Blogging Reflection

*How easy/difficult was your experience working with Blogger? Well actually working with blogger wasn’t so bad, the website is pretty easy to understand. Did you feel frustrated at any point with the technology or the kinds of knowledge you had to have to blog the way you wanted to? No I didn’t really have any problems with making it look how I wanted it to.  What was inetersting or fun about working with Blogger? Setting it up was really the only fun part for me, I liked to see my page come together, but I am not a writer.

*Was writing the entry relatively painless or kind of a pain in the neck? Why or why not? Was it hard to write at least 250 words? It was sorta a pain in the neck, only because we had to do it every week, which I sometimes forgot and coming up with 250 words was hard, because some of the blogs could be explained in fewer words.

*Was it easy/difficult to meet the deadline for the entry and the comments? Why or why not? Yes, I never did it during the week, because I was usually doing other homework and working, so when Saturday came I would rush to do it after work. Do you think there may be a better way to set up a deadline? (If so, what is it?) Not really I just needed to manage my time better. Should there be a deadline at all? Yes, because if not the blogs would have never been done.

*Discuss your experience interacting with other class blogs. Did you learn anything in special that you think you wouldn't have if we didn't have blogs? In general, were comments useful or just kind of pro forma? The other class blogs were nice, but having to comment on them wasn’t so easy. These blogs were assigned so we’re commenting on something we also wrote. I don’t know I just didn’t like that.

*Compare blogging to other kinds of writing you have done in previous courses. 

Usually in other courses the only time we are writing is for a paper or notes but the blogging was like a journal, so it was very different. 

*Do you think you would like to keep on blogging on your own? No

THe Green Book

Rank at least five "little things" from the different chapters from "really easy for me to do (right now)" to "very difficult for me to do (right now)" and explain why they would be easy/difficult to do. 

These simple steps are coming from chapter 1 and 3:

1) Turning off the water when I brush my teeth.

 This is very easy for me to do, because I have done it for so many years it's become a habit.

2) Using warm-cold instead of hot-hot water cycles, when I wash.

Using warm water instead of hot is not a big deal, I really don't see a difference, when I use hot anyways.

3)  Bringing my own toiletries, when I'm on vacation.

I always like to bring my own toothpaste, hair products, soaps, etc. I don't know what cheap products the hotels would have to offer and what ingredients are in them.

4) Unplugging my all the appliances in my home when they are not in use. 

Unplugging everything is easy when I remember but it can be tricky when you have so many appliances. I find it easier to have most of the appliances plugged into a power strip that way you can just turn the switch off when you're not using them.

5) Carrying less baggage, when on vacation.

Now this is the hardest for me, because whenever I go any where I always bring a ton of stuff, I just like o be prepared for any situation or at least most of them. Vacation is even worse, because I always change my mind on what clothes to wear so I like to have my options, and I try to bring clothes for any weather no matter where I am going. BUT I will try my best to narrow it down. 

Publicly commit to doing at least one "little thing" from the book.

This will be recycling, I really need to start doing that, because it is so simple yet makes a big difference.

Peer Review: Debbie and Ligia

Debbie's first draft: Coral Reefs

1. Does the draft have a main point (thesis)? 
If yes, please cut and paste or copy the sentence(s) that contain the thesis onto your blog.
Today, coral reefs are on the verge of becoming extinct. Many of the creatures living in coral reefs today rely on them for their survival. We must change our habits and save our reefs. 

2. Find an instance of what you consider an interesting or useful example, image, chart, etc. and explain why. (You should cut and paste the passage/image or at least say in what page and paragraph it is).

Destructive fishing practices, land-based sources of pollution such as agricultural runoff, and excessive coastal development all have detrimental effects on these delicate reefs. 

This is important, because she is stating that not only is pollution hazardous to the coral reefs, but so are destructive fishing practices, which most people don't even think about.

