art
Skills & Abilities
Skills
·     Adobe Programs
·     Sketchbook Pro
·     Microsoft Office
Communication
·     Excellent at Presenting Ideas and Receiving feedback
Leadership
·     4-year Multi-Sport Varsity Athlete
·     2-year Multi-Sport Varsity Captain
·     Key member of the first student-lead tech support team at Robbinsdale Armstrong High school
Experience
Technology Intern | Robbinsdale School District | 2015-2016
·     Installing and updating systems within high schools
·     Prepping for the integration of personal laptops for students
·     Acted as key tech support leading into the school year
Personal Assistant | Crossfit grow (Nina and Todd Hall) | 2017
·     Repairs and construction projects
·     Transporting product
·     Tech Support
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