“Changes in sea temperature caused by climate change and global warming affect corals, but they also affect the types of bacteria and other micro flora that live with them. When the water warms up, some disease-causing bacteria are more successful and can attack the corals. The corals themselves suffer from heat, which reduces their defenses” (Science daily). 
“Scientists report that 40% of the corals will be damaged by the year 2010 if nothing changes” (CDNN).

This piece of information is also important, because global warming, something in which we contribute to, is a problem to the environment for so many reasons and this is one problem that is overlooked. 

3. Find a place in the paper that you consider confusing or boring and explain why. (You should cut and paste the passage or at least say in what page and paragraph it is).
Water quality declines when pollution discharges from coastal areas reduce visibility and oxygen, the increase chlorophyll levels, causes a proliferation of new coral diseases and massive algal blooms.

This sentence confused me a bit, after reading a few times I think I kinda understand what she is trying to say, it's just it's two sentences combined with no conjunction. 

4. Does the draft acknowledge where information comes from IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT? (the bibliography does not count for this question)

Yes she added citations throughout the draft.

5. If the draft has a fictional "human interest story," discuss whether it is convincing/imaginative/detailed or forced/tedious/general.

She did have an imaginative part in the draft. This was interesting because she was able to give a descriptive vision of coral bleaching, in which we had to imagine in our minds.

6. Would you recommend that the writer get some help with grammar before turning in the last draft? Why? Why not?

Yes, there were a few sentences that could be combined and she should try to keep topics within paragraphs instead of spread out. 

Ligia's second draft:

1. Does the draft have a main point (thesis)? 
If yes, please cut and paste or copy the sentence(s) that contain the thesis onto your blog.
The arrival of the oil companies to the Ecuador’s Amazons created more destruction than wealth.

2. Find an instance of what you consider an interesting or useful example, image, chart, etc. and explain why. (You should cut and paste the passage/image or at least say in what page and paragraph it is).

The majority of Ecuadorians live off of agriculture ...The land became poisoned and unusable for agriculture...Since people cannot work their lands anymore, they looked for jobs in the oil companies.  The jobs of course they get are unsanitary... The oil companies are throwing all the poisoned wastes into the water and land...causing a lot of health problems... This has become a serious problem for the Huaorani because they cannot afford medicine from outside.  Therefore, they only use their rituals and traditional medicine, which involves the environment that is being destroyed.   

These points are interesting, because it gives a cycle to the problems. It shows how one thing affects the other.

3. Find a place in the paper that you consider confusing or boring and explain why. (You should cut and paste the passage or at least say in what page and paragraph it is).

Each one of us left our native country with the hope of finding a better future; but, with the promise of someday going back.  However, throughout time we started getting involved and influenced by our country of residence.  Little by little we started parting from our native country.  We do not pay a lot of attention to the things that are going on there, until something big or drastic happens.  This is why I decided to pick a major environmental problem that Ecuador is facing today.   I want to inform Ecuadorians and people from other countries of the things that are going on, in Ecuador’s Amazon.        

Ecuador is located Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.

I'm not sure if my computer did this or if she was going to change this paragraph.

4. Does the draft acknowledge where information comes from IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT? (the bibliography does not count for this question)

Yes she included citations in her draft.

5. If the draft has a fictional "human interest story," discuss whether it is convincing/imaginative/detailed or forced/tedious/general.

She has not added a fictional story or character in her paper.

6. Would you recommend that the writer get some help with grammar before turning in the last draft? Why? Why not?

Just a bit, she has a few grammar errors and repeated a few sentences twice.

Open Topic....

Soo, I am very late in writing this blog. I didn't remember until now that yes a week has gone by already and the next blog was due. I have been very sick, so my mind has been a bit off for the past few days or so.

Well I definitely have some more research to do. The coral reefs are very important, but I seem to keep getting brief examples of their importance and use. I am looking for detailed information on what marine species rely on them and how we and the environment rely on them. My next problem would be on creating a fictional character that would fit into my report. Although I do have somewhat of an idea putting it together is a bit tricky. 

Well I hope everyone is doing well on their papers, good luck and good bye!!!!

Research Paper UPDATE

So I've narrowed my biodiversity topic down to...Coral Reefs. My research papers will cover dates from the early 1990s all the way to the present. The area I will be discussing will be the coral reefs in the Caribbean , like Puerto Rico and Jamaica, and some other islands such as Hawaii. Coral reefs are a major diverse marine ecosystem and effect humans and marine species. 

I am writing on this topic, because of how important coral reefs are to our environment and ecosystem. They absorb carbon dioxide, recycle environmental waste to produce food, and provide a habitat for up to 3 million marine species.

My sources include organizations, the National Geographic, scientific researches, and photos. I would like to and plan on getting some books on the destruction of Coral Reefs and and obtain a few charts.

My working thesis will definitely be on the importance of Coral Reefs and hopefully I will  get this message across as clearly as possible and share some ways we can all help.

Research Paper

The topic of my research paper will be on biodiversity. Biodiversity is the diverse environment in which the animals, plants, and species live in as one. I will cover why it is important, who is affected by it, the extinction of species, and what can be done to protect it. This paper will be addressed to everyone and anyone. People will be able to understand the importance of this topic and will hopefully be encouraged to take action. 

A few of my sources are listed below

Sources:

1) Conservation International: This site gives a brief explanation on the issues of biodiversity. They tell you how you can act toward helping the environment and even allows you to talk to their scientists. They also have petitions you can sign and accept donations. You can also receive the latest news on these issues and the efforts that are being used to help stop them. Here are some of their related links, that I will be using: Biodiversity Hotspots: This site lists many biodiversity hotspots from all around the world. They list what the area is known for, the human impact on the area, the plants and animals that are being threatened there, and a list of  protected areas. Investigate biodiversity: This site tells you how you can help and how to apply for a career with them.

2) US Aid: This site talks about what biodiversity is and the importance of conserving it. They talk about climate change, pollution, and other environmental issues. They also list the locations of their work and their programs, as well as how to obtain a career with them.

3) The UNDP: The UNDP gives a detailed explanation as to what biodiversity is. They also explain why it is important and who is affected by it. They talk about the crisis of biodiversity and contain useful resources as well. They also share their practices and cover biotechnology and conservations.

Reflection

Signing up for this class, I thought... ok here's another boring seminar class and all we were going to do is talk about our major and be assigned some boring stuff. So on the first day of class I wasn't excited and then when I walked in and you told us we were going to talk about the environment, my whole attitude changed. 

I have always been concerned with environment and global warming, but wanted to learn more about it. Your assignments and readings have really helped. I remember the first one was to talk about 10 things we did that morning and all of the effects each one had on the environment. That helped a lot of us, because there were a lot of little things we saw that we were doing that affected the environment in a negative way. 

Then you played an Inconvenient Truth for us and went through the book as well, and this showed us evidence and statistical data of what is happening to the world. I think everyone needs to see that, because most people don't want to face the facts of global warming and just want to dismiss the idea out of fear or pure selfishness. 

The Story of Stuff was also good to watch. It really showed us the affects we have as consumers and that not only our the products many of us use, bad for us, but also bad for the environment, which I must admit I didn't really think about at first. Not only are we hurting ourselves and the environment with these products, but we are also bringing in the demand for them which is hurting the people who have to work in these factories with these toxic chemicals and have no other option. 

Although I never just dismissed the idea of global warming and care for OUR environment, I didn't do as much as I could. Since this class I have bought recycled notebooks, envirosax bags, which I take to go shopping so that I won't waste paper or plastic bags, and I am even looking at green events. 

Going green can be a fun cool thing you just have think positive about it and encourage others to do it with you. Everyone says... oh once person is not going to save the planet, well if everyone thinks like that it won't, but if people start doing this together that one person can make a big difference. And just maybe we'll still have our planet and then we can all be proud to say we helped save her.